The High Labor Cost if Apple is to Comply with the US FBI Hacking Request

It would cost Apple about $101,000 in labor costs to help the FBI hack an iPhone -- although the company would likely spend millions more to prevent this hack from dangerously leaking into the open. In court documents filed on Thursday, Apple revealed what it would take to create a back door into one of its iPhones. A federal magistrate-judge has ordered the company to create code that will help the FBI break into the iPhone 5C of a San Bernardino shooter. Apple is fighting the order, but it has estimated the effort it would take to build a new version of its operating system, which an Apple employee has dubbed "GovtOS." "All told, I would estimate that the process of designing, creating, validating, deploying GovtOS would take two to four weeks," Apple's manager of user privacy, Erik Neuenschwander, declared in a court papers. The effort would take "six to ten Apple engineers and employees dedicating a very substantial portion of their time," Apple said in a court filing. That would include the rock star engineers from Apple's core operating system group, one quality assurance engineer, a project manager, and a document writer, according to Apple's filing. Here's the potential cost, using salaries from salary-tracking website Glassdoor. Should Apple accept the US FBI's edict to hack into the iPhone? Send your comments to the Smartphone and Tablet Zone. http://smartphoneandtabletzone.blogspot.com/

 

Mobile World Congress: China's Xiaomi Launches Mi5 Android Smartphone

China's Xiaomi has unveiled the ceramic-cased Mi5 Android smartphone, highlighting the top-end version of the handset is a fraction of the price of its rivals' flagships. The company held press conferences for the launch in Beijing and at Barcelona's Mobile World Congress. The European press conference has fuelled speculation Xiaomi is preparing to expand sales beyond Asia and Brazil. However, the company made no mention of any such plan during the presentations. In fact, its representatives told MWC attendees the event was a "preview" rather than a launch. "It suggests that Xiaomi has still not resolved issues over intellectual property and patent rights that it needs to do to put the handsets on sale in Europe and North America," said Ben Wood, from tech consultancy CCS Insight. "But coming to MWC gives Xiaomi access to hundreds of the top analysts, journalists and other industry commentators to help raise awareness of the Mi brand before any such launch." Another analyst agreed the company needed to expand further. "Xiaomi missed its 2015 smartphone shipment target by seven million, because it was too exposed to the Chinese market, where fast growing iPhone sales hurt it," said Ian Fogg, from IHS Technology. "We see increasing numbers of Xiaomi smartphones appearing in use around the world, in many countries where Xiaomi smartphones are not officially on sale. "[So] other smartphone makers must continue to look over their shoulder, even if Mi5's official availability remains limited to a handful of countries." Xiaomi describes itself as the world's fifth bestselling smartphone company. Its handset shipments rose 23% last year, giving it about 5% of the global smartphone market, according to market research company IDC. Can Xiaomi break into the global smartphone market or will the Mi5 be confined to the domestic China market? Send your comments to the Smartphone and Tablet Zone. http://smartphoneandtabletzone.blogspot.com/

Samsung Unveils the Galaxy S7 Smarthone at the Mobile World Congress

The new Samsung Galaxy S7 unmasked at MWC in Barcelona is a beautiful specimen of cutting-edge tech and seductive metal-and-glass build. "It looks almost exactly the same as the S6!" you say. And it does. But it also has things that Samsung removed from the Galaxy S6. Important things, like a microSD card slot to store photos, movies and games (which means you won't have to buy a pricier model to get more storage). It's once again water-resistant, too. Battery capacity swells, and both the camera and processor promise sharp performance. But you still can't remove the battery as you can on the metal LG G5. f you already own an S6 or S6 Edge, the specs might be too similar to what you already pocket to truly entice you. The Galaxy S7 Edge has a 12-megapixel camera, compared to last year's 16-megapixel shooter. The megapixel number is smaller, and that might sound weird and worrying if the hardware inside hadn't budged a bit. On small camera sensors like the ones found in phones, "downgrading" from 16 to 12 megapixels shouldn't make much of a difference.  How well will the S7 be received by Samsung's Galaxy S series installed base? Moreover, will the S7 allow Samsung to chip-away at the Apple iPhone sales and installed base? Send your comments to the Smartphone and Tablet Zone: http://smartphoneandtabletzone.blogspot.com/

