What's killing your battery? Android's top 10 performance-sapping apps

by Claire Reilly

Is your phone or tablet battery constantly reduced to a sliver of red on the screen? New research has found the worst performance-draining apps on Android devices, and Facebook is the biggest culprit.

It may seem to consume every spare moment of our lives, but the world's most famous social networking app is chewing up our mobiles too, with Facebook topping a global list of the most performance-draining Android apps, which considered battery drain, storage consumption and data use.

But it's not just Facebook draining our mobile power -- a raft of other social apps, games and even bloatware are consuming more processing power, battery life and data than many of us realise.

Candy Crush Saga.

The findings come from new research conducted by AVG which took anonymous data from more than 1 million AVG Android app users in order to collate a list of the worst offenders in the Android app world (measured over Q3 2014, based on apps with more than 1 million Google Play downloads).

Culprits included pre-installed apps pushed out by device manufacturers, with 3 of the 10 biggest battery draining apps that run on start-up coming from Samsung. News apps also warrant a mention, particularly those that update in real-time, with the New York Times' Breaking News app topping the list of the most storage-hungry apps we use.

But with 62 percent of the time we spend on Android tablets or smartphones dedicated to playing games, gaming apps warranted their own top ten. In these stakes, King, the developer behind Candy Crush Saga and other titles in the Saga series, took out the dubious honour of holding 4 of the top 10 spots for performance-draining game apps.

So what should you do if your battery life is dropping faster than all those sugar balls in Candy Crush? AVG recommends turning off app notifications, limiting refresh intervals, deleting your cache of temporary files and limiting the amount of data an app is allowed to download while you're not watching.

Top 10 Performance-Draining Apps

1. Facebook
2. Path
3. 9GAG Funny Pics & Videos
4. Instagram
5. Spotify Music
6. BBM (BlackBerry)
7. QQ (Tencent Technology)
8. textPlus Free Text & Calls
9. Wattpad Free Books & Stories
10. iFunny : )

Top 10 Battery Drainers -- Run at Start Up

1. AllShareCast Dongle S/W Update (Samsung)
2. ChatON Voice & Video Chat (Samsung)
3. Beaming Service for Beep'n'Go (Moheam)
4. magicApp: Free Calls (magiclack VocalTec)
5. Samsung WatchON Tablets
6. Facebook
7. Path
8. PPS for Mobile
9. Vault-Hide SMS Pics & Videos
10. Al-Moazin Lite Prayer Times

Top 10 Storage Eaters

1. NY Times -- Breaking News
2. Tango Messenger Video & Calls
3. Spotify Music
4. Facebook
5. Chrome Browser
6. 9GAG Funny pics & videos
7. Instagram
8. LINE camera -- Selfie & Collage
9. Vine
10. Talking Angela

Top 10 Battery-Draining Game Apps

1. Puzzle & Dragons (GungHo Online Entertainment)
2. Hay Day (Supercell)
3. Candy Crush Saga (King)
4. Minecraft -- Pocket Edition (Mojang)
5. Cookie Jam (SGN)
6. Pet Rescue Saga (King)
7. Clash of Clans (Supercell)
8. Bubble Witch 2 Saga (King)
9. Farm Heroes Saga (King)
10. Angry Birds (Rovio Mobile)

Want an invite to Google's Inbox? Now's the time to act

by Steven Musil

Google opens up an invitation-request window, but it's brief.

If you've been itching to give Google Inbox a spin but have been held back by the lack of an invitation to try the free email app, now's the time to act.

The Web giant opened up an invitation-request window Wednesday in which prospective users will have one hour to request an invite to the app, which Google unveiled last month. Gmail users who submit a request for an invitation toinbox@google.com by 4 p.m. PT will receive an emailed invitation within an hour, Google announced in a tweet Wednesday. The company had previously limited the number of invitations it was sending out.

Formerly available only by limited invitation, Google Inbox can be in your hand if you act fast.

Developed by the Gmail team, Inbox is intended to coexist with Google's flagship email product, not replace it. For example, it groups similar types of messages, and automatically highlights key information such as flight itineraries and event information. It comes as competitors, including Apple and file-sharing company Dropbox, have released or updated products aimed at making it easier to find online needles in a haystack.

