500px brings its photo sharing to Windows Phone
Windows Phone users wanting to browse 500px photo galleries have so far had to rely on unofficial apps, but they can now go straight to the source thanks to an official app for Microsoft’s platform. As on Android and iOS, this is primarily a passive experience; you can check out friends’ activity with the Flow feature and search for interesting snapshots, but direct uploads aren’t an option. There are two OS-specific perks, though — you can introduce 500px photos to both a Live Tile as well as your phone’s lock screen. Grab the app from the Windows Phone Store today if you’re looking for an alternative to other services like Flickr.
Filed under: Cellphones, Internet, Software, Mobile
Via: WPCentral
Source: Windows Phone Store
Vivo Xplay 3S Beats The OPPO Find 7 To Official Announcement, Gets A 2K Display
After seeing OPPO tease its next big thing, the Find 7 smartphone, and its potential 2K resolution display, Vivo has one-upped their tease with an official announcement of the Vivo Xplay 3S. The 3S will be capable of displaying the 2560×1440 resolution which is being referred to as ‘2K’ or ‘Quad HD’ resolution, which on the 6-inch screen works out to be a pixel density of 490ppi. You may want to retrieve your jaw from the ground right about now.
That’s not all that the 3S brings to the table; it also sports the Snapdragon 800 processor clocked at 2.3GHz, 3GB RAM, 32GB storage memory, LTE support and stereo speakers. It does appear to be running some form of themed Android build which Vivo is calling ‘Funtouch OS’. The rear camera is a low aperture 13-megapixel affair, complemented by a wide-angle 5-megapixel camera on the front, and if you noticed the slit just below the flash on the 3S, yes, that’s a fingerprint scanner. While the 3S appears to be loaded with a lot of great features, the 3,200mAh battery appears to be on the smaller side, particularly seeing as it has such a large screen; not even the power-saving abilities of the Snapdragon 800 would be able to offset the power drain due to the gargantuan screen.
That said, the Vivo Xplay 3S is slated to sell at 3,498 yuan, which equates to about $570-580USD for the standalone device, which isn’t much at all for that kind of power and features. There aren’t any specifics on when and where the 3S will be available, but it’s likely to roll out next month and there is talk that it will be available globally. Would you get a Vivo Xplay 3S? Let us know what you think of the phone in the comments.
Source: Vivo via Phone Arena
Colossatron: Massive World Threat Out Today On Android For A Dollar
You might have seen the announcement Halfbrick Studios made last week that said their newest game on Android, Colossatron: Massive World Threat, would be out on the 19th of December. Well, lo’ and behold, the game has gone live on the Google Play Store today, available for the very affordable price of $0.99. Check out the game’s launch trailer below:
If you haven’t guessed by now, in Colossatron, you assume the role of a giant robotic snake that reaps havoc upon the city of Metropolis as the city’s defences try to defeat you, all the while getting upgrades and making yourself into an even larger threat and source of destruction. This marks the fifth game that the Australian-based outfit has launched on Android following a star studded line-up that features games like Age of Zombies, Jetpack Joyride and of course, Fruit Ninja. And while it does look like Colossatron has big shoes to fill, the frantic gameplay shown in its trailers make it look up to the task.
You can purchase and download Colossatron: Massive World Threat on the Play Store now for $0.99; links are below. Are you going to pick Colossatron up? Let us know if you do.
Source: Halfbrick Blog
Game: Colossatron: Massive World Threat
Price: $0.99
Motorola starts Android 4.4.2 push to the Moto G
The Moto G device from Motorola has been one wildly popular device for the low price it pulls off with no contract. As well it should. We have seen nothing but good things about this little device since it made its way out. At launch it came with Android 4.3 but it looks like Motorola isn’t going to sit around and let the device fall off the bandwagon. They have announced today that an OTA update for the Moto G is on its way already and it is bringing Android 4.4.2 along.
Motorola certainly seems to be stepping up their game with their devices lately. They have put out the Kernel sources for the 4.3 version for the Moto G along with the 4.4 Kernel source for the Moto X. We expect the 4.4.2 kernel source for the Moto G to be out shortly too. They have taken the Moto X and got the real wood customization going. They have also taken a number of Motorla (both X and G) specific apps and moved them to the Play Store to keep them updated quicker and people happier.
Feel free to read up on the release notes or check up on the Motorola Blog for other great little notes.
Source: Motorola
via Android Police
Microsoft’s Project Siena lets you create Windows apps with ease
If you think creating an app is something only whizkid developers and those with programming skills can do, think again. Microsoft has recently unveiled Project Siena, a Metro-style app that lets anyone create their own Windows 8.1 program with regular PowerPoint and Excel knowhow. As it’s a Metro app, you can even craft it directly from a touch-enabled tablet, no keyboard or mouse required. Microsoft has done this before with Windows Phone App Studio, which lets you build apps for the phone, and Siena is very much like that. Microsoft says using Siena is as easy as editing a document; simply cobble together the right design, connect it to your data and away you go. As for what you can do with it, the program is compatible with a variety of content like SharePoint lists, Excel and Azure tables, RSS feeds and an assortment of RESTful services, which should give creative minds a few ideas. Underneath the hood, the Siena-built apps are just HTML5 and Javascript and can be deployed like other Windows 8.1 programs, so even tried-and-true developers can give it a go. If you’re keen on learning how Siena works, hit the link below to watch a couple of tutorials, download it from the Windows Store and get started on creating the next big hit.
