sincity

http://cdn.mos.techradar.com/art/mobile_phones/BlackBerry/Z10/Press/Z10-Press-05-470-75.jpgThe next update for BlackBerry's ever-improving BBM app for iPhone and Android, will soon bring group photo messaging into play, the company has confirmed. In a blog post this weekend, the Waterloo-based firm said it was continually looking to add new features in order to keep customers happy and photo messaging within group chats is next on the agenda. "We know customers want to be able to share pics with multiple people in a chat. The next release of BBM will support photo sharing in multi person chats," Jeff Gadway, the firm's head of product and brand marketing wrote on the BlackBerry Blog. The support will come as BBM looks to make up ground on other popular messaging apps like Google Hangouts, Apple's iMessage and Facebook-owned WhatsApp, which already have the ability to distribute photos to more than one person. Bigger filesAdditionally, the company is upping the maximum file size users are able to share from 6MB to 16MB. That's 16 seconds of 1080p HD video, according to BlackBerry, or more pertinently, the difference between sharing a full resolution photo taken with a DSLR and one taken with a smartphone camera. "What this means is that you'll be able to send bigger pictures, larger documents and longer videos," Gadway added. The company didn't reveal when the update would be dropping, but considering the frequency of the changes so far, then it's unlikely to be too far away from launch. BBM to collide with Facebook Messenger on Windows Phone later this year!http://rss.feedsportal.com/c/669/f/415085/s/37b3b337/sc/15/mf.gifhttp://res3.feedsportal.com/social/twitter.png http://res3.feedsportal.com/social/facebook.png http://res3.feedsportal.com/social/linkedin.png http://res3.feedsportal.com/social/googleplus.png http://res3.feedsportal.com/social/email.png http://da.feedsportal.com/r/186531215960/u/49/f/415085/c/669/s/37b3b337/sc/15/rc/1/rc.img http://da.feedsportal.com/r/186531215960/u/49/f/415085/c/669/s/37b3b337/sc/15/rc/2/rc.img http://da.feedsportal.com/r/186531215960/u/49/f/415085/c/669/s/37b3b337/sc/15/rc/3/rc.img http://da.feedsportal.com/r/186531215960/u/49/f/415085/c/669/s/37b3b337/a2.imghttp://pi.feedsportal.com/r/186531215960/u/49/f/415085/c/669/s/37b3b337/a2t.imghttp://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/techradar/software-news/~4/vqgvGS_p1XI

http://cdn.mos.techradar.com/art/laptops/Chromebook/Samsung_Chromebook_faux_leather_evleaks-470-75.jpgSamsung's next Google Chromebook notebook could feature the same faux-leather rear casing as some of the company's other recent mobile devices, according to a newly leaked photo. That man @evleaks has been at it again, posting a purported snap of the casing (during the making of which, no cows were harmed), adorned with a Google Chrome logo. The photo was accompanied by the caption: "Samsung's Galaxy Note 3 design language marches on." As well as the Galaxy Note 3, the soft-touch casing was also a feature on the company's recent Galaxy Tab and Galaxy Tab Pro releases, which arrived at CES 2014. Chromebook explosionIt seems Samsung is pretty smitten with the design style, while users don't seem that enthralled with Samsung's choices. Either way, it looks like it's here to stay and it'll be interesting to see how it works on a laptop. Samsung's Chromebooks have certainly played a part in spearheading the Google-powered laptop explosion, so we're interested to see what the company has in store for the next instalment. What are your thoughts on Samsung's preferred design nomenclature? Let us know your thoughts in the comments section below. In depth: Chromebooks for business? Are they worth it?http://rss.feedsportal.com/c/669/f/415085/s/37b2ef2b/sc/15/mf.gifhttp://res3.feedsportal.com/social/twitter.png http://res3.feedsportal.com/social/facebook.png http://res3.feedsportal.com/social/linkedin.png http://res3.feedsportal.com/social/googleplus.png http://res3.feedsportal.com/social/email.png http://da.feedsportal.com/r/186531213681/u/49/f/415085/c/669/s/37b2ef2b/sc/15/rc/1/rc.img http://da.feedsportal.com/r/186531213681/u/49/f/415085/c/669/s/37b2ef2b/sc/15/rc/2/rc.img http://da.feedsportal.com/r/186531213681/u/49/f/415085/c/669/s/37b2ef2b/sc/15/rc/3/rc.img http://da.feedsportal.com/r/186531213681/u/49/f/415085/c/669/s/37b2ef2b/a2.imghttp://pi.feedsportal.com/r/186531213681/u/49/f/415085/c/669/s/37b2ef2b/a2t.imghttp://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/techradar/software-news/~4/uCb-B7_NMf0

http://cdn.mos.techradar.com/art/gadgets/Google%20Glass/2.0/google-glass-prescription-lenses-470-75.jpgThe Google Glass headset will soon receive its largest update yet with the company confirming it will transition the device to Android 4.4 KitKat from the current Ice Cream Sandwich OS. The move was confirmed by Googler Teresa Z in a private forum, in a move geared to gee-up Glass Explorers disappointed by the lack of the XE14 software update, due in February. "We're working to move Glass from Ice Cream Sandwich to Kit Kat to make the Glass experience smoother and just plain better," she wrote. "This change will make it easier for us to bring you more useful updates and it's something we're really excited about. Developers, we know you're gonna be excited, too. But it's also something that we don't want to send to you all until it's just right." Larger, less regular updatesSomething else that isn't quite right yet is the XE14 update, which missed its February deadline and followed a month with no planned update, meaning Explorers have been waiting since December. Teresa Z added: "What we had planned for February just isn't ready for primetime yet. So... we've decided to hold off for now. "I know this might be a disappointment to some of you. But it's all part of the Explorer program. We're trying a lot of things. Most of them work out great, and some of them need a little more polish. In this case, we'd rather wait to get it right, than release something that isn't up to snuff." The Googler said that although Google was doing away with scheduled monthly updates, it was still committed to bringing Explorers regular software bumps that will in turn be larger and more stable. 2020 Vision: The Future of Google Glasshttp://rss.feedsportal.com/c/669/f/415085/s/37b25b61/sc/15/mf.gifhttp://res3.feedsportal.com/social/twitter.png http://res3.feedsportal.com/social/facebook.png http://res3.feedsportal.com/social/linkedin.png http://res3.feedsportal.com/social/googleplus.png http://res3.feedsportal.com/social/email.png http://da.feedsportal.com/r/187558391104/u/49/f/415085/c/669/s/37b25b61/sc/15/rc/1/rc.img http://da.feedsportal.com/r/187558391104/u/49/f/415085/c/669/s/37b25b61/sc/15/rc/2/rc.img http://da.feedsportal.com/r/187558391104/u/49/f/415085/c/669/s/37b25b61/sc/15/rc/3/rc.img http://da.feedsportal.com/r/187558391104/u/49/f/415085/c/669/s/37b25b61/a2.imghttp://pi.feedsportal.com/r/187558391104/u/49/f/415085/c/669/s/37b25b61/a2t.imghttp://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/techradar/software-news/~4/tyJ6Nmsgyb8

http://cdn.mos.techradar.com/art/mobile_phones/Nokia/NokiaX/Nokia_X_Android_apps-470-75.jpgThe Nokia X, the company's first-and-potentially-last handset running the Android operating system, doesn't really have much to identify it as a handset running Google-based software. There's no access to core Google apps like Gmail, YouTube, Hangouts, Google Now and users are unable to download items from the Google Play store. Everything is decidedly Windows Phone flavoured. However, thanks to a little bit of ingenuity from one of the clever folks on the XDA Developers forum, anyone can access those Android essentials on the new handset. Forum member Kashamalaga has unveiled a pretty easy - the man himself called it rudimentary - method for restoring the phone to its Google roots. Holy GrailMicrosoft hopes the Windows Phone-style user-interface, with the likes of Skype and OneDrive front and centre will give users an incentive to jump on board with the company's own OS next time they're in the market for a phone. However, what users really wanted from this release was the smartphone Holy Grail of a Nokia handset running full-fat Android. This little exploit doesn't offer that, but it brings the dream a little closer to reality. Microsoft needs to stop worrying about Android and learn to love the Nokia X.http://rss.feedsportal.com/c/669/f/415085/s/37acbbb5/sc/5/mf.gifhttp://res3.feedsportal.com/social/twitter.png http://res3.feedsportal.com/social/facebook.png http://res3.feedsportal.com/social/linkedin.png http://res3.feedsportal.com/social/googleplus.png http://res3.feedsportal.com/social/email.png http://da.feedsportal.com/r/186531189715/u/49/f/415085/c/669/s/37acbbb5/sc/5/rc/1/rc.img http://da.feedsportal.com/r/186531189715/u/49/f/415085/c/669/s/37acbbb5/sc/5/rc/2/rc.img http://da.feedsportal.com/r/186531189715/u/49/f/415085/c/669/s/37acbbb5/sc/5/rc/3/rc.img http://da.feedsportal.com/r/186531189715/u/49/f/415085/c/669/s/37acbbb5/a2.imghttp://pi.feedsportal.com/r/186531189715/u/49/f/415085/c/669/s/37acbbb5/a2t.imghttp://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/techradar/software-news/~4/9nViNspVNUE

