Snapchat tests stickers that only unlock when you’re in popular locations
Snapchat’s ephemeral messaging service is enjoying huge growth, but as it stands the company is not making any money (at least from its users). But that isn’t to say it isn’t testing potential new revenue sources, one of which involves fusing two popular messaging features: stickers and location. As discovered by Mail Online, Snapchat has begun offering some users the opportunity to add special stickers to their photos based on their where they are. Some Snapchatters have gained access to filters that shower them with dollar bills when they are in New York’s financial district, while others have shared stickers that can only be unlocked inside popular US airports. We know that Snapchat has been working with brands to add their logo to images or videos for specific events, but these new stickers could provide an easy way to share a user’s location visually, instead of checking in. Whether you’ll soon be able to share a McDonald’s sticker when you grab a Big Mac remains to be seen, but Snapchat appears to be open to the idea.
Filed under: Internet, Software, Mobile
Source: Mail Online, @DebzShin (Twitter), @TaylorLorenz (Twitter)
Microsoft asks gamers to help shape future Xbox One updates
With the amount of updates that Microsoft is pushing out for the Xbox One (and its controller), it makes sense that Redmond would want to give those in the preview program a better way of testing new features before the general public. The update, as spotted by NeoGAF‘s unblinking eyes, allows for different ways of providing feedback for each new bit of functionality, be it a survey, a star rating or a single-question poll — all without putting down your controller. Perhaps most interesting is the quest system, which at the moment gamifies test-driving tweaks to the console’s live-TV viewing setup and achievement snapping. Apparently, the feedback you give will serve some greater purpose in the future — all of your stats are tracked, naturally — but it’s anyone’s guess what that means in the present. There’s an option to invite friends too, so should you be one of the select few in this program, maybe spread the love a little so you and your Titanfall crew can solve this quandry together?
Filed under: Gaming, Home Entertainment, HD, Microsoft
Source: NeoGAF
2K Launches ‘Civilization Revolution 2’ for iOS Devices [iOS Blog]
Civilization Revolution 2, the newest iteration of the popular strategy game franchise for mobile devices, has launched on the App Store. Like the first title, Civilization Revolution 2 puts the player in the role of a popular ruler, challenging other factions as they attempt to advance their civilizations throughout the course of history in a turned-based format.
Key Features:
– New Units – strengthen your military might with brand new combat units including Aircraft Carriers, Jet Fighters and Special Forces.
– New Technology – race to science supremacy with new technology such as: Lasers, Modern Medicine and Information Technology
– New Buildings & Wonders – grow and expand your civilization like never before with new buildings and wonders including Nuclear Power Plant, The Red Cross and Silicon Valley
– Enhanced 3D Graphics – updated 3D graphics taking full advantage of iOS devices graphical capability
– Scenario Challenges – reenact historic events and battles in the Scenario Mode
According to 2K, Civilization Revolution 2 is the first game in the series to be developed exclusively for mobile devices, as the original Civilization Revolution title came out on gaming consoles alongside iOS devices. 2K will also be releasing Civilization: Beyond Earth this fall on the Mac, which is a follow up to the popular Civilization V and Civilization IV.
Civilization Revolution 2 is a $14.99 app and is available now on the App Store. [Direct Link]
The original Civilization Revolution for iOS can also be downloaded for $2.99. [Direct Link]
Facebook’s awkward mood experiment under investigation in the UK
Facebook may have brushed off the furor over a psychological experiment that influenced what users saw in their feeds, but UK regulators definitely haven’t. According to the Financial Times, Britain’s Information Commissioner and the Irish Data Protection office (Facebook’s EU base is in Ireland) are probing the social network’s activities to determine if it did anything illegal. Back in 2012, Facebook changed the number of negative or positive comments that a select group of users saw in their feeds, ostensibly to gauge the effect on their moods. Contrary to its expectations, people who saw the negative comments were more inclined to write positive posts, and vice versa. While it apologized, Facebook also tried to justify the experiment by saying it benefited users and didn’t compromise anyone’s privacy. Still, when a UK politician told the Guardian that “if there is not already legislation on this, then there should be,” it didn’t seem the matter would quietly go away.
[Image credit: Getty/AFP]
Filed under: Internet, Facebook
Via: Bloomberg
Source: The Financial Times
Apple Cuts Maximum iPhone Trade-In Value Down to $225 in U.S. and Canada [iOS Blog]
Last year, Apple launched its iPhone trade-in program at its retail stores across the United States, as customers could receive up to $250 for turning in an eligible device. Now, iPhone in Canada notes (via 9to5Mac) that Apple has reduced the value of iPhone trade-ins, with customers in the U.S. and Canada now only receiving up to $225. Before the change, the value of iPhone trade-ins had climbed to $275.
Before (left) and after (right) maximum iPhone trade-in values as listed by Apple
The adjustment comes as older iPhones typically lose their value over time, with Apple likely gearing up to launch the iPhone 6 this fall. Apple started the program before the release of the iPhone 5s and iPhone 5c last fall, with the company noting that it would discard of older iPhones in an environmentally conscious manner.
Since then, Apple has expanded the program to a number of countries, including the UK, France and Germany. Alternatively, Apple also offers a mail-in recycling program that allows customers to send in a device for store credit.
