The "S" in iPhone 5S certainly doesn't stand for secret, as a new image said to be of batteries belonging to Apple's next smartphone has leaked.
This purported iPhone 5S battery photo shows 24 black slates that appear to be roughly the same size as the iPhone 5 battery.
The picture was taken on a factory floor, according to French site NoWhereElse, before the batteries hit the assembly line.
The alleged batteries are sitting in two trays that appear to be stacked on top of similar white containers, meaning someone is gearing up to ship these batteries out for mass production.
This certainly ties into the September-bound iPhone 5S launch rumors, increase in leaked photos, and slightly better battery life of the forthcoming device we've been hearing about.
More blips!
Still have battery life in that brain of yours? Put it to use by reading more blips
Known internally within the hallowed halls of Google as “K release,” what we refer to as Key Lime Pie is going to be the next version of Android and it’s set for release later this year. Expected to be launched as Android 5.0, Key Lime Pie will reportedly support a range of lower-end smartphones and tablets, as well as supporting “other devices.”
Up until now, even if you put Android under the hood of a smart device other than a smartphone or a tablet, you couldn’t use it straight out of the box. You couldn’t use the official version of Android that came pre-installed with Google’s web services and you couldn’t use the Android name to promote your product. That’s apparently going to change with KLP, ushering in a brave new world of Android smart appliances and wearable devices.
Wearable devices is the other next big thing. We already know about Google Glass, but Key Lime Pie might even be powering the new generation of Android smartwatches, including a Nexus-esque smartwatch that might come from Google directly. They’re also working on a new version of the Nexus Q that will likely ship with Android 5.0 Key Lime Pie too.
While it is possible that we’ll get an Android 4.3 Jelly Bean before Android 5.0 Key Lime Pie is offiically announced and released, the latter is also being geared to work not only on new flagship phones and tablets, but also lower-end devices. That ties in with its compatibility with smart appliances and wearable devices. Even so, we can be pretty certain that KLP will make its official debut in a new Nexus device of some kind. Nexus 5, anyone?
Sony going through Xperia overload (credit: JustAMP)
Ever since Sony announced its Xperia Z Android phone, the Japanese manufacturer has been busy building up the brand with tablets and phablets alike.
While releasing the Xperia Tablet Z and the Xperia Z Ultra could hardly be seen as over-saturation, Sony might not be done with the Xperia variants just yet.
Back in April we heard the first rumblings of a new handset dubbed the Honami alongside reports of the Togari, which went on to become the Xperia ZU.
Then just a few days ago, more signs Sony was readying a new Xperia were spotted when pics of the supposed Honami, now called the Xperia i1, made a showing, and revealed a possible 20MP camera attached to the device.
On Friday, another set of entirely different images were discovered by Just Another Mobile Phone Blog, hinting that the Xperia i1's release might not be that far off.
Alternative Xperia-nce
20MP lens in its tiny glory (credit: JustAMP)
Though no new spec information was given, the pictures do give the rumored device a bit more grounding in reality.
The dedicated camera button on the Xperia i1 sets it apart from the Xperia ZU, and you can definitely see a different camera lens on the rear of the device than the one found on the Xperia Z.
It's still believed this will be a 20MP lens, which would give Sony's smartphone a definitive leg up on the competition, at least until the oft-rumored 41MP Nokia Lumia 1020 arrives on the scene.
The earlier rumors suggested the Xperia i1 would include a 5-inch 1080p display, 2.3GHz quad-core Qualcomm processor, and a Walkman audio chip, but those specs have yet to be substantiated.
It's also been hinted the smartphone would used Android 4.2.2 Jelly Bean, feature 2GB RAM, include a a battery between 2,700-3,000mAh, and like the other Xperia devices, it too would be water- and dust-proof.
Sony is planning a July 4 event in France, and there's a strong chance the Xperia i1 could be the star of that show, so we shouldn't have to wait much longer to learn the truth about the next phone in the Xperia line.
The Huawei Ascend P6 smartphone may be the next Android device to forego its custom UI to give users the option of a 'Nexusised' Google Edition, the company revealed on Friday.
