iOS variant of popular Exodus Android spyware discovered according to a presentation at the Kaspersky Security Analyst Summit conference,

Spyware
Hackers found their way into Apple's ecosystem, and possibly your phone, if you were downloading iOS apps from outside, as the app has not yet been distributed via the official Apple App Store, for now.
Perpetrators have been nudging people to download something called Exodus, an app that was actually malware in disguise. The app gains access to photos, videos, device IDs, audio recordings, and contacts, potentially tracking a victim's location and listening to their conversations through the microphone. It's an unusual break-in for Apple's locked-down ecosystem so be vigilant when you grab new apps. Research a bit.

Security researchers have discovered the iOS counterpart of a dangerous Android spyware strain that was found earlier this year on the official Google Play Store. In a research publication released today and presented at the Kaspersky Security Analyst Summit conference, SAS, the research group Lookout said it discovered an iOS variant of this spyware during their analysis of Exodus samples they've found last year.
Exodus Android spyware was developed by an Italian app maker Connexxa, who provides surveillance tools to Italian authorities. Earlier last month the spyware was discovered by security researchers from Security Without Borders. The spyware was hidden inside an app uploaded on Google Play Store. It targeted the customers of a local Italian Internet service provider.
The spyware is named Exodus and was developed by Italian app maker Connexxa, a known provider of surveillance tools to Italian authorities.

Exodus came to light when last month security researchers from Security Without Borders found the spyware hidden inside an app on the Play Store, targeted at the customers of a local Italian internet service provider (ISP).

They said the spyware was capable of rooting Android devices and possessed an advanced set of spying features that gave attackers full control of infected devices.

Security Without Borders said it detected nearly 25 different Exodus-infected apps that had been uploaded on the Play Store over the last two years.

IPhone User Of 6 Years Breaks The Bond And Embraces A Google Pixel 3 XL, And Drops An iPhone XS Max.

iPhone to Pixel

Ending 6 years of bondage with iPhone, a iPhone user switched to a Google Pixel 3 XL from an iPhone XS Max to taste the Android.. Tech Insider followed her through the steps of leaving iMessage, navigating Android, and trying out the Pixel 3's amazing camera.
Via Tech Insider

Android Market Share Way Ahead Of iOS.

smartphone market share
The gap is enough to turn Steve Jobs in his grave, Android 82.3% (1.06 billion devices) vs iOS 13.8% (178 million devices) and the rest grabbing the 3.8%. I remember when both leaders were trying to beat BlackBerry share, and how iOS beat Android, at times.
Total of 1.29 billion smartphones will be shipped over the course of this year according to IDC’s Worldwide Quarterly Mobile Phone Tracker up 26% compared to 2013.
IDC also expect the the growth to slow down to 12.6% with 1.4 billion devices. The slowdown will continue well into 2018, when it is expected to ship 1.9 billion units. Android will continue to dominate the market, during these years, staying around 80%.

"The impact of upstart Chinese players in the global market will be reflected in a race to the bottom when it comes to price. While premium phones aren't going anywhere, we are seeing increasingly better specs in more affordable smartphones. Consumers no longer have to go with a top-of-the-line handset to guarantee decent hardware quality or experience," said Melissa Chau, Senior Research Manager with IDC's Worldwide Quarterly Mobile Phone Tracker. "The biggest question now is how much lower can prices go?"

As you can see from the table, iOS still grabbed 30.4 of the value (US$ 116,540 millions) while Android brought home 66.6% (US$ 255,102 Million). That is $655 per iOS device vs $240 per an Android device. This is as significant as the market share!

Worldwide Smartphone Forecast by Shipments and Value, 2014 and 2018 (Shipments in millions of units and Value in US$ Million)

	2014*	2014* Market Share	2018*	2018* Market Share	2014-2018 CAGR
Shipment (M units)
Android	1,060	82.3%	1,498	80.0%	9.0%
iOS	178	13.8%	240	12.8%	7.8%
Windows Phone	35	2.7%	105	5.6%	31.4%
Other OS	14	1.1%	30	1.6%	20.4%
Total	1,288	100.0%	1,873	100.0%	9.8%
Value (US$M)
Android	255,102	66.6%	275,248	60.9%	1.9%
iOS	116,540	30.4%	152,626	33.8%	7.0%
Windows Phone	7,782	2.0%	19,033	4.2%	25.1%
Other OS	3,480	0.9%	4,862	1.1%	8.7%
Total	382,904	100.0%	451,769	100.0%	4.2%

Nokia Z Launcher Beta, Is In Google Play Store!

