London office of Hailo taxi app is vandalised following private hire car move

firm which makes a taxi app, Hailo, has had its London office vandalised following a move to make the service usable by private hire cars, and not just licensed black cab drivers.
The Hailo app lets customers call a taxi to wherever they are, and is available on Android and iOS, but the move to expand its remit has been met with anger from black cab drivers, with a fight reportedly breaking out at the London office – according to the BBC, police were called to the fracas. The building has also had the word 'scabs' daubed on the wall.
There is evidently much anger at the fact that Hailo is now being opened up beyond an exclusive service for black cabs.
Hailo was co-founded by three London black cab drivers – Russell Hall, Terry Runham and Gary Jackson.
Ron Zeghibe, the Chairman of Hailo, defended the firm's decision in an open letter on the company blog, arguing that they need to move with the times, or the app will become irrelevant in the long run, and everyone will lose out.

He stated: "We will do whatever it takes to grow work for taxi drivers and keep black cabs relevant to the changing demands of passengers and businesses. That means not ducking the difficult or unpopular decisions, but doing what it takes to keep taxis relevant and competitive. We must make sure taxis are an option available on every passenger's smartphone."
Zeghibe continued: "Hailo has applied for a Private Hire operator's licence in preparation to have the full service that passengers and businesses tell us they want. There is no point burying our heads in the sand – people want a choice and taxis need to be in the mix. A taxi-only app will get isolated and customers will take their money to services without any cabs on offer. It is already happening."
Those rival services, such as Uber, are having increasing success. Uber, which offers background checked private drivers, has extended its tentacles to over a hundred cities spanning 36 countries (including London, as well as Manchester and Dublin).
Indeed, the likes of Uber and similar services are becoming a major issue with cab drivers across Europe, as they argue it isn't right that they aren't subject to the same regulation as licensed cab drivers are. There have been major protests in Milan, over in Italy, and London cabbies are planning a protest, on 11 June, against the way TfL has dealt with Uber's presence in London.
Steve McNamara, head of the London Taxi Drivers' Association, told the Beeb: "Our beef is not with Uber but with the regulator which is not enforcing the law and kowtowing in the face of Uber's money."
McNamara noted that Uber was backed by Google and Goldman Sachs.
Zeghibe concluded his Hailo blog post: "Every free-thinking driver knows that you've got to be in it to win it. Passengers want a choice and if we don't give them what they want, they will take their money to car apps that don't offer taxis at all. We need to compete and make sure passengers can choose a taxi when they want one."
"For example, if we want taxis to take a share of account work, then it is a must that we offer executive cars too. It is better that taxis get 80 per cent of a city bank's jobs than 100 per cent of nothing."


Read more: http://www.itproportal.com/2014/05/23/london-office-of-hailo-taxi-app-is-vandalised-following-private-hire-car-move/#ixzz32hqQtC53

LG G3: All the latest news from the rumour mill

s ever with the smartphone industry, the rumours surrounding the LG G3 have been flying in thick and fast. With the launch date imminent – it's 27 May, which is next Tuesday – we thought we'd have a quick scan over the most prominent speculation concerning LG's incoming flagship.
One of the most recent leaks concerns the size of the handset, and an image posted by @evleaks (via BGR) which depicts the phone in a case, with the thickness being 13mm with the case on – suggesting that this could be a somewhat thicker handset than the usual high-end Android efforts. (See the image above).
The device may need the space for the battery – after all, we've actually heard confirmation that the LG G3 is going to do something special with the display, offering a 2,560 x 1,440 resolution, no less, on a 5.5in screen. That's an incredible 530 ppi, though it starts to get to the point where you wonder how sharp you need a 5.5in screen to be – and whether it's worth it in terms of the inevitable battery drain costs (or thicker, heavier handset for that larger battery). The G3 battery has been rumoured to be a 3,200mAh affair.

We'll only know how these sort of trade-offs pan out, and what the high-res display really looks like, when we get to go hands-on with the device next week.
Other core specs which have been recently rumoured are a Snapdragon 801 for the processor, backed with 3GB of RAM – the device will certainly need muscle to be able to deal with more intensive activities such as gaming with a 530 ppi screen. Indeed, there was talk of the Snapdragon 805 being on board the G3, but the latest gossip is that this won't happen – though you never know...
32GB of storage is expected, and the camera will purportedly be a 13 megapixel snapper from Sony's stable – an IMX124 Exmor RS sensor with an f/2.0 aperture to enable better shots in low light conditions, the traditional big enemy of smartphone photography. It will also boast optical image stabilisation and a dual-LED flash.

