Fingerprint recognition promised for Android devices, due in six months

While fingerprint scanners had not hit
mainstream devices at a major level till
Apple decided to include it with the
latest-generation iPhone, the iPhone 5s
calling it Touch ID, it looks like the
Android device bandwagon will also get
its own version of the technology in six
months, if a new report is to be
believed.

The FIDO (Fast IDentity Online)
Alliance a group of 48 technology
companies, which was founded by the
likes of Lenovo and PayPal is working
on a new technical standard for
biometric fingerprint scanners to be
featured on Android smartphones.
In an interview with USA Today,
Michael Barrett, president of the FIDO
Alliance has said that the initial FIDO-
equipped Android devices, will roll out in
early 2014 along with services that use
the FIDO protocols.

"The intention of FIDO is absolutely
that it will allow consumers to have
access to mobile services that they can
use with very low friction, while keeping
good security," said Barrett.
It's not clear as to which device
makers and services would choose to
include FIDO but prominent members of
the alliance include LG, BlackBerry,
Google, Lenovo and PayPal. So it's
likely that these players choose to
integrate the standard with their
devices and services.

It's worth pointing out that Apple's
Touch ID fingerprint sensor is not
FIDO-compliant but Barrett informed
that Touch ID could easily be adapted
to FIDO but it will take a couple of
years.
According to its website, the FIDO
Alliance aims to develop specifications
that define an open, scalable,
interoperable set of mechanisms that
supplant reliance on passwords to
securely authenticate users of online
services. It essentially wants to build a
ubiquitous biometric standard that
works across different devices and
online services that require
authentication.
It's worth mentioning that Apple's
Touch ID allows users to unlock the
phone, by simply placing a finger on
the Home button. It can also be used
to confirm purchases made on the App
Store, iBookstore or the iTunes Store.

Tim Cook reflects on second anniversary of Steve Jobs' death

Apple CEO Tim Cook used the eve of
second anniversary of Steve Jobs'
death to write an email to all Apple
employees, reflecting on the moment.
Cook told employees that Steve would
be "proud of all of you" and everyone
should honour Jobs' memory by
"dedicating ourselves to the work he
loved so much." Here's the full copy of
the letter obtained by 9to5mac .

Team-
Tomorrow marks the second
anniversary of Steve's death. I
hope everyone will reflect on
what he meant to all of us and to
the world. Steve was an amazing
human being and left the world a
better place.I think of him often
and find enormous strength in
memories of his friendship, vision
and leadership. He left behind a
company that only he could have
built and his spirit will forever be
the foundation of Apple. We will
continue to honor his memory by
dedicating ourselves to the work
he loved so much. There is no
higher tribute to his memory. I
know that he would be proud of
all of you.
Best, Tim

In 2012, Apple remembered Steve Jobs
with a video tribute
and a message from Cook on its
homepage.
On Saturday, two years to the day
that Steve Jobs passed away, Cook took
to Twitter to share thoughts more
personal in nature, saying he would be
using the day to reflect back on his
friendship with Steve and the "dents"
Jobs made in the universe.

Second anniversary of Steve's
death. Going on a long hike today
and reflecting on his friendship
and all the dents he made in the
universe.
— Tim Cook (@tim_cook) October
5, 2013

The remark is an obvious reference to
one of Steve Jobs' iconic quotes, who
once said, "We're here to put a dent in
the universe. Otherwise why else even
be here?"

iOS 7 experience on Android via iLauncher

Not all Android users give a hoot about
iOS 7, but we know there are a few of
you out there that may be a little
intrigued about Apple’s new operating
system. We have come across an
Android app called ‘iLauncher’, which
gives you the iOS 7 experience on your
Android.
This app is fairly decent, there is one
feature within iLauncher iOS 7 users
would love Apple to add to its next
update, a few iOS 7 users experienced
motion sickness when using the new
operating system, but this Android app
allows users to disable the zooming
function that makes iPhone users a
little sick.
iLauncher provides a similar experience
as iOS 7, same design with a few added
extras. Once you have installed this app
your entire Home screen will look like
Apple’s UI.
Main iLauncher Android app features
include smooth scrolling, the ability to
uninstall apps from the Home screen,
you can edit exit mode by pressing the
back button, support 5 rows mode just
like the iPhone 5, 5S and 5C. The apps
have rounded corners and gloss
effects; it also includes a dock bar
and so much more. The app does cost
just a little over $2, for more
information about iLauncher, please
visit the Google Play Store .
If you do decide to install the app you
must be aware that you may lose the
ability to add widgets to the Android
Home screen, shortcuts can be added
still.
Not sure why Android users would want
to add iOS 7 to their devices, but hey
we are sure someone would like to give
it a go. If you do decide to install
iLauncher please give another app some
thought, this Android app is called
‘Espier Launcher iOS7 ’ and unlike
iLauncher this one is free.
Would you like iOS 7 on your Android
device?

