Text message exploit can force your Nexus phone to reboot (updated)

Watch out if someone sends a flood of text messages to your Nexus phone -- they may be trying to break in or otherwise cause havoc. IT administrator Bogdan Alecu has discovered an Android bug that triggers exploitable behavior in the Galaxy Nexus, Nexus 4 and Nexus 5 whenever they're hit by a large volume of Class 0 SMS messages, or texts that aren't automatically stored on the phone. The denial of service attack usually forces the handset to reboot, but it can also disable the network connection (if temporarily) or crash the messaging app. Non-Nexus hardware appears to be safe, although Alecu notes that he hasn't had a chance to test a wide variety of gadgets. Regardless of the problem's scale, affected users will have to be cautious for a while; Google tells PCWorld that it's looking into the exploit, but there's no word on just when we can expect a patch.
 Now, Alecu has built an Android app called Class0Firewall himself to help Nexus users avoid such kind of an SMS attack. Nexus phone users can then set a threshold for the number of flash messages they can receive successively before blocking Class0 messages. Users can also set how long the messages will stay blocked.

French court orders Google and others to block 16 video streaming sites

A Paris civil court has ordered search engines and Internet access providers to block sixteen websites that stream copyrighted content, handing a win to film and television producers' unions after a two-year legal battle.

The unions petitioned the court in 2011 after their requests to block allostreaming.com, allomovies.com and others sites went unheeded by Internet providers, including Orange and Vivendi's SFR and search engines Google and Yahoo , according to the court order issued on Thursday.

Facing the heat, with others

The court said the five unions representing film and TV producers had "sufficiently shown that the Allostreaming network of websites is entirely or almost entirely dedicated to the representation of audiovisual works without the permission of their creators" and break French intellectual property laws. The court, which also said the search engines or broadband providers should not have to pay for the cost of site blocking, did not spell out exactly how the work should be carried out by the companies and left that up to them.

The decision can be appealed by the companies affected.

Some of the defendants had argued that blocking the illegal streaming websites was unworkable because users merely posted mirror versions of the sites under different names and using forums to communicate locations of pirated content. The court dismissed the concerns, saying: "The impossibility of ensuring the complete and perfect execution of the decisions should not lead courts to ignore the content creators' intellectual property rights."

The unions who brought the case welcomed the decision and lauded the role that "judges can play to protect content". Google, one of four search engines targeted by the lawsuit, said it was disappointed and would evaluate whether to appeal. "We will continue to work with content owners to help them combat piracy across Google's services," said the company.

Google already operates a system where content owners can send in specific web addresses of pirated content for the search engine to remove. It got 57 million requests and acted on them in six hours on average last year. In the French case, Google argued that blocking entire websites was not suitable since it could also cut off access to legal content. It also said blocking entire websites was illegal and incompatible with free speech. Orange, France's largest Internet provider, said it would apply the decision despite concerns on "policing the Internet".

It also said the ruling had positive aspects, namely that Internet firms can carry out blocking by any technological means they choose and that judges must be consulted. "We remain convinced, however, that the only real effective solution against piracy is the development of attractive legal services for consumers," said Orange.

Comet Ison may have survived its kiss with the sun

 We humans can form curious attachments to non-living things, so when Comet Ison veered toward the sun, naturally we rooted for the plucky iceball. After seeing it mostly vanish after brushing the corona, though, scientists feared the worst. Cue the heroic music, though, as new footage released early today (after the break) shows that at least a small chunk of the 1.4 mile-wide comet has emerged from the brutal encounter. It's looking a bit ragged after all that, so scientists will have to wait a bit more to make a final call on its health. Hopefully it'll still be classed as "comet" rather than "scorched hunk of rock."

Half a million iPhone 5s units reportedly produced by Foxconn each day

Earlier reports have claimed that 90 percent iPhone 5s stock is back in stores and Apple has slowed down 5c production. Now a new report says the waiting time for the iPhone 5s has significantly dropped as Apple urged Hon Hai to ramp up production. Hon Hai also known by its trade name Foxconn, has ramped up production at the expense of the cheaper iPhone 5c, just like it did previously at another factory, people familiar with the matter told The Wall Street Journal.

Foxconn reportedly has been running its factories round the clock and recruiting more workers. The company currently employs 300,000 workers at its Zhengzhou unit just for the iPhone 5s production. Around 600 workers work on each iPhone 5s production line to handle assembly work. The whole ramping up process has significantly reduced the waiting time for the iPhone 5s in the US and other locations from 2-3 weeks to 3-5 days.

