Aereo brings live TV to Chromecast on May 29th
About the only thing Google’s $35 Chromecast dongle can’t do is let you watch live television, but that won’t be the case for much longer. Starting on May 29, streaming television startup Aereo will release an updated version of its Android app that includes support for streaming live broadcast television shows to your Chromecast.
Let’s rewind for a moment here. In case you hadn’t heard, Aereo lets its customers watch over-the-air TV shows from a web browser thanks to a tiny antenna and DVR that are tucked away in a local data center. That means you’ll be able to binge catch and store all those episodes of Jeopardy from the comfort of… anywhere you can get a data connection, really. That Aereo would support Chromecast isn’t a surprise — CEO Chet Kanojia basically said as much an at investor conference last year — but it helps fill a crucial gap in the Chromecast’s content library.
Services like Netflix and Hulu Plus introduce a level of temporal distance to media that’s not ideal for some. After all, some would argue part of the fun of watching live television is being able to dissect, debate and generally share the experience with everyone else watching at the same time.
But! There are caveats (aren’t there always?). Aereo’s sort of hanging in legal limbo for one — it still works in about 10 major cities, but Its service has been shut down in Utah thanks to a preliminary injunction upheld by the US Tenth Circuit Court of Appeals. That also means that Aereo’s expansion in the region has basically ground to a halt. And let’s not forget that the Supreme Court is set to hear the first oral arguments over claims that Aereo has infringed broadcaster copyrights in just a few weeks.
Filed under: HD
Nikon returns to Android game with the Coolpix S810c
Nikon have today announced the Coolpix S810c which brings the popular technology Nikon build into their cameras with the Android Operating System.
With a 16-Megapixel camera, the Nikon Coolpix S810c combines the flexibility of Android and its variety of Apps with a 12x optical zoom NIKKOR lens and an ISO range of up to 3200, all underpinned by Lens-Shift Vibration Reduction (VR) technology.
The Nikon Coolpix S810c runs Android 4.2.2 and can run apps including Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram, allowing your pictures to be uploaded directly to your favourite photo sharing site instantly.
The Nikon COOLPIX S810c will be available in early May 2014 in Black or White for around $349.95.
[Nikon]
The post Nikon returns to Android game with the Coolpix S810c appeared first on AndroidGuys.
iPhone 6 Case Maker’s Model Points to Larger Display, Ultra Thin Body
iPhone 6 rumors have thus far pointed towards a device that includes a larger screen and a thinner chassis than the existing iPhone 5s. Supporting those rumors, French site Nowhereelse.fr [Google Translation] has shared a case maker’s iPhone 6 model from Chinese case manufacturer Elam, which shows an ultra thin form factor very similar to that found in recent schematics.
The iPhone case model appears to have rounded corners and a single unified volume switch, which is different from the separate volume buttons in the iPhone 5s. It’s also a slight deviation from earlier design drawings, which showed separate rectangular volume buttons, suggesting this model may come from a different source.
Though not depicted on the case model, separate rumors have pointed towards a relocated power button, either on the top left edge of the device or on the side of the device, to improve one-handed use on a larger device. Currently, the power button is located on the top right edge of the iPhone. Bezels are also not visible, but rumors have indicated they could be 10 to 20 percent thinner than the bezels of the iPhone 5s and the phone itself may be 6.5mm to 7mm thick.
Earlier this week, MacRumors published a set of renderings based on the schematics that share similarities with the case model, depicting what the finished iPhone 6 might look like.
iPhone 6 (4.7″) and iPhone 6 (5.7″)
Apple’s iPhone 6 is expected to come in two different sizes: 4.7 inches and 5.5 inches. Recent rumors have indicated the 4.7 inch version will be available to ship in in the third quarter of 2014, while the larger version may ship somewhat later due to production delays.
Reliable analyst Ming-Chi Kuo has suggested the 4.7-inch iPhone will have a 1334×750 Retina display with 326 pixels per inch, while the 5.5-inch version will have a 1920×1080 screen with 401 pixels per inch.
Along with a larger screen, both versions of the iPhone 6 are expected to include an upgraded A8 processor, Touch ID, 1GB of RAM, and camera improvements in the form of optical image stabilization.
BlackBerry’s about money first, phones second (and that’s just fine)
BlackBerry’s future as a phonemaker came into question yesterday when Reuters reported that CEO John Chen would consider selling its handset division. Naturally, the company sought to set the record straight… with a blog post from Chen himself published earlier today.
