Android TV Stick To Turn Your TV Into A Smart Device.

Time to turn your regular TV into a smart TV! W2Comp has launched MK809 III Android TV stick, a small device that can be plugged into you TV to run Android apps on the television screen. 

Those interested can start pre-ordering for MK809 III at a price of $89. The Android TV stick comes pre-loaded with Android 4.2 (Jelly Bean) and has a powerful Quad core processor to power the device. It is bundled with 2 GB RAM and ARM Mali-400 graphics. The stick comes with an 8 GB internal storage, which is expandable via MicroSD card. This space can be used to store and view pictures, videos and other files on your TV. The device supports full 1080p HDMI videos as well.

According to W2Comp, "MK809 III is a tiny computer that fits in the palm of your hands. It looks like a slightly bulky USB flash drive, but it actually has a processor, RAM, storage, and I/O ports, which make it a Mini PC. Another nifty thing which you can do with the MK809 III is control it from your phone, tablet or computer. By installing Splashtop Remote Streamer (available from the Google Play Store) on the device you can control the functioning of the device by using any other Splashtop enabled device!"

The device supports Bluetooth 4.0 and Wi-Fi connectivity. It connects with the HDMI port on the TV and enables the user to surf the Internet, read news, watch videos by using a wireless mouse and keyboard. Wireless mouse and keyboard are also up for order on W2Comp website. 

 EFYTIMES News Network 

Don't blame Windows 8 for slumping PC sales

PC sales are slumping and the technological prophets of doom are quick to point the finger at Microsoft and its Windows 8 operating system.

Last week IDC Vice President Bob O'Donnell not only expressed disappointment that Windows 8 wasn't able to reverse the trend, but asserted that Windows 8 was the reason for the slowing market.

But the PC sales problem doesn't begin or end with Windows 8. Even if Windows 8 were the most well-received and critically acclaimed operating system ever, PC sales would probably still slump.

Why? Tablets.

Even if they won't render the PC obsolete, the rise of tablets and smartphones have certainly made them less necessary in our day-to-day lives. They are no longer just an accessory to the PC. In many cases, they're a functional alternative.

The tablet market has grown rapidly since 2010, with the latest reports signaling the space is on its way to becoming a $64 billion industry, with 150 million units expected to ship this year, according to ABI Research.

When you compare the rapid growth of tablets to the general decline of PCs, it's evident people are opting for a tablet to supplement -- and sometimes even replace -- their aging computers at home. By 2015, Gartner expects tablet sales to exceed PC sales for the first time.

Although PCs are still very much the best tool for work and other productivity-related tasks, tablets (and in many cases, phones) can now handle the vast majority of activities we need them for: Web browsing, email, messaging, music, video, social networking, etc. They're slimmer, lighter and more versatile.

It's not unlike the move from tower PCs to laptops in the early 2000s, when the portable computers started to offer an experience on par with their stationary counterparts. The only major difference this time around is that a whole different set of players are leading the tablet space -- from the hardware to the software makers.

Another factor dooming the PC: Most computers purchased within the last five years can still perform admirably today.

New computers are noticeably better, but for the large swath of consumers who are turning to phones and tablets for all their casual computing, the necessity of regularly buying a new computer has become less pronounced. For those who sit in front of a home PC just a handful of times a week, they are probably fine extending the life of a slightly creaky machine.

So it's not so much that Microsoft (MSFT, Fortune 500) has scared everyone away. It's just that everyone was already drifting towards the latest evolution of the PC -- something new, exciting, and at times, better.

Trying to protect the top dog status of the PC now is like trying to preserve the status of the vinyl record over CDs. They're superior in certain aspects, sure, but they're also significantly less convenient.

And that was really Microsoft's main mission in creating Windows 8 -- not to save PCs, but to guide the company through a transition when the capabilities of tablets and PCs are merging. Microsoft wants Windows to run on both. The strategy understands the importance of keeping the PC around, but Microsoft ultimately realizes that most people will eventually opt for a tablet as their main "computer."

