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- Apple purges malicious iPhone and iPad apps from App Store
- Leaked images reveal Microsoft Band 2's sleek new form
- Amazon Echo speaker will be your news anchorman
- Hands-on review: Updated: New Amazon Fire TV
- The new Nexus 6 tipped to break the 128GB storage barrier
- BBC Micro Bit delayed until after Christmas
- How to run your business without an office
| Apple purges malicious iPhone and iPad apps from App Store Posted: 20 Sep 2015 06:59 PM PDT  Apple claims a large-scale attack has forced it to undertake a clear-out of its iOS App Store. According to cyber security firms alerting Apple to the issue, hundreds of iPhone and iPad apps were embedded with malicious software dubbed XcodeGhost, forcing their removal. The attack is the first reported case of malicious software getting past Apple's stringent app review process in such large numbers. Rotten app-leThe malicious code made it into the App Store after hackers convinced unwary developers to use a counterfeit version of Xcode, Apple's software for developing iOS and Mac apps. Palo Alto Networks director of threat intelligence Ryan Olson insists the knock-off Xcode software was obtained from a server in China, which may have been used due to faster downloads than the ones offered by Apple's US servers. Unsurprisingly, Apple refused to say how many infected apps it had discovered, but Chinese security firm Qihoo360 Technology announced via a blogpost that it had counted 344.
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| Leaked images reveal Microsoft Band 2's sleek new form Posted: 20 Sep 2015 06:33 PM PDT  While the original Microsoft Band fared well in terms of functionality, it's safe to say that its design, which sported a rigidly flat display, left a lot to be desired. Thankfully, it appears that the device's style shortcomings could soon be rectified in its second generation if the renders leaked by Spanish site Microsoft Insider are to be believed. The images show a completely redesigned device with a curved display and metallic touches around its face, including physical buttons that will likely make the second Microsoft Band easier to navigate. The Band will reportedly exhibit some new features, including the ability to track inclines in a user's steps, leading to much more accurate fitness statistics. Little else is known about the Microsoft Band 2 though we expect that more will be revealed at Microsoft's upcoming Windows 10 event on October 6, in which a range of new devices will be unveiled.
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| Amazon Echo speaker will be your news anchorman Posted: 20 Sep 2015 06:25 PM PDT  If you're forced to choose between those precious moments of extra sleep and reading the headlines in the morning, the latest update for the Amazon Echo speaker might have the solution. The update has added Trove to the speaker, an option that enables you to ask for the top news headlines on any given subject. If any of the headlines happen to pique your interest you'll still have to look elsewhere for more details, but Trove could prove to be an efficient way to catch up on the news of the day while you're, say, in the shower. The update also fine-tunes Echo's alarms and timers, adding the ability to ask when specific timers run out, and cancel alerts when the weekend arrives.
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| Hands-on review: Updated: New Amazon Fire TV Posted: 20 Sep 2015 02:59 PM PDT -470-75.JPG) The new Amazon Fire TV has just been announced, and we've already had our hands on the new Ultra HD streaming device. Using the same basic chassis design as its Fire TV forebear, the new Amazon Fire TV actually has some pretty nifty new innards.
Cut to the chase What is it? The next generation of Amazon's media streaming box, the Fire TV When is it out? October 5 2015 How much does it cost? £79.99 / $99.99 for the base unit, with a US-exclusive Gaming Edition for $139.99 Why is it better? A faster processor, improved WiFi, Alexa voice control, 4K Ultra HD playback, HEVC support for 1080p content too
Boasting a 75% boost in overall performance, the new 64-bit MediaTek quad-core processor and dedicated GPU silicon means this is the first Amazon streamer capable of outputting in glorious 4K Ultra HD. Despite being a dedicated stream machine it does also come with 8GB of onboard storage – a fair way behind the recently announced new Apple TV – but it does though come with support for expanded storage via the microSD card slot in the rear.
