Android 4.3 For Sony Xperia Z, ZL, ZR and Tablet Z Gets Certified, Update Should Be Imminent
With the update of the Sony Xperia Z1 and Z Ultra rolling out as of yesterday, we knew it wouldn’t be long before Sony updated the rest of its top line of Xperia Z products to Android 4.3. Sure enough, Android 4.3 for Sony Xperia Z, ZL, ZR and the Tablet Z was seen to be getting certified at PTCRB today, approving firmware build 10.4.B.0.569 for release. This will surely mean that the update will be incoming very shortly to those of you who have these devices, though we’ll let you know as soon as we know anything more.
While Sony might be a little bit late to the update game relative to Samsung and HTC’s flagships, I would say they look like they’re doing a better job at updating more of their devices. Who else is impressed by Sony? Let us know what you think in the comments.
Source: Xperia Blog
Opera’s iPad browser loses navigation buttons, gains lockscreen music controls
Since its launch in September, Opera’s iPad-centric browser Coast has struggled to remain as visible as some of its more popular mobile apps. In an attempt to breathe some life into the app, the company today dropped a new update that introduces a number of new customization, navigation and media features that set it apart from Apple and Google’s browser offerings. In version 2.0, Opera has ditched the familiar forward and back buttons in favor of the gestures it supported at launch, so expect your swiping finger to get more of a workout. The app now lets you set wallpapers using images from your Photo Roll and gives you the option to select which apps to open PDF files in, whether it be iBooks, Dropbox or another PDF-compatible app. Coast now also features its own media player, which is capable of handling music playback from the iPad lockscreen. The new update is said to make browsing speedier and more secure than before — very helpful if you need to make a quick escape from some of the nastier corners of the internet.
Filed under: Internet, Software, Mobile
Via: Opera Press
Source: Coast (App Store)
Facebook confirms autoplay video ads are coming to your News Feed
They’ve been a long time coming, but Facebook’s new video ads are finally here. Confirming an earlier report from the Wall Street Journal that said they’d launch this week, the company said it will start rolling out promoted videos to a limited number of users’ News Feeds, kicking it off with mini trailers for the new film Divergent. Leaning on a model utilized by Instagram, Facebook’s video ads will automatically play when they appear onscreen — although sound will be muted on both the desktop and mobile unless you deliberately click on the video. While you won’t be able prevent the new ad units from popping up, they can be avoided with some quick scrolling, just like you did with Facebook’s other sponsored content.
(function(d, s, id) { var js, fjs = d.getElementsByTagName(s)[0]; if (d.getElementById(id)) return; js = d.createElement(s); js.id = id; js.src = “//connect.facebook.net/en_US/all.js#xfbml=1”; fjs.parentNode.insertBefore(js, fjs); }(document, ‘script’, ‘facebook-jssdk’));
Filed under: Internet, Facebook
Source: Facebook Newsroom
Square-Enix Releases Original Tomb Raider for iOS Devices [iOS Blog]
Video game developer Square-Enix has released Tomb Raider I on iOS, bringing the popular 1996 action-adventure game to mobile devices for the first time. The latest adaptation of the title features touch-optimized controls with all of the levels from the original, along with gameplay that mixes gunfights and puzzle-solving adventure elements. Tomb Raider I on iOS also supports game controllers such as the MOGA Ace Power and the Logitech PowerShell.
Adventurer Lara Croft has been hired to recover the pieces of an ancient artefact known as the Scion. With her fearless acrobatic style she runs, jumps, swims and climbs her way towards the truth of its origin and powers – leaving only a trail of empty tombs and gun-cartridges in her wake. On this trail are breath-taking 3D worlds where exploration, puzzle and platform elements blend in a seamless real-time environment. A perfect chance for newcomers and diehards alike to jump back into the series’ seminal single-player action.
Tomb Raider I is a $0.99 download for the iPhone and iPad. [Direct Link]
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Apple’s Best of the iTunes Store 2013: ‘Duolingo’ and ‘Disney Animated’ Win Top App Honors
Apple has released the 2013 version of its annual iTunes Store awards, which showcases the best music, movies, TV shows, apps, books and podcasts of the year.
Here are some of the noteworthy winners for 2013:
Apps:
-iPhone App of the Year: Duolingo – Learn Languages for Free
-iPhone Game of the Year: Ridiculous Fishing – A Tale of Redemption
-iPad App of the Year: Disney Animated
-iPad Game of the Year: Badland
Music:
-Best Artist: The 20/20 Experience – The Complete Experience by Justin Timberlake
-Best Album: The Heist by Macklemore & Ryan Lewis
-Best Song: Royals by Lorde
-Breakthrough Album: Good Kid, M.A.A.D City by Kendrick Lamar
Books:
-Best Fiction: Tenth of December by George Saunders
-Best Nonfiction: One Summer by Bill Bryson
-Best Teen Novel: The Rithmatist by Brandon Sanderson and Ben McSweeney
-Best Multi-Touch Book: Breaking Bad: Alchemy by Sony Pictures Television
This marks the first year that a language app has won App of the Year, and also marks the first time that an app from Disney has appeared on the annual list. As customary for its end of the year listings, Apple highlights various games and apps from a wide variety of categories, so it’s well worth skimming the full list for hidden gems.
