Dr. Augustine Fou's Online Scrapbook

Thursday, December 01, 2011

drag2share: Which companies are on the Carrier IQ bandwagon?

Source: http://www.engadget.com/update/carrier-iq-which-companies-have-the-smarts/

If you have the feeling somebody's watching you, it's not a bad idea to keep a close eye on your phone -- after all, it may be keeping one on you. The more we find out about Carrier IQ, the mysterious Mountain View company recently brought into the spotlight for its smartphone tracking software, the more curious we become about which carriers and manufacturers are playing along. Below the break you'll find a continuously updated list of the major players as they come clean about their involvement in the matter -- or lack thereof. We're working on collecting official statements from as many companies as we can, so stay tuned if you don't see the one you're looking for.

Continue reading Which companies are on the Carrier IQ bandwagon?

Which companies are on the Carrier IQ bandwagon? originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 01 Dec 2011 18:13:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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drag2share - drag and drop RSS news items on your email contacts to share (click SEE DEMO)

drag2share: LG Nitro HD hands-on

Source: http://www.engadget.com/2011/12/01/lg-nitro-hd-hands-on/

AT&T stole some of LG's thunder earlier this week when it unveiled the company's LTE flagship -- the Nitro HD -- before the handset's official coming out soirée. Well, tonight LG's gone and thrown that fete anyway, introducing us (once again) to its 4.5-incher. But you have to wonder why the company's even bothering to roll out yet another Gingerbread-baked device when Samsung's Galaxy Nexus is already out of the gate and leading the Android charge with ICS -- not to mention the current availability of rival heavyweights like the Rezound and Droid RAZR. Still, the phone's packing some very respectable specs, with a "true" HD 1280 x 720 IPS display, dual 1.3 / 8 megapixel shooters, a hefty 20GB of storage and a dual-core 1.5GHz Qualcomm APQ8060 processor running the show. Is it too late in the game for LG to make its beast matter? Follow past the break as we gather our first impressions of this tardy to the party entry.

Gallery: LG Nitro HD hands-on

Continue reading LG Nitro HD hands-on

LG Nitro HD hands-on originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 01 Dec 2011 18:30:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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drag2share: Daihatsu FC ShowCase concept: who doesn't want a 60-inch TV in a van?

Source: http://www.engadget.com/2011/12/01/daihatsu-fc-showcase-concept-who-doesnt-want-a-60-inch-tv-in-a/

Here's a funny one from the Tokyo Motor Show. Daihatsu's squarish concept EV van, dubbed the FC ShowCase, is basically a spacious four-seater packing plenty of goodies: a giant wing door, some blue lights on the wheels, an LED panel on the left skirt, side-view cameras instead of mirrors, a funky touch panel steering wheel, a small heads-up display and a 60-inch TV. And no, this isn't a mod from Pimp My Ride. According to one of the designers, the idea here is that the FC ShowCase acts as a mobile theater, which can keep travellers entertained while camping or fishing. With the seats folded down (except for the driver's seat, of course) on top of the 35kW solid polymer fuel cell stack, this vehicle also makes a great delivery van apparently, but don't expect FedEx to turn up at your door with Daihatsu's dream ride any time soon. Or ever. Video after the break.

Gallery: Daihatsu FC ShowCase hands-on

Continue reading Daihatsu FC ShowCase concept: who doesn't want a 60-inch TV in a van?

Daihatsu FC ShowCase concept: who doesn't want a 60-inch TV in a van? originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 01 Dec 2011 18:55:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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drag2share: Google Is Getting Ready To Take On Amazon...In Shipping? (GOOG, AMZN)

Source: http://www.businessinsider.com/google-is-getting-ready-to-take-on-amazon-in-shipping-2011-12

Google is talking to major retailers like Macy's, the Gap, and OfficeMax to offer customers one-day shipping when they buy products after finding them through Google searches.

It sounds a lot like Amazon Prime, Amazon's $79-per-year service that offers fast shipping and other benefits.

The Wall Street Journal first reported the service, and confirmed that Macy's had been approached by Google to participate.

The next-day shipping will apparently be combined with Google Product Search, which today lets users find products and compare them across different e-commerce sites to get the lowest price. When people buy a product from one of the sites after finding it on Google Product Search, they'll get an offer for one day shipping for a low fee, the Journal says.

Google won't be running an e-commerce site or stocking products in warehouses like Amazon does, but will instead create a system that figures out which retail partner's stores are nearest to a customer and have the product in stock. Then it would team up with UPS and local couriers for delivery.

