Google plans to develop website 'Bharat Saves'; to help you save more and invest better

Google wants to help you save more and invest better.

The US-headquartered technology company with a large India presence is planning to develop a website, Bharat Saves, which will offer information on financial planning.

Google wants to align its Bharat Saves website to the government's financial inclusion scheme, Jan Dhan Yojana, which has since its 2014 launch seen 24 crore new bank accounts being opened and attracted deposits of Rs 41,000 crore.

A senior finance ministry official, speaking off record, told ET that Google is in talks with the government and that the company's proposal is being "examined".

He said the digital platform "may provide a range of financial literacy tools and information on financial products".

A Google spokesperson told ET: "In line with the Prime Minister's vision to create greater financial inclusion-....various BFSI organisations and industry associations are coming together to launch a digital platform".

The spokesperson also said a financial literacy awareness campaign may be part of the plan. Bharat Saves will be an app and website, both of which are being designed by Google.

In the first leg, users have to log into either of the platforms and complete financial literacy modules.

They will need to take a financial literacy test, the certifications for which will be given by the Indian government, Google and an industry organisation.

Target Consumers for Google's Offering
These will open up a second section of the app/website, where users will be able to see, compare and purchase banking and insurance products. Eventually, more financial product categories will be added and the platform will be linked to PM's Jan Dhan Yojana.

The target consumers for this platform will be homemakers, small business owners, the newly employed, retired persons and farmers.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi has met several technology company CEOs and deeper participation in the government's Digital India programme has been on the agenda in these meetings.

"There were some discussions on these issues when the PM met CEOs of top tech giants at the Digital India forum in San Jose, California during his visit to the US," an official familiar with the issue said.

India's savings rate has fallen recently - IMF data shows a fall from 36 per cent of GDP to 31 per cent GDP between 2007-08 and now. Household savings have also fallen, with other data showing households save less than a quarter of their disposable income, down from over 30 per cent around four years back.

While stagnant income in real terms/high inflation for many social classes has been identified as a recent factor for drop in the savings rate, economists have long argued that lack of access to modern financial instruments is also a structural contributory factor.

Source: EtTelecom

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Now Facebook to set up Wi-Fi at rural Indian railway stations after Google Initiatives

Social media giant Facebook may tie up with the Indian Railways to set up Wi-Fi services at railway stations across India, according to a report by ET. The information comes in months after Google launched its own free Wi-Fi at select locations in the country.

A statement given by Indian Railways’ communication wing RailTel chairman RK Bahuguna quoted him saying that Facebook had approached them to be able to bring Wi-Fi to rural India. The partnership will try to offer connectivity not just to the railway stops but also to surrounding villages.

RailTel already has the infrastructure to install Wi-Fi hotspots across 4000 railway stations throughout the country in place. Taking Facebook’s initiative, the company will attempt to extend network in a 10 kilometer radius from the station using additional access points. The range will increase to around 25 kilometers thereafter. The aim will be to target smaller and mostly ignored areas where internet is not widely available.

Facebook denied giving a comment on the story. It was recently in the news for testing its Express Wi-Fi service that sets up hotspots in areas without data range. This was a step ahead from its first idea of Free Basics to provide internet to India.

Google had collaborated with RailTel to set up free Wi-Fi zones at select railway stations. Its offering is attempting to cover 100 stops by the end of this year and around 400 additional places eventually. As reported by ET, there are roughly 2 million people using this connectivity every month in 21 sites

Original news Link

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Google Allo and it's features

 
Download Link
Google Allo is a messaging app which will compete with the likes of Facebook Messenger, WhatsApp and iMessage. Surprisingly, Allo isn’t a Hangouts replacement but its own standalone app coming to iOS and Android soon, but what makes it stand out from the myriad of other messaging apps available?


The main difference is that Allo comes with some machine learning built in, courtesy of Google Assistant, the company’s virtual assistant. As explained by Engineering Director Erik Kay on stage at Google I/O 2016, Allo is a ‘smart’ messaging app that learns over time to make conversations both easier and more productive. That’s all well and good, but what does that actually mean?
Firstly, you’ll be presented with Smart Replies. These aren’t stagnated quick reply options like you see on other messaging platforms, oh no – Google claims that Assistant will learn over time and provide you with personalised answers that you’d actually use. It’ll work when asked things like if you want to go out for dinner, but will also suggest responses to photos because, Google being Google, the company can analyse the photo and its contents, understand the context and suggest a response. Pretty cool, right? You can see it in action below:


However, if you thought it ended there, you’d be wrong. Much like Facebook’s chatbots, you can talk directly to Google Assistant via text directly in Allo, allowing you to search for movies and more all without leaving the app. You can type “@Google” in the chat window to talk directly to Google Assistant, and it’ll provide you with what you require – be it search results or a funny GIF to share with friends. It’s contextual and will remember previous conversations so you can just carry on where you left off last time if necessary.