Speaking to Pocket-Lint, Kevin Ho, president of the Chinese manufacturer's handset product division, said Huawei has entered talks with Google over a version of the P6 with the pure Android experience.
"We are working with Google to analyse the possibility of bringing out a Huawei Ascend P6 with Google Edition," he told the site.
Regardless of the perceived superiority, it seems Ho is keen to give smartphone fans a choice.
The root of the issue
The clamour for Google Editions of popular Android devices began last month at Google I/O when the company announced a Samsung Galaxy S4 with the same UI that appears on branded Nexus devices.
HTC soon followed with a HTC One Google Edition, but both of which are only on sale in the US at present.
Custom skins like Samsung's TouchWiz and HTC's Sense have long divided opinion among Android fans, with some choosing to root their devices just to access raw Android.
The proliferation of Google Editions, something the search and mobile giant certainly appreciates as it attempts to reel in Android fragmentation, means users may no longer have to tamper with the device to avoid these homegrown skins.
If you're one of those folks who just can't decide whether you want a Galaxy S4 smartphone or a moderately acceptable compact camera, then your answer could arrive in the UK on July 8th.
Independent online retailer Clove has listed the new Samsung Galaxy S4 Zoom for pre-order, pledging it'll be shipped a week on Monday.
The smartphone-glued-to-camera, which packs everything Android Jelly Bean can offer with a 10x optical zoom, has been priced at £440 by Clove.
So far there's been no official word of price and release date from Samsung, so all of this is still subject to change, but it's the best indication we have so far.
Knocking Nokia
For those hell-bent on condensing their photo-taking and call-making experiences into one package, a July 8 release date would be somewhat significant.
BlackBerry has delivered bad news today, reporting a quarterly loss that has seen shares freefall by 20 per cent.
Weak sales of the BlackBerry 10-toting Z10 and Q10 handsets contributed to a net loss of US$84m (about AU$92m, £55m) for the company, which is struggling to take on Apple and Samsung. It also predicted an operating loss for its next quarter.
On the positive side, revenue was up $3.1 billion, compared to $2.8 billion from the last quarter, though it's not enough to signal a change in fortunes for the company.
LackBerry
However, President and Chief Executive Thorsten Heins said in an investor call that there's light at the end of the tunnel. "BlackBerry 10 is still in the early stages of its transition," he said, pointing out that the operating system is just five months old.
"During the first quarter, we continued to focus our efforts on the global roll out of the BlackBerry 10 platform," he added in a statement.
"Over the next three quarters, we will be increasing our investments to support the roll out of new products and services, and to demonstrate that BlackBerry has established itself as a leading and vibrant player in next generation mobile computing solutions for both consumer and enterprise customers."
There appears to be more evidence that Android 4.3 is nigh, with some leaked screenshots purporting to be of the new Jelly Bean OS.
The screenshots show 4.3 running on a Google Play edition of the Samsung Galaxy S4 - GT-i9505G to be exact - from an insider with early access to the software.
The images were obtained by SamMobile, which claims that 4.3 will officially roll out next month, though Google is still keeping quiet on the update.
All for one..
The Galaxy S4 Google Edition is part of the Nexus scheme, alongside Google devices the Nexus 4 and Nexus 7, which means they're first to receive Android updates.
Going by what looks like it will be a simple update, rather than an overhaul of the Android OS.
It appears that the camera app has seen the most radical change, shifting from a circular menu to an arc towards the bottom of the screen. We'll keep you updated with any further developments as they appear.
We have no official information about what’s going to be unveiled at LG’s press event scheduled for August 7th, although we at least have a pretty good idea. As for T-Mobile’s newly announced event, we really can’t say for sure. As you can see above, the carrier has plans for their “boldest moves yet” on July 10th in New York City. So, what all things can we expect?
The Sony Xperia Z and the Nokia Lumia 925 are safe bets, especially after looking at the plural teaser. We have also seen a leak recently which suggests that the two devices will be launched on the carrier on July 17th. And another rumor about the Lumia 925 fits in nicely with all these.
Of course, introduction of new high end smartphones may not be bold moves such as the ones they made earlier this year: their UNcarrier approach, launching of LTE and addition of iPhone 5. In the New York event, maybe we will witness announcements regarding phase 2 of UNcarrier and LTE.
