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Social Integration Kit For The iOS In The Works?

A social integration kit for the iOS is in the works, but the iPhone 7 launch will be September’s trending topic.

Apple is spearheading a new and very ambitious social integration kit for the iOS. As part of this new social networking design, the same team that brought Final Cut Pro and iMovie to Apple users are now working on iOS’ own version of Snapchat.

This project is in such an early stage the team did not decide on a name for the app. Development of this definitely-not-Snapchat app focuses on a design that enables users to efficiently record quality video and then quickly and easily apply filters or drawings in the post-record editing, all with just one hand. The entire recording, editing, and upload process should be quick enough to take less than a minute if the users choose to.

The current prototype records videos in a square-shape resolution, just like Instagram. As soon as the video is done uploading, users will get the options to share the videos over several staple social networks or directly to their contacts.

And here is where the new social integration kit for the iOS starts to show up.

Snapchat’s popularity has pushed other services to create similar features, such as Instagram Stories.

The When & How of the Social Integration Kit

It is worth to mention that no matter how ambitious the Apple teams are with the whole project, it can still be denied. If the their new social integration kit for the iOS proves to be a risk in regards to user privacy by exposing too much personal data, it will get the boot.

As social media networks continue to expand, their layers of security begin to stretch. With increased public exposure comes increased chance to get taken down by an ambitious hacker or team.

Apple, of course, is no exception. In August 2014, the world found out that Apple’s cloud storage service, iCloud, had a few security vulnerabilities. Hackers got into iCloud and made some very intimate celebrity photos public.

Ever since, Apple has been working hard on reinforcing the iOS but with news of a new social integration kit emerging, aspirant hackers are bound to test their skills.

Image Source: Pixabay, Wikimedia

HBO, Apple expected to jointly launch video streaming service

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A new report has suggested that both tech giant Apple and HBO are in talks to jointly launch the much-anticipated ‘HBO Now video streaming service’.

According to the report, the new video streaming service is likely to be launched in March, timed to the season premier of its blockbuster series, named “Game of Thrones”.

The retail price of the service is likely to be USD 15 per month.

“We know there’s great anticipation around our standalone streaming service. And when we have details to share, we will do so,” an HBO spokesperson said in a statement.

Time Warner, owner of HBO pay-TV service, has made the announcement regarding the new video streaming service in October last year. The attempt was made in order to hold as well as attract more subscribers who are finding a better alternative to pricey cable television subscriptions.

HBO Now will be offering its consumers direct accessibility to HBO with the help of a broadband connection.

Meanwhile, Apple was unavailable for an immediate response to emailed requests.

Samsung acquires mobile payments firm LoopPay to fight rival Apple

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Tech giant Samsung Electronics has announced the acquisition deal with US mobile payments company LoopPay in an attempt to give tough fight to the Apple Pay mobile payments system.

Despite strong backing, the mobile payments have been witnessing a slowdown as far as catching on in the US and other parts of the world is considered. Companies like Google, Apple and eBay Inc’s PayPal have all launched mobile payments services to allow the users to pay via smartphones.

LoopPay develops small add-on devices for the smartphones that can assist in the transmission of the credit card information in combination with a mobile application.

When the devices are placed within a few centimeters range of a magnetic strip reader, the credit card info can be sent without any wire mode for making payment.

The Magnetic Secure Transmission (MST) technology of LoopPay creates magnetic fields for simulation of those generated via a magnetic strip, and effectively turning card readers into contactless payment devices without any modifications.

The approach varies from that of near field communication (NFC) used in Apple Pay that needs the retailers to have contactless payment terminals that can accept the signals.

The Massachusetts-based mobile payments firm says its solution can work at nearly 90 percent of point-of-sale terminals in the United States, which would provide Samsung an advantage in mobile payments.

“NFC is currently only available in less than 10 percent of US retailers despite NFC’s mobile launch almost a decade ago. MST solves the merchant acceptance issue that has prevented other mobile wallet solutions from reaching mass adoption,” a Samsung spokesperson said in an emailed statement.

In order to upgrade their checkout devices, extra hardware would be needed by LooPay for users. The hardware includes—a card or fob, small rectangular devices in which smartphone can be added either in a phone case or by themselves.

According to Samsung, the executives at LoopPay will be closely working with its mobile division. The technology could be included into Samsung devices.

A Samsung spokesperson said that the company would offer the details on device integration in the near future.