An anonymous executive said that the company is churning out about 500,000 iPhone 5s units everyday, which is the highest daily output ever for an Apple phone. Moreover, the executive further said that the iPhone 5s takes longer time to assemble than the 5c, thanks to the aluminium body. The report also says that Apple is looking for newer manufacturing partners in Asia to further increase the production of its smartphones and tablets in the future.

Ever since Apple launched the new iPhone 5s and the 5c, the former as been heralded as the "best iPhone" that the company has ever made. But the 5c has seen lukewarm sales across the world. As the 5s quickly went out of stock soon after launch, the gold version faster than the others, the 5c languished on shelves as the hopes of seeing a budget iPhone were dashed.

Experimental 3D scanner creates clear images with almost no light

We've seen seen single-pixel cameras, and now MIT researchers have figured out how to create clear images of dimly-lit objects using single photons -- in 3D, no less. The technique doesn't involve any fancy new hardware, either, as the team worked with a standard photon detector that fired low-intensity visible laser light pulses at subjects. The magic happens from the algorithms they developed, which can pick out variations in the time it takes for individual photons to echo back. After that software separated the noise (as shown above) the result was a high-res image created with about a million photons that would have required several hundred trillion with, say, a smartphone camera. That'll open up new possibilities for low-energy surveying, for instance, or even spy cameras that could virtually see in the dark -- because no laser research project is complete with a sinister-sounding military application.

Samsung Galaxy S5 will not have OIS camera

Before the Samsung Galaxy Note 3 came out there were rumors that it will have a camera with optical image stabilization (OIS). It didn’t and rumors had it that it was due to the insufficient supply of stabilized modules in time for the launch. Then there were a couple of OIS-enabled cameras linked to Samsung – a 13MP one and a 16MP one – with speculations coming that they'll be used on the Galaxy S5.
Not so fast, says Korean publication ETNews. Apparently, the next Galaxy S flagship will not have OIS due to a number of issues. For one, OIS camera modules are thick and might not fit in the thin Galaxy S5.
Getting enough units is another issue – the Galaxy S phones sell in the tens of millions and Samsung is reportedly worried that camera suppliers won't be able to deliver enough units, at least in time for the S5 launch early next year.
Samsung execs recognize that competitors are using OIS as a marketing point, but the next flagship smartphone will most likely miss out on the feature.
Keep in mind that that these rumors are in no way official and might turn out to be false. The same goes for other Galaxy S5 rumors including the metal frame and 64-bit processor.

Would the lack of an OIS camera on the Galaxy S5 be a deal-breaker for you?

Virgin Media brings its TV Anywhere service to UK Android devices

It took a while, but Virgin Media has finally brought its TV Anywhere service to Android. Already available on the iPhone and iPad for more than a year, the app comes to Android smartphones and tablets with nine new UK TV channels including Alibi, Dave, Drama, Good Food, Home, Really, Watch, Yesterday and CBS Reality. That takes the total number of mobile channels up to 67, with up to 90 available online. Virgin Media boasts it now offers more choice than rival service Sky Go, but like it's competitor, some might be frustrated by the patchy support for Android devices. Although you'll find support for Samsung's Galaxy S4 and Galaxy Note, HTC One, Sony Xperia Tablet Z and Google's Nexus tablets, you might experience issues if your device is running Android 4.4 KitKat. While you won't be able to install it on your Nexus 5 just yet, Virgin says more Android devices will join the line-up "in the very near future."

Microsoft could pick Mulally or Nadella as next CEO by end of year: Bloomberg

Microsoft’s board has placed Ford’s CEO Alan Mulally and internal executive Satya Nadella at the top of its potential CEO list, according to a report by Bloomberg. Quoting “people familiar with the matter”, the source says that internal candidate Tony Bates and former Nokia CEO Stephen Elop are still on the list, but are considered less likely to be offered the job. The new CEO could be chosen

The report also claims that the board is aiming to finalise the CEO this year, though an announcement could be pushed back until early next year. The source has also reported that a document has been prepared by the board for the CEO search to describe the ideal candidate.

 Preferences remain “fluid”, says the source, and other people are being considered and could emerge as frontrunners later on, although these candidates remained unidentified. The board wants to quickly replace longtime CEO Steve Ballmer, who announced in August that he would be retiring within the next 12 months.

According to the document, the next Microsoft CEO is one who has an “extensive track record in managing complex, global organizations within a fast-paced and highly competitive market sector; track record of delivering top and bottom line results. [The candidate should have] proven ability to lead a multi-billion dollar organization and large employee base.”

In the past few months, there have been reports of Microsoft shifting focus to hardware and Internet-based services like Office 365 to cope with a steady decline in the worldwide PC market. Spokesman from both Microsoft and Nokia declined to comment about this, and Ford Motor spokesman Jay Cooney said, “There is no change from what we announced last November. Alan remains completely focused on executing our One Ford plan. We do not engage in speculation.”  

