iOS 9 Vs iOS 8

iOS Crushes Android, Apple Update Is Over One Hundred Times Faster

Following the release of iOS 9 on Wednesday 16th September, estimates of the share of iOS devices running the latest version of Apple’s operating system put it over the 20 percent mark on Friday morning. Those of you following the rollout of Android Lollipop will recall that Google’s fifth major version of its operating system passed the same mark at the start of September.

Apple’s latest OS version took three days from public release to reach one-in-five handsets… Android took three hundred and eleven days.

The question is, how much stock to put in these figures? Thanks to Apple’s direct relationship with every one of its handsets and a smaller portfolio of devices, it can quickly roll out software updates and security patches to consumer’s iOS devices. That offers commercial advantages in terms of marketing the handsets as being ‘up to date’, it allows new features and bugs to be addressed in short order (assuming Apple recognises the bugs in the first place), and it means that any security issues can be addressed with haste.
Android is far more distributed, with multiple manufacturers using their own tweaked version of Android, over multiple devices with many combinations. On top of that you have the network carriers involved in the discussions as well. Google, the manufacturers, and the carriers all need to agree on a firmware update before it goes out, which leads to some almost unforgivable delays.
Android supporters will argue that the above should be taken into consideration. I’d argue otherwise.
Google sacrificed the ability to have a direct relationship with consumer handsets to facilitate updates for software and security to allow Android to gain market share through flexible deals with manufacturers. That was a specific choice by Google, and it should be called out on that if required.
Let’s not forget that Microsoft had the same situation with Windows, and while you might raise an eyebrow at a discussion that includes Microsoft and software updates, it also had to deal with a significant number of manufacturers, distributors, and an almost limitless volume of components put together in a grey box. Redmond manages to roll out timely software and security updates, so it is possible.

Google is working on this issue, with many basic updates now accomplished through the Google Play Store updates rather than a full-blown change to the firmware, but it has taken the recent promotion of the StageFright exploit for Google and its Android partners to start focusing on the issue.
No matter what Google does now with Android, it’s unlikely that it will ever be in as strong a position as Apple to deliver timely and relevant software updates without interference, That’s down to the decisions made when the respective operating systems and hardware were released, but those decisions continue to have a major impact on how the two rival platforms are perceived.

Huawei and FotoNation Strengthen Partnership with Collaboration on Latest Smartphones

