Nokia’s MixRadio to be spun off as its own music service
The restructuring plans from Microsoft caused a ripple effect throughout the company, with its recently acquired Nokia Devices and Services business being the most affected one. Now, as part of this, The Guardian reports that Nokia’s MixRadio music-streaming app is expected to spin out and live as a standalone service. Essentially, this means MixRadio will no longer be limited to Microsoft’s platform, though it’s still going to come pre-loaded on Windows Phone handsets made by Nokia. Not that the world needs another streaming service for tunes, but the eventual spin-off would give the MixRadio app the chance its curation features to other platforms such as iOS and Android. At the moment, however, there are still things to work out: “I’ve been meeting with potential investors around the world in the last few weeks. We have very strong interest from investors in the US, Europe and Asia, and we remain open for further discussions,” Nokia’s Jyrki Rosenberg, VP of Entertainment, told the British publication.
Filed under: Portable Audio/Video, Internet, Mobile, Microsoft, Nokia
Source: The Guardian
New York wants Bitcoin exchanges to be heavily regulated
Popularity just isn’t easy. That’s something cryptocurrencies, like Bitcoin, are starting to grasp. Yes, they’re now being accepted as a formal method of payment by more and more places, but some government entities still can’t figure out how to treat them properly, particularly in the US. Case in point: the state of New York, which is proposing that companies exchanging virtual currency with consumers go through a regulatory process. BitLicense, a plan that’s been in the works for nearly a year, would require these cryptocurrency banks to verify the identity of customers and, in some cases, ask for more information from “high-risk customers, high-volume accounts, or accounts on which a suspicious activity report has been filed.” But that’s not necessarily a bad thing, not for everyone anyway. “These regulations include provisions to help safeguard customer assets, protect against cyber hacking, and prevent the abuse of virtual currencies for illegal activity, such as money laundering.” Benjamin M. Lawsky, superintendent of New York’s Department of Financial Services, stated in a press release about to the proposal.
Firms must, at a minimum, when opening accounts for customers, verify their identity, to the extent reasonable and practicable, maintain records of the information used to verify such identity, including name, physical address, and other identifying information, and check customers against the Specially Designated Nationals (“SDNs”) list maintained by the U.S. Treasury Department’s Office of Foreign Asset Control (“OFAC”). Enhanced due diligence may be required based on additional factors, such as for high-risk customers, high-volume accounts, or accounts on which a suspicious activity report has been filed. Firms are also subject to enhanced due diligence requirements for accounts involving foreign entities and a prohibition on accounts with foreign shell entities.
What’s more, Lawsky took to Reddit to discuss the proposed framework. In the forum post, he used exchange firm Mt.Gox, which is currently facing liquidation, as an example of why cryptocurrency needs to be regulated, noting that it is important to keep consumers’ assets protected. “In developing this regulatory framework, we have sought to strike an appropriate balance that helps protect consumers and root out illegal activity — without stifling beneficial innovation,” he wrote. Still, this is likely to make some people lose interest in virtual currencies, since privacy aspects are part of what make things like Bitcoin so popular among users. If passed, businesses doing transactions in the state of New York, regardless of where the customer lives, will need a BitLicense from the DFS, though that won’t apply to “merchants or consumers that utilize Virtual Currency solely for the purchase or sale of goods or services.” You can read the proposal in its entirety here.
Via: SlashGear
Source: NYDFS
Render emerges purporting to resemble HTC’s smartwatch
Some rumors mentioning HTC’s smartwatch running Android Wear emerged recently. The watch is allegedly due this fall under the “HTC One Wear” name. Some new information came to us, courtesy of @evleaks. The leaker has an amazing track record when it comes to leaking stuff, so we should take this one seriously. The watch kind… Read more »
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Render emerges purporting to resemble HTC’s smartwatch
Some rumors mentioning HTC’s smartwatch running Android Wear emerged recently. The watch is allegedly due this fall under the “HTC One Wear” name. Some new information came to us, courtesy of @evleaks. The leaker has an amazing track record when it comes to leaking stuff, so we should take this one seriously. The watch kind… Read more »
The post Render emerges purporting to resemble HTC’s smartwatch appeared first on SmarterWatching.
Read the rest at SmarterWatching.com!
The post Render emerges purporting to resemble HTC’s smartwatch appeared first on AndroidGuys.