A key Inbox feature called Assists integrates real-time updates from the Web directly into email, while the Bundles option automatically groups similar messages, such as receipts, and allow you to swipe them all away at once. Inbox also integrates Google Now reminders and lets you create your own reminders.

The app is available on smartphones running Google's Android operating system or Apple's iOS, and on the Web -- but only in Google's Chrome browser for now.

Palo Alto Networks says new malware threatens 800 million Apple devices

by BARBARA KOLLMEYER

WireLurker’ first discovered in China

MADRID (MarketWatch) — A new, ugly malware threat could be lurking for millions of Apple Inc. customers.

The new family of malware, dubbed ‘WireLurker,’ has been discovered by Palo Alto Networks Inc. PANW, -3.93% which said it shows “characteristics unseen in any previously documented threats targeting Apple platforms.”

Palo Alto said this is the first known malware family that can infect installed iOS applications similar to how a traditional virus would, and it’s only the second-known malware family that can attack iOS devices through OS X — the operating system that powers every Apple AAPL, +0.24%  Mac.

WireLurker monitors any iOS device connected via USB with an infected OS X computer and then downloads third-party applications onto the device. And it doesn’t matter whether the device is jailbroken or not, hence the term “Wire Lurker,” the network security company said in a 30-page report.

“WireLurker is capable of stealing a variety of information from the mobile devices it infects and regularly requests updates from the attackers command and control server,” said Palo Alto Networks in the report. “This malware is under active development and its creator’s ultimate goal is not yet clear.”

Palo Alto said a developer at Tencent Holdings Ltd. 0700, -0.32%  first made note of the threat in June, and then threads on Apple forums started popping up, in which device users noted the installation of strange applications and the creation of enterprise provisioning profiles.

The company said WireLurker was used to trojanize -- a trojan is a type of malware designed to provide unauthorized, remote access to a users computer -- 467 OS X applications on the Maiyadi App Store, a third-party Mac application store in China. Over the past six months, those applications have been downloaded over 356,104 times, potentially impacting hundreds of thousands of users, it said.

Jimmy Iovine and Dr. Dre, 2014 entrepreneurship innovator

(1:13)

The duo behind the success of Beats, recently purchased by Apple for $3 billion, has launched a new dream factory at USC.

Palo Alto noted that only two malware/adware families have been confirmed as successfully installed onto non-jailbroken iOS devices, one in September 2010 and the other in July 2012, and both were removed by Apple from the App Store immediately. As it stands, WireLurker is the only known active, non-jailbroken malware threat, which puts over 800 million iOS devices at risk, it said.

“WireLurker is unlike anything we’ve ever seen in terms of Apple iOS and OS X malware,” said Ryan Olson, intelligence director for the company’s Unit 42 division. “The techniques in use suggest that bad actors are getting more sophisticated when it comes to exploiting some of the world’s best-known desktop and mobile platforms.”

Olson told Reuters in an interview that there was no evidence the hackers have so far made off with anything more than messaging IDs and contacts from users’ address books. But, he said, “they could just as easily take your Apple ID or do something else that’s bad news.”

He added that they notified Apple a couple of weeks ago of the threat. A spokesman for Apple could not immediately be reached for comment.

Palo Alto suggests Mac and iOS users avoid downloading Mac applications or games from any third-party app store, download site or untrusted source, or connect an iOS device to any accessories, such as chargers, or computers they aren’t sure can be trusted. And keep iOS software up to date, said the company.

Apple released the latest update to iOS last month.

Microsoft Corporation Stops Retail Sales of Windows 7 And 8

by Marie Cabural

Microsoft is expected to launch Windows 10 next year. The new operating system combines the features of Windows 7 and Windows 8

Microsoft Corporation (NASDAQ:MSFT) officially ended the sale of the retail copies of its Windows 7 and Windows 8 operating systems.

