Author

Ben Lovejoy

Ben Lovejoy is a British technology writer who started his career on PC World and has written for dozens of computer and technology magazines, as well as numerous national newspapers, business and in-flight magazines. He has also written two novels.

He thinks wires are evil and had a custom desk made to hide them, known as the OC Desk for obvious reasons.

He considers 1000 miles a good distance for a cycle ride, and Chernobyl a suitable tourist destination. What can we say, he’s that kind of chap.

He speaks fluent English but only broken American, so please forgive any Anglicised spelling in his posts.

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Android’s one-click Google authentication hacked in proof-of-concept app

Ben Lovejoy Aug 5 2013 - 6:44 am PT

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Craig Young demonstrating the hack af the Defcon security conference

An Android feature designed to allow one-click access to any Google service using credentials stored on the phone has been hacked by a rogue app created by a security researcher, reports PCWorld. The exploit was demonstrated on Saturday at the Defcon security conference in Las Vegas.

The feature is called “weblogin” and works by generating a unique token that can be used to directly authenticate users on Google websites using the accounts they have already configured on their devices.

Weblogin provides a better user experience but can potentially compromise the privacy and security of personal Google accounts, as well as Google Apps accounts used by businesses, Craig Young, a researcher at security firm Tripwire, said during his talk.

The app presents itself as a stock viewing app for Google Finance. When first installed, it asks for permission to access Google accounts stored on the device, and then asks for permission to use the login when connecting to Google Finance. Although the user has to agree to both, this might not seem an inappropriate request when accessing a Google service. Once permission has been granted, the app successfully connects to the service, but also surreptitiously sends the credentials to a server owned by the researcher.

An attacker could then use those credentials to access any of the handset owner’s Google accounts: Gmail, calendar, Google Drive, and Google Apps. Even more worryingly, the same technique could access Google Play to download further malicious apps onto the handset: the rogue app was successfully added to Google Play where it sat for a month (with a warning on installation telling people what it really did) before it was reported and removed.

While Google was informed in February, and has started blocking some of the things the app could do, it does suggest we shouldn’t be too casual in the permissions we give to apps even to access Google services.

Via Techmeme

Reports of HTC’s withdrawal from the smartphone market are greatly exaggerated, says company

Ben Lovejoy Aug 5 2013 - 5:54 am PT

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Photo: HTC Chairwoman Cher Wang, and Alice Sun’s blog post

A recent rumor that HTC was withdrawing from the smartphone market, and that the company would be offered for sale, have been denied by the company. HTC recently warned of a possible loss in Q3 following disappointing Q2 results.

The rumor was started by a post on the the Chinese microblogging site Weibo by EE Times Chinese analyst Alice Sun, a commentator with a generally good track-record. However, rumors of a denial swiftly followed, and Engadget has now received what appears to be a definitive denial of the sale – though interestingly no specific response is made to the suggestion that HTC is pulling out of smartphones …
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OpenGlass project demos how Glass can be useful even if you can’t see

Ben Lovejoy Aug 2 2013 - 7:36 am PT

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There are some projects that are so cool they send a little shiver down your spine, and for me this is one of those. It shows OpenGlass testing two Glass projects aimed at visually-impaired users.

Question-Answer allows someone to ask what an object is, receive an answer from Twitter users and then hear that answer spoken. Memento allows a sighted user to teach Glass to recognise objects, and will then tell a visually-impaired user what they are looking at …
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Motorola deletes tweet and amends sexually suggestive ads for Moto X

Ben Lovejoy Aug 2 2013 - 6:09 am PT

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Motorola’s tweet, since deleted

You’d have thought that when you’re spending half a billion dollars on marketing a phone, you might be able to decide your strategy beforehand. So far, Motorola seems to be suffering a bad case of indecisiveness, reports Business Insider, deleting the above tweet and revising two ads.

Poor taste or harmless fun? You decide. Before-and-after ads below the fold …

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FBI can remotely switch on the microphone in Android handsets, claims former US official

Ben Lovejoy Aug 2 2013 - 5:35 am PT

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Photo: digitaltrends.com

A report by the Wall Street Journal on the FBI’s use of hacking tools claims that the Bureau has the capability to remotely switch on the microphones in Android handsets.

