Previous owners’ data found on 100 Motorola Xoom tablets sold online

Motorola’s Xoom may have been a pioneer in the Honeycomb tablet market but failed to make a big enough dent that left an impression. The company recently decided to sell the Xoom, well refurbished devices anyway, online at discounted prices. A total of about 6,200 Xoom tablets went up for sale through Woot.com. While the prices may have been a been a good bargain for new owners looking to invest in an Android tablet, it proved be slightly distressful for the devices’ previous owners.

Out of the 6200 odd that were on sale around 100 of them that were sold still seemed to have previous owners’ data. Although the exact details were not revealed, it is quite possible that it could have included highly personal and sensitive information such as photos, videos, email messages, passwords, chat logs, banking details and so on.

SOLD! But not Factory Reset

Motorola has admitted this and apologized for the inconvenience caused to the customers. The company said “Motorola is committed to rigorous data protection practices in order to protect its customers, and will continue to take the necessary steps to achieve this objective.”

Motorola would like to get back the 100 affected tablets sold between October and December 2011. To reduce the risk, the company is offering two years of Experian ProtectMyID Alert to those who returned the tablet anywhere between the period.

This mishap is a warning to those who return or sell their smartphones and tablets to dealers or anyone else. A simple thing to do before exchanging or reselling your handset/tablet etc. is to make sure you perform a factory data reset which erases all the sensitive information on the device and clears up the internal memory. If you’re giving away your memory card along with the device, make sure you format it and double-check to see if it’s empty. You could be in great risk should your personal data get into the wrong hands. This is something that you should keep in kind mind irrespective of the operating system, but do make sure to back up your data either on the cloud or a recommended PC suite.

Study says iOS apps crash more often than Android ones

The mobile platform wars are at their peak now. Android and iOS are the most popular platforms today and each one of them have their own set of followers. Each group feels that their favorite platform is more stable or has better apps, than the other. A mobile app statistic service, called Crittercism (www.crittercism.com) has now compiled data on the number of crashes per platform. Turns out it’s not Android, but in fact, iOS apps that crash more often. Forbes, has covered this report and it looks like apps running on the iPhone, iPod devices and the iPads may not be as stable as their Android counterparts. There are many who look at Android as being the more unorganized, because of the uncontrolled addition of apps on it.

Not the most stable platform around

Crittercism reports that as Apple and Google continue to release new updates to their respective operating systems, app developers have to keep up and develop new versions, test and bug fix apps. To see which platform's apps faced the most crashes, Crittercism studied the number of crashes between the 1st and the 15th of December last year. In all, some 23 versions of iOS were tested and some 33 versions of Android were tested. During that period, some 28.64 percent of all crashes were found to be on the iOS 5.0.1 operating system. During the time of the test, iOS 5.0.1 was still fairly new. But still, older and more matured versions of iOS also showed considerably large number of crashes as well. It’s also clear that not everyone updates their devices as soon as an update is released. In some cases, users don’t ever update.

No more loosing out on those spontaneous moments

Fact also is that not all users update their apps, the same way they choose not to update the operating system. Crittercism recorded some 214 million instances of app launches, but since the number of crashes were calculated based on the percentage and not just plain number comparison, this should reduce any chances of incorrect results. Android 4.0 has just recently been launched and when phones start receiving that update, the number of crashes on the brand new OS could possibly increase. Most of the crashes that Crittercism recorded on the iOS platform were primarily on the iPhone followed by smaller numbers on the iPad and the iPod Touch.

SE Xperia Active Billabong Edition announced

Sony Ericsson has announced an expanded global strategic alliance with Billabong, the Australian brand that promotes an authentic lifestyle along with the true values of core board sports (surfing, snowboarding, skateboarding and wakeboarding). This new partnership connects the Xperia smartphone brand to a new and influential consumer audience and extends to a retail offering for smartphone users. Keeping this new partnership in mind, Sony Ericsson has launched the Xperia active Billabong Edition smartphone. This one is designed for extreme sports enthusiasts.

“Billabong brings a new, enthusiastic and engaging audience who are early technology adopters and influencers in the areas of sports and technology”, said Stephan Croix, VP Head of Global Marketing Creation for Sony Ericsson, who also went on to mention that . “This partnership is a perfect fit with our brand and the Xperia range of smartphones.”