The software giant announced its decision to stop selling Windows 7 and Windows 8 to consumers a long time ago. Technology observers believed stopping the retail sales for both operating systems should encourage consumers to the new Windows operating system Microsoft Corporation (NASDAQ:MSFT)

The copies of Home Basic, Home Premium and Ultimate versions of Windows 7 were no longer available starting October 31. Today, copies of Windows 8 are no longer for sale.  The Windows 8.1 version will serve as the default operating systems on laptops and PCs for sale.

Microsoft Corporation (NASDAQ”MSFT) released the Windows 8 operating systems in 2012. The original version of the operating system did not click to consumers because the company removed some of the familiar features of the desktop version such as start menu. The software giant eventually brought back the start menu to Windows 8.

On the other hand, the Windows 7 remained popular among consumers. The operating system was available since 2009. Gordon Kelly of Forbes noted that approximately 53% of Windows users are still using different editions of Windows 7. The Windows 8 only accounts 6% market share.

Last May, China banned the government use of Windows 8 as it develops its own operating system. The Chinese government made its decision after Microsoft Corporation (NASDAQ:MSFT) decided ended to support for its Windows XP.

Microsoft to launch Windows 10 in 2015

Microsoft Corporation (NASDAQ:MSFT) is expected to launch Windows 10 in 2015. The latest operating system combines the features of the Windows 7 and Windows.

The software giant considered Windows 10 as the most audacious release in the history of the platform because it can run universal mobile apps on the desktop side by side with other apps.

Microsoft Corporation (NASDAQ:MSFT) said the Windows 10 offers platform unifications, pervasive security, consistent and positive upgrade experience for consumers. Businesses will be able to use Azure Active Directory (AAD) instead of Microsoft Accounts (MSAs). The software giant also integrated multi-factor authentication more deeply into the platform and other features.

Google Glass Could Hurt Your Vision

by Anna Peel

A recent science study shows Google Glass users may suffer vision problems

Google Glass is often touted as a revolutionary product that could transform the way people access the internet, but a new study may put a damper on that. Scientists from the University of California in San Francisco recently discovered wearing the Google Glass cause more visual obstructions and blind spots than those wearing regular glasses.

The latest Google Glass study shows a health danger

The lead author for the research letter concerning the new technology, Dr. Tsontcho Ianchulev explained the possible dangers. He said, “I am very pro new technology. I’m an aficionado of anything new or novel, and I myself was an early adopter of Google Glass. But I almost got into a car accident when I was driving with it. And the device was even turned off at the time. So, that really alerted me to how much my peripheral vision seemed to be blocked by the frame.”

The problem with the technology involves design structure which may curtail natural peripheral vision. This create blind spots which interferes with safety when walking or driving.

The published study

The scientists shared their findings in a report published by Journal of the American Medical Association, November 5th issue. As part of the examination, the scientists outfitted three individuals with 20/20 corrected vision with Google Glass and gave them one hour to become acquainted with the technology. Afterwards, the scientists ran standard peripheral vision testing.

The results of the test showed that those who wore Google Glass experienced a loss of vision in their upper right quadrant. The research team also concluded from analyzing 132 photos of people wearing the device from a Google Inc (NASDAQ:GOOGL) (NASDAQ:GOOG) online search. This review shows the way the glasses are worn suggest a serious risk for developing a blind spot.

Ianchulev added, “Now, this was a very initial effort, based on just three participants and the follow-up analysis. Our goal is really just to open up a discussion and have the manufacturer address the impact in a substantial way, because we realized there was really very little on the topic.”

The team has already contacted Google.

MAGID ON TECH: Google's high-end phone is valiant first try

By Larry Magid

For the past few days, I've been testing Google's new Nexus 6 phone, which compares favorably against the iPhone 6 Plus.

The Nexus 6 is a very big phone, so if you think the iPhone 6 Plus is too big, you'll feel even more so about the Nexus 6. On the other hand, the screen is also bigger, so the way I do the math, you get a 8.4 percent larger screen on a phone that's less than 1 percent longer and 7 percent wider than the iPhone 6 Plus.