Some folks are even talking about a new Blackberry Bold handset.
And just in case you haven’t heard, there is a Nokia event on July 11th. We are expecting the Nokia EOS aka Nokia Lumia 1020 to be unveiled there. So the second week of July is certainly going to be big.
I've got a real problem. I'm just too clumsy. Last year, the one day I took my Galaxy S3 out of its case - the one day - it met a grizzly end thanks to a kamikaze style jump from my gym locker onto the changing room floor. And they say that exercise is good for you!
I'm not alone in resenting "having" to put a case on my phone. I want to enjoy the pure experience, but instead, the first thing I do when I buy a handset is spend a small fortune maxing out on protection - because, despite the pledges of Gorilla Glass and Dragon's Trails, the stupid things break SO EASILY .
It's inconvenient, it's not ideal, but important. I'm proud to say I practice safe phone.
But now, I sit here with my lovely Galaxy S4 wrapped up like a newborn child when all I really want to do is rip that case off and stare at it all day long. If only the S4 was a bit tougher and could withstand as many of life's knocks as I've had, I'd be a happy chap.
Active-hate
Well it is, Samsung's just unveiled the Galaxy S4 Active. It's waterproof, it's sturdy, it's got nearly all the same specs as the standard version. It's the phone for me. Hands down. I want it. The problem is, I've just spent a wad of cash on the S4.
I watched the unveiling, I waited (impatiently) for a month for release and I queued (like a fool) on that morning in April to get that cold, hard-but-not-so-tough plastic in my hands. And now I'm left feeling like the one that's missed out.
Why? Because this strategy of manufacturers, to get us to buy their latest wares and then unveil a different alternative just weeks later, really sucks. It makes the early adopters - you know, the real fans - look like idiots. And makes them feel mugged off.
When I was a kid, I'd save up my pennies to go buy an album from the record shop and then feel outraged when it was re-released as a bonus edition months later, with extra tracks, for the same price. Spending my pocket money on a CD was bad enough. But putting down hundreds on a phone (or a lifetime signed away to airtime) is so much worse.
Some would say that there's nothing to complain about - that I wanted an S4 and I got an S4. So why complain when something else is announced that trumps it? You get what you pay for.
The failure of blinding trust
Well, put simply, I think manufacturers like Samsung are taking the proverbial here. Had the S4 Active (and other variants) been announced at the same time, I could have weighed up the options. Would I like the Mini, the Active or the Advanced LTE model (if it comes to these shores).
Instead, I blindy handed over my notes to Samsung like the Apple sheep I often ridicule, trusting them to give me the best model.
And that's where Apple has the edge here. It unveils its products together in groups. You won't find an iPad being announced at one show and then another model announced a few weeks later. You'll know if you're getting a 16GB, 32GB, 64GB or 128GB model at the same time so can make an informed choice. Same with the iPhone. .
If updates are announced, there's enough space between them to make you feel less of a plonker in plumping for one. If you really want to copy Cupertino, Mr Shin, copy this strategy!
Six months is fine between product announcements. Six weeks, not so much, Samsung. I'd love to get my hands on the Galaxy S4 Active, but even I can't justify it to myself or my bank account. And frankly, going through the private sale route is just an extra hassle I don't need.
The likelihood is, I may end up with one in my pocket if my clumsiness continues - but only because my S4 has gone unintentionally to an early grave. In the meantime, the lesson learned here is that being an early adopter is becoming a punishment, rather than a badge of honour.
I've reviewed dozens of phones and tablets for TechRadar over the years – each time putting them through their paces in the most unbiased, rigorous way possible.
But as well as being a professional, I have a love/hate relationship with tech, and that's what these columns are all about: the passionate howlings of a true fanboy. Tell me why I'm right, wrong or a hopeless idiot in the comments below or by tweeting@techradaror @phillavelle.
Google has added new mobile device management features to its Google Apps for Business platform.
The search giant is pushing the mobile device management features found on the service, which allows IT administrators to manage Android smartphones and tablets owned by employees from a centralised console.
