More Sony Xperia Z leaks show off an apparent promo video confirming full HD display

Sony device leaks are nothing new, and indeed we've recently seen plenty of the forthcoming Xperia Z. The device, known as Yuga for some time, is expected to be unveiled officially next week during Sony's CES press event in Las Vegas. We've already seen some leaked photos of the device, swiftly followed by leaked press renders. Now, we're treated to a series of slides obtained by ePrice that appear to be from some form of promo video. 

We're expecting from the leaks and rumors seen thus far that the Xperia Z will be a 5 inch, 1080p device. What we're seeing here most definitely backs that up -- well, the 1080p part at least. Other slides make mention of the "skeleton frame structure" giving a good look at the sides and back of the device. In short -- it looks nice. It looks really nice. 

The 13MP Exmor RS camera is also mentioned, and it looks to have fast capture and HDR on board for videos as well as pictures. And, like some of Sony's 2012 Xperia devices, the Xperia Z is also water resistant. 

We've got a pretty good picture by now of what the Xperia Z is all about, but needless to say, Android Central will be live from Sony's press conference to bring it all to you as it happens. 

Source: ePrice via Xperia Blog

Source: http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/androidcentral/~3/MOtMCAo73Oc/story01.htm

ADOBE SYSTEMS ADVANCED SEMICONDUCTOR ENGINEERING

Security firm RSA attacked using Excel-Flash one-two sucker punch

It has emerged that the underlying cause of RSA's SecurID gaffe was the recently-reported zero-day vulnerability found in Adobe's Flash Player.

The exploit, which used specially-crafted Flash embedding in Excel spreadsheets, was first reported on March 15 and has since been fixed. RSA was hacked sometime in the first half of March when an employee was successfully spear phished and opened an infected spreadsheet. As soon as the spreadsheet was opened, an advanced persistent threat (APT) -- a backdoor Trojan -- called Poison Ivy was installed. From there, the attackers basically had free reign of RSA's internal network, which led to the eventual dissemination of data pertaining to RSA's two-factor authenticators.

The attack is reminiscent of the APTs used in the China vs. Google attacks from last year -- and indeed, Uri Rivner, the head of new technologies at RSA is quick to point out that that other big companies are being attacked, too: "The number of enterprises hit by APTs grows by the month; and the range of APT targets includes just about every industry. Unofficial tallies number dozens of mega corporations attacked [...] These companies deploy any imaginable combination of state-of-the-art perimeter and end-point security controls, and use all imaginable combinations of security operations and security controls. Yet still the determined attackers find their way in."

What we'd like to know, though, is whether the attack on RSA was caused by Adobe's lackadaisical approach to patching Flash -- or was it the other way around? Was it the RSA attack that first brought the zero-day vulnerability to Adobe's attention?

Security firm RSA attacked using Excel-Flash one-two sucker punch originally appeared on Download Squad on Wed, 06 Apr 2011 06:55:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Source: http://downloadsquad.switched.com/2011/04/06/security-firm-rsa-attacked-using-excel-flash-one-two-sucker-punc/

TECHNITROL TAKETWO INTERACTIVE SOFTWARE

fitbit one and fitbit zip review

As an adult I realize that it is prudent to take care of your body so that it lasts as long as possible, but intentions are easier than practice.   Motivation is the issue, and that’s where two devices from fitbit, the One and Zip,  can help you keep track of your progress and hopefully lead you to a healthier lifestyle.This isn’t the first fitbit device I’ve had.  After reading Julie’s review of the original fitbit Ultra, I purchased one for my wife.  (Guys, before you do this make sure she wants it, otherwise you could be sending the wrong message).  It worked great until she sent it through the laundry via the washer and dryer.  It didn’t work after that, but this is no reflection on the reliability of the device, because it never suggested it was waterproof.

The two devices, One and Zip, are similar, but differ in their price and features.

Features:

• Tracks steps taken
• Tracks calories burned
• Tracks distance traveled
• Tracks stairs climbed fitbit One ONLY
• Tracks hours slept fitbit One ONLY
• Tracks quality of sleep fitbit One ONLY

The fitbit One comes packaged with the device, a USB Bluetooth dongle, a USB charging cord, a clip holder and an arm band for wearing at night.  The One is a rechargeable unit whereas the Zip has a user-replaceable battery.

The Zip comes with the USB Bluetooth dongle and a clip to hold the device.

For this review I’ll focus on the One.  The Zip is an “entry-level” version that uses the same web-based application to track your progress.

