How Android fragmentation actually affects users

Android is growing at a phenomenal rate thanks in part to the many hardware options available to phone shoppers. Now Android is at an inflection point, with both phones and tablets on the market. With all this variance in hardware, and a growing application ecosystem, fragmentation is more of a concern than ever before for the users.

It’s all well and good to speak about Android fragmentation in the abstract; to discuss what it does to the integrity of the platform. What really matters, though, is what how it affects the users. There are growing fragmentation issues from the user perspective. As an Ice Cream Sandwich nears release, there are a number of ways that A
ndroid fragmentation affects human beings.

Nokia's upcoming Windroid phone exploits Android's Achilles' heel: Its openness

The Android phone Nokia is expected to release next week at Mobile World Congress will apparently have an interface that looks more like Windows than Android, and feature Microsoft and Nokia services, rather those made by Android-maker Google. It looks as if Microsoft will be exploiting Android's Achilles' heel: Its openness.
Numerous news outlets have reported on the up-coming release of Nokia's low-end Android phone, to be called the Nokia X, including the Wall Street Journal. The Journal says that the phone will be "tailored in a way that won't promote some of the key Google-developed features that a more traditional Android-powered phone might." Instead of Google Maps, it's expected to have Nokia's mapping service. It won't run Google's app store, Google Play, and will instead run a Nokia app store. I would expect it to have some form of Microsoft mail rather than Gmail, and possibly Bing instead of Google as the default search engine. Microsoft's Skype will also be baked in.
As for the look and feel, think Windows Phone instead of Android. As you can see in the picture below, leaked by @evleaks on Twitter, it sports big Windows Phone-like tiles, not Android's usual
app-centric interface.














Like many other people, I initially pooh-poohed the original rumors of Nokia releasing and Android phone. But that was before details leaked about the phone, and it turned out that the phone is essentially a mashup of Android and Windows -- Android underneath, but looking like Windows on top, and sporting Microsoft and Nokia services rather than Google services.
The move makes plenty of sense. Under Steve Ballmer, Microsoft reorganized to be a services and devices company, and this phone fits perfectly into that vision. Via Nokia, Microsoft will make money with device sales. And Microsoft and Nokia services will benefit from any services and advertising revenue, because Google will be locked out.
The phone is expected to have a dual-core 1GHz Snapdragon processor, 4-inch WVGA screen, 512MB of memory, 4GB of storage, microSD card slot, and a 5-megapixel camera. It's aimed at the low-cost developing market, which used to be a Nokia stronghold until it made the move to Windows Phone. Nokia will likely try to convert buyers of the phone to a more powerful Windows Phone when the buyers move up the income ladder. That's why the phone will have the Windows Phone look and feel -- people will get used to it on their Android phone, and then in Microsoft's vision, happily move up to a Windows Phone because they'll already be used to the interface.
The plan is fiendishly clever and exploits Android's Achilles' heel -- its openness. There's nothing preventing Nokia from taking Android, changing its interface to look like Windows Phone, and jettisoning all of Google's services for Nokia's and Microsoft's. It may prove to be a big winner for Microsoft in the battle for what will become one of the world's largest markets, the developing world.

GROWING INDIAN ECONOMY

Indian economy grows 4.7% in October-December quarter

 The Indian economy grew 4.7% in the third quarter of this financial year mainly due to improved performance in the agriculture and services sectors.

The Sochi 2014 Winter Olympics Medal standings

Rank	Country	Gold	Silver	Bronze	Total
1	Russian Fed.	13	11	9	33
2	Norway	11	5	10	26
3	Canada	10	10	5	25
4	United States	9	7	12	28
5	Netherlands	8	7	9	24
6	Germany	8	6	5	19
7	Switzerland	6	3	2	11
8	Belarus	5	0	1	6
9	Austria	4	8	5	17
10	France	4	4	7	15
11	Poland	4	1	1	6
12	China	3	4	2	9
13	Korea	3	3	2	8
14	Sweden	2	7	6	15
15	Czech Republic	2	4	2	8
16	Slovenia	2	2	4	8
17	Japan	1	4	3	8
18	Finland	1	3	1	5
19	Great Britain	1	1	2	4
20	Ukraine	1	0	1	2
21	Slovakia	1	0	0	1
22	Italy	0	2	6	8
23	Latvia	0	2	2	4
24	Australia	0	2	1	3
25	Croatia	0	1	0	1
26	Kazakhstan	0	0	1	1
-	Albania	0	0	0	0
-	Andorra	0	0	0	0
-	Argentina	0	0	0	0
-	Armenia	0	0	0	0
-	Azerbaijan	0	0	0	0
-	Belgium	0	0	0	0
-	Bermuda	0	0	0	0
-	Bosnia and Herzegovina	0	0	0	0
-	Brazil	0	0	0	0
-	Bulgaria	0	0	0	0
-	Cayman Islands	0	0	0	0
-	Chile	0	0	0	0
-	Chinese Taipei	0	0	0	0
-	Cyprus	0	0	0	0
-	Denmark	0	0	0	0
-	Dominica	0	0	0	0
-	Estonia	0	0	0	0
-	Georgia	0	0	0	0
-	Greece	0	0	0	0
-	Hong Kong, CHN	0	0	0	0
-	Hungary	0	0	0	0
-	Iceland	0	0	0	0
-	Independent Olympic Participant	0	0	0	0
-	India	0	0	0	0
-	IR Iran	0	0	0	0
-	Ireland	0	0	0	0
-	Israel	0	0	0	0
-	Jamaica	0	0	0	0
-	Kyrgyzstan	0	0	0	0
-	Lebanon	0	0	0	0
-	Liechtenstein	0	0	0	0
-	Lithuania	0	0	0	0
-	Luxembourg	0	0	0	0
-	Malta	0	0	0	0
-	Mexico	0	0	0	0
-	Monaco	0	0	0	0
-	Mongolia	0	0	0	0
-	Montenegro	0	0	0	0
-	Morocco	0	0	0	0
-	Nepal	0	0	0	0
-	New Zealand	0	0	0	0
-	Pakistan	0	0	0	0
-	Paraguay	0	0	0	0
-	Peru	0	0	0	0
-	Philippines	0	0	0	0
-	Portugal	0	0	0	0
-	Rep. of Moldova	0	0	0	0
-	Romania	0	0	0	0
-	San Marino	0	0	0	0
-	Serbia	0	0	0	0
-	Spain	0	0	0	0
-	Tajikistan	0	0	0	0
-	Thailand	0	0	0	0
-	The Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia	0	0	0	0
-	Timor-Leste	0	0	0	0
-	Togo	0	0	0	0
-	Tonga	0	0	0	0
-	Turkey	0	0	0	0
-	Uzbekistan	0	0	0	0
-	Venezuela	0	0	0	0
-	Virgin Isl, B	0	0	0	0
-	Virgin Isl, US	0	0	0	0
-	Zimbabwe	0	0	0	0