That means the new Amazon Fire TV can potentially take cards up to 128GB in capacity to house all those downloaded games and applications. 4K Ultra HD playbackThe new Amazon Fire TV's flagship feature though is that Ultra HD output and with that comes the largest selection of UHD content around. The Mediatek-powered quad-core CPU is designed to give it that extra grunt, and flicking around with the new remote (which now uses WI-Fi instead of Bluetooth for a stronger connection and longer battery life) was a pleasant enough experience. It still wasn't whizzy fast though - there was definitely a little more that could be done to speed things up here, and the directional d-pad on the remote feels a little archaic.
It has support for Amazon Prime Instant Video, Amazon Video and UHD Netflix, which means you'll have loads of 4K content to play with - although sadly it seems like you'll have to purchase or rent the 4K films on Amazon Prime Instant Video, with only the TV series appearing to be in the crisp pixel quality as part of your monthly subscription.
As well as the ability to stream the 4K fun, it's also got support for Dolby Audio too when connected to your TV or AV receiver.
Voice remoteThe voice remote is also available with the new Amazon Fire TV Stick and is the real Siri-baiting feature of the new box. Alexa, the personal assistant from the Amazon Echo, is now available to the new Fire TV and, as well as helping you search for video content, will also give you access to weather, sports and traffic info too, all shown up on your TV.
And all for a lot less than Apple is asking for its Siri-on-a-TV box... It seems to be pretty accurate, with the demo showing up flawlessly with whatever was requested time and again. There's even Mayday-style support on offer, where you can call support and let them take control of your box (no laughing at the back) and show you how to do things like pair a game controller using sketches on the screen. It's an odd choice though, as surely this box is designed to be foolproof. You can go into the settings and request a call back so you don't even need to dial numbers... but if you can do that, then you're surely tech-savvy enough to solve your own problems. GamingLike the new Apple TV, Amazon is talking up the gaming potential of its latest streaming device. For an extra £40 ($45) you can pick up the new Fire TV Game Controller, which now comes with voice search and an audio jack for those stealth late-night gaming sessions.
In the US only Amazon is offering an exclusive $140 Fire TV Gaming Edition pack. The premium bundle comes with the base Fire TV, the controller, a 32GB microSD card and two games - the excellent Shovel Knight and Duck Tales. The gaming side of things seems pretty limited at the moment, but Amazon is touting console style games on the device - it's definitely not up to the likes of the PS4 and friends, but then again for the price, spec and limited game catalogue, we wouldn't expect it to be. Early verdictLike most streaming boxes, they're quite underwhelming - you're buying them to supplement a TV rather that=n being that lust-worthy purchase you've been craving for months. The design of the new Amazon Fire TV sells exactly that message, and while the interface and new 4K powers are good, it's not a mind blowing addition to your TV set up - especially when a lot of UHD TVs have got the services it's offering here already built in. That said, the new efficiencies inside mean streaming is really, really quick and the access to that large a library of 4K content (if you're willing to pay for it) is brilliant. If you feel the need for such a thing, the Amazon Fire TV is a decent addition to your home cinema system, and won't cost you the earth.  |
| The new Nexus 6 tipped to break the 128GB storage barrier Posted: 20 Sep 2015 05:33 AM PDT  As the calendar crawls towards 29 September, we're seeing a steady stream of Nexus-related leaks and tips - yesterday we heard that Google's 2015 flagships were going to be called the Nexus 5X and the Nexus 6P. That was yesterday. Today Android Police is reporting that the larger, Huawei-made Nexus is going to be available with a whopping 128GB of storage, which would be a record for a Nexus-branded device. It also puts the Nexus 6 (or 6P) on a par with other 2015 flagships such as the Samsung Galaxy S6. Android Police says "multiple trusted sources" indicate 32GB, 64GB and 128GB variants are going to be available, with a US$50-100 premium on each one (that's about £32-64 or AUS$70-140). Space raceEven with a growing number of apps relying on cloud storage, phone makers have responded to user demand for extra gigabytes. Apple is one of the few high-profile manufacturers still sticking with the 16GB entry level device. Android Police says it's unlikely but not impossible that this year's Nexus 6 is going to come with a microSD card slot when it finally sees the light of day. If it does, that's a potential 256GB of storage we're looking at. Plenty of room for your music and movie collection if you need to go offline for a while. For more on what we think we know about the upcoming handsets, check out our complete guides to the new Nexus 5 and Nexus 6.  |
