Apple’s iPhone Trade-In Program Launches in France Retail Stores [iOS Blog]
Starting today, Apple is expanding its iPhone trade-in program to French retail stores, making France the third country to offer Apple’s in-store recycling initiative. Though not publicly announced, an Apple spokesperson in France confirmed the launch to iPhoneAddicts.
The program allows customers to trade-in an older iPhone at a retail store and immediately receive up to €215 ($296) in a gift card credit that can be used towards the purchase of a new iPhone. French retail store employees have been briefed on the program and have been told to inform customers of the recycling option when they buy a new phone. Trade-in details already listed on France’s Apple Store website.
Apple’s in-store iPhone recycling program debuted in the U.S. in August 2013 and was rolled out to the UK a few months later. Apple has a similar online trade-in program that requires customers to send in their old iPhone before receiving a credit. This mail-in program may offer greater value for a used iPhone, but the in-store program offers the convenience of a no-hassle credit that’s immediately applied to the purchase of a new model.
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CarPlay Shown Off in New Promo Video from Volvo, Wi-Fi Connections ‘Coming Soon’
Following this morning’s announcement from Apple that it will officially begin rolling out its “CarPlay” iOS vehicle integration with Ferrari, Mercedes-Benz and Volvo on board as the first launch partners this week, Volvo has published its own press release announcing the launch. Volvo’s promotional materials include a new video briefly showing off CarPlay in action.
Volvo also goes a step beyond the basic CarPlay implementation to take advantage of the large portrait touch screen on the upcoming XC90 SUV, making both Apple and Volvo controls available simultaneously.
Volvo enhances Apple’s capabilities by linking them to a specially-developed interface that allows drivers to use voice and touch controls to access Apple features and services, ensuring the entire interaction is always safe and easy to use.
With Apple CarPlay, users will immediately recognise their basic iPhone applications, such as phone, messages, music and navigation. The initial offer also features third party audio apps including Spotify, the popular music streaming service.
Volvo’s press release also makes clear that while the initial implementation of CarPlay will require a wired connection using an iPhone’s Lightning connector, Wi-Fi connectivity will be “coming soon”.
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Flappy bird craze is still alive: 1 in 3 Games is a Flappy Bird Clone
The original Flappy Bird game is long gone, with the developer pulling it for unknown reasons. Some speculate that it was a legal threat, whilst others state it was simply a personal action.
Regardless of the reason, Flappy Bird created a shockwave through the mobile gaming industry, showing how a simple idea could sky rocket to success, seemingly overnight. When the game was pulled from the various App Stores across the different mobile platforms, it left a big hole, and it seems every man and his dog have tried to fill it.
A wave of Flappy Bird clones began hitting the Google Play Store, and other platforms too, all ranging in quality and authenticitiy. Some took the chance to spin off the concept, creating new unique games which borrowed the Flappy Bird concept, whilst others used the popularity to bundle malware in poorly coded clones.
The situation has in fact gotten so bad, that a recent survey has shown that 1 in 3 Games across all platforms is a Flappy Bird clone. Unfortunately the success of such a simple game has also been its demise, and the best advice to take given the sheer volume of clones is to not install any of them.
Luckily, those who were (un)lucky enough to not get caught into the Flappy Bird craze can, on Android, sideload the .apk file straight to their device, despite it being removed from the Google Play Store.
However, Flappy Bird seems like one craze that isn’t dying down any time soon.
The post Flappy bird craze is still alive: 1 in 3 Games is a Flappy Bird Clone appeared first on AndroidGuys.
Samsung Galaxy S5 versus LG Nexus 5
The Samsung Galaxy S5, introduced at Mobile World Congress 2014, will likely go on to become one of the top-selling Android smartphones of the year. And why not? It’s the latest in Samsung’s flagship line of devices and it’s better than ever. But, how does it fare when you compare it to other top smartphones of the day?
Let’s stack the Samsung Galaxy S5 up against another key Android handset, the LG Nexus 5. We’ll take a look at how they match up in terms of hardware, yes, but we’ll also touch on some of the differences in software and user experience.
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| Operating System | Android 4.4.2 KitKat (w/ Samsung UI) | Android 4.4 KitKat |
| Display | 5.1-inch Super AMOLED (1920×1080) | 4.95-inch True HD IPS (1920×1080) |
| Storage | 16GB, 32GB | 16GB, 32GB |
| Processor | Quad-core Qualcomm Snapdragon 801 | Quad-core Qualcomm Snapdragon 800 |
| RAM | 2GB | 2GB |
| Connectivity | 4G LTE, Wi-Fi, HSPA+, NFC | 4G LTE, Wi-Fi, HSPA+, NFC |
| Camera (Rear) | 16-megapixel | 8-megapixel |
| Camera (Front) | 2.1-megapixel | 1.3-megapixel |
| Battery | 2800mAh | 2300mAh |
| Weight | 145g | 130g |
| Size (mm) | 142.0 x 72.5 x 8.1 | 137.9 x 69.2 x 8.6 |
| Bluetooth | 4.0 | 4.0 |
| Expansion Card | Yes (up to 64GB) | NO |
| Fingerprint Scanner | YES | NO |
| Water Resistant | Yes (IP67) | NO |
| Charging | USB 3.0 | microUSB |
General Hardware
At first blush, the Samsung Galaxy S5 appears to have a slight edge in the camera, battery, and a few other details. But, dig deeper, and you’ll learn that the Snapdragon 801 processor is more than a slight upgrade of the Snapdragon 800 processor. With that in mind, we shouldn’t be all that upset that the Galaxy S5 does not have 3GB RAM. Internal storage capacities are the same, however the Samsung benefits by having external storage options.
