Is this the worst ad Samsung's ever made?

An ad for its 840 EVO Series Solid State Drive gets Reddit posters in an enormous tizzy, after one of the actors allegedly explains his role.

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Why did I agree to be in this?

(Credit: DabsDotCom/YouTube Screenshot by Chris Matyszczyk/CNET)

Some ads, like some movies, can be so bad that they become a peculiar sort of good.

Then there are ads that maintain a deep worthlessness and cause only pain to the senses.

You must decide how you feel about this opus, created by Samsung.

Released a couple of weeks ago, it sat in the Internet's ether, hiding in plain sight. Then the critics at Reddit got hold of it and mused whether the world had ended early.

The ad, for Samsung's 840 EVO Series Solid State Drive, seems to have enjoyed a very strict casting brief: please only audition those with a dependency on Xanax.

The actors seem to speak with the diction of an American who is trying to explain himself to a Chechen rebel.

"After a few months of owning my computer," says one young man, "it doesn't work as fast."

Some might think: "Perhaps it's trying to maintain the same pace as your thinking process, sir."

Yet it is this very actor who is said to have participated in the Reddit discussion, behind the handle DamienF1.

He wrote: "So I'm an actor/model living in Seoul, and im playing the 'businessman' in this promo. now, admittedly its not my best work lol, but most people arent aware of just how many factors go into making it this bad."

One factor would be actors who slowly offer: "Wow! That Amazing!", as if someone was pulling on the hairs beneath their shoulder blades to keep them awake.

To hear the lady actor offer: "I did it! Did you see that?!" is to witness some of the finest sincerity since your last girlfriend said she was ditching you to join a nunnery.

The allegedly participating actor explained on Reddit: "They force us to speak slowly since this will be dubbed over in Korean, and even when it isnt, most people viewing it will be Korean. They ask us to exaggerate since many Korean people feel thats how we 'naturally' act (most people here are not very expressive)."

You must admit that there's more than a suspicion of truth in this. The American, in the eyes of many foreigners, is an unsubtle beast, prone to noisy outbursts and facial expressions of large white teeth and insincerity.

He explained further that this was meant only for promotional and in-house purposes, not to be seen on TV.

He also revealed that the comatose nature of the woman's performance is remarkably real: "By the time they shot the scenes with the girl, she was literally falling asleep in her chair, hence the stoned expression and tone :)"

For me, this is by no means the worst piece of communication I've ever seen.

As a Reddit poster called girkwood confirmed: "I work in the conference industry. I have seen literally hundreds of such videos. They all look like this, regardless of who they are for or what they deliver."

Many of such things are commissioned not even by marketing people, but by engineers who believe that people always talk like this.

In this case, Samsung wasn't too pleased with the actors comments. According to PCWorld, it called his agent and asked for his revelations to be put to sleep.

This video is surely no worse than concepts such as "Dog With A Blog" or "Robocop: Prime Detectives" or so many other ads and movies that have briefly assaulted us.

If I were Samsung, I'd capitalize on this notoriety for a product that isn't exactly in too many eyes.

I'd make a parody of my own bad ad with actors who really are semi-comatose.

I'd explain that some of them had been forced to watch 12 hours of "Jersey Shore," while others had been made to listen to the collected speeches of Kim Jong-Il.

They'd be doubling the production of these SSDs in no time.

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Too much time on Facebook? Give yourself an electric shock

The Pavlov Poke is an invention that shocks you into getting off the Web. It may be the only way.

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We are but dogs.

You're weak. And your biggest weakness is yourself.

You indulge obsessive habits. You spend a dozen hours a day on the Web, searching for what you're missing out on while you're spending a dozen hours a day on the Web.

You tell yourself that you can't help yourself. I am telling you that now you can.

For here is a device that will jolt you away from Facebook by giving you an electric shock. Yes, this is jolt by the volt.

Called the Pavlov Poke, this device was invented by Robert Morris and Dan McDuff. They claimed to waste a combined 50 hours a week on Facebook and determined to do something about it.

Fortunately, they are two PhD students at MIT, so they were in a position to use the strengths of their skills to combat the weakness in their gills.

In the promotional video I've embedded, their acting skills might use a little nuancing. However, they insist their tale is real.

