Android always up-to-date - Android One

Cheap phones were sometimes even cut off from updates the moment they were sold. This grieved not only users but also Google - and it may finally be about to change with Android One!

Until now, the update policy of many Android cellphone manufacturers resembled the nursing behavior of a cuckoo: *they took to their heels*. This annoyance has been tolerated by buyers for several years, maybe many didn't even realize the importance of regular updates. Only owning a Google-backed device like Nexus or Pixel meant you were on the safe side. Super cheap phones were sometimes even *cut off from updates the moment they were sold*. This grieved not only users but also Google - and it may finally be about **to change with Android One**!

Until now, the update policy of many Android cellphone manufacturers resembled the nursing behavior of a cuckoo: they took to their heels. This annoyance has been tolerated by buyers for several years, maybe many didn't even realize the importance of regular updates. Only owning a Google-backed device like Nexus or Pixel meant you were on the safe side. Super cheap phones were sometimes even cut off from updates the moment they were sold. This grieved not only users but also Google - and it may finally be about to change with Android One!


How do cryptocurrencies work?

You can't escape them. Cryptocurrencies are ubiquitous. But how do they work and how can a single individual, that might not even exist, invent a new currency along with the technical foundation?

You can't escape them. They're in the news, on entertainment programs or show up in Internet ads. **Cryptocurrencies are ubiquitous.** But how do they work and how can a single individual, *that might not even exist*, invent a new currency along with the technical foundation? Though there are now quite a number of cryptocurrencies available, I'll focus on the darling of the digital currency movement: Bitcoin.

You can't escape them. They're in the news, on entertainment programs or show up in Internet ads. Cryptocurrencies are ubiquitous. But how do they work and how can a single individual, that might not even exist, invent a new currency along with the technical foundation? Though there are now quite a number of cryptocurrencies available, I'll focus on the darling of the digital currency movement: Bitcoin.


Hackers - the great unknown

Seldom does the media paint a more distorted picture than when it comes to hacking. Reason enough to take a closer look at hackers!

Seldom does the media paint a more distorted picture than **when it comes to hacking**. It goes something like this: a man wearing a balaclava sits in a dark room typing away at his computer. Green cryptic characters fill up his screen until he reaches his murky goal! So far, so unrealistic. That there's more to the hacker community that once featured prominent members like Apple founders Steve Wozniak and Steve Jobs and that many security issues became public thanks to hacking is *a story that is rarely told*. And the many positively motivated members are also swept under the rug all too frequently. Reason enough to take a closer look at hackers.

Seldom does the media paint a more distorted picture than when it comes to hacking. It goes something like this: a man wearing a balaclava sits in a dark room typing away at his computer. Green cryptic characters fill up his screen until he reaches his murky goal! So far, so unrealistic. That there's more to the hacker community that once featured prominent members like Apple founders Steve Wozniak and Steve Jobs and that many security issues became public thanks to hacking is a story that is rarely told. And the many positively motivated members are also swept under the rug all too frequently. Reason enough to take a closer look at hackers.


Meltdown and Spectre: the great processor disaster

Huge security holes, dubbed Meltdown and Spectre, have been discovered that affect Intel, AMD, Qualcomm and other processors. Read on to learn what happened and how manufacturers are responding!

As a computer scientist, I deal with security vulnerabilities on a daily basis since the perfect operating system has just not been found yet - but this time I almost spilled my tea when I read the news. This issue was different and *it affected the core of all computer calculations*: the processor itself. And it wasn't just any processor that was vulnerable but **practically all of them** whether they were built into PCs, cellphones or servers all over the world. This time, the remedy wasn't a simple browser patch. Every operating system had become unsafe taking the wind right out of the sails of Apple users who like to point their fingers at the supposedly inferior security of Windows systems. They were all in danger. Even those who owned none of the CPUs listed couldn't just sit back and relax because **the servers that host and process all of our data** could also be affected. Read on to learn what happened and how manufacturers are dealing with the dire situation.

As a computer scientist, I deal with security vulnerabilities on a daily basis since the perfect operating system has just not been found yet - but this time I almost spilled my tea when I read the news. This issue was different and it affected the core of all computer calculations: the processor itself. And it wasn't just any processor that was vulnerable but practically all of them whether they were built into PCs, cellphones or servers all over the world. This time, the remedy wasn't a simple browser patch. Every operating system had become unsafe taking the wind right out of the sails of Apple users who like to point their fingers at the supposedly inferior security of Windows systems. They were all in danger. Even those who owned none of the CPUs listed couldn't just sit back and relax because the servers that host and process all of our data could also be affected. Read on to learn what happened and how manufacturers are dealing with the dire situation.


The Ashampoo blog team wishes you Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year 2018!

As I return to my workplace, a cherished female colleague has lit the candle that has been in my office since the beginning of December, unnoticed - Christmas must be just around the corner.

I just looked at my inbox. There were a few nice comments from you on the most recent blog article, a couple of colleagues who're heading off on vacation and - nothing else. Only a week ago, everyone at Ashampoo was firing on all cylinders to tackle this year's last program releases and the mood was tense. Now, a little peace and quiet has returned. Offices are mostly understaffed and the few who remain casually chat about the schedule for the coming year. As I return to my workplace, a cherished female colleague has lit the candle that has been in my office since the beginning of December, unnoticed - Christmas must be just around the corner.

Offline Christmas shopping - a self-experiment

I recently read about the precarious situation retailers across the country are facing today. What would it take to keep me from ordering my gifts from Amazon and others online and instead make my purchases downtown?

