Wednesday, May 11, 2011

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Sharp Rolls Out AQUOS Phone With 8MP Twin 3D Cameras, Naked-Eye 3D QHD Display, Android 2.3

Posted: 11 May 2011 03:11 AM PDT

It’s not the first 3D smartphone from Sharp, but the AQUOS PHONE SH-12C big S unveiled [JP] is much cooler (if you think 3D in a phone is really necessary, that is). The company simply seems to have squeezed in everything they have into the Android device.

Here are the main bullet points:

  • Android 2.3
  • two 8MP CMOS cameras
  • 3D video recording in 720×1280 resolution (shooting 3D pictures is naturally possible, too)
  • 3.2-inch front camera
  • 4.2-inch naked-eye 3D display with 960×540 resolution (“QHD”)
  • interfaces: HDMI, microSD
  • Wi-Fi (tethering is possible), GPS, Bluetooth, infrared
  • e-wallet function
  • digital TV tuner
  • size: 127×64×11.9～13.8mm, weight: 138g

Sharp plans to start offering the AQUOS PHONE SH-12C in Japan on May 20 (in black and white). The company hasn’t said anything about pricing and possible plans for international distribution yet.

The Mystery Of The Google I/O 2011 T-Shirt

Posted: 10 May 2011 12:25 PM PDT

Google tends to hide fun little messages in the shirts they pass out at each years Google I/O conference, and this year’s shirt is no exception.

If you’re lookin’ to crack the code yourself, everything you need is in the image up above (larger version here). If you’re just interested in what’s hidden within, take a peek behind the jump for the spoilers.

Alright — so, as you likely assumed, this year’s hidden message is contained in that array of dots and dashes on the back. Given that we’re looking at a message made up of just two unique characters, we can assume it’s one of two things: binary, or morse code.

We counted the number of dots and dashes in there — turns out, it’s not divisible by 8, so it wasn’t likely that it was text converted to binary. So, next guess: it’s Morse Code. Copying the dots and dashes (while considering the line breaks as spaces, or new characters) gives you this:

…. – - .–. –. — — .-.-.- –. .-.. .- ….- -.-. -…. …– —-.

Passed through this here Morse Code translator , the code gives you:

HTTPGOO.GLA4C639

Tada! It’s a URL. Putting all the proper URL punctuation in wherever it made sense, we ended up with a link to http://goo.gl/A4C639, which forwards to this page:

So in the end, the mysterious code on the back of the Google I/O shirt is an invitation to create an avatar of yourself.. wearing the Google I/O shirt. Rad. It’d be more rad if that avatar shirt was only available to those who’d stumbled upon the page (which, as far as we can tell, isn’t the case) — but hey, the fun is in the hunt, right?

Video: Pomplamoose Covers The Angry Birds Theme (And Records It With A Samsung Infuse 4G!)

Posted: 10 May 2011 10:49 AM PDT

As if Angry Birds hasn't pervaded our society enough, bands are now covering the theme on YouTube, just in case that tune isn't already on a never-ending loop in your head. The band Pomplamoose, which has already shot a number of cover videos, including Beyonce's “Single Ladies” and Michael Jackson's “Beat It,” puts a rather dramatic spin on the Angry Birds theme song, slamming heads into pianos and throwing punches left and right.

Another interesting little tidbit is that the whole music video was shot with the new Samsung Infuse 4G for AT&T, a phone that hasn't even hit the market yet. Even if you don't like the tune, I'd be shocked to hear you weren't impressed with the video quality.

400 Percent Increase In Android Malware; Mobile Security Threats At Record High

Posted: 10 May 2011 10:08 AM PDT


Juniper Networks today released a study concerned with potential threats to mobile technology, revealing a 400 percent increase in Android malware. The study also found that both enterprise and consumer mobile devices are being exposed to a record number of security threats, including highly targeted Wi-Fi attacks.

One of the most unsettling findings of the study was the fact that the greatest distribution point for mobile malware is the application download. With the 400-percent increase of Android malware, now would be as good a time as any to choose an antivirus app. Still, the vast majority of mobile users neglect to employ any form of antivirus software on their mobile devices. And Android isn’t the only medium under attack, either. According to a different study from AVG Technologies, Facebook (along with Android) has seen a huge jump in malicious campaigns, specifically three times that of last year.

The study also revealed the risks of SMS, which is particularly upsetting, as it is the most used activity on a cell phone for about a million years running, and may just be the preferred form of communication in the next few years. To that end, it is certainly worth noting that 17 percent of all reported infections came from SMS trojans, which sent texts to premium rate numbers, incurring major charges to the victims. The study also mentioned that 20 percent of all teens admit to sending explicit or inappropriate material from a mobile device.

