A patent filing for a function that would monitor and censor words in text messages –sent or received has been approved for Cupertino based Apple.
The patent itself is not new; it has been filed for more than two years ago (back in 2008) as part of Apple’s plans to turn the iPhone into a completely ‘porn-free’ platform. Some would regard Apple’s actions as double standards since the crackdown on adult oriented content in applications seem to be limited only to those submitted by un-established brands.
Getting back on topic, sexting has become a serious issue for many minors and a feature such as Apple’s newly approved patent would certainly attract a lot of parents. For those not familiar with the term, sexting is when text messaging or texting is used as a channel or medium for communicating using terms that are considered sexual in a very malicious manner.
While monitoring text messaging may seem like a simple enough feature to implement, the fact is that such as function comes with plenty of ramifications. First off, text messaging is something that should be handled by the phone manufacturer –not the OS developer as the function is a core feature of a handset. In the case of Apple, this is simplified as they control both the iOS and the iPhone.
However, another more important factor to consider is the very nature of the feature –it monitors the content of the text messages being sent and received. While a simple auto-detection script may seem like a relatively harmless thing, it can be modified or altered to be used as a way to log the content text messages sent by individuals.
For now, the technology has just been approved and while Apple has yet to actually come up with a real function that makes use of the patent, there are already rumors that it may be present in the next Apple iPhone.
Posts Tagged ‘Apple-iPhone’
Apple’s Anti-Sexting Patent Approved
Thursday, October 14th, 2010Android Getting Gaming Boost from EA
Friday, September 17th, 2010
Electronic Arts is often considered as the big, bad, mighty gaming corporation that will assimilate every single independent gaming company out there. While that is true on certain accounts, the company is still all about bringing games to more people, and with the growing number of people focusing on mobile app gaming, EA has been pretty active in the app industry.
Obviously, like many other gaming companies, EA’s first steps were to release or publish titles for the Apple iTunes market –further improving the already impressive lineup that the Apple platform has. However, as recent updates has shown that the Android is quickly gaining ground, it has become more and more important for developers to be able to release games and titles for the Android platform as well.
EA is among those companies. According to various sources, EA’s CFA Eric Brown has confirmed that the Android platform is one area that EA cannot afford to ignore. They see the trend of the industry and they plan to take advantage of it.
This move is also heavily pushed forward by the fact that plenty of new high end smart phones are being released that uses the Android operating system. While Apple’s iOS is stuck with the technology used on the iPhone 4, companies such as Samsung, Motorola and HTC are pushing the hardware limits on Android phones.
Better processors, longer battery life and of course, better graphics handling are helping make mobile gaming much more intensive experience. While mobile gaming would never match up to the latest in console titles, having these improvements still help a lot. After all, having better hardware is a big advantage that EA can play around with –they can release new games and also port existing titles of games for older consoles to the mobile phone.
System Update Reports: Apple’s iOS and the Google Android
Tuesday, September 7th, 2010If there is one other thing that is important with smart phones aside from the hardware specifications, it is the operating system that is being used. There is no doubt that the Google made, open source Android and the famous Apple iOS are among the most often used systems in the industry –which makes any system news about these two platforms quite important.
Apple has recently announced the iOS 4.1 update and have already confirmed that the patch will be available for download this coming Wednesday, September 8. The big update from 4.0 to 4.1 will be bringing along new features and some fixes. While Apple has not gone into detail as to what minor issues will be fixed, they have confirmed that the Apple Game Center will now be available as well as better support for HD videos (such as uploading functions) and HDR photography as well.
UK based network operator O2 has confirmed a couple of major announcements –both of which concerns the Android operating system. The first is a quick announcement that the 2.2 update for the HTC Desire will not be pushing through at the moment. According to official reports, the update has already been uploaded for a while before the first reports of problems reached O2. In order to prevent further problems, the update has been put on hold until a solution is found for both the patched and those that have been affected by it.
O2’s other announcement has better news; the Dell Streak will be getting an update to version 2.1 Éclair. For those who are using the Android with a 5 inch capacitive touch screen display, the older 1.6 Donut does provide a stable user interface, though the additional features of the 2.1 update would certainly be good. At the very least, it places the Streak on the path to a better 2.2 Froyo update.
Apple to Use NFC Technology
Wednesday, August 18th, 2010
We all know that Apple has acquired NFC technology earlier this year, but to hear that they are actually going to slap it into the functions of an upcoming smart phone is certainly news to the ears.
On one part, we are quite excited. Not only will Apple provide an impressive new convenience for everyone, but they are also going to be setting a new standard for other mobile phones to follow.
After all, when it comes to being able to unlock the car door with a phone or by simply waving a handset over a cash register to pay for the groceries would certainly be a great convenience. No more need to fiddle around with the wallet looking for a credit card or jangling around a keychain looking for one specific key.
