Google demands veto on OEM Android changes, stretches definition of 'open source'

Google, according to reports from "a dozen executives working at key companies in the Android ecosystem" is finally locking down the open source and easily-fragmented Android operating system.

As it currently stands, Google hands over the 'final' code for each version of Android, and OEMs and developers then spend some time customizing the OS to fit their hardware, and to create a unique and marketable flavor. That's all set to change, however.

Over the last few months, according to several people familiar with the matter, Android licensees such as HTC, Motorola and Facebook, have been asked to sign 'non-fragmentation clauses.' This new contract caveat will give Google the right to review and pass judgment on all changes to the Android OS. Two executives at Facebook say that they're unhappy that Google gets to review its changes to Android -- which is understandable, given Facebook and Google are direct competitors -- and there have also been allegations that Google is preventing some Verizon devices from shipping because they include Microsoft's Bing instead of Google search.

Continue reading Google demands veto on OEM Android changes, stretches definition of 'open source'

Google demands veto on OEM Android changes, stretches definition of 'open source' originally appeared on Download Squad on Thu, 31 Mar 2011 07:26:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments

Source: http://downloadsquad.switched.com/2011/03/31/google-demands-veto-on-android-changes-stretches-definition-of/

VISHAY INTERTECHNOLOGY VIRGIN MEDIA VIEWSONIC VERISIGN

Our Meta Liveblog Starts at 12PM [IPhone]

The next iPhone, whatever it's called, will be announced later today. Starting at noon, we'll be bringing together the best coverage from our amazing friends all around the web, like gdgt live, Ars Technica's liveblog and more, over at live.gizmodo.com. More »


Source: http://feeds.gawker.com/~r/gizmodo/full/~3/qGEItyKnJBE/the-next-iphone-meta-liveblog-tomorrow-12pm

FAIR ISAAC FACTSET RESEARCH SYSTEMS F5 NETWORKS EPICOR SOFTWARE

CrunchGear Week In Review: Independent Edition

Here are some stories from the past week on CrunchGear: Weekend Giveaway: Toshiba 47-inch TL515 Series 3D LED TV Starbucks Merges Their Two iOS Apps, Lets You Gift Your Friends Coffee From Your Phone Warn Friends And Foes With These Nine Aperture Science Test Chamber Labels SocialBicycles Bike Sharing Is Now A Kickstarter Project Ricoh [...]

Source: http://www.crunchgear.com/2011/07/04/week-in-review-independent/

BT GROUP CANON MEMC ELECTRONIC MATERIALS MICROSOFT

iPhone 5 Rumor Scorecard: The Good, The Bad and The Asinine

As with any Apple announcement, the pre-event online rumor mill is running at full steam. Some are serious, some less so, and some are so ridiculous as to make you curse the egalitarian world of online publishing. And through all of it, of couse, Apple never comments on rumors or speculation (or much of anything [...]

Source: http://www.wired.com/gadgetlab/2011/10/iphone-5-rumor-apple/

GOOGLE GOOGLE FORMFACTOR FISERV

Upcoming Nikon D800 Said To Be 36-Megapixel, $4000 Monster

d800Some specs for Nikon's next semi-pro camera have surfaced on Japanese camera site Digital Camera Info, and Nikon Rumors seems to think they're creditable. It's an interesting move by Nikon but not one that will be appreciated by the bulk of DSLR buyers. The new D800, they say, will pack 36 megapixels on a full frame FX sensor, and essentially forgo advances in low-light performance in order to produce a medium-cost studio camera instead of a lower-cost prosumer one. The $4000 price puts it out of most enthusiasts' reach, and the high megapixel count makes it less practical for sports and field photography.

Source: http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/Techcrunch/~3/UXiXfzB-e8c/

IXYS ITRON IRON MOUNTAIN INORATED IOMEGA

The World's Largest Floating Fish Factory [Video]

Wild fish stocks around the world are crashing, in part due to over-fishing. Now, I'm not saying the Lafayette fish processing ship is the sole cause of the problem, but the 1,500 tons of fish it freezes and ships a day probably isn't helping the situation. More »


Source: http://feeds.gawker.com/~r/gizmodo/full/~3/_ZDbFSpgwMY/the-worlds-largest-floating-fish-factory

LSI LINEAR TECHNOLOGY LEXMARK INTERNATIONAL LEVEL 3 COMMUNICATIONS

Color vulnerable to simple GPS hack, lets you spy on anyone, anywhere

Color, the $41-million-in-funding location-oriented photo sharing startup, is susceptible to simple GPS spoofing. With nothing more than a jailbroken iPad or iPhone, you can use FakeLocation to trick Color into thinking you're somewhere else. Within seconds you can be browsing photos that were snapped thousands of miles away. With a little digging, you can pore through photos not intended for your eyes.