The Pavlov Poke is, quite simply, a little accessory for your keyboard that pokes you into withdrawing from it, if you've been Web bound too long.

It is less a poke and more of an electric shock.

"It monitors application usage, and if you spend too much time on a particular Web site or application, it will give you a shock," explained McDuff.

Sadly, there appear to be no plans to launch the Pavlov Poke commercially. Morris admits the invention is something of a joke.He describes the shock as "unpleasant," but not dangerous.

Some might wonder whether our habits are no so ingrained that even a shock won't work on us.

Morris told TechCrunch: "To be truly effective, many shock exposures are probably needed. Proper conditioning procedures should be followed. Sadly, we found the shocks so aversive, we removed the device pretty quickly after installing it. Anecdotally, however, I did notice a significant, though temporary, reduction in my Facebook usage."

If this doesn't work, what will? Can one imagine Apple creating computers that only work eight hours a day? Can one imagine Microsoft creating software that automatically shuts down with a certain number of hours of usage?

Right now, it seems that we are mere animals, open to a better form of conditioning, if only we can find it.

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11 ways to trick Android into using less data

With expensive tiered data plans, it's easy to hit your limit. Follow this guide to cut back on data usage (and avoid overage charges).

Apps are moving to the cloud. Streaming services like Netflix and Spotify are big. And just about every one of us is addicted to social networking.

There's just one thing standing in the way: your data plan.

With unlimited plans dwindling, most smartphone users are stuck with tiered options that sometimes make data usage more stressful than fun. (Anyone who's been hit with an exorbitant overage charge knows this feeling.)

But if you're on Android, you've got a little more wiggle room, thanks to plenty of data-restricting settings. With the proper configurations, you'll find yourself using data at a much slower rate -- so much so, perhaps, that you could even step down a tier.

11 ways to reduce Android data usage (pictures)

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Tame hungry apps

Whether you're actively using them or not, apps love to eat up data. They're checking for updates, running ads, and refreshing your user content in the background. The good intentions are there, but most times, the conveniences these practices bring don't outweigh the depleted data reserves. It's time to tame those apps.

Update apps on Wi-Fi only
Head to the Google Play store and tap Menu > Settings > Auto-update apps. Here, be sure that "Auto-update apps over Wi-Fi only" is selected. You also have the option to choose "Do not auto-update apps," but it's less preferable, since you'll have to remember to update apps manually.

(Credit: Screenshot by Sharon Vaknin/CNET)

Configure in-app data settings
To give you a fluid experience, many apps ping servers in the background to keep their content updated. For instance, Google+ backs up your photos and videos as they're captured, while Mint can be configured to refresh banking data.

These conveniences are great, but they come at a cost, so dive into the app settings and disable the data-sucking options you don't absolutely need.

Restrict background data
Even apps that don't allow you to fine-tune data settings could still be loading background data. In Ice Cream Sandwich and later versions of Android, one way to find out which ones are guilty is to go to Settings > Data Usage, and scroll down to reveal a list of apps with accompanying data usage stats.

Then, tap an app to view its usage data, and take a look at the two numbers next to the pie chart. "Foreground" refers to the data used when you're actively using the app, while "Background" reflects the data used when the app is running in the background.

If you notice an app is using too much background data, scroll down to the bottom and check "Restrict background data." Just note that this setting overrides any conflicting app behavior (like an app that would otherwise update your bank account info every few hours).

Take advantage of preloading and caching

As data constraints become a reality for most smartphone owners, developers are including options that make their apps less demanding. Don't let these options go unnoticed -- they'll save you heaps.

Preload streaming-app content
As we become increasingly frugal about cellular data usage, more apps offer caching (or preloading), letting you download content on Wi-Fi and view it at any later time. Spotify, for example, lets users download playlists. Similarly, YouTube preloads subscriptions and videos on your Watch Later list.

(Credit: Screenshot by Sharon Vaknin/CNET)

The majority of apps that offer preloading are the ones that need it most. So use it. Head into the settings menu of any app (especially streaming-media apps), to see if the option is available. Alternatively, you might find that an app allows you to lower streaming quality while on a cellular data connection.

Cache maps before travelingDownload files on Wi-Fi only
Unless you absolutely have to, refrain from downloading songs, movies, or large files while using a cellular data connection. It's common sense, but be sure to do any downloading while you're on Wi-Fi.