http://cdn.mos.techradar.com/art/other/Onetimers/oscars-live-stream-470-75.jpgZeebox, Awards Party and moreAs much as I know about movies, I've never won a betting pool for the Academy Awards. But I do make one Oscar prediction every year that is incredibly reliable. So much so, that it always comes true. The Oscars will be boring! Bet on it! Sure, the opening monologue can be filled with hilarious jokes or gaffes or better yet, both, but after that, it's a downward spiral of oh-so serious messaging about the importance of "the movies" and actors endlessly thanking people whose names we do not know. And there's often little surprise as to the winners. Yawn. This year's Oscar telecast is shaping up to be less exciting and more forgettable. But will a Twitter feed be enough to entertain us through the slogging speeches, musical numbers and montages-of-Hollywood-patting-itself-on-the-back? Fear not! As an Oscar Twitter veteran, I consider it my duty to entertain the masses of bored television viewers left underwhelmed by the show itself. So to add yet another distraction during your viewing of the awards, I present to you this list of apps that will enhance your Oscar-viewing experience. And the "Appscar" goes to… Zeeboxhttp://mos.futurenet.com/techradar/art/features/2014%20Oscar%20apps/Zeebox-420-100.jpg If you're a "second-screen" experience guy like myself, you need a tablet in your lap in order to fully enjoy whatever it is that's on the television while you're texting and tweeting your thoughts about whatever it is that's on the television. Because everyone who watches the Oscars knows that complaining about the awards is as fun as watching it. That makes Zeebox the perfect app for our comment-crazy culture of folks like myself who think their insipid thoughts about what we just saw are worth sharing. You can do searches for keywords and you'll get a running social media feed about the TV program you're watching, like the Oscars! You can also login to your Twitter and Facebook and chat with your online pals. Even start a viewing party so your friends can join you as you complain away. Zeebox is the perfect Oscar companion and works in your browser or as an app. Get Zeebox on iOS, Android, Kindle and on the webLive From the Red Carpethttp://mos.futurenet.com/techradar/art/features/2014%20Oscar%20apps/E%20Live%20from%20the%20Red%20Carpet-420-100.jpg Some of the most embarrassing moments of the Academy Awards do not happen on stage, but rather on the red carpet before the Oscars. You can count on names to be forgotten and fun fact mix-ups happening right outside the theater on the red carpet. Which is why E! Online's app is so entertaining as those awkward moments are preserved for your amusement and viewable via the app. Get Live from the Red Carpet on iOS and AndroidAwards Partyhttp://mos.futurenet.com/techradar/art/features/2014%20Oscar%20apps/Awards%20Party%20app-420-100.jpg Don't like to write in analog with a pen? Do you want to easily keep track of your Oscar picks for yourself and everyone at your party? Have .99 cents that you just don't want? Then Awards Party for just .99 cents will help you keep track of each of your guests' predictions which makes collecting on that betting pool so much easier. Get Awards Party on iOSShazamhttp://mos.futurenet.com/techradar/art/features/2014%20Oscar%20apps/Shazam-420-100.jpg I am ashamed and humiliated to admit to you that I found Frozen to be one of my favorite films of the year, due mostly to that excellent soundtrack and score reminiscent of a Broadway musical. (Feel free to mock me now.) Now the best way to discover exactly where that musical number is from and how to purchase it immediately, is with Shazam. The app simply listens to the music examining the .wav file to identify the tune so you don't have to ask anyone, which is a bonus because you won't look stupid. You don't even need to buy the musical track, you can just quietly name the song title and composers by using Shazam's simple interface. See? I just made you look smart. Get Shazam on iOS, Android, Windows Phone, Windows and BlackBerryAction Movie, Run Pee and Watch ABCAction Moviehttp://mos.futurenet.com/techradar/art/features/2014%20Oscar%20apps/Action%20Movie%20app-420-100.jpg Made just for those times when the Oscars, or any awards show for that matter, get deadly dull. Action Movie allows you to take any short piece of video that you shoot, like some slow-moving drama scene from the latest Meryl Streep piece of Oscar-bait and add explosions or car crashes or aliens or flaming meteorites filled with tons of carnage and destruction. Just shoot anything off your television and enjoy watching Oscar host Ellen DeGeneres explode in a hail of rocket fire. Hey, if the Academy is not going to bestow good Hollywood movies where things blow up with awards, then we can do the next best thing and blow up the awards. Get Action Movie on iOS, Android and Windows PhoneRun Peehttp://mos.futurenet.com/techradar/art/features/2014%20Oscar%20apps/Run%20Pee%202-420-90.jpg If you're like me, you can't see an entire feature film without having to pee at least once. Damn large-soda-and-popcorn-deal! Start this app at the beginning of a three-hour Oscar movie like, say, The Wolf of Wall Street, and you'll receive an alert at the boring parts telling you the best times to make a run to the restroom. Once the show is over, check the app and you'll read a description of the boring parts you missed. While the app would be really useful during the Oscars, it's safe to say you can pee during commercials (unlike the Super Bowl) and during those over-the-top dance numbers. At some point there must be a Run Pee app for television, but for now enjoy this useful movie-going tip. Get Run Pee for iOS, Android and Windows PhoneWatch ABChttp://mos.futurenet.com/techradar/art/features/2014%20Oscar%20apps/Watch%20ABC-420-100.jpg While a recent update of the Watch ABC requires users to enter a US cable provider in order to access content, this second-screen experience app provides… oh who am I kidding? This app is crap and useless to those outside of the States. Just use Zeebox. If these apps fail to provide amusement, I find seeking out trailers for the Oscar porn parodies a very rewarding experience unto itself. Surprised? Yes, in fact, there are Oscar porn parodies and if the Academy ever decides to honor adult films, this year's winner should be 12 Inches a Slave. Chris Gore is the founder of Film Threat, a writer and comedian whose debut comedy book/album is titled Celebrities Poop. (www.celebritiespoop.com) Chris' Oscar Twitter feed can be read @ThatChrisGore. http://rss.feedsportal.com/c/669/f/415085/s/37b4dc71/sc/38/mf.gifhttp://res3.feedsportal.com/social/twitter.png http://res3.feedsportal.com/social/facebook.png http://res3.feedsportal.com/social/linkedin.png http://res3.feedsportal.com/social/googleplus.png http://res3.feedsportal.com/social/email.pnghttp://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/techradar/software-news/~4/ECJG3Zqzl3A