Get Active!

The Xperia active Billabong edition is an ideal smartphone for extreme sports enthusiasts who can take it along on their shreds and surfs to capture all of the excitement up close and personal.  This tough, scratch-resistant smartphone is packed with technologies, such as wet finger tracking and has received some of the highest marks in dustproof and water resistance categories (IP67). Yes, it’s the exact same Xperia active that we reviewed earlier and fell in love with.

The only difference between the two editions is the addition of a few extra wallpapers, videos and a surfing app. Currently, the Xperia active is being tested in conditions as diverse as the snowfields in Austria, surfing the big waves of Tahiti and even skateboarding in Singapore. 

The partnership extends beyond the Xperia active, as Sony Ericsson and Billabong have also co-created exclusive content for additional Xperia devices. The Xperia active Billabong Edition will feature preloaded Billabong screenscavers, videos and Billabong LIVE, a mobile app now available in the Sony Ericsson channel in Android Market, and the Xperia PLAY will boast an exclusive surf game, Billabong Surf Trip.

Sony Ericsson Xperia smartphones will be featured in major Billabong events worldwide. The Xperia Active Billabong edition has already started selling in markets worldwide.  If you’re still unaware about the buzz that the Xperia Active has been creating, be sure to check out our review, out here. Most of us have been living sedentary lifestyles and this might just be the excuse we need to get up, and get active.

Apple to continue with online sales in Germany

Late last week, reports about Apple pulling off products from their online store in Germany began surfacing. The Cupertino-based company has been waging a lawsuit battle with Motorola Mobility in Germany, and in the final leg of the last year, was directed by the court to stop selling or distributing mobile devices that infringe certain Motorola cellular communications patents. Soon after, the German site of Apple stopped selling older models of iPhone and 3G-based iPads. These products, however, continued to sell on Apple retail stores across the country. 

Sales to resume soon... 

Now, according to latest reports, Apple is close to resuming with the sales of the above mentioned products, soon, after the court suspended the injunction. An Apple spokesperson, according to this report has confirmed the receiving of clearance. However, specifics of the same still remain unclear. In a statement, Apple spokesman Alan Hely stated that, "All iPad and iPhone models will be back on sale through Apple's online store in Germany shortly."

Both, Apple and Motorola Mobility have been waging war over a set of patents, which each one of them claims has been violated by the other. According to this report, Motorola Mobility stands firm stating that they have been "negotiating with Apple and offering the company "reasonable licensing terms and conditions since 2007." Apple, however, narrates a different tale.

Creative launches HN-900 and Aurvana X-Fi 2 noise cancelling headphones

Creative Technology Ltd. today announced the new Creative HN-900 headphones, featuring active noise cancellation, which Creative claims reduces ambient noise by up to 85 percent. The Creative HN-900 headphones also feature an in-line microphone and switch for convenient one-click voice communication on the iPhone, and 40 mm Neodymium drivers and gold-plated plugs for outstanding audio playback. Dual-mode usage allows active noise-cancellation for up to 40 hours by a single AAA alkaline battery or in passive mode without power. The HN-900 is priced at $99.99 (Rs.5,200) and the X-Fi 2 is priced at $199.99 (Rs.10,200).

The new Aurvana series

The Aurvana X-Fi 2 Noise-Canceling Headphones features active noise cancellation that reduces ambient noise by up to 90 percent, along with X-Fi audio technology for improved sound quality and a virtual surround sound effect. The Creative X-Fi Crystalizer uses algorithms to make any digital audio sound better by intelligently and selectively restoring the highs and lows that were lost during MP3 or other compression. The X-Fi CMSS-3D virtually transforms stereo headphone playback into the more immersive listening experience of a surround sound speaker system. Users can independently select noise cancellation, X-Fi Crystalizer, X-Fi CMSS-3D and volume with convenient controls on the headphones. All of the technologies can be enjoyed together for up to nine hours using two AAA batteries. The headphones can also be used without audio technologies in passive mode.

