Software : Uber app offers olive branch to protesting London cabbies with UberTAXI option |
- Uber app offers olive branch to protesting London cabbies with UberTAXI option
- Windows Phone 8.1 update cleared for liftoff on latest Lumia models
- 7 mobile device management solutions you need to know
- SwiftKey's now totally free on Android
- Honeywell Lyric smart thermostat could lure folks away from the Nest
| Uber app offers olive branch to protesting London cabbies with UberTAXI option Posted:  Uber, the smartphone-based ride-hailing and ride-sharing service that has London taxi drivers in uproar, has attempted to reach a peaceful compromise by allowing users to book a black cab through its app. The new UberTAXI option, which sits alongside the company's uberX, EXEC and LUX services, will allow users to arrange and pay for the iconic London cabs via their Uber account. The new service tier will charge the same rates as Transport for London dictates for metred black taxis, while the firm will charge a 5 per cent commission, a fee that'll be eaten by drivers not customers. Uber will hope the perceived 'olive branch' will help to calm the tensions between it and the Licensed Taxi Driver's Association. BeefProtesting cabbies brought hours of disruption to the capital on Wednesday with a strike to protest against Uber muscling in on their turf. The drivers' beef stems from the lack of regulation for Uber, who's drivers don't need a license or to pass 'The Knowledge' exams in to operate in the capital Uber's Jo Bertram wrote on the company's blog on Wednesday: "We recognise the unique heritage and value of traditional black cabs when it comes to getting around. UberTAXI is another way of using technology to offer more choice, making life simpler and keeping London moving." Either way, the protests don't seem to have done Uber any harm, with CNBC reporting sign ups have jumped up 850 per cent compared with last week. |
| Windows Phone 8.1 update cleared for liftoff on latest Lumia models Posted:  Rocking a late-model Nokia Lumia smartphone and getting impatient for the latest and greatest operating system update? The wait may soon be over, according to the guy who knows of what he speaks. Microsoft Corporate Vice President and Windows Phone Program Management kingpin Joe Befiore issued an early morning tweet on Wednesday which confirms that Windows Phone 8.1 is more or less in the can. "WP8.1 sw [software] is finished for the Lumia phones that started shipping a couple weeks ago.. and we're testing the update code now. Fixes ongoing," the Twitter missive reads. Although Belfiore didn't name specific models, the latest Nokia handsets include the Lumia 930, Lumia 630 and Lumia 635 unveiled at the Build 2014 developer conference. Great, but when?First unleashed upon developers in April, Windows Phone 8.1 introduces a bevy of customization features such as Action Center, along with a Siri-like virtual assistant known as Cortana. Judging from the tweet, a lot of progress has been made since the Windows Phone 8.1 Developer Preview was last updated on May 14, which stomped out a number of bugs and improved battery life at the same time. One detail the software boss didn't manage to fit inside his 140 character or less update is when users with recent Nokia Lumia smartphones - not to mention owners of older hardware rocking the current Windows Phone 8 - will actually be able to install the OS. In the meantime, developers continue working with the preview behind the scenes, even as Microsoft presumably readies new hardware after taking possession of Nokia's devices and services division in late April.
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| 7 mobile device management solutions you need to know Posted:  7 MDM solutions you need to knowWith an increasingly mobile workforce and more employees using their own devices for work-related tasks, enterprises must ensure their employees' mobile devices are safe and secure—whether they are company-issued or employee-owned (bring your own device or BYOD). To ensure a safe and easy-to-manage fleet of devices, companies need to choose a mobile device management provider (MDM). There are an increasing number of MDMs that offer various benefits—from complete locked-down security for sensitive enterprises to flexible and quick cloud-based solutions—there's an MDM for every need no matter the size of the business or the range of devices or operating systems. Here are a selection of MDMs that are bringing interesting solutions to the marketplace: 1. AirWatch by VMWareAirWatch, purchased by VMWare in January 2014, offers a comprehensive MDM solution across every mobile device (laptops, tablets, printers) and every mobile operating system. The company was recognized as a leader in the 2014 Gartner Magic Quadrant Report for its enterprise mobility management (EMM) and, accordingly, positions itself as the leading provider in the industry. Their service offers one administrative console that gives an overview of every enrolled device and a dashboard with real-time data for the device fleet. Enrollment is made easy, as once users are authenticated, the appropriate apps and content corresponding to security restrictions are pushed to the device automatically. Customers can then choose to use standalone apps or the AirWatch Workspace which allows users to separate their personal and corporate information. AirWatch is particularly popular with retailers including both Walgreens and Best Buy. 2. BlackBerry Enterprise Service 10 (BES10)BlackBerry Enterprise Service 10 (BES10), with its emphasis on security, is notable for its popularity with various governments around the world. Of the G20 Nations, 16 of them use BES10. It's also the only provider cleared for use on U.S. Department of Defense networks. The service offers multi-OS device, app, and security management through one management console for Android, Blackberry, and iOS devices. It also allows users to switch between work and personal functions with its Secure Work Space solution which lets users to keep their social media, email, and apps separate—offering a greater amount of control and ensuring data leak prevention. For example, enterprises can specify whether a BlackBerry device user can forward email messages marked as private, or whether they can add a new recipient when they reply to a message. Its silver level service is geared towards small businesses while its gold level service is recommended for governments or security sensitive operations. Read our Bes 10 review. 3. Good Technology Mobile Device ManagementThe aptly named Good Technology (founded as SpringThings in 2000) and bought by Visto in 2009 offers "automated device lifecycle management" with a focus on security—while the company keeps its eye on future growth by continually developing new technology. The company has filed over 250 technology patents and boasts 50 Fortune 100 companies as customers. The service allows apps secured with Good Technology to coexist alongside the user's own apps. Good-secured apps can detect when a device has been compromised and allows data wiping or the ability to lock the app. With Good's MDM service, IT has the ability to control the settings on any managed device while allowing users with iOS, Windows, and Android mobile devices the ability to self-enroll (with their access corresponding to their employee status in the corporate directory system)—saving on set-up time and support costs. Their MDM is available across a variety of Good's offerings including Good for Enterprise, the Good Collaboration Suite, and the Good Dynamics Secure Mobility Platform. 