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Does Android KitKat Detect Unauthorized Tethering on T-Mobile USA Network?

According to a few Nexus 4 and Nexus 5 users, Android KitKat now detects unauthorized Tethering on T-Mobile USA network.

A colleague of ours noticed that after upgrading to Android KitKat on a Nexus 4, Tethering & portable hotspot no longer works. Devices connected to the Wi-Fi hotspot are redirected to T-Mobile login page.

Android Kit Kat Tethering Carrier Login

When an iPhone is connected to the Wi-Fi Hotspot from a Nexus 4 running Android KitKat, options to “Auto-join” and “Auto-login” appears.

IMG_2063

The iPhone then tries to connect to a T-Mobile login page, but the page never loads.

IMG_2066

We then use a Nexus 5 which came with Android KitKat pre-installed to create a wi-Fi hotspot. The result was the same, it forces connected devices to log in.

Another colleague of ours still has a Nexus 4 running Android Jelly Bean 4.3. The Nexus 4 is connected to T-Mobile USA network and without tethering plan. Devices connected the Wi-Fi hotspot created by the Android Jelly Bean-running Nexus 4 were not asked to log in.

We then inserted a working AT&T micro-SIM card into the Nexus 4 with Android KitKat. We had no issues using tethering through this phone.

At this point, it seems that Google has added codes in Android KitKat that detect unauthorized tethering. So far, it only affects Nexus phones (4 and 5) on T-Mobile USA network. We purchased the Nexus 4 and Nexus 5 from Google Play SIM-free and unlocked.

Is it possible that Google has added this “feature” to appease T-Mobile?

After all, Google has partnered up with T-Mobile (and Sprint) to sell Nexus 5.

Google Nexus 5 T-Mobile Sprint

We recommend users to wait from upgrading to Android KitKat on their Nexus 4.

 

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Jurors Sided Against Newegg on Patent Lawsuit

An eight-person jury in Marshall, Texas found the online retailer Newegg to infringe on a patent owned by TQP Development, a non-practicing patent holder.

Ars Technica reports:

They also found the patent was not invalid, apparently rejecting arguments by famed cryptographer Whitfield Diffie, who took the stand on Friday to argue against the patent.

The jury ordered Newegg to pay $2.3 million, a bit less than half of the $5.1 million TQP’s damage expert had suggested.

Newegg said they will appeal the verdict.

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Disclaimer
I recently was hired on a project that involves Newegg as the client. I cannot discuss, let alone reveal the details of the project at this moment. I can safely say that the project is unrelated with Newegg patent lawsuit. I am also a Newegg customer.

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Angry Birds Toons: Clash Of Corns

Angry Birds Toons episode number 37, which is also a prime number that we use a lot here, is now available for viewing on your devices. You need an Angry Birds App or Bad Piggy App to view it. “Clash Of Corns” features Matilda and Bomb.

Angry Birds Toons Clash Of Corns

Next episode is titled “A Pig’s Best Friend” is on deck. Stay Tooned next week.

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Thunderbird 24.1.1

Thunderbird 24.1.1 is now available.

Thunderbird 24.1.1

I received this update sometimes on Thursday November 22, 2013.

I used Thunderbird because OS X Mavericks Mail and Gmail were not fully “communicating” with each other. With the latest  Mail Update for Mavericks, the issue has been resolved. I still use Thunderbird for certain email accounts to maintain a partition of the emails I use on daily basis.