http://cdn.mos.techradar.com/art/other/Onetimers/oscars-live-stream-470-75.jpgAs much as I know about movies, I've never won a betting pool for the Academy Awards. But I do make one Oscar prediction every year that is incredibly reliable. So much so, that it always comes true. The Oscars will be boring! Bet on it! Sure, the opening monologue can be filled with hilarious jokes or gaffes or better yet, both, but after that, it's a downward spiral of oh-so serious messaging about the importance of "the movies" and actors endlessly thanking people whose names we do not know. And there's often little surprise as to the winners. Yawn. This year's Oscar telecast is shaping up to be less exciting and more forgettable than the most recent Super Bowl. But will the Twitter feed that saved the big game be enough to entertain us through the slogging speeches, musical numbers and montages-of-Hollywood-patting-itself-on-the-back? Fear not! As an Oscar Twitter veteran, I consider it my duty to entertain the masses of bored television viewers left underwhelmed by the show itself. So to add yet another distraction during your viewing of the awards, I present to you this list of apps that will enhance your Oscar-viewing experience. And the "Appscar" goes to… Zeeboxhttp://mos.futurenet.com/techradar/art/features/2014%20Oscar%20apps/Zeebox-420-100.jpg If you're a "second-screen" experience guy like myself, you need a tablet in your lap in order to fully enjoy whatever it is that's on the television while you're texting and tweeting your thoughts about whatever it is that's on the television. Because everyone who watches the Oscars knows that complaining about the awards is as fun as watching it. That makes Zeebox the perfect app for our comment-crazy culture of folks like myself who think their insipid thoughts about what we just saw are worth sharing. You can do searches for keywords and you'll get a running social media feed about the TV program you're watching, like the Oscars! You can also login to your Twitter and Facebook and chat with your online pals. Even start a viewing party so your friends can join you as you complain away. Zeebox is the perfect Oscar companion and works in your browser or as an app. Live From the Red Carpethttp://mos.futurenet.com/techradar/art/features/2014%20Oscar%20apps/E%20Live%20from%20the%20Red%20Carpet-420-100.jpg Some of the most embarrassing moments of the Academy Awards do not happen on stage, but rather on the red carpet before the Oscars. You can count on names to be forgotten and fun fact mix-ups happening right outside the theater on the red carpet. Which is why E! Online's app is so entertaining as those awkward moments are preserved for your amusement and viewable via the app. Get it on iOS and AndroidAwards Partyhttp://mos.futurenet.com/techradar/art/features/2014%20Oscar%20apps/Awards%20Party%20app-420-100.jpg Don't like to write in analog with a pen? Do you want to easily keep track of your Oscar picks for yourself and everyone at your party? Have .99 cents that you just don't want? Then Awards Party for just .99 cents will help you keep track of each of your guests' predictions which makes collecting on that betting pool so much easier. Get it on iOSShazamhttp://mos.futurenet.com/techradar/art/features/2014%20Oscar%20apps/Shazam-420-100.jpg I am ashamed and humiliated to admit to you that I found Frozen to be one of my favorite films of the year, due mostly to that excellent soundtrack and score reminiscent of a Broadway musical. (Feel free to mock me now.) Now the best way to discover exactly where that musical number is from and how to purchase it immediately, is with Shazam. The app simply listens to the music examining the .wav file to identify the tune so you don't have to ask anyone, which is a bonus because you won't look stupid. You don't even need to buy the musical track, you can just quietly name the song title and composers by using Shazam's simple interface. See? I just made you look smart. Get it on iOS, Android, Windows Phone, Windows andBlackBerryAction Moviehttp://mos.futurenet.com/techradar/art/features/2014%20Oscar%20apps/Action%20Movie%20app-420-100.jpg Made just for those times when the Oscars, or any awards show for that matter, get deadly dull. Action Movie allows you to take any short piece of video that you shoot, like some slow-moving drama scene from the latest Meryl Streep piece of Oscar-bait and add explosions or car crashes or aliens or flaming meteorites filled with tons of carnage and destruction. Just shoot anything off your television and enjoy watching Oscar host Ellen Degeneres explode in a hail of rocket fire. Hey, if the Academy is not going to bestow good Hollywood movies where things blow up with awards, then we can do the next best thing and blow up the awards. Get it on iOS, Android and Windows PhoneRun Peehttp://mos.futurenet.com/techradar/art/features/2014%20Oscar%20apps/Run%20Pee%20not%2016x9-420-100.jpg If you're like me, you can't see an entire feature film without having to pee at least once. Damn large-soda-and-popcorn-deal! Start this app at the beginning of a three-hour Oscar movie like, say, The Wolf of Wall Street, and you'll receive an alert at the boring parts telling you the best times to make a run to the restroom. Once the show is over, check the app and you'll read a description of the boring parts you missed. While the app would be really useful during the Oscars, it's safe to say you can pee during commercials (unlike the Super Bowl) and during those over-the-top dance numbers. At some point there must be a Run Pee app for television, but for now enjoy this useful movie-going tip. Get it for iOS, Android and Windows PhoneWatch ABChttp://mos.futurenet.com/techradar/art/features/2014%20Oscar%20apps/Watch%20ABC-420-100.jpg While a recent update of the Watch ABC requires users to enter a cable provider in order to access content, this second-screen experience app provides… oh who am I kidding? This app is crap, just use Zeebox. And if these apps fail to provide amusement, I find seeking out trailers for the Oscar porn parodies a very rewarding experience unto itself. Surprised? Yes, in fact, there are Oscar porn parodies and if the Academy ever decides to honor adult films, this year's winner should be 12 Inches a Slave. Get it on iOS, Android, Kindle and WindowsChris Gore is the founder of Film Threat, a writer and comedian whose debut comedy book/album is titled Celebrities Poop. (www.celebritiespoop.com) Chris' Oscar Twitter feed can be read @ThatChrisGore. http://rss.feedsportal.com/c/669/f/415085/s/37a919af/sc/38/mf.gifhttp://res3.feedsportal.com/social/twitter.png http://res3.feedsportal.com/social/facebook.png http://res3.feedsportal.com/social/linkedin.png http://res3.feedsportal.com/social/googleplus.png http://res3.feedsportal.com/social/email.png http://da.feedsportal.com/r/186531243805/u/49/f/415085/c/669/s/37a919af/sc/38/rc/1/rc.img http://da.feedsportal.com/r/186531243805/u/49/f/415085/c/669/s/37a919af/sc/38/rc/2/rc.img http://da.feedsportal.com/r/186531243805/u/49/f/415085/c/669/s/37a919af/sc/38/rc/3/rc.img http://da.feedsportal.com/r/186531243805/u/49/f/415085/c/669/s/37a919af/a2.imghttp://pi.feedsportal.com/r/186531243805/u/49/f/415085/c/669/s/37a919af/a2t.imghttp://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/techradar/software-news/~4/B56_w6CiKJc

http://cdn.mos.techradar.com/art/televisions/Apple/MacBook_AirPlay_Mirroring-470-75.jpgBy all accounts, this week's update to OS X appears to have fixed a lot of what was ailing Mac users on a number of fronts, but those who use AirPlay to mirror their desktop to an Apple TV seem to think differently. AppleInsider reported Thursday that the Apple Support Communities forum is seeing an uptick in Mac users complaining about AirPlay Mirroring after updating to the latest OS X Mavericks 10.9.2 update released this week. Although that update has done far more good - including patching a nasty SSL bug and squashing several persistent issues with the Mail application - Mac users who rely on AirPlay to mirror or extend their desktops onto an Apple TV feel otherwise. Based on their own tests, AppleInsider speculates that the problem could be limited to older Mac hardware after seeing the issue firsthand on a mid-2011 MacBook Air and a third-generation Apple TV. AirDon'tWannaPlayJudging from posts to the Apple support forum, problems range from the AirPlay Mirroring options vanishing completely from the menu bar to video-only connections when extending the desktop. AppleInsider's own tests noted "scaling issues on both the Mac and Apple TV, low frame rates, sporadic mouse freezing and video failures" even after performing a hard reset on each piece of hardware as well as the wireless router. Our own independent test using a mid-2012 MacBook Pro with Retina Display running OS X Mavericks 10.9.2 and a second-generation Apple TV with the latest 6.0.2 software update worked as expected. Apple has yet to acknowledge the problem, let alone weigh in with a solution, leaving many afflicted Mac owners with semi-functional AirPlay Mirroring functionality for the time being. What's the latest on the iPhone 6? TechRadar will keep you in the know!

http://cdn.mos.techradar.com/art/internet/Chrome/chromewebstore-470-75.jpgChrome users are upset at changes being brought in to current and newer versions, according to posts on the browser's discussion forum. Google's new policy automatically disables most extensions downloaded from sources other than the company's official app store, the Chrome Web Store. With the update, the only apps that will be able to be installed on Chrome will also have to be from the store. The company has described the move as one for greater security, a protection against developers using loopholes to install malware-laden add-ons without user knowledge. The new policy has been turned on for the Windows beta version of Chrome, evidently surprising some of the millions who use the experimental version of Google's browser. GoogleNannyThe main complaint from most users was that the new version was holding their hands, telling them what extensions they can and cannot run. One user compared the new changes to someone installing training wheels on their BMX, while another decried the fact Chrome had removed their anti-virus extension. Despite these complaints, it seems that it's unlikely that Google will reverse these changes. A moderator of the same forums posted a message stating that the Chrome Beta will remain as it is. People who did not like the changes, they said, should simply move back to the stable version. It is likely that Chrome 35 for Windows will be the first stable build to enforce this new extension policy. Via ComputerWorld Malware-infected extensions take shine off Chromehttp://rss.feedsportal.com/c/669/f/415085/s/37b097fc/sc/21/mf.gifhttp://res3.feedsportal.com/social/twitter.png http://res3.feedsportal.com/social/facebook.png http://res3.feedsportal.com/social/linkedin.png http://res3.feedsportal.com/social/googleplus.png http://res3.feedsportal.com/social/email.pnghttp://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/techradar/software-news/~4/Z2HIO9V3BV4

http://cdn.mos.techradar.com/art/other/AU%20News/NewiOSHangouts-470-75.jpgGoogle has updated its Hangouts app for iPhone and iPad to version 2.0 on Apple's App Store. This is the first big update for the iOS app since adding voice calls for North America last year October. The update brings in a new look that is completely iOS optimized, now sporting a two pane conversation window, and along with the new look, you also get picture-in-picture video calls, similar to other video calling services. Video messagingIn its efforts to go up against Apple's own OS-entrenched FaceTime, the biggest update for Hangouts this time comes in the form of 10-second video messages for contacts who are offline. Being able to leave video messages for friends and families makes Hangouts an increasingly attractive all-encompassing, multi-platform messaging and video chat app, though we still doubt it will pull many away from FaceTime. Hangouts 2.0 on iOS also gives you animated stickers and the ability to send Google Maps based on your current location with just a few clicks - though these can be considered to be part of the Google app's natural evolution. Don't have an iOS device yet? Check out our reviews of the iPhone 5S, iPhone 5C, iPad Air or iPad mini with Retina displayhttp://rss.feedsportal.com/c/669/f/415085/s/37a021fb/sc/15/mf.gifhttp://res3.feedsportal.com/social/twitter.png http://res3.feedsportal.com/social/facebook.png http://res3.feedsportal.com/social/linkedin.png http://res3.feedsportal.com/social/googleplus.png http://res3.feedsportal.com/social/email.png http://da.feedsportal.com/r/186531069647/u/49/f/415085/c/669/s/37a021fb/sc/15/rc/1/rc.img http://da.feedsportal.com/r/186531069647/u/49/f/415085/c/669/s/37a021fb/sc/15/rc/2/rc.img http://da.feedsportal.com/r/186531069647/u/49/f/415085/c/669/s/37a021fb/sc/15/rc/3/rc.img http://da.feedsportal.com/r/186531069647/u/49/f/415085/c/669/s/37a021fb/a2.imghttp://pi.feedsportal.com/r/186531069647/u/49/f/415085/c/669/s/37a021fb/a2t.imghttp://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/techradar/software-news/~4/5pnP8QnU0pY

