I find it funny that Microsoft fans now defends a Linux users old arguments, since beginning it has been taunted that "when Linux gains market share, you will find it has as much malware as Windows does".
The Microsoft fans (actually more Windows fans but they are related so well) defence was "Windows is so popular so it is targeted and that's why it has so many malware"
And now, when actually a Linux is more used than Windows in Internet Servers, super computers and even Smart phones, it still does not have such problems as Windows does.
And actually, even Microsoft has managed to drop amount of malware and epidemics since Windows Vista and now with Windows 7. Even that they are popular, they ain't at all so easy targets (unless user does again a error).
The Linux OS in Android does not get targeted by malware, neither does Android itself actually. But Google has problem with their Android Market security. So that they do not check the applications and users can download application what asks permissions to read contacts and then full internet and then sends every email address to spammer.
User is asked from permission and then user gives it. It is same situation that I do not count it Windows problem if user downloads, gives execution permission and launch a malware. Neither I count it for OS X fault. That is fault of the user. BUT (and this is HUGE BUT) when a software system gets infected automatic, without user interaction, then we have a problem. Like when user simply opens a PDF file and it suddenly can install something to system side outside of user permissions or directory. THEN we have a problem.
What Google should do, is start signing those applications (so no one can steal it, fill with malware and repack)
Permit user to disallow permissions per se and per application.
Disallow per application update checking by default and only allow to use a Market Place update notification.
As right now one of the biggest risks is that user install secure and safe application from Android Market and then week later application notifies a own update notification and user gives a permission and application downloads it somewhere else and phone is infected. Openess needs that third party stores and apps can have own update, but still that needs to be fixed. IF application is from Android Market, then only from there are updates. If user downloads somewhere else, then they can have what they want.
It does not matter how widely used device is it about since when it is released to public (your own home coded system stays secure as long you use it home), no matter is the usage 5% or 90%.
In software the question is about the quality. The quality of the code and many other things of it.
Example, since Windows Vista, UAC and many other security feature has helped Windows users more than ever. Even that Windows 7 and Vista are together very popular, we have not got same kind worm epidemics like what Windows XP got at first months so that even FBI needed to warn about UPNP default setting. Or that we needed to wait Service Pack 2 to enable firewall by default.
Even with basic security functions (user accounts, firewall, non-executable bits) the computer will come much more when those are enabled by default. A open box is a open box no matter how much you want to say it is closed.
If Microsoft has got Windows Phone secure enough, it will stay secure no matter is it used by 1.2% of people (like now) or 99% of people.
As the quality of the code and settings rules is it possible or easy enough to crack when compared to risks involved.
Example, by robbing a bank you will have huge amount of money but risk to get cough is huge. But robbing a single persons here and there in parks, alleys and pick pocketing, you gain much less but same time risk to get cough is much smaller. Typically you end up just beaten or screamed so you need to run few blocks or hide in the public.
Which one you would do? Go to a multiple easy targets with small risks in every of them, or head up to single huge job where risk is very high?
Do you want to steal 100 dollar from from each 100 person to get a 10 000 Or do you want to steal 10 000 from bank?
Bank is more secure, it has more wealth and risks are rised so high that normal thief knows it is out of the league (some will try and fail).
But some thiefs ain't avarage thiefs, they spend lots of time to study, to plan, train and ultimately to execute their plans so they can rob a bank gaining millions. Some does it just by going guns blazing in the bank and some does it with white collars smiling in front of TV-cameras how economy is bad...
Android does have some security problems, they ain't in the code, but in design. It is bad design choice to not allow user to choose what application get to know what data and even block those.
Why every application need to ask permission to use full internet if only needed for Google ads or anonymous usage habit collection to Google service? Why doesn't Google do a own API to Android so every application what need to show ads, could use it and then there would no be need to ask permission for full internet. That would just relate to situation that when application asks permission to internet connection, user should see bells warning on his mind "why does it need internet connection?". And so on Android could allow user to deny internet connection by default if wanted, but still allow ads to be shown as Android would deliver them itself.
But one reason for that is, Google allows any application developer to show own ads and choose any advertiser what they want. No need to use Google ads if not wanted. But most still does as it is easiest.
ps. If what you say about market share and malware would be true, then Linux would be a tin can full of holes. As most internet servers are ran by it, most super computers, most smart phones, most ADSL and Cable modems... You name it. But it is not about popularity, it is about quality of code and design. If you can block 99.9% of bad people cracking your software but only give change to 0.01% of very talented people to find the hole what to use, you have succeeded. But if even 20% bad people can crack your software, it ain't good.
pps. Think about AES, Blowfish and other algorithms. They are open. Widely known and used. But even that someone pulls on few years a theoretical study that there is 0.0001% change to crack those a
And I'm serious. While not as versatile towards own-hosted solutions as the old Windows Mobiles, it's still light years beyond Android and iOS. You can easily use your own Exchange server to sync and share your contacts, calendar and other stuff, which gives you true privacy. It also doesn't leak data to Google like Android does, it doesn't have the malware problem that Android has [techcrunch.com] and the phone itself is a full smart phone with an great UI (Windows Mobile somewhat started lacking in this in recent years).