Highlights of the  Creative HN-900:

• 40 mm Neodymium magnet drivers

• Frequency Response of 20 Hz ~ 20 kHz

• Noise Reduction Level of -18 dB (85%)

• Impedance of 290 ohms

• Sensitivity at 1 kHz of 100 dB/mW

Microphone:

• Omni-directional

• Frequency Response of 100 Hz ~ 10 kHz

• Impedance of <2.2 kohms

• Sensitivity at 1 kHz of -38 dBV/Pa

• Cable length of 1.5m detachable with inline microphone

• Approximate battery life of up to 40 hours from 1 x AAA alkaline battery.

• Product weight of 168 grams

Highlights X-Fi 2:

• 40 mm Neodymium magnet drivers

• Frequency Response: 20 Hz - 20 kHz

• Noise Reduction Level: 20 dB

• Impedance: 450 ohms (on), 72 ohms (off)

• Sensitivity (1 kHz): 105 dB/mW (on), 95 dB/mW (off)

• Oxygen-Free Copper cables

• Gold-plated connectors, including airline adapter

• 1.5m (5 ft) standard cable and 1.5m (5 ft) extension (iPhone compatible)

Motorola DEFY+ gets a price cut, selling at Rs. 15,990

The Motorola DEFY+ is now selling with a price tag of Rs.15,990, across select online stores. Earlier this IP67-certified phone was priced at Rs.19,490 (MRP) and Rs.17,990 (MOP), so that’s a good 2k price cut that the phone has got now. Online store seller, Flipkart is now selling the Motorola DEFY+ at Rs.15,990, with a few additional accessories. On the other hand, Letsbuy does sweeten the deal a little more with the addition of a Jabra BT 2045 Bluetooth headset at the same price tag. 

Worth a buy?

If you’ve forgotten, we’ll remind you that the DEFY+ runs on a 1GHz processor and comes with 2GB of internal memory. It comes with Android 2.3 on board and has a powerful 1700 mAh battery. The review of the handset is available here. Here’s the remaining spec list for the DEFY+:

Here’s the spec list for the DEFY+:

•     3.7-inch scratch resistant touchscreen with Gorilla Glass and a 480 x 854 pixel resolution 
•     3G, EDGE/GPRS, Wi-Fi
•     GPS with A-GPS support
•     Bluetooth 2.1 with A2DP, USB 2.0
•     5 megapixel camera with LED flash
•     Stereo FM radio with RDS
•     Memory expandable up to 32GB via microSD card
•     3.5 mm handsfree socket

Look ma, inside soda!

In our review for the Motorola DEFY+, we clearly liked the handset. The only thing it did lack was that it was unable to record at 720p. Also, the screen brightness wasn’t upto the mark. Besides that, it was sturdy and built like a tank. We did a few underwater tests on the phone as well and it came out unscathed. The large 3.7 inch screen was well re-inforced and was scratch resistant as well, courtesy of the Gorilla Glass. If you already have a DEFY then you’re not getting too much of a difference, besides the bump in the processor speed, but if you’re looking for a scratch resistant and water proof phone, then the Motorola DEFY+ is quite a good purchase. 

What do you guys think about the Motorola DEFY+ at this price point? It’s comparable to the SE Live with Walkman that we reviewed earlier and comes a lot cheaper than the Xperia Active – its direct competitor. Or would you rather ditch all the water proof-ness and go for the Xperia Neo V. Let us know in the comments section below.

Sennheiser introduces Red CX 215 earphones

Sennheiser has introduced a trendy and funky pair of earphones, keeping in view the upcoming Valentine’s Day occasion. It has put forth the CX 215 dipped in a Red hue. It can also be picked in five other trendy colors – Blue, Pink, Green, Orange and Brown. Besides the stylish contoured look, the earphones also promise to keep unwanted noise at bay.

The Sennheiser CX 215 earphones feature ear-canal phones and are crafted with a finger-contoured housing design. The design enables easy adjustment, which eventually leads to optimal wearing comfort, says the company. It provides ear adapters in small, medium and large sizes in the bundle.  It also features noise blocking capabilities and has a powerful bass-driven stereo sound experience. It comes with high passive attenuation of ambient noise. These earphones offer compatibility with CD, MP3 players and also portable gaming systems.