| BBC Micro Bit delayed until after Christmas Posted: 20 Sep 2015 02:39 AM PDT  You may remember our earlier reports on the BBC Micro Bit, the tiny Raspberry Pi-like computer that the corporation is giving away for free to every Year 7 pupil in the UK this year. Unfortunately, those 11 and 12 year-olds are going to have to wait a little bit longer for their bare bones device: manufacturing issues related to the power supply mean it won't arrive until the start of 2016. That power supply had been revised from the initial prototype - it's now an external AA battery pack rather than a coin-shaped lithium battery. The BBC says a "small number" of devices have been having problems. Bits and bytes"As a result of our rigorous testing process, we've decided to make some minor revisions to the device - getting it right for children and teachers before we manufacture one million units is our priority," said a Beeb spokesperson. The BBC still seems confident of getting these devices into the hands of school kids in the spring - the move is designed to provoke interest in coding and computer science in the next generation of potential programmers. Despite its diminutive size, the circuit board is 18 times faster than the original BBC Micro computer. It includes two programmable buttons, LED lights and an accelerometer.  |
| How to run your business without an office Posted: 20 Sep 2015 01:50 AM PDT  Introduction and assessing needsIn the past running a successful business meant an office space awash with technology. Today, it is possible to run a business with nothing more than a phone and a tablet PC. With fast mobile broadband, cloud-based services and powerful computing power literally in the palm of your hand, business owners can move their enterprises into the environment of virtual business management. Emeritus Professor Dexter Dunphy predicts that in the future the "workplace will no longer be defined by an office building but a collection of invisible interactions, aided by technology." Mobile/remote working has been gaining pace for several years. Research from Intel and Dell revealed that over a third of workers believe they are more productive when working remotely. The study that looked closely at how workforces are evolving concluded that the office as we know it today is fading. Steve Lalla, vice president and general manager of Cloud Client Computing, Dell, said: "As the research shows, now more than ever, the office isn't defined by a desk within an employer's walls. With constant connectivity blurring the lines between professional and personal lives and devices, it's essential employees have seamless access to data when at the office, at home and on the road so they can stay productive, and IT secures and manages the data (and user) wherever it goes." What this means for all business owners is that they can make a shift away from the traditional structures that have defined businesses and their office spaces to a more fluid, mobile and flexible working environment. Lalla continued: "An overarching theme of 'activity-based' work is starting to emerge as part of the evolving workplace and workforce worldwide. With the shift towards employees conducting work in flexible environments, across varying devices, experts came to a consensus that it isn't only where you do your work, but what kind of work you're doing that determines which form-factor you work on. "This foreshadowing of a mobile and fluid workforce is the fundamental basis for the technological changes we are seeing worldwide in the workplace."
Assessing your needsIn essence to run your business with a smartphone or tablet, and the virtual tools that are available today, means:
The cloud has done more to bring mobile working and business management into the mainstream than any other technology or service. Moving data and services to virtual spaces frees you from a physical office environment. When your data and services are in the cloud, you can run your business from any location.
A key component of virtually managing your business is to ensure you have the latest mobile technology at your fingertips. The latest smartphones and tablets deliver a working platform you can use to build your virtual management system upon. Windows 10 and Surface Pro or the iPhone 6 Plus and the latest iPad Air are perfect devices to run your business with a virtual office.
You may be managing your business with mobile devices, but you will inevitably need help from other people. Here virtual PAs come into their own. Again leveraging the power of the cloud, using virtual PAs but also tapping into the wealth of freelance talent that is also available means you can buy only the services you need, when you need them.