With its new offline feature, Google Maps now allows you to cache maps. It takes some time to download them, and does require a chunk of storage space, but once a map is downloaded, you'll be able to view and navigate it without using your data connection. Here's how.

Check sync settings

With automated syncing, Google makes sure your accounts are updated any time a change is made. Unfortunately for your data plan (and battery life) that means your phone is constantly pinging the server to find out if new content needs to be downloaded (or uploaded.) There are a couple ways to temper this.

Fine-tune sync settings
During the initial phone configuration, you probably opted into account syncing. By default, everything is set to sync, including things like photos, the Play Store, and other Google apps. You don't necessarily need all these items syncing -- especially data-heavy ones like photos.

To adjust sync options, head to Settings > Accounts > Google, and select an account. Here, uncheck the boxes next to the items that don't absolutely need to be synced. Repeat the same process for other accounts.

After that, you can manually sync accounts by visiting their respective apps.

Temporarily switch off sync
Going out for the night? Sitting at your desk? Prevent your phone from unnecessarily syncing data by disabling syncing, either from the notification bar, or by going to Settings > Data Usage > Menu > uncheck "Auto-sync data."

Minimize browser data usage

If Web browsing is the data-hogging culprit, it's no surprise. Some Web sites have yet to be optimized for mobile, while others eat into data with bulky advertisements.

The simple answer to these woes is data compression. With it, a Web page is first compressed in the cloud before being sent to your phone, significantly reducing the download size.

There are some drawbacks, however. First, even though your data is encrypted and anonymized, the browser must still process your activity while it compresses it. Not everyone is comfortable with that.

Secondly, sometimes compression means sacrificing quality, leaving you with slightly altered Web pages.

Even so, the option can be worthwhile for anyone on a tiered plan (or times when you're on a slow connection). Opera, a much-loved browser, is one such app that offers compression. Just head to the Settings menu to enable it. After some use, Opera will tell you just how much data you saved.

Alternatively, Chrome Beta includes a handy new data compression feature, but you'll have to enable it. To do so, head to Settings > Bandwidth Management > Reduce data usage. Going forward, you can revisit that settings window to see how much data you're saving.

Call in for help

If you've given it all you got and you're still breaching your data limits, it's time to call in for help.

Monitor data usage
One of the most useful Android features is the Data Usage tool. With it, you can view your monthly activity, see which apps demand the most megabytes, and configure usage warnings. Find out how to use it with our step-by-step guide.

Alternatively, Onavo Count offers a similar solution, but steps it up by including a widget, letting you keep an eye on real-time data usage at any moment. Read our guide to using Onavo Count.

Compress all data activity
As an absolute last resort, Onavo Extend takes its Count app a step further by actively compressing almost all incoming data. For instance, e-mails are simplified, Web pages are compressed server-side, and photos are optimized.

Keep this option in your app drawer, should you find yourself running low on data.

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Microsoft CEO Steve Ballmer to retire within 12 months

Microsoft CEO Steve Ballmer, who took over the helm of the world's largest software company from founder Bill Gates, will retire within the next 12 months.

Microsoft Corp. did not name a successor. The company said it is forming a search committee, which will include Gates, and Ballmer will stay on until a replacement is found.

"There is never a perfect time for this type of transition, but now is the right time," Ballmer said in a statement released by the Redmond, Washington, company.

Microsoft shares shot up 8 percent in morning trading following the news.

It's been less than two months since Microsoft announced a sweeping reorganization of its business in an attempt to reignite competition with faster-moving rivals such as Apple and Google.

Response to the newest version of Microsoft's flagship Windows operating system has been lukewarm. And Microsoft, along with other companies that thrived in the era of personal computers, are scrambling to transform their businesses as people come to rely more and more on smartphones and tablets.

In his statement, Ballmer noted that the company is moving in a new direction and needs a CEO that will be there for the longer term.

Microsoft, he added, "has all its best days ahead."

Ballmer, 57, met Microsoft founder Bill Gates in 1973 while they were living down a dormitory hall from each other at Harvard University. He joined Microsoft in 1980 to bring some business discipline and salesmanship to a company that had just landed a contract to supply an operating system for a personal computer that IBM would release in 1981.