It has added four new features based on requests from its customers. Selective wipe allows IT administrators to remove Google Apps account data without wiping a user's entire device. The second feature, SD card wipe, wipes SD cards in addition to internal memory during a full device wipe.
The third addition, a Device Policy app, ensures that security policies are enforced across all devices by requiring its latest version. Finally, a new Wi-Fi configuration feature allows admins to enter Wi-Fi settings in an admin console once to then have it automatically pushed out to all managed Android devices.
Existing features
Other mobile mobile device management features already available as part of the service include setting granular policies and configuring mobile settings at the organisational unit level; controlling what devices can connect to users' Google Apps data using device activation; viewing all mobile devices in the domain connecting with Google Sync or Android Sync; and viewing all apps that access Google Apps data installed on an Android Device, a feature not supported on iOS or Windows Phone.
Analyst house Gartner recently forecast that half of employers will require employees to supply their own devices for work purposes by 2017, creating a greater need for businesses to establish a mobile device management policy to ensure data is secure and trackable.
According to research by Kaspersky, 60% of small and midsized businesses have only a basic understanding of what company data is stored on employees' devices. In addition, only 25% of IT managers admitted to having strict enough rules in place to provide an accurate overview of company information on personal devices.
Who's going to ask the girl with the gun if she stole that face?
It's been a shadowy old week, with tech rumours, security concerns and pointy fingers emerging from all sorts of quarters.
First up, Canadian actress Ellen Page accused PS3 horror game The Last of Us of stealing her face: "I guess I should be flattered that they ripped off my likeness," Page told Reddit at the weekend. "But I am actually acting in a video game called Beyond: Two Souls, so it was not appreciated."
Some of us think that Ellie, the character in question, looks more like Ashley Johnson - the actress who provides her voice. But we appreciate that having what looks like your face constantly eaten off by the fungus-horned infected might be uncomfortable viewing.
Don't cut the lifeline
Elsewhere, patron saint of the internet and dread king of the world wide web Sir Tim Berners-Lee advised against complacency in the face of government and corporate "online spying", warning that ignoring Prism-style data secrecy breaches could compromise the internet's value as a vital lifeline.
Facebook probably isn't listening to Sir Tim Berners-Lee
"Information on the web can be really important in people's survival," he said, while receiving the Queen Elizabeth Prize for Engineering. "Teenagers who are unsure about their sexuality who need to contact others, or people being abused trying to find helplines ... There are things that happen on the net that are very intimate, which people are going to be loath to do if they feel there's somebody looking over their shoulder."
Speaking of digital eavesdroppers, Facebook has found yet another way to get all up in our business - through our friends. You're not even safe if your profile is a blank page, or if your last activity was defenestrating a colleague in 2005 - because it turns out Facebook can still "shadow profile" you.
This involves nabbing your contact details from a friend's address book if they upload it, or recording employer or university-specific searches of your name. Facebook's behaviour is legally murky and pretty terrifying - especially since we would be none the wiser if it hadn't been for a well-timed Facebook security breach.
Not quite a phone, not yet a tablet (also a watch)
Happily, in among all this depressing news, there are also shiny new gadgets. We took a hands-on look at the Sony Xperia Z Ultra, Sony's new tiny-tablet-massive-phone mash-up, and we liked it for the most part, massive-screened oddness and all.
Sure, with a giant 6.44-inch screen it's not for the small-handed, but the HD is impressive and the apps are super-fast thanks to its Qualcomm Snapdragon 800 chip and 2.2GHz quad-core processor. However, the camera renders grainy images and the screen quality could be improved. All in all, though, we approve of this phone-tablet. Phablet? Tablone?
All you need is time, and a hand as big as a spade
Sony has also unveiled the SmartWatch 2 for Android, which has an additional water-resistent screen, and packs NFC for improved synching ability..
Finally, just in case you weren't cheered up enough, it looks like a viable alternative to the soon-to-be-late Google Reader is on the cards – from Digg. Digg assures us its new reader will look clean work fast and be launched in time for us to migrate all our feeds over from Google Reader. And if that doesn't do the trick, keep an eye on TR this weekend for our round-up of the best Google Reader alternatives.
Build 2013 kicked off June 26 with Microsoft CEO Steve Ballmer, rattling off some of the "exciting innovations" that the Redmond, Wash.-based company has been working on.
