Hackers ‘jailbreak’ RIM’s PlayBook tablet

Software developers say they have hacked into Research In Motion Ltd.’s PlayBook tablet computer, controlling the device’s file system and allowing the PlayBook to run unauthorized applications.

The developers who identify themselves as neuralic, xpvqs and Chris Wade, say they have exploited a hole in RIM’s vaunted security system to “jailbreak” the tablet.

In YouTube videos they demonstrate how to play a video from the Hulu Internet service that has been off limits to the PlayBook and key in commands to turn the PlayBook’s light-emitting diode signals on and off.

The PlayBook runs on a QNX-based operating system that will power a new generation of BlackBerry smartphones to be launched next year.

RIM said it is investigating and has contacted one of the developers, adding that it is constantly testing its devices for security and will release a software patch if a breach is confirmed.

“RIM is currently not aware of a jailbreak being leveraged by anyone other than the researchers, who claim to have performed a jailbreak on their own PlayBook tablets only,” the Waterloo-based company said in a statement “RIM is committed to the PlayBook and to working with researchers to continue to protect our customers.”

Wade in a Twitter posting said the trio has developed a tool, DingleBerry, which will allow the rooting of the PlayBook so users can access and alter the device’s file system, manipulate its hardware, and load new apps and operating systems.

He said DingleBerry will be available for download within a week. “If such a tool is released, RIM will investigate it,” the company said.

The PlayBook, which in July became the first tablet to win U.S. government security clearance, is viewed as less vulnerable to hacking than devices running on open-source software platforms, notably Google’s Android OS.

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Android 4.0 Upgrade: Coming Soon To Your Phone?

Don't buy a new Android smartphone unless you know for sure that it will be upgraded to Android 4.0 Ice Cream Sandwich. Here's the list.

Android 4.0 Ice Cream Sandwich, the most significant update to Google's smartphone platform yet, has been available in world markets for a couple of weeks now on the Samsung Galaxy Nexus. The Galaxy Nexus isn't available for sale yet in the U.S., unless you feel like paying a hefty $650 to $750 to have it imported though select online retailers. So, where can you get Android 4.0?

Google has made the source code for Android 4.0 available, and the fine folks over at XDA Developers and Cyanogen have created a port that will run on last year's Nexus S, but installing it is not recommended unless you know what you're doing under the hood of an Android smartphone.

Verizon Wireless is slated to release the Galaxy Nexus in the U.S. in the coming weeks. Verizon has been coy about the timing, however. We know that it is imminent, and will include Long Term Evolution 4G. But if you can't wait that long to buy a new phone, you should at least be sure to pick one that is slated to receive Android 4.0. Here's why.

Consider all the Android update drama that has unfolded over the last two years. Android saw a big leap in late 2009 from 1.6 to 2.0 (and almost immediately 2.1). Android handset makers spent the first half of 2010 scrambling to update 1.6 devices to 2.0, and eventually to 2.1, and to 2.2. Handset makers and network operators sold devices with the promise of swift system upgrades, only to hit snag after snag.

You don't have to look any further than Android 2.3 Gingerbread, which was released in December 2010 and is still being rolled out to devices that were launched in mid-2011. Yes, that means Android smartphones are still being sold with Android 2.2 Eclair. Shameful! Considering how vast and deep the changes between Android 2.3 Gingerbread and Android 4.0 Ice Cream Sandwich are, you do not want to get stuck on a device that can't or won't be updated.

With that in mind, here is a partial list of smartphones that are expected to receive Android 4.0 Ice Cream Sandwich at some point during the first quarter of 2012, based on comments made by either the manufacturer or the network operator. If the phone you want is not on this list, I highly recommend you pick one that is.

HTC

HTC has committed to upgrading a number of its smartphones in "early 2012." HTC hasn't said how early, and will provide more information as it becomes available. The update list includes the Amaze 4G, EVO 3D, EVO Design 4G, Rezound, Sensation, Sensation XE, Sensation XL, and Vivid. Most of these devices are sold in the U.S. by the major carriers, AT&T, Sprint, T-Mobile, and Verizon Wireless.

LG

LG, too, has announced via its Facebook page that it will upgrade a handful of its Android smartphones to Android 4.0. They are the Optimus 2X, Optimus 3D, Optimus Black, and the Optimus LTE. These handsets are available in the U.S. under different names. So far, LG has only committed to updating the international variants. LG hasn't said if any of the U.S. versions (LG G2x, Nitro HD, etc.) will be update.

