Android, Apple iOS flip consumer, corporate market share

admin    Android, Apple, IOS, IT News    

ndroid dominates the consumer global platform race with nearly 70 percent market share, but in the enterprise Apple’s iOS platform dominates. It’s a bit of a conundrum for Android, which apparently scares tech executives worried about multiple flavors of the OS and security.

Let’s roll the market share stats:

According to Gartner, Android’s global share is nearing 70 percent.

In the U.S., ComScore puts Android share at 53.4 percent with Apple iOS at 36.3 percent.

So far so good right? Not for corporations. In the enterprise, using Citrix Zenprise data as a proxy, Android is far from dominant. Apple, which allegedly doesn’t give a hoot about the enterprise, dominates.

Here’s a look at the Android vs. iOS race in the corporate world based on third quarter Zenprise data. Zenprise is a top 5 mobile device management vendor recently acquired by Citrix.

A few things to note about those standings:

1. Android share is trending up and the Asia stats were skewed by a few large iOS deployments.
2. iOS market share in the corporate world is fueled by the iPad, which accounted for 57 percent of iOS devices.
3. Android is dominant in transportation, health care and communications verticals. iOS leads in education, energy, legal, real estate and insurance.

What’s the hangup with Android in the enterprise? A few thoughts:

• CIOs are wary of the different flavors of Android and iOS is easier to secure.
• Apple leads the tablet race so that reality boosts iOS a lot in the corporate market.
• Windows and BlackBerry are likely to retain some market share in corporations and that’s going to prevent the Android-iOS duopoly situation seen in the consumer market.
• Security is a concern for Android applications. Blue Coat Systems highlighted the Android risks recently.

[zdnet]

iOS 6 now available to download for iPhone, iPad and iPod touch (full changelog)

admin    Apple, IOS, IT News    

Cupertino’s newest hardware may have us purring, but Apple hasn’t left those of us with existing hardware out in the cold. iOS 6 should be appearing as an available update right now, or at least very shortly — depending on how taxed those servers get. It’ll be compatible with every iPhone since the 3GS, iPod touch 4G / 5G and this-and-last-year’s vintage of the iPad. Given the inexorable march of technology, some of the newer features won’t work on the older devices, but you can use our compatability checker to determine what new things you’ll be able to do in the next few hours.

iOS 6 Software Update

This update contains over 200 new features, including the following:

• Maps
◦ Apple designed vector based maps
◦ Turn-by-turn navigation with spoken directions on iPhone 5, iPhone 4S, iPad Wi-Fi + Cellular (2nd and 3rd generation)
◦ Real-time traffic information
◦ Flyover for photo-realistic, interactive 3D views of major metro areas on iPhone 5, iPhone 4S, iPad (3rd generation), and iPod touch (5th generation)
◦ Local search results with Yelp photos, ratings, reviews, and available deals
◦ Siri integration for requesting directions and finding places along a route
• Siri improvements
◦ Sports: scores, player stats, game schedules, team rosters, and league standings for baseball, basketball, football, soccer and hockey
◦ Movies: trailers, showtimes, reviews and facts
◦ Restaurants: reservations, reviews, photos and information
◦ Send a Tweet
◦ Post on Facebook
◦ App launch
◦ Eyes Free in supported automobiles
◦ Local search available in Siri supported countries (availability may be limited during initial rollout)
◦ Additional country and language support for Canada (English and Canadian French), China (Mandarin), Hong Kong (Cantonese), Italy (Italian), Korea (Korean), Mexico (Spanish), Spain (Spanish), Switzerland (Italian, French, German), Taiwan (Mandarin), US (Spanish)
◦ Supported on iPhone 5, iPhone 4S, iPad (3rd generation) and iPod touch (5th generation)
• Facebook integration
◦ Single sign-on from Settings
◦ Post from Photos, Safari, Maps, App Store, iTunes, Game Center, Notification Center and Siri
◦ Add location and choose audience for any post
◦ View up-to-date Facebook profile photos and contact information in Contacts
◦ View Facebook events and birthdays in Calendar
◦ Like content and see your friends’ Likes in App Store and iTunes Store
• Shared Photo Streams
◦ Share selected photos with the people you choose
◦ Friends can view shared photos in Photos app, iPhoto and Apple TV
◦ Friends can like and make comments on individual photos
• Passbook
◦ One place for boarding passes, store cards, movie tickets and other passes
◦ Barcode display for boarding flights, buying coffee, getting into movies and other actions
◦ Passes displayed on Lock Screen based on time or location
◦ Passes can be automatically updated
◦ Supported on iPhone and iPod touch
• FaceTime improvements
◦ FaceTime over cellular support for iPhone 5, iPhone 4S and iPad Wi-Fi + Cellular (3rd generation)
◦ Receive FaceTime calls, sent to your iPhone number, on your iPad and iPod touch
• Phone improvements
◦ Do Not Disturb to suppress incoming calls and notifications
◦ ‘Reply with message’ option when declining a call
◦ ‘Remind me later’ option based on time or location when declining a call
• Mail improvements
◦ VIP mailbox to quickly access mail from important people
◦ Flagged email mailbox
◦ Insert photos and videos when composing email
◦ Open password protected Office docs
◦ Pull down to refresh mailboxes
◦ Per account signatures
• Safari improvements
◦ iCloud tabs to see open pages on all your devices
◦ Offline Reading List
◦ Photo upload support
◦ Full screen landscape view on iPhone and iPod touch
◦ Smart app banners
◦ JavaScript performance improvements
• App Store and iTunes Store improvements
◦ Updated store design
◦ iTunes Preview history
◦ Complete my season
◦ Complete my album
• Game Center improvements
◦ Challenge friends to beat high scores and achievements
◦ Post high-scores and achievements to Facebook and Twitter
◦ Friend recommendations based on your Facebook friends
• Accessibility improvements
◦ Guided Access to limit device to one app or restrict touch input on certain areas of the screen
◦ VoiceOver integration with Maps, AssistiveTouch and Zoom
◦ Support for Made for iPhone Hearing Aids for iPhone 5 and iPhone 4S
• Improved privacy controls for Contacts, Calendars, Reminders, Photos and data shared over Bluetooth
• Reminders can be reordered in the Reminders app
• Custom vibrations for alerts on iPhone
• Clock app for iPad
• Clock alarm with song
• Search all fields in Contacts
• Automatic movie mode for improved video sound quality
• Definitions of a selected word for Chinese, French, German and Spanish
• New keyboard layouts for French, German, Turkish, Catalan, Arabic and Icelandic
• Keyboard shortcuts shared across devices via iCloud
• Bluetooth MAP support
• Global network proxy for HTTP
• Features for China
◦ Baidu web search
◦ Sina Weibo integration
◦ Share videos to Tudou
◦ Share videos to Youku
◦ Improved text input for handwriting and Pinyin
• Bug fixes

Some features may not be available for all countries or all areas. Please visit this website for more details:

http://www.apple.com/ios/feature-availability

For information on the security content of this update, please visit this website:

http://support.apple.com/kb/HT1222

[engadget]

iPhone 5 : Faster, Lighter, Longer

admin    Apple, IPhone, IT News    

The iPhone 5 features a 4-inch display, compared to the iPhone 4/4S’s 3.5-inch display. Photo: John Bradley/Wired

Apple’s iPhone 5 is another iterative update to the iPhone line. It features a lengthier frame, a redesigned chassis, and heavily upgraded internals that combine to deliver a super-speedy and decidedly modern smartphone experience. It’s terrific, but nothing that will blow your mind-hole.

The most noticeable difference between the iPhone 5 and a 4S/4 is just how crazy light this new thing is. It’s actually lighter than plasticky Samsung phones like the Galaxy S III, yet it doesn’t feel cheap. The switch to a primarily aluminum back plate (and the slimming Apple did as far as the in-cell display and other internals go) make it 20 percent lighter weight its glass-backed predecessor. After years using the 4/4S form factor, I found the weight loss completely surprising, especially given the increased size.