Ballmer, a zealous executive prone to arm-waving and hollering, did the job so well that he would become Gates' sounding board and succeed him as CEO in 2000. He has worked at Microsoft for 33 years, matching the tenure of Gates, who left the company in 2008.

"It's a tad surprising, but every other business head has been rotated out," said BGC Financial analyst Colin Gillis. "They swapped out all their segment heads over the past few years. The only one they haven't changed is the CEO."

Though investors cheered the news on Friday, Gillis cautioned that it could be a "tough 12 months" for the company.

The obvious successor -- former Windows head Steven Sinofsky -- got booted by Ballmer, he said.

Sinofsky left the company shortly after the launch of Windows 8 last year.

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Vodafone and ICICI Bank extend M-Pesa mobile wallet service to Delhi and NCR

Vodafone India has launched its mobile money transfer and payment service, M-Pesa, in Delhi and NCR, in collaboration with ICICI Bank.

According to Vodafone, the service will now be available through 1400 specially trained authorised agents and across 130 Vodafone exclusive retail stores in Delhi and NCR region.  

Through the M-Pesa service, users will be able to deposit and withdraw cash from designated outlets, transfer money to any mobile phone in India, remit money to any bank account in India, make payments to recharge mobiles, clear utility bills and for DTH service subscription, shop at select shops and use it for e-commerce/m-commerce transactions.

The service was initially announced in November 2012 when Vodafone India through its 100% subsidiary, Mobile Commerce Solutions Ltd. ("MCSL") had inked a strategic alliance with ICICI Bank for M-Pesa. Vodafone offers mobile payment services across the world under the 'M-Pesa' brand. It was later launched in Kolkata, West Bengal, Bihar and Jharkhand through over 8,300 authorized agents, in April.

Highlighting the relevance of 'M-Pesa' for the residents of Delhi/NCR, Subrat Padhi, Business Head -Delhi, Vodafone India said, "Vodafone is always at the forefront to introduce innovative products and services that enrich the lives of our customers. We are delighted to bring to Delhi, 'M-Pesa', a world class mobile banking service, in partnership with ICICI Bank. 'M-Pesa', is a safe, secure and convenient service to transfer money and make payments beyond the reach of traditional banking channels. For households where the earning members migrate to larger cities for earning livelihood, 'M-Pesa' will be the best way to send money back home to their families."
 
Added Suresh Sethi, Business Head - M-Pesa, Vodafone India, "Vodafone is the world's largest and leading provider of mobile payment services through 'M-Pesa', which offers millions of people including the unbanked and under-serviced sections of society, basic financial services. Today, less than 5 percent of villages in India have a banking outlet. Financial inclusion is a national priority and we believe that with 'M-Pesa', we now have the ideal offering to facilitate the same across the country in compliance with all applicable regulations."

To register for the service, Vodafone customers need to visit an 'M-Pesa' agent outlet, fill up a form, submit identity, address proofs and deposit a minimum amount along with it, to open their 'M-Pesa' account. Following the registration, Vodafone will activate the MCSL Mobile Wallet for the customer who will be able to use it as a closed wallet and make a variety of transactions including cash deposits, transferring money to any bank account, transferring money to any other 'M-Pesa' customer, recharge mobiles and DTH connections, and pay mobile and utility bills. The customers will also be able to withdraw cash and send money to any mobile number once the documents are verified and approved by MCSL and ICICI Bank. They'll also be able to pay online retailers. 

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Spice Stellar Glamour and Smart Flo Space with Android 4.2 launched

Spice has launched Spice Stellar Glamour and Smart Flo Space budget smartphones for Rs. 5,999 and Rs. 3,799, respectively.

The Spice Stellar Glamour features a 4-inch WVGA display with 480x800 pixels resolution. The device is powered by a 1.2GHz dual-core processor paired with 512MB RAM. The Spice Stellar Glamour offers dual-SIM (GSM+GSM) connectivity with both the SIMs supporting 3G connectivity. It sports a 5-megapixel rear camera accompanied by an LED flash and a 1.3-megapixel front-facing camera. The handset runs Android 4.2 Jelly Bean. It also includes 4GB of internal storage that can be expanded up to 32GB via microSD card. The device is backed by a 1400mAh battery. Connectivity features include GPRS, EDGE, 3G, Wi-Fi and Bluetooth. The Spice Stellar Glamour comes preloaded with NQ Antivirus that comes with a 6 months subscription.