Still, e-commerce fulfillment is a pretty big step removed from Google's core mission of organizing the world's information. Lack of focus has been a problem for the company, and CEO Larry Page has killed a lot of non-core products this year.

Please follow SAI on Twitter and Facebook.

Join the conversation about this story »

drag2share: Build a Smartphone Projector for Around a Dollar [DIY]

Source: http://lifehacker.com/5863761/build-a-smartphone-projector-for-around-a-dollar

Build a Smartphone Projector for Around a Dollar Projectors can be expensive, but if you're looking to build one for your smartphone without spending a lot of cash, Instructables user iamaledgend put one together for under a dollar.

Using a magnifying glass, a shoebox, tape, and LEGOs, you can set your phone inside the box, seal it up, and watch as it's displayed on your wall. The image flips when it goes through the magnifying glass, so you'll need to make sure you lock the rotation on your phone if it has an accelerometer. It won't work for movies with subtitles, as the words will be flipped backwards and you're not going to get the same high quality image you get with a store bought projector, but it's cheap alternative for those looking to watch a few movies.

How to make a projector for your iPod/iPhone for about a $1 | Instructables

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drag2share: Path Is a Lightweight, Mobile-Only, Private Social Network [Social Networks]

Source: http://lifehacker.com/5863861/path-is-a-lightweight-mobile+only-private-social-network

Path Is a Lightweight, Mobile-Only, Private Social Network Android/iOS: If you can somehow manage to fit another social network into your life, Path, a mobile-only, simplified social networking app has just relaunched with a complete overhaul to its interface and style.

While it's billed as a social network, it operates more like a journal, where you record thoughts, photos, and events throughout the day. You get 150 friends and the limit is imposed to keep you with close friends. Since it's only available on iOS and Android, it also means its easy to keep private, so you likely won't have second-cousins bothering you for friendship.

The platform itself is dead simple, no apps, photo galleries, or links. It's solely about what you're thinking, doing, and who you're with. The updates in this version cover a wide spectrum, the completely new interface works great, and there are added features like music, check-in, and notification integration. You can also set it to record automatically, which means the app will track your location when you're in a new neighborhood or city.

Path is a free download for iOS and Android, with in-app purchases if you're interested in camera filters to apply to the notes you make. It can be used as a private journal of your daily activities or a small social network, it's up to you.

Path | via Wired

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drag2share - drag and drop RSS news items on your email contacts to share (click SEE DEMO)

drag2share: Carrier IQ: How the Widespread Rootkit Can Track Everything on Your Phone, and How to Remove It [Video]

Source: http://lifehacker.com/5863895/carrier-iq-how-the-widespread-rootkit-can-track-everything-on-your-phone-and-how-to-remove-it

Android developer Trevor Eckhart last week discovered a widespread rootkit, called Carrier IQ, that's capable of logging everything you do and comes preinstalled on a ton of smartphones-including various Androids, Nokia phones, and BlackBerrys. Here's how it works and how you can get rid of it.

What Is Carrier IQ?

Last week, 25-year old Eckhart discovered a hidden application on some mobile phones that had the ability to log anything and everything on your device—from location to web searches to the content of your text messages. The program is called Carrier IQ, and unlike the Android malware that's been causing such a stir, it actually comes preinstalled by the manufacturer of your phone. In fact, you can find it on a bunch of different devices, including Android, Nokia, and BlackBerry phones. It's what's known as a rootkit—a program with massive amounts of privileges that hides its presence from the user. It was originally designed to log things like dropped calls and bad data connections for troubleshooting purposes, but manufacturers like HTC and Samsung have modified it to run in the background, completely undetectable, with no option to opt out of its "services". At best, it slows down your phone, and at worst, anyone on the other end of the application could, in theory, read your text messages, see what you search on the web, and much more.

Worst of all, after being confronted, phone manufacturers, wireless carriers, and Carrier IQ themselves have tossed around blame, saying they aren't doing anything wrong. Some have and their privacy policies aren't super specific on what they collect and use. Sprint claims they are "unable to look at the contents of messages, photos, or videos" using Carrier IQ, but Eckhart claims differently. I highly recommend reading Eckhart's article for a deeper look at how Carrier IQ works and how it's manifested itself on certain devices.

Update: Our original article stated that the software also came preinstalled on iPhones and dumphones, which has not been confirmed. That information came from this article at Geeks.com, and we actually believe that to be a typo. Considering it hasn't been mentioned in any other source, and that the iPhone isn't on Eckhart's list of affected devices, we're removing it until other sources say otherwise. Thanks to everyone who pointed this out.