Google experimenting with major redesign of Chrome OS
Google has made attempts in the past to unify the design of its various properties with varying degrees of success. Material Design, which is major part of the upcoming Android L release, may be its most coherent effort to date. The new look is expected to touch every corner of Google’s catalog, and Chrome OS will be part of that revamp. A screen shot posted by Chromium evangelist François Beaufort on Google+ shows the very early fruits of Athena, an effort to “bring a new kind of user experience” to Mountain View’s desktop OS. The image shows windows with minimal controls and decoration in a stacked card view, similar to the app switcher revealed as part of the next Android update. There’s also what appears to be a launcher bar with a search field at the bottom of the screen. While the redesign is clearly in the very early stages, you can see the important elements of Material Design at work. Everything is flat and paper like, but exists in a three-dimensional space, complete with less-than-subtle drop shadows. You can compile a copy of Chromium OS yourself to give Athena a test run, but we’d hold out for a more complete version.
Source: François Beaufort (Google+)
Watch this weekend’s Pitchfork Music Festival from the comforts of home
Unable to make the trip to Chicago this weekend for Pitchfork’s annual three-day music fest? No worries, the tune-minded news outlet will be livestreaming the festivities starting at 3:30 PM CT today, and kicking off at 1:00 PM CT on both Saturday and Sunday. The video will be beamed to the interwebs with the help of LiveOn’s CrowdSurfing tech, which allows viewers to invite their pals to watch too. This year’s lineup features Neutral Milk Hotel, Kendrick Lamar, Beck, St. Vincent, Giorgio Moroder, Deafheaven and many more.
[Photo credit: Roger Kisby/Getty Images]
Filed under: Internet
Source: Pitchfork
The top 15 smartphones you can buy right now
OK, so it usually doesn’t cost as much as a car, but a smartphone is still an important lifestyle purchase. And it will probably be at your side 24/7 (if you’re anything like us). There’s always a bit of hemming and hawing, for sure, but we’ve distilled the options down to a short list of the top handsets, with top picks for each OS. Head down to the gallery below for a quick stroll through our selections or check out our full buyer’s guide for the lowdown on the best smartphones, tablets, laptops and wearables that your hard-earned money can buy.
Filed under: Cellphones, Mobile, Apple, Samsung, Microsoft, HTC, Nokia, Google, LG, Blackberry
Netflix is testing a private mode that keeps your watching habits under wraps
If you’ve ever wanted to keep those embarrassing Netflix choices from family members or your social-networking pals, you might soon be in luck. According to the folks over at Gigaom, the streaming subscription service is currently testing a “Privacy Mode.” This means that viewed titles won’t appear in that Recently Viewed section on the main screen and they also won’t factor into future recommendations. Select users across all of the company’s locales are privy to the feature as part of the trial. Of course, there’s a chance that it may never become a staple in the settings menu — that’s dependent on the results of the experiment.
[Photo credit: Andrew Harrer/Bloomberg via Getty Images]
Filed under: Home Entertainment, Internet, HD
Source: Gigaom
ZTE drops custom home app in favor of Google Now Launcher (GEL)
Custom home launchers, or skins, on OEM devices are sometimes the bane of an Android users existence. Some are undoubtedly better than others, like HTC’s Sense for instance has dramatically improved over the years while Samsung’s TouchWiz is still probably the most hated one out there. Motorola went with a more stock Android approach. Now it would seem that ZTE, one of the largest manufacturers in Chine, is dropping the use of a custom skin and will be launching devices with Google’s Now Launcher, or GEL.
The first device to go live sporting GEL will be the Blade Vec 4G. This particular device is already available Europe and China, but the upcoming Hong Kong release goes live July 24th with GEL packed inside.
The ZTE Blade Vec 4G smartphone along with one other ZTE premium device will be officially presented at a ZTE press conference held in Hong Kong on July 24, 2014. ZTE has launched the Blade Vec 4G and other premium devices in Europe and in China, and now will make them available in Hong Kong with the added benefits of Google Now Launcher pre-loaded.
All future Android 4.4 sporting devices, that are Google certified, from ZTE will come pre-loaded with the Google GEL experience launcher. This is a pretty cool move on ZTE’s part really and is one that I am sure many Android enthusiasts out there wish other manufacturers would do as well.
