North Korea 'makes home-grown' Arirang smartphone

　　North Korea says it has produced its first home-grown smartphone, but experts have disputed its origins.
　　The Arirang handset, described as a "hand phone" in state media, was shown to leader Kim Jong-un during a factory tour.
　　The country has had a mobile network since 2008, but activity is heavily monitored and restricted.
　　Last year the country launched a tablet, but it later emerged it was likely to have been made in China.
　　Clues to the tablet's origin were uncovered by Martyn Williams, an expert on North Korean technology, who noted that parts of the tablet's software code suggested links to a manufacturer in Hong Kong.
　　The Arirang smartphone, named after a popular folk song, was unlikely to have been made in the country, Mr Williams added.
　　He noted that no actual manufacturing was shown, and that the device was "probably made to order by a Chinese manufacturer and shipped to the May 11 Factory where they are inspected before going on sale".
　　The leader was accompanied by the Korean Workers' Party propaganda chief and the head of the Korean Central News Agency (KCNA), a hint that the devices could be used for widespread dissemination of government information.
　　Illegally owned mobiles
　　Mr Kim was seen to be demoing the device, which appeared to be running a version of Google's Android mobile operating system.
　　There are no further details available about the smartphone's exact specifications, but the KNCA reported that the leader praised the "high pixels" of the built-in camera.
　　The article said Mr Kim had high hopes for the "educational significance in making people love Korean things".
　　He advised that factory workers should "select and produce shapes and colours that users like".
　　Mobile phones in the secretive country have been available since 2008. The national network is maintained thanks to a joint operation by the North Korean government and Egyptian telecoms company Orascom.
　　Phones on the network are heavily restricted. They cannot access the internet and can only make calls within North Korea.
　　For a short time, foreigners in the country were able to use mobile internet, but this access was later revoked.
　　It is believed that many in North Korea, particular those near the borders, use illegally owned mobiles to contact people outside the country.
　　One man, a 28-year-old who left North Korea in November 2010, told aresearch paper: "In order to make sure the mobile phone frequencies are not being tracked, I would fill up a washbasin with water and put the lid of a rice cooker over my head while I made a phone call."
　　Being found in possession of a foreign phone would be a very serious crime, the paper's authors said.

Customers are going to be in a position to boot

　　Though it appears like Microsoft is placing the finishing touches on Windows 8.1, a few reports say the release date is still a couple months away.
　　Each ZDNet along with the Verge claim that Windows 8.1 will launch in October, not only for current Windows eight PCs, but for new computers operating the updated operating method. The duo were the very first to report on Windows eight.1's (then referred to as Windows Blue) existence, lots of months ago.
　　Thoughts you, this is not a delay, as Microsoft has never ever confirmed a release date for Windows eight.1. The corporation has only said that it would release the application to Computer makers (a process identified as RTM) in August. Both reports say Microsoft is still on track.
　　But as ZDNet's Mary Jo Foley explains, Microsoft may perhaps be holding back the actual launch for a couple of causes: Very first, Windows 8.1 is reportedly really buggy, even to get a test construct, so the added time will let Microsoft to clean points up by means of software program updates for new Computer buyers. Second, releasing each the update and new Windows eight.1 devices simultaneously could possibly produce a bigger splash, amounting to a “launch event” for the a lot more user-friendly version of Microsoft's operating system.
　　Windows 8.1 involves many concessions for desktop users, as well as new options for the modern interface. Customers are going to be in a position to boot straight for the desktop, disable modern-style “hot corners” and access essential desktop functions by right-clicking on the newly-restored Start off button. The modern day interface contains big improvements to built-in apps, the ability to use three apps side-by-side, overhauled Bing search and much more. The net impact is the fact that it's much easier to remain around the desktop if you would like, but not unthinkable to switch for the contemporary UI.
　　If Microsoft manages to launch the update in October, it'll fall around the one-year anniversary of Windows 8. That's a major change for Windows, which typically releases significant updates when each handful of years, but it's a vital transform as Microsoft tries to maintain up with Apple and Google. No matter if you love or hate the operating method, there's no doubt that Microsoft's switch to a fast release cycle is absolutely bearing fruit. 
   http://www.windows7prokeys.com/windows-7-enterprise-activation-key-p-3529.html