That’s not all, though -  say, for example, you and a friend are discussing where to go for dinner, a smart reply might suggest a dinner reservation. You’ll be able to tap that and be shown a restaurant reservation card full of nearby restaurants, and can even make a reservation via OpenTable quickly and naturally. You can also play games with Google Assistant as demoed during Google I/O, but these seem a little basic at the moment.

What else does Allo offer? Apart from Google Assistant support, Allo is a fairly simple-to-use but feature hungry messaging app. You sign up with your mobile number much like WhatsApp instead of a Google account, as it means both iOS and Android users can use the service without having to join the Google ecosystem.

For more information : Read this link

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Google’s video calling app Duo crosses 5 million downloads with in a week

 

The video-calling app Duo by Google is steadily moving forward to compete with the much more popular apps like Microsoft’s Skype and Apple’s FaceTime. After announcing Duo at I/O 2016 earlier this year, Google last week began rolling out the video calling app to users on Android and iOS platform. And within just one week of its release, the app has already crossed 5 million downloads on the Android devices.
 
 Google Duo Download Link
Google’s Duo app is a simple video messaging app that accomplishes the task of doing one thing very well. Think of it as Apple’s FaceTime — Google Duo is designed for one-on-one mobile video calls and nothing else. Those who use Google’s Hangouts app, which also allows for video calling, may look at Duo and miss features such as group calling.

Duo differentiates itself in two key ways. One, it’s tied to your phone number rather than your Google account, meaning that you don’t need a Google account to use it. Second, Duo is encrypted, so that Google itself can’t see the content of your conversations.

Despite its simplicity, Duo does have one feature that could be particularly useful for video calls on the go: If the person calling you is on your contacts list, Duo’s “Knock Knock” feature gives you a video preview of who’s on the other side. (Think of it as being able to peek through the peephole on a door.) This can be disabled, but it’s useful if you get a call and want some intel about who’s on the other side and the kind of mood they’re in. Free, for iOS and Android.

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Google’s smart bathroom will track your health

Assessing one’s health is just a bathroom away.
Image Source: DailyMail

Google’s smart bathroom patent, which was published last July, hints that bathrooms of the future can be capable of doing health checks for the body’s cardiovascular, endocrine, nervous and integumentary systems.
The tech giant wants to make use of “noninvasive” sensors that will be embedded into fixtures. Google’s smart bathroom concept includes a floor mat that can tell a person’s heart rate, self-heating and -cleaning toilet seats that take blood pressure and bowel movement data, and an ultrasonic bathtub that checks blood flow and tissue movement via echocardiography. There will also be a skin color-sensing mirror that can also determine anomalous sizes of organs and limbs, and other health-tracking radars that can transmit data to user’s devices.
 
Google’s technology is advantageous for it can provide the user and his or her doctors with health data gathered on a daily basis, exceeding what can be done or obtained during monthly checkups.
It could be a good move for Google if it decides to make this smart bathroom come to life. The company has been trying to solidify its position in the smart home market, recently launching the Google Home voice-controlled assistant that rivaled Amazon’s Alexa, and one of its engineers making a DIY smart bathroom mirror. With health-monitoring developed, it could gain an upper hand even in the smart home’s bathroom segment.

Google is not the only the company recognizing the boom of smart bathroom fixtures. China manufacturers have been making their sensor-equipped smart toilets that can clean users automatically and soothe via water massage. With smarter bathroom technologies being developed, the industry could grow even more.

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What is Alphabet ... in 2 minutes

In case you missed it, Google is now Alphabet, Alphabet owns Google, and Google has a new CEO, who reports to the old CEO.

Give us two minutes, and we'll explain.
1) Google restructured its business. It spun out its wacky projects like driverless cars and anti-aging research into separate companies. Alphabet is now the parent company of all of those smaller companies, one of which is Google.
2) Don't worry, you won't notice any changes ... at least for now. At its most basic level, Google just renamed itself "Alphabet" and created a subsidiary business called "Google." The new Google will continue as the consumer-facing brand and will run all the products you've heard of, including search, Android, YouTube, Maps and Google Apps.