Billionaires Worth $3.7 Trillion Surge as Gates Wins 2013

The richest people on the planet got even richer in 2013, adding $524 billion to their collective net worth, according to the Bloomberg Billionaires Index, a daily ranking of the world’s 300 wealthiest individuals.
The aggregate net worth of the world’s top billionaires stood at $3.7 trillion at the market close on Dec. 31, according to the ranking. The biggest gains came in the technology industry, which soared 28 percent during the year. Of the 300 people who appeared on the final ranking of 2013, only 70 registered a net loss for the 12-month period.
“The rich will keep getting richer in 2014,” John Catsimatidis, the billionaire founder of real estate and energy conglomerate Red Apple Group Inc., said in a telephone interview from his New York office. “Interest rates will remain low, equity markets will keep rising, and the economy will grow at less than 2 percent.”
Bill Gates, the founder and chairman of Redmond, Washington-based Microsoft Corp., was the year’s biggest gainer. The 58-year-old tycoon’s fortune increased by $15.8 billion to $78.5 billion, according to the index, as shares of Microsoft, the world’s largest software maker, rose 40 percent.
Gates recaptured the title of world’s richest person on May 16 from Mexican investor Carlos Slim. Gates’s fortune has also benefited from a rally in stock holdings that include the Canadian National Railway Co. and sanitizing-products maker Ecolab Inc., which rose 34 percent and 45 percent respectively.

Photographer: Jerome Favre/Bloomberg

Sheldon Adelson, chairman and chief executive officer of Las Vegas Sands Corp.

Four Seasons

Most of Gates’s assets are held in Cascade Investment LLC, an entity through which he owns stakes in about three dozen publicly traded companies and several closely held businesses, including Four Seasons Hotels and Resorts and Corbis Corp., a photo-archive company. Less than a quarter of Gates’s fortune is held in Microsoft. He’s donated $28 billion to the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation.
John Pinette, a spokesman for Gates, declined to comment.
Global stocks soared in 2013 for the best annual gain since 2009, with the MSCI World Index advancing 24 percent during the year to close at 1,661.07 on Dec. 31. The Standard and Poor’s 500 Index rose 30 percent to close at 1,848.36, its best yearly gain since 1997. The Stoxx Europe 600 gained 17 percent to close at 328.26.
Companies in the S&P 500 are worth $3.7 trillion more today than they were 12 months ago following a year when Federal Reserve Chairman Ben S. Bernanke signaled the curtailment of economic stimulus. The bull market, born at the depths of the credit crisis, enters its sixth year fueled by near-zero interest rates and conviction among investors that it’s finally safe to own equities again

NASA's Kepler Mission Announces a Planet Bonanza

The artist concept depicts multiple-transiting planet systems, which are stars with more than one planet. The planets eclipse or transit their host star from the vantage point of the observer. This angle is called edge-on.