LG is also set to move away from the cheaper plastic chassis of the G2, with images pointing to a metal finish – or at least a quality looks-like-metal finish.
Costs may prevent a move to a metal chassis like the HTC One M8, as with that super-res display, LG is going to have trouble keeping the price down as it is. The G3 is rumoured to be pitched at a more expensive level than the G2 was (which launched at around £450), but hopefully it will still manage to just undercut the Galaxy S5.
Leaked pics of the rear of the phone also point to some form of sensor being next to the camera – so LG might also be going the way of the other high-end Android offerings with a health sensor (possibly a heart rate one like the Galaxy S5?).

This health-related speculation is backed up by the most recent thing we've seen – the revelation of the official QuickCircle case by LG (pictured above). The case has a circular window cut in the front to allow for quick access to certain features – including health stats.
We can't wait to see what LG has in store for us, and if you feel the same, then tune in to our live blog next Tuesday, when we'll have full coverage and analysis of the launch as it unfolds.


Read more: http://www.itproportal.com/2014/05/23/lg-g3-all-the-latest-news-from-the-rumour-mill/#ixzz32hokIQA2

Facebook pushes out “I’m a voter” feature globally

Are you a voter? Increasing apathy regarding politics may mean the answer to that question is a no, but Facebook is going to be offering those who do vote the chance to declare that fact for all to see.
Previously, the 'I'm a Voter' feature allowed those in the US to declare they'd chosen their political allegiance in the 2012 election – and some nine million Americans did so.
Now, the Telegraph reports that Facebook intends to roll this system out globally – to places where elections are taking place, naturally – and recently brought the concept to India, during the election last month, where some four million Indians utilised it to let their friends know they were politically active (or perhaps we should say, not totally politically dormant).
You could look at this as a move to encourage people to get to the ballot box and cast their vote – by seeing that their friends have done so – or a move for Facebook to eke just a little bit more data out of its user base. All right, maybe we're getting carried away on the data front – but knowing someone votes could be a helpful aspect of ad pushing in small ways.

Note that how you vote isn't made clear – that really would be controversial. All the feature does is let people know you've pledged your vote to a party, not which one.
Facebook does seem busy trying to drum up new ways to accrue data on its users of late. Earlier today, we reported on the 'ask' feature being extended to relationships – meaning those who haven't filled in their relationship status can be prodded by friends to do so. To the social network's benefit, of course, if that status field does end up being filled in (and other fields under the 'about' section are also subject to asking in the same manner).
The voter button will be live for those partaking of the European Parliament and Colombian elections later this week, and for many more countries holding elections as the year goes on, including South Korea, Sweden, Scotland, Brazil, Indonesia and New Zealand.


Read more: http://www.itproportal.com/2014/05/20/facebook-pushes-out-im-a-voter-feature-globally/#ixzz32cRBIW1L

5 good reasons why you shouldn’t buy the Samsung Galaxy S5

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Samsung’s latest flagship has been revealed, and while it’s not on sale until April, you might well be pondering your purchase ahead of time. Choosing your next phone is often a complicated process, and while the Galaxy S5 is full of shiny newness and a fun new UI to explore, it might not be the phone for you.
How do you determine what your next phone is going to be? Do you rely on what the guy in the store has to say? Do you look at which phone gets the best reviews? Do you rely on side-by-side comparisons, benchmarks, or photography contests to choose which phone will be your next?
At any rate, there’s a good chance you do just a little bit of homework before shelling out for your next smartphone. If you’re hung up on the Galaxy S5 as your potential new phone, there are a few things you should bear in mind before you leap for Samsung’s latest Android darling. (Note that we've already covered 5 things to look forward to with Samsung's upcoming flagship, but in the interests of balance, we're looking at the other side of the coin in this article).

You might be happier with a Galaxy Note instead
With the display on the Galaxy S line increasing in size with each version, there’s not much of difference now between the Galaxy Note 3 and the Galaxy S5. In fact, the original Galaxy Note only had a 5.3in screen, though that has now grown a bit as well. The Galaxy Note line has a well-documented history of offering a significantly larger battery, too, which might make it even more worthwhile to you.

The Note line is typically updated in the second half of the year, so if the Note 3 isn’t exactly what you want, it might be worth waiting for the update if you don’t need a phone right now. If history is any indication, the new Note will be more powerful with a larger screen and significantly better battery life than the Galaxy S5. The S Pen stylus is a lot of fun as well, if you’re the type to care about that sort of thing.

Updates are still going to be slow with the S5
Android 4.4 was announced back in November, with the Nexus 5 as the reference device to carry the features KitKat made available into the world. The same week that Samsung announced the Galaxy S5 in Barcelona is the same week that some versions of the Galaxy S4 started getting updates to this most recent version of Android. This is not a new problem for Samsung, and while they have gotten a little better at it, the Galaxy S line has always struggled with timely updates.