Another pleasant change is the iPhone 5′s brushed aluminum bezel and rear plate, rather than slick aluminum of its predecessor. One of the problems I find with some larger phones, like the Nokia Lumia 900, is that their size and smooth veneer make can make them tough to hold onto. Not so with the 5. Since it’s the same width as the current iPhone, you don’t need to awkwardly stretch your hand wider to grasp it, which is a definite plus — unless you find the iPhone too small for your palm. Besides being quite handsome to look at, the brushed aluminum texture adds a subtle and comforting level of friction between skin and metal.

The brushed aluminum rear plate of the iPhone 5. Photo: John Bradley/Wired

The 4-inch, 326 PPI display is just as dazzling as it was when it was first introduced on the iPhone 4 two years ago, but the extra screen real estate gives you more room to appreciate it. Colors are bright and rich (it has 44 percent more color saturation than the 4S), text is expectedly crisp, and high-resolution images look stunning. The added fifth row of app icons on the homescreen feels completely natural.

The A6 processor makes onscreen interactions, app loading, and webpage opening practically instantaneous. Surfing through the new Maps app in iOS 6 is stutter-free, but the two finger gesture to adjust your view in Flyover mode, a whimsical but potentially useful feature of the OS, takes some getting used to.

Its 8-megapixel shooter, largely the same as that in the iPhone 4S but shrunk down 25 percent in size, seems to take quality photos (and 1080p video), but the lighting in the demo room isn’t optimal for really putting a camera through its paces. The new Panorama mode is easy to use and can be accessed by tapping the Option button at the top of the camera app interface.

A few features we have yet to test in our limited hands-on time: the iPhone 5′s speed bump to 4G LTE connectivity; the smaller, reversible “Lightning” dock connector; and battery life. We’ll get to those and more in our full review in a few weeks’ time.

Our overall impression of the iPhone 5: It’s another iPhone. Just longer. And better. Although there may not be one individual feature about it that makes you scream, “I’ve got to have it now!”, all the improvements together make it a gotta-have handset.

[wired]

Hackers Release 1 Million Apple Device IDs Allegedly Stolen From FBI Laptop

admin    Apple, Hacker, IT News    

Photo: Wired 

The hacker group AntiSec has released 1 million Apple device IDs that they say they obtained from an FBI computer they hacked.

The hackers say they actually stole 12 million IDs, including personal information, from the hacked FBI computer, but released only 1 million in an encrypted file published on torrent sites.

In a lengthy post online, the hackers wrote that last March, they hacked a laptop belonging to an FBI agent named Christopher K. Stangl from the bureau’s Regional Cyber Action Team and the New York FBI office’s Evidence Response Team.

The hackers say the IDs were stored in a file on Stangl’s desktop titled “NCFTA_iOS_devices_intel.csv.”

The file, according to the hackers, contained a list of more than 12 million Apple iOS devices, including Unique Device Identifiers (UDID), user names, names of devices, types of devices, Apple Push Notification Service tokens, ZIP codes, cellphone numbers, and addresses. The hackers released only 1 million UDIDs, however, and did not release the accompanying personal information for the IDs.

Apple UDIDs are a 40-character alphanumeric string that is unique to each Apple device.

It’s not known why the FBI possessed the Apple IDs. The hackers suggested in a tweet from the the @AnonymousIRC account, that the FBI was using the information to track users.

Stangl may have been targeted because he was on an e-mail that members of Anonymous intercepted last January. The e-mail was sent to several dozen U.S. and European law-enforcement personnel to participate in a conference call discussing efforts to investigate Anonymous and other hacking groups. The email included a call-in number for the discussion, which members of Anonymous recorded and posted online last February.

The hackers say they released the Apple UDIDs so that people would know that the FBI may be tracking their devices and also because, they wrote in their online post, “we think it’s the right moment to release this knowing that Apple is looking for alternatives for those UDID currently … but well, in this case it’s too late for those concerned owners on the list.”

Apple has been criticized for hard-coding the ID’s in devices, since they can be misused by application developers and others to identify a user, when combined with other information, and track them. Last April, Apple began rejecting applications that track UDIDs.

The Next Web has created a tool for users to check if their Apple UDID is among those that the hackers released.

