Android Powered Helmet By Silicon Valley

Silicon Valley is going to introduce a new innovative gadget. The Android powered helmet that gives its rider directions, map locations and weather forecasts has been developed. 

The helmet, developed by a Silicon valley-based start-up, features a tiny heads-up display, positioned so that the image appears in front of your right cheek, where you would need to look to keep your eyes on the road. 

An integrated rearview camera with a 180 degree viewing angle gives the view behind the rider. 

The Android-powered, Bluetooth-linked motorcycle headgear can show driving directions, the weather and other basic interface elements, ’Discovery News’ reported. 

It is also able to pair with smartphones so you can use voice controls to make calls, listen to music, send texts and change your destination all hands-free. 

The company, Skull helmets, hopes to ship the headgear in the first quarter of next year. 

The helmet has also bagged one of five DEMO God awards handed out at the International Data Group (IDG)'s DEMO Fall 2013 conference in US.

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What Is Android (Operating System) ?

Android is a Linux-based operating system designed primarily for touchscreen mobile devices such as smartphones and tablet computers.Android is a computing platform designed for use in some smart phones and other devices. This technology, which is owned by Google, Inc., includes an operating system, software, and applications. The operating system is based on Linux®, which provides advanced computer processing. Android™ technology is maintained and continually developed by the Android Open Source Project (AOSP).

History of Android :

Android, Inc. was founded in Palo Alto, California in October 2003 by Andy Rubin (co-founder of Danger), Rich Miner (co-founder of Wildfire Communications, Inc.), Nick Sears (once VP at T-Mobile), and Chris White (headed design and interface development at WebTV).

Google purchased Android Inc., a 22-month-old Palo Alto, California, startup in July 2005.

 In 2008, Google introduced the HTC Dream™ as the first marketed phone to use Android technology. Since that time, this platform use has expanded to other smart phones, tablet computers, E-readers, netbooks, and other devices.

Android applications :

Although Android technology is increasingly being used on a range of devices, the most common hardware to use this platform is mobile phones. A large community of developers regularly write applications (apps), including games, social networking, and business modules, for Android smart phones. There are a wide range of free Android apps, including games and productivity titles, and paid apps are even more common. Android technology — which is used by thousands of developers because it is freely available for download — has given software developers the opportunity to sell their creations to a wide group of consumers.

How Android Is Different :

One of the key differences between Android technology and other smart phone systems is that it is open for modification. This gives vendors the opportunity to change and enhance their products based on their own preferences. This has created many versions of Android phones, which can vary by vendor, as well as a range of other devices that use this platform. In 2011, Google introduced a new arena for Android when it announced plans to launch Android@Home, a network that could allow users to automate and control home appliances.

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BBM For Android Leaks As APK

BBM for Android and iOS are coming soon, but the former suffered a leak this weekend that lets users sideload the APK file and open the app. Unfortunately for most, likely because BlackBerry saw this day coming from a mile away, the actual functionality — logging in with a BlackBerry ID and using the app — is restricted to a small number of whitelisted accounts.

We saw the application leaked on video a couple of weeks back, with one lucky user giving us a nice run through of everything we can expect. It’s full-on Blackberry, with the company’s design time ditching Holo for an experience that matches what you can find on their own devices.

BlackBerry said the service would go live before the end of the summer, following its announcement at BlackBerry World Live 2013 in May.

More recent reports have claimed BBM will launch before the end of September although BlackBerry is remaining very tight-lipped about concrete release dates. Adding fuel to the speculative bonfire that is when-will-BBM-come-to-Android is the news that Samsung Galaxy handsets may get the service first via the company’s Samsung Apps portal. 

Statement from BlackBerry:

The excitement around the upcoming launch of BBM for Androidand iPhone users is amazing. We want to thank everyone for their enthusiasm, but wanted to let people know that the program is structured so that only those in the beta will be able to use the app. The version we’ve seen on the Web in the last couple of days can be downloaded, but will not work on devices that are not approved in the beta program.

Source : Via 1. Via 2

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Android 4.4 system named 'KitKat'

Google, which is known for nick-naming its Android mobile operating systems for smartphones and tablets after desserts, has chosen a brand-name candy for its 4.4 version that's expected to launch this fall: Kit Kat.

Financial terms weren't disclosed for the sweet deal between Google and Hershey Co., which makes Kit Kat. But the deal shows that naming a stadium or sponsoring a TV show can be seen as old school. The latest marketing craze may be to slap a brand name on a tech product.

Google approached Hershey about six to nine months ago for permission to use the name, said Jennifer Podhajsky, vice president of U.S. chocolate at Hershey, which licenses the Kit Kat brand in the U.S., while Nestle owns the worldwide brand.

Podhajsky said that Kit Kat's jingle is a good fit for people taking a break to look at their smartphones or tablets. She added that the deal appeals to Hershey because Android hits the sweet spot of Kit Kat eaters, who are typically between the ages of 18 and 34.

"Kit Kat consumers are young, vibrant consumers of candy and chocolate bars, and that's a nice match with Android," Podhajsky said.

The Kit Kat name was unexpected since tech pundits have speculated for months that the next operating system would be called Key Lime Pie. Marc Vanlerberghe, director of Android Marketing, said the name was chosen because Kit Kat bars have been a "favorite go-to snack among the team since the early days of Android."

The Android 4.4 Kit Kat system is expected to launch in October. The software is now running on more than 750 million smartphones and tablets throughout the world, making it the world's most widely used mobile operating system.

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Google knows every Wi-Fi password entered from an Android device

We’ve become increasingly aware of how important it is to protect privacy and personal data in this modern digital age, and whenever there’s a risk of said information falling into the wrong hands, it’s only natural that we pay attention.

An interesting discovery has been made by Computerworld’s Michael Horowitz. Apparently, Google keeps a log of every Wi-Fi password ever entered into an Android device, and although humans do not see these passwords, the mere fact that they are there will be disconcerting to some.

The Big G’s privacy policy has been thrust into the spotlight on more than a few occasions in the past, and although this behavior of automatically logging passwords is only used to help mobile users backup their data to Google servers and not need to keep re-entering passwords, it’s fair to say that the company has a lot of Wi-Fi password information.

In Android 4.2, go to Settings and then Backup and reset. The option is called "Back up my data," and the description for it reads "Back up application data, Wi-Fi passwords, and other settings to Google servers".

If you want your mind boggled, consider that we are not talking about one Wi-Fi network at home. We are talking about every Wi-Fi network your Android phone logged into including the McDonald's down the street, or that Adult Film store that used to be a PhotoHut down the street. While Android users can opt out, all of this information could be turned over to law enforcement officials if Google is compelled to do so.

Did you ever buy a new Android phone, enter your Google account information, and the new phone instantly hooked up with your router? Google can decrypt the stored Wi-Fi passwords with just a Gmail username and password.

It might be too late for your original password, but it is not too late to opt out of Google's storing of your Wi-Fi password. Once you've done that, you should change your Wi-Fi password. And if this whole thing shocks you, you might be a little too trusting of those who hold your wireless life in their hands.

Source : source: Computerworld via RedmondPie & phonearena

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