US FBI vs. Apple - the iPhone Privacy Drama Continues

Cook said last week he will not comply with FBI demands and issued an email to staff on Monday thanking them for their support. "Apple is a uniquely American company. It does not feel right to be on the opposite side of the government in a case centering on the freedoms and liberties that government is meant to protect," he wrote in his email. Cook argues that following through with the court order would threaten "everyone's civil liberties" and also make them more vulnerable to cybercrime. Information on iPhones is encrypted, and a user's passcode is needed to access that information. Apple does not hold the passcode. Apple's argument is that if it creates a way to get into the phone, that would open the door to hackers as well. Read the complete Apple FAQ at: http://www.apple.com/customer-letter/answers/ . Meanwhile, FBI Director James Comey says his agency's demand that Apple break into the iPhone of one of the San Bernardino shooters is "about the victims and justice." "Fourteen people were slaughtered and many more had their lives and bodies ruined," Comey wrote in a post on the Lawfare blog late Sunday. "We owe them a thorough and professional investigation under law." His comments are the latest public move in a clash between federal law enforcement and the giant technology company that has fueled a fierce debate about security and privacy.What is the next move in this complex array of civil liberties and the fight against terrorism? Share your comments here the the Smartphone and Tablet Zone: http://smartphoneandtabletzone.blogspot.com/

US FBI vs. Apple - Balancing the Fight for Domestic Terrorism & Individual Privacy

Apple previously had until Tuesday Feb 23 to respond in court to a federal magistrate's order that it must help the FBI break into the locked iPhone 5C that belonged to the dead San Bernardino shooter, Syed Farook.  Apple was ordered to create a weaker version of its operating system for this one device, and help the FBI crack Farook's passcode. But the company was granted a three-day extension until Friday, Feb. 26, to respond, according to a person familiar with the case. Apple CEO Tim Cook argues that complying with order will hurt both the company and its customers by making all iPhones less secure. The government argues it needs to break into the phone to determine if any more ISIS-inspired terrorist plots are underway argues that complying with order will hurt both the company and its customers by making all iPhones less secure. The government argues it needs to break into the phone to determine if any more ISIS-inspired terrorist plots are underway. So where do you stand ... with Apple or the FBI? Share your opinion withe the Smartphone and Tablet Zone: http://smartphoneandtabletzone.blogspot.com/

Smartphone's Achilles Heel - The Quest for Longer Battery Life

It's hard to perfect a methodology that lets you cover all of the various use scenarios without having to test for weeks on end.

Whether it be display, audio quality, or camera, the goal with all of our tests is not only to provide you with the clearest, most comprehensive examination of a particular device, but also to provide it to you promptly. Our battery test is no exception. With each battery test you'll see four different numbers, each reflecting a different type of battery-consuming activities. The test revolves around three fundamental tasks, which we feel are most commonly performed by smartphone users: making calls, browsing the web and playing video. The first test is the talk time test, which measures how long it takes to deplete the battery by making voice calls. Bearing in mind that most screens automatically turn off during a call, we've made sure our set up accounts for this. We close all applications which may further strain the battery, too. The web browsing test is performed using an automated script which reloads a webpage every ten seconds. There are no flash elements on the web pages, so the playing field is even. The brightness of the phones' displays is set to 50% and we use a 802.11n access point placed a few meters away to get full connectivity bars. Graphical data provided by Metrico. How does battery life affect your smartphone usage today and what are your battery life expectations over the next 2-3 years? Share your thoughts with us at the Smartphone and Tablet Zone: http://smartphoneandtabletzone.blogspot.com/

Mobile World Congress - Showcase for New Smartphones

The 2016 Mobile World Congress will take place February 22-25 in Barcelona. With the montra that 'everything is mobile' MWC enthusiasts anticipate seeing a bevy of new smartphones ... either live demos of orderable products or announcements about nexgen products on the vendors roadmaps.

Here is a small sample of what we might expect: Samsung's The Galaxy S7 is expected to come in two variants, the smaller 5.1-inch S7 and the larger 5.5-inch S7 edge with a dual curved display. Besides the usual spec upgrades on the insides - faster processor, upgraded RAM, new camera sensor, and etc. LG G5 flagship, the LG G5, is also expected to be launched on exactly the same day right before the start of the MWC. Unlike the S7, however, there will only be one variant of the G5, either a 5.5-inch or a 5.6-inch 4K display. That's it - no mini nor plus sizes coming from LG. Still, of all the major smartphone brands basically making slight upgrades from their past flagships, it looks like LG is the only one doing something radically different with the G5. Thirdly,  is the Xiaomi's Mi 5. Though the Chinese smartphone manufacturer is yet to sell its devices in the United States, the company is huge in Asia. Between the S7 and the G5, the Mi 5 will be the largest of the three Asian-made flagships. Hugo Barra, the former Google VP for Android and now Xiaomi vice president, tweeted an image boasting that the Mi5 is "All you ever imagined, and more." Which of these three Asia-built phones has the ability to become the Android market share leader? Share your thoughts with the Smartphone and Tablet Emporium: http://smartphoneandtabletzone.blogspot.com/

What Does a New 5G World Hold for Smartphone Users and Apps?