Filed under: Software, Microsoft
Via: Surface Geeks
Source: Windows Store, MSDN Blog, Microsoft Project Siena
Verizon to publish regular reports on government data requests
Numerous tech giants have been eager to publish what they can about government data requests, but telecoms haven’t been so forthcoming. Verizon is breaking some ground, though, with plans to publish semi-annual transparency reports starting in early 2014. While the reports will mostly reflect information that the carrier has already been publishing in some form, the data will be more accessible and consistent than before. Much like Google, Verizon plans to break down requests by type, such as court orders and warrants. It’s also asking the government if it can be more precise with the number of National Security Letters it received last year. Although it’s doubtful that the reports will reveal everything that the public would like to know, they represent a big step forward for a communications industry that many believe is too eager to cooperate with government eavesdroppers.
Filed under: Cellphones, Wireless, Internet, Mobile, Verizon
Source: Verizon Policy Blog
Spain fines Google $1.2 million for allegedly violating privacy laws
Google triggered investigations in six European countries when it revealed its unified privacy policy last year, but Spain is the first of the bunch to draw blood. The country just fined Google a total of €900,000 ($1.2 million) for allegedly violating data protection laws through its current approach. The firm isn’t properly explaining why it’s collecting personal information, the Spanish Data Protection Agency claims; it also isn’t saying how long it will keep that content, and it isn’t giving Spaniards enough control over who sees what. For its part, Mountain View tells Reuters that it will read the full report before deciding on its next steps. However, there’s a real chance that Google will have to make at least some concessions when the Dutch (and possibly other European nations) also believe that it broke the law.
[Image credit: Contando Estrelas, Flickr]
Via: Reuters
Apple Seeds First OS X 10.9.2 Build to Developers
Apple today seeded the first test build of OS X 10.9.2 to registered Mac developers, just three days after the public release of OS X 10.9.1. The build, termed 13C32, is available to registered developers through the Software Update mechanism in the Mac App Store as well as through the Mac Dev Center.
Apple asks that developers focus their testing on the following areas: Mail, Messages, VPN, Graphics Drivers, and VoiceOver.
There is no word yet on specific fixes and changes included in the update, and a public release target remains unknown.
     |
Apple Releases Software Update for VPN Issues on Mavericks Server [Mac Blog]
Apple today released VPN Update for Mavericks Server, addressing an issue with certain L2TP VPN connections.
This update fixes an issue that could prevent L2TP VPN connections from working with OS X Server, as described in http://support.apple.com/kb/TS5313
This update requires OS X Mavericks 10.9.1 and Server 3.0.1.
Note: the update will only install if you have already launched Server app and used it to set up services.
The issue has been a major problem for a number of users, as reflected by over two-thirds of reviewers giving the 3.0.1 version of OS X Server a one-star rating in the Mac App Store. [Direct Link]
| |
Rocki WiFi Music System picks up first Distributor
It would be pretty hard, and next to impossible, for you guys to not have seen the Rocki blow through one of your feeds. They have become a pretty big deal across the social channels. Heck, their goal was only $50,000 and they blew past that and are sitting at $213,355 right now. If you haven’t backed it yet and want too, you still have time. The Kickstarter project ends tomorrow. Back to the topic here though, the Rocki team has just announced that they have picked up their first distributor today.
Why is that good news? Well, because with a distributor lined up we know that Rocki won’t end up being another cool gadget that gets delivered and then doesn’t make it to store shelves.
We took the time to write this Update to tell you backers about this great news because distributors play a very important role in the next phase of ROCKI growth. Once we start-up, get the ROCKI’s shipped to backers, we would need that continued sales to build a strong ROCKI with sustainable growth. Having supportive distributors who understand what we are doing will be crucial. With their support, we would be able to spend less time (and resources) on the sales part and more on making awesome products, making ROCKI great and telling everyone about ROCKI.
Rocki has been very good about keeping their backers informed of what is happening. Not to mention giving general supporters news and the chance to participate in naming the next color, what music streaming software to add and chances to win goodies. I have a feeling we are going to see a lot of things happening with Rocki even after the Kickstarter is over.
So who picked them up first? No one in the U.S. of course. The first distribution partner is Real Solutions Haarlem B.V. They will cover Belgium, Netherlands, and Luxembourg (collectively known as Benelux). It is a great start. Once the kickstarter ends Friday the 20th, they will begin working on the next phase, “Life after Kickstarter”, and start getting global distribution up and running.
I don’t know about you guys, but I’m pretty excited, and happy, to see Rocki get moving. Check out the Kickstarter page if you haven’t done so, and give them a shout out on G+, they like that.
AIVAnet 