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.

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

Antonia Koppe Gertrud Hölzl Ulrike Kellner Nicola Kohnen

Pandora mobile app found to be sending birth date, gender and location information to ad servers

We still haven't heard much more about that Federal Grand Jury investigation into Pandora and other mobile apps over privacy concerns, but an independent security firm has now gone ahead and taken matters into its own hands. According to an analysis done by the folks at Veracode, Pandora does indeed seem to be sharing more information about you then it lets on. More specifically, they found that the Android app (they haven't yet gotten around to the iOS version) "appears" to be sending information about users' birth date, gender, Android ID and GPS location to various advertising companies -- bits of information that the firm notes could be combined to determine who someone is, what they do for a living, and even who they associate with. For its part, Pandora is simply declining to to comment at the moment, and we're guessing that's unlikely to change anytime soon given the aforementioned investigation. Hit up the source link below for Veracode's complete findings.

Pandora mobile app found to be sending birth date, gender and location information to ad servers originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 07 Apr 2011 19:02:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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

Henrik Brenner Karla Reusch Wilhelm Klassen Nathalie Füllgraf

ShopSocially Debuts Social Sharing Tool For Retailers

Social product recommendation site ShopSocially is debuting its ?Social Connect? product for online retailers, that allows shoppers to recommend products from the retailer's site on Facebook. Social Connect aims to turns shoppers into brand ambassadors by allowing users to share their favorite products to Facebook from a retailer's site. It's similar to the Like button, but ShopSocially says that it gives merchants the ability to access conversion rates on the links shared, number of clicks and more.

Source: http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/Techcrunch/~3/VUGI9Run104/

Oliver Büdenbender Christa Eymann Ingrid Schur Emily Trautmann

New and updated iPhone and iPad apps for Friday, April 8

Every day, TiPb gets flooded with announcements for new and updated iPhone, iPod touch, and iPad apps and games. So every day we pick just a few of the most interesting, the most notable, and simply the most awesome to share with you! Boom Boat: An unknown menace is lurking at the bottom of the [...]

New and updated iPhone and iPad apps for Friday, April 8 is a story by TiPb. This feed is sponsored by The iPhone Blog Store.

TiPb - The #1 iPhone, iPad, and iPod touch Blog

Source: http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/TheIphoneBlog/~3/E_1KVPyjUuU/

Gabriela Schnee Rita Imhof Angelika Frey Mika Bernhardt

March 31 is World Backup Day 2011

World Backup Day 2011
Those benevolent armchair philanthropist Redditors are at it again! Four days ago a 'self' post extolling the potential virtues of a Backup Day exploded with 2500 upvotes and 1000 comments -- and now World Backup Day 2011 is actually happening.

On March 31, as part of the global data-saving initiative, you are encouraged to back up all of your cherished photos and videos, and important documents. If you've ever had a hard disk fail, and not had a backup to fall back on, you'll know that it's a bit like losing a sizable fragment of your soul. If you've never backed up your important files -- or if you only back up sporadically -- do it on World Backup Day!

It's not hard to back up your data, either. A 2TB drive costs only a fistful of dollars, and it takes just a few minutes to set SyncToy for Windows, or Time Machine for Mac, to mirror your data every night. If you prefer a cloud-based solution, there's always SugarSync and Dropbox. Finally, don't forget that Bundlelytic has a charity giveaway for three excellent data-backup-and-recovery tools -- $160 of software for only $25, and 100% of the proceeds to go the Japanese Red Cross.

For even more backup options, for Windows, Mac OS X, and Linux, check our list of 13 great backup programs.

