IT-Code-News: IT News Head Lines (Techradar) 4/19/2012

Oakley's smart glasses could match Google's Project Glass

Google's Project Glass augmented reality facewear is an exciting technological development, but the futuristic glasses aren't about to be featured in any fashion shows.
Maybe that's why Oakley CEO Colin Baden has chosen to now reveal that the designer sunglasses company has been working on similar technology for some time.
"As an organization, we've been chasing this beast since 1997," Baden said in a published report. "Ultimately, everything happens through your eyes, and the closer we can bring it to your eyes, the quicker the consumer is going to adopt the platform."

Oakley's Plans and patents

Oakley would initially focus on creating heads-up displays for athletes, and from there the technology could be used for military and government purposes as well.
"Obviously, you can think of many applications in the competitive field of sports," Baden said. "That's the halo point of where we would begin, but certainly you can transcend that into a variety of other applications."
Their version of the glasses would function both in tandem with a smartphone and independently. They wouldn't be cheap, but advanced features like voice commands (à la the iPhone 4S's Siri) are a possibility.

Google Glass a familiar sight

Oakley's hasn't exactly shied away from tech glasses in the past. Google's Project Glass has been tentatively compared to Oakley's Thump mp3-compatible sunglasses, and their O ROKR PROs use bluetooth to integrate with music players.
They've also released stylish 3D glasses to offset that sinking feeling moviegoers get from wearing a piece of cardboard on their faces.
And a patent filed by Oakley late last year reveals plans for a "wearable high resolution audio visual interface," and that's only one of 600 patents the company has.
Baden refused to say either way whether these hypotheticals will ever come to fruition, but he did mention that he believes Oakley has one important advantage over Google and other tech companies: style.
Via TechCrunch, 3DRadar.com, Bloomberg

Apple prototypes mini Apple stores within Walmarts

Photographs have surfaced of an Apple store - inside a Walmart - in Arkansas. The pristine display brings Apple's iconic wood counters and product demo units to the notoriously drab Walmart electronics department.
Apple's in-store design has long been a pride point, which glistens like a brushed metal oasis in shopping malls around America. No surprise Apple stores are continuously bustling with teenagers testing out their Facebook pages on Apple's newest Macbook Airs, and parents asking which "iTouch" to buy their children.
Now Walmart wants a part of the frenzy.

Not unlike an Iron Chef in the corner of a McDonalds.
Authorized Apple resellers like Best Buy and Walmart sell their fair share of Apple products, but up until now have typically adopted a strictly utilitarian aesthetic.
Apple Store

But if new pictures of an Apple-section from Arkansas is any indication, Walmart might be on the verge of cleaning up their Apple displays, sooner rather than later.
Apple Store

The store in question is prototyping a new Apple-centric layout. Whether this superior layout will make its way to more stores in the US is yet to be seen, though we have heard this design is nothing new for Australians.
What do you think of the new Apple-centered space - an improvement or a waste of space?

Encyclopaedia Britannica launches subscription iOS app

It was all doom, gloom and sign o the times when the Encyclopaedia Britannica stilled its printing presses for the last time earlier this year, but it's back armed with vast amounts of knowledge and a new smartphone app.
The app is free, but there's a catch of course - £1.99 a month gets you full access to all the facts and figures contained therein. If you don't fancy the subscription, there are some free features (like the first 100 words of every article).
Oh, and for the time being you'll also have to shell out for an iPhone, iPad or iPod Touch (with iOS 4.3 or later) to get the app, although it is coming to other platforms like Android "by the end of the year".

Knowledge is power

It's not just a load of facts in app format, the iOS-based encyclopaedia also comes with interactive features like video and suggestions of related articles that you might want to hop to next.
Ian Grant, MD of Encyclopaedia Britannica UK, said, "This app will provide access to our expertly edited and curated content for millions of people and continue our commitment to education in the mobile age.
"The release of the Britannica app also marks another important step in the transformation of the Britannica business following the cessation of the publishing of the 32-volume print set. The app will significantly add to our existing extensive online and mobile product offerings."