“I want to assure you that I have no intention of selling off or abandoning this business any time soon,” he wrote, noting that his comments were taken out of context. So what exactly did he mean? Chen quietly crashed a reporter’s roundtable with BlackBerry enterprise chief John Sims this morning (apparently in search of a cup of coffee) — here’s what he told us about the Reuters interview and the future of BlackBerry’s phones.
“I’m working very hard to find a way to make money in the handset business. Then the question is ‘if you don’t make money in the handset business, what are you going to do?’ I said, well, being a businessperson, if you try long enough and you can’t make money, I mean, I’m in the business of making money. If I can’t make money in the handset business, of course I can’t do the handset business. That’s kind of like an obvious thing.
But they — some people at Reuters loved that last statement. That became the big news. There was no news here. The only news is that we’re committed to the handset business, and we’re going to make it work.”
Here’s the thing about Chen: He’s a pragmatist. He’s confident that the company can make money while making phones, but he admits that he’d have to rethink that stance if BlackBerry can’t turn its handset fortunes around. That’s it. Sort of a no-brainer, right? Sims added that there isn’t really a point of no return in this situation, either — BlackBerry will keep monitoring the situation and cranking out phones until it’s clear it doesn’t make any more sense to. That milestone could take months, maybe years to hit. Maybe BlackBerry won’t hit it at all, if they get sales up and unit costs down.
There’s something a little troubling about the fact that plenty of people took the headline at face value and just ran with it. To many, BlackBerry has already died; its fight already lost. That’s not entirely fair — there are still at least a few handsets barreling down the pipeline, and there’s still over $2.5 billion tucked away in Waterloo’s coffers. But it is possible that the nature of the relationship consumers have built with BlackBerry — one based on having a physical thing in their pockets — may eventually have to change, not that anyone particularly wants it to. And that’s the truth.
Filed under: Mobile
Source: Inside BlackBerry
Google will protect your phone by looking for sketchy apps you’ve already installed
Got an Android device with access to Google’s Play Store? Congratulations: it’s about to become even more resistant to malware, and you’ll barely have to lift a finger. You see, for around two years now the folks in Mountain View have been able to throw up red flags when users try to install apps of questionable provenance on their devices. Now they’re taking it a step further — Google will soon be able to check up on your apps after you’ve already installed them.
Why? Well, it’s possible that you downloaded some sketchy apps before Google’s verification feature went live in 2012. A bad app that previously managed to fly under the radar could also be rooted out as Google continues to learn more about mobile malware. Those situations may seem a mite outlandish, and Android Security Engineer Rich Cannings admits that most people won’t ever see one of those notifications. Still, there’s no denying this is a solid tool to have in the ol’ arsenal, and ComputerWorld previously reported that it’ll come in the form of an update to Google’s Play Services so devices running Android versions as old as 2.3 should get that added security without a headache.
Filed under: Mobile
Source: Official Android Blog
Amazon wants your old phone so you can buy a new one
Looking to pick up a new Samsung Galaxy S5 or HTC One M8 over the next few days and weeks? What are you going to do with that old device? Amazon says they’ll take it, and they’ll even pay you for it.
Amazon’s Trade-In program is not necessarily new but, considering the timing, it’s worth reminding you that it exists. If you have an old smartphone and don’t plan on keeping it, you could earn a little scratch buy giving to Amazon. Regardless of whether you bought that phone from them, Amazon wants it. Actually, they’ll take all sorts of electronics, textbooks, CDs, movies, and video games. Go ahead, grab that box full of stuff you can’t part with and finally part with it.
Right now Amazon is offering great trade-in values* on top smartphones:
- Samsung Galaxy S4, Black Mist 16GB (AT&T) $190
- Samsung Galaxy S III 16GB, Blue (Verizon Wireless) $100
- Apple iPhone 5 16GB Black–(AT&T) $224
- Apple iPhone 4S 16GB Black – (AT&T) $154.30
- HTC One M7, Silver 32GB (Sprint) $123
As long as your stuff matches the description you provide Amazon and is in at least “acceptable” condition, you should be good. The process is free (shipping, too) and takes up to 10 days to complete.
The post Amazon wants your old phone so you can buy a new one appeared first on AndroidGuys.
Play Nintendo’s rarest game on your Wii U
Nintendo World Championships is a game for Nintendo’s first major game console, the NES. It’s notorious for popping up every few years on places like eBay and fetching a ton of dough. You won’t find articles praising its thrilling gameplay or beautiful soundtrack, and that’s because it’s not really a game. Nintendo World Championships is actually pieces of three games — Super Mario Bros., Rad Racer and Tetris — and was used for competitive NES play in the early 1990s. It’s rare because only about 90 copies exist, but now you too can play it on your Wii U. Well, sort of.
