Lowyat.NET: Latest topics by vettel

Iphone 5s top smartphone in the world

vettel — Sat, 14 Dec 2013 11:27:29 +0800

QUOTE

Apple’s iPhone 5s is the world’s bestselling phone for two months in a row now

According to Counterpoint’s Monthly Market Pulse report for October 2013, Apple’s iPhone 5s continued to be the bestselling phone globally during October. iPhone 5s sales saw an upward sales momentum as Apple continued expansive roll-out for its flagship model thus further widening the gap with its arch rival’s flagship model Samsung’s Galaxy S4. Apple’s iPhone 5s topped the best-seller’s list despite the component shortages causing long waiting periods in several channels. However, we expect supply constraints to ease resulting in supply to meet a relatively stronger demand in November & December.

- iPhone 5s pushes Apple’s share up in US, Japan and now China

Apple’s iPhone 5s helped Apple surpass Samsung in the US as well as maintain its leadership position in the Japanese smartphone market during October. Apple’s smartphone marketshare climbed to 12% mark in China in October, instantly making it the 3rd largest smartphone player in the market up from a modest 3% share in September. Although the iPhone 5s didn’t attract long queues outside Apple retails stores as the iPhone 4S did couple of years ago but it definitely was more successful compared to what iPhone 5 registered in terms of overall sales in a month. Also, with China Mobile deal on the horizon, Apple iPhone 5s at all three carriers will for sure ignite a ‘price war’ boosting the overall iPhone 5s sales in China. This might allow Apple to even reach the No. 1 smartphone player in December or January in China.

Meanwhile, the Galaxy S4 sales saw a temporary uptick due to a price discount in some markets during October. However, with Galaxy Note III capturing the limelight, it has pushed Galaxy S4 towards the end of its ‘flagship lifecycle’. Galaxy S4 sales continued to lose its mojo after enjoying roughly 9 months of flagship lifecycle. Whereas, Galaxy Note III sales rose fast during the month as the phablet became the fifth bestseller only after 40 days of launch which is exceptional performance for a device perceived to be niche. Samsung’s products took about half of the top 10 list and the top 20 list as it exercised its marketing and distribution muscle to sell its broad and deep Galaxy smartphone portfolio. Few of Nokia’s Asha phones also were in the top 20 list alongside the hit Lumia 520 which drove the Windows Phone momentum across prepaid markets of Europe, US and Asia during October.

Meanwhile, TCL-Alcatel and Huawei had one device each in the top 20 bestselling list. Based on the October performance and channel trends we estimate TCL-Alcatel and Huawei will be the fastest growing brands in Q4 2013 surpassing the growth of domestic rivals Lenovo and ZTE. Both the vendors are doing well in Latin America, Asia and will benefit from expanding channels across Europe and North America.

http://www.counterpointresearch.com/top-10...sets-in-october

[RED ALERT] Must-Read Android users

vettel — Sat, 07 Dec 2013 16:06:56 +0800

Millions of Android users 'deceived' by flashlight app that shares location with advertisers

An Android developer has agreed to settle charges with the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) over a free flashlight app that has been "deceiving" users. Brightest Flashlight Free, available in the Google Play store, has been downloaded over 50 million times, but a complaint from the FTC reveals that the seemingly innocent app transmits “precise location” data to third-party advertisers alongside a unique device identifier. The FTC says an option to prevent the location-sharing “deceived consumers,” as the data was automatically shared before users could disable it.

“When consumers are given a real, informed choice, they can decide for themselves whether the benefit of a service is worth the information they must share to use it,” says Jessica Rich, director of the FTC’s Bureau of Consumer Protection. “But this flashlight app left them in the dark about how their information was going to be used.” The FTC’s settlement forces GoldenShores Technologies, the app developer, to provide more control over the location sharing and not misrepresent how the data is being used and shared. GoldenShores Technologies must also delete all the data it previously collected as part of the FTC settlement.