http://cdn.mos.techradar.com/art/televisions/May%20on%204K/4K%20Phones/4k%20phones-470-75.png The 4K revolution is about to get personal. Key phones announced at Mobile World Congress quietly list Ultra HD video recording as part of their ever expanding armoury of features. This provision will not only change the way 4K can be viewed in the home (if users want to see just how sharp their footage is they'll need to run it into an external display), but reveal mobile devices to be a key piece in the 4K content puzzle. The simple fact is that Samsung's Galaxy S5 is poised to become the most popular 4K acquisition device on the planet. Smartphones hold the 4Key...As an adjunct to its 16MP camera, the Galaxy S5 will shoot 3840 x 2160 video at 30fps, using h.265. The incoming Sony Xperia Z2 also offers comparable 4K video shooting. During demonstrations in Barcelona, which saw a Z2 playing directly into a Sony 4K TV, the brand revealed TV engineers had contributed to the R&D when it came to enhancing the Xperia's 4K Triluminos colour fidelity. Ahead of MWC, LG also got into the act with the G Pro 2, another smartphone to proffer 4K. 4K video rendering has been seen as imperative by processor maker Qualcomm for some time now, and looks set to become a standard feature on high-end phones – and I think this advance could be game-changing. Typical usage will see home brewed 4K transmitted wirelessly to compatible displays using Miracast, or over wires using the newly announced MHL 3.0 standard. http://cdn1.mos.techradar.futurecdn.net//art/mobile_phones/Samsung/GalaxyNote3/Screenshots/Video-03-420-100.jpg 4KompressionAlthough not immediately apparent, the arrival of MHL 3.0 is another vital evolution of the connected 4K eco-system. Until now, early 4K shooters like the Samsung Galaxy Note 3 were unable to display their UHD footage directly because limitations of MHL 2.0. This latest iteration offers a simple direct TV connection fat enough for 2160p30. Intriguingly, MHL 3.0 also supports HDCP 2.2 which could imply that a copyright secure 4K capable smartphone could also become a conduit for 4K streaming services, and not just 4K camcordering. Is the mobile phone now on a trajectory that will make it a rival to the set top box of the future? Could the smartphone kill the Blu-ray player? In a related development, ZTE also used MWC to show-off a pucker 4K capable TV box. The ZXV10 B803 employs new Broadcom silicon able to decode 2160p60 content using HEVC h.265. Indeed, something very similar was used by Netflix to demo its nascent 4K streaming service to me at CES 2014. Until now, STB decoding solutions have been locked at 2160p30. This Spanish cameo signals more widespread set top box production is becoming a reality - which in turn will ultimately open the doors to a Sky 4K TV service, but I digress. http://cdn4.mos.techradar.futurecdn.net//art/cameras/Panasonic/Panasonic%20GH4/Panasonic_GH4_Review_1030170017-420-100.jpg 4KamerasOf course, the 4K recording boom isn't going to stop at mobile phones. The contagion will spread to cameras too. The new Panasonic GH4 can also shoot 4K at 2160p30. Footage can be played back into any 4K display using the miniHDMI output or distributed on SD card. Not that all 4K cameras will be created equal. There's far more to UHD than just pixel density, after all. One of the more extraordinary properties of the new wave of 4K cinema cameras is their astonishing sensitivity. Cinematographers can do things on a 4K shoot that simply are not be possible with lesser equipment. One scene in the Tom Cruise sci-fi outing Oblivion, which was shot on a Sony F65, has our hero illuminated by a single candlelight; nothing was fudged for this, there really was only one candle on set. Yet shadow detail is blisteringly sharp. Peter Suschitzky, who lensed M. Night Shyamalan's After Earth, was awestruck at just what could be achieved when shooting 4K in dense jungle. "I was full of wonder at the way the camera captures the image," he enthused. "It's so detailed and beautiful." It's probably fair to say you won't get the same result with a Galaxy S5. But the Samsung Galaxy S6 may be another story… Steve May on 4K http://mos.futurenet.com/techradar/art/televisions/May%20on%204K/May_on_4K%20strip2-430-100.jpg Why 2014 will be the year of 4K contentWant 4K content? Don't bother looking to the PS4 or Xbox OneCan 4K save the strugglign TV industry?

http://cdn.mos.techradar.com/art/other/Onetimers/google-now-launcher-470-75.jpgGoogle Now has become a little more immediate thanks to the new Google Now Launcher app that became available for select Android devices today. Installing the app makes Google's contextual personal assistant one easy swipe away from the home screen. Sliding the interface left brings up all the app's relevant information. It also adds the "Okay Google" voice trigger to the home screen for instant voice-prompted searches. Previously, Google Now was buried within the home screen of most Android devices. This required holding down an on-screen home button and dragging your finger up toward a Google logo. Bringing Google Now to the forefront should give its Siri-rivaling capabilities more use among Android owners. Google Now for some, later for othersThe new launcher made its debut with the Nexus 5, but has broken out of the operating system and into the Google Play Store for Nexus and Google Play Edition devices. That means while the new Google Nexus 7 and Nexus 10 tablets running Android 4.4 are able to take advantage of the easier-to-access Google Now app, everyone else has to wait. We reached out to Google to see when other Android phones and tablets would be compatible with the new Google Now Launcher app and will update this story when we hear back. For more Google, read our Galaxy Note 3 and Chromecast reviewhttp://rss.feedsportal.com/c/669/f/415085/s/379306b9/sc/15/mf.gifhttp://res3.feedsportal.com/social/twitter.png http://res3.feedsportal.com/social/facebook.png http://res3.feedsportal.com/social/linkedin.png http://res3.feedsportal.com/social/googleplus.png http://res3.feedsportal.com/social/email.png http://da.feedsportal.com/r/187558260675/u/49/f/415085/c/669/s/379306b9/sc/15/rc/1/rc.img http://da.feedsportal.com/r/187558260675/u/49/f/415085/c/669/s/379306b9/sc/15/rc/2/rc.img http://da.feedsportal.com/r/187558260675/u/49/f/415085/c/669/s/379306b9/sc/15/rc/3/rc.img http://da.feedsportal.com/r/187558260675/u/49/f/415085/c/669/s/379306b9/a2.imghttp://pi.feedsportal.com/r/187558260675/u/49/f/415085/c/669/s/379306b9/a2t.imghttp://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/techradar/software-news/~4/6ecKSvLbpjM

http://cdn.mos.techradar.com/art/tablets/Nook%20Tablet/NookHD-HDPlus-470-75.jpgAfter threatening to ditch the tablet hardware business entirely, Barnes & Noble is now threatening to unleash a new model on unsuspecting consumers, just in time for the summer vacation season. Mashable reported on Barnes & Noble's fairly bleak third quarter financial results for fiscal 2014 today, but the real news turned out to be a brief mention of a new "color tablet" on the way. Although company executives declined to offer further details during the quarterly earnings call, the mere fact that Nook hardware is alive and (relatively) well is likely to be music to the ears of its e-reader customer base. After failing to launch any new tablet hardware in 2013 aside from the black-and-white Nook Glowlight, the company's latest model is expected in "early fiscal 2015," which equates to late May or early June for those of us on the traditional Gregorian calendar. By Nook or by cookFor those keeping score, it's now been two years since Barnes & Noble launched the Android-powered Nook HD and Nook HD+, which feels like an eternity in the consumer electronics world. Instead of focusing on splashy new hardware, the retailer instead focused on blowing out existing inventory over the holidays, creating more stock from what executives referred to as "previously acquired parts and components." Ironically, Barnes & Noble continues to do brisk business with physical books, apparently at the expense of Nook e-book sales, which were largely flat last year. "Reading devices are important in terms of driving content revenue, because that's where the margins exist," concluded Barnes & Noble Chief Executive Officer Mike Huseby, who remains confident in a Nook turnaround. Can't wait for summer? Check out TechRadar's list of the best tablets!http://rss.feedsportal.com/c/669/f/415085/s/37929a10/sc/15/mf.gifhttp://res3.feedsportal.com/social/twitter.png http://res3.feedsportal.com/social/facebook.png http://res3.feedsportal.com/social/linkedin.png http://res3.feedsportal.com/social/googleplus.png http://res3.feedsportal.com/social/email.png http://da.feedsportal.com/r/187558259484/u/49/f/415085/c/669/s/37929a10/sc/15/rc/1/rc.img http://da.feedsportal.com/r/187558259484/u/49/f/415085/c/669/s/37929a10/sc/15/rc/2/rc.img http://da.feedsportal.com/r/187558259484/u/49/f/415085/c/669/s/37929a10/sc/15/rc/3/rc.img http://da.feedsportal.com/r/187558259484/u/49/f/415085/c/669/s/37929a10/a2.imghttp://pi.feedsportal.com/r/187558259484/u/49/f/415085/c/669/s/37929a10/a2t.imghttp://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/techradar/software-news/~4/y5r5ArI7yWE

