Xbox One stereo headset and adapter arrive in March
The DualShock 4 just has a simple 3.5mm audio jack baked right into its body. The Xbox One controller, on the other hand, has a small proprietary port that wasn’t designed for connecting a headset too… at least not without some help. In early March, Microsoft will start selling an adapter that will let you connect your favorite pair of cans to your controller for $25. The small adapter finally opens the console to third-party headsets, be they Turtle Beach or Steel Series. The tiny matte plastic accessory even has buttons for controlling volume and muting your microphone. The latter will definitely come in handy for privately cursing the weak link on your Titanfall team without taking your hands off the controller. If you don’t already own a headset though (and don’t want to settle for the monophonic chat accessory) you can pick up an Xbox-branded one, with the nearly universal adapter included, for $80. Either way: if you’re a multiplayer FPS adict, you’re probably going to want to pick up of these when they hit shelves early next month.
Filed under: Gaming, Peripherals, Microsoft
Source: Xbox.com
T-Mobile Moto X receiving Android 4.4.2
T-Mobile is pushing out the Android 4.4.2 to Moto X devices today in a 147mb download! It seems that the update is the same version as the soak test being previously tested by selected users. The update isn’t a huge jump from 4.4 but it includes:
- Added support for printing photos
- Improved battery life
- Fixes email sync issues
To check for the update, go into Settings>About phone>System updates. Here is also a link to the official release notes from Motorola!
Currently the unlocked version of the Moto X on T-Mobile is the only device with 4.4.2, hopefully T-Mobile keeps this up and other carriers follow suit!.
The post T-Mobile Moto X receiving Android 4.4.2 appeared first on AndroidGuys.
New Samsung Galaxy S5 TouchWiz icons get teased in invitation to Unpacked 5 Event
Yesterday, we got a taste of what the status bar on Samsung’s TouchWiz UI will look like when Android KitKat finally comes rolling by and it’s all looking very stock Android, which is a nice surprise. We’re expecting to see that build of Android KitKat on the Samsung Galaxy S5 when it launches at Samsung’s Unpacked event at MWC 2014 in just under two weeks now, but to this day we’ve still had very little indication of what the new TouchWiz is going to look like. Well, thanks to a teaser that Samsung circulated today, we might have a better idea of what the Samsung Galaxy S5 TouchWiz icons are going to look like.
As seen in the invite above, Samsung is inviting everyone to tune into their Unpacked 5 event and the invite features presumably the 9 different focuses that they’ve employed for designing the Galaxy S5, which include: Speed, Outdoor, Curiosity, Fun, Social, Style, Privacy, Fitness and Life. I’m most intrigued by fitness as Samsung hasn’t really alluded to any fitness-centric products in their repertoire, unless the Galaxy Gear 2 is going to be a glorified fitness tracker, but I guess we’ll see what they mean about this and all the other focuses at the Unpacked event. The general appearance of the icons are also quite different from what we’re used to with Samsung, and hopefully they incorporate a lot of this in their actual UI.
What do you think about the icons? Where do you think Samsung is going with TouchWiz? Let us know what you think in the comments.
Source: Android Authority via Phones Review
Apple’s Mac Pro Shipping Estimates Slip to April in Many Countries
Shipping estimates for new orders of the redesigned Mac Pro have now slipped to April in many of Apple’s stores around the world (via MacGeneration) [Google Translate].
This is the second time in two months that the Mac Pro has showed a change in shipping estimates, as Apple’s stores around the world began to show a “March” shipping estimate last month. While the new shipping estimates do not necessarily reflect a worsening supply given that shipping delays have been persistent so far throughout the computer’s launch, the changes do indicate that Apple has yet to make up significant ground as lead times appear to be remaining in the six-to-seven week range.
The new April shipping estimates are in effect for stock and custom configurations throughout Apple’s online stores for Europe, Middle East, and Africa (EMEA) and Asia Pacific (APAC) operational regions. Estimates in Apple’s stores for the Americas remain at March for the time being.
