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Samsung has announced that it has developed technology which could form the core of a future 5G data transmission network. The South Korean company said that its new equipment successfully transmitted data at speeds of more than 1Gbps across a distance of up to 2 kilometres.

How does it work? Samsung has revealed that it has created the world’s first “adaptive array transceiver”, which facilitates cellular data transmission via the super high frequency Ka band of its radio spectrum at 29GHz. This frequency used to be weakened or interrupted during cases of wet weather, but Samsung has indicated that this problem has been overcome through the creation of equipment featuring 64 antenna elements.

This would prove a substantial improvement over the current 4G system, enabling users to stream ultra high definition video on their mobile devices while on the move. Though this would have the potential to transform the world of mobile technology, experts urged caution.

According to the BBC, Prof Rahim Tafazolli is leading a major 5G research project at the University of Surrey. He warned that Samsung’s breakthrough is just “a small part of the larger jigsaw” when it comes to the sophisticated technology needed to deliver a functional 5G service.

The BBC also stated that his words must be taken seriously, seen as his research efforts have been funded in part by Samsung. Despite the warnings, the company remained optimistic about the breakthrough. Indeed, Samsung stated its hope in a press release that the first 5G devices could hit the market in 2020, offering speeds hundreds of times faster than 4G.

Prof Tafazolli also remarked that when focusing on new data transmission technology, companies need to place much more emphasis on the storage aspect, rather than the speed aspect. He affirmed that 4G was already fast enough and the capacity crunch must be cracked.

Creating functional 5G technology is now turning into a major race, with developers spurred on by the lucrative rewards on offer. New breakthroughs would have to be licensed to their rivals by inventors and a small fee could be charged for each device utilising new innovations, leading to a massive financial windfall.

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Modern smartphone and tablet users have a constant thirst for knowledge and information, striving to remain connected at all times. Google have naturally picked up on this trend and are developing a wearable computer system called Google Glass, technology which should ensure an endless information flow for its user base.

Unfortunately for the search giant, cracks have been discovered in the new glasses – not in the lenses but in the system’s security protocol. A Santa Barbara-based programmer specialising in smartphone security named Jay Freeman was selected by Google to test the new device before its general release next year.

He discovered that by taking advantage of a known vulnerability in Glass’ Android operating system, hackers could take over the entire device. This can be achieved by utilising its “root” capability when it is connected to a pc and running certain commands. Google Glass is exceptionally vulnerable by its very nature. With a camera and microphone mounted on a person’s head, hackers would have the ability to see and hear everything in much the same way as the end user.

Indeed, Freeman explained his findings in more detail in a blogpost. “A bugged Glass doesn’t just watch your every move: it watches everything you are looking at (intentionally or furtively) and hears everything you do. The only thing it doesn’t know are your thoughts. It knows all your passwords, for example, as it can watch you type them. It even manages to monitor your usage of otherwise safe, old-fashioned technology: it watches you enter door codes, it takes pictures of your keys, and it records what you write using a pen and paper. Nothing is safe once your Glass has been hacked”.

He places blame on the headset’s design for the security flaws. Most of the vulnerability found in current Android handsets and tablets can be overcome by a PIN code. Google glass does not have a PIN code, meaning it is immediately usable once it is switched on. What should Google do to eliminate these problems and reassure its potential future user-base? Freeman said that a security step like biometric scanning, voice recognition or a PIN number would be effective deterrents to potential hackers.

His findings have resulted in more privacy concerns with regards to intrusive digital technology. A small red light on the side of Google Glass headsets shows people when it is in active recording mode. However, this small red light is quite difficult to detect. Freeman suggested a more concrete solution, namely the introduction of a sliding cover for the camera, allowing users to see more clearly when they are actually being filmed.

Google Glass is certainly a very promising project, even if more work needs to be carried out to ensure the devices remain secure. The more connected society becomes, the more dangerous information overload becomes. A bugged headset would have enormous ramifications for users – a hacker could literally monitor every activity carried out by a Google Glass wearer. Despite Freeman’s findings, Google emphasised that the system “is not a consumer product” and is very much a work in progress.

Imagenote: Thomas Hawk via Flickr

For a long time, Facebook failed to expand its mobile user base. It was also confronted with a major problem – mobile technology was not an effective outlet for advertising. The screen was far too small and the format was proving unwieldy, to say the least.