http://cdn.mos.techradar.com/art/TRBC/Abstract/Lock%20on%20keyboard%20button/iStock_000002900430Small-bluestocking-470-75.jpgKaspersky Lab has launched its new Fraud Prevention Platform, designed to protect electronic payments conducted on computers and mobile devices. The new solution is aimed at banks, companies in the e-commerce sector and other financial organisations. It features tools that Kaspersky says will protect online transactions on a variety of devices and operating systems, as well as server-side solutions for detecting fraudulent activities. The platform can be downloaded onto a customer's computer, tablet or mobile phone to provide multi-faceted security. Banks can use the Kaspersky SDK to configure their own protection and integrate it into their own mobile security systems. ObsoleteThe release by Kaspersky comes amid research published by its analysts that nearly 4 million malicious applications were designed by cybercriminals in the last year and that the majority of mobile malware targeted users' money. According to Kaspersky, current security techniques, like temporary passwords, SMS confirmations, one-time password generators and tokens - which are all used by banks - will quickly become obsolete due to the growing complexity of cyberattacks. "Financial organisations need technology that protects their clients from today's threats and minimises the costs linked to reimbursing stolen money," stated Nikolay Grebennikov, Chief Technology Officer at Kaspersky Lab. "The Kaspersky Fraud Prevention platform is notable in that it provides comprehensive protection of transactions not only from the bank's side but on the user's devices as well." Check out the TechRadar Pro Mobile World Congress 2014 hub pagehttp://rss.feedsportal.com/c/669/f/415085/s/37904af9/sc/5/mf.gifhttp://res3.feedsportal.com/social/twitter.png http://res3.feedsportal.com/social/facebook.png http://res3.feedsportal.com/social/linkedin.png http://res3.feedsportal.com/social/googleplus.png http://res3.feedsportal.com/social/email.png http://da.feedsportal.com/r/187558249521/u/49/f/415085/c/669/s/37904af9/sc/5/rc/1/rc.img http://da.feedsportal.com/r/187558249521/u/49/f/415085/c/669/s/37904af9/sc/5/rc/2/rc.img http://da.feedsportal.com/r/187558249521/u/49/f/415085/c/669/s/37904af9/sc/5/rc/3/rc.img http://da.feedsportal.com/r/187558249521/u/49/f/415085/c/669/s/37904af9/a2.imghttp://pi.feedsportal.com/r/187558249521/u/49/f/415085/c/669/s/37904af9/a2t.imghttp://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/techradar/software-news/~4/kwiySUlMrz8

http://cdn.mos.techradar.com/art/features/mac-virus/main-470-75.jpgSecurity specialist Webroot and mobile data expert Cellebrite have teamed up to launch what they claim is the first anti-malware detection and removal service for mobile operators and retailers. Announced at MWC 2014, the service, which will be marketed as a product, will see Cellebrite placing Webroot's Mobile App Reputation Service and URL Classification Service under the bonnet of its diagnostics product range. Malware epidemicScott Merkle, vice president of Enterprise and OEM Sales at Webroot, said that there is a demand for such a service, as companies have to cope with the rapidly spreading mobile malware epidemic. He said that contributing to the spread of the epidemic is the rapidly increasing amount of downloads of unknown or untrusted apps and the growing popularity of mobile payments. Merging the Webroot and Cellebrite software will mean that service suppliers can proactively identify and fix security threats and performance problems on their customer's mobile device. First of its typeNot only can they test dodgy files against Webroot's Malware database, the service can use Cellebrite's mobile device diagnostics solution to discover phone problems being caused by malware. Merkle said that the Webroot and Cellebrite service is the first multi-channel phone diagnostics solution provider to offer anti-malware detection and removal to mobile carriers and retailers. Now have a look at what else is happening at the World Mobile Congresshttp://rss.feedsportal.com/c/669/f/415085/s/378f7936/sc/46/mf.gifhttp://res3.feedsportal.com/social/twitter.png http://res3.feedsportal.com/social/facebook.png http://res3.feedsportal.com/social/linkedin.png http://res3.feedsportal.com/social/googleplus.png http://res3.feedsportal.com/social/email.png http://da.feedsportal.com/r/186531128549/u/49/f/415085/c/669/s/378f7936/sc/46/rc/1/rc.img http://da.feedsportal.com/r/186531128549/u/49/f/415085/c/669/s/378f7936/sc/46/rc/2/rc.img http://da.feedsportal.com/r/186531128549/u/49/f/415085/c/669/s/378f7936/sc/46/rc/3/rc.img http://da.feedsportal.com/r/186531128549/u/49/f/415085/c/669/s/378f7936/a2.imghttp://pi.feedsportal.com/r/186531128549/u/49/f/415085/c/669/s/378f7936/a2t.imghttp://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/techradar/software-news/~4/8Fr3fhAbk2A

http://cdn.mos.techradar.com/art/tablets/Tesco/hudl/Press/Tesco_hudl_-470-75.jpgTechRadar Pro caught up with Novoda CEO Kevin McDonagh at MWC 2014 to talk about the company and its vision for 2014. Novoda is best known for its work with Tesco on its popular Hudl tablet; it helped create the grocery app for the supermarket giant as well as the launcher screen. We talked extensively about the Nokia X, something Kevin is particularly pleased with. Nokia could become like Amazon and have a differentiated Android offering with a significant following. Time's up for Realtime?Kevin also mentioned that he was at MWC to look for partners to develop Android ecosystems beyond the traditional platforms (mobile, entertainment) with a very clear focus on the RTOS market (Real-Time operating system). He reckons the traditional RTOS market is ripe for disruption, just like the smartphone market was before Android landed and mentioned the opportunity offered by system-on-chips with Android baked in. Obstacles to market entry, licensing fees and overtly protective players mean that it is difficult to have serious innovation and a fast evolving ecosystem. All this could change though if Novoda and other players get their ways. What else is going down at MWC 2014?http://rss.feedsportal.com/c/669/f/415085/s/378e297c/sc/5/mf.gifhttp://res3.feedsportal.com/social/twitter.png http://res3.feedsportal.com/social/facebook.png http://res3.feedsportal.com/social/linkedin.png http://res3.feedsportal.com/social/googleplus.png http://res3.feedsportal.com/social/email.png http://da.feedsportal.com/r/186530988110/u/49/f/415085/c/669/s/378e297c/sc/5/rc/1/rc.img http://da.feedsportal.com/r/186530988110/u/49/f/415085/c/669/s/378e297c/sc/5/rc/2/rc.img http://da.feedsportal.com/r/186530988110/u/49/f/415085/c/669/s/378e297c/sc/5/rc/3/rc.img http://da.feedsportal.com/r/186530988110/u/49/f/415085/c/669/s/378e297c/a2.imghttp://pi.feedsportal.com/r/186530988110/u/49/f/415085/c/669/s/378e297c/a2t.imghttp://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/techradar/software-news/~4/PypvznZLAdU

