Category Archives: Internet Usage

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.

BAZ Antennen/Wikimedia/CC

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

Towards the end of February, Yahoo CEO Marissa Mayer sent out an edict banning thousands of staff members from working at home. The memo was dispatched by human resources chief Jackie Reses and it stated that for Yahoo “to become the absolute best place to work, communication and collaboration will be important, so we need to be working side-by-side. That is why it is critical that we are all present in our offices”.

The measure has been greeted with an air of annoyance and intense dissatisfaction by much of Yahoo’s 11,500 strong workforce. Yahoo has struggled to innovate in the face of competition from other technological heavyweights, with Mayer’s former employer Google chief amongst them. Through the abolition of home office schemes, she is seeking more impromptu team meetings, speed and of course, that key quality of innovation. Mayer has claimed that ‘speed and quality’ are sacrificed when employees work from home.

For many staff members at Yahoo, this memo is an ultimatum – relocate to the company’s nearest office or quit.  Even though the email from the human resources department was marked ‘confidential’, a plethora of exasperated employees immediately forwarded it to the news website http://allthingsd.com, where it was quickly picked up by other news organisations.

Everybody at Yahoo will have to submit to the new plan, with no exceptions. Even employees working just one or two days a week will have to make the daily commute to a Yahoo office. Marissa Mayer became the company’s CEO back in July 2012, just before revealing she was pregnant. Shortly after giving birth, she decided to abstain from maternity leave and immediately returned to work. Unfortunately, it seems like her work ethic is not shared by everyone at the company.

Aside from re-arranging the lives of her staff members, Mayer has extended her “spring-cleaning” plan to Yahoo’s business model. Intent on copying Google’s policies when it comes to eliminating outdated and unsuccessful business lines, Mayer is abolishing seven Yahoo products. She has previously stated that the company will reduce its current mobile app range, numbering between 60 and 75 to somewhere between 12 and 15, which should prove more manageable.

Yahoo’s app for Blackberry smartphones will be among the ones discontinued – it will no longer be available for download from April 1^st. The company will also cease support for Yahoo Avatars, digital characters created by users in order to represent themselves while using the company’s products. However, consumers will still be able to use their characters if they download and re-upload them to their profiles. Other cancelled products include Yahoo App Search, Yahoo Sports IQ, Yahoo Clues, Yahoo Message Boards website and the Yahoo Updates API.

Currently, Yahoo’s workforce and user base appear to be immensely frustrated by Marissa’s Mayer’s sudden influence on the company. However, if she succeeds in streamlining the struggling company and introducing a real sense of innovation, all parties should end up satisfied. When it comes to internet usage, consumers have a very wide choice and it will take a monumental effort for Yahoo to compete with Google. Mayer is certainly attempting to implement a real policy of change. Time will be the best judge of her tenure as CEO and whether the company will return to its glory days .

Imagenote: Magnus Höij/Wikimedia/CC

Mention ‘launch’ and ‘North Korea’ in the same sentence and you’ll probably think of the isolated country’s recent satellite launches, which were widely described as a cover for testing ballistic missile technology. In an interesting development, it has emerged that North Korea is planning to launch a new 3G data service. Far from threatening foreigners in the way the satellite launches did, this new service is set to prove extremely beneficial to any travellers visiting the communist state.

Indeed, the new network will only be available to visitors and foreign residents. An estimated one million ordinary North Koreans have access to mobile phones but they will not be able to avail of the new 3G system. The country’s mobile phone provider Koryolink is planning to launch the network with support from Orascom, a major telecommunications partner from Egypt.

Google’s Executive Chairman Eric Schmidt visited Pyongyang at the start of the year, and reported that the country’s stance on digital technology would prove detrimental to future economic growth. He also pointed out that the existing mobile phone network could be easily improved to accommodate 3G technology. Since then, North Korea seems to have accelerated its technological modernisation, through the introduction of that 3G system.

Visitors are certainly recognising the growing changes in North Korea. A strict ban used to prevent foreigners taking mobile phones into the country. Upon arrival, all devices had to be declared and handed over to authorities. Since January, however, the ban has been lifted and visitors are free to take their phones with them and use the country’s network. The new 3G network ought to further improve conditions for visitors, though international calls will be banned. This of course includes calls to South Korea.

Full Internet access is restricted to a very select and privileged group in North Korean society. For the rest of the general population, they have access to a very small bank of state-run pages. Internet usage is supervised and universities have an intranet. The system seems to be designed in such a way that it can be disabled with relative ease whenever deemed necessary. As bleak as the situation appears for North Koreans, the country does seem to moving in the right direction. Perhaps, given time, the government will see the Internet and mobile technology less as a threat and more for its advantages.

Imagenote: Michael Day/Wikimedia/CC

Renowned for its exceptional worldwide coverage, Google Maps has become the world’s most popular travel website. However one country always seemed to escape its attention. Somewhat unsurprisingly, that country was North Korea. In contrast to South Korea’s comprehensive map, complete with the Street View feature, the North was almost entirely bland.

Now, however, Google has revealed an update on the world’s most reclusive nation. Cities, towns, streets and landmarks are now readily discernible. Generally, mapping information on North Korea is not available, so the data was compiled through the use of Google’s Map Maker tool. This allows normal people to contribute to projects through the use of satellite photographs or local knowledge. This technique has been used previously to map places like Iraq and Afghanistan.

The move to publish more information on North Korea comes in the wake of a visit to the isolated communist state by Eric Schmidt, Google’s executive chairman. However, due to the North Korean government’s reluctance to release mapping information, the visit and Google’s update seem unrelated.

The majority of the information seems to have been gleaned from South Koreans utilising satellite imagery, but according to the BBC, at least one Australian was involved. Named Sebastiaan van Oyen, he explained the process. “I wanted to go to North Korea and because it was not yet mapped I decided to start mapping so I could at least see how easy it would be to travel within the country. The satellite images are good enough to cover the whole country, although the quality and date of the data varies. For a basic map you will be fine, but it will take time to get reliable street level navigation”.

While satellite photos have been available for some time, users can now zoom in and identify streets before pulling up photographs of various landmarks. Places like Pyongyang have a large array of photographs, but these disappear as the user ventures further into the hinterland. While the mapping information may prove useful to South Koreans with ancestral connections, North Koreans are unlikely to ever see the new coverage. Restrictions on Internet and digital technology usage in the country mean that only a select few will ever have access to online content.

The latest Google update does contain new satellite imagery, however, containing some of North Korea’s most controversial locations. These include the Yodok and Hwasong gulags as well as the Yongbyon nuclear complex. Google has been praised by the US Committee for Human Rights in North Korea for its high resolution satellite images of the country’s gulags, which have allowed them to be identified and monitored.

Imagenote: Kristoferb/Wikimedia/CC