Android 4.4 Hits the Verizon HTC One. Older Galaxy Phones to Receive KitKat – Device Updates
It is Monday, so we check to see what updates happened in the past week. Android 4.4 finally hit the HTC One, or at least one carrier’s HTC One. Galaxy users with older phones will be happy to know that Samsung is planning on getting some of that KitKat on your device. Hopefully sooner than later.
Device Updates
Android 4.4 for the Verizon HTC One
Older Galaxy devices getting Android 4.4
Android 4.4.2 ready for the T-Mobile Moto X
With ARM’s Cortex-A17 processor, midrange smartphones and tablets will be much faster
We already have a hard time finding fault with processing power in the midrange smartphones and tablets currently on the market, but that doesn’t mean they couldn’t be even snappier. That’s the goal of ARM, which has announced the latest Cortex processors, known as Cortex-A17, to address not only mobile devices in the midrange market, but Smart TVs and Over-the-Top devices as well. The 28nm A17 comes with big.LITTLE (the architecture used in Samsung’s latest octa-core Exynos chips) support, and promises a 60 percent boost in performance over Cortex-A9. It’s also paired with a Mali-T720 GPU, which offers OpenGL ES 3.0 support and plenty of optimizations for low-end Android devices. While ARM doesn’t specify an actual timeframe for release, it says that we should expect a huge push for the A17 in 2015; in a separate release, MediaTek also tells us that its newest octa-core processor comes with Cortex-A17 tech inside and will be available in the second half of this year.
Filed under: Cellphones, Home Entertainment, Tablets, Wireless, HD, Mobile
Source: ARM
Famed Documentarian Ken Burns Launches iPad App [iOS Blog]
Famed documentarian Ken Burns, who’s directed detailed films about the history of subjects like baseball and the Civil War, has released a new app under his name that houses scenes, extras, and behind-the-scenes footage from all 25 of his films.
In his announcement (via The Hollywood Reporter), Burns noted it was exciting for him to be using an Apple platform for his app as the company has long used the “Ken Burns Effect”, where a camera slowly pans over a still image, in its video editing apps.
“Apple has long used an element of my filmmaking in its programs, which they call the Ken Burns Effect. I’m so excited to now be using Apple’s platforms to create a radically new way to present my work and reach new viewers. Our films are made in a small town in New Hampshire over many years, with images and stories woven together in a way that we hope brings experiences of the past into the present.”
While the app doesn’t include the full Ken Burns’ documentaries, it does house hand-selected scenes by Burns in playlists inspired by six themes: Race, War, Art, Hard Times, Innovation, and Politics. One theme, Innovation, is included free with download but the remaining five themes, which include over three hours of content, must be unlocked via a $9.99 in-app purchase.
Alternatively, users can view the content in a Timeline view, which presents a chronological history of America, and a Film view, which arranges the clips by which Burns’ film they’re from.
Ken Burns for iPad is available in the App Store for free. [Direct Link]
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Virgin Atlantic tries greeting its passengers using wearable tech
Forget tablets in the airplane cabin — Virgin Atlantic thinks wearables are where it’s at for improving your travel experience. The airline has begun trialing a greeting system that uses Google Glass and Sony’s Smartwatch 2 to streamline the airport check-in process for Upper Class passengers. Staff at Heathrow Airport’s Terminal 3 are using the technology to greet travelers by name, provide flight updates and translate any foreign language information. The test run will only last six weeks, but Virgin already has dreams of future software that lets staff know what food you like. Let’s just hope that any potential wide-scale rollout accommodates those of us in the cheap seats.
Filed under: Transportation, Wearables, Sony, Google
Source: SITA
Android 4.4.2 Ready for T-Mobile Moto X Users
The Android 4.4.2 update is ready for you T-Mobile Moto X users after a successful soak test. Motorola posted the changelog for the new update, which pretty much confirms that the update will be rolling out in the next week or so. Here is the changelog.
So if you are on T-Mobile and you got yourself a Moto X in your pocket, keep a lookout for that update. We will most likely post when the Android 4.4.2 update starts rolling out.
Source: Droid-Life
Check Out the Flappy Bird Song that Sings How We Feel About the Addicting Game
You guys tired of the Flappy Bird madness yet? If only Dong was actually using all this craziness to market his game, we could all just laugh and say, “that smart SOB.” Sadly, it doesn;t look like it is a marketing scheme, and the game lives on in apk form.
The brilliance of the game is that its got a basic, easy concept, and its frustrating. That is really all you need to grab the attention of mobile gamers out there. A new video just landed on YouTube by YouTuber Jonathan Mann, that really sings all the thoughts we have for the relatively stupid game. It’s pretty funny stuff, so check it out and let us know what you think of it.
Daily Roundup: Panasonic’s Lumix GH4 camera, ‘Fish on Wheels’ and more!
You might say the day is never really done in consumer technology news. Your workday, however, hopefully draws to a close at some point. This is the Daily Roundup on Engadget, a quick peek back at the top headlines for the past 24 hours — all handpicked by the editors here at the site. Click on through the break, and enjoy.
Flappy Bird is no longer available
Flappy Bird was so young, but alas, all good things must come to an (abrupt) end. Despite its rapid rise to fame, the game’s developer Dong Nguyen had it removed from both the App Store and Google Play earlier today. Click the link for the story.
Sneak peek of Panasonic’s Lumix GH4 camera
Panasonic’s recently unveiled Lumix GH4 4K camera doesn’t have a release date yet, but a few professionals have already taken it for a test run. Click through for some sample photos and footage from the company’s latest shooter
‘Fish on Wheels’ mobile tank
What’s cooler than a regular, stationary fish tank? One on wheels, of course! Thanks to a company called Studio Diip, your aquatic pets can enjoy the mobility of a house on wheels. This clever contraption roams your abode based upon the movements of your fish. Follow the link for more.