3) Don't expect to hear much from Alphabet (GOOGL, Tech30) itself. It's a holding company, with no consumer products of its own. Alphabet doesn't own the rights to Alphabet.com. Its website is abc.xyz, and it's as bare-bones as they come.
4) Alphabet is organized like Warren Buffett's Berkshire Hathaway (BRKA). Each business, including Google, will have its own CEO. They will all report to Alphabet CEO (former Google chief) Larry Page, who has been a longtime admirer of Buffett's managing style.
5) Page and fellow Google co-founder Sergey Brin are giving up their reins at Google to take over Alphabet. Page will be CEO and Brin will be president of Alphabet.
6) The new CEO of Google is Sundar Pichai. He's a well-liked executive who's had a meteoric rise since he joined Google in 2004. He led the Google Toolbar team, then Chrome. He was then given control of Android and eventually every Google product not named YouTube. As CEO, he'll oversee YouTube too, although Susan Wojcicki will remain YouTube's chief executive.
Related: Who is Sundar Pichai?
7) Alphabet's structure is designed to give each separate business more independence and freedom to grow. In a memo to investors, Page said he wants to make the company "cleaner and more accountable." Since smart home company Nest, the experimental Google X, and age-fighting Calico don't really have much to do with Google's core search business, spinning them off makes a good deal of sense.
8) Google hired a big-time chief financial officer from Wall Street a few months ago. Ruth Porat, now the CFO of Alphabet, had said that she wanted to add more transparency to Google's business. Alphabet's new structure will give investors a better understanding of how well each of Google's former "side projects" (now Alphabet subsidiaries) are performing, as well as more clarity about Google's core business.
9) The Alphabet move was done in part to appease investors. Shareholders had been growing increasingly anxious about Google's funding of "moonshot" investments that may never pay off. Since 90% of Google's sales came from advertising, Page was criticized for not devoting more of his time to search. Now, Google will be a separately run company without its CEO worrying about those "side projects."
10) Investors are pleased: Alphabet shares are up 6% since the announcement.

Source : http://money.cnn.com/2015/08/11/technology/alphabet-in-two-minutes/index.html?source=linkedin

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Google introduces Maps App Android smartphones, tablets

Google has introduces Maps app for Android smartphones and tablets. It is also coming soon to iPhone and iPad. It’s a new mapping experience that makes exploring the world and getting to the places that matter to you a lot faster and easier.  The app is gradually rolling out globally in Google Play and will be available soon in the App Store. The new Google Maps for mobile builds on the design we released for iPhone last December and improves on it with a few useful search and navigation features. Google said that it is the first dedicated app for Android tablets and iPads. “We’re also retiring Latitude and are making some changes to offline and My Maps” it said in a blog.  One important change the user should know about is that Latitude and check-ins are no longer part of the new Google Maps app, and will be retired from older versions on August 9.

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Uttarakhand floods: Google app ‘Person Finder’ to help search missing people

With approximately1 4,000 people still reportedly missing  and nearly  60,000 waiting to be evacuated from many Uttrakhand regions devastated by floods, internet company Google has launched Person Finder, an application which can provide information and help find people stranded in flood ravaged areas of the Himalayan province.   The Himalayan tsunami has so far claimed 150 lives while the unofficial sources put the figure much higher. "Since last week, the state of Uttarakhand in India has been grappling with severe floods. Given that most of these areas in the state are highly inaccessible with intermittent communication, Google Crisis team bring you the Person Finder," said Jayanth Mysore, Google APAC Senior Product Manager in a blogpost. The app is available in Hindi and English and could be accessed URL - google.org/personfinder/2013-uttrakhand-floods. According to the blogpost the data entered into the app can be accessed by anyone which can help the media agaencies, NGOs and non-governmental agencies. They can contribute to the database and receive updates by using the Person Finder API based on the PFIF open standard. Helicopters and personnel from Army, Air Force, NDRF, the Sashastra Sena Bal and Uttarakhand government are carrying out the search, rescue and relief operations. The army has deployed 8,100 soldiers including medical teams, engineer task forces and signal detachment, according to the Defence Ministry. Ten specialised mountaineering teams of the Army were also pressed into service in the Kedarnath-Soumang area. The official death toll still stood at 150 but Chief Minister Vijay Bahuguna said the casualties could run into several hundreds which will be known only when areas become accessible and water recedes. Source:Internet

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The top ten handiest Android apps for students in their final school years or those heading to college

The top ten handiest Android apps for students in their final school years or those heading to college are:

1 - My Class Schedule app - This is a free software that allows students to organize their schedules, class time-table, homework and exams. Its automatic mute feature is especially ideal for college students. 