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Google lends its robot expertise to help boost Foxconn’s assembly lines
As the world’s biggest electronics manufacturer, Foxconn has often been there to help Google. It provides the nuts and bolts for Glass, after all. However, a new report suggests Google’s continued investment in robotics has put it in a position to give something back, using its own technology to better automate Foxconn’s assembly robots. The Wall Street Journal reports that Google’s Andy Rubin, the man who once led Android and now directs Mountain View’s robotics efforts, recently met with Foxconn chairman Terry Gou to help “speed up robot deployment” at Hon Hai factories, with a view to integrating one of Google’s own engineering companies later down the line. Google, of course, acquired Big Dog-maker Boston Dynamics late last year, snatching up an additional seven technology companies to help it realise its robotic dreams. As it stands, Google and Foxconn’s partnership will initially focus on improving the efficiency of the Taiwanese company’s robot workforce, as it looks to mitigate against rising labor costs and improve production yields. Google is also tipped to turn its robots loose on Amazon, with Jeff Bezos’ retail business reportedly fixed firmly in its crosshairs.
Source: WSJ Digits
‘Flappy Bird’ Creator: Game Was Pulled Because It Became an ‘Addictive Product’ [iOS Blog]
Flappy Bird creator Dong Nguyen has publicly spoken for the first time since pulling the popular game from the App Store in a new interview with Forbes. In the interview, Nguyen states that Flappy Bird was removed because it was becoming an “addictive product,” going on to say that guilt and discomfort ultimately influenced his final decision to take the game down.
Flappy Bird was designed to play in a few minutes when you are relaxed,” says Dong Nguyen, in an exclusive interview, his first since he pulled the plug on the app. “But it happened to become an addictive product. I think it has become a problem. To solve that problem, it’s best to take down Flappy Bird. It’s gone forever.”
Nguyen added in the interview that he developed the game over the course of “two or three days” and said that Nintendo did not send him any legal threats over the game’s similarities to the original “Super Mario Bros.” title, corroborating a report from yesterday. The developer noted that he feels there was no mistake in removing the title from App Store, also saying that he will continue to develop games due to the confidence he gained after the success of Flappy Bird.
Before being taken down, Flappy Bird was the number one downloaded free app on Apple’s App Store for almost a month, generating a reported $50,000/day in revenue from in-app ads. Nguyen had also previously expressed frustration at the attention he received during the game’s sudden spike in popularity on his Twitter before announcing that he would remove it.
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Meeting Room Scheduling Software – Focusing On The Features
Demand for the meeting room scheduling software tools is high in the market. In fact, there are many available ones. But the question that remains: are these truly satisfactory? Do they manage to produce satisfactory results? Well, room scheduling software tools can be custom developed according to requirements. Most preferable software tools will definitely enable the user to have totally central web-based system that can easily integrate the customers’ digital signage, diaries, environmental way findings, as well third party systems like that of video conferences and online chatting. A proper room booking software should have the following features:
1) Ability to intensify the use of right equipment and space through much smarter booking mechanism
2) Definitely help in reducing admin time by automating the common tasks being performed. Also, it helps in unifying the booking of rooms, catering, technology resources, and the guests into one single system.
3) Helps in reducing the management tasks and overhead costing through standardized booking procedures. Also, it is done on a global scale. The software tool needs to be highly scalable and should follow multilingual system as well multi-time zone.
4) It should have the ability to enable better decision making for hospitality services, facilities, managers, and vendors. The software tool’s reports should provide the right support in optimizing the best use of space as well other resources through proper calculation of available space and resources.
The room booking software tool should work on any web interface. It should be able to handle the meeting room bookings, video conferencing, hospitality resources, and guests simultaneously without facing any problem. The entire approach should be compact yet diversified without creating any sort of complexity. Remember, the system should be scalable and centrally operated while offering the best of services all across different time zones. Also, the language options availability is important. The tool should feature more language options for better understanding by clients.
What about resource and hospitality booking?
The software tool should have the ability to handle other resource booking options like that of AV equipment that are required exclusively for meetings, and also ensures that the correct notice time as well cost codes and stock availability is followed. All these are taken into consideration. In fact, all these factors are extremely important for meeting room scheduling software tools.