Update #2: It looks like Carrier IQ does, in fact, run on iOS, but in a much more stripped down version that isn't so offensive to the privacy-conscious. It's also very easy to turn off. Check out this blog post for more information.

How to Tell If It's Running On Your Phone

Carrier IQ: How the Widespread Rootkit Can Track Everything on Your Phone, and How to Remove It Right now, Android users are the only ones able to detect and remove the program (score one for openness). However, depending on your phone, you may have to be rooted to do so. Once rooted, running the "CIQ Checks" task in this app on XDA will tell you whether it's running on your system. On HTC phones, you can also search for the app in Settings > Applications as described in the video above, but using the Logging Checker app is the most reliable way to check.

Note also that if you're running an Android Open Source Project (AOSP) based ROM—like CyanogenMod—you do not have Carrier IQ installed on your system. These apps are based on the original, open source version of Android, and don't include any carrier or manufacturer additions like Carrier IQ. If you're using a modded version of your manufacturer's ROM, however—for example, a modded HTC Sense or Samsung TouchWiz ROM—you could still have it installed. To avoid this, either flash AOSP based ROMs, or flash ROMs with Carrier IQ specifically removed (many will say NOCIQ or something similar on their description pages).

How to Remove It From Your Device

Carrier IQ: How the Widespread Rootkit Can Track Everything on Your Phone, and How to Remove It If you want to remove it from your device, you have two choices. Either flash a custom ROM that doesn't contain Carrier IQ (as described above), or use Eckhart's Logging Test App to remove it. Both solutions require rooting your phone.

To remove it with the Logging Test App, download the original app and then buy the $1 pro license from the Android Market. Then, open it up, hit the Menu button, and tap "Remove CIQ". This will completely remove it from your device.

drag2share: Bridgestone's Puncture-Proof Tires Look Like They Were Made With a Spirograph [Tires]

Source: http://gizmodo.com/5863826/bridgestone-puncture+proof-tires-were-possibly-designed-with-a-spirograph

Bridgestone's Puncture-Proof Tires Look Like They Were Made With a Spirograph Featuring an intricate resin spoke system, Bridgestone's new airless tire provides the same level of shock absorption as an inflated tire without you having to worry about monitoring air pressure or changing a flat ever again.

The idea is similar to Michelin's Tweel which first appeared back in 2006, and even the wheels used on the Lunar Rover that NASA developed during the Apollo era. But Bridgestone appears to have improved on both designs with the use of thermoplastic resin spokes that radiate out from the inner hub to the outer rim at a 45 degree angle. When combined with a second set of spokes on the opposite side that radiate out in the other direction, it results in added strength, stability, and flexibility.

Besides letting you drive through broken glass and even spike strips with impunity, Bridgestone's take on the airless tire is also made from recycled rubber and plastics, meaning that once the tread has become worn, you can just toss them in your recycling bin for pickup. Unfortunately, if ever put into production with widespread adoption, the days of the quaint tire swing hanging in your front yard are numbered. [Tech-On!]

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drag2share: PCIe 4.0 inches towards reality, hits 16 gigatransfers per second (that's a thing, right?)

Source: http://www.engadget.com/2011/11/30/pcie-4-0-inches-towards-reality-hits-16-gigatransfers-per-secon/

Don't get too excited just yet, but PCIe 4.0 is coming. PCI-SIG, the body that governs the standard, has announced the next evolution of the interface, which should start popping up in servers, desktops, laptops and even tablets around 2015. Sadly, details are pretty slim on the slot -- final specs aren't expected to be announced before 2014. All we know is that PCIe 4.0 will be able to perform 16 gigatransfers per second (GT/s), which tells us only slightly more than jack squat. It simply means that a PCIe 4.0 card will be capable of transferring 16 billion discrete chunks of data per second, twice that of PCIe 3.0. What that doesn't tell us though, is the size of those chunks. If they're the same size, 4.0 will provide double the current bit rate of 1 GB/s per-lane. If, for some reason, the channel width were halved there would be no speed increase -- but we seriously doubt that's the case. So, will we be looking at 32 GB/s PCIe 4.0 x16 GPUs in a few years? That is a definite maybe.

Continue reading PCIe 4.0 inches towards reality, hits 16 gigatransfers per second (that's a thing, right?)

