iOS vs ANDROID Usage Share Of Mobile Phones And Tablets In Europe

http://snapvoip.blogspot.com/

iOS vs Android based on web traffic infografic

This interactive presentation of Europe-wide mobile and tablet (iOS and Android) market share based on web traffic was created by 7AM Lab and presented on visua.ly.

The interactive infografic presentation of iOS and Android usage throughout Europe is zoomable and could draw a comparison between whole Europe versus a single country or country versus country. Also you can select the device, mobile phone or the tablet.

One thing I noticed was that Android usage is rising in the western Europe as far as the mobile phones and iOS is dropping at the same time. Tablet usage, iOS is strong throughout Europe. But Android is rising in that arena as well. Perhaps the iPhone 6 and iPad Air 2 might make a difference.

You can find the infografic at the 7am Lab.

Via visua.ly

Samsung Gear S, Coming To A Wrist Near You On November 7th.

Samsung Gear S

Samsung is getting ready to release their next-generation wearable tech, bring freedom into staying connected, even without having your phone near by.
Samsung Gear S is bringing capability to call, text and more, without having your phone nearby, with its network connectivity. The 2" AMOLED display will be bright and clear allowing you to communicate without having to squint your eyes. Also the Samsung Gear S is aesthetically curved to fit you wrists contour comfortably.
The wearable will be available on November 7th. 

Hello Lenovo, Hello Motorola

Motorola A Lenovo Company!


Lenovo and Google has completed the sale of Motorola and according to a message from Rick Osterloh. President and Chief Operating Officer, Motorola is thrilled.
I only hope Lenovo would do better with Motorola phones than it did with IBM notebooks. I, die hard IBM notebook user, switched to Apple Macbook Pro since after Lenovo took over.

ScaryBerry Halloween Contest 2014: CrackBerry! Share / Scare Your Haloween Photos with #ScaryBerry and win!

CrackBerry's ScaryBerry http://snapvoip.blogspot.com/

One of the past winners!

CrackBerry is bringing their traditional (?) Halloween Contest again this year and they are eager to see how you would challenge the past winners with their Scariest, sexiest, cutest and group photos. So when you are out scaring other or getting spooked, be sure to capture a photo with your BlackBerry  (you can use Android or iPhone photos but be aware, they are biased towards BlackBerry best). Then Instagram you scary, sexy, funny photos using hashtag #ScaryBerry.
We wish you a very scaryberry haloween!

More details at CrackBerry

Sony Xperia Sending your Data To China Thanks to Baidu Spyware.

Update: See the bottom of the post to see an easy way to block  Baidu folder from being created.
Xperia Breach, Sony Xperia Phones Calling Beijing? http://snapvoip.blogspot.com/

Your Sony smartphone, with Android 4.4.x firmware, might be sending your personal data to China. You must be wondering why an American/Japanese firms phone be sending data to China. Only connection I can make is that they are made in China, just like your iPhone.Baidu Spyware, (as per Foresafe Mobile Security) is a threat to you and your data.

IP 202.108.23.105 in the OS Monitor capture above is in Beijing, China. (China Unicom)
As revealed by a post on Sony forums, "Unknown folder baidu is created on starting phone each time", it looks like more than just a Baidu folder creation, to which Sony has responded saying that Baidu folder creation, will be removed in a future release. But it does not say anything calling Beijing (at least I could not find any).
One user on the forum posted the folder structure for the Baidu folder;
baidu (date 21/01/1970 08:35:27) main folder on /mnt/sdcard
    pushservice (same date & time as above)
          files
          one more folder with 2 SQLite databases in it
                pushstat_4.1.db
                pushstat_4.1.db-journal

XDA Forum also has a thread about the issue.
While waiting for the Sony to respond, one user posted the following procedure which disables MyXperia app/service and does not void the Sony warranty, like if the phone is rooted.

1. Back up important data on the phone and do a factory reset.
2. Start up the phone, go to Settings -> Apps -> Running and force stop the myXperia apps running (there are 2). Remove the baidu folder using File Kommander.
3. Next, enable developer mode, Settings -> About Phone -> Click 7 times on the Build Number.
4. Download or install the Android SDK. Install it. Connect the phone to the computer with USB cable.
5. Next, run the adb tool in the android sdk's platform tools folder as (to be done in a command line window)
6. adb shell <enter>
7. <in the adb shell>pm block com.sonymobile.mx.android
8. exit adb
9. reboot

This will stop the Baidu folder from being created but there is no guarantee that the /system/libbdpush_V2_0.so library is not in use.

 Sony later responded that this is expected behavior for the MyXperia app and it is done to support both Chinese customers and Others outside China. But there are no explanations as to why users outside China connects to these Chinese servers, without any user interaction or permission.
Another user had a simple but effective solution, "First create a file named baidu on you PC. Then connect to PC through USB, delete the baidu folder and copy the baidu to your device. Now the baidu folder will not be created." Neat.

1979 SF Giants!

Go Giants!

FCC Begins To Pave A Pathway For Internet Video The Same Rights As Cable!

FCC Helping to cut Cable Blues!
After announcing it's intent to allow Over The Top (OTT) video providers, to access traditional programming,  FCC chairman Tom Wheeler going ahead with the program that could give Internet video companies the same rights as traditional cable operators.

"Today the FCC takes the first step to open access to cable programs as well as local television.  The result should be to give consumers more alternatives from which to choose so they can buy the programs they want." said the Chairman Wheeler.

Citing Satellite and later telephone companies benefiting from the Congress mandated access to cable channels for satellite services in 1992, driving the competition benefiting the consumers.

"The mantra “Competition, Competition, Competition” fits perfectly with consumers’ desires for video choices.  That’s why I’m asking my fellow Commissioners to update video competition rules so our rules won’t act as a barrier to this kind of innovation.  Specifically, I am asking the Commission to start a rulemaking proceeding in which we would modernize our interpretation of the term “multichannel video programming distributor” (MVPD) so that it is technology-neutral.  The result of this technical adjustment will be to give MVPDs that use the Internet (or any other method of transmission) the same access to programming owned by cable operators and the same ability to negotiate to carry broadcast TV stations that Congress gave to satellite systems in order to ensure competitive video markets."

You can find the Chairman Wheeler's post here.

Google Nexus 6, Sold Out

Google Nexus 6
If you did not order already, it is too late, Google is out inventory for any models of the Nexus 6. But don't be sad, I would guess it will come back sooner or later.
Google Play