With such technology, the bureau can remotely activate the microphones in phones running Google Inc.’s Android software to record conversations, one former U.S. official said. It can do the same to microphones in laptops without the user knowing, the person said. Google declined to comment …
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More details emerge on Moto X’s Clear Pixel sensor – and why you should care

Ben Lovejoy Aug 2 2013 - 4:37 am PT

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Library image of a camera sensor

Motorola told us yesterday that the Moto X has a “10MP Clear Pixel (RGBC)” camera, and now Engadget has a little more info on this.

It’s the OmniVision OV10820, a 1/2.6-inch sensor with a video-friendly 16:9 aspect ratio and large 1.4-micron pixels. Its strong low-light performance comes through a two-chip approach. The sensor captures RAW images using a sensitive RGBC (red / green / blue / clear) color filter, and a companion chip automatically converts the resulting shots into the Bayer format that most imaging processors expect. The result is a high-performance camera that slots inside the Moto X without requiring any special effort.

RAW images allow a sensor to capture greater ‘dynamic range’. Picture a bright sunny day with a tree casting a shadow. With most sensors, either the shaded area would appear solid black or the surrounding area would appear too bright. RAW allows a sensor to retain detail across both bright and dark areas.

And the size of the pixels? These are again important for image quality, especially in low-light conditions. There has been a tendency for manufacturers to cram more and more pixels into a given sensor size, knowing that most consumers think a higher megapixel number has to mean a better camera. In practice, it can mean the opposite as the quality of indoor photos suffer because the pixels are too small. A larger physical sensor size enables larger pixels and better quality.

1.4 micron pixels are larger than most smartphone cameras, but not exceptional in todays high-end handsets. It’s larger than the 1.12 micron in the standard Samsung S4, the same as the S4 Zoom and iPhone 5 – but not as large as the 2 micron pixels in the HTC One.

Xperia Z helps Sony’s mobile division turn $28M loss into $60M profit

Ben Lovejoy Aug 2 2013 - 4:06 am PT

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Sony’s mobile division has posted a profit of $60M in Q2 after making a $28M loss in the same quarter last year, reports the New York Times.

Sony reported a “significant increase” in quarterly sales of smartphones, to 9.6 million from 7.4 million in the period a year earlier. Sony said average selling prices had risen as well, helping the mobile division post a profit of $60 million, after a loss of $28.1 million in the year-ago period.

Its early launch of its flagship Xperia Z handset ahead of launches by Samsung and HTC was likely a significant factor, with export numbers assisted by a weak Yen .

Sony may struggle to maintain this performance, however. The successor to the Z, the Xperia Z Ultra, is due to launch next month with a $799 off-contract price-tag that puts it firmly up against the Samsung S4, HTC One and Moto X.

Via BGR

UK to ban wearing Google Glass while driving

Ben Lovejoy Aug 1 2013 - 7:26 am PT

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Google Glass seems to be setting new records in the number of prohibitions of a product that hasn’t yet been officially launched.

After being banned everywhere from bars to workplaces, Stuff reports that the British government has announced plans to make it illegal to wear Glass while driving.

A Department for Transport (DfT) spokesman told Stuff: “We are aware of the impending rollout of Google Glass and are in discussion with the Police to ensure that individuals do not use this technology while driving. It is important that drivers give their full attention to the road when they are behind the wheel and do not behave in a way that stops them from observing what is happening on the road.”
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NVIDIA Shield Android handheld gets tear-down treatment as first reviews hit the web

Ben Lovejoy Aug 1 2013 - 6:36 am PT

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The Frankenstein-like NVIDIA Shield, the handheld games console whose size and weight (1.5 pounds!) makes it seem like something invented in the 1990s, has been given the tear-down treatment by ifixit.

One thing is for sure—with its shields disabled, this device looks nothing like any tablet we’ve ever taken apart … or game console … or anything

Teardown photos and review roundup below the fold …
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Google gives Microsoft more time to get its Windows Phone 8 syncing act together

Ben Lovejoy Aug 1 2013 - 4:42 am PT

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The Verge reports that Google has agreed to allow Microsoft to use its Sync service on Windows 8 phones until the end of the year.

