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MOBILE
Samsung shifts from Android to Tizen, targets Asia
Android may be free, have a large app store and hold 50% of the
smartphone market share worldwide, but it can't afford to rest on its
laurels. iOS and Windows Phone OS have been rivals for a couple of years
now, but a new entry may have more clout than most accredit it with
Tizen.
Tizen, the new mobile OS from Intel and Samsung can be referred to as
a half brother of Android, both being open source, Linux based and
having a similar UI. Tizen is expected to mimic Android's most notable
features like the low price tag and cross-compatibility between markets,
and will also be allowing regional customization and partnership with a
wide range of content providers. The operating system is expected to be
available in devices shipped by Samsung later this year.
 Asian markets are completely different from North America and Europe.
Where Google dominates in the US and Europe; Baidu, Naver, and Yahoo
Japan are household names in terms of search engines and web services in
Asia. Google products are not available everywhere. Even if they are,
there are others which are more locally popular. Many Asian smartphone
and tablet manufacturers have opted for Android for its free
availability, but have not been able to offer the level of customization
consumers desire in such regions.
Tizen's logo is a pinwheel, a toy that spins in the direction of the
wind, representing adaptability. Not just Samsung and Intel, many other
Asian telecom companyes like Huawei, KT Corporation, NTT Docomo and SK
Telecom have been responsible for its development.
The idea behind the platform started with Google leaving China in
2010. Most of its services were blocked, including Google Play, which is
the company's most direct revenue source.
Third-party app stores and apps usually found pre-installed on
Android handsets in these regions are usually buggy, badly made and also
malware-prone.
As a result, Chinese smartphone vendors are not able to strike deals
with local companies which focus on these particular markets only.
In spite of Samsung products having a huge market in China; Android
is throwing a spanner in the works due to high demand for localized
services not supported on Google's mobile platform.
Shifting away from Android seems to be the best option for Samsung
now, at least in Asia.
Security flaw cracks open Apple accounts
A major security flaw was discovered on Friday that made it possible
to easily change another users Apple ID password and hijack the account.
Tech news site The Verge said it found the step-by-step tutorial
online. The tutorial showed users how to use a modified Apple URL to
gain access to someone elses Apple ID account and reset that persons
password.
The flaw was patched late on Friday. While it was still active it
allowed anyone to reset an Apple users password by using just their
email address, date of birth and the modified URL.
The Verge did not share the link to the tutorial out of security
concerns, but it recommended that users enable Apple IDs two-step
verification in order to protect their accounts.
Two-step verification is an optional safeguard users can add that
sends a new code to their phones each time they want to access their
Apple account.
 Unfortunately, though, some users reported that after they tried to
enable two-step verification they were told that they must wait three
days before the added safeguard started working.
The process is also only currently available to users in the US, UK,
Australia, Ireland and New Zealand. Users in other countries cannot use
this process to protect their accounts. “Apple takes customer, privacy
very seriously,” company spokeswoman Trudy Muller said. “We are aware of
this issue and working on a fix.”
The company took down the “iForgot” password reset page on Friday,
which is the key part of the hijacking process. The password reset page
was later back online and the vulnerability appeared to be fixed.
The security flaw was discovered shortly after Apple sent out updates
to patch up another flaw on the iPhone that made it possible for users
to get past the phones lock screen without entering the necessary
passcode HTC Flagship Smartphone to Begin Rollout This Week Taiwans HTC
announced its much-anticipated new flagship smartphone will go on sale
in three countries this week, although the rollout elsewhere will only
take place by the end of April.
The announcement comes after the company reportedly delayed shipments
of the HTC One due to parts shortages, dealing a blow as it looks to
lift sales and compete with the iPhone and Samsungs Galaxy.
“The new HTC One will roll out in the UK, Germany and Taiwan next
week and across Europe, North America and most of Asia-Pacific before
the end of April,” the company said in a statement.˙
“We appreciate our customers patience, and believe that once they
have the phone in their hands they will agree that it has been worth the
wait.”
The announcement comes after an unnamed executive told the Wall
Street Journal last week that HTC had been grappling with supply chain
problems as the company “has changed its order forecasts drastically and
frequently following last years unexpected slump in shipments”.
The firm has 185 distributors globally.
The Android-based HTC One was unveiled in London and New York last
month sporting a 4.7-inch touchscreen and front-facing speakers.
Company president Peter Chou hailed it as a “technological
breakthrough” as he seeks to put up a fight against the hugely popular
Apple iPhone and Samsungs newly released Galaxy S4.
However it has a tough fight, with research firm firm IDC saying, HTC
held a 4.6 percent share of the global smartphone market in 2012, a
sharp decline from 8.8 percent a year earlier. Samsung held a 30.3
percent, while Apple had 19.1 percent.
AFP
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