Stop spreading false information.
Android is possible to be configured from the beginning only to use any exchange server as well. You do not need to use any Google services or applications if you do not want to do so.
What comes to malware, so long most serious problems has been in third party resources for applications. And those few in official market, have not been so bad or anything serious. Still, I don't reject that there ain't possibility or anything else. but it is now so widely spread FUD about it that it is already a non-proofed truth.
And Windows Phone 7 GUI shares opinions very well. And that matter is out of the line here in this topic as well, what is about question of privacy concerning contacts and addresses of everyones elses who phone owners has stored to own phone. So far Windows Phone GUI has nothing to do with it, so bringing it to hype it as biased user does not help at all in this discussion.
When you can buy a Windows Phone where there are no single Microsoft service or application installed or need to be used, then come back to talk with the GUI. Android is more secure and protects much better way the users privacy than your "Windows Phone GUI is awesome" phone does. (The other topic is then how much it is protected or informed the user about risks and same discussion can be gone trough again with any software system out there).
The only time when you need contact with other servers is to download and install apps, which imo is a stupid decision fueled by iOS and Android doing it that way. Old Windows Mobiles always allowed you to install apps the way you wanted, the desktop Windows way. However, I guess that provides some extra security.
Android does not force to use only online services to install applications. User can download application, save it where wanted (dropbox, FTP, webdav, microSD... you name it) and then install it with filemanager to Android device. The one problem is with Android Market is that you can not download directly from there. But you can install application from there using any web browser (desktop, laptop or even iOS devices or Windows Phone phone) and it gets installed to your Android phone next time you have internet connection (WiFi, 3G etc) and it was activated to Google services and you have Market application installed with Google profile.
So don't spread lies that Android does not allow installing applications with old fashion way as it does. Even I do so sometimes when I want to install non-official Google Maps version where is just enabled navigation every country. And I don't even need a any Google account for that.
PS. N9 does not have MeeGo in it. It has Harmattan. Harmattan and MeeGo are two different products and development branches. Harmattan were code name for Maemo 6.0 (5.0 is in N900) and MeeGo was project of Maemo 5.0 + Moblin. So do not talk about MeeGo when talking about N9 but only with Harmattan aka Maemo as that is used in it.
Let alone Blackberry's centralized mail servers; there is no way to have an Android smartphone working decently without sharing all of your contacts, calendar appointments, and other stuff with Google.
You have got only partial information somewhere.
You can have pure Android smartphone, without any demands to share your privacy with Google. Period.
If you want to use Android market (market.android.com) then you need to activate your new phone first time to it. It does not mean you need to input your personal email address to it or bond your personal gmail to it. You only need to create a one for your Android market store profile.
You do not need to use other Google services at all. - Not GMail for email, you can choose what ever just offers POP3/IMAP connection - Not Google Calender, you can stick what ever just gives standard vcard sharing, even sync manually - Not Google Contacts (GMail contacts), you can disallow the syncing contacts with Android profile account and keep them in phone only or in SIM card. You can even from contact book sync them with standard vcard to microSD and sync manually.
You don't either need youtube account or anything. Actually you don't even need a Android Market profile if you are willing to get your applications somewhere else than Android Market. Like Amazon store or any other third party who you can trust. Android Market just makes it easy to install applications (via phone or any browser) to your phones and especially buy them (even that Google changed 24h return time to 15 minutes).
Corporations can at one step totally skip whole Android activation with Google. They can activate the phone to their own exchange environment (I could thing same thing would be possible to do with Linux servers). So corporation IT department can manage the phone without Google knowing anything at all.
I have used GMail from the beginning when it was just in invitation mode. I bought my first Android phone 9 months ago, it is a very cheap one (107€ with 2€/month for unlimited data speed and amount and the phone supports 7.2Mbits connection and nearly full speed (750-800KB/s) as hot-spot for computers with ping being 70-90 by avarage.
Before that I owned only a Nokia phones. Symbian before Symbian was terrible, I never used it for any things, even it was classified as smartphone (without touchscreen). And now, I use Google services very much. Why? Because they integrate very well with the Android and I can really get many benefits from it. If wanted, I could have kept contacts off from GMail or my calender off from there. But I don't have a home server what to keep online all the time or I don't want to start syncing contacts and other data with my own rented server. If I would have home server, I would really use it for every thing what Android support.
Did you know that Microsoft has paid to at least one carrier in US to sell Android phones, on what every Google service is replaced with Microsoft own services and user can not install Google services back? So customer is tied to Microsoft Bing search, Bing maps, Hotmail, Calender etc?
People believe that Android forces customer to Google. That simply ain't true. It is just the easiest and actually most secure way to use smartphone.
Google search Picasa Google Calender Google Reader Youtube GMail Google Docs Google Maps.....
Google offers so many features and none of those need to even be used with your private contacts, emails, etc. You can just disable the sync or add a new offline account for those in phone.