Apple and Samsung CEOs set for patent war peace talks

An end to the seemingly eternal courtroom struggle between Apple and Samsung may finally be on the horizon, following reports that the two companies' top brass are to discuss a settlement.
Apple CEO Tim Cook and his Korean counterpart Gee-Sung Choi will meet in a Mafia-style sit-down in the next 90-days, according to the FOSS Patents website.
The two companies have been at loggerheads for exactly a year since Apple filed patent infringement suits across the world, alleging Samsung's Galaxy gadgets 'blatantly copied' the iPhone and iPad.

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The forthcoming meeting offers the opportunity to draw a line under the suit-counter-suit saga, which has often drawn as much attention as the rivals' smartphone and tablet releases.

Willing to participate

The meeting was requested by California's Judge Lucy Koh and will be overseen by U.S. Magistrate Judge Joseph C. Spero.
A joint statement from Apple and Samsung's representatives told the California court presiding over the suit: "As directed by the Court, Apple and Samsung are both willing to participate in a Magistrate Judge Settlement Conference with Judge Spero as mediator.
"At Apple, the chief executive officer and general counsel are the appropriate decision-makers, and they will represent Apple during the upcoming settlement discussions. At Samsung, the chief executive officer and general counsel are also the appropriate decision-makers, and they will represent Samsung during these settlement discussions."
A settlement, if one can be reached, would allow Apple and Samsung to refocus on the business of making unthinkable amounts of money together.
Samsung supplies Apple with many of the components for its gadgets in a joint economy believed to be worth around $8 billion a year.

Motorola's LapDock could be Google's next ChromeBook

Android certainly doesn't need any help when it comes to the smartphone market, but tablets are another story.
However, a new report predicts that the search giant may be looking to its Motorola acquisition to help on this front.
Google's great white hope may lie in its $12.5 billion acquisition of Motorola -- and in particular, the manufacturer's LapDock accessory, which is capable of converting a smartphone into a notebook computer.

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From LapDock to Google ChromeBook

Motorola's Android-powered Atrix 4G handset slips neatly into the LapDock accessory to convert it into a Linux-powered notebook, but the experience proved awkward and sluggish for many users.
The solution could be Chrome OS, which could breathe new life into Motorola's hardware while giving a much-needed boost to Google's sagging mobile OS.
With ChromeBooks priced around $420, a Google-Motorola tie-up around Chrome OS could see the hardware price plummet, since a required smartphone would handle most of the processing and data connectivity.
Chrome OS requires an Internet connection to bring the browser-based operating system to life, and where better to pull such data than from a user's existing smartphone?
The LapDock/Google ChromeBook is just speculation right now, but this could be a situation where companies and consumers benefit from this union.
Via: Gigaom

Oracle tells jury Google stole Android technology

Oracle attorneys told a federal jury that Google knew as far back as 2005 that it needed to license Java when developing the Android OS.

Google exec's incriminating email presented in court

In an October 2005 email brought out in court, Google senior vice president Andy Rubin was cited as proposing a licensing agreement with Oracle chief executive officer Larry Page.
Evidence was also brought forward showing that as of February 2006 Google was in negotiations for a Java license with Oracle. However, ultimately the deal fell through when Google didn't agree to the terms of the license, Oracle's attorney said.

Oracle's claim 'threatening Java community'?

Oracle is now seeking $1.1 billion in damages as well as a license agreement for Google to continue distributing Android.
"The creators of Java made it free and open, and cheered the launch of Android," a Google spokesperson told TechRadar.
"Oracle's claims not only go beyond copyright and patent law, but also threaten the entire Java community, software developers, and the goal of making systems work together smoothly."
The cheering Google refers to came from Sun Microsystems then-CEO Jonathan Schwartz back in 2007, who praised Android at launch. That same blog post of praise mysteriously vanished after Oracle acquired Sun and became embroiled in the current copyright suit with Google.
The two month long trial between Oracle and Google only just started today, which may finally bring closure to the long-standing patent dispute.