HTC promises new, affordable devices
HTC is expecting its next quarter to be the worst yet. The reason? CEO Peter Chou attributes the decline to the company’s lack of mid-tier products, promising that it will bounce back with a new, compelling portfolio of affordable devices. Click on through for details.
Filed under: Misc
The definition of karma: PayPal president’s credit card gets hacked
If you’ve ever lost access to your PayPal holdings through no fault of your own — say, following a shady money transfer — you may be tempted to enjoy a little schadenfreude today. PayPal president David Marcus reports that someone used a skimming device to clone a credit card while he was in the UK, letting the perpetrator make a “ton” of fraudulent purchases. It’s virtually the embodiment of karmic payback, isn’t it? In fairness, the executive is right when he notes that the incident wouldn’t have happened if the merchant accepted PayPal; the company would have masked the card number and rendered the skimmer useless. And we sincerely hope that Marcus’ finances are back in order. All the same, the affair shows just why business leaders should be sympathetic to their customers’ problems — one day, they may be stuck in the same boat.
My card (with EMV chip) got skimmed while in the UK. Ton of fraudulent txns. Wouldn’t have happened if merchant accepted PayPal…
– David Marcus (@davidmarcus) February 10, 2014
Filed under: Internet
Via: USA Today
Source: David Marcus (Twitter 1), (2)
The best of the Best in Website Design
There’s a very simple ethos to getting website design right. Keep it simple. It’s not hard to make a killer website, though time and time again you come across a great example of how not to do it. And it all comes down to that simple phrase. Keep it simple.
Website design is absolutely crucial to the success of your website, and ultimately you. Good website design is efficient, streamlined, pared down to the absolute minimum, with no gaudy, gimmicky flashiness distracting your users from the essentials. Website design is about enhancing the online experience, not detracting from it. Avoidable clutter and mess is inexcusable, and you’ll find that more often than not, your users won’t give you a look in if there’s over the top animation, cheap tricks and annoying graphics. So, to make the most of your online presence, take a look at the list below.
Simplicity
Consider the 80-20 rule. Cut everything down to the barest essentials, to the magic 20% that will sum up the 80% of your content. This applies to everything; keep your writing style efficient and most importantly human. Use only the barest, most minimal graphics and animations, and reduce the total number of pages used in your site and will not use up much bandwidth stored by your web host company.
Make a splash
As a general rule, make sure you have as much of your essential message on your homepage as possible. Remember too, to get as much of that essence into the bit that’s “above the fold,” or in other words in that first bit of space before your user has to scroll down.
Navigation
It’s important that your user knows exactly where they need to go for what you provide. Don’t hide the way – guide them, hand in hand, where you want them to.
Color
Gaudiness and tacky flash is an instant turn off. It’s far easier to get it right by only keeping to a few mild tones.
Fonts
The same rule applies. Go for simple font that’s easy on the eyes. No Wingdings, obviously.
Links
A great tip is to make sure you include helpful links back to the homepage, and to your contacts, on all the pages of your website. It’s incredibly helpful for better site navigation.
Adverts
Advertising can be done right, if it blends well into your site. An absolute killer are pop up advertising, however, and you should avoid them at all costs.
Simplicity is what it comes down to, plain and simple. It is more efficient, and respects the time your followers put into reading your message, learning who you are, viewing your work and products, which all pays major dividends in the end. It makes it feel more personal, more inviting and more interesting. It’s always tempting to overload your site with the coolest gadget or the flashiest animation you can get your hands on, but take a step back and ask if it’s really necessary. If something’s not absolutely essential, your site will eventually thank you for not using it.
Bill Gates weighs in on the new Microsoft, philanthropy and leaping over chairs
Bill Gates plays bridge, washes dishes each night and prefers In-N-Out to McDonald’s and Burger King (as any sane person would). The Gates Foundation chairman offered up those tidbits and more in another Reddit AMA today, an hour-long dialogue that unearthed a few gems.
Let’s consider the Microsoft situation. We already knew Gates would play a more prominent role in the company now that Satya Nadella is running the show, and he confirmed that he’s going to spend about one-third of his time on “product work” for the company. Pretty vague stuff, but he clarified just a bit:
“I make sure we pick ambitious scenarios and that we have a strong architecture to deliver on them. I encourage good work (hopefully).”
Speaking of Nadella, Gates seemed appreciative of the new CEO’s fresh set of eyes as Microsoft fights in an age when desktops are dying and mobile has become a top priority. Steve Ballmer laid out a strategy for Microsoft that involved pushing devices and services to consumers and enterprises, and now it’s Nadella’s turn to execute it. Gates seems bullish on that vision, though TechCrunch points out it may be because he was around while it was still being shaped.
Naturally, not all of the questions fawned over Mr. Gates. When asked if the Gates Foundation’s philanthropy ever went awry, he pointed to a school lunch program that sadly didn’t pan out.
“One thing that is tough is when you think the government will take over something you start but they don’t,” he said. “It might have been better if we hadn’t done it.”
Gates didn’t shy away from the really tough questions either. When asked if he could still leap over a chair in a single bound the way he did in front of Connie Chung in 1994, Gates came clean:
“No I cannot. I can still jump but not over a full sized garbage can like I used to be able to. Be careful — it can hurt if you don’t succeed.”
He hasn’t totally lost his hops though: He can still bound over small chairs. Oh, and his wife would probably watch a Gates biopic starring Samuel L. Jackson as the man himself. Really though, who wouldn’t?
AIVAnet 