The source reported that the board met on November 18 regarding the CEO search. Microsoft chairman and co-founder Bill Gates, at a shareholder meeting last week, was reported saying that he and other directors have met with “a lot of CEO candidates.” He did not give a timeline for when the final decision would be taking place, saying that it “is a complex role to fill.” Ballmer, on the other hand, was reported saying that the shareholder event was a “fun meeting” when compared with the teary goodbye message he gave to employees at an internal meeting.

HTC One Dual SIM with microSD slot coming to UK

HTC One hit the shelves in late March and despite its initial production issues, it's still one of the most popular smartphones in the market.
Unfortunately HTC One didn't have a microSD card slot for memory expansion and it faced a lot of negative feedback about it. What's really odd is that HTC was offering a microSD-enabled dual-SIM model of the One on the Chinese market, but didn't give the international version the same treatment.

 The phone can switch between two networks on the fly, and HTC’s Sense makes it easy to manage the two network connections (GSM and GSM/HSPA/WCDMA) and two sets of contacts.
The device does not support LTE, but besides that, nothing has changed in terms of specs compared to the original version of the One. Despite the removable back plate, the 2,300 mAh battery is not removable.
The microSD card slot enables the addition of up to 64GB of storage, double the internal capacity of the top version of the HTC One. Though few will probably notice the difference, the removable aluminum back-plate makes the HTC One Dual SIM 10 grams heavier and 1.1mm thicker than the original model.
The HTC One Dual SIM is now available for pre-order on HTC’s UK site for £495 ($809), and will become available from other retailers and carriers in the future.

BT to broadcast and stream live NBA games in the UK

BT has landed quite a few major sports broadcasting deals as of late, including its buyout of ESPN's British and Irish channels back in February. Today, it's extending its athletic empire with an exclusive arrangement to air NBA games in Ireland and the UK. The agreement will see BT Sport 1, BT Sport 2 and ESPN broadcast as many as seven live games per week, with some of them streaming through BT Sport's website and mobile apps. While there isn't a huge market for basketball in the country, the pact will make life much easier for diehard UK fans and American ex-pats -- they won't have to buy online passes or otherwise bend over backwards to keep up with their favorite NBA teams.

VuTV brings 13 more channels to the UK's Freeview TV service for £7 per month

Brits can't really complain about Freeview TV since it comes at no recurring charge, but it doesn't stop them tiring of the channel selection. Those who also aren't interested in signing on the dotted line with the likes of Virgin, Sky or YouView now have another way to perhaps cure their programming apathy with VuTV. Launched today, the new service adds 13 channels to compatible Freeview-equipped TVs or set-top boxes for a fee of £7 per month (no extended commitment necessary). VuTV manages to add these new channels via a selection screen hosted within a single Freeview channel, Inception-style. While it sounds like a fair deal, we're far from convinced it's worth the money, unless you're into MTV-made reality shows or have a house full of children to keep entertained. Then again, Comedy Central is a good pick-up on VuTV's part, and you can always take the two-week trial before throwing down any cash. Full channel list after the break.

• Lifetime
• Comedy Central
• MTV
• CNN
• History
• H2
• Crime & Investigation Network
• Cartoon Network
• Boomerang
• Nickelodeon
• Nicktoons
• Nick Jr.
• Cartoonito

LG G Flex reported to bend up to 90 degrees

While the LG G Flex is yet to hit retail in most parts of the world, rumors have already started making the rounds about the successor to the device. The LG G Flex II as it is expected to be called will have a screen that can bend up to 90 degrees forward

The LG G Flex can already spread open on applying pressure and this is definitely quite impressive. However, bending up to 90 degrees is akin to a laptop screen being flattened out from an open position. We’re not entirely sure what purpose this would serve though it should help impact resistance. Depending on the curvature, the phone will also fit better along your leg and should be easier to slip out.
The LG G Flex is one of only two phones with curved displays that are currently shipping. The other phone is the Samsung Round and is relegated to only the South Korean market. The successor to the LG G Flex should be released sometime in 2014 and the company already has plans to announce and/or release fully bendable phones sometime in 2015 so this does seem quite plausible.

PayPal now supports prepaid gift cards for online purchases

A prepaid gift card may not be the proper substitute for a well-chosen present, but at least the beneficiary will have an easier time using it online this Christmas. That's because PayPal now supports such cards, meaning they can be used at any online emporium signed on to its Checkout platform -- and that's quite a few, we're told. PayPal says prepaid cards with no associated billing address sometimes create problems when that part of the payment form pops up, which its new service avoids (on PayPal-friendly sites, anyway). Maybe you can just persuade your Grandparents to send their gift via bank transfer and keep it digital in the first place. It's the money thought that counts, after all.

