Windows Phone 8 to Outpace BlackBerry in the Enterprise Segment

Microsoft’s upcoming Windows Phone 8 platform is expected to prove a great option for users in the enterprise segment, recent reports on the matter suggest.

The operating system is said to arrive on devices with a variety of features specifically designed for this market area, which will spur adoption and will allow Microsoft to push RIM to the edge. At the moment, BlackBerry smartphones made by Research In Motion are highly popular among enterprise users, courtesy of increased security options and a familiar OS interface. However, it appears that Microsoft too is planning the inclusion of better security capabilities in Windows Phone 8, which comes as a major upgrade from WP7, a recent article on mobilenewscwp.co.uk reads. Some of these features would include built-in encryption software for both the OS and user’s files, along with ‘App Sandboxing,’ which should provide increased protection from malware. Overall, there will be multiple layers of security packed inside the new platform, so as to increase the protection of all content present on the device.

On top of that, Microsoft is expected to provide improved remote management tools for IT managers, thus making the platform more appealing for the corporate environment. Ovum analyst Nick Dillon suggests that all these will help Windows Phone 8 penetrate the enterprise market more than it will on the consumer area, where familiar platforms such as Android and iOS will continue to dominate. According to the analyst, Windows Phone will manage to increase its market share in the UK from 5 percent this year to over 13 percent in the next five years. The issue is the fact that Windows Phone sports a different UI that other mobile OSes, and that stores need to train their staff to understand the benefits of the platform so as to be able to successfully sell it to customers.

“This, along with the security upgrade is one of the reasons businesses could be the key market for Windows Phone. Done properly with the right marketing, Windows could be a BlackBerry killer in enterprise,” Dillon reportedly said.

Windows Phone 8
Image credits to Microsoft

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LG Nexus Reviewed Before Launch

South Korean mobile phone maker LG Electronics is getting ready to bring to the market its first handset in the popular Nexus lineup, and the first review of the yet unannounced device is already available online.

The handset resembles last year’s Galaxy Nexus smartphone coming from Samsung a lot, yet it sports different hardware inside. According to the guys over at tech.onliner.by, who had the chance to play with the device, the screen of LG’s Nexus smartphone is flat, unlike the curved one present on Galaxy Nexus. Moreover, the new smartphone is said to be a bit shorter than the already available handset, while also being a little wider. The smartphone is said to pack only GSM connectivity, with no LTE to enjoy for those fond of 4G networks available worldwide today, though we could expect this feature to be included at launch. After all, said site reviewed only a prototype unit, which was also said to sport a rather buggy Android version. On the hardware side, however, users will be in for a treat, as the new Nexus device comes with about the same specs as the LG Optimus G that was made official last month.

It will hit shelves with a 4.7-inch IPS 1280×720 display, as well as with a quad-core processor inside, and 2GB of RAM, rumor has it. Unfortunately, the phone was said to sport only 8GB of internal memory. On the back, there should be an 8-megapixel photo snapper, complemented by a front camera for making video calls. All the usual set of sensors and connectivity capabilities will be included in the package as well. Chances are that the final version of the handset will be slightly different than this prototype, yet only a few changes might occur. Overall, LG’s Nexus, provided that its rumored $399 price tag will pan out, should prove a highly appealing device, even if the prototype unit did not manage to impress as much. Hopefully, we’ll learn all about it before the end of this month.

LG Nexus
Image credits to tech.onliner.by

LG Nexus next to Samsung Galaxy Nexus
Image credits to tech.onliner.by

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BlackBerry 10 L-Series Device Video Appearance

A new BlackBerry 10-powered mobile phone has made a video appearance on the web, this time coming from Mexico and said to be one of the first L-Series devices that Research In Motion might make officially available in the first quarter of the next year.

Unfortunately, little is known on the handset itself, other than the fact that it is different from the BlackBerry 10 Dev Alpha A and Dev Alpha B smartphones that RIM has already shown to the world. The aforementioned video, which can be seen embedded above, comes as a presentation of the operating system and its upcoming features.