Beyond the top-level awards for music, movies, TV shows, apps, books, and podcasts, Apple is featuring a number of other awards and Editors’ Choice selections across various genres and categories for the content types.
A list of previous winners are also available here: 2012, 2011, 2010, 2009
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WSJ: Facebook’s autoplaying video ads launch this week
After months of rumors, the Wall Street Journal claims Facebook will finally include video ads in user’s feeds on the web and mobile devices later this week — a move we figured would happen soon now that it’s splashed other autoplaying videos all over the place. Citing “people familiar with the matter,” the Journal claims Facebook will announce the change later today, with the first ads rolling out on Thursday. Previous rumors have put the run time for ads at 15 seconds or so — a fit for Instagram video — and this rumor even says movie studio Lions Gate will be among the first using it, pushing mini trailers for its upcoming movie Divergent.
So, why is Facebook reportedly tossing in one more thing for you to quickly scroll past? Because it can charge advertisers much more for video ads, which will play whether or not users click on them (like user videos, they’re silent unless clicked), letting it grab some of the money usually marked for TV campaigns. Previous rumors claimed the hold up in bringing video ads to the social network is because they loaded too slowly, so it would appear that hurdle has been cleared — we’ll see if load times are enough to keep users from running to other services once their feed looks like a sponsored version of Vine.
Filed under: Internet, Mobile, Facebook
Source: Wall Street Journal
Samsung’s Galaxy GamePad brings precision Android controls to Europe first
Well, that took awhile. Remember the first-party gamepad Samsung trotted out at the Galaxy S4 unveiling? It’s finally ready for release — in Europe. The months of extra development don’t seem wasted, at least: The revised pad sports a new facade that thankfully discards the odd Xbox 360/Wii hybrid look that the prototype flaunted, and there’s a rechargeable battery pack too. What’s more, the outfit says that the controller can handle devices from 4-inches to 6.3-inches running Jellybean and up. The controller’s “play” button will also launch the company’s new Mobile Console app on certain Samsung devices; a sort of virtual game shelf, if you will. At launch, that button promises to foster a list of some 35 compatible titles, with Need for Speed: Most Wanted and Prince of Persia: The Shadow and the Flame leading the pack. We’ve reached out to Samsung for pricing and North American availability and will update this post if we hear back.
Filed under: Cellphones, Gaming, Mobile, Samsung
Source: Samsung
LG launching its first 4K monitor in January with 31-inch ultra-widescreen panel
LG’s monitor division has been zigging lately while it’s competitors zagged, as it’s eschewed regular widescreen in favor 21:9 ultra-widescreen models. It’s now made the same interesting choice for its first 4K monitor, the 31-inch 31MU95, which features a so-called DCI 4K (4,096 x 2,160) IPS panel with a 21:9 ratio. For comparison’s sake, most Ultra HDTVs and 4K monitors like ASUS’s first model display 3,840 x 2,160 pixels at 16:9. Interestingly, the new offering conforms to the 4K format recorded by RED’s Epic and Scarlet cameras and also packs a Thunderbolt 2 port with 20Gbps throughput. LG claims that’ll let you monitor 4K footage and back it up at the same time — ideal for on-set movie playback, for instance. It’ll also be offered in a 29-inch version, and both will display 99-percent of the sRGB gamut and come with LG’s True Color calibration software. There’s no pricing yet, but Dell’s recently launched 32-inch 4K Ultrasharp model is running $3,299, by way of reference. Both monitors and other ultra-widescreen business models from LG will arrive at CES 2014 in January — naturally, we’ll be there to fill in the wider picture.
Source: LG
Plex Media Server arrives on Windows Phone 8, free for Nokia devices for the first month
While Plex has been busy updating its media server software for iOS and Android, it’s sadly neglected Microsoft’s mobile OS since its debut on Windows Phone 7 nearly two years ago. That changes today however, with the introduction of Plex for Windows Phone 8. Based on Plex for Windows 8, the program has many of the features as its other iterations — you can remotely control your media from the device, view metadata about shows and tunes, and even share selected files with friends. Plex also now supports HTTP Live Streaming, which should result in higher quality video and support for more subtitle formats. And here’s a special bonus for those of you with a Nokia WP8 device: you’ll be able to download it for free for the next 30 days. Do note that the app is still under heavy development, but the company promises there are plenty more updates (like a new second screen remote feature) coming down the road.
Filed under: Software, HD, Mobile
Source: Plex
Android 4.4.2 for HTC One and Galaxy S4 GEs! Android 4.3 Rolling Out to Numerous Other Phones! – Device Updates
Happy Monday to you all, if Mondays are happy at all. Time to see if your device is getting an update. Some Android 4.4.2 updates for the Google Edition phones are now available. Also some Android 4.3 updates are ready for you to download given you have the certain phones.
Device Updates
Android 4.4.2 for the HTC One GE
Android 4.4.2 for the Galaxy S4 GE
Verizon HTC One getting Android 4.3
HTC One Mini Android 4.3 update
Android 4.3 for the Sony Xperia Z and ZL
Android 4.3 for the Sony Xperia Z1 and Z Ultra
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