Therefore, it came as no surprise when rumours surfaced that Facebook was working on a smartphone optimised to suit their user-base. Asymco, a consultancy, advised Facebook to work on its own version of Android in much the same way that Amazon has tailored that particular operating system for the Kindle, or Barnes & Noble have fitted it to their Nook. This would give Facebook control – they could determine the very best advertisements for their users, as well as their strategic placement.

Facebook’s chief executive, Mark Zuckerberg, finally answered all the questions last week when he revealed a new software system optimised for social networking. It will be called ‘Facebook Home’, and will bring the very best elements of the website to user’s home screens. Zuckerberg also revealed that Facebook has entered into a partnership agreement with HTC, who have already developed a smartphone incorporating the new software.

Zuckerberg told assembled journalists and tech-industry employees that he wanted to take the Facebook experience to the front of the smartphone. As a result, photographs, messages and updates will appear on user’s home screens, eliminating the need for an app. He also explained that apps must be considered things of the past. They should be replaced by technology at the very core of the modern device, eliminating the need to download and click in order to communicate.

Two features will be at the very heart of the Facebook Home experience. Cover feed will display content including events, messages and photographs on a user’s home screen while Chat Heads will display contacts within a circle. While a user is surfing the web on his or her mobile device, they will be able to chat without switching to a new screen, a luxury previously afforded to PC users but not smartphone owners.

Facebook home will come pre-installed on a brand new handset produced by HTC, known as HTC First. It will also be available on new devices made my Samsung, Sony Qualcomm, AT&T, Huawei and ZTE. The HTC First will be 4G compatible and have a larger screen than Apple’s iPhone, and it will initially sell at $99.99. Indeed, Apple’s iPhone was conspicuous by its absence from the drama. Will devices combining Android and Facebook leave Apple in the dust? Time will tell.

In response to the announcements about Facebook Home, the opinion of observers seemed divided. Some critics lambasted Facebook for not writing their own software and creating a Facebook-branded smartphone akin to the Amazon’s Kindle. Others voiced privacy concerns, claiming Facebook could now keep track of everything users did on their mobile devices. Some praised the new software for its slick layout and ease of use, as well as the fact that both user and social network will be drawn closer together.

As positive as Mark Zuckerberg’s press event was, Facebook Home’s reliance on a tweaked version of Android was called into question. Of course, Android has been developed by Google, who are one of Facebook’s primary competitors with their Google+ social network. This makes Facebook Home vulnerable, as Google could choose to make it incompatible with future Android versions. However, few expect this to occur and Facebook shares rose 2% to $26.83 immediately after the press event.

Imagenote: Pshab via Flickr

Internet giant Yahoo is acquiring an app developed by a 17-year old schoolboy from London as part of its shift towards a more mobile-orientated business model. Although no concrete figures were released, the deal between Nick D’Aloisio and Yahoo is estimated to be worth millions. Some observers believe it is somewhere in the region of £18 million and others have guessed it could be as high as £40 million.

D’Aloisio’s app is called Summly and it summarises news stories from popular media websites.  Most news websites are orientated towards desktop users and are difficult to categorise. Summly organises the most important points and stories through snapshots in an ‘easy to use’ format for mobile users. The app itself will be discontinued and its features will be incorporated into various Yahoo products.

D’Aloisio will be given a job at Yahoo’s offices in London where he will be able to continue his ambitious work on various digital media products. It is all a far cry from Summly’s humble beginnings in the schoolboy’s bedroom. D’Aloisio developed the idea while he was studying for exams. He became immensely frustrated during Google searches when he constantly came across web pages repeating the same content.

Setting out to bring more organisation to the Internet’s information overflow, D’Aloisio started his company when he was 15. Success followed swiftly – Summly was downloaded more than 200,000 times and won an award as one of Apple’s best apps in November 2012. This attracted the intention of investors including Hong Kong billionaire Li Ka-Shing. Stephen Fry and Hollywood star Ashton Kutcher also contributed to the project.

Yahoo has struggled to keep pace with more flexible rival firms, especially Google. Thus, Marissa Mayer, Yahoo’s CEO, has attempted to steer the struggling company more in the direction of mobile technology users and Summly could become a vital aspect of this process. As for D’Aloisio, he is set on completing his A-levels, content with the fact that he is now one of the world’s youngest self-made multi-millionaires.

Imagenote: OFFICIAL LeWEB PHOTOS/Wikimedia/CC