QUOTE

The creator of one of the most popular apps for Android mobile devices has agreed to settle Federal Trade Commission charges that the free app, which allows a device to be used as a flashlight, deceived consumers about how their geolocation information would be shared with advertising networks and other third parties.

Goldenshores Technologies, LLC, managed by Erik M. Geidl, is the company behind the “Brightest Flashlight Free” app, which has been downloaded tens of millions of times by users of the Android operating system. The FTC’s complaint alleges that the company’s privacy policy deceptively failed to disclose that the app transmitted users’ precise location and unique device identifier to third parties, including advertising networks. In addition, the complaint alleges that the company deceived consumers by presenting them with an option to not share their information, even though it was shared automatically rendering the option meaningless.

“When consumers are given a real, informed choice, they can decide for themselves whether the benefit of a service is worth the information they must share to use it,” said Jessica Rich, Director of the FTC’s Bureau of Consumer Protection. “But this flashlight app left them in the dark about how their information was going to be used.”

In its complaint, the FTC alleges that Goldenshores’ privacy policy told consumers that any information collected by the Brightest Flashlight app would be used by the company, and listed some categories of information that it might collect. The policy, however, did not mention that the information would also be sent to third parties, such as advertising networks.

Consumers also were presented with a false choice when they downloaded the app, according to the complaint. Upon first opening the app, they were shown the company’s End User License Agreement, which included information on data collection. At the bottom of the license agreement, consumers could click to “Accept” or “Refuse” the terms of the agreement. Even before a consumer had a chance to accept those terms, though, the application was already collecting and sending information to third parties – including location and the unique device identifier.

The settlement with the FTC prohibits the defendants from misrepresenting how consumers’ information is collected and shared and how much control consumers have over the way their information is used. The settlement also requires the defendants to provide a just-in-time disclosure that fully informs consumers when, how, and why their geolocation information is being collected, used and shared, and requires defendants to obtain consumers’ affirmative express consent before doing so.

The defendants also will be required to delete any personal information collected from consumers through the Brightest Flashlight app.

The Commission vote to accept the consent agreement package containing the proposed consent order for public comment was 4-0.

The FTC will publish a description of the consent agreement package in the Federal Register shortly. The agreement will be subject to public comment for 30 days, beginning today and continuing through Jan. 6, 2014, after which the Commission will decide whether to make the proposed consent order final. Interested parties can submit written comments electronically or in paper form by following the instructions in the “Invitation To Comment” part of the “Supplementary Information” section. Comments can be submitted electronically via the Commission’s comment submission page. Comments in paper form should be mailed or delivered to: Federal Trade Commission, Office of the Secretary, Room H-113 (Annex D), 600 Pennsylvania Avenue, N.W., Washington, DC 20580. The FTC is requesting that any comment filed in paper form near the end of the public comment period be sent by courier or overnight service, if possible, because U.S. postal mail in the Washington area and at the Commission is subject to delay due to heightened security precautions.

http://www.ftc.gov/news-events/press-relea...ges-it-deceived

(Sold)Samsung Note 3 LTE White Superb Condition

vettel — Mon, 04 Nov 2013 14:56:59 +0800

Congrats successful buyer.

sold

vettel — Sun, 03 Nov 2013 13:48:26 +0800

***sold***

sold

vettel — Sun, 03 Nov 2013 12:44:04 +0800

***sold***

[WTB]Blackberry Q10 Used (White preferred)

vettel — Mon, 28 Oct 2013 22:47:29 +0800

Item(s):

Blackberry Q10 Used
White (Preferred)

Brightstar/Brightpoint set is a MUST

Price:

RM 1,100 - 1,200

(add 100 for sealed set)

Dealing method:

COD only

Location of seller:

USJ Taipan

Contact method/details:

BBM 75F72D4C

Lowyat.NET: Latest topics by vettel

Iphone 5s top smartphone in the world

[***RED ALERT***] Must-Read Android users

(Sold)Samsung Note 3 LTE White Superb Condition

***sold***

***sold***

[WTB]Blackberry Q10 Used (White preferred)

[RED ALERT] Must-Read Android users

sold

sold