This is the power of near field communications technology and while its current applications are minimal, we can expect that the use of NFC will grow in the coming years. The question is, is Apple on the right track?
The answer is a lot harder than one thinks. Despite the fact that the technology is truly convenient, it is also very dangerous as many people will be vulnerable to wireless attacks. The fact is that physical keys have a very important security feature; you need to be able to hold it in your hands. Wireless technology does not require that. And it is far easier to duplicate a wireless signal than to make an exact replica of a key just by sight.
It will be a while before Apple is able to sort out the issues and release the iPhone 5. Considering that it was only just a while back that the iPhone 4 got launch, it will be quite some time before we see NFC technology on a smart phone, and until then, all eyes will be on Apple.
This Week in Tech: Mobile Phone Technology of Today
Friday, August 6th, 2010
Smart phones are the new “big” technology that people are heavily investing on. Sure, when it comes to sheer power, nothing beats some of the latest desktop hardware that is available commercially. But if we are to actually focus on a device that is truly influential in our society, then there is no stronger tool than the mobile phone.
The recent advancements in battery, wireless and communications technology has improved smart phones to a point where they are now indispensible tools that people rely on. Quick errands are now mapped on GPS devices right before people step out of the door. Checking live updates, push email and other content have become a daily part of people’s routines. Being able to Tweet or update Facebook instantly is such as big part in the lives of many teenagers and even adults.
Recently, Research in Motion has been able to develop a new encryption technology that is so good that BlackBerry devices have been banned from the United Arab Emirates (UAE). Apparently, the government does not like people keeping secrets, and the UAE is not the only government concerned with the issue. In any case, this is a major precedent in the factors and terms that companies consider when choosing which technology to develop.
It has been confirmed that Windows Phone 7 is indeed coming out this October in the UK first, a full month ahead of the US launch slated in November. Kevin Turner of Microsoft has not fully explained why the UK is getting first dibs, but we certainly are not going to complain about that.
Lastly, it has been announced that Google has finally reached a major milestone: surpassing the Apple iPhone in terms of overall market share. While some might argue that the vast range of Android devices has helped, one cannot deny that Google’s strategy worked (and it has drawbacks of its own, such as severe fragmentation).
Is Apple Really Making a Smaller iPhone?
Tuesday, July 13th, 2010
The iPhone 4 was released just a couple of weeks back and in just a short span of time, the world was witness to how powerful and iconic the Apple branding has become. Despite many reports of technical issues, yellow blobs on the screen, dropped calls and other concerns, more than 1.7 million individuals purchased an iPhone 4 within the first 3 days of sales.
Indeed, anything that Apple adds an iBrand into becomes something akin to a merchandising miracle. But is this going to be the case with an upcoming Apple device? The question is actually a lot harder to answer simply because of the fact that Apple has not actually specified any details about that 3cm x 3cm LCD touch screen that was leaked in images.
Confirmations aside, one cannot help but speculate what Apple will (or would) do with such a touch screen, if they really are going to use it for a new product.
One favorite speculation that has been spreading is that Apple might be considering delving into the wristwatch side of the industry by making the first iPhone-slash-watch gadget. The iWatch, as speculative fans have coined it, is basically a really small iPod Touch with a wrist strap attached to it. There are even a few rendered concepts on how the gadget may look like –enough to make many folks buy the idea.
But as cool as this may be (especially for anyone with spy movie fantasies), the phone watch is quite the unlikely product: it does not fit in with the iPhone and iPad combination that Apple trying to get people to buy into.
But will they make a phone with it? Well, as much as it would be interesting to see an iPod Shuffle with a touch screen and is able to make and receive calls, it is more likely that they would use it as part of a bigger devices –or as an add-on peripheral to an existing gadget.
Android Froyo is Finally Out
Sunday, June 27th, 2010
Hot on the heels of the Apple iPhone 4 release, Google is also launching the full, open sourced Android 2.2 Froyo to many of their users.
Of course, not all handsets can get the update. According to developers, the update to the latest version of the Android may be complete, but compatibility issues with various handsets will limit how many users can actually use the latest version of the operating system.
And yes, “open sourced” is the big keyword here which means that many developers will have their knuckles cracking away at all the new features and capabilities that have been opened up. Despite the fact that the SDK for the new Android OS has already been released earlier, this latest announcement will certainly bring more app makers working on new Android applications.
This means that owners of Android handsets will certainly have plenty of new app and features to look forward to. According to Google, they plan to start standardizing the Android experience and once version 3.0 Gingerbread comes out, the number of updates will start decreasing in favor of cross system patches.
Just recently, Adobe announced that their Flash Player version 10.1 update for the Android operating system is already available. However, since the player required an installation of Android 2.2 Froyo, only the Nexus One was able to make use of the Flash support. With the release of Android 2.2 for general users, expect to see more people able to access Flash content on their smart phones.