The software tool should make it easy for the user to manage and jot down the meeting attendees as well guests. The software tool should have ability to send meeting invitees, notify the hosts on arrival of guests, help reception checking for visitors, integrate the existing security systems, and print down the visitor passes. In short, the software tool should have the ability to offer the user seamless experience in handling and managing guests during meetings, seminars, or some other events.
A proper event management and room scheduling software tool will provide complete solution to successfully handling of booking rooms and venues. Right from offering the right set of information to providing helping hand in managing the event, the software tool should provide sufficient help in making the event a successful one. It helps in minimizing the staffs and saving some good cash on investment. It also helps in minimizing the administrative burden. The software tool should offer complete and detailed reports that will help in close monitoring of the room utilization, user activity, and many more. It should provide the best of help to user in taking the right decision about usage of the real estate. There are many software solutions to find, but picking the right one is what makes the difference.
Samsung Galaxy S5 teaser hints at new privacy and fitness features
We’re not mathematicians, but we’re fairly sure that you can’t multiply Life to the power of five. That hasn’t stopped Samsung, however, from claiming as much on its latest MWC invite. The company’s “back-to-basics” Galaxy S5 is expected to dominate the show, and this is the first official hint of what we can expect. The grid of nine icons are grouped by color, with Speed, Curiosity and Privacy in team blue and Outdoor, Style and Fitness in healthy green — and yes, all are multiplied to the power of five. It’d be hasty to leap to any conclusions just yet, but perhaps we’ll see Samsung beefing up device security in the wake of PRISM and, hopefully, a renewed focus on fitness.
Filed under: Cellphones, Mobile, Samsung
Source: Samsung (Twitter)
Flappy Bird’s creator says he pulled the app for your own good
If you were hoping Flappy Bird would find its wings and fly back onto the App Store or Google Play, its creator has some tough news for you. Less than 48 hours after he pulled the explosively popular game, developer Dong Nguyen briefly emerged from his self-imposed exile to talk to Forbes about why that little bird will flap no more. According to Nguyen, the game was designed to help people relax, let players blow off some steam when they had a spare few minutes. Instead, Flappy Bird became an “addictive product” that was causing him, and its players, issues. Nguyen became the subject of intense media scrutiny, while players became enraged by their tragically low scores. “To solve that problem, it’s best to take down Flappy Bird. It’s gone forever,” he told Forbes, shortly after he’d had an impromptu sit down with Vietnam’s deputy prime minister.
Since it disappeared, owners of the app have put their phones and tablets up for bidding on eBay, with prices reaching $1,000 for an iPhone with the app pre-installed. Despite its popularity, and reports that Flappy Bird was reportedly making $50,000 a day in ad revenue, Nguyen says he has no regrets: “I don’t think it’s a mistake,” he said. “I have thought it through.” If you didn’t manage to grab the app before it was pulled, there’s no shortage of Flappy clones on the App Store or Google Play — just in case you need a Flappy Angry Bird fix.
Filed under: Gaming, Internet, Software, Mobile
Source: Forbes
Google to take over huge NASA hangar, give execs’ private planes a home
You might get zero hits now when you search for pics of a giant fleet of Google zeppelins, but that could change in the not-too-distant future. Planetary Ventures, one of the company’s subsidiaries, just got into an agreement to take over a humongous NASA hangar (named Hangar One) in Mountain View that’s big enough to house a slew of dirigibles. To be exact, Google will lease Hangar One and its surrounding land, including its associated airfield, from NASA — that is, if the two can agree on the lease’s terms. Considering Google’s rolling in dough, however, price will likely not be an issue.
If the deal goes through, Planetary Ventures will re-skin Hangar One (it was stripped down to its metal framework years ago), build an educational facility and upgrade an existing golf course in the area. It will also handle the airfield’s operations, so NASA can slash off its maintenance costs and earn from the lease at the same time. It’s unclear what exactly Google plans to do to more than eight acres of space, but we’re guessing it’s big enough to house its many projects, its execs’ numerous jets and even all its internet balloons.
[Image credit: Erik Charlton/Flickr]
Via: TechCrunch
Source: NASA
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