Redmond’s App Contest announcement is either: a) a scatter-shot attempt at playing catch-up within this space (particularly in light of Google announcing / hitting / passing the 10 billionth app download benchmark; b) a brilliant marketing ploy (no offense but this is unlikely) and/or; c) a combination of desperation and marketing spin in order for Microsoft to try to actually become relevant within this space.
(Source) WSJ: http://goo.gl/yNhUx
All I want for Christmas is for Verizon to simply get out of the way (e.g., to not block Google’s nascent effort at prompting mobile payments in America due to their draconian / walled-garden approach) to applications… in this instance allowing Wallet to debut on the latest Samsung smartphone (on their network… which means that they’d have to allow a competitor potential premier placement as opposed to just show-piecing their own technology!)
(Source) Wired: http://goo.gl/kZ8a1
According to the enclosed article; Microsoft’s future will be based upon their success in ten specific areas… which is 1) hard to predict, and, 2) equating to no pressure, right?
(Source) eWeek: http://goo.gl/y3ljO
It should really come as no surprise that Carrier IQ has pushed back regarding the claims leveled against them for (unauthorized) smartphone tracking of countless mobile users the world-over. Nevertheless, what could be argued as being surprising is that nobody discovered / made said accusation previously (especially given the global business / media / technology focus on the entire smartphone market; the tear-downs of essentially every major release of the internal components and/or how many people within the blog-o-sphere write about this space itself, etc.)
(Source) Tech Radar: http://goo.gl/2jYIZ
In light of the Carrier IQ story that broke this past week; it should really come as no surprise that a (US) lawsuit was filed claiming that said software is a violation of wiretapping and computer fraud laws (which one could argue is perhaps roughly 10 years past any sort of class-action suit being filed in light of numerous reports / rumors regarding civil rights being abused in the post-9/11 era).
(Source) Bloomberg: http://goo.gl/5aC3g
The enclosed accusation / disclosure (akin to WikiLeaks) of how Western and Eastern high-tech firms sell their wares to the highest bidders (including repressive governments and/or regimes) is certain to draw the ire of critics and proponents alike regarding a whole host of issues ranging from whether some types of proprietary / sensitive technologies have been reverse engineered to the degree(s) that many major players within this space are in all probability culpable.
(Source) Tech Spot: http://goo.gl/ACyAh
Reflections on the 30th anniversary of a device that greatly impacted / shaped the formation of (perhaps) Britain’s first-generation of hackers, nerds and geeks.
(Source) BBC: http://goo.gl/ZbNCS
If you think that your Android-OS smartphone is safe and secure (from malicious threats such as any / all correspondence being monitored / tracked, etc.) think again…
(Source) Tech Spot: http://goo.gl/5VhUI
Wow; is the FCC – FINALLY – becoming the regulatory entity that it is suppose to be (e.g., looking out for the best interests of American consumers?!) Perhaps the fact that they panned AT&T’s claim of ‘job creation’ (among other reported benefits such as better coverage; consumer choice, etc.) in what’s now become a fairly contested merger between them and T-Mobile is a sign that they have decided to play the role that they are chartered to fulfill. Granted, this entire process is far from over; however, the government looks to have the upper-hand at this juncture… even if it is presently just a moral victory… score one for the average Joe!
(Source) Washington Post: http://goo.gl/y6SV3
An exact replica of a Stradivarius (violin) has been built using data captured of an original via X-Rays… which could be a harbinger for all sorts of viable commercial applications whereas rare / vintage, etc. items (iconic guitars; toys and/or other sorts of memorabilia) could be reproduced for collectors the world-over.
In light of said breakthrough / discovery, one can only wonder: how far is cloning from becoming a reality in the not-so-distant future?
(Source) BBC: http://goo.gl/nfC9u