4oD catch-up streaming comes to Sky Now TV and Roku boxes

A smart TV box for a tenner is a nice thing, but one that streams Homeland on demand is arguably even nicer. As of today, owners of a Sky Now TV media player should see 4oD among their list of free channels, alongside the existing options like BBC iPlayer and Demand 5. Meanwhile, Channel Four's catch-up service has also landed on Roku boxes this week, which makes sense considering that Sky has a sizable investment in that little hardware platform, too.

90 percent iPhone 5s back in stock at US retail stores

Ever since Apple launched the new iPhone 5s and the 5c, the former as been heralded as the "best iPhone" that the company has ever made. Earlier reports indicated that the 5s quickly went out of stock, the gold version faster than the others, across most markets. Even in India, the 5s emerged as the hot selling device and not the "cheaper" 5c. Since the initial launch, Apple has been promising to re-stock resellers in the country.

Anxious users waiting to get their hands on the new devices now have some good news in line. A new survey by Piper Jaffray analyst Gene Munster reveals that 90 percent of iPhone 5s models are now back in stock, reports MacRumours. However, the data is currently applicable only for retail stores in the US.

What does this mean, exactly? Basically, 90 percent of the color/capacity/carrier combinations of iPhone 5s models are available in Apple retail stores in the US. The report says that the iPhone 5s availability is even greater for models compatible with AT&T and Sprint. About 99 percent of iPhone 5s AT&T SKUS are said to be in stock at Apple stores and 98 percent of Verizon models are available. It should be noted that AT&T and Verizon account for 75 percent of the US wireless market.

I PHONE 5S GOLD

 Munster's survey is a weekly tracker of 60 US stores. The data shows that there has been significant improvement in iPhone 5s availability,  which stood at just 31 percent two weeks ago and a mere 10 percent in early October. The new iPhone is still said to be lagging behind the 95 percent of iPhone 5 availability during the same time last year, though. The tracker reportedly hasn’t taken into account the recently launched unlocked SIM-free models in the US, as those still show 1 to 2 weeks shipping time. Apple’s online stores have also not shared the in-store availability for these models yet.

In India, the 16GB, 32GB and 64GB variants of the iPhone 5s are priced at Rs 53,500, Rs 62,500 and Rs 71,500 respectively. While you can currently pick up the 5c at any premium reseller, the high-end 5s comes with a 2-4 week waiting period for now.

AdDuplex: Nokia controls 90% of Windows Phone market

 

Nokia – or rather Microsoft – now owns 90% of the Windows Phone market. The numbers are from the latest AdDuplex report and reveal other interesting facts of the WP landscape.

Add caption

That the Nokia lumia 520 accounts for over a quarter of all Windows Phone devices should come as no surprise. That Windows Phone 7 devices account for another quarter, however, is surprising.
We keep careful track of outdated Android versions, but it's worth keeping in mind that WP7 devices will never see Windows Phone 8. Is WP7 the Gingerbread of Windows Phone?

Anyway, back to the Lumia 520. If you combine its share with that of the 521 – which is just a T-Mobile branded 520 – the market share jumps to nearly 30%. Also, this is the only phone with a double digit percentage when it comes to market share.

Second and third are the high-end Lumia 920 and the other low-end Lumia, the 620, both with under 9%. Other than the 920, there are virtually no high-end devices with an appreciable market share – neither the Lumia 1020 that has been out for a while, nor the 925 and 928 have managed to make a significant impact. The large-screened Nokia lumia 625 has carved out a 2.9% share, though.
It's worth pointing out one more time that the above chart shows the worldwide marker share of all Windows Phone devices. There's just no HTC, Samsung or other maker that has a single phone with appreciable market share.
HTC does have 7% of the market, but Samsung and Huawei can't even break 2%.
In the US, the three major carriers have a WP dog in the game – Lumia 521 for T-Mobile is on top, followed by Verizon's Lumia 822 and the AT&T's Lumia 920 complete the Top 3.

 In the UK, the 520 leads by a wide margin and oddly, it is followed by the old Lumia 800. HTC has third place with the 8S.

 In India, the Nokia Lumia 520 has over 40% of the market followed by its low-end compatriots the Lumia 720 and 620. The 625 is at 7%, the affordable large-screen phone is meant to compete with cheap local brands

  

  From these numbers two things are clear – Microsoft practically owns its own market and it badly needs a high-end phone to achieve any sort of success