Folks who already own NES Remix on Wii U can purchase its sequel in the coming weeks, which unlocks “Championship Mode.” Therein you’ll find a similar challenge to the one immortalized by Fred Savage in The Wizard, albeit with Super Mario Bros., Super Mario Bros 3 and Dr. Mario. Head below for a video taste of the nostalgia-laced madness in action.
Lenovo’s new kid’s laptop has a folding, Yoga-like screen (and there’s a Chrome OS version too)
Here’s how you unveil a product and make sure no one hears about it: bury the news in a press release the same day you announce you’re buying an iconic tech company for $3 billion. That’s right: everyone was so busy pontificating on whether Lenovo would ruin Motorola, that barely anyone noticed the company had also announced a kid’s laptop. Well, we just had a chance to get hands-on with the new ThinkPad 11e ahead of its release, and while we might not normally care about kiddie PCs anyway, a few things stick out here. First off, although this is actually a collection of four different laptops, with two running Windows and two based on Chrome OS. Kind of a peculiar strategy when you think about it: how often do we get that kind of choice on the same machine? Secondly, Lenovo’s offering two form factors: a traditional non-touch notebook, and another with a touchscreen that folds back into a quasi-tablet mode. Yep, it’s basically a wee little Yoga, except it bends back 300 degrees, not 360. And, you know, it potentially runs Chrome OS. Now you see why we’re so intrigued, right? You grown-ups probably want one too.
But wait, there’s one other thing you should know, and unfortunately, this is probably where we’re going to lose some of you adults. As crazy as it sounds, this is actually the first ThinkPad that doesn’t have that classic red TrackPoint in the middle of the keyboard. “What kind of sorcery is this?” you ask. Chalk it up to kids having atrocious motor skills. According to a Lenovo rep, the company was getting complaints from schools about kids ripping out those little red dots on the last-gen X131e Chromebook. Which is silly because they apparently feel more comfortable using the touchpad anyway. So, to spare teachers the repair cost, Lenovo nixed the TrackPoint on the new 11e, and also retooled the keyboard so that there’s less space between the keys and their sockets (read: curious little children will now have a harder time wedging crap inside there).
Spec-wise, you’re looking at a quad-core, Celeron-based Bay Trail processor, with a 16GB solid-state drive on the Chromebooks, and a choice of HDDs and SSDs on the Windows model. Look for the Windows machines to arrive later this month, priced at $449 for the regular notebook, and $549 for the Yoga-like one. Meanwhile, the Chromebooks will ship in late May or early June, with the laptop retailing for $349 and the convertible priced at $429.
In France, you can buy a phone contract from a vending machine
French folks will soon be able to pick up a phone plan as easily as a baguette thanks to a network of SIM-vending kiosks arriving in the nation. Operator Free Mobile, well known for its ultra-cheap contracts, will let folks dodge lines by signing up for a contract from a kiosk “in a few minutes.” The machine will then dispense a mini, micro or nano SIM, activated and ready to go into an unlocked phone. Though SIM-vending machines are far from new, it’s one of the first all-inclusive, ready-to-go arrangements from a big carrier that we’ve seen. Users will also be able to change SIM formats, pay bills and do other chores that usually require a bricks-and-mortar visit. There’s no word on exactly when they’ll start rolling out, but it’ll be one less hassle for the French.
Filed under: Cellphones, Handhelds, Mobile
Via: FrAndroid
Source: Free Mobile (translated)
Sony’s A7s turns night into (very noisy) day with ISO 409,600
This week, Sony announced the A7s, a full-frame mirrorless camera that captures 4K video. But the 12-megapixel shooter has a few more tricks up its sleeve, including a phenomenally high top sensitivity of ISO 409,600, matching the Hi4 setting of Nikon’s much larger (and pricier) D4S. Sony commissioned DP Den Lennie to shoot a demo reel that highlights the camera’s 4K capabilities, but he had another chance to test out the cam at NAB. This time, Lennie put high-ISO video capture to the test, comparing ISO 6400 through 409,600 in a single clip. The difference is staggering, and while that top sensitivity brings more noise than you’d tolerate for a formal production, it could definitely come in handy for surveillance activities. See for yourself in Lennie’s high-sensitivity demo video, embedded at the bottom of his post.
Via: sonyalpharumors
Source: Den Lennie
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