2 -MyHomework Student Planner – It allows you to link your website with the app and also synchronises homework, reminders for late as well as upcoming homework widgets.

3- The Trello app – This is good for school and college group projects as it allows you to systematically organise projects, delegate work. It allows others to add their inputs and comments too.

4- Wolfram|Alpha|Alpha – This is a computational knowledge engine as it brings expert knowledge and instant computing in minutes by calculating accurate answers.

5- The Merriam Webster dictionary- This app comes with voice search and helps you find synonyms, antonyms, example sentences and more. This is really handy as it does not require internet.

6-The LectureNotes – This is really useful for students as they can make notes using their finger or stylus. One can choose the notebook’s width, height, colour, paper pattern, drawing tools.

7- Spark Notes – This app brings Shakespeare, poetry, philosophy, drama and short stories all in your palms.

8- Learning the Periodic Table - This helps you learn the periodic table even on the go and utilise the commuting time doing something fruitful.

9- The Kindle app – This app allows students to pick from the list of free books or even shop for books as it comes with a built-in dictionary, Wikipedia and Google.

10- The Pocket app – This is also known as Read It Later as it allows the page for offline reading. It links it to your phone, tablet or computer for you to view it any time. 

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Microjobbing by SATNAV smartphone

A novel smartphone app, already being used to monitor hundreds of railway stations in Germany, can earn you money as you go about your normal day.
The AppJobber phone app benefits from many people being online all the time as they move around their cities. Worldwide, 13% of all Internet traffic is to mobile phones and tablets.
With all these phones available and their locations pinpointed by satnav, Tobias Klug and Robert Lokaiczyk had the idea of a service doing ‘microjobs’ via crowdsourcing.

Tobias Klug and Robert Lokaiczyk

“Why not distribute small jobs to all these phones and get people out there to do them in return for a small payment? It’s cheaper than companies sending out their own employees and in the end often faster and more flexible,” says Dr Lokaiczyk.
Initially a spin-off from the Technical University of Darmstadt in Germany, their start-up company “wer denkt was” (“who thinks what”) is now supported by the ESA Business Incubation Centre Darmstadt, one of seven centres across Europe.

Dresden Main Station

“We now have clients like Deutsche Bahn who would like to know when one of their ticket machines is out of order, a signboard is not working, a station light has failed or something has been vandalised,” says Dr Krug, CEO.
“This can easily be resolved by anyone with a smartphone passing the stations – just take a picture, write a few words and send it in. The images are location-tagged precisely with satellite navigation data. And the one doing the microjob gets paid a few euros.”
For their hundreds of car and bike rental facilities, Deutsche Bahn now use AppJobber for quality checks like “Pressure ok on bikes?” and “Is rental station clean and ready to use?”
“This saves them time and money, and reduces the company’s carbon footprint by cutting travel.”
The company agrees with their 100-plus clients on which jobs are distributed to the registered users’ smartphones on AppJobber.

Jobs reported by photos

Each jobs typically takes only a few minutes and is rewarded by at least one or two euros. Bigger jobs are paid more – all in proportion to the time they take to do.
“We also have many jobs on traffic signs and road conditions. Here, our users take pictures of speed limits, parking spaces, one-way roads, lorry restrictions and new roads.”
Advertised on maps, users can easily see jobs in their vicinity, each presented with a short description, what is required and the amount offered. Typically, a couple of pictures are required along with a completed questionnaire.
Microjobs reduce greenhouse gases
AppJobber is now available in English, German and Italian for smartphones with Android and Apple’s iOS operating systems, serving as the platform to advertise all the microjobs to registered users. The app has already been downloaded more than 100 000 times.

Source:Internet

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Google’s Hindi transliteration keyboard for Android

How many of smartphone users out there have managed to write hindi words on your Android smartphones? Very few that too using some workarounds. But Google’s launch of Hindi keyboard as well English to Hindi transliteration keyboard has made it extremely easy for anyone to type text in Hindi language.
Check out the screenshots that I took a few minutes back while typing on my Nexus 4 Android phone.

