Android 4.1 causing problems with paid apps

The Google Android Jelly Bean 4.1 operating system employs encryption which is creating problems especially for paid apps.

Google's latest operating system, the Android Jelly bean 4.1 is apparently causing serious problems with paid applications. Owing to the newly added application encryption system adopted for the Android Jelly Bean, the paid applications are loosing their credentials and information after the device restarts.

The Google Android Jelly Bean 4.1 operating system employs encryption of applications especially in the case of paid application in order to reduce and eliminate piracy of apps. This is done by choosing a different install location for paid applications. This potentially eliminates all the possible piracy options.

While Google has addressed piracy issues with each new OS release such as with Jelly Bean's App Encryption, its solution has ended up being worse for developers. Apparently developers are claiming encryption (the location of installed and encrypted apps from the Play Store) makes their apps completely unusable because account information is removed after a device reboot.

Due to lack of information, the paid applications and widgets fail to proceed as the information they seek is either not accessible or has already been removed due to reboot of the device.

As of now, there is no official solution to this problem but Google has disabled the encryption feature. But the developers are working hard as to get the security and encryption feature back on track as soon as possible.

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No more "Metro UI" for Windows 8

Microsoft no longer wants to use the term "Metro User Interface" for its upcoming Windows products.

Global software giant Microsoft has been using the term 'Metro' for the new user interface that made its debut with the Windows Phone 7.5 Mango. But with the upcoming Windows 8 operating system, Microsoft is set to rename the 'Metro User Interface' as the 'New User Interface' or the 'Windows 8 style User Interface'.

As reported by ARS Technica, Microsoft's legal and corporate affairs team has issued an internal memo banning the use of the word "Metro" with regards to Windows. As per the report, Microsoft has in the memo clarified that the decision was taken after German retailer, Metro AG, sent a notice to Microsoft threatening legal action for infringing the "Metro" trademark held by it.

The new terminology that Microsoft will be using in regard with its upcoming operating system will be "Windows 8-style UI" when talking about Windows 8 applications, and "New User Interface" when talking about the company's product line-up.

As per a Microsoft spokesman, "We have used 'Metro style' as a code name during the product development cycle across many of our product lines. As we get closer to launch and transition from industry dialog to a broad consumer dialog we will use our commercial names."

Whatever might be the reason for the change but finally no Metro user interface will be available for Windows 8 which is to be launched in the month of October this year.

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Just forward unsolicited SMSs to punish sender

In recent months, mobile users have seen a resurgence in messages from real estate agents, travel agents and even those offering to send bulk SMSs.

With unsolicited SMSs still haunting mobile users in India, Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (TRAI) has now come out with a new proposal under which telecom users just need to forward the SMS to 1909 to punish the sender.

According to a proposal by the telecom regulator, apart from providing an easy way to complain about unsolicited messages, there will also be a provision of Rs 500 fine from the first violation itself and cancellation of connection of unregistered telemarketers on the tenth violation.

The plan is to get access providers to put in place a system that blocks the delivery of unsolicited SMSs that carry similar signatures and come from a number that sends more than a specified number of messages every hour. Even banks or travel portals that send messages related to transactions will now have to hire registered telemarketers, the regulator suggested.

In recent months, mobile users have seen resurgence in messages from real estate agents, travel agents and even those offering to send bulk SMSs, which TRAI said came from unregistered telemarketers who used 10-digit numbers.

One of the reasons behind the surge, a senior officer in the regulator agency said, was the Delhi High Court order lifting the ceiling of 200 text messages a day, a decision which the regulator has decided to appeal against in the Supreme Court.

Although the regulator and the government have moved from a system of a Do-Not Call register a few years ago, it was revamped last September with mobile users given the option to register to fully block or partially block pesky messages. Besides, only registered telemarketers could call.

While the messages did stop, they resumed within a few days as marketers discovered a loophole and started routing messages from other countries. The TRAI official, however, said the regulator had plugged the gap, referred to as modem farming, as it had asked service providers to scrub bulk messages coming from foreign shores.

The draft regulation proposes that operators collect an undertaking from consumers at the time of purchase that the SIM purchased will not be used for telemarketing; and one from transactional message sending entities that they will use only registered telemarketers for their promotional activities.

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RIM wanted BlackBerry with Android OS?

Research in Motion has no second thoughts about leaving BlackBerry OS or options for any other operating system, but still there were certain options.

After the announcement of the delay of the BlackBerry OS 10 by Research In Motion, there were quite a few rumors about RIM in search of different operating systems for its device just in case the BlackBerry OS 10 fails to do the magic. But while the company might be warding off the rumors by saying they will stick with BlackBerry OS, the chief executive officer of RIM Thorsten Heins did mentioned a slight inclination towards Android when it comes to choices. Although not said clearly, this indeed confirms that RIM did think about Android as a viable option for sustaining the BlackBerry platform.

According to an interview given to the telegraph, Thorsten Heins said "We took the conscious decision not to go Android. If you look at other suppliers' ability to differentiate, there's very little wiggle room. We looked at it seriously - but if you understand what the promise of BlackBerry to its user base, it's all about getting stuff done. Very little time to consume and enjoy content - if you stay true to that purpose you have to build on that basis. And if we want to serve that segment we can't do it on a me-too approach."

Although it was not the preferred choice for the developers out at RIM but it certainly was one of the options.

BlackBerry has always been a great platform and while with the new operating system company will be coming up with a host of new things as well. BlackBerry OS 10 will allow for "true multitasking", potentially running a car's navigation, entertainment and gaming systems for the whole family.

Well all things have settled now, and RIM will be showcasing the BlackBerry OS 10 based devices next year and looking at the present beta version of the operating system, we would say that some pretty exciting times are just up the horizon.

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