Amazon rife with bestseller knockoffs

A quick search for books on Amazon may yield unexpected results, with numerous copycat titles appearing alongside their legitimate bestseller counterparts.

Obvious fake titles fooling just about everyone

Knockoff titles such as Twilight New Moon, I am the Girl with the Dragon Tattoo, and Thirty-Five Shades of Gray are increasingly common to fool unassuming readers into buying the wrong book.
Some don't even bother to change the title, such as the now removed knockoff Steve Jobs credited to Isaac Worthington, ripping off Walter Isaacson's bestseller.

Self publishing service makes creating knockoffs easy

Shared in common between the knockoffs is Amazon's CreateSpace tool and service. CreateSpace makes it easy for authors to self-publish their books through Amazon and other sites, with proceeds split between the author and Amazon.
Of course, not all CreateSpace books are copycats and scams, but a significant number of those scam books list CreateSpace as their publisher.

Most fake titles removed

When other media outlets approached Amazon about the surge in knockoffs, the retailer removed many of the offending titles.
However, it raises questions about Amazon's screening process, if one exists, and whether steps will be taken to prevent book scams from appearing on Amazon in the future.
With Amazon receiving a cut from CreateSpace published books, it seems the responsibility should fall on Amazon to better monitor its service rather than relying on publishers to react only after copycats are found.
Via: Fortune

Samsung Galaxy Tab 2 10.1 to get quad-core upgrade?

Samsung has reportedly halted production of its latest Galaxy Tab device, in order to equip the tablet with a faster, more powerful quad-core processor.
The Galaxy Tab 2 10.1 was (still is?) scheduled to go on sale in May, touting the same 1GHz dual-core processor as its predecessor.
Netbook News reports that Samsung has decided that's not good enough and that an extra pair of processors need to be added into the mix.
The site speculates that the upgraded model, internally codenamed "Espresso" might feature the Samsung Exynos 4412 quad-core processor.
The chipset, based on ARM architecture, is rumoured to arrive on the Samsung Galaxy S3 smartphone when it launches on May 3.

Delays ahoy?

Whether this strategic change, less than a month before the device was scheduled to go on sale, will affect the planned release date for the Galaxy Tab 2 10.1 is as yet unknown.
The tablet was scheduled to go on sale in the United States on May 13, with a UK launch not far behind.
The device has already been hit by numerous delays, since its announcement at MWC, mainly relating to the implementation of Android Ice Cream Sandwich.
The report also mentions that the forthcoming Galaxy Note 10.1 is also scheduled for the same treatment, but the Galaxy Tab 2 7.0 will keep its dual-core offering.

Anonymous vows to continue attacks on Home Office, GCHQ

The hacking collective known as Anonymous plans to continue its attacks on UK government websites this weekend.
The group says it will once again target the Home Office and the Government Communications Headquarters (GCHQ) cyber security agency, as part of Operation Trial at Home.
The online activism protests the planned extradition treaty between the UK and the United States, which could allow for Brits, like alleged hacker Gary McKinnon, to be sent for trial in the US.

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As a result, Anonymous has been successful, to an extent, in disabling government sites through denial of service (DDoS) attacks over the course of the last two Saturdays.

Who's next?

In response to a 'who's next' query from ZDnet's Thomas Espiner on Twitter, Anonymous UK's 'Winston Smith' brazenly confirmed this Saturday's hit-list.
"What's the next target for attack? Definitely GCHQ, and it's definitely the Home Office," he said.
Anonymous has, once again, served notice of its intentions. Is there any chance the government, which promised greater precautions, can do a better job of heading-off the attacks?

What would Bob do?

With the apparent ease at which Anonymous is able to bring down agency websites around the world, it begs the question, what would the legendary 'stick it to the man' poet Bob Dylan do?
If Subterranean Homesick Blues were to be rewritten for the 21st Century, does that mean the line: "I'm on the pavement thinkin' 'bout the government" would be replaced with "I'm on the laptop takin' down the government."?
Oh the times, they are a-changin'.