SAN JOSE, Calif.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--

FotoNation Limited, a wholly owned subsidiary of Tessera Technologies, Inc. (TSRA) and the leading provider of computational imaging solutions for mobile phones and digital still cameras, and Huawei, a leading global information and communications technology (ICT) solutions provider, today announced that Huawei will use FotoNation’s FotoSavvy™ beautification algorithms in the cameras of its latest premium smartphones, the P8 and Honor 7, as well as additional upcoming models.
“The capability and quality of a smartphone's camera is increasingly becoming a key criteria for users evaluating these devices," said Gang He, President of Huawei mobile phone product line. "We consistently strive to provide our users with the best photography experience. FotoNation is a leader in the digital imaging space with a deep understanding of our devices. Implementing FotoNation technology in the P8, Honor 7, and other handsets is a critical step toward a simpler and more intuitive mobile camera experience."
FotoNation's beautification algorithms identify and interpret scene-influencing factors like light, color, gender and age when shooting still images or videos, and seamlessly adjusts settings to achieve the best possible picture. The increasing use of front-facing cameras to take 'selfies,' along with the shortcomings of existing technologies in the marketplace, drove the development of Perfect Selfie in the P8, as well as the beautification solutions in the Honor 7.
"Huawei is a world leader in the smartphone industry with a relentless drive to improve and innovate, and we are thrilled to extend our partnership with them as they set the course for the future of this market," said Sumat Mehra, SVP of marketing and business development at FotoNation. "We have demonstrated our ability to customize our technology to fully take advantage of the Huawei handsets’ mobile imaging capabilities. This allows us to jointly deliver the best possible photography experience to the end user."
FotoNation’s face-and-eye detection and tracking technologies, already found in 60% of tier-one smartphones, represent the foundation of our beautification suite of products. As part of the FotoSavvy™ product family, our beautification technology aims to change the way users experience mobile photography.
Safe Harbor Statement
This document contains forward-looking statements, which are made pursuant to the safe harbor provisions of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Forward-looking statements involve risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ significantly from those projected, particularly with respect to the characteristics, benefits, and features of FotoNation technologies and the use of such technologies and the timing of implementation of such technologies in Huawei Technologies Co. Ltd. smartphones. Material factors that may cause results to differ from the statements made include the plans or operations relating to the businesses of Tessera Technologies, Inc. (the “Company”); market or industry conditions; changes in patent laws, regulation or enforcement, or other factors that might affect the Company's ability to protect or realize the value of its intellectual property; the expiration of license agreements and the cessation of related royalty income; the failure, inability or refusal of licensees to pay royalties; initiation, delays, setbacks or losses relating to the Company's intellectual property or intellectual property litigations, or invalidation or limitation of key patents; fluctuations in operating results due to the timing of new license agreements and royalties, or due to legal costs; the risk of a decline in demand for semiconductors and products utilizing FotoNation technologies; failure by the industry to use technologies covered by the Company's patents; the expiration of the Company's patents; the Company's ability to successfully complete and integrate acquisitions of businesses; the risk of loss of, or decreases in production orders from, customers of acquired businesses; financial and regulatory risks associated with the international nature of the Company's businesses; failure of the Company's products to achieve technological feasibility or profitability; failure to successfully commercialize the Company's products; changes in demand for the products of the Company's customers; limited opportunities to license technologies due to high concentration in the markets for semiconductors and related products and smartphone imaging; and the impact of competing technologies on the demand for the Company's technologies. You are cautioned not to place undue reliance on the forward-looking statements, which speak only as of the date of this release. The Company's filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission, including its Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended Dec. 31, 2014 and its Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the quarter ended June 30, 2015, include more information about factors that could affect the Company's financial results. The Company assumes no obligation to update information contained in this press release. Although this release may remain available on the Company's website or elsewhere, its continued availability does not indicate that the Company is reaffirming or confirming any of the information contained herein.
About FotoNation
FotoNation is giving life to computational imaging by merging technology with emotion. With technology in more than 60 percent of global tier-1 smartphones, FotoNation develops technologies that serve the computational imaging space for handsets and cameras, as well as the automotive, surveillance, security, and augmented reality markets. We create, innovate and deliver the next generation of computational imaging algorithms. We engineer new ways to reach the highest possible performance while keeping system requirements to a minimum. We have a long history of innovating and advancing the state of the art in image processing. More than a decade ago, we were the first to integrate a computational imaging solution in an embedded mobile device. Today, FotoNation remains the leader in computational photography and computer vision. Nearly two billion digital cameras and smart devices are powered by the imaging technologies designed by the sharp minds and passionate hearts of FotoNation engineers. For more information visit www.fotonation.com.

About Huawei Consumer Business Group

By 2014, Huawei’s products and services have covered more than 170 countries, and a third of the world’s population. Huawei’s shipments of smartphones ranked third in the world in 2014. Huawei has 16 R&D centers have been set up in the US, Germany, Sweden, Russia, India, and China. Huawei Consumer Business Group is one of three businesses within Huawei, covering smartphones, mobile broadband devices, home devices and cloud services. Based on more than 20 years of Huawei’s expertise in the telecom industry, built on Huawei’s global network, worldwide operations and business partners, Huawei Consumer Business Group is dedicated to providing the latest technology to the consumers and bringing the joy of technological advances to people all around the world. Huawei acts on its word and fulfills dreams. For more information please visit: www.consumer.huawei.com

How Inmarsat is helping achieving very high dreams!

How Inmarsat set New world record for Guo Chuan Racing

 

On the 16th of September 2015, Inmarsat congratulates Guo Chuan and his five crew from Germany, France and Russia, on successfully sailing non-stop in a racing trimaran for the first time in history, through the Arctic Ocean Northeast passage.
Taking just 13 days to complete the journey, the Guo Chuan Racing team sailed across 3,240 nautical miles of treacherous waters, from Murmansk to the Bering Straits, encountering strong winds, growlers, icebergs and extreme cold weather conditions along the way.
Throughout the adventure, Inmarsat and MCN Beijing provided Guo with vital mobile satellite connectivity and safety services, via Inmarsat’s FleetBroadband 250 and FleetBroadband 500 flagship voice and broadband date service, and an Inmarsat IsatPhone handheld mobile satellite phone.