It doesn’t hurt to have an extra 500mAh of juice in your battery, but we’re not yet sure as to how that translates to real world usage.
Camera
If you’re looking at just the specs, the 16-megapixel rear camera sounds much better than the 8-megapixel found on the Nexus 5. But, toss in some features like the fastet-yet shutter speeds, HDR, and selective focus, and Samsung pulls away. And, while we might not yet be able to take full advantage of it, the Galaxy S5 can record in video at 4K resolution. Should you have a TV or display capable of displaying that resolution then you’ll definitely be in business.
User Interface and Enhancements
Indeed, its water resistance is a nice touch this time around and helps protect the phone from life’s accidents and spills. It’s not quite ready to go swimming all day but a spilled glass of water is not the end of the world.
We also like that Samsung has opted for the USB 3.0 option in charging as it opens the door to added functionality. No, not every user will take advantage of it, but we like future proofing devices.
Fingerprint scanning is likely to find a place in most of the bleeding-edge smartphones going forward. It’s not a perfect tool, yet, and has limited capabilities. Samsung, for its part, is playing nice with the SDK and letting developers hardness the technology.
You know what else matters to a lot of users? Freebies and value-added bundles. To that end, Samsung is giving upward of $500 worth of apps and services away with each Galaxy S5. Not all stuff that every user will want or need, but it’s pretty darn appealing nonetheless.
Android
If there’s one thing that matters to heavy Android enthusiasts, it’s the software experience. While Samsung has added plenty of wonderful features, apps, and services, the edge still goes to the Nexus 5. That is, of course, if you care a great deal about timely upgrades and no carrier interference.
Availability
The Nexus 5 is offered through Google Play Store for $349 (16GB) and $399 (32GB) in three color options. Pricing has yet to be determined for the Galaxy S5 but we’re thinking the $200 range is in order. The key difference, however, is that the Nexus 5 does not require you commit to a two-year service agreement. Yes, you’ll be able to procure an unlocked Galaxy S5 (and likely a Google Play Experience, too), but it will be in the order of hundreds more.
The Samsung Galaxy S5 will be sold starting in April in 4 color options and should be available through just about any carrier you can imagine. All of the major players are expected to sell the device as are a number prepaid arms.
Which is right for you?
The first question you should ask yourself is whether you are willing to sign a contract. If that answer is yes then you should go with the Samsung Galaxy S5 without pause. For those who don’t want to tie up for two more years, it gets trickier. The Nexus 5 will be about half of the overall cost of the Galaxy S5 and is still a best-in-class experience. It’s ironic to even say this sort of thing, but you could do much worse than to go with a Nexus device.
Something else that you should consider is whether you need to be on the cutting edge of Android updates. Things have slowed on the overall platform front and features are coming at a slower pace. We venture to guess that most smartphone users cannot identify the exact build of their OS. If you don’t know the difference between a Jelly Bean and a KitKat release then it should not bother you to go with a modified UI.
Average consumers are going to flock to the Samsung Galaxy S5. Those who are coming out of contract with their Galaxy S3 are looking at this device as a huge step forward. At this point there’s nothing to stop the Galaxy S5 train; others may slow it a bit, but it will be the top-seller of 2014. For great reason(s).
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Tip: Disable S Voice to speed up Galaxy S4 Home button response
If you’re not a big user of the S Voice personal assistant bundled into the Samsung Galaxy S4, then disabling it from being activated using the home button could greatly speed up the response of it and make your device seem faster. We’ve already covered removing the screen transition effect to speed up your Galaxy S4, so turning off S Voice could make your device fly.
The reason this has an effect is that by default, S Voice can be activated by double-tapping the Home button. It’s this double-tap that introduces the delay since the device is waiting for that second press before deciding whether to activate S Voice (if it receives an additional press) or take you back to the Home-screen.
By disabling this S Voice activation, the Home button when pressed will instantly perform the desired function.
1. Open S Voice.
2. Press the menu key and hit ‘Settings’.
3. Uncheck “Open via the home key”.
That’s all there is to it – your Home key operation should now be lightening quick. This little trick also applies to any other Samsung device that is running S Voice, such as the Galaxy S3, Galaxy S5, and the Note 2.
The post Tip: Disable S Voice to speed up Galaxy S4 Home button response appeared first on AndroidGuys.