When it comes to privacy, easiness and many other features. Android just is best, and not even Microsoft have nothing to offer in Windows Phone (7.5 yet... lets see what future shows us).
That same thing happened on 1942 between Hitler and Mannerheim... in that case, it was national radio worker luck that the recorder was on same cabin where they were talking.
The International Mobile Equipment Identity or IMEI (/ami/) is a number, usually unique,[1][2] to identify GSM, WCDMA, and iDEN mobile phones, as well as some satellite phones. It is usually found printed inside the battery compartment of the phone. It can also be displayed on the screen of the phone by entering *#06# into the keypad on most phones.
You see, even that professional thief's and other experts knows how to change IMEI code when they resell phones, most phone users don't and can't.
So go ahead, swap how much you want your SIM card, your phone does not magically become a different phone. Operator even knows who's SIM card was in the phone. So if you loose your phone, operator can check who's SIM is inserted to phone since. Problem just is that if SIM does not allow roaming so phone conntects to other carrier network, they can not know it right away but only police gets it.
As carrier knows IMEI and knows SIM, why you think that authorities would not get access to that information?
How much disk space it would take to store data what is generated by cell location data, time (every 1 minute unless staying still) and signal strength to three cells and store it... lets say for 12 months?
I could bet the amount would be somewhere few megabytes.
A bible fits in compressed form in 10 megabytes. Would such tracking data (cell towers ID + signal strength three times (every cell) and date+time take much more a year? Even that in EU every country needs to store every data for at least 6 months, they include phone numbers where you call/receive calls, text, email addresses and their subjects and more likely even every address/IP what you have type to your web browser.
How it feels? And that is all day long. They know all the time on what cell your phone is connected and what other two cells are in near area if just in range. Of course they know your home address but...
For normal user, it could be just stored a three cells, time and only new data when cell is changing. But those who are wanted to be tracked, it would be one above, what could give accuracy in meters.
Every phone has UID and every SIM has UID. You can swap both, but first one is harder to do by avarage user.
Agencies have been offered a such neat system to do automatic location tracking almost every possible person. Would someone say in CIA or NSA that they do not want that data or even possibility to get its collection started when needed?
The voice-operated computer in Star Trek is an even more egregious example of designing an audience interface rather than a user interface. Spoken commands and spoken responses make it easy for the audience to follow the action, but it's a very inefficient way of controlling a complex system.
In predictions about computing's future, voice interaction is a perennial favorite — it probably even beats 3D, which is the other top contender for most over-hyped UI technology. While voice has its place, it's even less suitable than 3D for most everyday interactions because it's a less data-rich channel and it's harder to specify something in words than to choose it on a graphical display.
Of course it does make sense to be possible activate or deactivate auto-destruct when running in halls but really, many of the Star Trek voice commands and questions are like La Forge asks computer "Does beam penetrate the mass of the rock?" or something else what anyone could see right away by looking the screen on front of them.
If I want to know what is weather forecast, I check app or widget. If I want to know can I walk from A to B, I click point on the map and I get directions. If I want to move my meeting from 2pm to 3pm, I simply drag meeting on calender. If I want to call someone, I simply press few letters in dialer (T9 feature) and I am one click away calling or texting to person If I driving, I use hands free and I can simply answer to call or reject it by pushing button in hands free or in car wheel.
And all those I can do without speaking aloud in awkward situation.
And when I am in car and I want to send SMS, I can use Android own voice control for that. The thing is, people should call if the topic is important, people do not expect answer right away in SMS. In 60 second call, people can share more information than using SMS for same conversation. And it is much cheaper even by that way (unless you have those 10 000 SMS a month packages). So only reason not to call or talk to phone, is when you are in situation where you can not talk. Like meeting, library or something similar. Hands free gives freedom to speak same time as driving and even then it is faster to share things than talking to phone "Text to person X, Can we meet today?:-), Send".
If I need to push a button on iPhone to get siri listen, why I should use it instead clicking a widget or app to get what I want?
Those people who are slow to write anything (or are (partially) blind), those can get better results with the siri than typing, if they dont know have correct search engine link in phone. Like press Menu button long or search button and type search and you got it.
If Google has been collecting such data about the most common english transliteration for the most common words in other languages, it has a treasure trove of stuff. If that probability engine could be adapted to voice, it would have a global reach. If Siri has an American English focus, its lead is definitely not two years. Do not count the non-native English speakers out.
Apple has crossed a threshold; people now expect that you should be able to expect to speak ordinary English — and be understood.
That is the key phrase what is only needed to know.
Most people follows what Apple presents. Google has actually never made any such media attention that when Google few years ago released Android with voice control it would been written in media and people would have know Android capabilities.
Now it is illusion vs reality and illusion is always accepted like blind faith when big corporation is presented in all media. So the reality has lost a case from a start as no one wants to believe anymore that such technology (like voice recognition) is already existing and in use daily purposes.
Now people believe that Apple made something special what no one has done earlier. Truth is, technology is out there, it is in use. But it is not so widely known by people that there are others than just Apple who does those things.
