XBMC looks to improve Android video playback with ‘Gotham’ beta
Version 13 of XBMC’s media center software, codenamed Gotham, is now ready for your official beta-testing pleasure. The organization — which started the project for the Xbox and spawned apps like Plex and platforms like Boxxee — kicked off work on the update nearly a year ago. It said that many of the qualms addressed by version 12 (Frodo) users have been addressed. Most notably, it now supports native hardware decoding on Android for x86 and ARM platforms, which should bring smoother playback for Blu-ray and other codecs. Other improvements include support for more 3D formats (with the notable exception of 3D Blu-ray), better touchscreen support, enhanced UPnP capability, “dramatic” audio engine improvements and easier setup. Though nightly versions have been available for a while, the company provided the usual caveats about beta software and the importance of backing up. If you’re unperturbed by that, hit the source.
Filed under: Home Entertainment, HD
Source: XBMC
Sony says the PlayStation 4’s ‘Share’ button has been used 100 million times
Sony has a released a bunch of statistics covering the first four months of life of its new baby. Beyond regular sales figures (six million units so far, and nearly 14 million game sales), some of the more interesting numbers relate to how PlayStation gamers are engaging with the console’s online features. We’re told that half of all PS4 owners have been persuaded to cough up for a PS Plus subscription, which grants access to online multiplayer gaming as well as a number of discounted and free titles. Meanwhile, the ‘Share’ button on the DualShock 4 controller has apparently been used 100 million times to share recorded game highlights with the PS4 community, and 3.6 million gameplay broadcasts have been streamed over Twitch and Ustream — a feature that still hasn’t been enabled on the Xbox One. And who knows? The PS4′s Twitch numbers might have been even higher if people hadn’t gotten themselves banned for playing real-live strip poker.
Source: PR Newswire, PlayStation.Blog
Harmony’s $150 Smart Keyboard remote comes to living rooms this month
Logitech is bringing a new entry to the lineup of Harmony remotes centered around its Hub. At a price of $150 this Harmony Smart Keyboard will retail for only twenty dollars more than the Harmony Smart Control, but trades in the simple and small remote for a keyboard. Like the rest of the Hub compatible line, it controls a long list of devices including the Apple TV, Roku or Xbox One, with support for IR, RF and Bluetooth. This means you can hide the (included) Hub away in a cabinet with your receiver, game consoles and set-top boxes with little regard for where the remote is pointed.
The keyboard make quick work of searching for content when connected to a PC or Mac as well as media streamers and game consoles. Like any Harmony remote, it makes controlling up to eight devices in your home theater simple via Activities, and has buttons to control playback as well as volume. While we loved the Hub when we tested it, we have never felt the same way about a keyboard in the living room – and this is especially true now that we can use a smartphone or tablet as a keyboard. If you’re willing to give QWERTY on the couch another chance, check it out on the website and look for the device hitting stores later this month.
Filed under: Home Entertainment, HD
Source: Logitech, Logitech Blog
LG G Flex Getting 4K Video Capture Support With Android 4.4
The LG G Flex is expected to receive Android 4.4 KitKat very shortly, and a dive into the strings of the User Agent Profile reveal that the update will unlock the capability to support 4K video capture.
With a 13-Megapixel camera on the LG G Flex, the hardware seems perfectly capable of 4K video capture and it seems the capability is only currently disabled in software, waiting for the impending 4.4 KitKat update to unleash it.
LG are expected to begin rolling out Android 4.4 KitKat in the next coming weeks, with it hitting devices before March is out.
The post LG G Flex Getting 4K Video Capture Support With Android 4.4 appeared first on AndroidGuys.
Facebook in talks to buy drone company, could battle Google’s internet balloons
Facebook is in discussions to purchase Titan Aerospace, a company that makes solar-powered drones that can apparently stay up in the skies for up to five years at a time. According to Techcrunch’s sources, Facebook wants solar-powered drones to deliver sky-based internet access, with a view to building 11,000 UAVs to deliver data services, at least initially, in Africa. The drone company has confirmed that there are discussions with Facebook, The plan would certainly chime with the social network’s Internet.org efforts to expand online access in developing countries. Of course, Google is also trialling internet access from the sky, although it’s using balloons, with Project Loon offering 50 testers internet access via solar-powered helium balloons. Its experiments are currently centered on the southern hemisphere, namely New Zealand. The purchase will reportedly cost Facebook $60 million — still, a whole lot cheaper than a messaging app.
Filed under: Robots, Internet, Alt, Facebook
Source: Techcrunch
Twitter accidentally mass-resets user passwords, blames ‘system error’
Don’t freak out, your Twitter account wasn’t hacked. Well, probably. Many users were summarily locked out of their Twitter account on Monday evening, and were then sent an email requesting that they reset their password. However, it wasn’t nefarious hackers or bots, but a system error. Twitter has released a statement, saying that it had “unintentionally sent some password reset notices tonight due to a system error.” According to Recode, the error affected less than one percent of Twitter users. If you’re an unlucky one-percenter, you should be able to reclaim access after you’ve updated your password.
[Thanks to everyone who sent this in.]