March 31 is World Backup Day 2011 originally appeared on Download Squad on Mon, 28 Mar 2011 07:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Source: http://downloadsquad.switched.com/2011/03/28/march-31-is-world-backup-day-2011/

Heinrich Peller Viktoria Barz Emma Sauter Rosemarie Ramsauer

Sony accelerates Memory Stick's rate of obsolescence to 50MBps

Only Sony -- the company behind the "Music Unlimited powered by Qriocity" streaming service -- would consider naming its latest flash memory card the "Memory Stick PRO-HG Duo HX." But once you get past its monumental moniker you'll notice that the 32GB (¥17,000 about $200), 16GB (¥9,000 or $106), and 8GB (¥5,000 / $59) MS-HXB series memory cards boast an impressive 50MB per second transfer rate as tested by Sony. That's a pretty decent jump past Sony's older MS-HXA series of cards and should help keep the few remaining Memory Stick-only devices happily bursting into a future dominated by Secure Digital.

Sony accelerates Memory Stick's rate of obsolescence to 50MBps originally appeared on Engadget on Fri, 08 Apr 2011 09:49:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Source: http://www.engadget.com/2011/04/08/sony-accelerates-memory-sticks-rate-of-obsolescence-to-50mbps/

Luca Liebe Finja Kerkhoff Sascha Dörr Kristin Gehrmann

Acer?s New Wi-Fi Android Tablet Unveiled

With the debut of the Iconia Tab A500, Taiwanese electronics manufacturer Acer is the latest to throw its hat into the tablet ring. As of Friday morning, the A500 is up for pre-order on Best Buy’s web site for $450. It will be ready for purchase in Best Buy retail stores beginning April 24. The [...]

Source: http://www.wired.com/gadgetlab/2011/04/acer-iconia-honeycomb-tablet/

Svenja Hoferichter Carola Auer Luca Liebe Finja Kerkhoff

Acme Made 13? Clutch for MacBook Pro or MacBook Air Review

I recently reviewed the Acme Made Lombard Sleeve for 13? MacBook and MacBook Pro laptops.   The Lombard was a pretty, feminine bag designed for carrying your 13? MacBook Pro and not much else.  If you prefer a more unisex look or you?d like a bag with a bit more storage, the Acme Made Clutch is [...]

Source: http://the-gadgeteer.com/2011/04/07/acme-made-13%e2%80%9d-clutch-for-macbook-pro-or-macbook-air-review/

Kevin Fickenscher Amelie Schweizer Elfriede Oltmanns Janine Hillenbrand

Mozilla Messaging reintegrates with Labs, unifies focus on Web-based communication

Mozilla Messaging, citing Mozilla's increased focus on Web-borne communications, will be reintegrating with Mozilla Labs.

The Messaging subsidiary was formed in 2008 to focus on Thunderbird, but given Mozilla Labs' current focus on identity and contact management, it now makes sense for the groups to be merged. Thunderbird will be unaffected by the change -- some URLs might change, but that's it -- and presumably Messaging's F1 and Raindrop will thrive in the Labs playground.

What this means for the end user -- for the hundreds of millions of Firefox users -- is that the next big additions will be communication- and messaging-oriented. Contacts and F1 will be almost certainly be baked into Firefox 5 or 6, both of which will be released this year -- and, who knows, there might be something else even more exciting up Mozilla Labs' sleeve!

Mozilla Messaging reintegrates with Labs, unifies focus on Web-based communication originally appeared on Download Squad on Tue, 05 Apr 2011 07:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Source: http://downloadsquad.switched.com/2011/04/05/mozilla-messaging-reintegrates-with-labs-unifies-focus-on-web-b/

Wilhelm Klassen Nathalie Füllgraf Janine Harrer Emilia Münchow

Jailbreaking is Netting Nerds a Tidy Annual Salary [Iphones]

Jailbreaking phones has been legal for just under a year now, and unsurprisingly nerds are making good money off the back of time-poor, money-rich people. The Washington Post has reported on how one Washington student is earning $50,000 a year simply by jailbreaking and unlocking 30 - 40 iPhones a week. More »


Source: http://feeds.gawker.com/~r/gizmodo/full/~3/5sK-z2xJ9-I/jailbreaking-is-netting-nerds-a-tidy-annual-salary

Lea Linden Kevin Fickenscher Amelie Schweizer Elfriede Oltmanns