http://cdn.mos.techradar.com/art/tablets/panasonic/toughpad7/toughpad7%20%285%29-470-75.jpgYour most adventurous member of the senior management team gets a new iPad and downloads a cloud storage app to keep files in sync when on the move. Two weeks later, they lose their phone at a conference and your entire file archive has been downloaded, posted on the internet and tweeted across your industry from an anonymous account. It is likely you will ask, "what was going through their mind?!" As it turns out, it might be a question worth pausing on. It's increasingly clear that the rise of mobile means there's no upper limit to the possible threat to your data security. Within this scenario many might blame the applications themselves, but the real challenge here is not so simple. As is often the case with security, you can apply whatever technology you want to control the situation but ultimately the weakest link may be the psychology and personal preferences of your individual employees for how they use these applications. Is there an app for that?In a society where the answer to most problems is "there's an app for that", in the business world, this can result in your workforce becoming a well-meaning but on-going loophole of vulnerability. Bring Your Own Device and certainly Corporately Owned Personally Enabled, may just as often mean Bring Your Own Apps; so how do you enable the business to delve into the world of apps at their fingertips while continuing to protect the companies security and data? We've put together an array of suggestions that, in our experience, can help you navigate this tricky and growing challenge, while still allowing your team the freedom to work in ways that make their life easier. Make the most of internal communications Most companies have some kind of regular company-wide update. Whether this is a newsletter with information that your workers are genuinely interested in or a regular conference call, make sure that the topic is part of the discussion – an exercise in influencing app psychology is about repetition and regularity. Although, having said that, there's a fine balance between banging your head against a brick wall and returning consistently to a theme. Use real world app examplesKeep your eyes peeled for wider industry scares and errors that demonstrate the potential issues surrounding the misuse of apps in the workplace. This both roots the risk in real world scenarios and should help your staff to achieve the right balance between app use and when to be cautious. Again, human minds are a sucker for stories and emerging news can provide current and vivid examples that don't feel like a boring school lecture. Since both the Android and Apple app stores are an ever-changing landscape of innovation, they can also occasionally be entertaining, which never hurts to make them more memorable. Get them on your sideIt's easy for your updates to start to become a limiting and nagging pain rather than an empowering warning, and you should probably assume that you won't be successful with 100% of your team. However, if you really want to create a workforce that will look out for your data security as much as you do, ask yourself one question: What's in it for them? Psychologically; the more you can align their perception of the risks out there with the potential impact on the company, the better the rapport and your ability to work together to create a secure environment. If you turn it on its head, the business may be worried about losing valued data, but your employees might also not want to lose family pictures, videos and ultimately memories. By working as a team, you can increase the general vigilance of your organisation substantially. If you can instill one thought into your workforce, it's this: be alert. Even things like simple apps that can seem innocuous could be potentially catastrophic to the business. As much as you can use smart software to raise the barriers, sometimes the most powerful protection can come from turning one of your potential biggest threats into confident, informed allies. It's an investment that will only pay off more and more as time goes on. Stephen Midgley oversees all aspects of global marketing and product management at Absolute Software including corporate communications, product marketing, demand generation, and the company's presence on the web.http://rss.feedsportal.com/c/669/f/415085/s/378caf33/sc/4/mf.gifhttp://res3.feedsportal.com/social/twitter.png http://res3.feedsportal.com/social/facebook.png http://res3.feedsportal.com/social/linkedin.png http://res3.feedsportal.com/social/googleplus.png http://res3.feedsportal.com/social/email.png http://da.feedsportal.com/r/186531120216/u/49/f/415085/c/669/s/378caf33/sc/4/rc/1/rc.img http://da.feedsportal.com/r/186531120216/u/49/f/415085/c/669/s/378caf33/sc/4/rc/2/rc.img http://da.feedsportal.com/r/186531120216/u/49/f/415085/c/669/s/378caf33/sc/4/rc/3/rc.img http://da.feedsportal.com/r/186531120216/u/49/f/415085/c/669/s/378caf33/a2.imghttp://pi.feedsportal.com/r/186531120216/u/49/f/415085/c/669/s/378caf33/a2t.imghttp://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/techradar/software-news/~4/1vpPbg1qbgQ

http://cdn.mos.techradar.com/art/mobile_phones/BlackBerry/BlackBerry-02-470-75.jpgBlackberry has used MWC 2014 to announce the latest version of its BlackBerry Enterprise Service, called BES12. Part of its "secure and private mobility solutions for enterprises", BES12 will allow organisations to create "enterprise-grade applications" for use on Blackberry devices. The company's new EZ Pass program will provide free migration to BES10 for customers. The Canada-based mobile maker is hoping that a renewed focus on security, productivity, communications and collaboration will help to rejuvenate its fortunes, in particular within its traditional business market. Two tiersBES pricing and licensing has been updated to offer just two tiers - Silver and Gold. Silver, at US$19 (around AU$24) per user per month, provides device, application, email and security management for BlackBerry, iOS and Android devices. Gold, at $60 (around AU$72) per user per month, offers a higher level of security for organisations in regulated industries, like government, financial services and healthcare. Subscriptions will be available on an annual or rolling basis. The firm has also announced the eBBM Suite, an enterprise-class solution aimed at providing secure and reliable real-time mobile messaging for regulated industries. New strategy"We have engineered a new strategy to stabilize the company and restore our customers' confidence in BlackBerry," said John Chen, Executive Chairman and CEO at BlackBerry. "The announcements made during Mobile World Congress demonstrate that BlackBerry is looking to the future and bringing solutions to market that matter most to our customers." Elsewhere, the firm has launched two new smartphones. The BlackBerry Z3 smartphone is an all-touch version of the BlackBerry 10 aimed at the Indonesian market and the Q20 is a device featuring a QWERTY keyboard. Check out the TechRadar Pro Mobile World Congress 2014 live coveragehttp://rss.feedsportal.com/c/669/f/415085/s/378a6e54/sc/15/mf.gifhttp://res3.feedsportal.com/social/twitter.png http://res3.feedsportal.com/social/facebook.png http://res3.feedsportal.com/social/linkedin.png http://res3.feedsportal.com/social/googleplus.png http://res3.feedsportal.com/social/email.pnghttp://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/techradar/software-news/~4/2LOefYj3wqI

http://cdn.mos.techradar.com/art/mobile_phones/Sony/Sony%20Core/Sony_Core%20%283%29-470-75.JPGSony's shift from SmartWatch to SmartBand fitness tracker will reach the public month alongside an accompanying mobile application, the company confirmed at MWC 2014. The Sony SmartBand SWR10, announced last month at CES, is the first gadget to be powered by Sony's new Core fitness tracking technology. Sony is taking fitness trackers to scary new levels with CoreThe launch in 60 countries will also see bring the Lifelog app for Android, which promises to track not just your exercise routines, but also the places users visit, the songs they listen to, and books they read. The Lifelog app, which connects to the SmartBand via NFC or Bluetooth, will present the info in a neat interface and will also help out with recommendations for future entertainment content. Core strengthGoing back to the SmartBand, which is yet to be priced, it is designed to be worn 24/7, is fully waterproof, a la the company's most recent Xperia smartphones. The independent Core module means it can also be detached and carried rather than worn. Can Sony's entry into the burgeoning fitness tracker world match high profile entries from the likes of Jawbone, Nike, Adidas, Fitbit, Fitbug and more? Let us know your thoughts in the comments section below. Check out the 10 best health and fitness accessories for your smartphonehttp://rss.feedsportal.com/c/669/f/415085/s/377eb50b/sc/15/mf.gifhttp://res3.feedsportal.com/social/twitter.png http://res3.feedsportal.com/social/facebook.png http://res3.feedsportal.com/social/linkedin.png http://res3.feedsportal.com/social/googleplus.png http://res3.feedsportal.com/social/email.png http://da.feedsportal.com/r/186530986975/u/49/f/415085/c/669/s/377eb50b/sc/15/rc/1/rc.img http://da.feedsportal.com/r/186530986975/u/49/f/415085/c/669/s/377eb50b/sc/15/rc/2/rc.img http://da.feedsportal.com/r/186530986975/u/49/f/415085/c/669/s/377eb50b/sc/15/rc/3/rc.img http://da.feedsportal.com/r/186530986975/u/49/f/415085/c/669/s/377eb50b/a2.imghttp://pi.feedsportal.com/r/186530986975/u/49/f/415085/c/669/s/377eb50b/a2t.imghttp://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/techradar/software-news/~4/oTQCpQMk9lA

http://cdn.mos.techradar.com/art/logos/blackberry_messaging-470-75.jpgBlackBerry has confirmed its ever-popular BBM platform will spread its wings to a new platform later this year when it joins the Windows Phone fray. On day one of MWC 2014, the company announced it will also support the new Nokia X Android/Windows Phone hybrid. BlackBerry said the Windows Phone expansion comes as a response to demand from users following the rollout on Android and iOS late last year. Currently, the company is hard at work on the new apps and said the Windows Phone version will arrive sometime this summer. BBM vs FBMThe rollout comes just 24 hours after Microsoft announced Facebook Messenger would be arriving on Windows Phone in the near future. During that event Microsoft promised a host more high profile apps would arrive to plug the gaps. It seems like BBM and Facebook Messenger will be the first of many. Still in deep with Android? Check out our Samsung Galaxy S5 hands onhttp://rss.feedsportal.com/c/669/f/415085/s/377eb511/sc/5/mf.gifhttp://res3.feedsportal.com/social/twitter.png http://res3.feedsportal.com/social/facebook.png http://res3.feedsportal.com/social/linkedin.png http://res3.feedsportal.com/social/googleplus.png http://res3.feedsportal.com/social/email.png http://da.feedsportal.com/r/186530986974/u/49/f/415085/c/669/s/377eb511/sc/5/rc/1/rc.img http://da.feedsportal.com/r/186530986974/u/49/f/415085/c/669/s/377eb511/sc/5/rc/2/rc.img http://da.feedsportal.com/r/186530986974/u/49/f/415085/c/669/s/377eb511/sc/5/rc/3/rc.img http://da.feedsportal.com/r/186530986974/u/49/f/415085/c/669/s/377eb511/a2.imghttp://pi.feedsportal.com/r/186530986974/u/49/f/415085/c/669/s/377eb511/a2t.imghttp://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/techradar/software-news/~4/2j5b-oObgHo