It is same situation with big corporations vs Open Source community.
I love that users can actually continue using their loving software, even if corporation or community what is responsible maintaining the software is heading own direction.
I love KDE4 more than KDE 3.5 and that is because the speed and simplicity with great amount of features and now since 4.7 there is more than what 3.5 had. I have even ran 4.7 on old AMD Athlon 1800Mhz, 1 Gigabyte RAM with Nvidia GT4xxx and it just worked fine without problems. The HDD was bottleneck and when I tried SSD on it by swapping such to it with IDE adapter it just blow my mind out how fast KDE 4.7 has come from 4.0-4.2 versions.
People still don't like to give a change for newer KDE but it is their miss. They have rights to stick with KDE 3.5 if they want but I dont see a point on it so much.
I hope the Trinity 3.5 will get new ideas and features what can be added later then to 4.x or 5.x series if they are great and innovative.
Well, I got the idea from the translation and it is MUCH BETTER situation than trying to use paper dictionary and browse trough all the words to find out the meaning or not understanding at all what is written.
How about just being smart and using a chair what makes your body position like you would be standing but you still are relaxed as you sit on your hip bones? http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ySsoYF0LitE
I have used such chair for 10 years now without any problems. That does demand if you work in office, that you have correct table height as well. I know many places where Salli is being used, from local stores to offices and almost any places. And only very positive results I have heard from it (the oldest models had little problems with mens genitals what were fixed in next generation versions).
A World without loyalties is a world without moral and ethics.
Moral and ethics are what are missing from people who are psychopaths and greedy. They have better success to be leaders as they don't need to think about others but than them self's. And then they rule others without feeling bad when they do ethically and morally wrong things, just to save little money or please those who they keep as their friends.
Leaving a job can be arranged with the others, making a timetable what you want to get done before leaving if the time is just possible. Example with case, saying you are planning to leave in about 6 months as you get new people understand what is their tasks and skills are high enough.
Loyalty is not one way road, it is two way road. When you are loyal to someone, he/she is (should be) loyal to you as well. So it is about diplomacy to discuss and then corporation should be loyal to you as well and help worker to leave in better way without neither one feeling bad that worker left the company.
But when we live the world where there is no loyalty, even people leave their girlfriends and boyfriends with SMS, Twitter tweet or Facebook message, you should not be loyal to those who were not loyal to you too in the first place. You should not hire such person, nor promote such person. Unless people learn to honor others and being loyal to others, they are bad people.
Not Linux but GNOME. Operating System has nothing to do with the User Interface.
We have single Operating System (Linux kernel) and multiple dozens different User Interfaces for it (GNOME Shell example) and you are free to choose what you want for what purpose.
If you tap the Windows key and start typing, like in previous versions it will start searching for what you typed. So that still works the same, at least.
Yeah, I use a GUI because I love typing commands so much.
I have no idea why this was modded up except that it suits someone's anti-CLI groupthink. Meta-commentary aside...
Please, someone working with Samsung, HTC or any of those companies, please send the documents to wikileaks. Let them to rip off the sensitive data of who leaked it to cover your asses and blow up the whole fucking shit back to Microsoft face.
Do the right thing and show the world what kind asshole and abusive corporation the Microsoft is for whole world.
Do the right thing.....
At somepoint, someone need to stand up and stop the stupid chair game so everyone could actually sit down and start helping whole world without one corporation ruling what and when can be invented and brought to public.
And how long you think it takes to record trough capture card from VHS about 10 000 hours of video and when single video has typically 2-3 movies?
It means you need to record 10 000 hours those videos. As there is no easy way to fast-copy them like DVD or other digital format. 10 000 hours means over 412 days. So unless you are ready to 24/7 recording, swapping and cutting videos....
And even if you would digitize 2 tapes a day, saying 3-4 hours per tape so 6-8 hours a day. It would take 3 333 days what is 9.2 years. And when you have done that, you have one new generation video format ahead of you.
So if there would be a VHS digitalizer what takes 10 VHS tapes to batch and then fastly reads them (8-12X speed) and sends digital A/V trough USB3 or Lightbolt interface for 4 terabyte storage device, then it is no-go.
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I find it funny that Microsoft fans now defends a Linux users old arguments, since beginning it has been taunted that "when Linux gains market share, you will find it has as much malware as Windows does".
The Microsoft fans (actually more Windows fans but they are related so well) defence was "Windows is so popular so it is targeted and that's why it has so many malware"
And now, when actually a Linux is more used than Windows in Internet Servers, super computers and even Smart phones, it still does not have such problems as Windows does.
And actually, even Microsoft has managed to drop amount of malware and epidemics since Windows Vista and now with Windows 7. Even that they are popular, they ain't at all so easy targets (unless user does again a error).
The Linux OS in Android does not get targeted by malware, neither does Android itself actually. But Google has problem with their Android Market security. So that they do not check the applications and users can download application what asks permissions to read contacts and then full internet and then sends every email address to spammer.
User is asked from permission and then user gives it.
