Blackberry Blog Suggests That Blackphone Is Inadequate Privacy For Business Users

Mobile security is a very real thing at this point and we’re not talking just about security from hacks, viruses and other types of malware. We’re talking about all of that but overall and more so about the big picture of full smartphone encryption and security from end to end. For a time, Blackberry was known as the undisputed king of the secure smartphone domain and provided enterprise business customers and consumer based individuals a secure device that could give them the type of email and message encryption they were looking for. Blackberry hardware has since fallen on hard times however and has been struggling to get its phones in the hands of consumers like they once did. Much of this is due to the ever still rising popularity of Android based smartphones. When it comes to attempting to convince the people though, whether it be consumers or business customers, Blackberry appears to resort to insults.

The Blackberry blog recently posted up an article taking shots at the Blackphone, the recently released ultra secure smartphone from Secret Circle for consumers that promises end to end encryption and complete control for the user over their data to ensure levels of security never known to a consumer level device. In the blog post, Blackberry mentions the Blackphone as a device that is “consumer-grade privacy that is inadequate for Business”. That’s a bold statement from a company seeking to grasp onto anything they possibly can to keep themselves in the thoughts of those looking for secure devices.

However resorting to public insults is one thing that Blackphone was apparently prepared for and threw up a blog post of their own stating that they offer people “privacy that they actually want to buy,” clearly taking hits at Blackberry’s falling popularity with their once renowned and large consumer base. Both Blackphone and Blackberry are attempting to cater to the side of the market that seeks out the highest level of smartphone security which explains why they’re both so intent on what could only be described as slandering one another. This is actually very close to the type of action we’d expect from Apple CEO Tim Cook, but we suppose desperate times call for desperate measures with Blackberry, and desperate measures seems to include insulting your competition.

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Google+ now allows the use of any name of your preference

Google+ has been strict about their policies from the very first day. It’s important to keep a new social network legit and organized, so the use of fake or chosen names was not an option. One had to use a real name. As of today, this is no longer the case.

Google is ready to let you choose whatever name that may tickle your fancy. This is not a new movement, though. Google has been slowly bringing this feature for a while. First by allowing page owners to choose their names, later by allowing YouTube users to bring their usernames to the new social network.

Now that this restriction has been lifted, what will become of Google+? The idea behind forcing users to use their real names was to create a community of real people. It was much more complicated to create a fake account or hide someone’s identity, giving more credibility to the network. A new Google+ era is upon us.

How will the new name policy change Google+?

According to Google, the idea is that there is a healthy list of people that would want to be part of Google+, but without sharing their real name. Users have been requesting this feature for a long time, meaning we have been leaving a part of the community in the dark.

Chances are we may see an influx of people, but we must wonder how much of a difference this new feature really makes. Will it really make people change their minds about Google+? Maybe, maybe not, but we do know it makes Google+ a bit more welcoming.

Does quantity equal quality?

Now, if this does result in more people joining our favorite social network – is that really a positive change? In this case, more may not mean merrier. We know many users have legitimate reasons for wanting to use another name, but more fake accounts may also be a result of this change.

This means Google+ may very well become a less credible source, much like some of the other social networks. This is not to say Google is wrong. After all, they do have to take down their walls at some point, but Google+ as we know it may soon change and this could be the very first step in that direction.

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cPulse Case Kickstarter Wants To Outfit Your Device With A Whole Bunch Of LED’s

Think HTC’s Dotview case but on an even more amped up level and basically on crack. That’s pretty much what you should expect from the cPulse Case that has just started its Kickstarter campaign with 46 days to go before it ends. They’re seeking a total funding amount of $350,000, and it doesn’t seem like they’ll have any trouble getting the money that allows this case to eventually be brought to market. Lets face it, smartphone screens are getting bigger and we love that but we seem to be more bored with the mainstream basic cases and this might be the cure that ails us. The case is designed specifically for Android devices running Android 4.4+, which sadly leaves out quite a few people but we’re moving forward towards a larger group of Android users on the Kit Kat software builds.

Codlight is the team behind the cPulse case and their calling it a smart LED case, which has the ability to do a number of things that includes reacting to different scenarios based on the surrounding conditions and audio. For example, much like the popular and recently Android released Sleep Cycle Alarm clock, Codlight is claiming that the cPulse case will have the ability to analyze your sleep patterns and not only wake you up at an appropriate time within your sleep cycle, but use that data to have the LED lights on the case interact with the device in such a way that they complement the feature.