In the meanwhile, owners of high end Android smart phones are still awaiting the individual by-manufacturer updates for version 2.1 to update to version 2.2. Sony Ericsson’s XPERIA X10 owners on the other hand, have a long wait ahead of them as the device is only using 1.6 Donut. The X10 will be update to version 2.1 later this year while a 2.2 update is still not yet confirmed.
Apple Says White iPhone 4G is Challenging to Make
Friday, June 25th, 2010
If you are one of the unlucky guys who have been tasked by wives, girlfriends or mothers to buy them a white iPhone on launch, you will have to ask them to wait a while longer. Apparently, the white colored iPhone 4Gs are lagging behind their sleek black counterparts in the production process. This means that it will take them longer to leave the factory to go home with you. Or so Apple says:
“White models of Apple’s new iPhone 4 have proven more challenging to manufacture than expected, and as a result they will not be available until the second half of July. The availability of the more popular iPhone 4 black models is not affected.”
Now, it is either the white case is using a different finish than the black version or it is simply Apple’s way of prolonging the iPhone 4G’s profit spike. According to the white device’s pre-order page, it is just not possible to reserve one now. So if you simply cannot wait, you can go for a black iPhone 4 and risk being tempted to buy a second unit for vanity’s sake. Otherwise, you may have to make do with your iPhone 3G S for a little while longer.
If you can wait then you will be one of the people making Apple a bit richer when the time comes that they are ready to release the product. Just be sure to be ready if the Cupertino-based mobile product giant decides to release the handsets with a premium price tag. Remember what happened to the iPhone 3G when a white variant was launched in limited quantities? The iPhone 4G may just be a déjà vu of that.
At any rate, it is not as if this marketing stint was not expected. Apple has been known to go for the theatrical when it comes to their devices. Don’t believe it? Just back track to how Apple handled a Gizmodo journalist when they blogged about a “misplaced” iPhone prototype.
Flash Coming to a Whole Range of Mobile Platforms
Thursday, June 24th, 2010
According to Steve Jobs, millions of people have bought his products even though they do not support Flash. He considers this as a testament for supporting his argument that Flash is no longer needed. He also seems to forget that he could removed phone call capabilities, text messaging and even taken out the camera and still would have sold millions of the iPad and the iPhone. This is not about Flash at all, but just how powerful the Apple branding is.
For a real measure of understanding where Flash stands in today’s standards: it is still being used. In fact, it is expected that in the span of a year (or even shorter), there will almost be no smart phones that will not support Flash aside from the Apple iPhone.
The Android is obviously getting Flash support; they clearly made their stand and alliance with the developer pretty early on when the argument between Apple and Adobe was just starting to brew. Microsoft also jumped into Flash bandwagon. While support for Flash will not be present in the very first version of the Windows Phone 7 mobile platform, it is expected to appear in one of the first updates for the OS.
It has also been confirmed that other operating systems will also be getting a compatible version of Adobe’s flash player. Among the systems that have been reported to be getting a flash Player update later on are the MeeGo, Linux Mobile, the Symbian OS, RIM’s BlackBerry OS and the Palm WebOS. The only OS missing from the list is Samsung’s Bada and the Brew though it is likely that the Samsung OS will also be getting a Flash update too.
Adobe has already released a downloadable version of the Flash Player version 10.1 for Google Android Froyo –well ahead of the first Android Froyo updates for other handsets aside from the Nexus One.
Conserving Batteries on Your Android Phone
Wednesday, June 23rd, 2010
When it comes to smart phones, functionality is rarely an issue. There are plenty of things that people can do with smart phones these days, and in the case of Google’s Android operating system (which runs on phones like the Samsung Galaxy S or the Sony Ericsson XPERIA X10 Mini), the phone is always up and running various functions from the moment you turn it on until it runs out of batteries.
In fact, the Android does so many things that it tends to eat up battery charge like there’s no tomorrow –and if you do not manage your power consumption patterns, the charge will definitely not last until tomorrow. Of course, this is an issue that man smart phones face –not just the Android. Apple’s iPhone is notorious for its super low battery life, many user complain that they need to charge the device twice in the course of a single day (and a third time for the handset to make it through the night).
Thankfully, Google has developed the Android to have various settings and options that you can change in order to help conserve batteries.
The biggest tip that experts will tell users is to turn off all the auto-connection functions. From auto-updates to auto-sync, these functions will drain the battery on your Android handset. Getting alerted to Tweets and new emails is nice; unless it is really important having a charged battery and a functional phone is still more practical.
GPS, WiFi, Bluetooth and 3G can be switched off; now here are some settings that many people tend to forget. While these features provide plenty of convenience, nobody really needs them up and running the whole time. So unless you intend to use a map, turn off the GPS.
Lastly, leave the device in a location with good coverage. When there is no signal, a phone will struggle to find one –and thus consume more energy.