It is same situation that I do not count it Windows problem if user downloads, gives execution permission and launch a malware. Neither I count it for OS X fault. That is fault of the user.
BUT (and this is HUGE BUT) when a software system gets infected automatic, without user interaction, then we have a problem.
Like when user simply opens a PDF file and it suddenly can install something to system side outside of user permissions or directory. THEN we have a problem.
What Google should do, is start signing those applications (so no one can steal it, fill with malware and repack)
Permit user to disallow permissions per se and per application.
Disallow per application update checking by default and only allow to use a Market Place update notification.
As right now one of the biggest risks is that user install secure and safe application from Android Market and then week later application notifies a own update notification and user gives a permission and application downloads it somewhere else and phone is infected.
Openess needs that third party stores and apps can have own update, but still that needs to be fixed. IF application is from Android Market, then only from there are updates. If user downloads somewhere else, then they can have what they want.
It does not matter how widely used device is it about since when it is released to public (your own home coded system stays secure as long you use it home), no matter is the usage 5% or 90%.
In software the question is about the quality. The quality of the code and many other things of it.
Example, since Windows Vista, UAC and many other security feature has helped Windows users more than ever. Even that Windows 7 and Vista are together very popular, we have not got same kind worm epidemics like what Windows XP got at first months so that even FBI needed to warn about UPNP default setting.
Or that we needed to wait Service Pack 2 to enable firewall by default.
Even with basic security functions (user accounts, firewall, non-executable bits) the computer will come much more when those are enabled by default. A open box is a open box no matter how much you want to say it is closed.
If Microsoft has got Windows Phone secure enough, it will stay secure no matter is it used by 1.2% of people (like now) or 99% of people.
As the quality of the code and settings rules is it possible or easy enough to crack when compared to risks involved.
Example, by robbing a bank you will have huge amount of money but risk to get cough is huge.
But robbing a single persons here and there in parks, alleys and pick pocketing, you gain much less but same time risk to get cough is much smaller. Typically you end up just beaten or screamed so you need to run few blocks or hide in the public.
Which one you would do? Go to a multiple easy targets with small risks in every of them, or head up to single huge job where risk is very high?
Do you want to steal 100 dollar from from each 100 person to get a 10 000
Or do you want to steal 10 000 from bank?
Bank is more secure, it has more wealth and risks are rised so high that normal thief knows it is out of the league (some will try and fail).
But some thiefs ain't avarage thiefs, they spend lots of time to study, to plan, train and ultimately to execute their plans so they can rob a bank gaining millions. Some does it just by going guns blazing in the bank and some does it with white collars smiling in front of TV-cameras how economy is bad...
Android does have some security problems, they ain't in the code, but in design. It is bad design choice to not allow user to choose what application get to know what data and even block those.
Why every application need to ask permission to use full internet if only needed for Google ads or anonymous usage habit collection to Google service? Why doesn't Google do a own API to Android so every application what need to show ads, could use it and then there would no be need to ask permission for full internet.
That would just relate to situation that when application asks permission to internet connection, user should see bells warning on his mind "why does it need internet connection?". And so on Android could allow user to deny internet connection by default if wanted, but still allow ads to be shown as Android would deliver them itself.
But one reason for that is, Google allows any application developer to show own ads and choose any advertiser what they want. No need to use Google ads if not wanted. But most still does as it is easiest.
ps. If what you say about market share and malware would be true, then Linux would be a tin can full of holes. As most internet servers are ran by it, most super computers, most smart phones, most ADSL and Cable modems... You name it. But it is not about popularity, it is about quality of code and design.
If you can block 99.9% of bad people cracking your software but only give change to 0.01% of very talented people to find the hole what to use, you have succeeded. But if even 20% bad people can crack your software, it ain't good.
pps. Think about AES, Blowfish and other algorithms. They are open. Widely known and used. But even that someone pulls on few years a theoretical study that there is 0.0001% change to crack those a
And I'm serious. While not as versatile towards own-hosted solutions as the old Windows Mobiles, it's still light years beyond Android and iOS. You can easily use your own Exchange server to sync and share your contacts, calendar and other stuff, which gives you true privacy. It also doesn't leak data to Google like Android does, it doesn't have the malware problem that Android has [techcrunch.com] and the phone itself is a full smart phone with an great UI (Windows Mobile somewhat started lacking in this in recent years).
Stop spreading false information.
Android is possible to be configured from the beginning only to use any exchange server as well. You do not need to use any Google services or applications if you do not want to do so.
What comes to malware, so long most serious problems has been in third party resources for applications. And those few in official market, have not been so bad or anything serious. Still, I don't reject that there ain't possibility or anything else. but it is now so widely spread FUD about it that it is already a non-proofed truth.
And Windows Phone 7 GUI shares opinions very well. And that matter is out of the line here in this topic as well, what is about question of privacy concerning contacts and addresses of everyones elses who phone owners has stored to own phone. So far Windows Phone GUI has nothing to do with it, so bringing it to hype it as biased user does not help at all in this discussion.