Google’s Smarty Pins challenges you to a game of geography trivia
Google must have heard the cries of people desperate for something to do on lonely after-work nights, because it just launched a new trivia game called Smart Pins. Unlike QuizUp or Jeopardy, Smarty Pins (yes, the name’s a pun) is a map-based game that tests your knowledge on geography across a number of categories. Think of it as sort of a reverse Google Maps search — the game asks you a question, and you drop the famous Maps pin on the right location. For instance, we chose Entertainment when we tested it the first time, and the game asked us where you can find 42 Wallaby Way, which you might remember as P. Sherman’s address in Finding Nemo.
Get the answer wrong, and the game won’t only insult you just a bit (“Well, at least you got the planet right.”), but also deduct miles from the 1,000 total you’re given at the beginning of the game. You can move on to the next question without penalty if you put the pin on the correct location, but don’t feel too bad if the game isn’t too impressed (“Wow. Did you Google that? :)”). Thankfully, you’ll at least start in the general region or country where the right answer’s located, so you can blindly drop the pin and hope luck’s on your side.
Via: TheNextWeb
Source: Smarty Pins
Oculus starts shipping latest Rift VR headset prototype this month
Were you one of the over 45,000 to pre-order the latest prototype VR headset from Oculus? Well, if so you could be seeing the $350 Rift Dev Kit 2 rather soon. The company recently announced that the first round of new hardware has left the production facility and should be hitting your doorstep the week of July 14th this year. The thing is, this initial run will only cover some 10,000 orders and there’s a “high chance” that the remaining 35,000+ units won’t ship until August. However, Luckey and co. promise that they’re working to ramp up production for the remaining orders — something that influx of Facebook cash likely makes easier. As TechCrunch points out, Oculus had 12,500 pre-orders within the first 36 hours of the DK2 going up for sale. Meaning, that unless you were an incredibly early bird, it’ll be a bit longer before you can zoom around EVE: Valkyrie in your own living room, sans pants.
Filed under: Gaming, Home Entertainment, Wearables, HD
Via: TechCrunch
Source: Oculus VR
Android L Preview Source Code Released! Moto X+1 Specs Leak Out! – ManDroid Quickie
It is Tuesday, time to get some Android news in a hurry. It is a short work week, and I am sure you guys are aching for it to be Thursday already. The Android L source code has been released, so hopefully the developers out there will start whipping up some tasty goodies. The GPE Galaxy S5 is rumored again, and apparently the Moto X+ 1 specs have leaked out. Enjoy the video.
Android News
Android L Preview source code
GPE Galaxy S5 still making the rounds
Moto X+1 supposed specs
Xperia Z3 spotted
//<![CDATA[
ord = window.ord || Math.floor(Math.random()*1E16);
document.write('’);
//]]>
The post Android L Preview Source Code Released! Moto X+1 Specs Leak Out! – ManDroid Quickie appeared first on AndroidSPIN.
Android is about to overtake iOS in global web traffic Figures
Despite the fact that Android holds a commanding 80% of the global smartphone market over iOS, iOS has steadfastly maintained their own lead in global web traffic. When you actually consider what that means (besides availability of mobile data in some regions), you really start to appreciate how people use their iOS devices i.e. a lot. That lead, however, has been slowly eroding and Net Applications’ latest findings on the topic seems to show that Android is about to overtake iOS in global web traffic.
As the graph above shows, Android has increased its global web traffic percentage to 43.75%, less the 2 percentage points less than iOS’ share of the cake with 45.61%. This has been a startling turnaround for Android as only a year ago, it accounted for only 24.66% of global web traffic, compared to 57.56% for iOS at that time. It only seems like a matter of time before Android does eventually surpass iOS in this category, yet another feather in the cap of the world’s most popular (or at the very least, populous) mobile operating system.
What do you think about Android’s web traffic statistics? Surprised to see iOS still hanging on? Let us know what you think in the comments below.
Source: Net Applications via Phone Arena
//<![CDATA[
ord = window.ord || Math.floor(Math.random()*1E16);
document.write('’);
//]]>
The post Android is about to overtake iOS in global web traffic Figures appeared first on AndroidSPIN.
Mad Catz’s Android console nabs OUYA games and 4K UHD support
Things have been relatively quiet with OUYA, but yesterday’s announcement of a subscription service apparently isn’t all that’s coming out of Julie Uhrman’s Android gaming company this week: you can finally access OUYA games through Mad Catz’s Android console, the M.O.J.O. Sure, the appearance is a bit tardy but it means you’re aren’t stuck playing games with the OUYA’s contentious controller any longer. Additionally, the latest M.O.J.O. update adds more than just another place to play Towerfall. The console now has bragging rights over the PlayStation 4 and Xbox One too, because, unlike those more expensive systems, it supports 4K UHD output for games and video right now. When the latest from Sony and Microsoft will gain that functionality still isn’t clear. But hey, at least you can play Halo and LittleBigPlanet 3 on those this fall, right?
[Image credit: Associated Press]
Filed under: Gaming, Home Entertainment, HD
Source: Mad Catz (1)
AIVAnet 