[wired]

Visualized: the iDevice influence on Apple’s bottom line

admin    Apple, IT News    

Apple’s Q3 earnings last week rang loud and clear: iDevices are paying Cupertino’s bills. The customary numerics laid down the bare facts, citing an 84 percent increase in iPad sales since 2011 and a similar 28 percent jump for the iPhone. Of course, well-organized tables of sales data aren’t for everyone, but who doesn’t love a good chart? Stuart Carlton took it upon himself to graph the percentages of Apple’s revenue that each of its product categories fill out, producing the above criss-cross of colored statistics. The graph compares Apple’s Q3 sales data going back several years, and a second chart (after the break) compares the iPhone, iPad and iPod’s share of the revenue directly with the rest of Apple’s fare. Read on to take in the data for yourself, or hit the source link below for Carlton’s own commentary.

[engadget]

Apple Unveils New MacBooks, iOS 6, and New Mountain Lion Features

admin    Apple, IOS, IT News    

Apple unveiled new Macs, a new version of iOS, and more Mac OS Mountain Lion features at its WWDC keynote Monday. Photo: Jon Phillips/Wired

It didn’t have the flair and shock factor of an iDevice unveiling, but today’s Apple event still wowed the hardcore faithful.

At its WWDC keynote Monday, Apple unveiled a host of hardware and software updates that confirmed many pre-event reports and rumors. The MacBook lineup was revamped top to bottom, including the introduction of a new slimmer MacBook Pro with Retina display. We also saw new Mountain Lion OS X features, and the world’s first public unveiling of iOS 6.

Below is a quick cheat sheet on the most important announcement details. For a full recap of the keynote, read our liveblog report here.

Thinner, Lighter, Brighter MacBooks

The MacBook Air and MacBook Pro line received some major updates, confirming at least some of the leaks reported last week. The entire line-up has been updated with the third generation of Intel’s “core” processors, aka Ivy Bridge. The new MacBook Airs and the 13-inch MacBook Pro will come with either a dual-core Core i5 or a Core i7 processor, while the 15-inch MacBook Pro features Intel’s Core i7 quad-core processor. MacBooks will now also come with an Intel HD Graphics 4000 processor, two USB 3.0 ports, and a 720p FaceTime HD camera.

The new MacBook Pro with Retina display offers much of the slimness of an Air, plus a super-fine resolution, and Pro-level performance. Photo: Jon Phillips/Wired

But the most impressive and drastic update arrives in a completely new 15-inch MacBook Pro, which is now thinner and lighter to match its Air counterpart. This new MacBook Pro weighs 4.46 pounds and is only 0.71 inches thick. What’s more, this MacBook Pro sports a 2880×1800 pixel Retina Display — that’s four times the pixel density of the previous MacBook Pro model.

The name of this specimen? It’s simply called MacBook Pro with Retina display, but of course.

The new model’s display has a 178-degree viewing angle, and offers 75 percent less reflection and 29 percent higher contrast relative to previous MacBook Pros. Built-in and paid apps, including iPhoto, iMovie, iTunes, Aperture and Final Cut Pro X, have been updated for the new Retina Display.

The MacBook Pro with Retina display will also ship with the third-generation Intel Core i7 quad-core processor, Nvidia GeForce FT 650M discreet graphics, up to 16GB of 1,600MHz RAM, and up to 768GB of flash storage. And Apple isn’t giving up on Thunderbolt: The new MacBook Pro comes with two Thunderbolt ports, along with two USB 3.0 ports and an HDMI port.

Both the updated MacBook lineup and the new MacBook Pro with Retina display will be available for order Monday. The 11-inch MacBook Air starts at $1,000; the 13-inch MacBook Air starts at $1,100; the 13-inch MacBook Pro starts at $1,500; the 15-inch MacBook Pro (without a Retina display) starts at $1,800; and the new and thinner 15-inch MacBook Pro with Retina display starts at $2,200.

iOS 6

iOS 6 was one of the most highly anticipated announcements coming into WWDC, and Apple didn’t disappoint the masses, revealing a bevy of new features. iOS 6 introduces more than 200 new features, including a totally revamped Maps app, new Siri features, Facebook integration, Shared Photo Streams, the completely new Passbook app, and Guided Access — a feature made for educational purposes.