Image Credit: 

NASA

NASA's Kepler mission announced Wednesday the discovery of 715 new planets. These newly-verified worlds orbit 305 stars, revealing multiple-planet systems much like our own solar system.
Nearly 95 percent of these planets are smaller than Neptune, which is almost four times the size of Earth. This discovery marks a significant increase in the number of known small-sized planets more akin to Earth than previously identified exoplanets, which are planets outside our solar system.
"The Kepler team continues to amaze and excite us with their planet hunting results," said John Grunsfeld, associate administrator for NASA's Science Mission Directorate in Washington. "That these new planets and solar systems look somewhat like our own, portends a great future when we have the James Webb Space Telescope in space to characterize the new worlds.”
Since the discovery of the first planets outside our solar system roughly two decades ago, verification has been a laborious planet-by-planet process. Now, scientists have a statistical technique that can be applied to many planets at once when they are found in systems that harbor more than one planet around the same star.
To verify this bounty of planets, a research team co-led by Jack Lissauer, planetary scientist at NASA's Ames Research Center in Moffett Field, Calif., analyzed stars with more than one potential planet, all of which were detected in the first two years of Kepler's observations -- May 2009 to March 2011.
The research team used a technique called verification by multiplicity, which relies in part on the logic of probability. Kepler observes 150,000 stars, and has found a few thousand of those to have planet candidates. If the candidates were randomly distributed among Kepler's stars, only a handful would have more than one planet candidate. However, Kepler observed hundreds of stars that have multiple planet candidates. Through a careful study of this sample, these 715 new planets were verified.
This method can be likened to the behavior we know of lions and lionesses. In our imaginary savannah, the lions are the Kepler stars and the lionesses are the planet candidates. The lionesses would sometimes be observed grouped together whereas lions tend to roam on their own. If you see two lions it could be a lion and a lioness or it could be two lions. But if more than two large felines are gathered, then it is very likely to be a lion and his pride. Thus, through multiplicity the lioness can be reliably identified in much the same way multiple planet candidates can be found around the same star.
"Four years ago, Kepler began a string of announcements of first hundreds, then thousands, of planet candidates --but they were only candidate worlds," said Lissauer. "We've now developed a process to verify multiple planet candidates in bulk to deliver planets wholesale, and have used it to unveil a veritable bonanza of new worlds."
These multiple-planet systems are fertile grounds for studying individual planets and the configuration of planetary neighborhoods. This provides clues to planet formation.
Four of these new planets are less than 2.5 times the size of Earth and orbit in their sun's habitable zone, defined as the range of distance from a star where the surface temperature of an orbiting planet may be suitable for life-giving liquid water.
One of these new habitable zone planets, called Kepler-296f, orbits a star half the size and 5 percent as bright as our sun. Kepler-296f is twice the size of Earth, but scientists do not know whether the planet is a gaseous world, with a thick hydrogen-helium envelope, or it is a water world surrounded by a deep ocean.
"From this study we learn planets in these multi-systems are small and their orbits are flat and circular -- resembling pancakes -- not your classical view of an atom," said Jason Rowe, research scientist at the SETI Institute in Mountain View, Calif., and co-leader of the research. "The more we explore the more we find familiar traces of ourselves amongst the stars that remind us of home."
This latest discovery brings the confirmed count of planets outside our solar system to nearly 1,700. As we continue to reach toward the stars, each discovery brings us one step closer to a more accurate understanding of our place in the galaxy.
Launched in March 2009, Kepler is the first NASA mission to find potentially habitable Earth-size planets. Discoveries include more than 3,600 planet candidates, of which 961 have been verified as bona-fide worlds.

BlackBerry Z3 with 5-inch display announced; to be priced under $200

Barcelona: BlackBerry unveiled a new, cheaper touchscreen smartphone and a "classic" model with a keyboard on Tuesday, as it tries to stem losses and win back once-devoted security-conscious business and government users.
The news, coupled with more details about the company's strategy in its services business, helped send shares in BlackBerry surging more than 9 percent.
The lower-end Z3 smartphone, priced at under $200, is being built under a partnership deal with FIH Mobile, the Hong Kong-listed unit of Taiwanese electronics company Foxconn Technology Co Ltd.

BlackBerry also announced the Q20 smartphone that features BlackBerry's patented QWERTY keyboard design. It has a 3.5-inch touchscreen, the largest display yet on a QWERTY BlackBerry smartphone.