Oh boy, I got the forced password reset for Twitter too. Even though I use a unique password for Twitter. pic.twitter.com/Id8Hq4WTsc
– Steve Streza (@SteveStreza) March 4, 2014
How Effective SEO Strategies can Boost Your B2B Marketing
Search engine optimization (SEO) has become important for the popularity of any company, regardless of the industry. It consists of various techniques used to increase the organic traffic towards your website. Through professional SEO companies, you will be capable of reaching the top of the search engine results page for your keywords of preference. B2B or industrial marketing companies can benefit tremendously for SEO. B2B marketing is defined as targeting other companies when selling products and services. It is different from B2C marketing, which targets the end consumer rather than other corporations.
B2B marketing companies can experience a wide range of benefits by having a well-crafted SEO strategy. Some of the most important advantages include:
- Increased traffic and sales potential: by reaching the top positions in search engine results pages, you will increase the number of unique visits you get. The more visitors you have, the more sales you can generate. SEO allows for high level of targeting, which increases the efficiency of the campaign even further.
- Cost-effectiveness: SEO allows you to target an audience that is already interested in the industry. This fact translates into lower B2B marketing costs. SEO is a much more budget-friendly tool than direct promotion or email marketing.
- Increased credibility: organizations that appear on the first page of search engine results are generally perceived to be more trustworthy. The higher your website ranks, the more credible it will look to other businesses.
Tips for Effective B2B SEO
Working with an experienced and reputable Los Angeles SEO company will help you experience all of the benefits already mentioned. Additionally, you can complete a number of steps that will improve your SEO campaign even further.
- Participate in social media: your B2B marketing campaign should not be aimed solely at improving website content, keywords and metadata. You will need to build social signals. Social signals became incredibly important after Google launched its own social network. Additionally, building social signals will deliver amazing promotional benefits for your B2B business.
- Submit your site to local directories and networks: include your company’s website on local directories like Google Places, Foursquare and Yelp. Local searches are becoming more and more important due to the extensive usage of mobile devices.
- Write blog posts: blogging builds your reputation in the B2B niche. It also supplies your website with fresh, relevant content. The more you write about the industry, the better your ranking will become. Blogging requires effort but it delivers long term, sustainable results.
- Get inbound links: link building is still a highly important and efficient SEO technique. When it comes to getting links from other websites, quality matters much more than quantity does.
Have you already developed a B2B SEO strategy? Choosing a reliable SEO company to assist you in these efforts can deliver great results in terms of B2B marketing. Take your time to think about your target and your online presence. Working on your website and on online reputation establishment will improve your search engine positioning and it will also affect brand awareness in a highly positive way.
Richard Fong is the CEO and Founder of Bliss Drive, LLC. His primary mission is to help businesses, on any scale, gain stronger online presence and provides his expertise on how business owners benefit with maximized online exposure.
Check Out Bliss Drive on Facebook.
Myst and SimCity enter the History of Electronic Games collection
Broderbund Software’s legacy is sure to live on through ports, sequels and source code, but what about the game developer’s behind-the-scenes history? Thankfully, it won’t be fading away any time soon. Company founder Doug Carlston has donated Broderbund’s software and corporate records to The Strong, a museum dedicated to all forms of play. The move should help illustrate the creation process behind every title that Broderbund published, including classics like Myst, Prince of Persia, the original SimCity and Where in the World is Carmen Sandiego. The collection isn’t limited to game assets — Carlston is donating correspondence, photos and other material that reveals the studio’s culture. Few people will get to see this treasure trove of gaming nostalgia in person, but it should preserve Broderbund’s accomplishments for a long time to come.
Source: The Strong
Android 4.4.2 Hits the AT&T Galaxy S4 and T-Mobile LG G2 – Device Updates
Let’s see if your device is getting updated. Well if you have an AT&T Galaxy S4, you might be enjoying some Android 4.4.2. Hopefully you are, and you T-Mobile LG G2 users will be getting yours shortly. Let us know if you got any updates.
Device Updates
Android 4.4.2 for the AT&T Galaxy S4
Android 4.4.2 for the T-Mobile LG G2
Android 4.3 for the T-Mobile Xperia Z
Dish and Disney’s new deal cuts into ad skipping, allows for internet-only video service
TV networks have long been embroiled in a legal battle with Dish over ad skipping built into the Hopper DVR, but the two sides are finally starting to lay down their arms — and there may be a few perks for viewers as a result. Disney and Dish have reached a TV distribution deal that gives Dish the rights to stream Disney-owned channels online, both through services like WatchESPN as well as an internet-based TV service from Dish itself. In other words, you may not need a satellite dish to start watching. There is a catch, of course. Both companies have agreed to drop their lawsuits, but Dish will have to prevent Hopper owners from skipping ads on Disney-produced shows until three days after they air. The move should appease Disney advertisers that depend on three-day audience ratings. The agreement should still give Dish subscribers more ways to watch TV, but it could lead to other broadcasters demanding ad skipping limits — and one of the Hopper’s main features could be much less useful.
Filed under: Home Entertainment, HD
Source: Dish
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