“Google Hindi Input” app allows users to have a full hindi keyboard where users can use to type hindi text.
But, the real highlight of the app is its transliteration feature, where users can actually type the Hindi word in English and the app will transliterate it into a Hindi word. So, the beauty is that you can use the same keyboard to type hindi as well as English (see the screenshot above). One thing that you should first know of – Hindi typing will only work if the app already includes support for Devanagari characters.
The Google Hindi Input app is compatible with any Android smartphone or tablet running on Android 2.2 (Froyo) or above.

Here are the Features and working of Google Hindi input App

Hindi transliteration Typing

• Toggle the button “a->?” on English keyboard to turn on/off transliteration mode.
• In the transliteration mode, you can type Hindi word in English characters and the app will convert them to Hindi.
• For example, type “hindi” and then you will get the word ????? from a list.

Hindi keyboard

• Toggle the globe button to switch between English and Hindi keyboard
• Consonants are alphabetically ordered into 2 pages. Press the paging button “1/2” “2/2” to navigate between pages. Long press the character key to select various forms in the popup.

If you want to return to normal English typing turn off the transliteration mode on English keyboard.

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Now, books added to Google Play in India

Google has added books to Google Play for people in India which offer thousands of Indian titles from new releases to classics.
The books include great Indian authors such as Amish Tripathi, Devdutt Pattanaik and APJ Abdul Kalam, plus international bestsellers from the world’s largest ebookstore.
Google is offering many titles and many ways to access and read them, so that one’s library is literally at one’s fingertips no matter where one is.
The user will be able to discover, purchase and read books on Android phones and tablets, computer where one can purchase and read books on the Google Play store and read in your web browser and iPhones and iPads where one can read books in the Google Play Books app.
“You can choose from great titles from award-winning and diverse publishing houses at launch, not to mention the international publishers Google works with around the world”, it said.

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Google Chrome, Apps, Android: Making life easier for blinds low-vision user

So what if you a blind or have a poor vision, the world around you is not lost completely and you can still compete with most of the Tec savvy people. Chrome OS now supports a high-quality text-to-speech voice (starting with U.S. English). We’ve also made spoken feedback, along with screen magnification and high-contrast mode available out-of-the-box to make Chromebook and Chromebox setup easier for users with accessibility needs. Not only this, these people can access their mails with Gmail now having a consistent navigation interface, backed by HTML5 ARIA, which enables blind and low-vision users to effectively navigate using a set of keyboard commands. “It’s now much easier to access content in your Google Drive using a keyboard—for example, you can navigate a list of files with just the arrow keys. In Docs, you can access features using the keyboard, with a new way to search menu and toolbar options. New keyboard shortcuts and verbalization improvements also make it easier to use Docs, Sheets and Slides with a screenreader” Google said in a blog. The latest stable version of Chrome, released last week, includes support for the Web Search API, which developers can use to integrate speech recognition capabilities into their apps. At CSUN, our friends from Bookshare demonstrated how they use this new functionality to deliver ReadNow—a fully integrated ebook reader for users with print disabilities. Google has also released a new Help Center Guide specifically for blind and low-vision users to ease the transition to using Google Apps. It added Braille support to Android 4.1; since then, Braille support has been expanded on Google Drive for Android, making it easier to read and edit your documents. You can also use Talkback with Docs and Sheets to edit on the go. With Gesture Mode in Android 4.1, one can reliably navigate the UI using touch and swipe gestures in combination with speech output. The latest release of TalkBack (available on Play soon) includes several highly-requested features like structured browsing of web content and the ability to easily suspend/resume TalkBack via an easy-to-use radial menu.

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WebTRC-Next big opportunity for Mobile Operators

WebRTC (Web Real-Time Communication) is an API definition being drafted by the World Wide Web Consortium (W3C) to enable browser to browser applications for voice calling, video chat and P2P file sharing without plugins.