I recently read about the precarious situation retailers across the country are facing today. The articles conjured up **the image of gray and lifeless inner cities** with only a couple of hairdressers, knick-knack stores and bakeries able to brave the exodus. At the same time, package delivery services are buckling under an ever increasing barrage of packages. What would it take to keep me from ordering my gifts from Amazon and others online and instead make my purchases downtown?

I recently read about the precarious situation retailers across the country are facing today. The articles conjured up the image of gray and lifeless inner cities with only a couple of hairdressers, knick-knack stores and bakeries able to brave the exodus. At the same time, package delivery services are buckling under an ever increasing barrage of packages. What would it take to keep me from ordering my gifts from Amazon and others online and instead make my purchases downtown?


Can a smartphone replace your digital camera?

I recently saw the news that Nikon is shutting down a huge production plant in China as of now. Will specialists and enthusiasts be the only ones to still use digital single-lens reflex cameras (DSLRs) in 2018?

I recently saw the news that Nikon is shutting down a huge production plant in China as of now. The reason was unusually clear: **the market for digital cameras had shrunken too much thanks to the victory march of smartphones** and the plant had gotten into a little pickle as a result. If you look at Canon, who had a *truly miserable year in 2016*, and then check out the cameras even highly affordable smartphones come with nowadays, you might wonder whether the end of the glorious age of digital cameras has finally come. Will specialists and enthusiasts be the only ones to still use digital single-lens reflex cameras (DSLRs) in 2018?

I recently saw the news that Nikon is shutting down a huge production plant in China as of now. The reason was unusually clear: the market for digital cameras had shrunken too much thanks to the victory march of smartphones and the plant had gotten into a little pickle as a result. If you look at Canon, who had a truly miserable year in 2016, and then check out the cameras even highly affordable smartphones come with nowadays, you might wonder whether the end of the glorious age of digital cameras has finally come. Will specialists and enthusiasts be the only ones to still use digital single-lens reflex cameras (DSLRs) in 2018?


The return of Firefox

In the life of a tech aficionado, there are many old favorites. For years, my favorite browser has been Firefox. Version 57 promises nothing less than a revolution.Is this the return to its old strength?

In the life of a tech aficionado, there are many **old favorites**, i.e. programs you stay faithful to even in the presence of better alternatives. For years, my favorite browser has been **Firefox**. Not owned by a large corporation, reasonably fast and with support for countless good extensions, Firefox was my go-to-browser until, eventually, sand got in the gears. The visuals hadn't been updated for years, display errors kept coming up and the speed was hardly on par with the available alternatives. I made the switch and, with a heavy heart, put Firefox on the scrap heap along with my old love, Netscape. Did I grieve too soon? Version 57 promises **nothing less than a revolution**. Is this the return to its old strength?

In the life of a tech aficionado, there are many old favorites, i.e. programs you stay faithful to even in the presence of better alternatives. For years, my favorite browser has been Firefox. Not owned by a large corporation, reasonably fast and with support for countless good extensions, Firefox was my go-to-browser until, eventually, sand got in the gears. The visuals hadn't been updated for years, display errors kept coming up and the speed was hardly on par with the available alternatives. I made the switch and, with a heavy heart, put Firefox on the scrap heap along with my old love, Netscape. Did I grieve too soon? Version 57 promises nothing less than a revolution. Is this the return to its old strength?


Everyday heroes: family admins

While there's International Volunteer Day and much appreciation for social commitment, one species of helpers mostly stays in the background: family administrators. I'd like to honor these ladies and gentlemen by describing their typical daily routine.

There are *unsung heroes* out there, especially those who accomplish ungrateful tasks out of a sense of duty or charity for others. While there's International Volunteer Day and much appreciation for social commitment, one species of helpers mostly stays in the background: **family administrators**. It took a while for their field of activity to take form but it's seen rapid growth in the wake of mass Internet use ever since! I'd like to honor these ladies and gentlemen by describing their typical daily routine. And believe me, *it's not as fictional as you might think*.

There are unsung heroes out there, especially those who accomplish ungrateful tasks out of a sense of duty or charity for others. While there's International Volunteer Day and much appreciation for social commitment, one species of helpers mostly stays in the background: family administrators. It took a while for their field of activity to take form but it's seen rapid growth in the wake of mass Internet use ever since! I'd like to honor these ladies and gentlemen by describing their typical daily routine. And believe me, it's not as fictional as you might think.


Pinterest – a self-experiment

Though I'm already quite involved in social media (through my job), there has always been a white spot on my map until now: Pinterest. I seek to find out mainly one thing in my self-experiment: is Pinterest really the better Facebook as some say?

Though I'm already quite involved in social media (through my job), there has always been a white spot on my map until now: **Pinterest**. "Something with images" was all I could say about it. I like text over images and anyway: who needs another portal? As I look around my circle of friends: *obviously quite a few*. Described to me as "a cross between a photo site, a constructive community and a virtual pin board with a high percentage of female members" by a friend, I seek to find out mainly one thing in my self-experiment: is Pinterest really **the better Facebook** as some say? Time to register!

Though I'm already quite involved in social media (through my job), there has always been a white spot on my map until now: Pinterest. &quot;Something with images&quot; was all I could say about it. I like text over images and anyway: who needs another portal? As I look around my circle of friends: obviously quite a few. Described to me as &quot;a cross between a photo site, a constructive community and a virtual pin board with a high percentage of female members&quot; by a friend, I seek to find out mainly one thing in my self-experiment: is Pinterest really the better Facebook as some say? Time to register!


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