PCIe 4.0 inches towards reality, hits 16 gigatransfers per second (that's a thing, right?) originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 30 Nov 2011 15:04:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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PCWorld | | Email this | Comments

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drag2share: TED launches iPhone app, brings spread-worthy ideas to the small screen

Source: http://www.engadget.com/2011/11/30/ted-launches-iphone-app-brings-spread-worthy-ideas-to-the-small/

Looking for wisdom on your iPhone? Well, you're in luck, because TED's celebrated iOS app is now available on the iPhone and iPod Touch. The app, much like its iPad-specific predecessor, allows users to access a wealth of TED Talks via streaming video or audio. The revamped tool also features a new bookmarks tab, where listeners can save talks for later listening, as well as the new TED Radio -- a station chock full of TED Talk audio streams, running all day. It's available as a free download now, so hit up the source link, and enjoy learning.

Continue reading TED launches iPhone app, brings spread-worthy ideas to the small screen

TED launches iPhone app, brings spread-worthy ideas to the small screen originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 30 Nov 2011 17:01:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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TED Blog | source

iTunes | Email this | Comments

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drag2share: 3D-printed bone replacements coming soon to an orthopedic surgeon near you, courtesy of WSU (video)

Source: http://www.engadget.com/2011/11/30/3d-printed-bone-replacements-coming-soon-to-an-orthopedic-surgeo/

3D printers are slowly, but surely working their way into all sorts of useful, everyday applications -- like the creation of chocolates, flutes and even Mario Kart turtle shell racers. Now, Washington State University engineers are unveiling a unique implementation of the tech that could aid in the regrowth of damaged or diseased bones. Utilizing a ceramic compound, the group's optimized ProMetal 3D printer builds dissolvable scaffolds coated with a plastic binding agent that serve as a blueprint for tissue growth. The team's already logged four long years fine tuning the process, having already achieved positive results testing on rats and rabbits, but it appears there's still a ways to go -- about 10 -12 years, according to the project's co-author Susmita Bose -- before orthopedic and dental surgeons can begin offering "printed" bone replacements. With a synthetic windpipe already under medical science's belt and now this, it's looking like we're just a few short decades away from that long sought after full body replacement. Right, Mr. Lagerfeld? Click on past the break for a brief look at this osteo-friendly machinery.

Continue reading 3D-printed bone replacements coming soon to an orthopedic surgeon near you, courtesy of WSU (video)

3D-printed bone replacements coming soon to an orthopedic surgeon near you, courtesy of WSU (video) originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 30 Nov 2011 18:34:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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BBC |

Washington State University | Email this | Comments

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drag2share: ASUS Eee Pad Transformer Prime review

Source: http://www.engadget.com/2011/12/01/asus-eee-pad-transformer-prime-review/

Is there any tablet that's hotter than the Transformer Prime right now? (Please, don't say the Kindle Fire.) For weeks we geeks, early adopters and people who love their tech toys have been awaiting this, and none too patiently. Make no mistake: this will be one of the slickest products we test this year and it isn't just because the original Transformer had such an inventive design. The Prime is the first device packing NVIDIA's hot-off-the-presses Tegra 3 SoC, making it the world's first quad-core tablet. This comes with promises of longer-than-ever runtime and blazing performance (five times faster than Tegra 2, to be exact), all wrapped in a package measuring just 8.3mm (0.33 inches) thick -- even skinnier than the iPad 2 or Galaxy Tab 10.1. Throw in specs like a Super IPS+ Gorilla Glass display, eight megapixel rear camera and a confirmed ICS update in the pipe and even we seen-it-all Engadget editors were drooling.

All of which means we dropped just everything when a 32GB Prime showed up on our doorstep earlier this week, and soon enough, you'll have your chance to nab one too. ASUS announced today that the WiFi-only models will be available through online sellers the week of December 19th, and in retail the week after. (No word yet on 3G versions for the US just yet.) It'll start at $499 for the 32GB model -- not bad considering five hundred bucks is the going rate for a high-end tablet with 16GB of storage. From there you can get a 64GB number for $599, while that signature keyboard dock will set you back a further $149. Worth it? Read on to find out.

Gallery: Transformer Prime review (hardware)

Continue reading ASUS Eee Pad Transformer Prime review

ASUS Eee Pad Transformer Prime review originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 01 Dec 2011 01:00:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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drag2share: Olive: the first feature film 'intentionally' shot on a smartphone (video)

Source: http://www.engadget.com/2011/12/01/olive-the-first-feature-film-intentionally-shot-on-a-smartpho/

Sure, your smartphone might shoot HD, you might even have a dolly, but most of us know that 30 seconds of accidental filming inside a pocket and a blurry clip from the office party are about the best we can hope for. Not director Hooman Khalili. He made a feature length film using his trusty Nokia N8 and a custom lens, and now plans to show it in movie theaters. The film, called Olive, tells the story of a mute little girl, and the impact she has on the lives of those who meet her. Partly financed by the former Facebook CPO Chris Kelly, this Kickstarter story has the making of a movie itself. Should it raise the required $300k in funding, Khalili hopes it might even get a sniff by the Academy. That's assuming, of course, they've had a recent change of policy. For a sneak peak and a look at the making of, check the video after the break.