After charging up the One for a couple of hours, the next step was to go online and get a free fitbit account.  Here’s where you’ll activate your device and keep track of data that’s been collected by the One.  Activation is a simple process of plugging the supplied dongle into your computer and waiting for the activate web application to recognize your One.  A number will pop up on the One’s small screen, which is entered on the web and you’re good to go.  From then on, whenever the device is within about 20 feet of the dongle, the on-board data will be downloaded to the web application.  Not to worry if you’re out of range for a while, as up to 7 days of readings can be stored on the device before it must be uploaded.

Now we’re ready to go collect some data.  I inserted the One into the clip holder and snapped it into the change pocket of my jeans.  It is suggested that the device be attached close to your body.

This is a shot of my personal fitbit page after a couple of days of use.  By the way, you don’t need to purchase a device from fitbit to subscribe to your own web page.  I had one for a time before I got any hardware and just entered my activity manually, but truthfully, that didn’t work well for me.  I don’t have the discipline to do it, and having the One upload it automatically is so much easier.

When setting up your account, you’ll be asked your age and other details.  From that input several assumptions will be made about how many calories you burn, and goals will be set based upon how much you want to weigh.  All the parameters can be overridden manually, so if you wish to lose weight at a faster rate you could set a lower calorie intake per day.

There’s a wealth of information provided on the web site.  Of course, it’s dependent upon the user to input some of the data.  Obviously if you’re going to track your weight, you need to weigh yourself and put the numbers in. Personally, I purchased the Aria WiFi scale from fitbit, which dumps information directly into the web page.

If your goal is to get to a more healthy weight, you’ll want to track calories consumed and burned.  The key to losing weight is to burn more than you take in.  The fitbit will help with the burning part, but to get the most  out of it you need to keep track of what you eat.

Yes, it’s tedious to keep track of everything you eat, but that’s the only way I can ensure that I burn more calories than I take in.  The fitbit web app provides the tools to make it as painless as possible.  There is an extensive database of common food items with their nutrition data, and if you can’t find it, you can create your own food item.  I watch my food plan, and if I go over the allocated calories for the day, I head down to the basement and spend some time on the treadmill until I’m calorie-negative for the day.

The fitbit One can also keep track of your sleep.  Before going to bed you can insert the device into the supplied arm band and hold the display button for 3 seconds.  When you awake, hit the button again for 3 seconds, and the One will calculate some sleep statistics that will be uploaded to the web.

You don’t need to be near a computer to monitor your progress.  The One has a display that shows accumulated data for the day.  You can cycle the display be pushing the button on the device.  It will also give you the current time and randomly send out motivation messages.

If you’re not near your computer, you can monitor your activity with a free smart phone/iPod app.  The app can also be used to log data, such as food eaten, and if you have a device with Bluetooth 4.0, the fitbit will sync with it.

If you’re on a budget or don’t care about tracking your sleep or how many floors you climb, the fitbit Zip would be the choice.  The device features will still help you to improve your health by keeping track of your activity.

There are a lot more activities that can be input into the web application, and I encourage you to take a look.  I find the web application a great helper for motivation to maintain a healthier lifestyle.  Now, every time I pass the cookie jar, I think twice and check my calorie count before grabbing one.

If you’re serious about maintaining a healthy lifestyle or are looking to lose some weight, you can’t go wrong getting a fitbit tracker.  Although it can’t make you lose weight, it can provide the discipline to do so.  I like the One device because of the sleep tracking, but the Zip can also help you reach your goal.

Product Information

Price:	fitbit One $99.95, fitbit Zip $59.95
Manufacturer:	fitbit
Retailer:	Amazon.com
Requirements:	PC or Mac USB port Internet connection
Pros:	Easy to use Provides comprehensive details of activities Small and unobtrusive
Cons:	none

Filed in categories: Health, Fitness, Sports, Reviews

Tagged: Fitness, Health

fitbit one and fitbit zip review originally appeared on The Gadgeteer on January 1, 2013 at 11:00 am.

Source: http://the-gadgeteer.com/2013/01/01/fitbit-one-and-fitbit-zip-review/

ACCENTURE ACER

Apple rumored to be testing Touch on Display screen tech for next iPhone

Apple is rumored to be testing a new screen technology for the next iPhone, manufactured by Innolux, called “Touch on Display”. It's said to be both thin a durable, and could potentially fix problems that have been associated with the current in-cell technology, namely buggy touch responsiveness when swiping at extreme angles. This according to The China Times.

The current in-cell displays are manufactured by a number of companies, including Japan Display and Sharp Display. In-cell display was one of the new features of the iPhone 5, and made it possible for Apple to decrease the thickness of the device.