Apple’s anti-theft ‘Kill Switches’ dramatically counters smartphone thefts

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The incidents of Apple smartphone thefts have dropped significantly in three major cities since the manufacturer introduced an incredible app called “kill switches”, according to the statement of the authorities on Tuesday.

The number of stolen iPhones fell impressively in two American cities, namely San Francisco and New York, in just a year after Apple Inc added a ‘kill switch’ feature to its devices in September 2013.

While San Francisco reported a drop in iPhones theft by 40 percent, New York witnessed a decline in smartphone stealing by 25 percent.

On the other hand, London recorded a drop by 50 percent in the smartphone theft.

These figures are based on an open announcement by officials in the three cities.

The ‘kill switches’ feature allows the phones to turn off remotely when they are stolen.

1.6 million Americans had lost their handheld devices in 2012, as per the figures of National Consumers League.

California alone witnesses smartphone thefts on large scale, which accounts for more than half of all crimes reported in Oakland, San Francisco and other cities.

So far, tech bigwigs Google, Apple and Samsung have implemented kill switches feature on their smartphones. Microsoft is likely to release an operating system with the feature for its Windows phones this year.

Apple releases new Photos app for registered OS X developers

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Tech giant Apple on Thursday unveiled the first preview of its iPhoto replacement, Photos, for its registered developers.

Last year, Apple had announced offering Photos, which will be seeing an official launch later this year, absolutely free to OS X Yosemite users.

The Cupertino-based company has made the announcement in 2014 while talking about the beginning of iPhoto substitute shipping in early 2015.

The Apple website showed the Photos timetable “simply coming this spring.”

The revamped OS X application will look a lot like the same-named app that runs on iOS. Moreover, it will replace Apple’s 13-year-old application ‘iPhoto’, which has been ditched by many users for its uncomfortable and awkward interface as well as confusing connect mechanism to the iCloud, Apple’s cloud-based service for storage and synchronization.

iCloud is an integral component of Photos and hence can be both-a potential boon and bane-for its users.

The users can store theirs photographs and videos in the “iCloud Photo Library” on Apple’s servers. This will give freedom to the Apple users to avail these images and videos from any iOS or OS X devices or from other platforms’ browser.

iCloud can also be used for sharing photographs and video with others and for making synchronization changes to images.

The company has sold a record 74.5 million iPhones, 21.4 million iPads and 5.5 million Macs during the fourth quarter of last year.

Google may acquire mobile wallet service Softcard to compete Apple Pay

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Search giant Google said that it is under talks with mobile payments firm Softcard to strike an acquisition deal with the troubled company that is being eyed by numerous potential suitors.

According to a person involved in the matter, the search company wishes to buy the small payments group which is controlled by a consortium of US telecom firms for nearly USD 100 million.

Several analysts have predicted that the sale of Softcard would be a shake-out among other companies offering mobile payment services.

“With Apple pay picking up in popularity and PayPal going solo later this year every major technology firm is rethinking their mobile payments strategy. We are likely to see a lot of M&A activity in this space,” said a banker who is not involved in the agreement.

A data by research group eMarketer shows that more and more companies are making tremendous efforts to emerge as a leading player in the mobile payment segment which was expected to become the global business-to-consumer e-commerce market worth USD 1.5 trillion in 2014.

But tech giant Apple is likely to leave Google and other rivals far behind by dominating the mobile wallet business.

The Cupertino-based firm has recently unveiled Apple Pay service that allows the iPhone 6s users to link their smartphones with their debit or credit cards and pay with a tap of their phone while shopping. Apple Pay was recently in news as it emerged relatively popular than other wallet services among the consumers and retailers.

Google, on the other hand, has failed to make a mark in the mobile payments segment. The company had launched its Wallet around four years ago as the search firm tried to get an edge over its prime tech rivals. However, the mobile operators were apprehensive of the ambitions of Google and therefore not enough consumers as well as retailers took it up.

Both Google and Softcard denied to comment on the development.

Google Glass eyewear in new avatar likely this year

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Search giant Google is going to end sales of its Google Glass eyewear as the company has planned the restructuring of its Glass connected eyewear project, in an attempt to regain the popularity of the product.

The company has handed oversight of the division to Tony Fadell, who is the co-founder of the Nest smart device firm and former hardware expert at tech giant Apple Inc.

The search giant had in February last year purchased Nest for USD 3.2 billion.

