Spotify takes on Apple and Google with Connect service (via The Inquirer)
MUSIC STREAMING SERVICE Spotify has teamed up with music hardware makers to launch Connect, an audio service that syncs music across phones and tablets as well as home audio devices such as hifi systems and speakers. In a bid to take on rival Apple’…
Google says UK privacy laws can’t touch it (via The Inquirer)
INTERNET SERVICES GIANT Google has told the UK High Court that it is not subject to UK privacy laws because it is a US company. Google is in court because it danced around security settings on the Apple iPhone and collected some users’ personal information…
One of the biggest frustrations among Google Android users is the inability to immediately upgrade their Android OS when a new version becomes available. Because the OS is fragmented among smartphone manufacturers an upgrade for one device does not necessarily guarantee an upgrade for another device.
In many cases a powerful smartphone could be looked over as its manufacturer moves onto new devices. In those cases it could be worth voiding your warranty to mod your smartphone.
Considerations For Modding A Smartphone
First, is your phone out of warranty? Most devices have a one year manufactures warranty, after that point it typically won’t matter what happens to your smartphone since repairs are not supported without costs associated.
It is also important to consider the devices specifications. As Google continues to build out a more powerful OS the power requirements to keep the system running increase. If you’re running a dual-core processor with an OS built for a Qualcomm Snapdragon processor with 4-cores you might experience system lag.
Finally, make sure you choose a reputable developer for your system mod. I personally use XDA-Developers forums to find widely accepted Google Android mods.
PREPARING YOUR SMARTPHONE FOR A GOOGLE ANDROID OS UPGRADE
There are a few things you need to do in order to prepare your smartphone for an unauthorized Google Android OS update.
First, you need to make sure your device is fully charged and plugged into a power outlet. You want to make sure the devices full upgrade occurs before power runs out.
Next, download Android USB drivers so you can connect your device to your computer. You will need to install the ROM upgrade directly from your computer.
Backup your device. Download files, contacts and other allowed information to your PC or MAC. In case of a system failure this will help ensure that you don’t lose your favorite photos and other important data. Typically your smartphone manufacturer will sell your smartphone device alongside an Android backup application.
Bio:
Frank Hendel is a mobile phone sales expert in the b2b sector. In his spare time he loves modding the ROMs on older Android devices, recently he worked to install ICS on HTC Wildfire handsets. You can read more about ROM upgrades at Geeksuper.com.
How many passwords do you have for all your online accounts? From email accounts – of which you probably have at least a handful – to social networking accounts to online banking portals to forums to shopping web sites – we have so many passwords to remember that it can be a headache. Especially when you visit a long ago forgotten site. Then it could be such a hassle to remember the password, that is unless you’ve got a vault where you keep all your passwords. (I highly recommend Lastpass for this.)
If Google’s vision becomes a reality – which I don’t doubt it will at some point – we just might a solution to this password headache. At a recent RSA security event held in San Francisco, Google principal engineer, Mayank Upadhyay has revealed the interesting direction that the company is going in regard to passwords. [Read more…]
There’s nothing like a good, long documentary marathon session to spend a lazy weekend. I have not done that lately, but I would give an arm and a leg to be able to do absolutely nothing for an entire weekend but watch all the documentaries I can watch, with breaks only for the necessary things.
If you hold the same opinion of documentaries as I do, and you particularly like tech (you’re reading this, so you must have a proclivity for the topic), let me help you feel a little better on a Monday. You may not know it, but there are some pretty interesting tech documentaries slated for 2013. While you might have to wait for some them, the idea of having something to give you your documentary fix ought to put a smile on your face AND those that have been released should do you good for now.
Here are the tech documentaries to watch this year. [Read more…]