If Apple is looking to replace it, they’ll want to find a panel that allows them to keep the iPhone as thin as it is now. Not much is known about the next iPhone, which Apple is currently testing, but more information is sure to crop up before it launches sometime this year.

Source: The China Times, via MacRumors

Source: http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/TheIphoneBlog/~3/mahgp7xnxP4/story01.htm

INSIGHT ENTERPRISES INGRAM MICRO

Hulu CEO Jason Kilar Is Outta There

Hulu CEO Jason Kilar has resigned from Hulu. In a blog post announcing his departure, he explains that it wasn't an easy decision. Indeed, Kilar has been at the helm of the online video-on-demand service since its early days as a venture in 2007. CTO Rich Tom will also be leaving the company. More »

Source: http://feeds.gawker.com/~r/gizmodo/full/~3/WoXrCMYL7rc/hulu-ceo-jason-kilar-is-outta-there

MICRON TECHNOLOGY MICROCHIP TECHNOLOGY

PSX games now available in the Android Market, if you own an Xperia Play

If you're lucky enough to own an Xperia Play -- Sony Ericsson's new Gingerbread-powered smartphone-cum-gamepad -- you can now buy PlayStation (PSX) titles from the Android Market.

There are five titles currently available, all priced at £3.99: Syphon Filter, MediEvil, Cool Boarders 2, Destruction Derby, and Jumping Flash. They don't have an American price yet, but that will surely change once the Xperia Play launches in the States.

Two important questions remain unanswered: How big are these games? The Market descriptions say the games are only 5MB, but that sounds incredibly unlikely -- and more importantly, will it be possible to 'spoof' the Xperia Play and download PSX games onto other Gingerbread-powered phones, like the Nexus S?

In other news, the PlayStation emulator PSX4droid was recently removed from the Android Market. This obviously has nothing to do with today's release of first-party PlayStation games.

PSX games now available in the Android Market, if you own an Xperia Play originally appeared on Download Squad on Fri, 01 Apr 2011 04:45:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Source: http://downloadsquad.switched.com/2011/04/01/psx-games-now-available-in-the-android-market/

TIBCO SOFTWARE THQ

Apple May Give Next-Gen iPhone a Splash of Color

This year will be the year of an iPhone of many colors and even different sizes, according to the latest Apple speculation by analyst Brian White at Topeka Capital Markets. Apple's newest smartphone might come in three screen sizes, White reportedly predicted in a research note. The smallest version would have a 3.5-inch screen, another would have a 4-inch screen, which is the same size as the current iPhone 5 model. A third version would be bigger and have a bigger display screen.

Source: http://ectnews.com.feedsportal.com/c/34520/f/632000/s/2723372d/l/0L0Stechnewsworld0N0Crsstory0C769920Bhtml/story01.htm

MAXIMUS MANTECH INTERNATIONAL

Daily Crunch: Swimmingly

A

Source: http://techcrunch.com/2011/08/11/daily-crunch-swimmingly/

SONIC AUTOMOTIVE SKYWORKS SOLUTIONS

Sony Is Going to Make a Cable Killing Streaming TV Service Later This Year

Variety reports that one of Sony's big fish announcements this year will be a broadband TV service that'll compete directly with cable. The TV service will offer multiple channels licensed from different content companies and will stream over the Internet. Meaning there would be no more need for cable. Meaning awesome. More »

Source: http://feeds.gawker.com/~r/gizmodo/full/~3/Tq_IpQ-Jjl0/sony-is-going-to-make-a-cable-killing-streaming-tv-service-later-this-year

YAHOO XILINX

The Downsides to Apple’s iPad

When Apple’s iPad was launched, there were queues of people waiting to get their hands on one. The revolutionary tablet iPad was going to offer people a new device that was going to change their lives. However, a lot of people shrugged at the idea with clear indifference. Many people announced their disappointment at the fact the iPad could not deliver on it’s promises. The two opposing views show just how divided opinions are about the device.

First we need to take a look at the things that make the iPad a device that really is not worth buying.

 Apple are constantly releasing new versions of the iPad in the very near future, so is it the device we all need to rush out and buy?

 A lot of people have expressed their pure disappointment in the iPad so when it comes to a new tablet PC, the big question on everyone’s lips is ‘will the device be any better’? The fact that questions are being asked is enough to hurt Apple’s sales because it is mostly ‘techies’ who don’t like the iPad. Bad press always puts a large number of people off buying a product.