Let this be a wake-up call for all of us. If hackers have spent their lives devising ways to ruin our computers, what makes us think our precious smartphones are any exception? Food for thought.


Google Annouces Plans, Partners To Guarantee Android Phones Will Get Latest Updates

Posted: 10 May 2011 09:41 AM PDT


There’s a new Android phone every two weeks now. That often spells bad news for slightly older phones as carriers and makers abandon their development. Not anymore.

Google just rolled out the founding partners of an inititive to keep hardware up-to-date for at least 18 months. That means these top five hardware makers and top five carriers won’t forget about last year’s hot device. They will eventually get the latest update although since details were a bit light at I/O, it isn’t exactly clear how this will work. The only stipulation here is that the phone’s hardware must support the Android build, which sort of means low-end Android devices will still be left to die before their high-end brethren.

Google is, however, rolling out new guidelines that dictate how long it takes a given device to receive the latest Android build. Right now it’s up to the makers and carriers, which often leave the consumers feeling frustrated and abandoned as months go by without an update. Now, under the new guidelines, there will be a set time that consumers should get the latest OS.

Ice Cream Sandwich To Bring New UI, Framework To Android

Posted: 10 May 2011 09:21 AM PDT

The next major release of Android comes just in time for hot summer days. Ice Cream Sandwich, as it’s called, is well, Google’s “most ambitious” release yet. And look! A new logo!

Google says they wanted to create an OS that runs everywhere. Enter: Ice Cream Sandwich. Nevermind Honeycomb, Google says this is the OS that will power tablets, convertible slates, smartphones and more. With it, comes a refreshed UI that leans heavily on a new application framework that Google has yet to detail, besides stating it will solve the issue of coding for different hardware profiles.


Part of ICS is a new OpenGL facetracking, which Google demo’d on stage at I/O. It even auto-pans based on voice detection, focusing a cropped view on whoever is talking. All the tools will be open source and available tomorrow.

Live From Google I/O 2011

Posted: 10 May 2011 09:10 AM PDT

We’re here at Google’s I/O conference in San Francisco where the search giant will take the stage shortly for the day one keynote. What’s coming? Hard to say for sure — except Google Music Beta, that seems to be a slam dunk at this point.

Below, find our live notes from the event.

AT&T, T-Mobile, Sprint CEOs Head To The Hill, Verizon fails to RSVP

Posted: 10 May 2011 07:04 AM PDT

AT&T's highly controversial $39 billion proposed buyout of T-Mobile USA takes center stage on the hill this week, as the carrier enters its first congressional hearing while members on both sides of the debate flesh out their strategies to sway government officials.

President and chief executive at AT&T Randall Stephenson is expected to have more than a few words with opponents of the deal who claim that the merger will not only hurt competition, but stifle innovation within the industry. Alongside Stephenson, T-Mobile chief executive Philipp Humm and Sprint chief executive Daniel Hesse are also set to testify at the Senate Judiciary Committee. Both sides of the argument will be fairly represented at Wednesday's Capitol Hill hearing, but one party that won't be in attendance is none other than AT&T's largest competitor and the carrier that (at least for now) truly does "rule the air": Verizon Wireless.

While Sprint has shown no hesitation in making its position known on the matter, Verizon, on the other hand, has yet to come out with a formal rebuttal against the deal, only tentatively mentioning that the government may use the deal to further regulate the sector. Verizon's executive VP of public affairs Thomas Tauke told the WSJ that he fears the government could use this opportunity to pressure AT&T into agreeing to various rules or regulations that other carriers must subsequently submit to, as well. "We are concerned this is an excuse for the government to insert itself into the marketplace," Tauke said.

The government should be the biggest concern over at Verizon, as the deal will put Verizon and AT&T on an even battlefield, while knocking out the two underdogs T-Mobile and Sprint in one foul swoop. However, Sprint will have its hands full on Wednesday, as the carrier attempts to "explain why we think this takeover of T-Mobile is bad for consumers, bad for innovation and bad for the economy," according to a Sprint spokesman. "We see it as a job killer that could create a vertically integrated duopoly," he said.

Since the announcement of the deal, both sides have been gearing up for a true battle. Sprint, with far less fiscal prowess than its competitors, has hired three separate lobbying firms, whereas AT&T hired two outside lobbying firms in preparation for the hearing. Nonetheless, Sprint has only spent a fraction ($583,000) of the $6.8 million AT&T has spent on lobbying.
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