Running your business on the move is possible, but there will always be times when a physical space is needed for meetings and so forth. Using the so-called 'third space' provided by office suppliers such as Regus illustrates how the physical office is still relevant, but needs to be as flexible as the digital tools you can use to manage your business. Indeed, Regus now offer work hubs at some Shell petrol stations to tap into the need for meeting space across the transient virtual management space. You know your business better than anyone. Running it with mobile devices is possible if you carefully assess your needs, and match the services you need to support day-to-day business tasks.
Says Tom Gutteridge, product marketing manager, Azzurri Communications: "I personally have a friend who runs an industrial heating and ventilation company on his mobile devices, including the day-to-day scheduling of up to six sub-contractors. With cloud/network derived services customer-premises equipment can be a hindrance, not a help. "Functionality is delivered from the macro network and services from voice to scheduling to invoicing and accounts can all be accessed from wherever the owner is, typically on devices such as smartphones and laptops. Increasingly card readers are also being incorporated to handle payments too." Essential tools and economy of skillsEssential toolsYour virtual office can take many forms when you come to set it up. The number of tools that have become available over recent years offer a rich pool to create your own virtual office to suit your particular needs. Some of the best tools you could use to create your virtual office include: Dropbox Business: The business version of this popular file storage and exchange service is vital to the smooth running of your virtual business.
Skype for Business: Hold meetings and collaborate with members of your virtual team with a low-cost monthly subscription. And you can of course make a few calls, too. Hootsuite: Manage all of your business social media in one place, and also provide social customer services support as well as develop social marketing campaigns. Google Apps: Working on the move requires basic office tools such as a word processor and spreadsheets. Google enables collaborative working across multiple devices, and these services integrate with Gmail and Calendar. Evernote Premium: The premium version of Evernote offers collaboration across teams. As all team members can give feedback in a single app, virtual workforces can effectively work together. KashFlow: You'll need to manage the financial aspects of your business. This cloud-based accounting application can also handle payroll for your virtual team members.
Desk.com: Managing customer services has in the past meant large call centres. With Desk.com you can manage this aspect of your business as easily as your social media. Receipt Bank: Even running your business with digital tools, paper still needs to be managed. This receipt capturing application is a superb addition to your digital office. iZettle: Take payment from your customers anytime anywhere with this handy plug-in card reader. Trello: This app is like a to-do list on steroids. Forget about email threads, this application allows efficient project management at a single glance. These are just some of the tools that can be used to create the ultimate mobile office. What is clear is that many of these tools will converge over the next few years. Where you would today have several apps on your phone or tablet to help run your business, in the future multifunctional apps will become the norm. Spencer Bradshaw, head of solution architects and advanced applications EMEA at ShoreTel, commented: "In today's hyper-connected society, mobile brings business value. However, mobility technology specifically designed for the enterprise was, until recently, only available to large, global organisations capable of huge deployments and out of the reach of SMBs. "Now SMBs need to take full advantage of such technology to be more agile, respond faster and become more competitive. By rolling out one user experience across mobile devices and traditional fixed devices an SMB can achieve business efficiencies, which is especially important in the age of BYOD."
Economy of skillsThe type of business you are running will have a major impact on whether you can feasibly run your enterprise with mobile digital devices. Information-based business are of course the ideal candidates for virtual management. Deloitte commented: "Workplaces will no longer be a site of 'containment' but a place where people meet, learn and share." Lalla concluded: "With the workplace changing, job responsibilities are being met at home, at client locations, even in public spaces like coffee shops and public transportation, so mobility has become a priority. "Amid the flux, mobile technologies and alternative interfaces are playing an increasing role – laptops, tablets, mobile phones, 2-in-1s, thin clients and desktop virtualisation introduce unprecedented versatility into the IT toolkit." The Society for Human Resource Management (SHRM) points out: "Effective leadership is the number one factor that influences success in a virtual organisation. Maintaining cultural identity, employment brand and employee/manager satisfaction requires consistent and regular communication. Leadership skills are even more essential for virtual work." Working spaces then can be anywhere. There will be caveats in that as most businesses scale they inevitably need physical office space. But the future will see this becoming a less frequent occurrence, as businesses start in the virtual space and remain in this environment even when they grow. Next-generation mobile devices will deliver this ability.  |
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