Code named Jakarta, the device will go on sale in April in Indonesia, where BlackBerry's BBM messaging service is proving very popular, said John Chen, who took over as the group's chief executive late last year.
"It's a 3G phone, and we have a plan to expand the phone to different parts of southeast Asia after Indonesia," he said at the annual Mobile World Congress trade fair in Barcelona. "We have a plan to go global with an LTE (high speed 4G) version of it some time in the future."
BlackBerry, once a must-have device for every business executive and government official because of its pioneering secure email service, has haemorrhaged market share to Apple Inc's iPhone and rival devices running on Google Inc's Android software.
Opening its admired BBM messaging service to other operating systems - with Microsoft Corp's Windows Phone being the latest addition - has further hit BlackBerry sales, particularly in emerging markets. Research group IDC put BlackBerry's share of the smartphone market in the fourth quarter of 2013 at just 0.6 per cent, down 77 per cent from a year ago.
Back to the future
Chen appeared on stage with Foxconn Chairman Terry Gou, reflecting a burgeoning relationship that is set to deepen as the Taiwanese company manufactures the new, high-end "classic" BlackBerry.
The Q20, available before the end of the year, will have a traditional BlackBerry layout, aimed squarely at the company's original core business and government customers, Chen said.
The reintroduction of Blackberry's traditional keyboard was at the top of customers' wish list, he said.
The line of keys that included the 'Menu,' 'Back,' 'Send' and 'End' buttons, along with a trackpad, had been dropped on its high-end Q10 keyboard device that was launched last year.
The lack of the familiar keys, coupled with the device's all new BlackBerry 10 operating system, had left many long time fans disenchanted with the Q10 device.
Enterprise strategy
Chen's strategy is to focus more on its profitable services segment that helps its large government and corporate clients manage and secure mobile devices on their internal networks.
Admitting the company had spread itself "a little too thin," he said it would focus on the 30 per cent of the enterprise market where the strength of BlackBerry's operating system in terms of security played best - regulated industries like banking and telecommunications, and government.
"We don't want to lose the rest of the market ... but for the next 18 months I think you see us very much intent on going back and winning the regulated industries," he said.
He also unveiled changes to the company's mobile device management tool for companies and government in Barcelona, taking prices lower with the aim of winning back some of the market share lost to competitors.
Although the announcements helped boost BlackBerry shares about 10 percent to $10.78 on Nasdaq at mid-afternoon, some analysts remain skeptical about whether the company can turn around in its fortunes.
"In our view, BlackBerry has yet to prove that it can stabilize its subscriber base and cost structure, before establishing a baseline profit level and new path to growth," GMP Securities analyst Deepak Kaushal said in a research note.
Foxconn partnership
Despite shifting the focus away from its money losing handset business, Chen has indicated that the segment remains a core asset for the company.
The price of BlackBerry's devices, while competitive, reflect the company's security credentials, he said.
"We need to build very solid phones that are more skewed toward the high-end," he said. "We are not going to play 'let's build a $75 phone.' That's not our sweet spot."
BlackBerry signed a 5-year deal last year with contract Foxconn, in which it would no longer pay upfront for parts used in its devices. Instead, Foxconn, the trading name of Hon Hai Precision Industry, will take a share of profits on each device in return for taking on inventory management.
The partnership also gives Foxconn a step up in the value chain - a chance to not just assemble smartphones, but help to develop and design them as well

Motorola Moto G review: An optimal blend of performance and price

In June 2012, Motorola had drastically trimmed down its India operations and later shut down its India website. But the lure of the Indian market couldn't keep Motorola away for long and they are back with a bang with the budget Moto G.

Earlier this month Motorola began selling the phone in India, as a Flipkart exclusive, and it did manage to rake up some excitement.

Hype or real value for money? The verdict follows.
At the first glance, the Moto G to me appeared to be a constricted Nexus 4 but any hint of resemblance to the previous generation of Google's showcase Android phone disappears once you turn it around.
The Motorola Moto G is a compact phone with a screen-size of 4.5 inches. The phone easily snuggles into my palm and its rounded corners make it comfortable to hold and operate the phone. The rear of the phone has a slight ergonomic curve.

With the Moto G Motorola re-enters the Indian market with a bang and gives other phones in its price range a lot to worry about.

The back panel of this dual-SIM phone is removable for access to the SIM slots. There is no slot for a microSD card, so no memory expansion. The inbuilt storage is the only storage space that is available to store your data and install apps.
The Moto G comes in 8GB and 16GB variants with a difference of Rs 1500 in their price. While the 8GB model is priced at Rs 12,499, the 16GB costs Rs 13,999. Our review unit was 8GB and it offered around 5.5GB of user-accessible space, that in all likelihood, is unlikely to suffice for the needs of even a normal smartphone user. The suggestion is that spending that extra Rs 1.5K will be worth the extra space.
While almost all Android phones in this price bracket give you an option to expand memory via microSD card, the absence of the same on the Moto G may put many potential buyers off.
Its rubbery back with a matte finish not only gives it a handsome look, but also makes it non-slippery and scratch-resistant. To my surprise, the phone does not come with a modular charger, it, instead, comes with a basic charger with a non-detachable USB cable. This means you will need to buy a separate USB cable to connect your phone to a PC.
The phone has a quality display in terms of colour reproduction and touch responsiveness. The Moto G comes with an excellent display, which offers great viewing angles and is scratch resistant. Having used the phone for more than a week, there is not even a single scratch on the screen. From surfing the Internet to watching videos to reading ebooks on its 4.5-inch 720p display was a pleasant experience. The screen is readable under bright sunlight; I could comfortably reply to emails, check my Twitter, Facebook and browse through the phone while taking a stroll outside my workplace during the daytime.
The phone is engineered with a 1.2GHz quad-core Qualcomm Snapdragon 400 processor along with 1GB of RAM under the hood. It not only let me easily multitask, but also there was no lag in performing any function. Even 1080p videos played very smoothly on the Moto G.
Talking about the software, the phone runs the latest Android OS - Android 4.4.2 KitKat. While the review unit was running Android 4.3 out of the box, it was during the review period that the phone got an upgrade to Android 4.4. As promised, Motorola began pushing Android 4.4 KitKat update for the Moto G in India.
The Moto G does not run unadulterated Android; Motorola has installed a few Motorola-centric apps along with an FM radio - a feature not available on the phones running stock Android. Other such apps include Motorola Assist that recognizes when you shouldn't be disturbed. It checks your calendar for events and helps you avoid distractions during meetings. It also puts your phone on the silent mode during the hours you sleep. The Motorola Migrate app lets you move stuff including your text messages, music, photos, videos, SIM contacts, and call history, from your old phone - Android or iPhone - to your new Motorola phone.
Even tough the phone does not run stock Android, the minor tweaks that Motorola has made to the software in no way affects the look and feel of the OS. Minus those Motorola-specific apps, the phone is almost a pure Android device (Read our review of Android Kitkat).
The Moto G comes with a decent 5 megapixel camera (with an LED flash) that captures satisfactory photos in day-light and soft-light conditions, but in low-light conditions, the camera shows it clumsy side. Its1.3 megapixel front camera is fine for video calling, but it isn't the one you should be using to take selfies to share on Facebook.
One thing that I found missing, and somewhat unusual, on the Moto G is the inability to change the image size while taking photographs. Also, it doesn't let you set the video quality; the phone by default captures videos in 720p, so you are likely to run out of your limited storage space faster if you intend to shoot longer videos.
The Moto G is packed with a 2070mAh battery. The phone easily lasted for a day on normal usage. Given the price it comes at, I am impressed with its speaker which produces both loud and clear sound. Also with earphones plugged in, the sound is clear and pleasant sound.
Undoubtedly, Motorola has re-entered the Indian market with a device that combines the right mix of features and price. This budget phone is value for money and makes to our recommendation list