Google had originally planned to end syncing support for Windows Phones phones back in January as part of a shift to the CardDAV and CalDAV protocol, but later agreed to extend it to the end of July to give Microsoft more time to develop its own syncing solution.

Microsoft has now done this and included it in the latest version of Windows Phone 8 (GDR2), but has so far rolled out the update to only a limited number of handsets. The company asked Google for a further extension, and Google has now agreed to extend support until 31st December.

Perhaps this is further evidence of thawing relationships between Google and its rivals. Last month, Google Executive Chairman Eric Schmidt suggested that the company was getting along better with Apple.

Today’s Moto X leak is a very small one: a Nano-SIM

Ben Lovejoy Jul 31 2013 - 7:12 am PT

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Google might not need much of that half a billion marketing budget for the Moto X: by the time it launches, there won’t be many people left who don’t know all there is to know about it.

From the always listening voice control and minimalistic camera interface through the colors and carriers to the likely shipment numbers, it seems we’ve pretty much heard it all.

But if you were concerned that there might be some small detail left out, Engadget has revealed that the handset will be the third phone on the market to offer the smallest form-factor SIM available, the nano-SIM …
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New Chromecast app streams photos & video from phones – but you can’t have it yet

Ben Lovejoy Jul 31 2013 - 6:34 am PT

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That $35 stick is looking less and less like a novelty item and more and more like a serious option for those looking to view content on their TV as developer Koushik Dutta has created an Android app to allow both photos and video to be streamed from a smartphone …
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Sony Xperia Z Ultra launching on 12th September

Ben Lovejoy Jul 31 2013 - 5:06 am PT

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The launch date of Sony’s Xperia Z Ultra has been confirmed as 12th September, reports AndroidCentral. Pricing starts at $799 off contract, putting it head-to-head with the Samsung S4 and HTC One – pretty tough competition.

Sony is billing it as the world’s largest HD smartphone, with a 6.44-inch 1080p display, 2.2GHz quad-core Snapdragon 800 processor, LTE, 8MP rear facing camera and 16GB of internal storage upgradeable with microSD card. Like the Z it replaces, the Z Ultra is also water- and dust-resistant.

Interestingly, we were originally expecting the handset to launch in July, and at least one supplier appears to have them in stock already.

We spoke to the folks at Negri Electronics about the Xperia Z Ultra, and they have models in purple and white, starting at $799 USD — and they are in stock right now.

Sony’s overlays are not usually the best (to put it mildly), so we’ll be interested to see how this one stacks up, along with its mini version, the Xperia i1.

Google lends Glass to film schools to “change the way we capture and tell stories”

Ben Lovejoy Jul 31 2013 - 4:34 am PT

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Google is lending three sets of Google Glass to each of five film schools for the fall semester as part of what it calls the Glass Creative Collective.

We’re really interested to find out how Glass will contribute to the craft of storytelling, specifically through film. So, we reached out to various film schools, including The American Film Institute, California Institute of the Arts (CalArts), Rhode Island School of Design (RISD), UCLA School of Theater, Film, and Television and University of Southern California. They’ll start exploring how Glass can be used in production, documentary filmmaking, character development and things we haven’t yet considered …
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Panasonic dips toe back in European Android waters with landline phone

Ben Lovejoy Jul 30 2013 - 7:10 am PT

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Panasonic may have decided to stick to its Japanese home market for its mobile phones, but it hasn’t completely given up on selling Android phones in Europe: it has just announced an Android-based landline phone.

Android Central reports that the KX-PRX120 is a DECT cordless phone and base-station running a rather elderly Android 4.0.

[It has] a 3.5-inch HVGA (480×320) display, though the spec sheet doesn’t specify a processor type or RAM amount.

Besides the ability to make calls (obviously), you’re looking at a device with Wifi, Bluetooth and GPS capability, an 0.3-megapixel front-facing camera for video calls, microSD expandability and a 1450mAh battery. There’s also a 40-minute answer machine.