Microsoft investors aren't necessarily convinced, however. The stock is down about 4% since the first quarter PC sales numbers came out. On Thursday, Microsoft will give shareholders a glimpse of the first full quarter of Windows 8 sales. They probably won't be pretty, but investors would likely be well served to take a long-term view.

cnn.com

Joy Market: Ghana's fastest growing platform

With over 700+ registered businesses and thousands of daily active buyers in such a short time, Joy Market is turning into Ghana's fastest growing online platform. Myjoyonline and UFRICA (http://www.ufrica.com/) are proud to present their partnership in Ghana’s first free interactive online marketplace: JoyMarket (http://www.myjoymarket.com). 

For those of you that haven't heard of Joy Market yet, this is why Ghanaians are making it into a success:

JoyMarket is an easy, one-stop shop where users can reach a Ghana-wide audience with just a few clicks. This online platform simply makes shopping and selling time-efficient. We've introduced innovative navigational features and possibilities to help users quickly and easily complete business interactions.

JoyMarket connects diverse and passionate Ghanaian individuals, communities and businesses with each other through an interactive marketplace experience, where practically anyone can buy & sell or offer practically anything online.

JoyMarket offers users easy-to-use search tools, engaging content and time saving navigation hand-in-hand with user-generated content through MyJoy’s passionately engaged community.

The marketplace experience is further enhanced with various social features, including the possibility to allow for unique user interactions, unique profile pages for both consumers and businesses, ands many supportive features such as instant price negotiation capabilities with the click of a button.

Whether you’re looking to buy, have something to sell, or want to promote your business online, check out http://www.myjoymarket.comtoday!

TECNO to open door for Ghanaian app developers

Tecno Ghana says it would soon start a project to provide the opportunity for young Ghanaian app developers to design applications specially for Tecno branded smartphones.

The company said it is going viral with affordable but high quality smartphones to enable all Ghanaians own smartphones that march the quality of the top brands on the market. And the plus would be apps that are developed by young Ghanaians.

Head of Marketing and Communications at Tecno Ghana, Jocelene Buckman told Adom Business “we are looking at young Ghanaian app developers coming up with apps that are relevant locally and globally."

She said the project would be in the form of a challenge, where the best apps would emerge as winning apps, and the young developers behind them would then be given the opportunity to fine tune them for Tecno for a fee.

“This is part of our dream to have some local content in Tecno handsets and also give young Ghanaian ICT talents the opportunity to live and grow their dreams and also earn a decent living while doing so,” she said.

The company is also on course to start its assembling plant within the Tema Free Zones enclave soon.

Buckman hinted that company officials have had meetings with the relevant authorities and sooner than later they would start the construction of a plant that would, at full capacity, assemble up to one million handsets for the West African market.

Meanwhile, the company has only recently launched its new and second smartphone, the 3.75G Android dual-sim Tecno N7, which came after the groundbreaking Tecno N3.

Jocelene Buckman said Tecno N3 is currently selling between 7,000 and 8,000 handsets every month, and the new Tecno N7 sold over 200 in just the first week of its release three months ago, prior to the recent official launch.

She is confident the new handset, which is its flagship product, would do well on the Ghanaian market because it comes with the Android 4.0 Ice Cream Sandwich, and a 1GHz dual core processor, running on a 5-inch touch screen, comparable with the Samsung Galaxy Note II.

The inbuilt memory is 4GB and the operating memory is 512MB, but the company gives an 8GB memory card for free with every purchase, and the memory is expandable to 32GB.

It also comes with a free Tecno branded pouch, and MTN SIM card plus 500MB data for free. The Tecno N7 has a 5 megapixel rear camera and 0.3 megapixel front camera.

Jocelene Buckman said users can download up to 800,000 applications on the phone, and the 3.75G feature gives users great experience in terms of data speeds.

“One of the applications worthy of mention is the Flash Share, a unique transfer software that allows one to share files of any format and size at an amazingly fast speed and does not require internet connectivity, WIFI or SIM card,” she said.

She said Tecno’s aim is to empower the young Africans with a more superior smartphone with high-end performance and a better user experience, but affordable too.

In that direction, the company hinted it would, by June this year, release a new Tecno F7 phablet that would march the quality of any smartphone on the market and it would come with a 6.1 touch screen, plus 13 mega pixels rear camera.

“We have already shown samples of the new phone to our partners and they are over excited about it just as we are. The unique thing about our phone is that it has the same quality as the big brands but it is dual SIM and it is also affordable,” Jocelene Buckman said.