The adaptive and fast Z launcher (beta) by Nokia, has been released to Google Play store and if you wish you will be able to install it free. If you have an Android phone running Android 4.1 or later and if you live in the permitted area, You can play with it until the real thing comes back.
Here’s what’s new:

• Faster – We looked at every possible area where we could make small speed improvements from optimizing on specific handsets to obscure things like “finger tracking latency”.
• Better Prediction – Without getting too technical…we found ways to bring more context into our algorithm and to hone the algorithm data to just keep the important elements that give users the best results.
• Refined Scribble – We improved the recognition and response time, (its faster!)
• We now run on rooted devices! – This was the #1 most requested feature in our forum.

Nokia.

Apple Ordered To Face A Federal Lawsuit Over iMessage And Missing Texts.

iMessage Lawsuit
Yesterday we reported about new tool Apple provided to uncouple a phone number from iMessage system. Quite a few people missed texts which originated from iPhones when they switched to Other phones like Samsung Galaxy. We also mentiond about the lawsuit and if this step was taken as a result of the situation.
So today US District Court Judge Lucy Koh ordered that the company face claims it failed to disclose issues that customers would face if they switched from an iPhone to another device. Adrienne Moore, the plaintiff, alleges that upon switching to the Galaxy S5 from an iPhone 4, iMessage and/or the switch blocked the delivery of "countless" messages.
Judge said the case would move forward and Moore will have an opportunity to  prove his case, if Apple violated California's unfair competition regulations.
 "Plaintiff does not have to allege an absolute right to receive every text message in order to allege that Apple's intentional acts have caused an actual breach or disruption of the contractual relationship," Koh wrote.

Via Reuters

Brazilian Google Play Gift Cards!

http://snapvoip.blogspot.com/
Brazil has been a good arena for Android phones but Brazilians were never quite welcomed into the paid section of Google Play Store, with Gift cards that you and I use all the time. That is until now. Google is offering Brazilian droid users access to Gift cards in three denominations, R$30, R$50 and R$100 with account limit of R$1200.
That is enough to fill most of empty spaces on those android phones and more. More info and retailers carrying the cards on Google.

LG, GOOGLE Sign A Patent Agreement

LGOOGLE Patent Share. http://snapvoip.blogspot.com/
LG-GOOGLE has signed a patent sharing agreement enabling the duo to cross-license of all existing patents between the duo, and any new fillings / awards over next decade.

LG already collaborates with Google in producing Nexus devices and both are important to each other. LG has become a strong player in the Android arena and it will be advantageous for Google to have LG on the friendly side.

SEOUL and MOUNTAIN VIEW, Calif., Nov. 5, 2014 — LG Electronics Inc. (LG) and Google Inc. have entered into a long-term patent cross-licensing agreement covering a broad range of products and technologies. The agreement covers the two companies’ existing patents as well as those filed over the next 10 years.

 

“We’re pleased to enter into this agreement with a leading global technology company like LG,” said Allen Lo, deputy general counsel for patents at Google. “By working together on cross-licenses like this, companies can focus on bringing great products and services to consumers around the world.”

 

This agreement builds on the long-standing strong alliance between Google and LG Electronics, the companies said. 

 

“LG values its relationship with Google, and this agreement underscores both companies’ commitment to developing new products and technologies that enhance consumers’ lives,” said J.H. Lee, executive vice president and head of the LG Electronics Intellectual Property Center.

BlackBerry Messenger, BBM, Brings Control Of The Messages, Even After They Are Sent.