 With a new upgraded version soon to be released, a lot of people would rather wait for the it to be launced because the device might have a few of the features that Apple did not incorporate into the iPad in the first place and this includes a built-in camera. If it means waiting a few months for a better version of the device, then people would prefer to do this than fork out $500 on a device that lacks some fundamental features that will be outdated very soon by an upgraded version.

On factor that many people find annoying about the iPad is the fact is does not support Flash which is a standard on the web. Flash runs videos, audios as well as games but for one reason or another Apple does not like this application which some people find understandable. Apple prefers a less vulnerable application that’s more stable and harder to hack into. As such the company uses it’s own HTML5.

However, as the majority of websites use Adobe Flash, this can be a little annoying. Users have to visit sites using the iPad’s Safari browser and although this is great, this causes a few problems that can be very annoying.

As mentioned above, there’s no in-built camera either and there’s no guarantee that a newer version will have one either. This is a huge downside of the iPad as people can’t communicate over skype or any other way they might want to.

Multitasking can only be done when running Apple’s native applications, it does run on third party applications. So if users want to multitask the simple answer is they won’t be able to if they are running any application that are not native to Apple.

The conclusion is the iPad is great if you want a sophisticated gadget that has multi-function applications like a multimedia player, a laptop hybrid or that represents a really great toy. However, if you like to be online then you might find you reach a dead end pretty quickly without Flash support and you won’t be able to make a video call on Skype while listening to iTunes.

Source: http://tabletbuzzblog.com/the-downsides-to-apples-ipad/

GOOGLE GOOGLE

Let it Slide is an engaging, difficult puzzle game

I have a thing for physics games, and I've been known to post the occasional platformer or action game here and there. But Let it Slide is one of the brainiest games I've posted to date.

The idea is very simple, and far from original: You get a board with pieces arranged in a particular pattern; you have to slide those around until you get the special piece into its target location.

It's not even about finding out where the target location is - you can just hover over "dim tiles" and instantly see where you're supposed to bring the special piece. But getting it there is a whole different story.

There are five tutorial levels, which I strongly recommend you do. Then there are twenty "beginner" levels, but that's really a misnomer. If those are the beginner levels, I don't want to know what the intermediate and advanced levels look like!

Every time you finish a level you get a score based on how many clicks it took you - each level has a "par" (the minimum number of clicks it could be completed in), and your performance is compared to that gold standard. Because it's such a brainy game, getting it right is quite satisfying. I was downright proud of myself when I managed to finish a few levels. All in all, quite recommended, especially if you've got a few minutes of quiet. It might actually help you focus better later on.

Let it Slide is an engaging, difficult puzzle game originally appeared on Download Squad on Wed, 23 Feb 2011 17:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Source: http://downloadsquad.switched.com/2011/02/23/let-it-slide-is-an-engaging-difficult-puzzle-game/

FIRST SOLAR FINISAR

Canonical announces Ubuntu phones. No, seriously.

Canonical, the benevolent dictators behind the most consumer-friendly version of Linux, have announced a new, mobile version of their Ubuntu distro and their intent to release Ubuntu phones. Make all the "year of Linux on desktop" or "yet another LiMo" jokes you want, but as someone who loves mobile software, I'm interested to see what Canonical brings to the table. Succeed or fail, new interface concepts, new features, and new approaches to mobile computing helps every platform, even if only by showing what's possible -- and what isn't.

My quick take is that, like BlackBerry 10, Canonical is betting heavily on gesture-based interface, without any clear or consistent hinting system to improve discoverability and usability. That's the least of the challenges they'll face in bringing their concept to market, however, much less securing a significant share of the market.

Check out their product site, however, to see what else they have up their sleeves, and check out Jerry Hildenbrand's write up on Android Central for excellent take on the potential and pitfalls of Ubuntu on phones.

Then come back and let me know what you think. Does Canonical have a shot in world where everyone from webOS to Microsoft has struggled?

Source: Ubuntu via Android Central

Source: http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/TheIphoneBlog/~3/MYeI5UUlCPU/story01.htm

SAIC SATYAM COMPUTER SERVICES

New iPad Quad Core Graphics

Prior to the unveiling of the new iPad 3, there was a lot of speculation and rumors about what processor would be on board and what features the new tablet. The older iPad 2 came with an A5 processor which included a dual core graphics processor and 512mb of RAM. The graphics processor takes care of all the display functions whilst the main processor handles all of the other functions. A lot of the rumors prior to the new iPad coming out centered around what processor it would have and an “A6″ processor was mooted a lot, with suggestions that it would feature both a quad core CPU and a quad core graphics processor as well, in addition to more memory.