Motorola

The list of Motorola handsets on deck to receive Ice Cream Sandwich is pretty short. The only phones definitely receiving Android 4.0 are the Droid Bionic, Droid Razr (U.S. version), and Razr (international version). Motorola announced that these phones will get Android 4.0 early in 2012. There are a dozen Motorola phones for sale from U.S. carriers that may not get the update.

Samsung

Samsung hasn't been as forthcoming as its rivals about Android 4.0 Ice Cream Sandwich upgrades. We know that the Galaxy Nexus will ship with Android 4.0. The Galaxy Nexus S II Skyrocket for AT&T will get Android 4.0, according to AT&T, though no timing has been announced. Beyond these two phones, Samsung hasn't said anything about its entire line of Galaxy S smartphones.

Sony Ericsson

Sony Ericsson has been far more vocal about which devices will receive Android 4.0. In a blog post, Sony said that it will update its entire line-up of Xperia-branded Android smartphones to Android 4.0 Ice Cream Sandwich. This includes the Xperia arc and arc S, Xperia Play, Xperia neo and neo V, Xperia mini and mini pro, Xperia pro, Xperia active, and Xperia ray. Sony Ericsson said that it is working to merge the features of its Xperia software with those of Android 4.0, and will have more information on the availability of the system updates at a later time, but the updates are on schedule for delivery in the first quarter of the year. Sony Ericsson has not had much luck with its updates in the past, however, and it wouldn't be surprising for the Xperia handsets to receive Android 4.0 later in the year.

Bottom line: Be careful in choosing a new Android smartphone. It's the holidays, and the carriers are running some excellent sales on many of these (and other) handsets. Given the significance of Android 4.0, it is worth waiting for new hardware if you can, or choosing one of the handsets listed above.

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Screen Comparison: Galaxy Nexus vs. DROID RAZR vs. HTC Rezound

One of the top selling points for all three of Verizon’s big holiday devices (DROID RAZR, Galaxy Nexus and Rezound) will undoubtedly be their screens. Some have variations of the Super AMOLED display while another has a Super LCD. One is “qHD” while the others are the world’s first “HD” screens. There has been talk of PenTile and hatching and whether or not you can tell a difference between them at such high pixel densities. It can give you a headache if you dig too deeply into it, so that’s exactly what we did for you. As usual though, we like to keep it light on the science.
First off, let’s get the specs out of the way so that we all know what we are dealing with here:
Galaxy Nexus:  4.65? HD Super AMOLED (1280×720 resolution) – 316ppiHTC Rezound:  4.3? Super LCD HD (1280×720 resolution) – 342ppiDROID RAZR:  4.3? Super AMOLED Advanced (960×540 resolution) – 256ppi
With specs set, let’s take a look at the first macro shot of the three screens side-by-side-by-side. It’s a simple photo of website text zoomed out ever so slightly from each display. As you can see, all three of them read absolutely fine and show no distortion, pixelation or anything else that would have you complaining. Now, if you click on the image to get the full version, you will get the full effect with the PenTile hatching on the RAZR and Nexus. Does it matter all that much? To me, with these phones, no. The pixel densities are high enough that your naked eye will never be able to tell, as was the point of the picture below.
In order:  Galaxy Nexus, HTC Rezound, DROID RAZR

(Click image for full version)
And just for fun, we took one more under a different lighting scenario so that you can really see the differences between the display panels. You can see how hard the Super AMOLEDs are working because they have to share pixels, while the Super LCD on the Rezound does not. Again though, the picture above which is a slight macro shot of the screens producing black text on a white website is the more realistic situation and they all look stellar (to me anyway). The shot below is really just to show you the differences between the screen technology.
In order:  Galaxy Nexus, HTC Rezound, DROID RAZR

(Click image for full version)
Up next, we wanted to take all three devices into a real word situation that many of you care about:  streaming video. In this demo, you will get a sense of how video looks depending on the resolution, how Super AMOLEDs differ from Super LCDs when producing color, and the different viewing experiences. It’s not scientific by any means, but you should be able to tell a difference between the three.