During the first part of his Day 1 keynote speech, Ballmer repeated once again that Microsoft is moving away from offering only software and towards hardware and services, aided by a rapid release schedule for Windows and Windows Phone 8.
Though largely developer focused, Ballmer and a supporting cast of Microsoft executives outlined the changes coming with the Windows 8.1 update, new apps and features and outlined new functions of the Windows Store during the Day 1 keynote.
We have much more from our conference coverage as Day 2 gets rolling, so keep your gazing moving for all the latest:
Windows 8.1 RT hands on review
Don't worry, RT. We haven't forgotten about you.
While Windows 8.1 got most of the attention here at Build, we were sure to take advantage of its OS sibling, going hands on with the far more useable update here on the conference floor.
The system is still missing much, but as an update, getting Windows 8.1 RT on your RT device is a good way to go. Just remember, once you've downloaded it, you can't go back.
Developers wondering what they can do in the months ahead of the Xbox One release can heed advice laid out by Microsoft's Steve Guggenheimer during the Day 2 keynote: start developing for Windows 8.
Because of the common core between the Windows 8 found in the next-gen console and W8 itself, developing for the system is, Guggs suggested, fairly similar.
App development processes for Xbox One is still unclear, but this sheds a little light on what developers and gamers can look forward to.
Facebook and Flipbook got the love during Day 1, but June 27 was all about Foursquare. OK, and a few other apps.
Microsoft's Steve Guggenheimer showed off a native Foursquare tablet app for Windows 8 today while also chatting up a few other additions like ABC News and Walgreens. Mint is heading to Windows and Windows Phone, where Xfinity TV Remote will join it as Rhapsody heads to W8.
There's still no Instagram, but Microsoft is racking up a number of crucial applications.
What's a keynote without some digit-rattling bragging? Microsoft was no exception as during Day 2 the company laid out a few new numbers for how many people are using its services.
According to the company, Skype now has 299 million connected users. Bing sees 1 billion mobile notifications a month, and SkyDrive has soared past the 200 million mark, now touting 250 million account holders.
Xbox Live's 300,000 servers got a mention, as did a number of other...numbers.
Microsoft looks to make devs lives a walk in the park
OK, it's never easy to develop, but Microsoft unleashed a number of tools to help those who create apps for its Windows and Windows Phone platforms do what they do.
The announcements came during the Day 2 keynote and centered on Windows Azure, the company's cloud offering. Some high points were the opening of the Azure Mobile Services and Azure Web Sites.
All in all, the dev crowd ate it up and just maybe will start making the apps Microsoft needs to be successful.
IE11 is intrinsically tied to Windows 8.1, and the company announced during a press briefing that the updated web browser is available in preview mode with Windows 8.1 (also in preview).
Optimized for touch, IE11 aims to bring personal web exploration to users, trouncing competitors not only in speed but in battery efficiency and functionality.
Added tab support comes with IE11
Though he didn't say explicitly, Dean Hachamovitch, corporate vice president, Internet Explorer, said that in a "secret Batman cave," teams from Xbox, Windows Phone and Windows are working together with IE11. We should have more on Windows 7 support soon, too.
Windows head Julie Larson-Green may have demoed a very early version of a Metro PowerPoint during the Build Day 1 keynote, but don't look for similarly styled Office apps to land anytime soon.
One report pegs Metro refreshes of the currently desktop-version Office apps - Word, Excel, etc. - to land in 2014, while another says 2013 will indeed see a Windows 8 look land on the core productivity apps.
We will know all in a few months regardless, but look for more as Windows 8.1 nears launch.
It's been known for what feels like forever that Microsoft would release a preview version of Windows 8.1 at the beginning of Build, and sure enough, Ballmer told the gathered and watching crowd that the free update was available for download right now.
The update "blends the desktop and the modern experience," Ballmer said, and includes the return of the start button and a boot-to-desktop option.
More Windows tablets are coming to a retailer near you soon, particular those of the petite persuasion. Ballmer proclaimed as Build 2013 opened that we'll see a "proliferation of Windows small tablet devices" in the next several months.