Review: Samsung Focus Flash

Introduction

The Samsung Focus Flash is Samsung's entry-level WP7 phone. Available on AT&T, it's possible to get it for free, after two-year commitment. The off contract price is $399.

The Flash is very closely related to its name sharing sibling, the Focus S. The two phones share a lot of similarities, to the point that they're very nearly the same device, save for a few key differences. Instead reviewing features we've already seen in the Focus S, our goal with this Focus Flash review is to point out those key distinctions.
Just like the Focus S (and essentially all current WP7 phones), the Flash has a single core 1.4GHz Snapdragon processor and 512MB of RAM, so it will perform identically to its WP7 brethren. Considering how much cheaper it is, the Flash is a very good value.
Samsung Focus Flash

While its internal hardware is the same, its overall form factor and design is very different. The Flash is much smaller, sporting a 3.7-inch display, though it's still 800x480 and Super AMOLED Plus.
The sacrifices in screen size results in a nice compact device, and Samsung's decision to stick with the Super AMOLED Plus and WVGA resolution makes for an excellent experience.
Samsung Focus Flash

Despite the smaller screen, the Focus Flash weight 116.2g, nearly 6g more than the Focus S. At 116.1 x 58.7 x 11mm, it's also about 2.5mm thicker, but it's still a very compact and relatively lightweight device.
The extra weight and compact size gives the Flash a very solid feel; however, the battery cover can creak slightly when light torque is applied. The cover itself is a rigid piece of plastic with an accent across the middle made to look like brushed metal.
Samsung Focus Flash

The Flash also has a 5MP rear camera with LED flash (a significant step down from the 8MP offering of the Focus S) as well as a VGA quality front facing camera (also a step down from 1.3MP). The Focus Flash does benefit in that its rear camera does not protrude from the back of the phone, protecting the lens from scratches.
The buttons and ports layout is very similar to the Focus S: MicroUSB bottom middle, 3.5mm audio top left, Power/Lock and Camera buttons on the right, and Volume rocker on the left.
The Back, Start, and Search keys are on the face of the phone, under the display. Unlike the S, the Focus Flash has a physical Start button, though Back and Search remain capacitive.
Like its big brother, the Flash has multiple microphones for active noise cancellation. The loud speaker is next to the rear camera lens.
Samsung Focus Flash

Removing the batter cover reveals the SIM slot and 1500mAh battery, nearly the same size found in the Focus S, so battery life is nearly the same. Sadly, there is no MicroSD slot, a disappointment we've had with all WP7 phones.
You're limited to just 8GB of internal storage (only about 6.6GB of which is user accessible). Compared to the Focus S, this is about half, and for many people, this could be a deal breaker.
Samsung Focus Flash

Overall, the Focus Flash makes for a solid smartphone for anyone looking for something on the more compact side. It's arguably the best valued WP7 device available for AT&T, though the Nokia Lumia 900 makes a compelling argument there as well.

Interface, contacts, and messaging

Interface

As a WP7 device, the Samsung Focus Flash's interface is basically identical to most every other WP7 device. Except for the Device Info text in the About section of the Settings, we're certain anyone would be hard pressed to spot any differences whatsoever between the Flash's interface and that of the Focus S.

You get the same "Metro" themed, tile-based UI and system-wide integration Microsoft is striving for in its WP7 line. It was all covered in detail on the Interface page of our Focus S review.

Contacts and calling

As far as the contacts and calling interface is concerned, the Samsung Focus Flash is no different from the Focus S. You can grab those details on the Contacts and calling page of the Focus S review.