Service Providers such as Verizon, Sprint, AT&T, British Telecom and China Mobile are racing to become early adopters of 5G networks.

5G is considered key to the Internet of Things (IoT), the name given to the notion of tying just about every and any thing into the Net. Billions of sensors will be built into appliances, security systems, health monitors, door locks, cars and wearables -- from smartwatches to dog collars. Analyst firm Gartner predicts the number of networked devices will skyrocket from about 5 billion in 2015 to 25 billion by 2020. All those sensors producing mountains of data should, in turn, spur carriers to spend billions upgrading their networks for 5G so they can cash in on your increased appetite for IoT data -- including updates to your smartphone on what Scruffy is up to throughout the day. "You'll have tags on your dogs talking to devices in your home," says Femi Adeyemi, lead mobile architect for Fujitsu. "You'll know when your children come home. Cars on the highway will be autonomously managed."  Plus, 5G networks will be about 66 times faster than 4G. That speed opens up intriguing new capabilities. Self-driving cars can make time-critical decisions. Video chats will make us feel like we're all in the same room. And cities can monitor traffic congestion, pollution levels and parking demand -- and then feed that information to your smart car in real time. Just when will 5G arrive and how will it benefits smartphone users? Share your predictions with the Smartphone and Tablet Zone: http://smartphoneandtabletzone.blogspot.com/

Mitigating Cyber Threats to Smartphones and Tablets on a Corporate Network

Five billion mobile subscribers worldwide according to the International Telecommunication Union (ITU). An impressive figure when you consider that there are 6.8 billion people on Earth. Smartphones are making their way to the corporate environment in greater numbers. no longer for managers only, smartphones have become a widespread communications tool -- as a mobile extension to their computers.

Smartphones now allow employees to access their corporate network on the go, read their emails, answer urgent messages, and store boarding passes, presentations, business reports.Small, practical, useful, and versatile, smartphones present many business advantages, but because the security of mobile phones and their related infrastructure is not fully mature, they have the potential to expose your company’s network to many threats. Facing those technical limitations, system administrators must choose between compromising the security of their networks to allow access to smartphone users and limiting their access or directing them to another less-sensitive network. In practice, whenever there is a compromise between usability and security, security loses the battle. The result: most employees can access corporate networks via their smartphone from anywhere and with degraded protection. One can only imagine the damage that may result when those users are using a public access point to get mobile connection! The inevitable choice of usability over security makes smartphones an ideal vehicle for cybercriminals to attack corporate networks. Cybercriminals are like housebreakers: they search for the weak entry (from a remote PC or an infected mobile phone), find a way to make it yield, and then propagate malware, collect e-mail addresses to spam, steal confidential data, and infect corporate hosts to have them join botnets. Which smartphone security threats does your corporate envirinment most commonly face? Send your comments to the Smartphone and Tablet Emporium today: http://smartphoneandtabletzone.blogspot.com/

HP's Pavillion x2 Tablet - Will This Device Capture Market Share Worldwide?

The Pavilion x2 with a magnetic hinge gives you the power to pick a mode for exactly what you need. HP’s most versatile detachable PC allows you to go beyond notebook and tablet with stand and tent modes. Software includes McAfee LiveSafe™ 30-day trial offer (Internet access required. 

First 30 days included. Subscription required for live updates afterwards.) Netflix; Dropbox; TripAdvisor; Snapfish

Accessories  include Word Mobile, Excel Mobile, PowerPoint Mobile, and OneNote and 1 year limited hardware warranty (information at www.hp.com/support); 90 day phone support (from date of purchase); complimentary chat support within warranty period (at www.hp.com/go/contacthp). Now, the HP Pavilion x2 has entered the scene as the most affordable 2-in-1 laptop that easily transforms between laptop and tablet modes by way of a detachable screen. For $299 (£249, AU$549), this 10-inch hybrid comes outfitted with a moderately powerful Intel Atom processor and a bundled year of Office 365 and OneDrive cloud storage to make up for the device's modicum of memory and drive space. Not only is the HP Pavilion x2 a great deal for a basic Window machine, it's a handy tablet for streaming media. Can this innovate tablet compete against the Apple iPad Pro and realted offerings from Samsung, Song and LG. Send your comments to the Smartphone and Tablet Zone: http://smartphoneandtabletzone.blogspot.com/

Product Review: LG G4 - Can This Phone Compete Against the iPhone and Galaxy?