When you can buy a Windows Phone where there are no single Microsoft service or application installed or need to be used, then come back to talk with the GUI.
Android is more secure and protects much better way the users privacy than your "Windows Phone GUI is awesome" phone does. (The other topic is then how much it is protected or informed the user about risks and same discussion can be gone trough again with any software system out there).
The only time when you need contact with other servers is to download and install apps, which imo is a stupid decision fueled by iOS and Android doing it that way. Old Windows Mobiles always allowed you to install apps the way you wanted, the desktop Windows way. However, I guess that provides some extra security.
Android does not force to use only online services to install applications. User can download application, save it where wanted (dropbox, FTP, webdav, microSD... you name it) and then install it with filemanager to Android device.
The one problem is with Android Market is that you can not download directly from there. But you can install application from there using any web browser (desktop, laptop or even iOS devices or Windows Phone phone) and it gets installed to your Android phone next time you have internet connection (WiFi, 3G etc) and it was activated to Google services and you have Market application installed with Google profile.
So don't spread lies that Android does not allow installing applications with old fashion way as it does. Even I do so sometimes when I want to install non-official Google Maps version where is just enabled navigation every country. And I don't even need a any Google account for that.
PS. N9 does not have MeeGo in it. It has Harmattan. Harmattan and MeeGo are two different products and development branches. Harmattan were code name for Maemo 6.0 (5.0 is in N900) and MeeGo was project of Maemo 5.0 + Moblin.
So do not talk about MeeGo when talking about N9 but only with Harmattan aka Maemo as that is used in it.
Let alone Blackberry's centralized mail servers; there is no way to have an Android smartphone working decently without sharing all of your contacts, calendar appointments, and other stuff with Google.
You have got only partial information somewhere.
You can have pure Android smartphone, without any demands to share your privacy with Google. Period.
If you want to use Android market (market.android.com) then you need to activate your new phone first time to it. It does not mean you need to input your personal email address to it or bond your personal gmail to it. You only need to create a one for your Android market store profile.
You do not need to use other Google services at all.
- Not GMail for email, you can choose what ever just offers POP3/IMAP connection
- Not Google Calender, you can stick what ever just gives standard vcard sharing, even sync manually
- Not Google Contacts (GMail contacts), you can disallow the syncing contacts with Android profile account and keep them in phone only or in SIM card. You can even from contact book sync them with standard vcard to microSD and sync manually.
You don't either need youtube account or anything. Actually you don't even need a Android Market profile if you are willing to get your applications somewhere else than Android Market. Like Amazon store or any other third party who you can trust.
Android Market just makes it easy to install applications (via phone or any browser) to your phones and especially buy them (even that Google changed 24h return time to 15 minutes).
Corporations can at one step totally skip whole Android activation with Google. They can activate the phone to their own exchange environment (I could thing same thing would be possible to do with Linux servers).
So corporation IT department can manage the phone without Google knowing anything at all.
I have used GMail from the beginning when it was just in invitation mode.
I bought my first Android phone 9 months ago, it is a very cheap one (107€ with 2€/month for unlimited data speed and amount and the phone supports 7.2Mbits connection and nearly full speed (750-800KB/s) as hot-spot for computers with ping being 70-90 by avarage.
Before that I owned only a Nokia phones. Symbian before Symbian was terrible, I never used it for any things, even it was classified as smartphone (without touchscreen).
And now, I use Google services very much. Why? Because they integrate very well with the Android and I can really get many benefits from it.
If wanted, I could have kept contacts off from GMail or my calender off from there. But I don't have a home server what to keep online all the time or I don't want to start syncing contacts and other data with my own rented server.
If I would have home server, I would really use it for every thing what Android support.
Did you know that Microsoft has paid to at least one carrier in US to sell Android phones, on what every Google service is replaced with Microsoft own services and user can not install Google services back?
So customer is tied to Microsoft Bing search, Bing maps, Hotmail, Calender etc?
People believe that Android forces customer to Google. That simply ain't true. It is just the easiest and actually most secure way to use smartphone.
Google search .....
Picasa
Google Calender
Google Reader
Youtube
GMail
Google Docs
Google Maps
Google offers so many features and none of those need to even be used with your private contacts, emails, etc. You can just disable the sync or add a new offline account for those in phone.
When it comes to privacy, easiness and many other features. Android just is best, and not even Microsoft have nothing to offer in Windows Phone (7.5 yet... lets see what future shows us).
That same thing happened on 1942 between Hitler and Mannerheim... in that case, it was national radio worker luck that the recorder was on same cabin where they were talking.
It is only recording where Hitler is speaking in privat. Not even Hitlers bodyguard recognized Hitler on it by first as the voice is calm and rational.
http://www.militaryphotos.net/forums/archive/index.php/t-24880.html
http://www.ww2f.com/wwii-general/10807-conversation-between-mannerheim-hitler.html
The International Mobile Equipment Identity or IMEI ( /ami/) is a number, usually unique,[1][2] to identify GSM, WCDMA, and iDEN mobile phones, as well as some satellite phones. It is usually found printed inside the battery compartment of the phone. It can also be displayed on the screen of the phone by entering *#06# into the keypad on most phones.