First dual-boot Windows Phone 8 and Android handsets said to arrive by June
Windows and Android are such good pals, they’re quite literally inseparable on a number of dual-boot devices. Aside from some old community-driven projects, however, the relationship between Google’s mobile OS and Windows Phone hasn’t blossomed to a point where they’re officially comfortable sharing a smartphone. Well, they better pencil in a bonding session, because The Times of India reports local manufacturer Karbonn is set to launch the first such dual-boot handset by June. With the ink now dry on a deal with Microsoft — presumably a WP license agreed behind closed doors at MWC — plans are to offer a range of split-personality devices with professional and tech-savvy types in mind. Perhaps they’ll run Windows Phone 8.1 right off the bat, too, given the new version’s broader hardware support, and show that you needn’t create mutant advocates to tempt consumers one way or another.
Filed under: Cellphones, Software, Mobile, Microsoft, Google
Via: Gizmodo
Source: The Times of India
Leaked screenshots reveal Cortana, Microsoft’s digital assistant for Windows Phone
We already know that Microsoft is set to become the last major player to launch a digital assistant, but previews of what “Cortana” will look like have been almost non-existent. Now, thanks to leaked screenshots from The Verge, we’re getting our first look at what to expect when the company’s Siri rival makes its public debut with the launch of Windows Phone 8.1. Confirming earlier reports, Microsoft has opted for a circular animated icon as its primary UI element, which will use the same highlight color you’ve chosen on your Windows Phone device. That icon will reportedly jump about the screen as it asks you questions and responds to your requests.
Cortana can also be tweaked to personalize greetings, allowing you change your name or set a nickname for when it provides alerts, offers suggestions or displays reminders. Microsoft appears to be taking a few pages out of Apple and Google’s playbooks, which is further evidenced by the inclusion of a setting that will index your emails in order to track flights and other services — just like Google Now. It’s not clear whether Microsoft will add more services to its assistant before Windows Phone 8.1 makes its way to devices, or if it will even stick with Cortana codename, but we may only have to wait a month until we find out for sure.
Filed under: Cellphones, Internet, Software, Mobile, Microsoft
Source: The Verge
Pizza Hut’s concept touch table lets you swipe your way to a perfect pie (video)
With hundreds of mom and pop shops in the New York area, it’s been upwards of a decade since I’ve stepped foot in a Pizza Hut. But the fast food giant’s latest dining concept may just have me reconsidering that self-imposed chain pizzeria embargo. The interactive table, created in partnership with Chaotic Moon Studios, lets you visualize your order as you construct it. Pick your crust, select your sauce and cheese (half or whole), then add toppings like chicken, mushrooms and peppers to your liking. You can even double down on calories by rounding out your meal with a serving of cheese sticks, Spicy Asian wings or Hershey’s Chocolate Dunkers. Just keep in mind that after all that touching, your fingers will be coated in varying levels of greasy stranger danger — be sure to wash your hands before your pie arrives!
Filed under: Household
Source: Pizza Hut (YouTube)
Apple Debuts New Ad Campaign for iPhone 5c on Tumblr [iOS Blog]
Apple has launched a new campaign for the iPhone 5c on popular social blogging platform Tumblr, reports 9To5Mac. Featuring the tagline “Every color has a story”, the campaign’s page contains five videos each representing a different theme based on the combination of a certain iPhone 5c color and case. For instance, a video showing the yellow iPhone 5c and a black case displays a pattern mimicking concert lights, while another ad featuring the blue iPhone 5c and a white case imitates skaters on an ice rink.
The page also appears to be showing up as a “Sponsored Post” for a number of Tumblr users, indicating that Apple paid to promote its content on the network. The campaign itself is notable as Apple has traditionally remained off of social media aside from its official iTunes Facebook page and official App Store Twitter profile.
Apple revealed in its Q1 2014 earnings call that it saw lower-than-expected sales of the iPhone 5c due to high sales of the iPhone 5s, with other reports suggesting that the 5s was outselling the 5c by a two-to-one margin. Shortly after the phones were introduced, Apple scaled back iPhone 5c production while ramping up iPhone 5s production to meet customer demand.
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Apple Hiring Engineers and Supply Chain Managers in Asia to Speed Up Production
Apple is hiring engineers and supply chain managers for its operations in Asia as its seeks to expand and quicken the production of new and existing products, reports the Wall Street Journal. These new teams will work out of the company’s main Asian campus in Shanghai, China and its office in Taipei, Taiwan.
The report states that the company is hiring engineers away from HTC, Inventec and other Taiwanese tech firms to build an engineering team in Taipei. These new hires will quicken the pace of production by working closely with Apple’s Asian suppliers on hardware components for the iPhone and iPad. They also will oversee software quality assurance.
Apple has added several hundred new engineers and operations staff in China over the past two years, with a blitz of hiring that began in mid-2013, people familiar with the matter said. The total number of engineers and operations staff in China now exceeds 600, they said.
Apple also is adding supply chain managers to its Asian staff in response to ongoing criticism of working conditions in select supplier factories.
Apple’s new operations in Asia may help combat supply constraints that have plagued recent product launches. The company admitted during its Q1 2013 earnings conference call that production issues limited the supply of the iMac during the holiday shopping season. More recently, Apple warned of low Retina iPad mini inventory prior to the tablet’s launch in late 2013.
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