Google’s main aim to choose Fadell to oversee the Glass project is to tap a hardware expert for its ambitious project. Fadell, who is the father of Apple’s iPod, has also been credited for much of the breakout success of the music player.

The Glass project will now leave the confines of Google X, which is the experimental lab of the search engine company that has also worked for various initiatives such as sensor-laden contact lenses and driverless cars.

However, the unit will continue to run by its current leader, Ivy Ross, former fashion executive. According to the reports, Ross will report the developments to Fadell.

The company has said that it will stop the sale of the current version of Google Glass from January 19, as it will wind down its “Explorer” program that it had used to get people accustomed to the technology.

Meanwhile, the company’s insiders said that a new version of Google Glass is expected later this year.

Apple likely to unveil ‘mini’ handsets of its flagship iPhone in 2015

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It has been barely three months when the tech giant Apple Inc has launched its new generation iPhone 6 models – 4.7-inch iPhone 6 and 5.5-inch iPhone 6 Plus. But now the tech world is abuzz with the news of company’s next edition of iPhone models that would see release in 2015.

There are huge speculations that Apple, which will probably introduce its next-generation iPhones in September next year, will also unveil smaller screen handsets with the launch of next-year iPhone models.

In a note to the investors, Cowen and Company analyst Timothy Arcuri said that the technology company will apparently unveil a 4-inch ‘mini’ version in the next year’s iteration of its iPhones.

Arcuri’s note further said that the iPhone ‘mini’ handset is expected to be launched next year.

Apple will be offering nearly the same performance levels in the mini handset as its earlier iPhone 5S handset, according to Arcuri.

The new mini handset will feature curved screen edges similar to that of iPhone 6 and is expected to be marketed as a substitute for the inexpensive iPhone 5C, said Arcuri’s note.

The projections by Arcuri about the iPhone ‘mini’ version are up to some extent substantiated by the reports that are surfaced in China and Taiwan. According to the reports, the company will soon be discontinuing the production of iPhone 5C handset.

Apple rolls out automated security update for Mac computers against bugs

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Tech giant Apple Inc has rolled out its first-ever automated security update for its range of Macintosh computers in an attempt to provide protection against the newly identified bugs.

According to the security experts, the new update will enable protection against those bugs that have been termed as so dangerous that they could enable hackers to gain remote control of the computers.

Apple spokesman Bill Evans said that the company had pushed out the software update in order to fix vulnerabilities in the critical security in one of the components of its OS X operating system, known as the network time protocol (NTP), which is simply used for the synchronization of clocks on computer systems.

The Department of Homeland Security and the Carnegie Mellon University Software Engineering Institute had made the bugs public while issuing the security bulletins on Friday.

Carnegie Mellon said that it has identified dozens of technology companies, like Apple, whose products are likely to be vulnerable.

The company has, meanwhile, decided to deliver the NTP bug fixes along with its technology in an automatically pushing out security update that was introduced by Apple two years ago but had never been earlier used as it intended to protect customers from the severe vulnerabilities.

“The update is seamless as it doesn’t require any restart,” he said.

Meanwhile, Apple said that it is unaware of any cases where hackers have targeted the vulnerable Mac computers.

California judge denies media requests to release Steve Jobs’ trial video

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A California judge has turned down the requests by several media houses to make public a videotaped deposition of former Apple CEO Steve Jobs, citing the transcript of footage now serves as an official court record.

Jobs’s videotaped deposition, which was taken just six months before his death in 2011, was used in a decade-old class-action lawsuit that accused the tech giant of abusing its power of monopoly in the music industry.

Apple had won the lawsuit earlier this week, and hence the company was not required to pay damages in the antitrust trial.

The request to release the videotape was made by a bunch of media outlets including the Associated Press, CNN and Bloomberg.

While denying the media request, Judge Yvonne Gonzalez Rogers said that as cameras are prohibited in federal district courtrooms, the video was used instead of live testimony. As the court does not permit other live testimony to be taped, the video transcript (and not the tape itself) will serve as the official court record, the judge decided.

During the ruling, the Judge said, “As is typical of all live testimony, it is properly made available to the public through its initial courtroom presentation, and subsequently, via the official court transcript.”

The court ruling also said that if such video depositions are released in a routine manner, then it may discourage the future witnesses from taking part in taped depositions as the fear for getting publicly broadcasted someday would loom large on them.

The When & How of the Social Integration Kit

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