Spanish speakers will certainly have a great time watching it. For the rest of us, images should speak for themselves, although details on the smartphone are missing, as CrackBerry notes. Have a look at it and judge for yourselves.

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Critical Windows 8 Security Flaw: Logon Passwords Stored in Plain Text

Microsoft says that Windows 8 is the most secure operating system ever, but the first critical security flaw has already been discovered.

Passcape Software developers have discovered that Windows 8 stores user accounts passwords in plain text whenever the user switches to a picture password or a PIN. As you may know in case you’re a Windows 8 early adopter, the new operating system comes with two new authentication options, allowing users to log in via a picture password or a secure PIN. “The matter is that these two authentication methods are based on a regular user account. In other words, the user must first have created an account with a regular password and then optionally switch to PIN or picture password authentication. Notably that the original plain-text (!) password to the account also remains in the system,” Passcape wrote in a blog post.

Passwords could, of course, be decrypted and Passcape says that some software solutions especially created in this regard have already been developed. “Once the user has switched to a new authentication method, his text password is encrypted using the AES algorithm and saved to protected Vault storage in the folder %SYSTEM_DIR%/config/systemprofile/AppData/Local/Microsoft/Vault/4BF4C442-9B8A-41A0-B380-DD4A704DDB28,” the software company explained. “The text password is not bound to the PIN or picture password; therefore, any user of the PC with the Administrator privileges can easily recover it (the encryption key is protected with system DPAPI).”

Microsoft hasn’t yet commented on the matter, but we’ve contacted the Redmondians for an official statement, so we’ll keep you updated.

Decrypting a Windows 8 password is easy
Image credits to Passcape

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Microsoft Office 2013 Goes RTM, Launched in Early 2013

Microsoft has just announced that its upcoming Office version has reached the Release to Manufacturing (RTM) stage, ahead of the public debut in the first quarter of 2013.

The Enterprise version of Office 2013 wolud be rolled out in the next service update, Microsoft said in a blog post, starting in November through general availability. “General availability is planned for the first quarter of 2013. Starting October 19, customers purchasing Office 2010 from local retailers or resellers will receive the new Office for free upon availability,” Kirk Koenigsbauer, corporate vice president, Microsoft Office Division, said. Office 365 will be released in two different versions in early 2013, both of which will come with a subscription-based service. A one-year Office 365 Home Premium subscription for up to 5 users will cost $99.99 / €76.30 while the Office 365 Small Business Premium package will have a starting price of $149.99 / €114.5 per year. In addition, the company will also roll out a traditional Office suite that won’t require a subscription, with pricing to begin at $139.99 for Office Home and Student 2013.

Each package comes with all Office applications, including Word, Excel, PowerPoint, OneNote, Outlook, Access and Publisher, with the subscription-based version allowing buyers to use them on up to 5 different devices at the same time, including desktop PCs and tablets. “The new Office has a fresh, touch friendly design that works beautifully on Windows 8 and unlocks modern scenarios in social, reading, note-taking, meetings and communications. We are proud to achieve this milestone and are eager to deliver this exciting release to our customers,” Koenigsbauer added in his blog post, confirming that Office 2013 has been specifically designed for Windows 8 users.

Office 365 will go on sale in early 2013
Image credits to Microsoft

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Samsung Galaxy S3 Mini Launched

Samsung has launched Galaxy S3 Mini, a 4 inch display, Android smartphone at an event in Frankfurt,Germany. Samsung Galaxy S3 Mini is expected to hit the market during Christmas and it is expected to be priced between USD 350 to USD 430 however still there’s no confirmation about the prices or the availability by the Korean giant.