'Contagious' wi-fi virus created by Liverpool researchers

Networks most at threat are small businesses and home users, researchers said

A computer virus that can spread via wi-fi like a "common cold" has been created by researchers in Liverpool.

In densely populated areas with lots of wi-fi networks, the virus can go from network to network finding weaknesses.
Once in control of a wi-fi access point, it leaves computers on the network extremely vulnerable.
The team's lead researcher told the BBC it was working on software to prevent such attacks being possible.
"Rather than rely on people to use strong passwords, you want to integrate intrusion detection systems to the access points," said Alan Marshall, professor of communication networks at the University of Liverpool.
He would not go into detail about the methods in order to prevent the attack being used on real victims but said a proof-of-concept attack had been developed at the university.
'Under control' The virus, dubbed Chameleon, seeks out wi-fi access points - devices that transmit the wi-fi signal, found in many homes - that have not had their admin password changed.

Many people do not change their wi-fi admin password

This password is different from the one used to log on to the wi-fi network itself, and is often left unchanged from the default setting.
Once an access point is under a hacker's control, new firmware can be installed.
"So it's now under our control," explained Prof Marshall.
"Once you do that you can then do other things with it. You can recover passwords, steal data - anything you want."
Spreading out But it is the next step of the virus that is most unusual.
Once installed on one access point, the virus can - without being controlled by a human - automatically seek out other vulnerable access points, taking them over as and when they are found.
Prof Marshall told the BBC that this was unlikely to be a threat to big business wi-fi networks, which should have enhanced security in place.
However, networks in homes, or at small premises like coffee shops, are typically found with less stringent protection measures in place.
Now that his team has demonstrated the threat, Prof Marshall said attention would turn to creating a product that could be installed in wi-fi access points to prevent this kind of hijacking - without requiring the user to take responsibility.

Apple issues fix to reported OS X security hole

The flaw could have enabled hackers to impersonate a website and intercept and capture data en route

Continue reading the main story

Apple has issued a fix to a flaw in its OS X operating system which previously left users vulnerable to security breaches while browsing online.

A software update was released last week to iPhone, iPad and iPod owners to protect users from "an attacker" who may "capture or modify data".
It was later discovered that the problem also existed on Apple laptops and desktop computers running OS X.
On Tuesday, Apple issue a security fix through its software update service.
The problem was first spotted on Apple's mobile devices which run the iOS 7 operating system. It related to the way secure connections are made between Apple's safari browser and websites, including banking sites, Google and Facebook.
These sites have digital security certificates that allow an encrypted connection to be established between a user's computer and the website. This means any data that is sent over the connection should be secure.
Dropped the ball However, a vulnerability in the code for Apple's iOS and OS X operating systems meant the security certificates were not being checked properly. This meant hackers could impersonate a website and capture the data that was being sent over the connection before letting it continue its journey to the real website.

A security fix has already been issued for users of iPads, iPhones and iPods

Apple released a fix for mobile devices running iOS 7 last week but a spokesperson issued the following statement about OS X: "We are aware of this issue and already have a software fix that will be released very soon."
The fix was released on Tuesday.
According to researchers the security flaw had existed for months but no-one had reported it publicly.
Graham Cluley, a security analyst, said it was a failing by the company that it had not been identified earlier.
"It's pretty bad what Apple have done, they've seriously dropped the ball. How much the problem has been exploited is hard to say. Hackers may now be trying to take advantage while users wait for the security fix."

Nokia launches first Android phones

BBC Technology Correspondent Mark Gregory is shown the new X range of Nokia smartphones at the Mobile World Congress in Barcelona

Nokia has unveiled its first family of Android phones at the Mobile World Conference in Barcelona.

The X, X+ and XL will range in price from 89 euros (£74) to 109 euros.
Nokia's most recent suite of smartphones had used the Windows operating system. The announcement had been widely expected despite Microsoft detailing plans to buy Nokia's mobile division at the end of 2013.
Analysts have called the announcement a "perplexing strategic move".
The entry-level X model will feature a 4in (10.2cm) screen with 512MB Ram and a three-megapixel camera. The X+ will have 768MB Ram and a 4GB MicroSD card.