http://cdn.mos.techradar.com/art/mobile_phones/Geeksphone/Blackphone/Geeksphone%20Blackphone%20Press%20Shot-470-75.jpgGeeksphone is out with a new privacy promising smartphone that aims to subvert all NSA spy rings in the world. Dubbed the Blackphone, it's an unassuming little 4.7-inch Android smartphone. Geeksphone hasn't divulged the exact resolution of the screen but its been listed as a HD IPS display. Android users will also find the same specs they've come to expect on handsets including a 2GHz Quad Core CPU backed up by 2GBs of RAM, 16GBs of storage, LTE, HSPA+, and a 8-megapixel camera. But underneath this glossy screen Silent Circle, a security and encryption software developer, has done some serious Android OS tweaking to secure it into a new platform called "PrivatOS." Digital Fort Knox With a mix of secure applications and Android modifications, PrivatOS gives users more insight and control over how third party applications are doing with their data. Silent Circle's solutions drill down to replacing some of the basic communication apps to offer encrypted VoIP calls and silent texting. Meanwhile, the stock Android app has been replaced with Silent Contacts to block apps from scrubbing your virtual phonebook. Additionally the Blackphone comes with SpiderOak, a plan for 5GBs of "zero-knowledge encrypted data backup." Users will also be able search their musings on Google and Bing with the Disconnect search provider, which routes Internet queries through an anonymous VPN client. The bottom line feeshttp://mos.futurenet.com/techradar/art/mobile_phones/Geeksphone/Blackphone/Geeksphone%20Blackphone-420-90.jpg However, in order for Silent Circle's applications to provide all this peer-to-peer encryption goodness, both devices receiving and sending information need to be enrolled in the service. Even the Blackphone itself comes with two years of service for all the encrypted apps. For everyone else not using a Blackphone, the software company has the encrypted apps available for download for iOS and Android devices that come with paid subscriptions. Blackphone buyers are given three additional one-year licenses to Silent Circle's security suite they can hand out to their friends. Once the terms are up, Silent Circle users can continue paying to use the suite for $10 (about £6/AUS $11) a month, buy a Blackphone themselves, or go back to regular phone calls and text messages. Of course the Blackphone can also call out to unsecured connections like their calling up the local Dominos and anyone else unlikely to enroll in Silent Circle's secure network. You can order the Blackphone today for $629 (about £377/AUS $ 695) and it's expected to ship in June. Stay tuned for our hands on with this privacy-protecting phone. For a little more security, the Samsung Galaxy S5 is the latest phone to have a fingerprint scanner. http://rss.feedsportal.com/c/669/f/415085/s/377d2c33/sc/5/mf.gifhttp://res3.feedsportal.com/social/twitter.png http://res3.feedsportal.com/social/facebook.png http://res3.feedsportal.com/social/linkedin.png http://res3.feedsportal.com/social/googleplus.png http://res3.feedsportal.com/social/email.png http://da.feedsportal.com/r/186531044078/u/49/f/415085/c/669/s/377d2c33/sc/5/rc/1/rc.img http://da.feedsportal.com/r/186531044078/u/49/f/415085/c/669/s/377d2c33/sc/5/rc/2/rc.img http://da.feedsportal.com/r/186531044078/u/49/f/415085/c/669/s/377d2c33/sc/5/rc/3/rc.img http://da.feedsportal.com/r/186531044078/u/49/f/415085/c/669/s/377d2c33/a2.imghttp://pi.feedsportal.com/r/186531044078/u/49/f/415085/c/669/s/377d2c33/a2t.imghttp://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/techradar/software-news/~4/7wanGRE-LQc

http://cdn.mos.techradar.com/art/TRBC/Abstract/Lock%20on%20keyboard%20button/iStock_000002900430Small-bluestocking-470-75.jpgSamsung has teamed up with Zscaler to launch a cloud-based security solution for the mobile enterprise market. The partnership combines Zscaler's security cloud with Samsung's Android-based security platform KNOX, which offers a suite of security features and apps. The dual integration means that Zscaler security and compliance policies can be moved to KNOX without affecting the user experience, while Samsung's security offering separates work and personal data, helping protect company information. "We are excited to partner with Samsung on our shared vision of Enterprise-Ready Mobile Security," said Jay Chaudhry, founder and CEO of Zscaler. "The deep integration between Samsung KNOX and the Zscaler security cloud enables users to have the same policy and protection on a mobile device and a PC. The collaboration, which is the result of ten months of joint development, will help accelerate the adoption of mobile devices in the Enterprise. The joint solution will be a game changer in the Industry." Fort KNOXSamsung also announced a partnership with Citrix to provide the latter's security apps in the KNOX app store. Top of the list is Citrix XenMobile, an Android-based security solution designed for enterprise and government. It offers a slew of security controls, including role-based management, automatic policy privision, blacklisting and whitelisting of apps, the ability to detect and prevent against jailbroken devices, and complete or selective wiping of lost, stolen, or our of compliance devices. Other Citrix apps available now through Samsung KNOX include XenDesktop, XepApp, Receiver, ShareFile, GoToMeeting, GoToAssist, GoToMyPC, and Podio. The security solutions come as malware on mobile devices becomes a growing concern among business users, particulars with the rise of Bring Your Own Device policies. 68 per cent of IT-controlled enterprises reported that this is their top security concern, according to a study by IDC. How secure is your data?http://rss.feedsportal.com/c/669/f/415085/s/377b04f4/sc/5/mf.gifhttp://res3.feedsportal.com/social/twitter.png http://res3.feedsportal.com/social/facebook.png http://res3.feedsportal.com/social/linkedin.png http://res3.feedsportal.com/social/googleplus.png http://res3.feedsportal.com/social/email.png http://da.feedsportal.com/r/186531041319/u/49/f/415085/c/669/s/377b04f4/sc/5/rc/1/rc.img http://da.feedsportal.com/r/186531041319/u/49/f/415085/c/669/s/377b04f4/sc/5/rc/2/rc.img http://da.feedsportal.com/r/186531041319/u/49/f/415085/c/669/s/377b04f4/sc/5/rc/3/rc.img http://da.feedsportal.com/r/186531041319/u/49/f/415085/c/669/s/377b04f4/a2.imghttp://pi.feedsportal.com/r/186531041319/u/49/f/415085/c/669/s/377b04f4/a2t.imghttp://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/techradar/software-news/~4/Zdnxc-21F0A

http://cdn.mos.techradar.com/art/mobile_phones/Android/KitKat/Android_KitKat-470-75.jpgA 64-bit version of Google's Android operating system is only months away from an official launch, according to Jeffrey Ju, vice president, Smartphone Business Unit at Mediatek, during an impromptu briefing yesterday. He said that Q3 will be when that elusive beast will be announced, one that is likely to carry the moniker Android 5.0. Q3 is also when, traditionally, Google is expected to announce the followup of the Nexus 5 and the Nexus 7 2013 edition. 64-bit to become mainstreamJu said that it made perfect sense for Google to launch a 64-bit Android in Q3 because there are already two mainstream 64-bit system-on-chip solutions, Qualcomm's Snapdragon 410 and Mediatek's just announced MT6732, both based on ARM's A53 architecture and aimed at the "super mid-market audience". Other vendors like Samsung and Rockchip are also expected to launch 64-bit SoCs soon. In the entreprise arena, the likes of Cavium and AMD are also doing the same. The Linux Kernel, which is at the core of Android, is already 64-bit capable which means that the transition should be painless. Moving from 32 to 64 bit is likely to have the biggest improvement in performance in multimedia, added Ju. Intel worked on a 64-bit version of Android 4.4 Kit Kat for its own Merrifield solution earlier this year. Now check out the latest from the World Mobile Congresshttp://rss.feedsportal.com/c/669/f/415085/s/377b04f7/sc/5/mf.gifhttp://res3.feedsportal.com/social/twitter.png http://res3.feedsportal.com/social/facebook.png http://res3.feedsportal.com/social/linkedin.png http://res3.feedsportal.com/social/googleplus.png http://res3.feedsportal.com/social/email.png http://da.feedsportal.com/r/186531041318/u/49/f/415085/c/669/s/377b04f7/sc/5/rc/1/rc.img http://da.feedsportal.com/r/186531041318/u/49/f/415085/c/669/s/377b04f7/sc/5/rc/2/rc.img http://da.feedsportal.com/r/186531041318/u/49/f/415085/c/669/s/377b04f7/sc/5/rc/3/rc.img http://da.feedsportal.com/r/186531041318/u/49/f/415085/c/669/s/377b04f7/a2.imghttp://pi.feedsportal.com/r/186531041318/u/49/f/415085/c/669/s/377b04f7/a2t.imghttp://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/techradar/software-news/~4/aSydOlM0W7s