Samsung Galaxy S3 Mini is sporting a smaller 4 inch display similar to the iPhone 5 launched earlier this year by Apple. The device which is a mini version of the companies flagship device Samsung Galaxy S3 , is seen as Samsung’s answer to Apples iPhone 5.However the device is nowhere close to its flagship device Samsung Galaxy S3 as it lacks a quad core and the 5 MP camera present is also said to be mediocre. The presence of a dual core processor and absence of a quad core makes it a less power packed performer when compared to other Flagship products. Samsung Galaxy S3 Mini comes with the latest version of Android 4.1 JellyBean , 1GHz dual-core processor, 5MP rear camera and 800x480p display.The device is not a very powerful device when compared to it brother Galaxy S3 but is rather targeted at  emerging markets. The device is juiced up by a 1500mAh battery. It comes packed-up with 8GB of RAM and is available in 8 and 16 GB variants along with a microSD card slot that supports cards upto 32 GB.

Connectivity Options include WiFi a/n/b/g , WiFi HT40, GPS/GLONASS  , Bluetooth 4.0. Along with this it also has NFC chip. However it’s missing 4G LTE capabilities.The device is having a size of 121.55 X 63 X .85 mm, 111.5 g. There has been a good number of handsets with smaller screens being launched by companies to target the consumers who prefer rather smaller yet a very practical device that they can easily hold in their hands next to their ears.

Samsung Galaxy SIII and SIII Mini
Image credits to Samsung

Samsung Galaxy Mini
Image credits to Samsung

Samsung Galaxy Mini Specs
Image credits to Samsung

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NTT DoCoMo Sharp Aquos Phone Zeta SH-02E Features IGZO Display

One of the smartphones that Japanese wireless carrier NTT DoCoMo made official today was the Sharp Aquos Phone Zeta SH-02E, expected to become available for purchase on its network sometime this winter.

The most interesting aspect of this device is the fact that it comes with an IGZO display, which is said to provide impressive battery savings when compared to other displays currently available on smartphones. Apparently, the indium gallium zinc oxide technology used for the screen offers increased levels of translucency when compared to what usual LCDs have to offer, thus reducing the demand for backlighting, which affects the battery performance, Engadget notes. The screen technology has been already showcased to the world, and is now powering the large 4.9-inch display on Sharp Aquos Phone Zeta SH-02E, which is capable of delivering a 1,280 x 720 pixel resolution. The specifications list of this device also includes a quad-core Snapdragon S4 processor clocked in a 1.5GHz, and complemented by Adreno 320 graphics, also capable of connecting to NTT DoCoMo’s 4G LTE network.

Additionally, the new mobile phone arrives on shelves with a massive 16-megapixel photo snapper on the back, capable of providing users with full HD video recording capabilities, as well as with a 1.2MP camera on the front, great for making video calls while on the go. The wireless carrier also notes that the new device is both waterproof and dustproof, that it comes with support for NFC connectivity, and that it also sports Wi-Fi and Bluetooth capabilities (Wi-Fi hotspot as well). Unfortunately, the new Sharp Aquos Phone Zeta SH-02E will be released with Google’s Android 4.0 Ice Cream Sandwich operating system right from the start, though users could expect an upgrade to Android 4.1 soon after.

No specific info on when the new mobile phone will arrive on shelves has been provided, but it should not be too long before NTT DoCoMo announces these details as well.

NTT DoCoMo Sharp Aquos Phone Zeta SH-02E
Image credits to NTT DoCoMo

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Make the Most of the FM Radio App on Apple iPod nano 7G

A key feature of the seventh-generation iPod nano is the Radio application which allows you to tune in to your favorite radio station on the go and even skip back as much as 15 minutes. Here’s how to use it.

The player uses the headphone cord as the antenna, which means you are required to connect your shiny new EarPods every time you want to receive a radio signal. In other words, you can’t use wireless headphones with the Radio app. In fact, Apple says, “For better reception, make sure the cord isn’t tangled or coiled.” Listening to the radio on your new nano is dead-easy. Simply connect the EarPods or some regular headphones, then tap Radio on the Home screen, and tap the Play icon. Apple says “If you don’t see the Radio icon, swipe left.” Some radio stations support Radio Data System, or RDS, which displays the song title, artist name, and station information. If this type of info doesn’t appear on screen, the radio station you’re listening to doesn’t support RDS.