Office 2013 software will be included on these Windows 8.1 tablets, and every attendee of Build will be able to walk out with one of these tablets - the Acer Iconia W3 tablet with Office.
The Windows Store gets a face lift in Windows 8.1, or Windows 8.1 Store, if you will. The store was redesigned in an effort to help users find new and popular apps.
What's more, the news Windows Store features a bit of personalization for the user. The new "Picks for You" section will be different for everyone because it's a mix of what's popular in the Store in categories you use.
It's about time. Facebook and Flipboard apps will be included in Windows 8 via the Windows Store, Microsoft announced, as well as the NFL.
Although we didn't see a Facebook nor a Flipboard representative take to the stage, Ballmer spoke up for the newest Windows 8 app-developing companies.
Microsoft announced that it opened up the search engine tools of Bing as a platform.
Now, third-party apps you download will no longer be shut out of using advanced Microsoft technologies like 3D mapping, contextual voice search, and OCR translation.
"Knowledge of the web is now available to your applications," said Microsoft Corporate Vice President Gurdeep Singh Pall at today's conference in Seattle.
The company's also added native 3D printing support, so hold off buying any vases for the time being.
Here's a look at what we expected to see at Build 2013:
The annual Microsoft Build developer's conference has a bit of Google IO glow surrounding it this year, thanks in no small part to the Windows 8 conundrum.
Is it a failure? Is it the beginning of a software revolution? What about apps? How many Surfaces have been sold? When will we see new devices? And what the heck is going on with Windows RT?
Microsoft has already given us more than a taste of what to expect between June 26 - June 28 in the form of Windows Blue news, but plenty of possible announcements on new devices, services and updates remain distinct possibilities.
We'll be at the conference live starting at 9 a.m. PT/5 p.m. BST starting Wednesday, June 26, so check back here for all the latest coming out of the show.
Until then, we've gathered what we know about Build 2013 into one handy guide for you (right here, of course) plus added some well-informed hypotheses on what you can expect from the conference, taking place in the halls of San Francisco's Moscone Center late next month.
1. Xbox Music on the web
After all the chatter on Xbox Music's redesign, Microsoft threw a bit of a curve ball June 24 by revealing its plans to launch a web-based version of the streaming service during the week of July 1.
"Yes, a web version for Xbox Music will launch next week," a Microsoft spokesperson told us. "We will have more details to share then."
While details are due after Build, Microsoft may still touch on what it envisions for the service plus offer some clues as to whether we'll see Xbox Music land on iOS and Android.
Microsoft began rolling out a preview of Windows Server 2012 R2 on June 24. While the year may seem 6 months too late, this preview has many features of the same features as the preview of Windows 8.1, due out June 26, giving us a glimpse of what to expect from the Windows 8 update in PC and tablet.
Most exciting of all from the screen grabs floating about are the quasi-Start button functions available in the R2 preview.
Credit: CNET
By right clicking the 4-squared icon, users will be able to pull up a list of functions, including the ability to shut down and restart their computer, according to CNET.
Observers will also notice the "Computer" tile has been named "This PC," while an arrow at the bottom of the Start screen brings users directly to their Apps. Different tile sizes - small, medium, wide and large - are offered (though only two for non-Metro apps) and users should be able to run a single command on multiple tiles at the same time.
We'll know much more about the preview of Windows 8.1 in the coming days, so check back for more.
3. A message from Guggenheimer
On June 24, just two days before Day 1 of Build, Corporate Vice President of Developer Platform & Evangelism at Microsoft Steve Guggenheimer took a moment to set the stage for the 3-day dev fest.
To sum it all up, look for "synergy."
"At Build 2013, we will talk about how developers of all types will be able to use Microsoft's broad portfolio of product level capabilities spanning our devices and services, and show how these capabilities can be used together to address the needs of today's developers," he wrote in an Official Microsoft Blog entry.
"As we look even further toward the future, this platform synergy will continue to get better and better to support a thriving ecosystem of developers and even greater opportunity."
What does this mean for in practical, consumer-facing terms? We'll find out soon enough from Microsoft and developers alike, but look for Redmond to push this message in the days that comprise Build.