Your contact list, social networking buddies, and e-mail contacts are all lumped together in the People Tile. The Flash even has the same smart dialer for making calls.
However, there are two aspects that are slightly different when it comes to making calls.
Firstly, the Focus S has Wide-Band AMR capability, which can help increase audio quality during a call.
The Focus S does not have this feature, though call quality does not seem to suffer much without it.
Samsung Focus Flash

Secondly – and this is slightly more serious – the Focus S appears to have a marginally weaker antenna. In areas with strong coverage, this doesn't make any difference, but if you're ever on the cusp of cell coverage, you'll find the Focus S will maintain a connection a little better than the Focus Flash.
The antenna strength issue is fairly minor and should really only affect people who live in or frequent areas with poor cell coverage.

Messaging

The Samsung Focus Flash offers very nearly the same messaging experience you'd get with the Focus S. The Texting app, Windows Live Messenger, and e-mail apps are exactly the same. Even Facebook chat has the same short labyrinth to navigate before you can use it.

Just like the Focus S, E-mail has a tile that incorporates all of your E-mail accounts, and everything else is taken care of by the Messaging tile.
While the options are exactly the same, the act of inputting and manipulating text is where the experience differs.
For anyone coming from a larger device, like the Focus S, the Focus Flash will pose a bit of a learning curve when it comes to typing. The smaller screen makes it slightly more prone to typing errors.
Samsung Focus Flash

Where the Focus S offers plenty of space to type comfortably in portrait mode, people using the Focus Flash may prefer the added space of typing in landscape mode. Nonetheless, after a week or two, your average texter will adjust well to the keyboard size.
Selecting and highlighting text also gets a bit more complicated due to the smaller screen size. You'll find that your finger obscures even more of the text you're trying to highlight, and fine tuning cursor placements takes some practice.

Internet, camera, and video

Internet

Even with its lower price tag, the Samsung Focus Flash is still a 4G HSPA+ device, meaning it's capable of up to 21Mbps download speeds; however, our main complaint is against AT&T's network.

As with all of AT&T's HSPA+ devices, 4G speeds just aren't realistically achievable where we've been testing – which is throughout most of the San Francisco Bay Area.
In all of our speed tests, we had only one result in excess of 4Mbps, and an average of 1.8Mbps.
1.8Mbps is still a decent result when it comes to basic web browsing, but don't expect to do much video streaming.
Samsung Focus Flash

Web browsing, search, and navigation are exactly as they are in the Focus S.
We're still very happy with the Internet Explorer browser, the integrated Bing search features are just as effective, and navigation still has a lot of room for improvement.

Camera

Apart from the screen size, the camera is one of the biggest differences between the Samsung Focus Flash and the Focus S.
Compared to the Focus S' top tier 8MP camera module, the 5MP sensor found in the Flash may seem a little dinky.
Despite the weaker specs, the Focus Flash can still take a decent picture, high enough quality for use as a text message or uploading to your Facebook account, which is the primary use for a smartphone camera anyway.
Samsung Focus Flash

Side-by-side, the Flash's photos do pale a bit in comparison to the Focus S' photos. Overall, the Flash's photos don't come out quite as crisp and the color temperature tends to lean on the cooler side.
Going into the camera settings reveals even more differences between the two models. The Focus S has a handful of extra options, such as additional Image Effects, Anti-shaking, and Wide Dynamic Range.
Both cameras have trouble performing well in low light, but where the Focus S would seem to wash out details with its flash, the Focus Flash doesn't quite flash bright enough to adequately light the scene.
Samsung Focus Flash

Like all WP7 devices, the Focus Flash has a two-stage dedicated camera button – half press for focus, full press to snap a photo. Holding the camera button also acts as a shortcut to the camera app.
The front facing camera is also a step down from what the Focus S has to offer.
The Focus Flash is only capable of VGA resolution photos (about 0.3MP), while the S has a 1.3MP sensor, though the actual quality difference between the two is hard to distinguish – both being pretty low quality.
Samsung Focus Flash

Without Wide Dynamic Range, you have no manual control over details in shots like this.

The Focus Flash's macro shots don't seem to show as much depth as the Focus S.

Even with good lighting, images come out slightly grainy.