4. MaaS360 by Fiberlink, an IBM CompanyMaaS360 by Fiberlink is a cloud-based solution and bills itself as the "cloud mobility leader." Privately held until its acquisition by IBM in December 2013, the service advertises seamless integration with an enterprise's existing infrastructure, a three-minute enrollment process, as well as instant updates. It also provides a lightweight container solution for email as part of the application. A software development kit, as well as an application wrapper, are available for creating secure apps. While the provider emphasizes the speed and flexibility with which it can operate it also cites its security credentials including the fact that it's FIPS 140-2 compliant, AICPA SOC-2 Type II compliant, and was the first MDM vendor to receive FISMA's "Authority to Operate." MDM solutions you need to know #5-75. MobileIronMobileIron works primarily with Android, Mac OS, iOS, and Windows Phone and provides a secure "intelligent gateway" that allows enterprise access to email, apps, and web traffic. Their large selection of third-party apps are secured with MobileIron AppConnect and are available in their app store. They also provide network management that can track things like international roaming—alerting customers to high cost-usage. Access to enterprise email, apps, docs, and Web traffic is controlled via the intelligent gateway ensuring only secured devices are able to connect. Enterprises can choose various policies based on their security preference—for example corporate apps on compromised devices can be wiped clean with one policy or users might simply receive an alert with another. Not just a technology company, MobileIron provides support and training for the lifecycle of each device as well as emphasizing their focus on design. 6. SAP Afaria MDMFirst released in 1997, SAP Afaria emphasizes its scalable, secure architecture for managing Android, iOS and Windows Phone 8 devices. SAP Afaria is a market leader claiming over 150,000 devices managed and it also partners with Amazon for its cloud services. Operating in the cloud or on-premise, the service allows enterprises to install, delete, and update all of its devices at any time and also allows secure employee enrollment through its end user self-service portal. The company also offers extensive analytics—for example Afaria gives enterprises access to mobile app analytics to see how their employees are utilizing their devices. They offer an enterprise app store as well as investing capital in app development. 7. Symantec Mobile ManagementSymantec Mobile Management (SMM) claims to offer the "broadest set of technologies" to secure a mobile workforce. The California-based Fortune 500 Company, founded in 1982 and known for its variety of security offerings, provides the Symantec Mobile Management Suite which includes application management, scalable device management, and threat protection for iOS, Android, Blackberry, and Windows 8 devices. SMM also offers protection policies for individual apps—for example, enterprises can block iOS 7 features like Airprint or the user's ability to add files to their Safari reading list. Wrapping technology is utilized for its apps and policies can be changed or revoked at any time. It offers secure corporate email as well as supporting native email apps. Features include a single sign-on across in-house, third-party and cloud-based apps as well as IT Analytics which provides enterprises with insight into device compliance. Symantec Mobile Security, an anti-malware protection solution, is also available on Android devices. |
| SwiftKey's now totally free on Android Posted:  SwiftKey has been a firm favourite at TechRadar for some time now, and after learning it will bring its keyboard to iPhone and iPad via iOS 8, there's more good news. From today, SwiftKey will be completely free to download on Android via Google Play, as the firm looks to expand its reach to developing nations. While you could previously get your thumbs of a free version of the keyboard, it was merely a one month trial. The company's switch in its business model means you can now enjoy all the features of SwiftKey for free. Already paid?For those of you, like us, who shelled out $3.99/£2.99 to download the full version, SwiftKey intends on keeping you sweet by offering a free "Premier Pack" of 10 themes. It's these in-app purchases - which include new themes and other content - where SwiftKey will plan to generate its revenue going forward, but you'll get all the core features without ever having to hand over a cent. The update also brings support for over 800 emojis, a new prediction feature which learns which emojis you use in particular situations, the option of adding a line of numbers above the letter keys, and general improvements to the word prediction engine, autocorrect and gesture typing (aka SwiftKey Flow). |
| Honeywell Lyric smart thermostat could lure folks away from the Nest Posted:  Home thermostat maker Honeywell has fought back against the Google-owned Nest company with a smart, Wi-Fi and GPS enabled-model of its own. The Honeywell Lyric was announced June 10 and will allow users to control the temperature in their homes via smartphone apps for iOS and Android, just like the groundbreaking Nest device. However, where Nest uses a motion sensor to determine whether owners are home, Lyric utilizes a fencing system to enter an energy-saving mode when users are a certain distance away from the property. Owners can tinker the distance between 500m and 7 miles away from the home before the mode kicks in, meaning the device will know when you've gone far enough away for energy-saving to kick in and will know when you're on the way home so it can get the place nice and cool/warm in time for your arrival. Fine TuneThe wall-mounted device can be configured to recognise all family members' smartphone apps so it won't turn the heating off when mum or dad heads to work on a Monday morning during the school holidays. The Lyric also uses a built-in Wi-Fi-based Fine Tune feature. When enabled, the thermostat goes searching for the local weather forecast and will modify the temperature settings based on the conditions outside. The Lyric can also be controlled manually using the dial, while there's also Home and weather forecast buttons on the face. Lyric goes on sale in August for cost $279 (around £166, AU$297) - slightly more expensive than the Nest - and is the first in a series of Honeywell devices to go under that name. |
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