A project known as WebRTC, for browser based realtime communication, was open sourced by Google.This has been followed by on going work to standardise the relevant protocols in the IETF and browser APIs in the W3C.
The W3C draft of WebRTC is a work in progress with advanced implementations in the Chrome and Firefox browsers. The API is based on preliminary work done in the WHATWG. It was referred as the ConnectionPeer API, and a pre standards concept implementation was created at Ericsson Labs). The Web Real-Time Communications Working Group expects this specification to evolve significantly based on:

• The outcomes of ongoing exchanges in the companion RTCWEB group at IETF to define the set of protocols that, together with this document, will enable real-time communications in Web browsers.
• Privacy issues that arise when exposing local capabilities and local streams.
• Technical discussions within the group, on implementing data channels in particular.
• Experience gained through early experimentations.
• Feedback received from other groups and individuals.

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Easily Capture Screenshots in Google Earth for Android

The Google Earth app for Android includes a handy screen capture feature that allows you to capture and share screenshot images of the current view inside Earth with a click. You may capture screenshots of aerial imagery as well as 3D buildings.
You may wonder why would anyone need this when Android itself include screen-capture capabilities? Well, compare these two images.

This screenshot was captured using Google Earth – clutter free image.

This screenshot of Google Earth was captured with Android

The big advantage with Google Earth’s built-in screen capture feature is that it adds none of the on-screen clutter to your screenshot.

How to take Screenshots in Google Earth

To get started, navigate to any location inside Google Earth and click the More menu in the upper-right corner. Now choose the Share option from the drop-down and Google Earth will automatically take a screenshot image of the current view.
You can then directly save that screenshot to Dropbox, Gmail, Facebook or any other application that is part of the system-wide Share menu.

The screen-capture feature is not available inside the Google Maps app for Android but you can use another app called Skitch to capture clean screenshots of your Google Maps.
Open the Skitch app and choose Draw on Map. Now search for a location on Google Maps and tap the “tick” symbol to save a screenshot of the current view.


Source:Internet

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2013 – Think Different

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Think Different

2013 will be the fifth year of economic crises in a row in western economies. It creates problems to be profitable on the short term. Downsizing and cost cutting are essential. But in the long run you cannot survive on doing the same things in a cheaper way. 2013 will therefore be a perfect year for a disruptive shift in mindset in your company.
There are no old roads to new directions. You should be looking for disruptive ways to really innovate your company. Be inspired by the famous words of the historical Apple campaign of 1997: Think Different.
Here’s to the crazy ones. The misfits. The rebels. The troublemakers. The round pegs in the square holes. The ones who see things differently. They’re not fond of rules. And they have no respect for the status quo. You can quote them, disagree with them, glorify or vilify them. About the only thing you can’t do is ignore them. Because they change things. They push the human race forward. While some may see them as the crazy ones, we see genius. Because the people who are crazy enough to think they can change the world, are the ones who do.
Start 2013 creating mental space for change using seven provoking questions within your company.

1. What would we do if our present business model would be forbidden?
2. What’s the ultimate dream of our customers?
3. What would we do if we had unlimited access to money and resources?
4. What would we do if we would start our company all over again?
5. What would Google do?
6. What would LinkedIn thought leader Richard Branson do?
7. What would my favorite comic hero from my childhood do?

In 2013 the urgency will be high. It will be the ideal moment to free the rebels in your organization (again). As innovator, be brave and be the change yourself.

image credit: apple.com
source:Internet

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iWatch: Apple 'secretly developing smart watch with a touch screen'

The Apple iWatch

Apple is said to be secretly developing a smart watch with a touch screen that can be used to text, send emails and link to Facebook.
Dubbed the iWatch, the device is said to have a 1.5in screen that can communicate with other devices such as the tech giant’s iPhone.
Apple manufactures its products in China and sources there said the company was working with a computer chip maker.
If the rumours are true the watch is likely to be the must-have device of 2013 among a range of amazing gadgets.
Google is also set to release its Google Glass, a pair of spectacles that users can talk to in order to take pictures, send a text, use Google maps and make videos.
Another smart watch is also in development.
Called Pebble, the watch can be used by runners and cyclists to track their training while also changing songs. Messages and emails will also pop up on the screen.

Source:Internet

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Protecting Your New Smartphone (10 tips to avoiding cellphone hackers and identity thieves)

After Santa delivers that prized holiday must-have to you or a loved one — a smartphone — expect trouble to come calling. As a mini-computer that can store sensitive data, it will be a gold mine of opportunity for identity thieves.

But that's not the only reason why smartphones are increasingly targeted for hacking. Unlike traditional computers, they're always with you, and messages that arrive on them are more trusted than traditional email and landline phone calls. Studies indicate that smartphone owners are three times more likely to fall for identity-stealing "phishing" scams than those sent to a PC or Mac.And use of smartphone security software remains rare.