If you’re interested in immediate updates but still want the Samsung Galaxy S5 hardware, it’s possible that if you wait a bit, Google will announce a Google Play Edition Galaxy S5 like they did for the previous version of this line. And we can but hope that this time round, the UK gets in on the Play Edition action. The Galaxy S4 Google Play Edition is a great US phone, and it was updated two weeks after the Nexus 5 was released. You’ll lose Samsung’s software in exchange for the Google Experience user interface, but you may like that even better.

Snapdragon 805 devices are right around the corner
In the unlikely event that you are the type of person who honestly makes a phone purchase based on what is under the screen, and not how well it performs when you actually use it, the Samsung Galaxy S5 is using a processor that is only going to be the top of the line for another month at best. This isn’t a negative thing, because the Snapdragon 801 inside the Galaxy S5 screams, and the phone is not laggy or sluggish in any way. If, however, you’re looking to make a single purchase and have it last as long as possible, you might consider waiting for the Snapdragon 805 devices.
The 805 is an all-round improvement on the 800, and while that may only matter to the geeks in the room buying something for the sake of longevity, it is something to consider. Snapdragon 805 devices will have a superior GPU, and bandwidth speeds that are nearly double what that 800 is capable of. It’s also capable of processing twice the amount of data, so as your Internet connection improves over time your phone will be able to keep up with no problems.

There’s a good chance you won’t be able to safely modify the software
Samsung has taken great leaps forward in making their devices more secure, and that’s a hugely positive thing for users who need security in their work and home lives. Unfortunately, it also makes things like installing third-party ROMs on those phones a lot more difficult. If you’re looking for a phone that you can play around with and explore the Android developer community, the Galaxy S5 might not be the handset for you.
This is another one of those situations where it’s likely that a Google Play Edition variant of the phone might be what you are actually looking for. Or you could just get a Nexus phone, of course. There are plenty of options available if what you want to do is play around. If you’re looking for a phone where you have limited control over the OS, the Galaxy S5 is for you. If you are looking to install CyanogenMod as soon as you take it out of the box, you probably want something that doesn’t have Samsung Knox security on board.

It’s still a plastic phone
Samsung phones get a bad rap for being plastic, as though this implies that they are more fragile. The truth is that Samsung phones are quite durable, and the Galaxy S5 is likely to be even more durable that its predecessors. That’s all well and good, but the simple fact is that the S5 doesn’t feel like it’s a £500-plus premium smartphone when you pick it up, and that can be a problem for some people.
The Galaxy S4 and the HTC One were released at almost the same time last year, and one of the key factors when comparing those handsets was the dramatic difference in the look and feel of the two phones. The HTC One’s aluminium casing just plain felt like a high-end smartphone, and the Galaxy S4 didn’t. The Galaxy S5 feels a great deal sturdier than the S4, especially with the highly textured back, but with the new HTC One right around the corner, it might be worth waiting to see if you prefer that aluminium body again.
For more on the Galaxy S5, check out the feature in which we answer your Galaxy S5 questions, and our hands-on with the S5 at MWC. We've also got spec comparisons pitting the S5 against the Sony Xperia Z2, LG G Pro 2 and Google Nexus 5.
Published under license from Ziff Davis, Inc., New York, All rights reserved.
Copyright © 2012-2013 Ziff Davis, Inc


Read more: http://www.itproportal.com/2014/03/02/5-good-reasons-why-you-shouldnt-buy-the-samsung-galaxy-s5/#ixzz32cPwzTQQ

Google set to release new futuristic 3D imaging tablet.

Google has announced the development of its first 3D imaging tablet.
Sources close to the tech giant told the Wall Street Journal this week that the slate will have a wealth of advanced tech, including two rear-facing cameras, a 7in screen and advanced imaging software that can capture 3D pictures of objects.
4,000 of these prototype tablets are rumoured to be in production from the beginning of next month.
Read more: A closer look at how Google's Project Tango could be truly revolutionary
Android-based Project Tango is an ongoing research project, part of the company's Advanced Technology and Projects (ATAP) group, which released a prototype smartphone with Project Tango 3D technology under limited release in February with similar tech specs to the upcoming device.
Limited releases aren't unusual for Google, as a similar launch was given to Glass. Specifically for developers, ideas for software and hardware can be sent to ATAP for the chance to get one of these limited products. This is in stark contrast to Apple, which keeps its products under wraps until a worldwide launch.
Google speculates that the technology of the smartphone, the tablet and future products developed under the ATAP name could be used for improved immersive gaming, more photo-realistic mapping in real-time and better navigation for the visually-impaired.
Read more: Google unveils futuristic Project Tango, a phone that can create 3D maps of its surroundings
On the Project Tango site, Google claims that "the goal of Project Tango is to give mobile devices a human-scale understanding of space and motion."