Continue reading Olive: the first feature film 'intentionally' shot on a smartphone (video)

Olive: the first feature film 'intentionally' shot on a smartphone (video) originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 01 Dec 2011 02:23:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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TechCrunch | source

Kickstarter | Email this | Comments

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drag2share: Galaxy Nexus OTA update quietly rolls out, addresses volume bug

Source: http://www.engadget.com/2011/12/01/galaxy-nexus-ota-update-quietly-rolls-out-addresses-volume-bug/

Google, as promised, has begun rolling out an OTA update for the Samsung Galaxy Nexus, in response to a curious volume bug affecting many European users. According to Android Central, "several" Nexus users have reported receiving the update, bundled in a package that weighs a little less than 1MB. Early reports indicate that the refresh only addresses the volume issue, though it appears to be rolling out on a piecemeal basis. If you've already updated, let us know how it's treating you in the comments, below.

[Thanks, Shaun]

Galaxy Nexus OTA update quietly rolls out, addresses volume bug originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 01 Dec 2011 03:44:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Android Central | Email this | Comments

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drag2share: StatCounter: Chrome leapfrogs Firefox for the first time, still trails Internet Explorer

Source: http://www.engadget.com/2011/12/01/statcounter-chrome-leapfrogs-firefox-for-the-first-time-still/

StatCounter has just released its latest global report on web browser usage, and it's something of a doozy. According to the analytics firm, Google Chrome overtook Mozilla Firefox for the first time this month, becoming the world's second most widely used browser. During November, Chrome accounted for about 25.7 percent of the global market, up from a measly 4.66 percent in 2009, and slightly higher than the 25.2 percent that Firefox pulled down this month. It still trails Internet Explorer, however, which still enjoys a healthy 40.6 percent market share globally, and a 50.7 percent share in the US. As the above graph clearly demonstrates, however, both IE and Firefox have seen notable declines in recent months, though the latter still has a slim lead over Chrome in the US market, with a 20.9 percent share, compared with Google's 17.3 percent cut. For more country-specific stats and crunchy numbers, check out the source link, below.

Continue reading StatCounter: Chrome leapfrogs Firefox for the first time, still trails Internet Explorer

StatCounter: Chrome leapfrogs Firefox for the first time, still trails Internet Explorer originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 01 Dec 2011 07:37:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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TechCrunch | source

StatCounter | Email this | Comments

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Dr. Augustine Fou's Online Scrapbook

Thursday, December 01, 2011

drag2share: Which companies are on the Carrier IQ bandwagon?

drag2share: LG Nitro HD hands-on

drag2share: Daihatsu FC ShowCase concept: who doesn't want a 60-inch TV in a van?

drag2share: Google Is Getting Ready To Take On Amazon...In Shipping? (GOOG, AMZN)

drag2share: Build a Smartphone Projector for Around a Dollar [DIY]

drag2share: Path Is a Lightweight, Mobile-Only, Private Social Network [Social Networks]

drag2share: Carrier IQ: How the Widespread Rootkit Can Track Everything on Your Phone, and How to Remove It [Video]

What Is Carrier IQ?

How to Tell If It's Running On Your Phone

How to Remove It From Your Device

Further Reading

drag2share: Bridgestone's Puncture-Proof Tires Look Like They Were Made With a Spirograph [Tires]

drag2share: PCIe 4.0 inches towards reality, hits 16 gigatransfers per second (that's a thing, right?)

drag2share: TED launches iPhone app, brings spread-worthy ideas to the small screen

drag2share: 3D-printed bone replacements coming soon to an orthopedic surgeon near you, courtesy of WSU (video)

drag2share: ASUS Eee Pad Transformer Prime review

drag2share: Olive: the first feature film 'intentionally' shot on a smartphone (video)

drag2share: Galaxy Nexus OTA update quietly rolls out, addresses volume bug

drag2share: StatCounter: Chrome leapfrogs Firefox for the first time, still trails Internet Explorer

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Thursday, December 01, 2011

What Is Carrier IQ?

How to Tell If It's Running On Your Phone

How to Remove It From Your Device

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