Using the flash helps in low light, but it won't fill the entire scene.

Video

Even though the image sensor is significantly lower resolution, the Samsung Focus Flash is just as capable at shooting 720p video as the Focus S.

As long as you have adequate natural lighting, the Focus Flash has no trouble keeping up with its high-end brother in terms of quality. Its only real fault is a slightly cold shifted color production.
Once lighting starts to fade, you'll find that the Focus Flash starts to get a bit grainy. The same happens with the Focus S, but it's slightly more tolerant of low light.
The Flash also suffers from the same oddities in that it doesn't allow zooming while recording and it defaults to VGA resolution instead of 720p. This behavior seems to be standard amongst WP7 devices.
As an entry-level smartphone with 720p recording, the Focus Flash stands out as a solid contender against other WP7 phones.

Media, Battery, and Maps and Apps

Media

Apart from its smaller screen, the Samsung Focus Flash is a very capable multimedia device. Compared to the Focus S, it offers all of the same apps and features for video and music playback.

Most of the multimedia function is handled through the Microsoft Zune platform which offers a music store, FM radio, and of course Zune Music Pass for MP3 streaming.
The Flash's smaller size makes it well suited as an MP3 player; however, its 8GB of total storage does not.
You'll likely want some sort of streaming service if you plan on getting series with your tunes.
The Flash also has SmartDJ for building quick playlists and Bing Music Search for easily identifying and purchasing songs, both function just as they do with the Focus S.
Samsung Focus Flash

As for video playback, the Flash supports the same limited list of file formats as its big brother, accompanied with the same headache associated with the Zune software, but it also excels just as well at HD playback of supported formats.
The Super AMOLED Plus display is vivid and features great contrast ratios, but if watching videos is your thing, you'll probably want to consider a larger device.

Battery life and connectivity

While the 1500mAh battery in the Samsung Focus Flash is a tiny bit smaller than the battery in the Focus S, the smaller display allows for very similar battery life.
At first, we were surprised that we were getting roughly 14 hours of battery life while the phone was primarily left in standby mode – pretty appalling. We eventually found that the culprit was a poor cell connection.
Samsung Focus Flash

Because the antenna is slightly weaker and we were using the phone on the edge of a coverage zone, the connection constantly had to be reestablished, quickly draining the battery.
Simply moving the phone a few feet was enough to keep a solid connection, allowing us to achieve battery life pretty much identical to the Focus S.
Apart from the minor reception issue, overall connectivity is similar to the Focus S. Bluetooth 2.1, A-GPS, FM radio (using the stereo cable as an antenna), and Wireless B/G/N are all included. WiFi sharing is also possible.
Samsung Focus Flash

Our WiFi test maxed out the speed test server.
Unlike the Focus S, however, the Flash only has a 2.4GHz wireless radio. The 5.0GHz band certainly isn't a requirement these days, but considering the growing congestion on 2.4GHz connections, it could be very useful in the not so distant future.
Bluetooth file sharing is still an impossibility with WP7, which is unfortunate, but the Zune software does allow for syncing over your wireless network to make up for the inconvenience.
One of the biggest disappointments is, once again, AT&T's network. While the Focus Flash is a 4G HSPA+ device capable of 21Mbps (just like the Focus S), we only averaged 1.8Mbps in our speed tests.
The max speed we reached was 4.2Mbps – the only time we broke 2Mbps.
AT&T is known to be problematic in the San Francisco Bay Area, so these speed issues may not be relevant in your area. 4G LTE, though harder on the battery, could be the remedy we're looking for. If only the Flash were an LTE device.

Maps and apps

For apps, the Samsung Focus Flash makes use of the WP7 Marketplace, which really hasn't changed at all since our Focus S review. Since that review, the market has grown by about 10,000 apps, putting it at a total of 83,000.