Here’s where it gets interesting. iPod nano supports Live Pause, which enables you to pause a radio broadcast and resume playback from the same point some 15 minutes later. No more, though. That’s the limit, according to Apple. “When Live Pause is turned on in Settings (it’s on by default), you can pause a live broadcast for up to 15 minutes. When the 15 minute limit is reached, the earlier recording is cleared as the recording continues,” the company explains in a support document. The Cupertino mammoth offers a lowdown of the circumstances in which Paused radio is cleared automatically (below).

• You change stations.
• You turn off iPod nano.
• You play other media content or record a voice memo.
• The battery is very low and needs to be charged.
• You pause the radio for 15 minutes without resuming play.

You’ll find more options for listening to paused radio behind the Live Pause controls, according to Apple. The company also outlines a few ways to control playback of paused radio, for example skipping back in 30-second increments by tapping the 30 second skip back icon.

iPod nano radio promo
Image credits to Apple

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Nokia Concludes Trial of City Lens for Symbian and MeeGo

Today, the Nokia Beta Labs team announced that the beta trial for the Nokia City Lens for Symbian and MeeGo devices has been concluded.

Moving forth, the focus will remain on the development of the augmented reality (AR) application for devices running under Microsoft’s Windows Phone operating system. This move was somehow expected, given the fact that Nokia did say several weeks back that it would no longer update City Lens for Symbian and MeeGo, and that support for the Belle refresh smartphones would not be added to the application. “Nokia Beta Labs followers will know that City Lens has been one of our most well received new applications,” the Nokia City Lens team at Nokia Beta Labs noted. “People all over the world have recognized it as an exciting way to view what’s available to see and do in their immediate surroundings and reviewers have praised its ease of use.”

Moreover, the team notes that the feedback received from users has proved great both for bringing enhancements to the Symbian and N9 versions of the app, and for the development of the Windows Phone flavor. “This feedback also proved to be very helpful to us when we started working on Windows Phone, the platform on which we are dedicated to creating a third ecosystem in smartphones and the one we intend to provide the best-in class location-based experiences on,” the team notes. The application is expected to prove highly popular on devices running under Windows Phone, this being the main reason for which the focus switches to bringing enhancements to this app release.

Those who have already downloaded and installed Nokia City Lens on their Symbian and MeeGo devices will be able to continue using the app, the team of developers also said. However, as mentioned above, there will be no support for the Belle refresh. “We continue to forge ahead on City Lens for Windows Phone and we believe that AR will be a critical component of the mobile future as a technology that helps users get the most out of their geographical location,” the team concluded.

Nokia City Lens
Image credits to Nokia Beta Labs

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Raspberry Pi Burned by Counterfeit Apple Chargers

Raspberry Pi is a great tool for Linux developers, but it also suffers a little bit because of users’ ignorance.

The Raspberry Pi Foundation, the developers of this amazing mini PC, has seen a rising trend of broken Raspberry PIs because of counterfeit power supply units. “Returned units used in the UK has noted a problem out there with some power supplies, all of which appear to be counterfeit Apple chargers. Some of you are using chargers you’ve bought in good faith which are not the real thing, and which don’t behave like a safety-tested, properly engineered piece of hardware,” said Liz Upton, a representative of The Raspberry Pi Foundation.

If you have a Raspberry Pi, don't use a look-alike Apple charger for it. You might ruin it. Raspberry Pi relies on an ARM processor with a clock speed of 700 MHz, 256 MB of RAM, an SD card slot and a 5V Micro USB connector that supplies the power. It also features RCA and HDMI ports.

Raspberry Pi
Image credits to Raspberry Pi Foundation

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