One thing Google (and Motorola, which built the phone) did better than Apple is to avoid wasted space by avoiding an extra tall bezel, especially at the top of the phone. Unlike iPhones, the Nexus 6 doesn't have a physical home button. Its new Lollipop (Android 5.0) operating system provides for virtual buttons including a home button, a back button and the recent apps button, all of which look a bit different than on previous versions of Android.

The Nexus 6's 1440-by-2560-pixel (493 ppi) AMOLED display is brilliant and compares very well to the iPhone 6 Plus's 1920-by-1080-pixel (401 ppi) screen. You can't go wrong either way when it comes to screen resolution. I watched a Netflix video and read portions of a Kindle book on the Nexus 6, and while watching video on a large phone isn't quite as immersive as watching it on a tablet, it's not bad. And the sound quality from the Nexus 6 front-mounted stereo speakers is excellent. With the volume cranked all the way up, I could hear it well from anywhere in an average-sized living room without significant distortion. It's one of the few phones I would consider listening to without headphones.

The phone is equipped with a 3,200 mAh battery which, according to Google, offers up to 24 hours talk time and 300 hours of standby time or 8.5 hours of Internet use. The iPhone 6 Plus has a 2,915 MAh battery, though Apple claims higher usage. In my experience, a manufacturers' battery life estimates need to be taken with a grain of salt. Google is also promising a 15-minute charging time with the Turbo Charger that comes with the phone.

The phone has a 13-megapixel rear camera and a 2 MP front "selfie" camera. The picture quality is quite good, as smartphone cameras go. Video can be shot at 1080p HD and 2160p Ultra HD at 30 frames per second, according to Google.

Overall, I'm walking away with a positive first impression. I need some more time to delve into the phone's features but -- based on what I've seen -- Google has an excellent entry in the high-end phone category.

At $649 for the 32 GB version or $699 for the 64 GB unlocked models, it's toward the high end of the price curve, but still quite a bit less expensive than the iPhone 6 Plus.

Unfortunately, there is no microSD slot for additional storage. The phone has a 2.7 GHz Qualcomm Snapdragon 805 quad-core processor and an Adreno 420 GPU, which helps contribute to the snappy response time.

Android 5.0 Lollipop to launch November 3

by Lance Whitney

Android Lollipop 5.0 will reportedly start rolling out on November 3.

The launch date for the latest version of Google's mobile operating system was apparently revealed in a note to app developers obtained by Android Police. The note tells developers that the Software Development Kit for Android 5.0 is now available. Google further advises developers that they can start developing and testing their apps via theAndroid 5.0 platform and publish apps that target the latest version to the Google Play store.

The note concludes by revealing that Android 5.0 will be available to consumers starting November 3.

The date doesn't come as a huge surprise as Google has said that its new Nexus 6 phone and Nexus 9tablet would be available in early November. Both devices will be outfitted with Android 5.0, so the next logical step would be to start the launch of Lollipop for existing devices around the same time.

CHECK OUT THE GOOGLE NEXUS 6 (PICTURES)

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Of course, not all eligible Android owners will receive Lollipop first thing November 3. Given the number of players involved in pushing out an Android OS update, the rollout will instead play out overtime. Typically, Google sends the latest Android update to its own Nexus devices. Then the other mobile device makers start to prep the updates for their own devices. And that may take some time.

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Google announced that its Nexus 4, Nexus 5, Nexus 7 and Nexus 10 will be updated to Android 5.0 in "the coming weeks." HTC has already said that it will start rolling out Android 5.0 to its HTC One M8 and HTC One M7 worldwide "within 90 days of receiving final software from Google," meaning sometime before February. Motorola said it plans to update its first- and second-generation Moto X and Moto G and other devices with Android 5.0 later this year. Other device makers have so far been mum about their plans for Lollipop but will likely reveal specific time frames before too long.

Google gave us a taste of Android 5.0 Lollipop at its June I/O conference when the operating system was known simply as Android "L." But the latest details reveal a new look for Android courtesy of a concept called Material Design, which paints in richer colors, adds more depth and transparency, and includes more white space. Android 5.0 also adds a new notification setup, tweaks the way you multitask apps and throws in a new battery saving mode.

Google did not immediately respond to CNET's request for comment.