http://cdn.mos.techradar.com/art/mobile_phones/Nokia/NokiaX/Nokiax-5-470-75.jpgThis week's launch of Nokia's new X handsets has generated more headlines than you'd expect for a family of fairly low-end devices. That's because the Windows Phone-supporting, soon-to-be-part-of-Microsoft phone firm has embraced Android. Here's what you need to know: tech first, and then what it means for Nokia, Windows Phone and Microsoft. Which Nokia phones are running Android?So far we've seen three. The four-inch Nokia X and X+, and the Nokia XL – which is a five-incher. What does the X represent?It's the cross between Android apps, Microsoft services and Nokia hardware, apparently. What's the pitch?Nokia design for cheap-Android money. How much will they cost?The Nokia X is €89, the X+ €99 and the XL €109. Are they any good?They're not going to delight specs fiends - you're looking at 1GHz Qualcomm Snapdragons with 512MB of RAM (768MB on the X+ and XL), and you can forget about PureView cameras or wireless charging - but that's not who they're aimed at. They're perfectly decent phones with rock-bottom prices and nice design. Where will they be sold?For now, the X range will be sold in Asia, South America and Eastern Europe. There are no current plans to bring it to Western Europe, North America, Australia, Korea or Japan. Is Nokia using the same Android as Samsung?No. There are actually two Androids: the one we're all familiar with that comes with Google Maps and various other Google services, and the Android Open Source Project (AOSP), which doesn't. AOSP is available to anybody who wants it, and they can do what they like with it - but if they want to include key Google services such as Google Maps or Chrome, they need to pay for a Google Mobile Services (GMS) license. Nokia is using the AOSP version of Android. Has Nokia paid for a GMS license?No. Instead of Google services, the X phones will use Nokia and Microsoft services such as Skype, Here Maps, Bing, OneDrive and so on. Which version of Android is Nokia using?Nokia's fork is based on Android 4.1.2 Jelly Bean. The skin is based on FastLane, the interface already used in Nokia's Asha devices. It looks rather like Windows Phone, which is entirely deliberate. Jelly Bean? That's quite old, isn't it?It is: it's been out since late 2012. The more recent KitKat, Android 4.4, has been specifically optimized for low-end hardware and would run better: we found the phones were "a little jittery". The use of a comparatively old Android suggests that Nokia has been working on this for a while. Do the phones use Google Play?No. Nokia has its own app store. Will it be a crap app store?Nokia says no: it promises hundreds of thousands of apps. Will there be lots of third party apps to choose from?Nokia says developers will find it simple to port their apps to its flavor of Android. It's produced three APIs (Application Programming Interfaces) for maps, app notifications and payments to replace the Google services its version of Android lacks. Can I get apps from elsewhere?Yes. In addition to the Nokia store you'll be able to download apps from third-party app stores, and you'll be able to sideload apps too - although of course, as with any sideloading it's important to make sure you're getting your apps from trustworthy sites. Has Nokia basically 'done an Amazon' here?Yes, it's the same thing Amazon did with the Kindle Fire. It's an interesting move, because a forked Android is essentially yet another mobile OS for customers to consider. Has Nokia dumped Windows Phone?No. The official line is that the low-cost Android devices will introduce "the next billion" users to Nokia kit and Microsoft services. The reality is that Windows Phone is getting stuffed in the low end market by increasingly impressive and affordable Android devices, and that's still an important sector for Nokia. By making low-cost Android devices, Nokia believes, it can get new phone buyers to develop a Nokia habit. How does Microsoft feel about it?That's a very good question. Windows Phone vice president Joe Belfiore was asked specifically about it at MWC, and after an awkward pause he said that as far as Microsoft was concerned, "some things [Nokia does] we're excited about, some things we're less excited about." If this were Old Microsoft, we'd expect Nokia's Android adventure to end as soon as the ink was dry on the contract making Nokia a Microsoft subsidiary. Now that Microsoft's under new management, we're not so sure. These phones might not be shipping Microsoft operating systems, but they will be connecting to Microsoft services such as email, messaging and search. If they prove to be a hit, killing the range might not be the best move for Microsoft to make. That's a very big if, however, and the X range could end up as not just the first Nokia phones to run Android, but the last too. http://rss.feedsportal.com/c/669/f/415085/s/377a6aae/sc/5/mf.gifhttp://res3.feedsportal.com/social/twitter.png http://res3.feedsportal.com/social/facebook.png http://res3.feedsportal.com/social/linkedin.png http://res3.feedsportal.com/social/googleplus.png http://res3.feedsportal.com/social/email.png http://da.feedsportal.com/r/186531039189/u/49/f/415085/c/669/s/377a6aae/sc/5/rc/1/rc.img http://da.feedsportal.com/r/186531039189/u/49/f/415085/c/669/s/377a6aae/sc/5/rc/2/rc.img http://da.feedsportal.com/r/186531039189/u/49/f/415085/c/669/s/377a6aae/sc/5/rc/3/rc.img http://da.feedsportal.com/r/186531039189/u/49/f/415085/c/669/s/377a6aae/a2.imghttp://pi.feedsportal.com/r/186531039189/u/49/f/415085/c/669/s/377a6aae/a2t.imghttp://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/techradar/software-news/~4/dvFMmiaPDMM

http://cdn.mos.techradar.com/art/logos/mcafee-intel-box-renamed-470-75.JPGMichael DeCesare, president of Intel Security, has moved to defend his company's McAfee Antivirus software from those who think it is a lame duck against a new generation of viruses. DeCesare, who leads the company formerly known as McAfee, claims that large existing players like Intel would dominate the fast-growing sector. Young TurksThis flies in the face of those who see investors flooding to fund newer companies such as FireEye and Palo Alto Networks. David De Walt, FireEye chief executive who used to head up McAfee, has been vocal about how his company offers a better solution to combat increasingly sophisticated cyber criminals. Of course, he would say that and the AV industry is historically good at slagging each other off. DeCesare however said that McAfee was not close to antivirus being old technology and challenged someone to come up with a company that has de-installed antivirus because they have FireEye. But the fact he is commenting does indicate a big problem for the older security companies like McAfee and Symantec who are getting challenged by younger companies. There can be only OneDeCesare acknowledged that FireEye was doing well but he said it would be interesting to see over time if they are able to keep to that very small area of security. Eventually he thinks that the market will be owned by large companies that does not specialise in cybersecurity such as Intel - which bought McAfee in 2010 - IBM, and Dell. He told the FT that Intel Security will dominate the growing cybersecurity industry by embedding its security on the Intel chips which are used in everything from computers to the nascent 'internet of things', internet-connected devices from fridges to thermostats that are particularly vulnerable to attack. Intel Security is also targeting the nascent privacy market, which has been spurred by the Edward Snowden revelations of a US mass surveillance programme. Now check out A free version of McAfee's Mobile Security app for Android has hit Google's Play storehttp://rss.feedsportal.com/c/669/f/415085/s/377a6ab7/sc/5/mf.gifhttp://res3.feedsportal.com/social/twitter.png http://res3.feedsportal.com/social/facebook.png http://res3.feedsportal.com/social/linkedin.png http://res3.feedsportal.com/social/googleplus.png http://res3.feedsportal.com/social/email.png http://da.feedsportal.com/r/186531039188/u/49/f/415085/c/669/s/377a6ab7/sc/5/rc/1/rc.img http://da.feedsportal.com/r/186531039188/u/49/f/415085/c/669/s/377a6ab7/sc/5/rc/2/rc.img http://da.feedsportal.com/r/186531039188/u/49/f/415085/c/669/s/377a6ab7/sc/5/rc/3/rc.img http://da.feedsportal.com/r/186531039188/u/49/f/415085/c/669/s/377a6ab7/a2.imghttp://pi.feedsportal.com/r/186531039188/u/49/f/415085/c/669/s/377a6ab7/a2t.imghttp://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/techradar/software-news/~4/9L25fK6R-w0

http://cdn.mos.techradar.com/art/mobile_phones/Android/AndroidPhones-470-75.jpgA free version of McAfee's Mobile Security app for Android has hit Google's Play store. Announced at MWC 2014, the move to offer McAfee Mobile Security for free is part of an intiative by its parent company, Intel, to "integrate security more deeply into the consumer experience." The plans to offer free mobile protection were unveiled by Intel CEO Brian Krzanich at CES 2014. McAfee's Mobile Security for iOS is already available for free, but it's Android that particularly needs protection from online nasties. According to a report by NQ Mobile, Android malware accounted for 95% of all smartphone infections in 2012. AV-BestMcAfee Mobile Security received a 100% detection score and was given a top ranking in recent independent testing by AV-Test. It features anti-theft, anti-virus, app protection, Web protection, call and SMS filtering functionality. A new Wi-Fi Security feature alerts users to any risky or non-protected networks to which they may be connecting. Additionally, a CaptureCam feature will take a picture of whoever is holding the device in the event of it being stolen and will send it to the owner, and an SOS feature can log the last location of the device before battery life expires if it is misplaced or stolen. Check out the TechRadar Pro Mobile World Congress 2014 live coveragehttp://rss.feedsportal.com/c/669/f/415085/s/3777e657/sc/5/mf.gifhttp://res3.feedsportal.com/social/twitter.png http://res3.feedsportal.com/social/facebook.png http://res3.feedsportal.com/social/linkedin.png http://res3.feedsportal.com/social/googleplus.png http://res3.feedsportal.com/social/email.png http://da.feedsportal.com/r/186531030124/u/49/f/415085/c/669/s/3777e657/sc/5/rc/1/rc.img http://da.feedsportal.com/r/186531030124/u/49/f/415085/c/669/s/3777e657/sc/5/rc/2/rc.img http://da.feedsportal.com/r/186531030124/u/49/f/415085/c/669/s/3777e657/sc/5/rc/3/rc.img http://da.feedsportal.com/r/186531030124/u/49/f/415085/c/669/s/3777e657/a2.imghttp://pi.feedsportal.com/r/186531030124/u/49/f/415085/c/669/s/3777e657/a2t.imghttp://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/techradar/software-news/~4/UtM2B-z-qKM