Android allows applications direct access to your photos, too

Just a couple of days after uncovering the security loophole in iOS, whereby an application can copy the user's entire photo library and upload it simply by asking for location information in photos and videos, The New York Times is back with similar issue found on Android devices as well.

In case of Android, the issue is a bit more worrying, as was demonstrated by the Times, using the same method they used with iOS. They built a simple time app for Android, which, in its permission dialogue, made no mention of accessing the photos on the device but simply for Internet access. This app was then able to not only access the photos on the device but also post it on a website, all behind the user's back.

When The Verge contacted Google regarding this, it gave the typical developer argument of it being a feature and not a bug. Google said Android was designed in a way to facilitate access to your files because older devices had memory cards in them. But now that more and more Android device are having a fixed internal memory, the will be looking into adding permission for apps to access images.

Like we mentioned in our previous article regarding the iOS bug, this is no different than the way images can be access on your desktop computer. However, with Google now monitoring apps using its Bouncer program, like Apple, it too has fewer excuses to allow such behavior from apps on its store.

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HTC One X full specs and official photos surface a day early

HTC is holding its pre-MWC event tomorrow at 8PM in Barcelona, but that doesn't mean the leaks have any intention of stopping in the meantime. After we caught a glimpse on the HTC One S smartphone (4.3? AMOLED display, dual-core chipset, 8MP camera), it now looks to be the turn of the One X.

The HTC One X is shaping up to take point as the company?s new flagship. The leaked official specifications confirm the rumors of an NVIDIA Tegra 3 chipset doing the heavy lifting inside the One X with a 1.5GHz quad-core processor. The second generation Super LCD of HD resolution (1280 x 720 pixels) at the front measures 4.7" and is protected by a layer of Gorilla Glass 2.

The One X should have 1GB of RAM and 32GB of internal storage. There's no microSD slot available, but HTC will try and make up for that by providing 25GB of Dropbox online storage for two years for free.

HTC One X

The next HTC flaship will pack an 8 megapixel camera with super-bright F/2.0 lens, capable of 1080p video recording. The camera has quite a few cool extra features too - most notably its ability to capture video and take shots simultaneously as well as thes low-motion video recording.

Network connectivity maxes out at 21Mbps HSPA, while local connectivity options include Wi-Fi, NFC, GPS, USB 2.0 and Bluetooth 3.0.

The HTC One X will run on the latest Android 4.0 Ice Cream Sandwich, skinned with the newest Sense UI 4.0. There's Beats Audio support as well, so we will probably see some high-quality Beats headset in the retail package, too.

The source of the leak also mentions the pricing of the One X and its more affordable sibling - the HTC One S. The flagship device should go for a cent under ?700, whereas the One S should cost ?600. Oddly both devices appear on the leaked screenshot with their code names, so take this bit with a pinch of salt.

Enough with the teasers though, the press event kicks off in just over 20 hours and we will be there to cover every detail of it for you.

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HTC One X full specs and official photos surface a day early

HTC is holding its pre-MWC event tomorrow at 8PM in Barcelona, but that doesn't mean the leaks have any intention of stopping in the meantime. After we caught a glimpse on the HTC One S smartphone (4.3? AMOLED display, dual-core chipset, 8MP camera), it now looks to be the turn of the One X.

The HTC One X is shaping up to take point as the company?s new flagship. The leaked official specifications confirm the rumors of an NVIDIA Tegra 3 chipset doing the heavy lifting inside the One X with a 1.5GHz quad-core processor. The second generation Super LCD of HD resolution (1280 x 720 pixels) at the front measures 4.7" and is protected by a layer of Gorilla Glass 2.

The One X should have 1GB of RAM and 32GB of internal storage. There's no microSD slot available, but HTC will try and make up for that by providing 25GB of Dropbox online storage for two years for free.

HTC One X

The next HTC flaship will pack an 8 megapixel camera with super-bright F/2.0 lens, capable of 1080p video recording. The camera has quite a few cool extra features too - most notably its ability to capture video and take shots simultaneously as well as thes low-motion video recording.

Network connectivity maxes out at 21Mbps HSPA, while local connectivity options include Wi-Fi, NFC, GPS, USB 2.0 and Bluetooth 3.0.

The HTC One X will run on the latest Android 4.0 Ice Cream Sandwich, skinned with the newest Sense UI 4.0. There's Beats Audio support as well, so we will probably see some high-quality Beats headset in the retail package, too.

The source of the leak also mentions the pricing of the One X and its more affordable sibling - the HTC One S. The flagship device should go for a cent under ?700, whereas the One S should cost ?600. Oddly both devices appear on the leaked screenshot with their code names, so take this bit with a pinch of salt.

Enough with the teasers though, the press event kicks off in just over 20 hours and we will be there to cover every detail of it for you.

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Sony Xperia U live photos leak again, still hot looking

We are really starting to worry that at the rate these leaks are going, Sony won't have much news for us at its MWC press conference on Sunday. The Sony Xperia U, which is one of the smartphones to go official there, leaked once again - this time in an extensive live photo session.

The Sony Xperia U was previously known by its codename Kumquat and by its product code - ST25i. It has much of the styling of the high-flying Sony Xperia S, but has a slightly tuned down specs sheet and should come with a lower asking price.

Sony Xperia U live photos

The Xperia U is said to be built around a 3.5" qHD LCD and feature a 1GHz dual-core CPU and 512 MB of RAM. A 5 megapixel camera replaces the 12 megapixel monster we saw on the Xperia S, but the OS at launch should still be Android 2.3 Gingerbread. Android 4.0 Ice Cream Sandwich should be pushed as an update shortly after, though.

Sony Xperia U live photos

And with the Sony Xperia U mystery all but gone, we start wondering what other cool devices we will see in Barcelona come this Sunday. Just make sure you stick around so you don't miss anything.

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Panasonic uncovers Eluga specs, live hands-on photos pop up

As promised yesterday, Panasonic unveiled the specifications of their Android smartphone dubbed the Eluga, expected to debut on the European market this March.

The poorly named Eluga is powered by a dual-core 1GHz TI OMAP 4430 processor and 1GB of RAM and 8GB of internal memory, which we have come to expect from high-end droids these days. At the front we find a 4.3-inch OLED display with qHD 960 x 540 pixels resolution.

It's also water- and dust-proof with NFC on-board. Remarkably, this hasn't made the device as thick as one might expect. The Eluga is just 7.8mm thick and weighs only 103grams, which, to bring it in a perspective, beats the Galaxy S II hands-down.

The reason for the phone's little hump at the back is the 8MP auto-focus snapper with image stabilization. Speaking of the back, underneath the back cover resides 1,150 mAh battery good for 300h of standby and 240 minutes of talk time.

The Eluga will run Android Gingerbread 2.3.5 when initially sold with Ice Cream Sandwich coming in the Spring of this year, or at least that's what Panasonic promises.

Pocket-lint.com have obviously managed to get their hands on the Eluga recently at the Panasonic Convention 2012 in Hamburg. They also tested the phone's toughness under water. Check out the photos below.

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