It’s clearly a mobile phone adapted for its home role (there not being an obvious need for GPS to navigate between the living-room and kitchen), but the low spec display and out-dated version of Android doesn’t point to a likely return to the global smartphone market anytime soon.

Full specs below:

Panasonic KX-PRX120 specifications

Sophisticated Design

3.5-inch TFT Colour LCD (HVGA)
Stylish Compact Design

Smartphone Functionality

Android Operation System 4.0
Google Play Support
Wi-Fi / Bluetooth Connection
0.3M Front Camera for Video Call

Rich Functionality

3.5 inch TFT colour LCD (HVGA) with capacitive multi touch screen
Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, GPS
0.3M pixel Front Camera
1450mAh Li-ion Battery
microSD / microSDHC Card Slot on Handset
micro USB Charging Port
Incoming/Outgoing Call Barring to help minimise unwanted or nuisance calls
Answering Machine (For KX-PRX120, 40min)
Key Finder accessory (Optional)
Advanced Alarm-clock
Up to 6 handsets (Optional handset or GAP supported DECT handset) can be registered

Android 4.3 cures performance issues of 2012 Nexus 7

Ben Lovejoy Jul 30 2013 - 6:22 am PT

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While all eyes may be on the new Nexus 7, those with 2012 models may want to hold fire before handing over their cash for the shiny new model. AnandTech (via GigaOM) reveals that an upgrade to Android 4.3 could give the older model a whole new lease of life.

One of the common complaints late in the life of the original Nexus 7 was slow storage I/O performance, leading to an inconsistent user experience. After a fresh flash, the Nexus 7 was speedy and performant, but after months of installing applications and using the tablet, things began slowing down. This was a friction point that many hoped would be fixed in the new Nexus 7 (2013) model, which it was. There’s even more to the story though, it turns out Google has fixed that storage I/O ageing problem on all Nexus devices with the Android 4.3 update …
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LG steals a trick from Samsung with QuickWindow case for G2

Ben Lovejoy Jul 30 2013 - 5:51 am PT

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Teasing is in. After HTC teased the One Mini so much there was little we didn’t know by the launch, LG appears to be following suit with the G2, the successor to the Optimus G.

First there was the news that it would be powered by a Snapdragon 800 processor, then the likely screen, the official name, and the glass back and rear buttons. We’ve had a series of leaked images and video, and now LG has shown us its QuickWindow case.

An opening or “window” on the cover of QuickWindow allows users to glance at various information displays without having to open the cover flap. With only a light swipe of a finger, the QuickWindow UX will appear in the window which users can view while on the go. Information that can be viewed through the QuickWindow cover include a clock, weather report, alarm, music player, incoming phone call details and incoming text messages …
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HTC faces possibility of first loss in company’s history, missing even pessimistic analyst forecasts

Ben Lovejoy Jul 30 2013 - 5:05 am PT

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HTC has followed its disappointing Q2 results by issuing revenue and profit warnings for Q3 suggesting the company may make its first ever loss in its 16-year history.

3Q revenue is expected to be in the range of NT$50bn to NT$60bn ($1.7 to $2M)

Gross profit margin is expected to be in the range of 18% to 21%

Operating margin is expected to be in the range of 0% to -8%

The forecast revenue is below the average of 22 analysts polled by Reuters, and its projected operating margin of between 0 and -8 percent falls below most of the more pessimistic forecasts. Operating margin is essentially net profit margin before taxes, interest payments and dividends. Its operating margin for Q2 was just 1.5 percent.

It’s an ironic position for the company to find itself in not long after launching what we consider to be the best Android handset on the market …
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Wondering why YouTube keeps buffering on your high-speed connection? It’s no accident …

Ben Lovejoy Jul 29 2013 - 6:00 am PT

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Image: techinasia.com

If, like me, you often find that 1080p content on youtube buffers even when your download speed is more than sufficient to stream HD content, arsTechnica has the explanation.