The Spice Flo Space Mi-354 features a 3.5-inch display with a resolution of 320x480 pixels. It is powered by a 1GHz dual-core processor coupled with 256MB RAM. It packs a 3-megapixel rear camera along with an LED flash and a 1.3-megapixel front-facing camera. It also runs Android 4.2 Jelly Bean. The device includes 512MB internal storage that can be expanded up to 32GB through a microSD card. It is backed by a 1450mAh battery. The Spice Flo Space is a dual SIM (GSM+GSM) device with 2G support for both the SIMs.

Commenting on the launch, T M Ramakrishnan, CEO - Devices, S Mobility Ltd, said, "We have witnessed massive growth with low-cost offerings and delivering the best android experience without sacrificing on performance or features. These products position themselves as premium budget phones with enhanced features and better than what competition is offering. This latest offering by Spice is a perfect amalgamation of functionality, style & entertainment. "

Both the devices come preloaded with Spice Cloud app that provides consumers free Cloud backup with 2GB data storage and access to user photos, documents, music, videos and contacts across the devices, along with security and anti-theft features.

Mobiles launched in August 2013

Spice Stellar Glamour Mi-436 key specifications

• 4-inch WVGA display with 480x800 pixels resolution
• 1.2GHz dual-core processor
• 512MB RAM
• 4GB internal storage expandable up to 32GB via microSD card
• Android 4.2 (Jelly Bean)
• 5-megapixel rear camera with LED flash
• 1.3-megapixel front facing camera
• 1,400mAh Battery
• Dual-SIM (3G+3G)

Spice Flo Space Mi-354 key specifications

• 3.5-inch display with a resolution of 320x480 pixels
• 1GHz dual-core processor
• 256MB RAM
• 512MB internal storage, expandable up to 32GB via microSD card
• Android 4.2 (Jelly Bean)
• 3-megapixel rear camera with LED flash
• 1.3-megapixel front facing camera
• 1,450mAh Battery
• Dual-SIM (2G+2G)

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Samsung Galaxy Golden Android flip phone with dual-screens launched

Not too long ago, Samsung launched its first Android-based dual screen flip phone, the Samsung W789 in the Chinese market. Now, we get to hear that Samsung's second flip phone, the Galaxy Golden SHV-E400 has also been officially unveiled in Korea. Like the Samsung W789, the Samsung Galaxy Golden also features a dual screen with dual-touch display.

The Samsung Galaxy Golden sports two 3.7-inch Super AMOLED displays, on the inside and the outside. The phone is powered by a 1.7GHz dual-core processor with 2GB of RAM and runs on Android 4.2 Jelly Bean. The phone also includes FM Radio and will come in Champagne Gold colour. Connectivity options include Wi-Fi, GPS and Bluetooth. It comes with a 8-megapixel camera. The onboard storage and other specifications of the phone are not clear at this stage.

The Galaxy Golden comes with plethora of apps like S Health, Business card app which recognises contact details when clicking a photo of a business card, WatchOn app which offers TV program guide, and S Translator App that can translate 12 languages, either spoken or in text, including emails or sign boards as well.

The Samsung Galaxy Golden has been launched through Korean telecoms SKT and KT. For now it seems the handset will be available only in Korea and there is no word about it being launched in other markets.

Mobiles launched in August 2013

Samsung Galaxy Golden key specifications

• 2 x 3.7-inch Super AMOLED displays
• 1.7GHz dual-core processor
• 2GB RAM
• 8-megapixel camera
• Bluetooth, Wi-Fi, GPS
• Android 4.2 (Jelly Bean)

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Nokia Lumia 925 and Lumia 625 officially launched in India

Nokia has launched its much anticipated smartphone, the Lumia 925 in India for Rs. 33,499 . The Finnish handset maker has also launched its large screen mid-range Lumia device, the Lumia 625 for Rs. 19,999.

The Lumia 925 had been listed on Nokia's official website with a price tag of Rs. 34,169. However, the MRP of the phone was listed as Rs. 38,529.

The Nokia Lumia 925 was introduced back in May at an event in London and was seen as a new interpretation of company's flagship phone, the Nokia Lumia 920.