More from http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/International_Mobile_Equipment_Identity
You see, even that professional thief's and other experts knows how to change IMEI code when they resell phones, most phone users don't and can't.
So go ahead, swap how much you want your SIM card, your phone does not magically become a different phone. Operator even knows who's SIM card was in the phone. So if you loose your phone, operator can check who's SIM is inserted to phone since.
Problem just is that if SIM does not allow roaming so phone conntects to other carrier network, they can not know it right away but only police gets it.
As carrier knows IMEI and knows SIM, why you think that authorities would not get access to that information?
That is worth of news....
How much disk space it would take to store data what is generated by cell location data, time (every 1 minute unless staying still) and signal strength to three cells and store it... lets say for 12 months?
I could bet the amount would be somewhere few megabytes.
A bible fits in compressed form in 10 megabytes.
Would such tracking data (cell towers ID + signal strength three times (every cell) and date+time take much more a year?
Even that in EU every country needs to store every data for at least 6 months, they include phone numbers where you call/receive calls, text, email addresses and their subjects and more likely even every address/IP what you have type to your web browser.
How it feels? And that is all day long. They know all the time on what cell your phone is connected and what other two cells are in near area if just in range. Of course they know your home address but...
For normal user, it could be just stored a three cells, time and only new data when cell is changing. But those who are wanted to be tracked, it would be one above, what could give accuracy in meters.
Every phone has UID and every SIM has UID. You can swap both, but first one is harder to do by avarage user.
Agencies have been offered a such neat system to do automatic location tracking almost every possible person.
Would someone say in CIA or NSA that they do not want that data or even possibility to get its collection started when needed?
This is actually well explained....
The voice-operated computer in Star Trek is an even more egregious example of designing an audience interface rather than a user interface. Spoken commands and spoken responses make it easy for the audience to follow the action, but it's a very inefficient way of controlling a complex system.
In predictions about computing's future, voice interaction is a perennial favorite — it probably even beats 3D, which is the other top contender for most over-hyped UI technology. While voice has its place, it's even less suitable than 3D for most everyday interactions because it's a less data-rich channel and it's harder to specify something in words than to choose it on a graphical display.
http://www.useit.com/alertbox/film-ui-bloopers.html
Of course it does make sense to be possible activate or deactivate auto-destruct when running in halls but really, many of the Star Trek voice commands and questions are like La Forge asks computer "Does beam penetrate the mass of the rock?" or something else what anyone could see right away by looking the screen on front of them.
If I want to know what is weather forecast, I check app or widget.
If I want to know can I walk from A to B, I click point on the map and I get directions.
If I want to move my meeting from 2pm to 3pm, I simply drag meeting on calender.
If I want to call someone, I simply press few letters in dialer (T9 feature) and I am one click away calling or texting to person
If I driving, I use hands free and I can simply answer to call or reject it by pushing button in hands free or in car wheel.
And all those I can do without speaking aloud in awkward situation.
And when I am in car and I want to send SMS, I can use Android own voice control for that. :-), Send".
The thing is, people should call if the topic is important, people do not expect answer right away in SMS.
In 60 second call, people can share more information than using SMS for same conversation. And it is much cheaper even by that way (unless you have those 10 000 SMS a month packages).
So only reason not to call or talk to phone, is when you are in situation where you can not talk. Like meeting, library or something similar. Hands free gives freedom to speak same time as driving and even then it is faster to share things than talking to phone "Text to person X, Can we meet today?
If I need to push a button on iPhone to get siri listen, why I should use it instead clicking a widget or app to get what I want?
Those people who are slow to write anything (or are (partially) blind), those can get better results with the siri than typing, if they dont know have correct search engine link in phone. Like press Menu button long or search button and type search and you got it.
If Google has been collecting such data about the most common english transliteration for the most common words in other languages, it has a treasure trove of stuff. If that probability engine could be adapted to voice, it would have a global reach. If Siri has an American English focus, its lead is definitely not two years. Do not count the non-native English speakers out.
Have you checked out Google translator? https://market.android.com/details?id=com.google.android.apps.translate&feature=search_result
It has great potential to be a actually universal translator among normal users. But how many will know about that app again versus siri?
Apple has crossed a threshold; people now expect that you should be able to expect to speak ordinary English — and be understood.
That is the key phrase what is only needed to know.
Most people follows what Apple presents. Google has actually never made any such media attention that when Google few years ago released Android with voice control it would been written in media and people would have know Android capabilities.
Now it is illusion vs reality and illusion is always accepted like blind faith when big corporation is presented in all media. So the reality has lost a case from a start as no one wants to believe anymore that such technology (like voice recognition) is already existing and in use daily purposes.
Now people believe that Apple made something special what no one has done earlier. Truth is, technology is out there, it is in use. But it is not so widely known by people that there are others than just Apple who does those things.
It is same situation with big corporations vs Open Source community.