In touch

This enabled the crew to maintain constant contact with the onshore support team, share regular updates and photos of their journey on Twitter, Facebook and the challenge website, and stay in touch with family back home.
This was especially important for French crew member Quentin Monegier, who was able to make a phone call home to find he was the proud father of a new baby boy, and receive a photo of his son, thanks to Inmarsat’s connectivity.
“I feel very proud of myself and my crew. It is a challenging and tough journey, especially when we were surrounded by ice and gusts under the extreme cold weather,” said Guo.

Iconic figurehead

“The boat was bumping like a roller-coaster sometimes and seemed totally out of control. For several times, when we were in a very difficult situation, I suspected whether we could go further. But thanks to our determination and all the brave and excellent crew, we overcame the difficult time together and finally made it.”
Guo is the first professional offshore sailor in China and an iconic figurehead in his country. He is also the first Chinese ‘peace champion’ for Peace and Sport, a global initiative which works to promote sport as a tool for peace.
Guo’s impressive sailing achievements include participating in the Clipper Round the World Race in 2006 and completing the Volvo Ocean Race 2008-09 edition.
In addition, he set the world record for a solo, non-stop circumnavigation of the globe in a Class 40 monohull in 2013, and Inmarsat was proud to have supported him on this inaugural challenge too.

Do you have a Post Disaster Communications Strategy?

When you have disaster like this, what do you rely on?


Iridium 9555 Satellite Phone  - Includes One Year of Emergency Access 
The Iridium 9555 satellite phone is compact, light, and easy to use but with industrial-grade ruggedness - The Iridium 9555 is engineered to withstand rugged environments, so customers can depend on it as a critical lifeline wherever need takes them. This package comes bundled with one year of Emergency Access.





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 Inmarsat IsatPhone Pro Satellite Phone  - Includes 100 Units 
IsatPhone Pro offers satellite telephony, with Bluetooth for handsfree use, voicemail, and text and email messaging. Location data is also available to the user to look up or send in a text message.  This package comes bundled with 100 Units/77 airtime minutes.

 
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Globalstar 1700 Satellite Phone - Includes Annual Emergency Plan with 120 Minutes
 
A light and feature-rich mobile satellite phone, the Globalstar GSP-1700 helps you stay connected virtually anywhere. Free travel bag included.  This package comes bundled with the Annual Emergency Plan with includes 120 airtime minutes.
Click here to learn more  

MICROSOFT DECLARES WAR ON SCAMMERS

It is war on tech support scammers as Microsofts declares war on tech support who pretend to be representatives of the company.

 

 Microsoft is suing alleged scammers who phone up people under the pretense of representing the firm and offer bogus technology support. The callers ask to take over a home computer and demand money to fix it. Some then install viruses as well.

The software company said it had received more than 65,000 complaints about tech support scams since May.
It is taking legal action against several firms it accuses of misusing its name in such cases.
Fake ads The scam has been around for decades with callers peddling useless security software and tricking people into spending hundreds of pounds (or dollars) to solve non-existent computer problems.
Increasingly, the bogus technicians are gaining access to people's computers remotely.
From there they can also steal personal and financial information and install malware.
In some cases people are tricked into signing up for support via fake web ads. Others receive a direct telephone call from a technician claiming to represent Microsoft.
Microsoft has warned that scammers are likely to be active over the Christmas period.
"The holiday season is a popular time for scammers as more people engage in online activities, including shopping, donating to charity and searching for travel deals," it said.
Older victims Older people needed to be particularly vigilant, it said.
"Tech support scammers don't discriminate; they will go after anyone, but not surprisingly senior citizens have been among the most vulnerable."

The US Federal Trade Commission filed a legal case in Florida last month against a company that used adverts to scare people into believing their computer had a virus and then sell them allegedly worthless services.
In the UK, National Trading Standards has recently taken legal action against a man from Luton who hired people at an Indian call centre to falsely tell people their computers had a serious problem.
Mohammed Khalid Jamil was given a four-month suspended jail sentence and ordered to pay £5,665 compensation and £13,929 in prosecution costs.
Below are tips issued by Microsoft to help users avoid falling for such scams.
It reads:

• Ask if there is a fee or subscription for the services. If there is, hang up

• Never give control of your computer to the third party unless you can confirm it is a legitimate representative of a computer support team at a company of which you are already a customer

• Take the caller's information down and immediately report it to your local authorities

• Never provide your credit card or financial information to someone claiming to be from Microsoft tech support.