LG has tried to focus on what everyone actually wants out of a smartphone, a great looking design, colour rich display and the great camera for photos - but it doesn't quite deliver as impressively as we'd hoped. Don't let that put you off though.

There's a lot going on with the LG G4, and for the most part it's rather positive indeed. The leather back is much nicer than the plastic option, and it will make your phone stand out among the swath of glass and metal offerings. Its large, expansive screen is one of the best on the market, the 16MP laser auto-focus camera takes some cracking shots and the rear buttons are easier to hit on a handset this size. As usual, LG has offered us a phone that's got a brilliant spec list at a phenomenally low unlocked price - if you're after something a bit different, this is a great choice. The LG G4 does a few things differently though. This time the brand has aimed for elements the user will actually want: longer battery life, improved camera and upgraded screen, and combined them with a slightly outlandish design: covering the thing in a leather coat that's certainly something the rest of the market hasn't seen yet. One of the early sticking points I had with this phone was the price - it came at a 'normal' level, rivalling the iPhone and Galaxy flagships pound for pound. That's now dropped massively to make it, once again, one of the cheapest and most attractive top-end handsets in price terms. Let's hear feedback from some of the LG G4 users out their. Does this phone live up to your expectations? And if not, how can the product be improved to gain market share against Apple and Samsung? Share your comments with us at the Smartphone and Tablet Zone: http://smartphoneandtabletzone.blogspot.com/

PC Magazine Selects 100 of the Best iPhone Free Apps for 2016

With 2015 behind us, many people all across the world are about to become the proud new iPhone owners. While the hardware itself is a stylish status symbol, and iOS9 is a top-tier mobile operating system, it's the apps that really make an iPhone worth having. But what apps should you download immediately after setting up your new phone? The App Store is jam-packed with quality programs. Fortunately for you, the expert analysts here at PCMag test iPhone apps all the time, and we've used that insight to create the following list of the 100 best iPhone apps. Many of these apps will run just fine on a range of iPhones. You can press firmly on the Facebook app icon to bring up a menu and immediately start updating your status. Now that the latest iPhones are out in the wild, we expect apps to take even more advantage of the phones' unique functionality in the future. View the come Top 100 free app list via video at: http://www.pcmag.com/article2/0,2817,2391521,00.asp.What are your favorite free iPhone apps? Share your comments with the Smartphone and Tablet Zone:http://smartphoneandtabletzone.blogspot.com/

Verizon Offers Practical Tips for Keeping Your Smartphone Secure

What are the most important elements of smartphone security? Verizon has published 8 guidelines for keeping your device secure. 1. Protect your investment. Losing your smartphone can be pretty stressful. Each day, 200,000 devices are lost, stolen or damaged. You might be surprised by the high out-of-contract price of replacing a lost smartphone with an equivalent make and model. To prevent this from happening, consider Total Mobile Protection. 2. Use a pin, password or pattern to lock your phone. 

Setting this up is easy. For most Android™ devices, go to your Location & Security Settings for instructions. iOS users can find these functions in the General options of their settings. 3. Download apps only from trusted stores. If you’re browsing for a new game or something more productive, use places such as Google Play™. Make sure you check ratings and reviews if they are available, and read the app’s privacy policy to see exactly what phone features it will have access to if you download. 4. Back up your data. This is more about protecting and restoring your information should disaster strike. With Backup Assistant Plus and Verizon Cloud, you can save your contacts, music, pictures, videos and documents to the cloud. 5. Keep your operating system and apps updated. There are typically periodic updates to both of these that not only add new features, but also offer tightened security. 6. Log out of sites after you make a payment. If you bank or shop from your smartphone, log out of those sites once your transactions are complete. 7. Turn off Wi-Fi and Bluetooth® when not in use. You think of them as ways to connect to something, but thieves can use them to connect to your device and access files. 8. Avoid giving out personal information. That text message that looks to be from your bank may not be. If you get requests via email or text for account information from any business, contact the business directly to confirm the request. Share your smartphone security suggestions with the Smartphone and Tablet Zone.