iOS 7.1 Beta 4 Tidbits: New Slide to Unlock/Power Off Animation, Dialer Updates
Earlier today, Apple released the fourth beta of iOS 7.1 to developers, which included both bug fixes and a few new changes to the operating system. While iOS 7.1 beta 3 introduced several visual changes, iOS 7.1 beta 4 focused more heavily on behind-the-scenes improvements. There were, however, a few tweaks to further streamline the look of iOS 7, which are detailed below.
Slide to Unlock/Power Off: Most notably, the Slide to Unlock bar at the bottom of the phone is now more prominent, with a brighter, slower animation. The same brighter animation can be seen in the Slide to Power off bar when turning off the phone.
Revamped Slide to Unlock animation (Video courtesy of MacRumors forum user toxicfusion)
Contacts in Dialer: The option to add a contact when entering a phone number has been altered slightly and is now executed by tapping the + sign next to the phone number. Previously, there was a line that said “Add to Contacts.”
Old version on left, iOS 7.1 beta 4 on right. (Image courtesy of iDownloadBlog)
Messages Scrolling: When scrolling through the Messages app in beta 4, it seems there is slightly more “bounce.” This is in line with previous changes to Control Center, which introduced a bounce animation.
Siri: In the U.K., there is a new Siri voice on the iPad.
To check out previous changes introduced in iOS 7.1, make sure to take a look at our previous tidbits post on iOS 7.1 beta 3, which detailed a number of visual changes to the operating system.
It is unclear when Apple plans to release iOS 7.1 to the general public, but a report from December suggested it could see a lengthy beta testing period with a March launch. It is likely that Apple will continue making subtle changes to look and feel of iOS 7 in coming betas, which could result in a refined and polished version of the operating system when it is finally made available to the public.
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‘Horizon’ Allows iPhone Users to Always Shoot Horizontal Video [iOS Blog]
A new videography app called Horizon uses the iPhone’s gyroscope to automatically “level out” iPhone videos so they are always shot in landscape mode, avoiding the so-called vertical video problem.
By automatically rotating video so that it is always horizontal, the app ensures that video is always kept in the default format for televisions and Apple’s newer computer screens, but that it is always kept straight — something that Instagram and other apps can do for photos — but a feature that is unique for video.
The biggest downside is that the app effectively crops video, reducing total resolution, in order to keep the video horizontal and steady. But, as many videos get reduced in quality when posted online anyway, it may not matter to the average user.
Horizon lets you record horizontal videos no matter how you hold your device. Hold it upright, sideways or even keep rotating it while capturing, the video will always stay horizontal! You can add filters, shoot with the back or front camera and share your creations!
Ever felt you had to rotate your device while recording a video? Do you often end up with vertical videos or videos in wrong orientation? Enter Horizon!
Horizon works like magic! It auto-levels your videos while recording, using your device’s gyroscope. The orientation of the resulting video is corrected so that it always stays parallel to the ground.
Horizon is temporarily available for $0.99 from the App Store, with the price rising to $1.99 sometime after launch. [Direct Link]
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Google tests the performance limits of D-Wave’s quantum computers
We’ve long known that D-Wave’s quantum computers are specialized tools rather than Swiss Army Knives, but just how good are they at their intended tasks? Google has just conducted some benchmarking to find out, and the short answer is that these systems are very good — but they have definite limits. A current-generation D-Wave 2 is about 35,500 times faster than a generalized problem-solving computer when both are running standard software. However, some of that advantage disappears when a general-purpose computer runs code that simulates quantum computing. While D-Wave’s hardware is better at dealing with structured code, it runs neck-and-neck with the “fake” system when tackling random problems. Not that Google is feeling much in the way of buyer’s remorse. It believes that further tests could see the D-Wave unit come out ahead, and future quantum machines should make it harder for conventional PCs to catch up.
Filed under: Misc, Science, Google
Via: SlashGear
Source: Google Quantum AI Lab (Google+)
AT&T now offering Next upgrades within six months for existing contracted customers
AT&T is looking to make its Next smartphone payment plan a little more prominent. You’ll be eligible to hop on-board the Next bandwagon in a mere six months and start swapping handsets sooner right now if you were under a two-year service agreement before January 18th. If you walked out of an AT&T store this morning with the carrier’s typical contract, well, you’re stuck with your handset for the next 20 months. We imagine that somewhere, surrounded by magenta, John Legere is smiling.
Filed under: Cellphones, Mobile
Source: AT&T
Screenshots from possible Xperia Z2 reveal hardware and software features
The rumor mill is constantly turning, and this time Sony is in the spotlight. The Xperia Z1 deserves a refresh sometime soon, and there may be some info regarding Sony’s next handset.
The D6503, codenamed the Sirius, is most likely the next Z1 model. Some pictures of the handset were leaked last week, and now we have screenshots regarding the new hardware and software. The leak suggests that it will carry 3GB of RAM, a 20.7MP rear-facing camera, and a 2.1MP front-facing camera. It will have a 1080p, 5.2-inch display, and will run Android 4.4.2 Kit Kat out of the box.
This screenshot is from a leak back from November 2013, but still from the same device, running Jelly Bean. The UI shouldn’t change too much from what we’re already used to, but Sony might surprise us this time around.