APPLE iWATCH for real!

Behold class and style! Yes, in just a couple of weeks come 2015, Apple will release the much anticipated i Watches in different gorgeous designs. The watches all Apple's new "Taptic engine" also improves the mapping experience too, buzzing users with different vibrations when they need to turn left or right. This feature can also be used to send fellow Apple Watch wearers a nudge, and for notification alerts.

On the software side of things, the Apple Watch also comes with Siri baked-in, allowing users to bark commands at their wrist. On-screen typing will not be supported, due to the device's small screen size.

 

In terms of physical specifications, the Apple Watch boasts a Retina display resolution, and also comes with a feature called "Force Touch," which means the screen knows how hard you are pressing it. The screen also comes with a toughened sapphire glass on top, which means it should be difficult to break.

 

There's also Bluetooth 4.0 support, WiFi and Magsafe wireless charging support included, and the two models measure in at 38mm and 42mm, respectively.

Apple's Watch, as rumours had suggested, come stuffed full of health and fitness senors too, and is capable of measuring a users heart rate and body movements. This all comes baked in to Apple's new Activity and Workout apps, where users can also count calories and set personal goals.
The Apple Watch collection features highly polished stainless steel and space black stainless steel cases. The display is protected by sapphire crystal. And there’s a choice of three different leather bands, a link bracelet, a Milanese loop, and a band made from high-performance fluoroelastomer.

 We will not forget that Apple started 2014 slowly but more than made up for it in the long haul, introducing the Apple Watch, Apple Pay, Mac OS X Yosemite, iOS 8, an iPad Air 2 with a super-fast processor, the massively selling iPhone 6, the iPhone 6 Plus, and a luscious iMac with a 5K Retina screen, which, it turns out, is priced less than some 4K monitors.

Make your choice!

Find your style in three distinctive collections

Apple Watch

Apple Watch Sport

Apple Watch Edition

Cold-forged stainless steel. Formulated for strength and beauty.

How a product is used should determine the materials from which it’s made. Apple Watch is designed to be worn during all your daily activities, from morning workouts to nights out. That’s why we took a refined 316L stainless steel — an alloy that is remarkably corrosion resistant — and cold forged it to make it 40 percent harder and less susceptible to nicks and scratches. We also reduce impurities to achieve the mirror finish. An additional diamond-like carbon (DLC) layer gives the space black stainless steel its distinctive look.

Brilliantly scratch-resistant sapphire crystal.

Next to diamond, sapphire is the hardest transparent material on earth. That makes it ideal for protecting the Retina display. To harvest the crystal, we use a very thin diamond-cutting wire. The sapphire is then precision-machined into its final form and polished for many hours to produce the desired finish.

Beautifully engineered bands and closures.

With designs made from fine top-grain leathers, durable high-performance fluoroelastomer, and custom-engineered stainless steel, the Apple Watch collection offers the widest array of band materials and closure styles. Each one is distinctive in its own right, yet perfectly matched to the collection.

 Link Bracelet
Crafted from the same 316L stainless steel alloy as the case, the Link Bracelet has more than 100 components. The machining process is so precise, it takes nearly nine hours to cut the links for a single band. In part that’s because they aren’t simply a uniform size, but subtly increase in width as they approach the case. Once assembled, the links are brushed by hand to ensure that the texture follows the contours of the design. The custom butterfly closure folds neatly within the bracelet. And several links feature a simple release button, so you can add and remove links without any special tools. Available in stainless steel and space black stainless steel.

Milanese Loop
A modern interpretation of a design developed in Milan at the end of the 19th century. Woven on specialized Italian machines, the smooth stainless steel mesh wraps fluidly around your wrist. And because it’s fully magnetic, the Milanese Loop is infinitely adjustable, ensuring a perfect fit.

 Modern Buckle
A small French tannery established in 1803 produces the supple Granada leather for this elegant band. The smooth top-grain leather is lightly milled and tumbled to maintain its refined texture. What looks like a solid buckle is actually a two-piece magnetic closure that’s delightfully simple to secure. We also added an inner layer of Vectran weave for strength and stretch resistance. It’s the same material NASA used to make the landing airbags for the Mars Rover spacecraft. This band is available in soft pink, brown, and midnight blue.