So if there is a conclusion to come to out of all of this nonsense, it’s that each display is pretty damn good. The Rezound’s display may be the most clear up close, behind a macro lens, but when compared to that of the Galaxy Nexus, your blind eye probably won’t be able to tell a difference. At 342 and 316ppi, both screens will blow your mind. The DROID RAZR lags behind them a bit, but is a giant step forward from the screens that Motorola used on devices like the Bionic and DROID 3. Is there a winner? It all depends on what your eye prefers. As I said in the video, Super AMOLEDs tend to produce what some perceive as cartoonish or vibrant (read fake) colors, while the Super LCD on the Rezound tends to be as true and natural as you can get.
As we have said for weeks now, it’s best that you spend some time with each of these devices before making a decision. Depending on your needs, I’m not sure you could go wrong with any of them.
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Transparent rear glass panel for the iPhone 4S

Apple’s design team is certainly one of the top players in the market, and so far, they have done exceptionally well when it comes to the kind of handsets and tablets that they have churned out, not to mention computers. iFixit, with their expertise in taking things and devices apart, managed to get an iPhone 4S of their own, and decided to have some fun with it. It seems that they are about to offer a transparent glass panel for the iPhone 4 and the iPhone 4S, where this particular puppy will add an element of style and class to your favorite iPhone. This particular package is on a special offer, retailing for $29.95 a pop, where it will also come with the mentioned transparent glass panel, a set of screwdrivers to help you get started right away in order to work with those pentalobe screws, a screen protector as well as a “Thirsty Bag” which is pretty handy when it comes to helping you dry your iPhone out assuming it makes a trip to the toilet bowl or into the pool. Are you interested in pimping up your iPhone in a way that is totally different from that which require Swarovski crystals?


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Samsung Wave 3 is ready to rock and roll

Samsung might seem to be concentrating a whole lot on their Android-powered smartphones and tablets at the moment, but do remember that the South Korean conglomerate does have its own interest in the world of smartphones as well – thanks to their very own Bada platform. Having said that, their latest attempt to further expand the Bada market comes in the form of the Samsung Wave 3 – a flagship smartphone that will hit French shores first, before it rolls out to other countries like Germany, Italy, and Russia before making a global debut before 2011 calls it quits.
Not only does the Samsung Wave 3 offer style, it also has its fair share of substance as well – boasting a unique 9.9mm full metal case, this device is smartly constructed thanks to the clever use of anodized brushed aluminum, where it will remain slim while ensuring your active, on-the-move lifestyle is supported. Running on a rather impressive 1.4GHz processor, the Samsung Wave 3 will also be equipped with a 5-megapixel shooter at the back, a VGA camera in front, a microSD memory card slot, Bada 2.0 as the operating system of choice, and the Touchwiz UX for an easier user experience.


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Acer Iconia Tab A200 ad reveals more details

Tablets are all the rage, and have been for quite some time already thanks to Apple’s effort with the iPad that really made the tablet a mainstream device for the past few years. Well, having said that, Android-powered tablets are definitely something worth looking into, but they are still unable to overpower the might of the iPad as the king of the hill where tablets are concerned. Well, other manufacturers like Samsung have come close, but not doing quite enough to defeat the iPad. Having said that, other manufacturers have not given up the good fight just yet, with the Acer Iconia Tab A200 being one of the latest. This particular tablet is touted to appear at CES next year, and a teaser video of it has already started making its rounds around the Internet, with more details revealed on its specifications.
To kick things off, the Acer Iconia Tab A200 will come with a full-sized USB port, a microSD memory card slot, Acer Clear.fi’s version of DLNA, and the Acer Ring that is actually a part of the MeeGo interface which has been ported over to the Android platform. I guess additional details will be revealed over at CES next year – will you be there to jive with Acer?


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Samsung Galaxy Note for the US spotted

Other countries around the world have already started to enjoy the wonders of the latest Samsung smartphone-tablet hybrid, the Galaxy Note, but folks living in the US still do not have access to that device just yet – officially, anyways. Well, if the leaked photo featured in this post is of any indication, the long and suffering wait might soon be over. What you see is the real deal itself, where the Samsung Galaxy Note featured curiously seems to be missing out on its homescreen button. Should you be a follower of this particular pattern, whenever Samsung’s Galaxy phones are set to arrive in the US or Canada, the homescreen button will be removed most of the time – only to have a replacement in the form of a touch sensitive button instead. I suppose the whole idea for this is to prevent any more of those messy legal complications with the folks over at Apple who might always be on the lookout to see whether Samsung devices infringe upon Cupertino’s patents. Keep your fingers crossed, boys and girls, if history is any indicator of the future, the Samsung Galaxy Note is closer than you actually think.


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