Press Release
SHENZHEN, China–(BUSINESS WIRE)–ZTE, one of the top global handset manufacturers, today announces one of the first few pre-loaded Google Now Launcher smartphones among non-Nexus and non-Google Play Experience devices worldwide to offer improved user experience and better value. The ZTE Blade Vec 4G smartphone with Google Now Launcher incorporates the Qualcomm® Snapdragon™ 400 processor and furthers ZTE’s strong relationship with Google and Qualcomm Technologies in growing the LTE market.
ZTE has worked closely with Google to pre-load Google Now Launcher onto several ZTE devices. The ZTE’s Blade Vec 4G smartphone on Android 4.4 and Snapdragon 400 processor with integrated multi-mode 3G/4G LTE is designed to deliver a better user experience that is supported by 3 modes (4G LTE-FDD, 3G UMGS/TD-SCDMA) and 9 radio frequency bands.
The ZTE Blade Vec 4G smartphone along with one other ZTE premium device will be officially presented at a ZTE press conference held in Hong Kong on July 24, 2014. ZTE has launched the Blade Vec 4G and other premium devices in Europe and in China, and now will make them available in Hong Kong with the added benefits of Google Now Launcher pre-loaded.
ZTE plans to pre-load Google Now Launcher on all Android 4.4 and above smartphones that have Google Mobile Services and Google Play enabled. Having Google Now Launcher pre-loaded onto the ZTE Blade Vec 4G, the new device becomes the first systemic terminal voice control solution in the industry. Mr. Zeng Xuezhong, CEO of ZTE Mobile Devices, and Executive Vice President of ZTE Corporation, commented, “ZTE’s strong relationship with Google and Qualcomm Technologies is in line with our focus on developing affordable premium devices that has rich voice control function as well as multimedia solutions. ZTE is continuing to push the boundaries and brings its customers the very latest experience that mobile technology can offer.”
On the ZTE Blade Vec 4G smartphone, Google Now Launcher is complimentary to ZTE flagship devices’ voice recognition and control function. ZTE Blade Vec 4G strongly features voice command functionality, including phone unlocking, dialing / answering calls, playing music, navigational controls, taking photos, etc.
Visually appealing UI
The Google Now Launcher UI lets users add as many home screens as they like, and helps them quickly get to their favorite apps. Another feature is the method for user to add widgets. To personalize and embellish ones smartphone, a user can select any images stored in the device or in the cloud or adjust the position of the image and preview before saving the setting.
Quick and easy access to Google Now
Google Now gives users just the right information at just the right time. For example, if you’ve booked a flight on selected airlines Google Now can give you your boarding pass, or tell you if the flight is delayed.
Free hands with a hotword
Ok Google allows hand free voice command triggered by just saying “Ok Google” at standby mode. Tell the phone what to do, not only limited to search query, text a message, get directions, or play a song, but even setting reminders and alarms, opening apps. Google Now Launcher supports multiple languages without presetting language in phone. Google Now Launcher gives users a clean and simple user interface, and keeps Google Now and search just a swipe or a tap away.
Key benefits
•A visually appealing UI.
•Quick and easy access to Google Now.
•Fast and snappy.
•The “Ok Google” hotword for opening quickly accessing Google Search
Source: AndroidPolice
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In-App Purchase apps will ditch ‘Free’ labeling in Europe Soon
I am sure more than a handful of you have snagged a ‘Free’ app only to later find that to really play the game, or use the application, you would need to pay through in-app purchases. Google made changes to the Play Store not to long ago that requires the listing to to state if the app has IAP’s and also makes sure it is front and center near the download button. Google also implemented a change in the Play Store settings that will let you require a password if you try and spend money on IAP’s or other services. The primary focus was to help prevent kids from going nuts on coins and in app content and racking up huge bills for parents. Looks like the European authorities want a little bit more.
The Commission has announced that Google will make several changes to the Play Store by the end of September 2014. Some of those changes are as follows:
- The word “free” won’t be used at all when it comes to games with IAPs
- Google will develop guidelines for developers to “prevent direct exhortation to children as defined under EU law”
- “time-framed measures to help monitor apparent breaches of EU consumer laws”
The Commission criticized Apple in the same release statement for not coming forward with a similar set of measure, but Apple promises to address the issue. While we know this will handled in Europe, we aren’t sure if Google will change the “free” title on IAp apps here int he states or in other parts of the world.
I am personally glad that there are measures in place, and future ones on the way, to help keep things in check. As a parent I know how quick kids can just hit “ok” until the game is loaded. It certainly doesn’t help when some games will be quick to prompt you to buy more gems to build something.
Source: Android Authority
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