Of course, such a hack isn't illegal as such -- every photo you take with Color is public. With FakeLocation you are simply circumventing Color's very limited location-oriented security mechanism. It does undermine Color's usefulness (and uniqueness), though -- if nefarious types can sit in their bedroom or basement and eavesdrop on classy dinner parties and wild night club soirees, people might be less inclined to share personal photos with those around them.

Fortunately, both for Color and its users, this is an easy security hole to plug -- at least in the short term. The app (or server-side) code simply checks to see if the user has 'teleported' an impossibly large distance, without any intermediate steps in between. In the long term, though, Color's users must be aware that its social graph is completely public. Color's users must realize that every photo they upload is visible by anyone, from any place.

After the break, just to elucidate a little on Color's actual business model and ultimate intention, we have two amazing quotes from Bill Nguyen, Color's founder.

Continue reading Color vulnerable to simple GPS hack, lets you spy on anyone, anywhere

Color vulnerable to simple GPS hack, lets you spy on anyone, anywhere originally appeared on Download Squad on Tue, 29 Mar 2011 05:36:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments

Source: http://downloadsquad.switched.com/2011/03/29/color-vulnerable-to-simple-gps-hack-lets-you-spy-on-anyone-any/

FAIRCHILD SEMICONDUCTOR INTERNATIONAL FAIR ISAAC FACTSET RESEARCH SYSTEMS F5 NETWORKS

Daily Crunch: Mystery Driver Edition

Softstep Keyworx Lets You Assign Macros To Your Feet Day 1: My Week In The Nissan Leaf ?Magi-Cam? Uses Mirrors As Camouflage To Spy On Vigilant Animals Hit Video Game Professor Layton To Go Social On Mobage This Year Ejacket: Bandai?s E-Money Case Plays Kamen Rider Sounds Every Time You Make a Purchase (Video)

Source: http://www.crunchgear.com/2011/06/22/daily-crunch-mystery-driver/

NATIONAL INSTRUMENTS MOTOROLA MOODYS MISCROSOFT OFFICE

Nikon 1 J1 review (video)

So, Nikon finally has a mirrorless camera, after what was quite possibly the most dramatic launch event the company has ever conducted. Sure, competing models from Panasonic, Olympus and Sony have already reached the second, or even third generation before Nikon lifted the veil on its J1, but did last month's long-awaited announcement bring us the ILC to rule all ILCs? Well, no, not at all. Nikon isn't targeting pros or even advanced amateur shooters with its latest addition to the interchangeable lens camera family. Instead, the company is marketing its J1 to soccer moms (and dads), fashion-conscious young folk, and casual shooters who want some of the versatility of a DSLR, but are willing to sacrifice excellent image quality for a more compact design. But what about the rest of us? Will Nikon one day reward our patience with a true class competitor? Perhaps, but that's definitely not what we have here.

Nikon built the $650 J1 "from the ground up" -- a reference to its 10.1 megapixel, CX-size sensor with a 2.7x crop factor, along with a handful of quirky features that we probably won't use, but that some of you (or perhaps your family members) may love. Jump past the break to see what we really liked about the camera, and what left us rather unimpressed. And it you're dying to judge its performance for yourself, you can check out a handful of untouched images at the coverage link below the conclusion, along with a variety of sample videos spattered throughout.

Continue reading Nikon 1 J1 review (video)

Nikon 1 J1 review (video) originally appeared on Engadget on Mon, 03 Oct 2011 12:00:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink   |   | Email this | Comments


Source: http://feeds.engadget.com/~r/weblogsinc/engadget/~3/oteQQOR1dq4/

L1 IDENTITY SOLUTIONS KINGSTON TECHNOLOGY COMPANY KEY JDS UNIPHASE