The case does much more than just protect your device from damage due to drops, it also lets users create and share custom light shows with the ability to play the lightshow and also broadcast it simultaneously. Users will also be able to set up a personal lighting ambiance just in case you wanted to give your living room a burst of mood lighting or emotional color. It also of course interacts with a handful of incoming notifications, like incoming calls, Gmail, Twitter, Facebook, messages, and calendar reminders. You can even set up the cPulse case to act as your alarm clock if you have the need for a more lively one and prefer the company of LED lights to the traditional alarm clock that takes your standard AA batteries. You can find the cPulse Kickstarter below and pledge to the campaign, with early bird pledge prices starting at $89, or $79 for the makers kit that gives you the tools to 3D print your cPulse creation.

Click here to view the embedded video.

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Google Glass updated to XE19.1, brings improved connectivity and refreshed voice menu

Following last month’s huge XE18.3 update which gave Google Glass a handy view finder for framing photos, the wearable headset is now receiving a relatively small update to XE19.1. No, it doesn’t add Android Wear (although we’re told that’s still coming later down the road).

This latest update rolling out this week doesn’t really add any new features or abilities, as Google mentions in their release notes, it simply does a “better job of handling occasional network issues.” Having more reliable connectivity is always a plus, and we’re sure this will make some Glass Explorers’ day.

Google has also slightly tweaked the voice actions menu, giving it a “sleeker, cleaner look.” While we’re still trying to spot the differences, plug in your Glass headset to its charger and wait for the update to hit your device in the coming days.

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Sprint Adds WiFi Calling Function To Both The LG G Flex And The LG G3

WiFi calling had been a feature synonymous with T-mobile exclusively for quite some time, although that time has since passed. Sprint also now has the same functionality available to its subscribers on a number of different handsets, and two of the newest phones to get this feature allowing users to forego the Sprint network and attach to WiFi to make calls and send texts, are the newest from LG, the LG G3, and the slightly older LG G Flex device. While WiFi calling may have mixed results for some, it worked perfectly for me personally with any supported device I had on T-Mobile and Sprint customers with these two devices should definitely be happy about this feature update.

Sprint’s list of growing WiFi calling enabled devices, just might help them to supplement a little bit of discontent from customers who have been dealing with more spotty than usual network coverage due to the company’s complete overhaul of the network. Sprint states that the update is rolling out now and that owners of these two devices should start seeing and receiving these updates during a process over a the next few weeks. That means some people will begin to get this update today, but as always these updates do take a little bit of time and to get them out to each and every Sprint customer who uses a G Flex or a G3 will not be an overnight deal.

Sprint’s WiFi calling should offer enhanced voice coverage and quality to those using the feature, as well as unlimited calling and messaging to those who are connected to WiFi when placing a call or sending a message. The WiFi calling feature is also free of charge for customers who are using it(supported devices only), simply connect up to any existing home, office, or public WiFi network and begin calling and texting. It’s that easy. Sprint also mentions that international WiFi calling and texting is on the way, allowing customers the same benefits of the WiFi calling they use here in the U.S., in over 100 countries around the globe. WiFi calling is already available on a handful of other devices like the Galaxy S4, Galaxy S4 mini, Galaxy Mega, Galaxy S5, Galaxy S5 Sport, HTC One Max, Galaxy Note 3, and the Galaxy S4 with Sprint Spark. More will surely follow as they continue to develop the feature and new devices come out.

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Google+ discontinues “real names” policy

Since its inception, Google+ has required users to use their real names for their pages. While this slowly opened up overtime, it was only today that Google opened names up completely, allowing users who do not wish to use their real names the option of doing so.

Google stated that this policy was initially important in the early days of the service because it ensured that the social network would be filled with real and active people. Later, the search giant allowed established pseudonyms and pre-existing YouTube names to be used, a good step forward, but not quite the freedom some users wanted.

This policy received quite a lot of criticism because it prevented users from protecting their real identities, something that more and more people are interested in as social networks rise to prominence.

Earlier this year, Google+ head Vic Gundotra left Google entirely, likely in response to the company’s decision to scale down the social network. This recent change is simply the latest radical shift Google is implementing in their social strategy.

While we are unsure of the future of Google+, it certainly seems that the principles and ideas that once acted as the core of the promising service are growing less and less important.

Source: Google+

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[Update #2: 4.8.22] Latest Google Play Store 4.8.22 With PayPal Support, Simplified App Permissions, Bigger Buttons, And More [APK Download]

Google has certainly been busy today with all sorts of Play Store improvements, and here's a new version of the Android client to top it all off. Version 4.8.19 has started rolling out to devices, and we've got the APK below for you to install on your own.

We're digging in to see what's new. We already knew about the PayPal and some UI tweaks, but it's looking like there's more going on.

[Update #2: 4.8.22] Latest Google Play Store 4.8.22 With PayPal Support, Simplified App Permissions, Bigger Buttons, And More [APK Download] was written by the awesome team at Android Police.

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