Like what features you are waiting/missing?
The desktop should not be a widget, gadget, or any other form of "app" because it's the desktop. It's supposed to take priority.
Then why you are using a GNOME 2.x where desktop is actually a Nautilus?
You did know that Nautilus is used to draw the desktop? Right?
And you did know that you can run just KWin as it is the window manager and you dont need to load a shell, the plasma? Right?
I love that users can actually continue using their loving software, even if corporation or community what is responsible maintaining the software is heading own direction.
I love KDE4 more than KDE 3.5 and that is because the speed and simplicity with great amount of features and now since 4.7 there is more than what 3.5 had. I have even ran 4.7 on old AMD Athlon 1800Mhz, 1 Gigabyte RAM with Nvidia GT4xxx and it just worked fine without problems. The HDD was bottleneck and when I tried SSD on it by swapping such to it with IDE adapter it just blow my mind out how fast KDE 4.7 has come from 4.0-4.2 versions.
People still don't like to give a change for newer KDE but it is their miss. They have rights to stick with KDE 3.5 if they want but I dont see a point on it so much.
I hope the Trinity 3.5 will get new ideas and features what can be added later then to 4.x or 5.x series if they are great and innovative.
Well, I got the idea from the translation and it is MUCH BETTER situation than trying to use paper dictionary and browse trough all the words to find out the meaning or not understanding at all what is written.
Even a 20% success is better than 0%
How about just being smart and using a chair what makes your body position like you would be standing but you still are relaxed as you sit on your hip bones? http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ySsoYF0LitE
I have used such chair for 10 years now without any problems. That does demand if you work in office, that you have correct table height as well.
I know many places where Salli is being used, from local stores to offices and almost any places. And only very positive results I have heard from it (the oldest models had little problems with mens genitals what were fixed in next generation versions).
Just check out the models http://salli.com/langSelection/
GPL is not toxic.
Pure freedom is even worse situation than pure chaos. You need limitations and rules what can not be done and what should be done.
A World without loyalties is a world without moral and ethics.
Moral and ethics are what are missing from people who are psychopaths and greedy. They have better success to be leaders as they don't need to think about others but than them self's. And then they rule others without feeling bad when they do ethically and morally wrong things, just to save little money or please those who they keep as their friends.
Leaving a job can be arranged with the others, making a timetable what you want to get done before leaving if the time is just possible.
Example with case, saying you are planning to leave in about 6 months as you get new people understand what is their tasks and skills are high enough.
Loyalty is not one way road, it is two way road. When you are loyal to someone, he/she is (should be) loyal to you as well.
So it is about diplomacy to discuss and then corporation should be loyal to you as well and help worker to leave in better way without neither one feeling bad that worker left the company.
But when we live the world where there is no loyalty, even people leave their girlfriends and boyfriends with SMS, Twitter tweet or Facebook message, you should not be loyal to those who were not loyal to you too in the first place.
You should not hire such person, nor promote such person. Unless people learn to honor others and being loyal to others, they are bad people.
Not Linux but GNOME. Operating System has nothing to do with the User Interface.
We have single Operating System (Linux kernel) and multiple dozens different User Interfaces for it (GNOME Shell example) and you are free to choose what you want for what purpose.
If you tap the Windows key and start typing, like in previous versions it will start searching for what you typed. So that still works the same, at least.
Yeah, I use a GUI because I love typing commands so much.
I have no idea why this was modded up except that it suits someone's anti-CLI groupthink. Meta-commentary aside...
Sarcasm is reason why it was modded up
And if someone does not know what KickOff is:
Original presentation http://home.kde.org/~binner/kickoff/sneak_preview.html
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xXcFB9Gc7V0 (Not so great as it is flipped around as it is positioned to top panel)
Please, someone working with Samsung, HTC or any of those companies, please send the documents to wikileaks. Let them to rip off the sensitive data of who leaked it to cover your asses and blow up the whole fucking shit back to Microsoft face.
Do the right thing and show the world what kind asshole and abusive corporation the Microsoft is for whole world.
Do the right thing.....
At somepoint, someone need to stand up and stop the stupid chair game so everyone could actually sit down and start helping whole world without one corporation ruling what and when can be invented and brought to public.
Please, who would do that for 10 000 hours of VHS tapes (about 3000 VHS cassettes)?
And how long you think it takes to record trough capture card from VHS about 10 000 hours of video and when single video has typically 2-3 movies?
It means you need to record 10 000 hours those videos. As there is no easy way to fast-copy them like DVD or other digital format.
10 000 hours means over 412 days. So unless you are ready to 24/7 recording, swapping and cutting videos....
And even if you would digitize 2 tapes a day, saying 3-4 hours per tape so 6-8 hours a day. It would take 3 333 days what is 9.2 years.
And when you have done that, you have one new generation video format ahead of you.
So if there would be a VHS digitalizer what takes 10 VHS tapes to batch and then fastly reads them (8-12X speed) and sends digital A/V trough USB3 or Lightbolt interface for 4 terabyte storage device, then it is no-go.