Finally! You can pull to refresh your email list, just like in the Twitter app. Photo: Jon Phillips/Wired

Of the seven trouble spots we wanted fixed in iOS 6, several actually made their way into the new mobile platform. Siri certainly became smarter, capable of speaking more languages and providing information on sports scores and schedules, movie listings, and restaurant reservations.

Facebook will make its way into many of iOS 6′s apps, including Notification center, Siri, Photos, Safari, and Maps. And similar to Mountain Lion, your Facebook friends’ information will appear in the Contacts app.

Apple couldn’t make a new mobile platform without developing totally new apps. And lucky for us, it isn’t just Cards 2. Apple announced Passbook, an app that collects all of your passes — everything from movie tickets to Amtrak passes — in one place.

And iOS 6 will also include the new Guided Access feature. Guided Access makes it possible for parents and teachers to disable hardware buttons on an iOS device, so that the device can be locked into a single app. The aim is to help someone with a disability stay focused on learning within that app.

But one of the largest updates comes with Maps, which now has turn-by-turn navigation, 3-D views, and real-time, crowd-sourced traffic information. Apple didn’t outright scream that it ditched Google Maps, but it did say it developed all these mapping features itself. We’re not sure of its direct utility, but an interactive 3-D view that allows you to zoom in on buildings and landmarks was a keynote highlight.

Other new iOS 6 features include an updated Safari with iCloud tabs, support for FaceTime over cellular networks, a VIP Mailbox feature for the Mail app, and the ability to decline calls by sending the caller a message, setting a callback reminder, or setting up Do Not Disturb to hold messages and phone calls.

Mountain Lion Features and Availability

Apple showed off a number of new features to expect in OS X Mountain Lion, Apple’s upcoming desktop OS. And as we first saw in February, OS X Mountain Lion will more closely resemble iOS with a new Messages app, Notification Center, Reminders, Notes, and Game Center.

A new Mountain Lion feature called Power Nap updates your computer while it sleeps. Photo: Jon Phillips/Wired

iCloud will also take center stage in Mountain Lion, syncing your apps across all of your devices. And a new system-wide Sharing feature will make it possible for users to share links, photos, videos, and files to third-party social networks like Facebook, Twitter, Flickr, and Vimeo.

Notably, Facebook received even deeper integration than most other social networks, and now matches the same levels of Twitter integration in Mac OS. For example, Notification Center will come with Facebook and Twitter support — users will be able to update their Facebook status from directly inside Notification Center. And Facebook friends will appear in Mountain Lion’s Contacts app.

Other new features include support for voice dictation, Gatekeeper (a feature that affords users greater control over downloaded apps), AirPlay Mirroring, Safari updates such as Smart Search Field and iCloud Tabs, and new features for Chinese users including Baidu search support.

Apple announced that OS X Mountain Lion will be available in July from the Mac App Store for $20. Developers will have access to a near-final version of Mountain Lion on Monday.

[wired]

Apple’s nano-SIM card design approved by ETSI

admin    Apple, IT News    

The European Telecommunications Standards Institute (ETSI) has approved the nano-SIM card design that was proposed by Apple, reports Ars Technica. The new nano-SIM card is 40 percent smaller than the current micro-SIM card standard in many modern cell phones.

Size is obviously a major issue for cell phones and other devices that use SIM cards, and smaller components mean technology manufacturers can save the extra space for other hardware that can provide better features or battery life.

“Today’s SIM card designs take up a significant amount of space inside a mobile device,” ETSI said in a statement. “This space is more and more valuable in today’s handsets which deliver an ever-increasing number of features.”

The newly approved SIM card design is the fourth form factor (4FF), and measures 12.33mm wide by 8.8mm tall by 0.67mm thick (0.48″ x 0.35″ x 0.03″). Nano-SIM cards will be backwards-compatible with slots designed for micro-SIM cards, which will help manufacturers make the transition more smoothly as the new nano-SIM spec is implemented in future hardware.