The top-end XL will have a 5in screen, a front-facing two-megapixel camera and a rear five-megapixel camera.
The X will go on sale immediately in several territories including Europe and Asia Pacific. The X+ and XL will launch in April.
Users who buy one of the X models will be able to use Microsoft's free cloud-storage system, OneDrive. The software giant's email software, Outlook, will also ship as standard on all models.
'Bitter pill' The messaging service BlackBerry Messenger (BBM) will be pre-installed on the phones as will social network Twitter, video app Vine and the game Plants vs. Zombies 2.
More than 1.1 billion devices running Android are expected to ship this year compared with 360 million using the Windows operating system, according to data from research analysts Gartner.
Microsoft agreed to buy Nokia's mobile phone business in a deal worth 5.4bn euros ($7.2bn; £4.6bn).
At the time, the company's then chief executive, Steve Ballmer, called the deal a "big, bold step forward", adding the company was in the process of transforming itself from one that "was known for software and PCs, to a company that focuses on devices and services".
Critics say Microsoft has been too slow to respond to the booming market for mobile devices.

Nokia hopes the phones will appeal to customers in emerging markets

Nokia was once a leader in mobile phones but has struggled in recent years.
The growth area for mobile phone companies is now in emerging markets, where low-cost Android models sell particularly well.
Analysts CCS Insight head of research Ben Wood said: "Nokia was caught between a rock and a hard place.
"Non-participation‎ in the low-cost smartphone market where Android is rampant leaves a lot of money on the table but turning to Android must have been a bitter pill to swallow.
"If you stand back, for a soon-to-be Microsoft-owned company to embrace Android is a perplexing strategic move.
"I believe it was a ‎decision where Nokia felt it had few other options given Android's entry-level dominance in phones and apps, particularly in emerging markets," he added.

Nokia runs Windows on its Lumia range of smartphones

The deal between Microsoft and Nokia has not yet been finalised, and at a Microsoft press conference on Sunday the vice-president of operating systems for Windows, Joe Belfiore, was asked what he thought about Nokia's decision to launch an Android phone.
He replied: "Some things we're excited about, some things we're less excited about. Whatever they do, we're very supportive of them."
Mr Wood believes that despite Monday's announcement Nokia's primary focus remains its Windows phones.
"Given its looming ownership by Microsoft, it will be doing everything it can to get Microsoft to push Windows ‎Phone down to the entry-level smartphone space and will be hoping it's flirtation with Android does not dilute this," he said.
Nokia's senior vice president Stephen Elop confirmed that the Lumia remains "our primary smartphone platform" and that the X range would be used as a "feeder system",

Japan police recruit Robocop on trains

APThe Japanese police have recruited a ‘Robocop’ on public trains to protect women commuters from perverts. FIle picture shows a view of Totsuka railway station near Tokyo.

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science and technology

technology (general)

Japanese police collaborated with West Japan Railway Company and developed the Robocop — a man posing as a cyborg crime-fighter.

In an unusual move, the Japanese police have recruited a ‘Robocop’ on public trains to protect women commuters from perverts.

The Osaka Police Department has enlisted a robot to stop the perverts threatening women.

“Robocop is a hammer of justice to molesters threatening women,” the police said on its official site.

Japanese police collaborated with West Japan Railway Company and developed the Robocop — a man posing as a cyborg crime-fighter.

Interestingly, the Robocop has the right to arrest citizens who are found breaking the laws.

The robot is also assigned the duty of warning travellers not to leave their belongings and luggage in the train carriages, the Mirror reported.

In addition, it will caution drivers not to leave possessions on view in cars.

Obama warns Karzai of full troop pullout

BARACK Obama told Hamid Karzai he is now planning for a full US troop withdrawal because of the Afghan President’s repeated refusal to sign a security pact.

But in a rare telephone call with Mr Karzai, the US President also held out the possibility of agreeing a post-2014 training and anti-terror mission with the next government in Kabul.

Yesterday’s US threat was the latest twist in a long political struggle with Mr Karzai, who appears intent on infuriating Washington until the day he leaves office, sometime after elections in April.

The Obama administration said its preferred option was to leave behind a residual US force when its combat teams depart Afghanistan after the US’s longest war at the end of this year.

But it will not do so without legal protections enshrined in the Bilateral Security Agreement between the two governments, which Mr Karzai will not endorse.

“President Obama told President Karzai that because he had demonstrated that it was unlikely he would sign the BSA, the US was moving forward with additional contingency planning,” a White House statement said.

“Specifically, President Obama has asked the Pentagon to ensure it has adequate plans in place to accomplish an orderly withdrawal by the end of the year should the US not keep any troops in Afghanistan after 2014.”

The White House had previously warned that Mr Karzai’s intransigence on a deal painstakingly negotiated last year meant it had no choice but to mull the “zero option”. The statement said Mr Obama was reserving the possibility of concluding a BSA later this year should the new government be willing.

It was the most concrete sign yet that Washington could wait out the Afghan electoral process before making a final decision on a future role in Afghanistan. The deal has also been endorsed by a council of elders.

Scams happen in every sport: Vijay Mallya

The next iteration of Samsung's Galaxy smartphone range will feature biometric security, the company has announced.