Microsoft Office comes included, of course, and Xbox Live offers a slowly growing game library. This is something that will be consistent among all WP7 devices.
The same holds true for maps and navigation. Microsoft has done very well in getting it half right, and half wrong.
Location searches and even directions are a breeze thanks to Local Scout, but navigation is still a mess. Unless you have a passenger to help you navigate the navigation app, it's best not to rely solely on the Flash for turn-by-turn directions.

Verdict

The Samsung Focus Flash is essentially a Focus S in a smaller package. It represents an excellent value (Free with two-year agreement) amongst AT&T WP7 phones and brings high-end performance to an entry-level device.
Of course the Flash does cut a few corners to keep its costs down. It features only 8GB of storage instead of 16GB, and the 5MP camera lacks many of the options found with the 8MP module on the Focus S.

We Liked

The 1.4GHz processor is the same Snapdragon processor found in high-end WP7 phones.
Though on the smaller side, the display is still WVGA and Super AMOLED Plus which gives a crisp, vivid image.
It is compact yet manages to stay relatively feature packed. If cost is a concern, it's tough to argue with Free!

We disliked

8GB of storage (with only 6.6GB user accessible) is a travesty that's made worse by the lack of an expandable storage slot.
Cellular signal strength appears slightly weaker than other smartphones.
HSPA+ 4G is underwhelming on AT&T's network and made worse by the fact that AT&T is switching to LTE.
The 5MP camera isn't exactly bad, but don't expect to be impressed.

Final verdict

If you absolutely have to have a WP7 phone, and it has to be free, the Focus Flash is the best AT&T has to offer. Just know that you'll be limited in storage space, and don't expect it to replace a real digital camera.
The Flash is also a great MP3 device, so long as you don't plan on carrying more than 6GB of music. It's not a great choice for video, though. There just isn't enough storage space for HD content, and you'd likely prefer a larger screen.
As great of a value as the Flash is, the Nokia Lumia 900 certainly challenges that spot. It costs a bit more, but doesn't cut any corners.

Motorola set to launch Razr HD

Motorola may continue its attempts to revive the iconic Razr brand, by launching a new high definition version of the handset.
Droid-Life reports that the heavily-tipped Droid Fighter device is likely to arrive as the Razr HD when it decides to make an official appearance.
Leaked EXIF Files mention the Razr HD device by name and claim it will run Android Ice Cream Sandwich out of the box.

Motorola Razr
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The limited spec sheet also mentions that the rear camera will have an iPhone 4S-matching aperture of f2.4, while previous rumours believed the Fighter would shoot 13.1-megapixel photos.

On the comeback trail

It seems fair to assume, as Droid Life does, that the 'HD' moniker will refer to an improved high definition screen resolution, although there's no mention of a specific resolution.
The launch of a Razr HD would be the third release since Motorola afforded its most famous device the chance of a comeback last year.
Since then, US users also saw the launch of the Razr Maxx, which offered supreme battery life, especially for a 4G phone.

Opinion: Google Drive: motivated by meanness

Hurrah for Google! Just six years after it was about to launch, Google Drive is finally about to launch!
I don't know about you, but I'm excited. At last I'll be able to store files in the cloud, enabling me to access them from anywhere. And not just that, but I'll be able to use them on tablets and on smartphones too. If it weren't for DropBoxSugarSynciCloudSkyDrive that'd be pretty mind-blowing.
Okay, okay, I'm being mean. But I can't help thinking that Google Drive's imminent appearance is motivated by meanness too.

In Depth
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Google Drive has been vapourware for years, and while Google never shipped it firms such as Dropbox got on with the job of creating elegant cloud syncing services that are real, that work, and that are loved by their users.
I bet Dropbox is in Sergey Brin's Enemies of the Internet list along with Facebook and Apple. I bet he sits there, imagining all those files, hidden from the watchful eyes of Google's spiders. "There is information on the internet we cannot crawl?" he shouts. "DropBox must die!"
Something like that, anyway.