Lock your smartphone screen with a PIN — only one in three users does this. — Volker Moehrke/Corbis

Already, one in 14 smartphone owners has been a victim of ID theft — a 30 percent higher rate than the general public, according to a 2012 study by fraud tracker Javelin Strategy & Research.
With those numbers expected to jump in the new year, here are 10 ways to protect your new (or already used) smartphone.
1. If you're still shopping, know that experts consider the iPhone and Windows Phone 7 to have the most secure operating systems. Next comes BlackBerry, with Android having the least secure operating system.
2. Read the owner's manual to understand the phone's features, including default settings. Turn off or disable unnecessary features to minimize the number of potential entryways that hackers can use, suggests the FBI.
3. If your phone offers encryption, use it to protect stored data in case of loss or theft.
4. Lock its screen with a PIN — only one in three smartphone users does this. Don't use your birthdate or birth year, or any of these most commonly used (and hackable) PINS: 1234, 0000, 2580 (a top-to-bottom keypad sequence), 1111, 5555, 5683 (which spells "love"), 0852 (a bottom-to-top sequence), 2222, 1212 and 1998.
5. An app that will track and report the location of your phone is useful and may help police recover it if it's stolen. Apple's iPhone has the "Find My iPhone" app built in, but you need to activate it; apps such as "Where's My Droid" are available for Android devices.
6. Ask your wireless carrier how to remotely erase stored data if your phone is lost or stolen. But first, store sensitive data on a Google or iCloud account, and regularly perform backups by plugging your phone into your computer.
7. Consider security software recommended by your carrier or phone manufacturer. Free products such as Lookout Mobile Security are available for Apple, Android, Windows and BlackBerry phones.
8. Before installing apps, read their reviews — and then buy only from well-known vendors such as Google or Apple. Always read the "permissions" before downloading apps and avoid those that — for reasons that don't seem to make sense — want permission to make phone calls, connect to the Internet or reveal your identity and location.
9. If selling or trading in an old smartphone, reset it to factory default to avoid leaving any personal data on the device.
10. Treat your smartphone as you would any computer. That means not opening questionable links in emails or text messages, not replying to unsolicited requests for personal information such as your Social Security or bank account numbers — no matter what Caller ID shows — and not using your smartphone to access sensitive data on a public wi-fi network.
Sid Kirchheimer is the author of Scam-Proof Your Life, published by AARP Books/Sterling.

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Android Completely Owns The Chinese Smartphone Market

Android's share of the Chinese smartphone market ended the third quarter at 90 percent.
According to Analysys International, Android's share is up from 83 percent a quarter prior and 58 percent a year ago.
With the Chinese market now accounting for a quarter of global smartphone shipments, Android's dominance there is driving its widening lead in global smartphone platform market share.
In China, Android's gain has mostly come at the expense of Symbian, Nokia's antiquated platform that will eventually disappear as Nokia shifts its product offerings on to Windows Phone.
Interestingly, despite its dominance, Google only offers limited support for Google Play in China and Android apps are usually downloaded in third-party app markets.
Apple, meanwhile, has never really gained traction after a weak market entry on only one of the country's major providers. The iPhone 5 will be available on two carriers, but as of now will not be distributed by the largest carrier, China Mobile. Additionally, while many Chinese consumers may fawn over iPhones, they are simply out of reach financially for a substantial part of the market.    

Read more: http://www.businessinsider.com/chart-of-the-day-smartphones-in-china-2012-12#ixzz2F8j5ZCAJ

 

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The smartphone-like car mirror

(Credit: CNET)

This one was just a matter of time.
I've not yet performed a hands-on test on the clumsily named CTMD43 from Intraphex, but it places a 4.3-inch smartphone-like touch-screen on the left half of the mirror; it fades away when you don't need it for full-mirror use. You can see it in action here; as of this writing it was not posted to the Intraphex site yet.
When it's on, you see a touch- and voice-controlled nav system that is largely the same as in some current Subaru cars: functional, if not state of the art. It will also show the optional rearview camera when you're in reverse.
If you have a hot spot in the car, the mirror will connect to it, allowing Google search for places to navigate to.
At $900, the list price is steep, so shop for a deep discount. Shops will be the main point of purchase for this mirror, but you know how things get out for sale on the Internet, and I bet it isn't too hard to install.

Source:Internet

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