Sony makes great phones, so these leaks are seeming pretty accurate with what we’d like to see out of their new handset. Are these upgrades sufficient enough for this phone to be a homerun? What are your thoughts on a refreshed Z1? Let us know in the comments!
Source: Xperia Blog
The post Screenshots from possible Xperia Z2 reveal hardware and software features appeared first on AndroidGuys.
The Future of Smartphones might be Magnetic Thanks to the Nanoport
Curved screens, bendable housing, 6.8-inches, 2K displays….. They all sound great, but what if there was another option out there? Thanks to some innovation from Nano Magnetics, the future smartphone, and gadgetry accessory, might be starting off with the Nanoport. We ran into Nano Magnetics at CES 2014 in the Venetian at Eureka Park and boy are we glad we did.
Nano Magnetics has a preview of what they are trying to do and get off the ground. It is called the Nanoport. It uses magnets placed in all four corners of the device. Add another one to the side and you double your screen size, add a third and you triple it. Stack them to go back to a regular size phone. Stacked or side-by-side, they can pass charge to each one and transfer data and information. Additionally, you would be able to add on anything you want. Say a speaker or an extended battery. It really gives the whole concept of a modular device a different meaning with even greater options.
You really just need to watch the preview video and then the demonstration video we took on the floor.
“Nanoport effectively turns electronics into building blocks that can be combined to create new devices, then reconfigured for alternate uses,” said Tim Szeto, CEO and Founder. “Nanoport gives us new ways to interact with our devices, and new ways for devices to interact with each other.”
Interesting, isn’t it? Like Ashley said, they are looking for developers and are interesting in working with the community. Pop over to Nano Magnetics for a little more info and to Apply to start developing for Nanoport today.
Apple Now Replacing Damaged iPhone 5c Screens in Retail Stores [iOS Blog]
As reported last week, Apple is now offering in-store repairs for iPhone 5c displays.
Users with a cracked or damaged iPhone 5c display that do not have AppleCare+ can pay a $149 fee to get the screen repaired. Prior to the in-store repairs, that fee was $229 as Apple was forced to send damaged phones to an off-site repair center.
Apple first began offering in-store repairs back in June, when it began replacing iPhone 5 screens. The company is not yet equipped to replace iPhone 5s or iPhone 4s screens, so those devices are still sent off-site.
Apple’s in-store repairs are designed to cut down on costs and in a June 2013 employee meeting, Apple noted that in-house repairs could save the company as much as $1 billion per year.
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PlayStation 3 Controller Support Comes to iOS with New Jailbreak Tweak [iOS Blog]
A new jailbreak tweak called Controllers for All allows users to play iPhone and iPad games with the PlayStation 3′s Dual Shock 3 controller, via Bluetooth. The tweak supports all games that have native iOS 7 controller support and when used with a Lightning Digital AV Adapter, users can play iOS games, with a wireless controller, on a television.
From our sister-site TouchArcade:
If you’re into the whole jailbreaking scene, this seems like a must-have tweak. The games I’ve played with my actual legit iOS 7 controllers have been really awesome, and I can only imagine how much better the whole experience would be with an actual amazingly high quality controller like the PS3 controller.
Also, amusingly enough, you could pick up the PS3 controller from Amazon, jailbreak your device, and drop two bucks on Controllers for All, and spend less than half of what a “real” iOS 7 controller would cost you for what I imagine to be a substantially better overall experience.
Controllers for All is a $1.99 download from Cydia’s ModMyi repo.
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NPD: premium TV networks losing subscribers as streaming services continue to grow
Don’t color us surprised by The NPD Group’s latest report, one that highlights the decline in subscriptions for paid TV networks over the last couple of years in the US. According to the research, there was a six percent overall drop in the amount of subscribers to channels like HBO and Showtime in the past two years; conversely, video streaming services had a four percent growth in that same period of time.
As of August 2013, NPD says 32 percent of American households were subscribed to a premium TV network, while 27 percent held an on-demand streaming subscription. Not surprisingly, the findings note that Netflix is leading the way among US folks, although Hulu Plus and Amazon Prime aren’t far behind and have experienced “the biggest growth benefits in the category.” A sign o’ the times indeed — and with companies like Netflix producing great original content, these numbers will likely keep getting better for members of the streaming pack.
Filed under: Home Entertainment, Internet, HD
Source: NPD
Galaxy S5 to Have Fingerprint Scanner Embedded in Display?
Early rumors for the Galaxy S5 suggested that Samsung was going to look passed the Fingerprint scanner, and jump on the iris scanner instead. Seemed reasonable, given that Sammy loves to be ahead of the game when it comes to device features. A new report by the The Korea Herald is suggesting otherwise, saying that the Galaxy S5 will have a fingerprint scanner, simply because the iris scanner technology is still in its early stages.
Now don’t think the fingerprint scanner is going to be located on the only button on the phone, like the iPhone 5s. No, Sammy wants to embed the fingerprint scanner underneath the display, giving the user the ability to slide their fingerprint across the screen to register the print. Sounds a little bit better than the iPhone 5s’ scanner, but I am still not keen on having a fingerprint scanner on my device. Any more information about this and we will let you know.
Source: SamMobile
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