Google Eggs, Google Basket

Even if you don't care for other sync services, there are reasons to think twice before trusting Google with yet another piece of your personal information.
Storing everything with one organisation, whether it's Google or anybody else, means that in the event of a privacy breach or law enforcement fishing expedition there's a lot of stuff about you being shared.
Less dramatically but probably more importantly, Google makes children cry.
Take Alex, for example. Alex was ten when Google killed all of his accounts: he created a Google Profile, and because Google accounts aren't supposed to be available to under-13s, all of his existing Google services were locked down.
As his dad explained, "Google is basically just going to delete his last two years of email messages (they don't offer any way to log in and export his messages), and plans to cut him off from his family until he turns 13. This is a kid who lives on the computer."
That's the problem with interlinked services. If you get shut out of one, you're often shut out of all of them -- and with Google services, it's easy to get shut out of them even if you're over 13. We saw that in the early days of Google+, when people using pseudonyms, business names or stage names found their accounts suspended.

Straight talking
TechRadar opinion articles

News in Brief: One More Thing: The Apple II turns 35

Happy Birthday to the Apple II, godfather of the modern computer, great uncle to the iPad and, um, parent's weird friend to the iPod.
We're sure the MacBook Pro fragrance is exactly what Jobs and Woz hoped the Apple II would foster when they launched it back in the '70s. What a birthday present.
Apple aside, we've also got a healthy portion of lost phones, Tumblr-takeovers and even a bit of Zooey Deschanel against our better judgement.
Pipe and slippers – It is now 35 years since Steves Jobs and Wozniak unleashed the first true PC on the world, the Apple II. Although it didn't go on sale until June 1977, the Apple II made its debut at the West Coast Computer Faire in April of the same year. And the world was never the same again. Or something. [Time]
Olfactory nonsense - There is absolutely no need for this fragrance that smells like a brand new MacBook Pro fresh from the box, so it's just as well the perfume is only for Art and not for mass production. [9to5Mac]
Potterless – Online Hogwarts Pottermore has opened its virtual doors entirely today. As well as allowing you to buy the Harry Potter ebooks, it will now sort users into houses (look, being in Hufflepuff is nothing to be ashamed of. Cedric Diggory was in Hufflepuff, for crying out loud) and read exclusive new writing by JK Rowling. So that's exciting. [Pottermore]

Perdu - $7 million worth of phones are lost around the world every day. That's £4.3 million worth. That's 6151 64GB iPhone 4S handsets going walkies per day. Yeesh, be a bit more careful, will you? [Mashable]
Dot tumblr dot com – October 12 2012. Mark it in your diaries – that's the day that searches for 'tumblr' looks likely to overtake searches for 'blog' and we'll be free of that irritating word forever! We assume! [xkcd]
Itsa me! – Wii U is about to get its very own Mario game, with Nintendo officially set to reveal the diminutive plumber's latest adventures at E3 this year. [Eurogamer]
Today we're dancing - There's something a bit sad about these new iPhone 4S adverts starring Samuel L Jackson and serial kookster Zooey Deschanel. Yes, Samuel L, we're sure you really do have a date and yes Zooey, it does appear to be raining. It's almost as though they don't have any real friends to talk to. Aww. [TNW]
YouTube : http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EP1YAatv1McYouTube : http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nqXGWQhowXk
Megaupload megaupdate – Data that was being stored on Megaupload dot com will not be destroyed yet as a judge metaphorically takes all associated parties and locks them in a room until they all start getting along. [cnet]
Translatorise this – Windows Phone's got a proper translator app of its very own, powered by Bing of course. As well as using its ears and its typing ability to interpret language from foreign parts, it can 'read' texts in other languages using its camera, specifically English, Spanish, German, French, Italian and Chinese Simplified. It even has an offline mode. Tres bien. [Windows Phone]
Drawsome – We can't promise that this crayon-shaped stylus will improve your Draw Something skills in any way, or make you any more attractive to the opposite sex, but we like its verve and its low, low price tag of £7.99. [Thumbs Up]
Crayon stylus

Review: Panasonic Lumix TZ30