She also hinted that the company would follow up soon with its branded tablet and several other smartphones would follow in the course of the year.

General Manager, Operations at Tecno Ghana, Derek Nkrumah said the new Tecno handsets, come with 13 months warranty, adding that it case of a fault, the company would fix the handset and return to the owner within just 24 hours.

Tecno Mobile was the first company in the world to start producing dual SIM phones. They have since driven everybody, including the big boys like Nokia and Samsung to start producing dual SIM phones, while Tecno itself has moved on to tri-SIM and quadruple-SIM feature phones.

Tecno phones is number three on the handsets market and revenue share charts in Ghana, with a little over 8.5% market share and about 4% revenue share. It is behind Samsung and Nokia, which are first and second respectively.

Six Android apps you'll Love !

Feedly (free)

With Google Reader set to go away very soon, Feedly might be your best bet as an app that lets you access your RSS feeds while on the go. It looks great, works well, and even features two-way syncing with Google Reader. Also, according to its developers, Feedly will offer a seamless transition once Google's service officially bites the dust.

Compared with other RSS readers out there, Feedly is exceptionally visual. It makes use of large images and incorporates magazine-style layouts. To many, this is a good thing. But for those out there who are looking for a simpler text-based list, similar to Google Reader, this might not be the app for you.

If you do decide to try Feedly, you can expect a wealth of features that enhance your reading experience. The app comes with themes and other customization options, integration with bookmarking tool Pocket, and more. The app even offers suggestions for interesting sites that you can subscribe to with a single tap.

You can also get Feedly for iOS.

SpellTower ($1.99)

If Boggle and Bejeweled had a love child, SpellTower would be it.

In SpellTower, your goal is to find as many high-value words as you can among the board of lettered tiles (just like in Boggle). Thing is, as you find these words, the used tiles disappear, causing the remaining tiles to drop down and occupy the empty space (just as in Bejeweled). The result is a board that continues to change throughout your game. So, as you can imagine, when playing SpellTower, it is in your best interests to think ahead, and try to set yourself up for big moves as you go. And did I mention there's a multiplayer mode that is very much like those old-school Tetris head-to-head battles?

You can also get SpellTower for iOS.

PushBullet (free)

PushBullet may not be the most popular app on this list, but it is a good one. Consider it a sleeper hit. PushBullet is the easiest way to get files, links, notes, lists, and addresses from your desktop computer to your mobile device. Once you install it, all you have to do is log in to the PushBullet Web site on your computer, then use one of the modules to push an item to your device. Once you do so, the item will appear in your Android notification bar, so you can access it with a single tap.

It's fast, reliable, and easy to use. Plus, PushBullet lets you add multiple mobile devices to your account, which widens your pushing possibilities considerably.

Songza (free)

Songza is not your typical streaming-music app. It offers a different take on radio, as it tries to match the perfect playlist with your mood or whatever activity you happen to currently be engaged.

While other music apps start you off with a search bar, Songza gives you a Concierge screen, where it presents you with choices of different activities (e.g. working out, doing housework, or taking the day off). Here, you can either pick the one you're currently engaged in, or bypass the choices to look for more. In the end, Songza will serve you up a playlist that the company's curators deem appropriate for the given activity.

Candy Crush Saga (free)

Voted "Best Social Game" at the International Mobile Gaming Awards, Candy Crush Saga takes the popular match-three style of game to another level by adding a variety of special game pieces (candies), "boosters," and objectives that go beyond simply scoring a lot of points. With its addictive gameplay, simple controls, and whimsical, circus-themed animation, it is very difficult not to develop a sweet tooth for this game. Some might call it a Bejeweled clone, but with its variety of levels, Candy Crush Saga is so much more.

You can also get Candy Crush Saga for iOS.

Cinemagram (free)

While some might be quick to call Cinemagram nothing more than a Vine clone, the reality is that this app has quite a few features that set it apart from its Twitter-owned rival. Chief among these is its ability to create cinemagraphs, which are essentially hybrid photo-videos.

To create a cinemagraph, you must first record video footage. From there, all you have to do is draw a mask around the portion of the screen that you want to remain in motion, and the rest will remain a static photo. If you've never seen a cinemagraph, they can be beautifully artistic or sometimes downright creepy.

