• Caught in the Act: HP Chairman is a Mac user

    // Gradly // Apple, blog, Gadgets, Humor No Responses

    HP Chairman is a MAC User

    A few days ago, Retures published an interview with HP executive chairman Ray Lane where he, as the photo above shows, was busy using a Mac. This is not the first time for Apple competitors caught using MAC devices in the public.

    Another example for such thing, during a Microsoft Store opening in McLean, Virginia. As noted by CultofMac, the DJ brought to entertain the crowd was using a MacBook Pro cover by Microsoft sticker. Check out the photo below

    DJ using a Mac in Microsoft Store

  • New Samsung Ad Bashes iPhone Fans

    // Gradly // Apple, blog, commercials, Gadgets, Humor, iPhone, Samsung 4 Responses

    New Samsung Ad Bashes iPhone Fans

    Samsung has dropped a new ad for their Galaxy SII touting the device larger screen and 4G speeds and bashing Apple fans who stand in line for the latest iPhone for days without knowing there is something better. So this is Samsung’s way to counter the incredible popularity of the iPhone. Watch the ad below:

  • Android Malware Has Increased 472% Since July

    // Gradly // blog, Infographic 1 Response

    In a report by the Juniper Global Threat Center has found that Android malware has increased by 472% since July of this year. They also pointed out that this October and November were the months that showed the fastest growth of mobile malware on Android ever.

    Android malware increases

    Juniper’s report includes 400% increase in Android malware from 2009 to the summer of 2010. In August, detected malware samples increased by 10%, then by 18% in September. October saw a 110% increase on top of the previous month, and November has so far seen a 111% increase. Check out the infographic below

    By comparing to Apple’s App Store, the open-ended nature of the latter, as well as the lack of any code-signing and checking process in Google’s Market are to be blamed.

    “These days, it seems all you need is a developer account, that is relatively easy to anonymize, pay $25 and you can post your applications,” wrote Juniper in its report. “With no upfront review process, no one checking to see that your application does what it says, just the world’s largest majority of smartphone users skimming past your application’s description page with whatever description of the application the developer chooses to include.”

    As mentioned by Appleinsider, an August report from McAfee found that Android had become the most-targeted platform for malware while iOS was untouched.

    In addition to an increase in the volume, the attackers continue to become more sophisticated in the malware they write. For instance, in the early spring, we began seeing Android malware that was capable of leveraging one of several platform vulnerabilities that allowed malware to gain root access on the device, in the background, and then install additional packages to the device to extend the functionality of the malware.

    In addition to this, 55% of threats are spyware-based attacks that send private data and take control of devices, while 44% are trojans that send text messages to services that charge the user.

    Is this a valid reason for users to opt for iOS devices. What do you think?

  • Siri Protocol Cracked

    // Gradly // Apple, blog, Hack, iPhone, Jailbreak 1 Response

    Siri

    It seems the guys over at Applidium have managed to get Siri’s protocol cracked, this actually opens the door to all sorts of possibilities letting Siri to, potentially, be ported to various apps and devices including iPad, Android devices or other third-party apps.

    Apple has already gone into some detail of how Siri works. Basically it works by communicating with Apple’s remote servers, the speech you feed you iPhone 4S is sent, deciphered by the servers and then bounces it back to your handset.

    Today, we managed to crack open Siri’s protocol. As a result, we are able to use Siri’s recognition engine from any device. Yes, that means anyone could now write an Android app that uses the real Siri! Or use Siri on an iPad! And we’re going to share this know-how with you.

    But there is one little snag to this in that the Apple servers need an identifier key called a UDID associated to an iPhone 4S model only to get Siri work.