In a similar way to Apple's iPhone 5, the main button on the front of the device doubles as a fingerprint scanner used to unlock the device.
The S5, which is water and dust-resistant will be available in April.
South Korea-based Samsung, the market leader in smartphone sales worldwide, also claimed to have made the "world's fastest" auto-focusing camera.
In addition to two smartwatches announced on Sunday - the Gear and Gear 2 Neo - Samsung also added the Gear Fit, a smartband that is focused on fitness.
Security focus Security has been a major theme at Mobile World Congress in Barcelona.
Earlier on Monday, the Blackphone, made by Silent Circle, was launched. It included a range of specialised security apps offering encrypted communication.
And for Samsung, it was security features that provoked applause from those in attendance at its characteristically-flamboyant launch event at Mobile World Congress in Barcelona.
As well as unlocking the device, the fingerprint scanner will be used to power payments. Samsung has partnered with Paypal to offer payment-by-finger.

Yet another smartband - the Gear Fit is added to Samsung's offering

The scanner is also able to enable "private mode", a way of storing sensitive information accessible only by using the scanner.
"Consumers already worried about the security of established payment mechanisms are likely to view a new technology and process with suspicion," commented Eden Zoller, principal analyst at Ovum.
"On the positive side, Samsung is a hugely popular smartphone brand with global reach, while PayPal is a trusted payments service provider. This is a powerful combination."
Another feature impressing the crowd was the device's black-and-white mode - designed to save battery life by limiting the power used by the screen and disabling all but essential features such as text and calls.
"Samsung appears to have cherry-picked the most crowd-pleasing features available from other manufacturers," said Ernest Doku from uSwitch.com.
"A fingerprint ID sensor and an attractive gold model like Apple's iPhone 5s, a water and dust-resistant body like Sony's Xperia Z2, and photography credentials to challenge the best from Nokia."
No Tizen Samsung is by far the dominant player in smartphones globally.
According to Strategy Analytics, 452 million Samsung devices were shipped in 2013 - far greater than Apple's 153 million.
But sales of the S5's predecessor, the S4, were seen as disappointing compared to the growth achieved by the S3.
The company also faces a growing threat from emerging Chinese manufacturers such as Xiaomi, ZTE and Lenovo.
Some had speculated before the event that Samsung would eventually drop Google's Android software in favour of a fledgling system known as Tizen.
However, while the company's new smartwatches will use Tizen rather than Android, the flagship smartphone is, for now, sticking with Google's system.
This is likely to be of relief to the search giant - it is Samsung's enormous market share that makes Android the most popular mobile operating system.
"What perhaps is the most interesting aspect of the device is what Samsung did not announce, effectively putting to bed a number of rumours," said Ovum analyst Nick Dillon.
"These included suggestions at both ends of the scale that that the device would be running Tizen OS and that it would be using a 'pure' Google version of Android.
"That it has neither tells us both that Tizen is unlikely to see a major handset launch this year and that Google and Samsung are still operating at arm's length.

50 Cool and Weird Fun Facts that you should know!

1. You breathe on average about 5 million times a year.
2. Months that begin on a Sunday always have a Friday the 13th in them.
3. You are born with 300 bones, by the time you are an adult you will have 206.
4. The average lead pencil will write a line about 35 miles long or write approximately 50,000 English words.
5. One fourth of the bones in your body are in your feet.
6. The average person spends 2 weeks of their lifetime waiting for the light to change from red to green.
7. It takes more calories to eat a piece of celery than the celery has in it.
8. The present population is expected to rise to 15 Billion by the year 2080.
9. The largest recorded snowflake was 15 inches wide and 8 inches thick.
10. The tip of a bullwhip moves so fast that the sound it makes is actually a tiny sonic boom.
11. Native Americans used to name their children after the first thing they saw as they left their tepees after their children were born, hence the names Sitting Bull and Running Water.
12. The Matami Tribe of West Africa play their own version of football, instead of a normal football they use a human skull.
13. Coca-Cola would be green if the food colorant wasn't added.
14. During the 17th Century, the Sultan of Turkey ordered his hole harem of women to be drowned and replaced with a new one.
15. Coffins used for cremation are usually made with plastic handles.
16. "Almost" is the longest word in the English language with all the letters in alphabetical order.
17. Human thigh bones are stronger than concrete.
18. Cockroaches can live several weeks with their heads cut off.
19. It is impossible to sneeze with your eyes open. We dare you, give it a try!
20. A Ten Gallon Hat will only hold 3/4 of a Gallon.
21. Of all the words in the English language, the word "SET" has the most definitions.
22. It is against the law to burp, or sneeze inside a church in Nebraska.
23. In 1386 a pig in France was executed by public hanging for the murder of a child.
24. Earth is the only planet not named after a god.
25. The world's oldest piece of chewing gum is over 9,000 years old!
26. Scientists have tracked butterflies travelling over 3,000 miles.
27. The silkworm consumes 86,000 times its own weight in 56 days.
28. If removed from the stress of the modern world, the average human would sleep about 10 hours a day.
29. To produce a single pound of honey, a single bee would have to visit 2 million flowers.
30. A colony of 500 bats can eat approximately 250,000 insects in an hour.
31. One in Five adults believe that aliens are hiding in our planet disguised as humans.
32. Travelling masseuses in ancient Japan were required by law to be blind.
33. The bloodhound is the only animal whose evidence is admissible in court.
34. James Fixx, the man who popularized jogging in America died of a heart attack while running.
35. The average American spends about a year and a half of his or her life watching commercials on television. What are you doing?! Get out and spend that year and a half doing something productive!
36. Ancient Greeks practiced a form (ineffective) of birth control that consisted of having a woman hold her breath, making her squat, and sneezing.
37. The FDA permits up to 5 whole insects per 100 grams of apple butter.
38. There are no naturally occurring blue foods, even blueberries are purple!
39. The skeleton of Jeremy Bentham is present in all the important meetings of the University of London.
40. The elephant is the only mammal that can't jump!
41. Just like fingerprints, everyone's tongue is different.
42. The longest recorded flight of a chicken is 13 seconds.
43. 400 Quarter Pounders can be made from a single cow.
44. Only 38% of Americans eat breakfast every day.
45. 111,111,111 x 111,111,111 = 12,345,678,987,654,321
46. 11% of the World is left handed.
47. A "Jiffy" is the scientific name for 1/100th  of a second.
48. A Boeing 747's wingspan is longer than the Wright brothers' first flight.
49. A broken clock is right two times a day.
50. A duck's quack doesn't echo anywhere, no one knows why.