You can also get Cinemagram for iOS.

cnet.com

Android phones to top 1 Billion by year's end!

(Credit: Maggie Reardon/CNET)

Google's chairman likewise predicts that number of smartphones using the operating system will total 2 billion within another year or two.

One billion people will be using Android smartphones within the next six to nine months, Google Chairman Eric Schmidt predicted today, noting the operating system continues gaining traction across the globe.

Schmidt, speaking during the AllThingsD mobile conference in New York, also said there will be nearly 2 billion Android phones within a year or two. Currently, there are more than 750 million Android phones in use across 320 carriers and 160 countries, Schmidt said, and there are 1.5 million sales or activations of Android every day.

"Android is by far the primary vehicle by which people are going to see smartphones," Schmidt said. "Our goal is to reach everybody."

He noted that falling prices will help boost Android in the market, with devices expected to touch$75 to $100. Most of those devices will come from Asian manufacturers, including Samsung.

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Google Glass Specs Revealed; Shipping Starts Today

 

Contrary to reports that Google Glass will be shipping from May, the search-engine giant has shared the hardware specs of its wearable device and started shipping the Explorer edition of Google Glass to developers starting from today. Developers who had pre-ordered the Glass have started receiving mail from Google, which informs them about the initiation of shipping.

The Glass-like device is expected to be part of a technological revolution, wherein more and more devices will become wearable. We've already heard about the Android-based smartwatch, that practically everyone is working on, which includes the likes of Microsoft, Apple, Samsung, LG and even Google.

Google has also shared the details about Google Glass. The Glass sports a 640x360p display, which is equivalent to 63.5-cm (25-inch) high definition screen from a distance of eight feet. It has a 5 MP camera that supports 720p video recording. The audio output on the Glass will be possible via bone conduction transduce.

For connectivity, the Glass has Wi-Fi and Bluetooth support and comes with 12 GB internal storage capacity, which is synced with Google Drive. In terms of back-up, the battery of Google Glass will last for a day but using hangouts or video recording can reduce the battery back-up. 

So how does the Google Glass fit? The answer is it has adjustable nose-pads and durable frame that fits any face. The charger included with the Glass are micro-USB cable and charger. The Glass is compatible with any Bluetooth-capable phone that offers smartphone users across varied segment to use the wearable device.

To further proceedings, Google has launched MyGlass app on Google Play, which can be used for configuring and managing the device. Kindly note, the app is compatible with devices running Android 4.0 aka Ice Cream Sandwich or above.

With May just around the corner, Google is sending e-mails to the developers who signed up for the Glass Explorer program informing them that the production of initial batch is complete and the company is working on more. These devices will reach developers soon. 

EFYTIMES News Network 

Wordpress website targeted by hackers

Wordpress has been attacked by a botnet of "tens of thousands" of individual computers since last week, according to server hosters Cloudflare and Hostgator.

The botnet targets Wordpress users with the username "admin", trying thousands of possible passwords.

The attack began a week after Wordpress beefed up its security with an optional two-step authentication log-in option.

The site currently powers 64m websites read by 371m people each month.

According to survey website W3Techs, around 17% of the world's websites are powered by Wordpress.

"Here's what I would recommend: If you still use 'admin' as a username on your blog, change it, use a strong password," wrote Wordpress founder Matt Mullenweg on his blog.

He also advised adopting two-step authentication, which involves a personalised "secret number" allocated to users in addition to a username and password, and ensuring that the latest version of Wordpress is installed.

"Most other advice isn't great - supposedly this botnet has more than 90,000 IP addresses, so an IP-limiting or login-throttling plugin isn't going to be great (they could try from a different IP [address] a second for 24 hours)," Mr Mullenweg added.

Matthew Prince, Chief Executive and co-founder of Cloudflare, said that the aim of the attack may have been to build a stronger botnet.

"One of the concerns of an attack like this is that the attacker is using a relatively weak botnet of home PCs in order to build a much larger botnet of beefy servers in preparation for a future attack," he wrote in a blog post.

"These larger machines can cause much more damage in DDoS [Distributed Denial of Service] attacks because the servers have large network connections and are capable of generating significant amounts of traffic," he added.

bbc.co.uk