iPhone 5C spotted in new high- resolution pictures, expected price leaks

The purported low-cost iPhone just
doesn't stop when it comes to making
appearances online.
New high resolution photos of the
alleged device have surfaced online,
once again, courtesy Sonny Dickson who
had earlier shared a video of a
partially assembled low-cost iPhone
(also identified as iPhone 5C).
Dickson has posted an entire picture
gallery featuring close up shots of the
low cost iPhone's back and sides, in
addition to photos of its internals.
The device pictured matches the one
that previously appeared in high
resolution images and video
.
The pictures show the same plastic
polycarbonate body back panel that
appeared in recent leaks, in glossy
White, complete with a round camera
lens and LED flash, Apple logo and
iPhone branding.
At the bottom of the phone, there's a
small hole for the second microphone,
next to the 3.5mm headset jack port,
two screw holes with the Lightning
connector port at the centre, and four
holes for the speaker towards bottom
right.
It's worth pointing out that similar to
previous appearances, the shell does not
have any buttons or even a SIM-tray,
though it does have holes at the
designated places in line with the
iPhone 5. It also doesn't have any
certification logos. Perhaps the device
is still a stage away from the final
product. The pictures of the internals
also don't reveal much as they don't
feature the main board.
While the device is said to be the low
cost iPhone, it's still difficult to
confirm if Apple will indeed launch it
this fall when it's expected to
announce new devices.
It's also being rumoured that Apple will
launch the phone at a price of 3000
yuan ($490 or Rs. 30,000 approximately)
. According to a post on Sina Weibo by
C technology (via PhoneArena), as
expected, the low cost iPhone might not
be a budget device though it will be
priced relatively less compared to the
iPhone 5.

Low-cost iPhone 5C to feature an 8- megapixel camera: Report

While the purported low-cost iPhone is
making waves with leaked pictures and
videos surfacing online every now and
then, not much has been said about its
specifications. Until now.
A new report (via MacRumors) by
Chinese website IT168, claims that the
low-cost iPhone, which might be
christened iPhone 5C, would sport an
8-megapixel camera and that the
camera module on the phone would be
similar to the iPhone 5's camera module
complete with the blue lens glass.
The iPhone 5S, which is the next
generation iPhone, is expected to get
an upgrade interns of the camera
resolution. It is rumoured to sport a
12-megapixel camera lens.
The purported budget iPhone has made
several online appearances. The leaks
hint at colourful back panels made of
polycarbonate/ plastic and a 4.0-inch
screen. The phone is likely to release in
fall with iOS 7 and the next generation
iPhone.
Previously, a leaked photograph of
plastic retail packaging
that appeared on a Chinese website
featured white plastic boxes marked
'iPhone 5C' complete with the Apple
logo, suggesting that the phone could
be named iPhone 5C.
A video of the phone appeared on the
blog of Techdy, showing the plastic
polycarbonate body back panel of the
alleged low-cost iPhone that appeared
in recent leaks.
French website Nowhereelse.fr had
earlier shared a couple of pictures that
originally appeared on a Chinese
website depicting Red, Yellow and
Green plastic shell cases
of what looks like the back of a new
variant of iPhone.
Another picture of the rear shell
appeared in April, and was shared by
case manufacturer Tactus. The case
maker had said that the cheaper
iPhone would be available in Black,
White, Blue, Red and Yellow colours,
citing the 'factory producing this
secretive project' as a source. Tactus
had informed that the actual phone
might be around 9mm thick, 120mm in
height and around 62-65mm in width,
making it both taller and wider than
the iPhone 4 and 4S.
Apple-focused Japanese blog
Macotakara had also suggested that
the new low-cost iPhone will come in
multiple colours.

iPhone 5C – does Apple's first budgetsmartphone finally have a name?

Usually a photo of boxes isn't cause for much excitement – but this particular snap posted on the Chinese website WeiPhone is a bit special. You see, it depicts a lot of shiny white plastic-looking boxes with an Apple logo on top and - here's the important bit - the letters 'iPhone 5C'. 

Assuming somebody didn't wake up one day and decide to fabricate a load of boxes to prank the internet, this would suggest that the much-rumoured budget iPhone now has a name. C IS FOR 'COLOUR' Given that Apple is unable to conquer emerging markets with its current high-priced portfolio – and the alleged release of the iPhone 5S would do little to change that – a budget iPhone seems logical. 

There have been a number of leaks in the past that all point towards Apple releasing a device made for smaller budgets. One revealed a number of colourful cases in plastic while another included a YouTube video of the device in action . 

Could there be this much smoke without fire – or is it merely an elaborate prank by a factory capable of manufacturing phone cases looking for some e-attention? If the iPhone 5C is real and on the way, what does the C bit stand for? Cheap? Cute? Crass? We're hedging our bets on "colour".