The Nokia Lumia 925 is a premium smartphone and sports a metal frame with a polycarbonate back. As far as the specifications go, it comes with a 4.5-inch AMOLED ClearBlack display with a resolution of 768x1280 pixels and Gorilla 2 Glass. It is powered by a 1.5GHz dual-core Snapdragon processor alongside 1GB RAM and 16GB of internal storage. It has an 8.7-megapixel PureView rear camera and 1.2-megapixel wide-angle front camera. Nokia claims that the Lumia 925's camera is better than the one featured in the Lumia 920. The Nokia Lumia 925 is available in two colour variants Black and Grey. It comes with a 2,000 mAh battery and runs Windows Phone 8. A wireless charging cover can be attached with the phone, available in Yellow, Red, White and Black colours.

With the launch of the Lumia 925, the company also introduced the new Nokia Smart Camera mode that offers an easy way to capture ten images at once and edit the pictures with options like Best Shot, Action Shot, and Motion Focus.

Meanwhile, the Nokia Lumia 625 has also been officially unveiled after being listed on an e-commerce retailer's website, earlier this week for Rs. 19,499.

Nokia had announced the launch of the Lumia 625 sporting a 4.7-inch LCD screen, its biggest one on a smartphone yet, last month. The specifications of the Nokia Lumia 625 include a 1.2GHz dual-core processor alongside 512MB RAM and 8GB internal storage that can be expanded up to 64GB via microSD card. It comes with a 5-megapixel rear camera and a VGA front-facing shooter. The 4.7-inch screen sports a 480x800 pixel resolution. The device runs Windows Phone 8. The phone will be available in Orange, Yellow, bright Green, White and Black colours.

Mobiles launched in August 2013

Nokia Lumia 925 key specifications

• 4.5-inch AMOLED ClearBlack display with 768x1280 resolution
• 1.5GHz dual-core Snapdragon processor
• 1GB RAM
• 16GB of internal storage
• 8.7-megapixel PureView rear camera
• 1.2-megapixel wide-angle front camera
• Windows Phone 8
• 2,000 mAh battery

Nokia Lumia 625 key specifications

• 4.7-inch 480x800 resolution
• 1.2GHz dual-core processor
• 512MB RAM
• 8GB internal storage, expandable by up to 64GB
• 5-megapixel rear camera
• VGA front camera
• 2,000mAh battery
• Windows Phone 8 with Amber update

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Nokia says India 'least favourable market': Report

Finnish telecom giant Nokia has told India's government that the country is now its "least favourable market" to operate in and it makes better sense to export its products from China, a report said Friday.

Nokia, which is fighting a 20-billion rupee ($311 million) tax demand from Indian authorities, urged the government to "act quickly to correct the wrong perception of India as a place for business", The Indian Express newspaper reported.

"The political risk of operating in India" has become "suddenly substantially higher and may inevitably influence future decisions to develop one's operations in India", Nokia said in a letter quoted by the daily.

The reported warning comes at a bad time for India when foreign direct investment has slowed to a trickle amid mounting domestic economic woes including a plunging rupee, a huge current account deficit, slowing growth and perceived government policy paralysis.

The Finnish group did not immediately respond to requests for comment on the message which The Indian Express said was dated June 19 and was received by the finance ministry last month.

Nokia said its tax problems made it "more cost-efficient for Nokia to transfer the manufacture of mobile phones to China and to import them to the Indian market rather than manufacture them in Chennai".

Nokia, which has one of its biggest plants world-wide in the southern city of Chennai, is among a string of multinationals in tax disputes in India including Cadbury Royal Dutch Shell and Vodafone.

India has stepped up its pursuit of alleged tax delinquents to reduce a hefty budget deficit.

Nokia insists software downloaded onto its mobiles in India should to be taxed in Finland under a bilateral treaty between the countries, but India's tax authorities view it differently.

"Nokia does not think India can override its international obligations," Nokia was quoted as saying.

Tax claims against Nokia and other multinationals have "too great an impact on the predictability and certainty of Indian business environment to be ignored", Nokia added.

India one of the world's fastest-growing mobile phone markets is the second largest market for Nokia which began operations in the country in 1995 and employs 8,000 workers directly in Chennai.

Nokia which had been the country's leading handset maker for 14 years recently ceded its crown to South Korea's Samsung.

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