Oracle piped up in the week before Build that its president, Mark Hurd, Microsoft CEO Steve Ballmer and Azure chief Satya Nadella are hosting a joint press conference June 24.
What did they announce? Well, let's just say the old enemies are turning a page as Microsoft announced it plans to support Oracle software on its cloud-based platforms, as reported by Reuters.
Through the partnership, Microsoft will offer Windows Azure customers Oracle-owned Java, Database and WebLogic Server, oddly enough promoting two software strains (Linux and Java) that compete with Windows.
Now, this is rather enterprise-y, but look for Microsoft to talk about the partnership and possible further collaborations between the two firms. The company is clearly ready to make friends with old enemies in an effort to compete, and it will be interesting to see if it lays out any more strategy during Build.
What's cooking, Steve?
5. Two roads diverged at a conference...
It helps to have some clear cut routes laid out before heading into the bedlam of a developer conference, and it looks as though we have some such paths carved out.
Mary Jo Foley at ZDNet chatted with Microsoft executives in the days before Build, and was told that the conference will focus on two main audiences: the .Net community and the startup community.
"We need a good conversation with that community," Steve Guggenheimer, corporate vice president of Microsoft's Developer and Platform Evangelism Group, told Foley of .Net devs. This group has apparently felt left in the lurch as Microsoft has pushed developers towards HTML/JavaScript.
While he wouldn't divulge on specific products or software, Guggenheimer noted that Microsoft will continue messaging around why shared/common code among its core products is beneficial, showing "how strong the bridges are" between product families like phone, PC and Xbox.
Don't expect sharp turns, the VP said, but instead look for much talk on cross-platform development.
6. A new tune for Xbox Music and the Windows Store
Build is gearing up to be a time of change for Microsoft, and some screenshots leaked just a week before the conference kicked off detail revamped looks headed to Xbox Music and the Windows Store.
For Music, we're seeing streamline take over, with a two-panel interface and a new "explore" button that allows for search in addition to the navigation bar.
Ga ga for radio
Microsoft actually pushed out an update to the Xbox Music app for Windows 8/RT the weekend before Build, adding an in-app search button and a free trial for the app's ad-supported, free streaming service. What's more, Smart DJ is now "Radio," though the change seems to be named-based only.
As for the Windows Store, the 2.0 version of the offering incorporates a "shelf" feature to give additional descriptions for apps as users are perusing. Recommendations for similar apps will also be part of the redesigned package.
The whole look, according to Paul Thurrott over at Supersite for Windows, is remarkably more attractive and more usable.
Windows Store 2.0. Look better? (Credit: Supersite for Windows)
Now whether Build is the time Microsoft is ready to lift the lid off these Windows 8.1 wonders remains to be seen, but try to act surprised if we see a rethought Xbox Music and Windows Store land in late June.
According to Mary Jo Foley over at ZDNet, an update to the mobile OS isn't expected until about six months after Windows 8.1 is released to manufacturing. While the team is working to come up with smaller and incremental Windows Phone 8 updates, the likelihood that we'll hear public pronouncements on Windows Phone Blue during Build is slim, Foley reports.
Of course, there may be plenty of dev session discussions on what updates we can expect, so we'll keep our ear to the ground during the conference.
If you own any of more than 40 different Android smartphones from LG, you might want to a pay attention. A vulnerability has been discovered that could effectively allow a hacker to compromise your device remotely.
The security exploit was found in the Sprite Backup software that is pre-loaded on several LG Android smartphones, including the Optimus G Pro, the Mach, Prada, Optimus LTE 3 and the 3D Cube. Security researcher Justin Case (is that his real name?) found an “odd binary in an update” in the spritebud backend of that backup solution. In effect, spritebud has root access to the device and with the right crafted backup, “we can write to, change permission and change ownership of any file.”
To demonstrate the attack, Case created a backup that when a “restore” command is initiated, an extra directory and 50MB file are written to the phone. This creates a lag, opening up a window of opportunity to dump “another script that roots the device and executes the script in the kernel.” The vulnerability affects backup version 2.5.4105 and spritebud 1.3.24.
Sprite Backup has acknolwedged the vulnerability and are working on a fix, but no specific timeline has been announced.