BlackBerry Messenger
Latest update to the BlackBerry Messenger, BBM, brings a bevy of features that we have seen elsewhere, in other messaging Apps. But it is always good to see that BlackBerry is looking to bring the best to its users. BBM is now available to iOS and Android users.
BBM update brings these capabilities to the app;

• Timed Messages: Set how long contacts have access to messages and pictures shared in a chat*
• Message Retraction: ‘Retract’ a message to remove it from your BBM chat*
• A quicker sticker picker: Adding stickers to your BBM chats is now even quicker with a new picker
• HD Picture Transfer: It’s easier than ever to get a high quality version of the pictures you receive in BBM
• Discover Music: See what music your contacts are listening to in BBM Feeds.

And this video tells it better.So if you are the type who sexts your boss, get the BBM.

Sharp Aquos Crystal, Edgeless And Inviting.

Sharp Aquos Crystal http://snapvoip.blogspot.com/
The Sharp Aquos Crystal has a unique edge-less display. The gap surrounding the display from the back panel is virtually non-existent. This makes the screen look as though it continues to the edges of the smartphone. The phone is 0.39-inch thick and 4.97 oz heavy.

The Aquos Crystal is powered by quad-core (Qualcomm Snapdragon 400) Cortex-A7 processor, clocked at 1.2 GHz, and is backed by a solid 1.5 GB of RAM. the Aquos Crystal runs on stock Android v4.4.2 KitKat OS.

As far as the memory goes, the Sharp Aquos Crystal is equipped with 8 GB of internal storage, and supports microSD card. The expansion limit is 128 GB.

Camera And Battery

Aquos Crystal sports a 8 MP rear-facing camera unit with LED flash. Plus a 1.2 MP unit as the selfie shooter.The battery which is non removable, is a Li-Ion 2040 mAh unit.

To support the edge-less display, the light/proximity sensor, front-facing camera unit and the notification light has been moved to the bottom-end of the display. Another noted feature is that there is no earpiece speaker on this smartphone.  Sharp Aquos Crystal utilises the direct wave receiver for that purpose. The phone vibrates to produce sound with the help of bone conduction technology.According to some, the call/sound quality has suffered.

The phone comes equipped with Bluetooth, microUSB and Wi-Fi support and the Sharp Aquos Crystal supports 4G LTE.

The Sharp Aquos Crystal (8 GB, 4G LTE) is priced at US$149.99 via Boost Mobile.

Be Together 'n Different With Android 5.0 (Lolipop)

Be together. Not the same.
Yep, did you notice that the Android now could post a Victory sign?




But it is just not two fingers that Android 5.0, aka Lolipop bring to the plate. Even since the Android is created and released under open platform, many have created, developed, used, enjoyed Android based devices as one community without barriers. I remember the time when I got my first Android phone, it is somewhere in the world being used now, as I have donated it when I upgraded to the next, next and next. Countless Android phones have passed my palms and mostly they were Google devices (Nexus). Yes, I am eagerly awaiting the Nexus 6, one of the best phones in the market today. But I am not very sure if I could get used to the size. I will know soon.

Yet I have no doubts about the Nexus 9, the tablet. I am ready to retire my trusted Samsung tab 10.1, which has served me for over almost 5 years. I just used it over in Hawaii, when the need arise at the top of Mauna Kea, as a hotspot, in a very cold morning, -4C! It has worked fine as a tablet but mostly it was a Hotspot for me, when I traveled away from regular networks reach.

Talking about networks reach, did you know that over 5 billion people do not have access to what you and I consider to be a commodity!. Yes the internet. Just like Android Tablet saved me when I needed access, "Android One" is coming to the rescue of those 5 billion people. Android One launched recently in India with more countries joining soon, will bring the most treasured bit to the masses, the knowledge. The farmers and fishermen will know current prices of products their labor produces. They will also know the weather patterns that will affect them, before hand. The phone will be available for about $100 (compared to $860 for the latest iPhone 6) and the service provider Airtel is making a lot of concessions towards people who will be using the phone, Free app downloads and update during the first six months, to name a few. The phones are powerful and has dual SIM cards, a replaceable battery and a built-in FM radio for bandwidth free entertainment.

Getting back to Nexus 6 , 9, player and the Lolipop, you just feel the power it brings to the people.Bring them together and yet allow to be different. Read more about it on the Official Google Blog but have look below, for what Android:And-You do, below!