A rival design specification was submitted by RIM and Motorola. Their design and Apple’s eventually converged after modifications on both sides, and very few differences remained at the end. The major differentiating feature at the end was a notch on RIM and Motorola’s design, that would allow handsets to use the “push-push” design – where cards can be inserted by pushing the SIM into the slot and removed by pushing again – instead of a sliding tray for the cards.

[neowin]

Macs Spread Malware To PCs

admin    Apple, IT News, Malware, Security    

Apple’s March 7th event roundup: the new iPad, Apple TV refresh and everything else

admin    Apple, Ipad, IT News, Tablet    

Weren’t able to keep up with all the news from the unveiling of Apple’s new iPad today? Don’t worry, we’ve got you covered! Whether you’re looking for more info about its Retina Display and LTE-connectivity, the refreshed Apple TV or related bits, we’ve listed links to our coverage of everything “new and noteworthy” after the break. Happy perusing! Oh, and be sure to check back to our the archive of our liveblog and pre- and post-event broadcasts for a few extra doses of “amazing.”

iPad

The new iPad is official, with Retina display, LTE and A5X CPU. Available March 16th

Apple’s new iPad hands-on!

New iPad puts the camera back in focus: 5 MP sensor, AF lens, 1080p video

Here’s the first sample shot from the new iPad’s 5MP iSight camera

Siri sort-of comes to the new iPad, does voice dictation only

New iPad has ‘world ready’ 3G, LTE for Verizon, Rogers, Bell, Telus and AT&T

iPad 4G plans and pricing revealed

The new iPad vs. iPad 2: what’s changed?

The new iPad vs. the tablet elite: ASUS Transformer Pad Infinity 700, Samsung Galaxy Note 10.1 and Toshiba Excite X10 LE

AppleCare+ extended to new iPad, adds two years of support for a fee

Apple drops iPad 2 price to $399 for the 16GB WiFi-only model

Apps and iOS

Apple introduces iPhoto for iPad, updated Garage Band, iMovie and iWork apps

Apple reveals next-generation apps for the new iPad: Infinity Blade: Dungeons, SketchBook, SkyGamblers

OS 5.1 available today, brings Japanese-language Siri

iOS 5.1 software update now rolling out to iPhones, iPads and iPod touches

Got an AT&T iPhone? iOS 5.1 now gives you ’4G’

Apple ups over-the-air download limit to 50MB for iOS

Apple TV

Apple reveals new Apple TV, does 1080p video

Apple TV (2012) hands-on!

Apple TV vs. the new Apple TV (2012): what’s changed?

Netflix on new Apple TV supports 1080p, all boxes get integrated signup and pay via iTunes

Fox and Universal titles blocked from Apple TV’s iCloud, HBO is the culprit

Apple TV software update brings new interface to second-gen models

Everything else

FCC wastes no time, approves new iPad and Apple TV

iTunes 10.6 now available for download, includes support for 1080p videos

Apple’s 2012 launch event: watch it online now

[engadget]

Android dan iOS Mendominasi Pangsa Pasar OS

admin    Android, Apple, BB, IOS, IT News    

Google dan Apple terus bersaing ketat dalam urusan Operating System (OS). Android dan iOS menduduki peringkat teratas dengan total 91% pengguna. Berdasarkan data Jumptap, pengguna OS Android mencapai 58,8% sedangkan iOS berada dibawahnya dengan jumlah pengguna 32,3%. Jika dibandingkan pada bulan Januari lalu, pengguna Android hanya sebesar 46,3%. Artinya pengguna Android mengalami peningkatan sebesar 12,5%.

Sementara OS Blackberry tercatat hanya sebesar 6,7% pengguna, Symbian 1,4% pengguna, Windows Phone dan OS lain sebesar 0,5% pengguna. ‘Tidak mengherankan jika jumlah pengguna Android melaju pesat, sebab tercatat bahwa ada 850.000 perangkat mobile baru yang diaktifkan Google tiap harinya,’ ujar Paran Johar, Chief Marketing Officer Jumptap.

Eric Schmidt membuat pernyataan berani saat Mobile World Congress di Barcelona kemarin, ‘Jika Google mencapai target, akan ada Android di setiap saku’.

[teknoup]