Colorful splash

The spec sheet of the CX 215 reveals Intra-aural (ear-canal fit) ear coupling, 20 - 20000 Hz frequency response, impedance 16, 110 dB sound pressure, and 2.5m cable length with a 3.5mm headphone jack. Just like Valentine’s theme, late last year, Sennheiser had teamed up with Adidas to offer holiday-themed headphones. The company together with Adidas Originals came out with the HD 25, HD 220 and CX 310. The new Adidas versions of HD 220 and CX 310 were given some colour updates and original twist. The new Red addition could rightly fit into gift boxes as the colour red symbolizes love.

Fit for every day use, the Sennheiser HD 220 headphones feature bass-driven stereo sound with superior comfort, while the Sennheiser CX 310 by Adidas Originals come with dynamic sound and great clarity across both high and low ends. The CX 310 also packs in various-sized ear adapters for personalized fit and reduction of ambient noise.

The Sennheiser CX 215 has been priced at Rs.1,990 and is available across retail stores and more than 500 retailers across the country.

Samsung Galaxy S III to be an amphibious phone

Ok, so back in January, we reported the floating rumours about Samsung planning a waterproof Galaxy S III and apparently, even the iPhone would follow suit. That time, it was a company called HZO that was supposed to bring about this wizardry to mobile phones. The latest tip this time comes from a independent phone retailer in the UK who claims the next version will indeed have a water proof coating, only this time it will be from Liquipel.

No more bulky water proof phones!

Liquipel wowed everyone at CES 2012, at their booth when they demoed a HTC Thunderbolt running just fine, even after being submerged in water. What’s even more impressive is when the guy demoing phone just pulls off the battery cover and submerges it once again. Liquipel currently offers this coating technology directly to end-users as well via a main-in program. This is currently in the US only and will cost you anywhere between $60 and $80, per device. It works by coating the innards of the phone or tablet with a near-invisible compound that resists almost any liquid and moisture. The device can still work submerged for several meters under water and for extended periods of time, too. The main idea, however, is to protect the gadget from accidental drops in the water or in the monsoon season. An insider also claimed that the iPhone 5 will also be getting this treatment. While this does seem a bit unlikely given how Apple likes to take their time in releasing new technology, it wouldn’t hurt to have it.

Portronics launches new POR 315 Pico Projector

Portronics has announced the launch of its new POR 315 Pico projector, which, according to the company is one of the country’s brightest battery-powered Pico projectors. The Palm-sized POR 315 Pico projector enables one to view content with an additional HDMI input, with a resolution supporting 1024X600.

Worth a buy?

The light weighted POR 315 is both a true pocket projector and a mobile computing platform. It has an SD card slot, which allows for memory expansion and it comes with an in-built 3000 mAh lithium ion battery, providing back up of two hours on a single charge. The portable projector allows direct projection from the USB drive.

Additional features, include composite video input, VGA input, and a 1 watt onboard speaker. The POR 315 Pico projector comes with a 45 lumen optical engine powered by LCOS. It’s got 20,000 hour LEDs and can deliver images up to 80 inches. The assortment of I/O ports include USB, VGA, HDMI and video, so most of your analog or digital devices can be connected. 

Here are a few of the features of the Portronics POR 315:

• Portable – Palm-sized, lightweight, and rechargeable
• SD card slot allows for memory expansion
• 45 Lumens - Projection for widescreen images up to 80 inch diagonal
• LED light source lasts over 20,000 hours 
• Full assortment of I/O ports, including USB, VGA, HDMI and video, allows for easy connection to most analog or digital devices

The connectors

Portronics POR 315 Pico projector supports the following business formats:

• Picture – JPEG, BMP, PNG
• Video – MPEG 1, MPEG 2, MPEG 4, H.264, RM, RMVB, MOV, MJPEG, VC1, DivX, FLV
• Music – WMA, MP3, M4A, AAC 

Priced at Rs. 23,000, the Portronics POR 315 Pico projector is available ex-stock across the country. It seems to have quite a few features packed under its miniscule body. However with projectors, a lot of factors like heating, image reproduction and other real life performances actually decide if the device is worth it. The same rule goes with this product. Do any of you have any pico projectors? If yes, which ones and how well do they perform? Let us know in the comments section below.