Behind the scenes, in negotiations that almost never become public, the world’s biggest Internet providers and video services argue over how much one network should pay to connect to another. When these negotiations fail, users suffer. In other words, bad video performance is often caused not just by technology problems but also by business decisions made by the companies that control the Internet …
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Outside the USA and wanting to get your hands on the new Nexus 7? Sign-up here

Ben Lovejoy Jul 29 2013 - 4:43 am PT

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While those in the U.S. have been able to get their hands on the new 1080P Nexus 7 in both retail stores and from Google Play ahead of tomorrow’s official launch date, there has as yet been no word on when it might be available to the rest of the world.

Google has now created a sign-up page where you can be alerted once the device goes on sale elsewhere. Unfortunately, it’s a one-stop shop registration, so you have to agree to let Google send you “product updates, new features, newsletters, special offers and market research” rather than just the info you actually want. We will, of course, keep you informed here at 9to5google if you prefer not to be spammed.

Two new high-res, 2560×1600 pixel Samsung tablets on the way, 10- and 12.2-inch

Ben Lovejoy Jul 29 2013 - 4:33 am PT

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The generally reliable @evleaks is reporting that Samsung is working on 10-inch and 12.2-inch tablets, each with a resolution of 2560×1600.

The claim appears to be confirmed by SM-P900 and SM-P600 user-agent profiles on the Samsung site which match the resolution. GSMarena also pointed us to an Indian shipping website which appears to show prototypes of two versions of the 12.2-inch tablet entering the country.

Given the screen size and resolution, it seems more than possible that the 10-inch tablet is the new Samsung-made Nexus 10, while the 12.2-inch monster may be a new Galaxy Tab or (gack) a Windows Tablet. If so, the smart money is on the latter being released at the IFA in September.

Apple, FWIW, is working on a 13-inch tablet, or so the rumor goes.
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U.S. Government proposes new privacy ‘rules’ for apps

Ben Lovejoy Jul 26 2013 - 7:35 am PT

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Image: technotin.com

App developers may soon be asked to tell us what data they collect, and how it is used, under a set of government proposals released today (via TNW).

The US government’s National Telecommunications and Information Administration today issued its first draft of what will be a mobile apps code of conduct intended to better protect consumers and their privacy. If made final, policy states that publishers must provide consumers with “short-form” notices in multiple languages informing them of how their data is being used […]

Just so that there’s no doubt about what “data” means, the government entity specifically says it includes biometrics, browser history, phone or text log, contacts, financial info, health, medical, or therapy info, location, and user files …

There is rather more doubt, however, about how effective the proposals might prove …
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New Nexus 7 on sale at multiple retailers now, four days early

Ben Lovejoy Jul 26 2013 - 6:47 am PT

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We’ve been hearing reports of the new Nexus 7 showing up as on sale in stores before the official launch date of 30th July, and this now appears to be happening at Best Buy, Walmart and Amazon.

The first confirmation we saw came from Engadget in the form of a Best Buy pre-order update showing a release date of today.

We put our money down for one when the order page first went up, and while the confirmation originally said it would arrive on the original July 30th launch date, it’s now telling us that we can expect our tablet later today. That jibes with info we were given by a source claiming to be the manager of a Best Buy store. He said that while pre-orders started yesterday, “there were few (of them) in my region,” meaning that “if you are present at a (Best Buy) location today at opening, you have a good chance of buying the tablet.”

Tweets are now showing the same thing happening at Walmart and Amazon:

Other retailers are reportedly sticking to the scheduled launch date, so it’s unclear why this is happening, but if you want to get your hands on one a few days early, it appears that you can.

Google prepares for living-room push as 4k support added to Android 4.3

Ben Lovejoy Jul 26 2013 - 5:52 am PT

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Google is clearly serious about its intentions to make a sizeable push into the living-room market, as Android Police spotted a small clue revealing that Android 4.3 has added support for 4k displays.

Google has added a new DPI category to Android: XXXHDPI. This is for screens with an approximate DPI of six hundred and forty. Did you think we were stopping at 1080p?

Android engineer Dianne Hackborn is quoted as confirming the intent behind this:

A typical use of this density would be 4K television screens — 3840×2160 …
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