 Leather Loop
The Venezia leather for this band is handcrafted in Arzignano, Italy. With an artisan heritage spanning five generations, the tannery has a history of partnership with some of the most prestigious names in fashion. A delicate milling and tumbling process enhances the beautiful pebbled texture. This traditional craftsmanship is combined with an innovative approach to design. Magnets concealed within the soft, quilted leather allow you to simply wrap it around your wrist for a precise fit and a trim look. Available in stone, light brown, and bright blue. 

Classic Buckle
From the renowned ECCO tannery in the Netherlands, the Dutch leather used for this band is milled to give the grain a subtle, distinctive texture. The simple closure is crafted from the same stainless steel as the case. It’s a beautiful take on a traditional band design. Available in black.

Sport Band

Because it’s made from a custom high-performance fluoroelastomer, the Sport Band is durable and strong, yet surprisingly soft. The smooth, dense material drapes elegantly across your wrist and feels comfortable next to your skin. An innovative pin-and-tuck closure ensures a clean fit. Available in white and black.

Narayana Murthy on Achievers' Club

Apple marks 50 billionth app with big prize

Apple says its customers have downloaded more than 50 billion applications from its App Store since its launch in 2008.


SAN FRANCISCO: Apple on Thursday announced that the number of mini-programs downloaded from its App Store has blasted past the 50 billion milestone, and celebrated the moment with a $10,000 prize. 

The California-based maker of iPads, iPhones, iPods and Macintosh computers said that it gave a $10,000 App Store gift card to an Ohio man who downloaded the 50 billionth app -- a free word game called Say the Same Thing. 

"We're absolutely floored to cross this milestone in less than five years," Apple senior vice president of Internet software and services Eddy Cue said in a statement. 

"The App Store completely transformed how people use their mobile devices and created a thriving app ecosystem that has paid out over nine billion dollars to developers." 

People are downloading mini-programs from the App Store at an average rate of 800 per second, according to Apple. 

Apple opened the virtual doors of its online App Store in July of 2008 with 500 apps for the company's coveted mobile gadgets. 

The online store is now stocked with more than 850,000 apps for iPhones, iPads, or iPod touch devices powered by Apple's iOS operating system. 

"The App Store has been integral in getting us into the hands of millions of iOS users and has transformed our business," said Elizabeth Francis, chief marketing officer at designer fashion flash-sale website Gilt.com. 

Microsoft says upgrade to Windows 8 or spend more

Microsoft, which plans to end support for Windows XP on April 8, next year, said the cost of upgrading will be about $95 or Rs 5199

BANGALORE: In an attempt to encourage enterprises to upgrade computer operating systems to the latest version of Windows,Microsoft said companies that fail to migrate from Windows XP to Windows 7 or 8 could end up spending over three times the support costs besides exposing themselves to more security risks. 

Microsoft, which plans to end support for Windows XP on April 8 , next year, said the cost of upgrading from Windows XP to Windows 7 or 8 will be about $95 or Rs 5199, compared to the cost of non-migrating which will be $300 or Rs 16,419. The data was from a study by technology market researcher IDC, released on Tuesday. 

"This is an alarming situation as non-migration puts businesses at risk of security breaches and could potentially create a big dent to the company's brand image," notedAmrish Goyal, director, Windows Business Group at Microsoft adding that around 50-60% of installed PC base in the enterprises are still running Windows XP. 

Windows 8, released six months ago, is the most comprehensive overhaul of Microsoft's operating system as the world's largest software-maker seeks to stay in sync with users who are shifting to touch-based smartphones and tablet computers. The sales haven't been stellar so far, according to analysts tracking the progress of the new operating system. 

Microsoft's decision to end support for Windows XP means millions of laptops and desktops will no longer receive Microsoft's security and system updates post April 2014. Microsoft said companies that refuse to migrate from Windows XP could also incur costs related to business loss due to security, data breach threats and productivity loss. 

Windows XP is one of Microsoft's more successful operating systems, which was not the case with Windows 7 and Windows Vista. 

In a whitepaper released on Tuesday , IDC said organisations that stick on to Windows XP would face significant business risks both in the form of disruption of operations that could result in loss of revenue and potential breach of information from their core business applications. 

"With the looming end of support (EOS) of Windows XP on April 8, 2014, organizations should not underestimate the need to put together a plan of migration from Windows XP to Windows 7 or Windows 8. This migration not only has key business/IT drivers, but also has a very valid financial benefit in the form of investment versus cost avoidance," the IDC said.