Read more: http://www.itproportal.com/2014/05/23/google-set-to-release-new-futuristic-3d-imaging-tablet/#ixzz32cPC2yno

Sad faces all round as Microsoft pulls "offensive" Skype emojis

Microsoft has stripped Skype of a small number of emojis, which are digital ideograms or "smileys", after community managers worried that they were potentially offensive to its users.
The changes were made over a month ago with the release of Skype 6.14, but the service's users are now mobilising to protest against the decision. Skype message boards and forums are filled with complaints from users who believe that the emoji update is curtailing their rights to express themselves in the name of "political correctness" and "sensitivity."

The offensive emoticons that were removed include a smiley face flipping the viewer "the finger" and, bizarrely, a pair of women's legs wearing high heels – reportedly an Easter egg emoji related to former Skype CEO's personal assistant, Stella Hollest.

In particular, many users are raising their eyebrows because Skype has kept a number of emoticons that could easily fall into the offensive bracket. These include a man mooning the camera, a smiley face puffing on a cigarette and another googly-eyed fellow who is clearly drunk.

Still, Skype is aiming to turn frowns upside down with the introduction of new and inoffensive icons. These include a defecating sheep and a saluting Captain America – just type in (sheep) and (shielddeflect) respectively.

Skype was launched more than ten years ago, being bought my Microsoft in 2011 and eventually replacing the out-dated Windows Live Messenger service all together in 2013.

Read more: http://www.itproportal.com/2014/05/01/sad-faces-as-microsoft-bins-offensive-skype-emojis/#ixzz32cOTHg8k

Google Glass Gets Even Creepier? Bad News Or Good?

Creepy technology not unique to Google.

Google (NASDAQ:GOOG) is coming under fire (again) for the privacy implications of Google Glass.

On the one hand, being able to capture a photo with nothing but a wink is worryingly creepy. As is real-time facial recognition.

On The Other Hand, technology companies from LG to Microsoft to Apple are also raising privacy eyebrows. How can you prevent it happening to your business?

http://www.forbes.com/sites/netapp/2013/12/19/google-glass-gets-creepier-otoh/

Moto 360 smartwatch to retail at $249

Motorola has accidentally let slip the price of its Moto 360, and it's pretty much in line with what we were expecting.
Phone Arena spotted that the asking price of the smartwatch was spilled when the company posted about a competition it was running to allow folks the chance to win the Moto 360, and in the T&Cs blurb, the device was mentioned as having a retail value of $249 (£148).
That certainly sounds about right, and this is a pretty tempting sounding price point – while it's not cheap, we knew it wouldn't be, and the Moto 360 is a premium looking affair. In our humble opinion, it's the first really good looking smartwatch which stands a chance of actually capturing some mass market share due to its appealing aesthetics. Motorola may have beaten Apple to the punch here, as there's still no sign of the iWatch.

While, as we've noted, the price translates to around 150 notes in our money, of course this won't be the case when the Moto 360 launches in the UK. It'll probably have a price in pounds very close to, or even equivalent to the US tag. That'll mean it isn't quite such good value this side of the pond, but it'll still stand up well against the Gear 2, which is pitched up towards the £300 mark at online retailers currently.
There's also the Android Wear rival, the LG G Watch to consider, though that doesn't quite hold the same appeal for us, not looking nearly as stylish as the Motorola effort.


Read more: http://www.itproportal.com/2014/05/22/moto-360-smartwatch-to-retail-at-249/#ixzz32cMIt0U3

Website of the Day

Ludlow Kingsley made a stop-motion website to raise funds for 826LA, a non-profit teaching creative writing to kids. The hands-on, playful site reflects the ethos of both companies.

https://www.826.lk.la/

Mobile app of the day: Waygo

I will admit from the off that Waygo might be one to watch rather than an app you will want to download immediately. But do read on, because its potential is huge. Waygo's core capability is translation – you point your handset's camera at the written word, and Waygo returns an English language translation. Imagine its value: Direction signs, menus, information leaflets, information from newspapers, all manner of foreign words can have their mystery revealed.

The translation happens on the device itself, so there's no need to be online. You can see the pinyin translation of each word, and can share translations via text, Facebook, Twitter and email. At present Waygo works for Chinese and Japanese only, but the developer promises that more languages will be added.

You get ten translations per day for free. That probably won't be enough for anyone travelling in China or Japan – and if you think you will need more there's an in-app purchase to upgrade the allowance.


Read more: http://www.itproportal.com/2014/05/23/mobile-app-of-the-day-waygo/#ixzz32cI5k6Et