Now that the new iPad has been unveiled, it became apparent that Apple had not quite lived up to the dreams of the A6. The new iPad features a processor called the A5X – an update on the A5, but still a dual core processor. However, the onboard graphics processor is now a quad core. This is a great performance boost if not quite as dramatic as the rumors originally suggested!

The new graphics processor is probably driven by the new retina display which has pushed the iPad’s screen resolution from 1024×769 to a massive 2048×1536. This resolution improvement gives 4 times the number of pixels the previous iPad had, which is a taxing task for any unit. The new quad core graphics processor makes this a lot more manageable.

The new A5 chip carries an increased cache and a slightly increased clock speed to boost the iPad 3′s performance and enable the new hardware to run smoothly. One interesting fact is that although the RAM has been increased from 512mb to 1gb, it’s no longer on board the processor chip but is over the other side of the unit. It’s been speculated that this could be in order to avoid issued with overheating.

So is the new Retina display and improved quad core graphics worth upgrading from the iPad 1 or 2 to the new model? Yes, definitely! The new iPad’s high resolution will allow HD movies and videos to be played. Photos will be crisp and clear. Ebooks are also likely to be much clearer to read and a great many apps are being upgraded to take advantage of the new processor and new display.

The new graphics processor brings benefits beyond just the screen display. The new iPad’s rear camera can now shoot video in 1080P High definition, and allows on board editing in iMovie rather than having to transfer it back and forth to your Pc or Mac. Also if you buy the newest version of Apple TV you can get AirPlay streaming at 1080P.

The new iPad 3 has some very big improvements over the previous models, and the quad core processor is a big part of those enhancements.

Source: http://tabletbuzzblog.com/new-ipad-quad-core-graphics/

NVIDIA ORACLE

Engadget Mobile Podcast 163 - 1.2.2013

Can you hear that? That's the calm before the storm. The fiery, relentless, gadgety storm that is CES. While we wait to see what what mobile delights the show brings us, we've a few things already in the bag to discuss. So bring in the garden furniture, baton down the hatches and tune in to this week's mobile podcast.

Hosts: Myriam Joire (tnkgrl), Brad Molen

Producer: James Trew
Music: Tycho - Coastal Brake (Ghostly International)

Hear the podcast

Continue reading Engadget Mobile Podcast 163 - 1.2.2013

Filed under: Podcasts, Mobile

Comments

Source: http://feeds.engadget.com/~r/weblogsinc/engadget/~3/DQJh3Du-wdM/

ALLIANCE DATA SYSTEMS ALLTEL

Bing begins roll out of HTML5-enhanced search interface

Bing's new HTML5-and-CSS3-enhanced search interface, which was first demonstrated back in September 2010 to showcase the power of IE9, has started to roll out.

The most notable addition to the new interface is is smooth page transitions -- the fade in and out -- and navigation tabs (maps, images, videos, etc.) now persistently float at the top of the page. WinRumors is also reporting that a feature reminiscent of Google Instant search is being added to Bing, with page elements smoothly transitioning in and out as you type in your search query.

If you want to try out the new Bing UI, your best bet is to set your locale to United States - English and pray that you're part of the initial roll out. Alternatively, just wait a few days until MIX 2011, Microsoft's Web developer conference, which is when the new Bing UI should be officially launched.

Bing begins roll out of HTML5-enhanced search interface originally appeared on Download Squad on Fri, 08 Apr 2011 06:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Source: http://downloadsquad.switched.com/2011/04/08/bing-begins-roll-out-of-html5-enhanced-search-interface/

NOKIA NVIDIA

Chrome 11 beta adds new experimental APIs for proxies, Web navigation

Google Chrome 11 -- which just recently made the move to the browser's beta channel -- has received a minor update that gives developers access to two new APIs.

The first is a full-featured proxy API, which will, for example, allow users to set different proxy servers for normal browsing and Incognito mode. Proxy auto-config scripts are also supported by the API.

The second -- Web Navigation Extension -- is a bit more expansive. This API will allow devs to build everything from more powerful safe browsing extensions -- like Traffic Light -- to data analysis and reporting extensions.

Both APIs are currently experimental, so you'll need to enable them on the about:flags page to try out any relevant extensions. Apart from a proxy example built by Google and shipped with the Chromium source, we're not aware of any examples just yet, however. We'll let you know when we spot any slick, new extensions which do surface.

Chrome 11 beta adds new experimental APIs for proxies, Web navigation originally appeared on Download Squad on Tue, 05 Apr 2011 08:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Source: http://downloadsquad.switched.com/2011/04/05/chrome-11-beta-adds-new-experimental-apis-for-proxies-web-navig/

SYNTEL SYNTAXBRILLIAN