How to Change Icons on Your iPhone?

  Customizing iPhone icons can be done in a few different ways. You can either download an iPhone app that creates shortcuts to your apps with new images, or you can change the icon images using iExplorer. You should decide based on your computer skill level.

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Go to the App Store on your iPhone.

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   Search for “Icons” in the search bar. Browse through the choices and read the reviews to decide which third party app you want to choose to change your icons.
   • Review the app called “App Icons” by Tap Nation. This program is available for $3.99 and lets you create your own icon or choose from pre-existing options.
   • Review “App Icons” by Happio Workshop. This free icon creator helps you customize app icons, backgrounds, borders and more. You can only get 3 free icons with your download.
   • Review the shortcut creator called CocoPPa. This free app gives you access to dozens of designs. Each time you create a shortcut, it will add a duplicate icon to the home screen. ^[1]
   • It is a good idea to vet any application carefully.
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   Install the app of your choice. You will need to enter your Apple ID password to verify the download.
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   Open the application. Choose new app icons and save them in the program to change the apps on your home screen.
   • You may need to create an account in order to use the app.^[2]
   • Search for apps to replace the apps you want to change.
   • Set up a link to use as a shortcut, if you are using CocoPPa.
   • You may need to rename the new backup image file to be the name of the original app, if you are using this program or other shortcut-based programs.

How to Use AssistiveTouch on an iPhone, iPod Touch, or iPad?

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Go to "Settings."

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   Scroll down and tap "General."
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   Tap "Accessibility" at the bottom.
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   Scroll to Physical & Motor and tap "AssistiveTouch."
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   Slide the button to on (so that the green background shows).
   • There should now be a glowing AssistiveTouch button located on your screen at all times

How to Get a High Score on Subway Surfers?

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Build up your multiplier. The best way to get a higher score quicker is to improve your multiplier. When you first begin playing, your multiplier will be set at x1. Every time you beat a set of missions, your multiplier will permanently increase by one, up to x30. This means that your score will be 30 times what it would normally be if you have a full multiplier.

• Missions include collecting a specific number of coins, jumping a certain number of times, picking up specific power-ups, and more. You can see your active missions by tapping the Missions button at the top of the main menu.

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   Upgrade your power-ups. The Coin Magnet, Jet Pack and 2X Multiplier are the most powerful pickups for increasing your score. The Coin Magnet will pick up any coin you run past, even if it isn’t in your lane. The Jet Pack will launch you above the course, where you are free to collect coins without worry. The 2X multiplier will double your current multiplier, up to 60x.^[1]
   • You can upgrade these powerups by spending coins that you ear on runs. Increasing the effectiveness of these powerups can dramatically increase the amount of coins that you earn.
   • Upgrade your Coin Magnet and Jet Pack first. This will help you early on in the game as you earn coins to unlock more upgrades and complete missions. Once your Multiplier is close to 30x, start upgrading the 2X Multiplier powerup. This will really start to significantly boost your scores.^[2]
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   Stock up on hoverboards. These can be purchased for coins or won in prize boxes. Hoverboards last for 30 seconds, but their true power comes in taking a hit for you. If you hit an object while riding a hoverboard, your run won’t end. Instead, you’ll be back on foot, continuing your run and increasing your score. You should always have a good stock of motherboards to use in emergencies when you can’t avoid hitting something.
   • Moving forward is one of the two primary ways that you earn score. Hoverboards ensure that you keep moving forward, and your score keeps increasing.
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   Collect Keys. Keys are a currency that allows you to continue your run when you hit an object. Keys can be found while running through the course, in mystery boxes, or from weekly missions. You can also buy keys for real money. Having a good stock of keys can help keep a good run going a long time.^[3]
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   Grab those coins! It may seem obvious, but it can’t be stressed enough. For a really high score, you need to be grabbing as many coins as possible. This means using your powerups to their maximum effectiveness, performing perfect runs and lane changes, and not missing the timing of your jumps.
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   Practice, practice, practice. Since every run is different, you can’t just memorize the level and do the same thing over and over until you have the high score. You need to practice so that you can see the patterns coming and react in time. You probably won’t get a very high score when you first start, but after a few weeks of practice, you’ll start to see it creeping closer and closer to that elusive 1,000,000 point total. Keep at it!