Vox Music Player Updated With SoundCloud Integration, New Organizational Features [Mac Blog]
Coppertino today updated its popular Vox music player to version 2.1, adding SoundCloud integration and new options for organizing music. Vox now has the ability to stream HQ/FLAC/Lossless music from SoundCloud, giving users a way to listen to high quality music uploaded to SoundCloud.
According to Coppertino founder Ivan Ablamskiy, Vox is the only third-party music player that allows users to access and play original lossless files from SoundCloud.
Along with SoundCloud integration, Vox has also gained some new interface updates that make it easier to access and create playlists within the app, including “Collections,” a new way to intuitively organize music. A full list of updated features can be found below:
– Updated and improved modern and clean interface;
– Ability to stream SoundCloud files in high quality music formats (when the original file is a lossless or HQ audio file);
– Simplified access to all playlists, including iTunes;
– Convenient creation and management of playlists within VOX;
– Custom playlists from various sources;
– Easily queue a song to play it next;
– Full access to the largest database of radio stations and music from all over the world;
– Redesigned and more intelligent ‘Search’ capability;
– Numerous bug fixes and more.
Originally launched in August of 2013, Vox is a simple music player designed to serve as a replacement for the music player built into iTunes. It supports a wide variety of audio formats, including MP3, FLAC, AAC, Musepack, Ogg Vorbis, WAV, and more. Vox has the ability to import an existing iTunes library with metadata included and it also offers a built-in equalizer, radio connectivity, and gapless playback.
While Vox is currently limited to the Mac, Coppertino is working on an iOS app that’s expected to debut in the fall. According to a source that spoke to MacRumors, Coppertino is also working on an upcoming cloud music service, designed to allow Vox users to access their music on both the iPhone and Mac. The service will reportedly include unlimited music storage for a small yearly fee, with the ability to store any type of audio file, including HD.
The newly updated Vox app for the Mac is available from the Mac App Store for free. [Direct Link]
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Galaxy Alpha to be launched on August 13 instead of August 4?
Samsung Galaxy Alpha rumors just keep on coming. This premium device was expected to launch on August 4, but it seems that won’t be the case, at least if the latest rumor is to be believed. AllAboutSamsung reports that the launch date will be August 13, not August 4. Galaxy Alpha was expected to sport… Read more »
The post Galaxy Alpha to be launched on August 13 instead of August 4? appeared first on AndroidGuys.
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iPhone 6 Said to Launch on Tuesday, October 14, Part of ‘Incredibly Busy’ Month for Apple
Apple may be planning to launch the iPhone 6 on Tuesday, October 14 as the month itself will be an incredibly busy one for the company, according to a source that spoke to MacRumors citing an internal Apple Retail Store meeting.
The source notes that a senior Store Leader mentioned October 14th as being an “immense” day for Apple, adding that the whole month of October would be very busy for stores and the company itself. Apple is also said to planning a media event for Tuesday, September 16, coming a month ahead of the device’s launch.
4.7 and 5.5-inch iPhone 6 mockups compared to iPhone 5s
To this point, most reports have pointed to a September announcement and launch for the iPhone 6. However, a report last week claimed that Apple is planning a mid-September event for the iPhone 6 and iOS 8, which would be followed by an October event showcasing the iWatch, OS X Yosemite, new iPads, and new Macs. An announcement event for September 16 would also fall on a Tuesday, which is when Apple typically announces new products.
Apple launching the iPhone 6 on a Tuesday would be a change from past years, as the company has launched previous iPhones and most new hardware on a Friday. However, the source claims that high customer demand and an ample supply due to a large production effort will motivate Apple to start iPhone 6 sales earlier in the week.
It is unknown if an October release for the iPhone 6 would include both the 4.7-inch and 5.5-inch version, as recent rumors have pointed toward several production issues plaguing the larger model. It is possible that the 5.5-inch may launch later in the year or in 2015 after Apple can produce enough devices. In addition to a larger screen, both versions of the iPhone 6 are expected to feature a thinner profile, a faster A8 processor, and an improved camera.
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Shazam Brings Always-On Music and TV Recognition to Mac With Free Menu Bar App
Music recognition service Shazam, which was one of the early App Store hits and has continued to see good success on mobile platforms, is now bringing its services to the desktop in the form of the first music, TV show, and ad recognition app for Mac.
Running as a menu bar item, Shazam for Mac quietly monitors audio around the user’s Mac and provides not only pop-up notifications of the content being played but also easy access to supplemental content such as lyrics, additional tracks from the album, purchasing options such as the iTunes Store, music videos, social sharing options, and more.
Once content has been identified by Shazam, a standard Notification Center pop-up appears onscreen, and an entry for the item is added to the running list of Shazam IDs in the menu bar app. Clicking in either location takes the user to a dedicated page on the web for the identified content.
MacRumors spoke with Shazam’s Chief Product Officer Daniel Danker about the launch, and Danker highlighted the utility of Shazam for Mac in the context of the popularity of lyrics searches on the Internet. With Shazam’s dedicated track pages on the web, Shazam for Mac seamlessly directs users to high-quality lyrics presented in a responsive layout appropriate for various screen sizes and without ads or other distractions.
Content feature page on shazam.com
In our testing of Shazam for Mac, the app generally did a solid job of picking up audio and quickly identifying the tracks being played. It is of course limited by the number of tracks available in Shazam’s database, and on an eclectic mix of tracks Shazam was unable to identify some of the tracks. Identification was generally solid, however, and came fairly quickly after the track began playing.
Beyond music, Shazam also works with television channels in the U.S., and Shazam for Mac was able to identify a number of shows and movies airing on a nearby television. Clicking on the item’s listing in Shazam offers quick access to content such as cast information, IMDB and Wikipedia listings, and more. With over 160 U.S. TV channels included in Shazam’s database, content can even be identified from the commercials being played between segments. Even ads such as Apple’s latest “Stickers” commercial for the MacBook Air can be identified by Shazam.
Shazam for Mac marks the next step in the service’s evolution as the company seeks to integrate its platform into users’ daily technology experience. Its always-on status builds upon the Auto Shazam functionality added to the iOS app late last year. Shazam has also entered into a partnership with Apple that will see Shazam’s music identification services integrated with Siri, allowing users to quickly and easily ask Siri to identify the music playing around them.
As for the future of Shazam for Mac and the service in general, Danker noted the company is working to build seamless connections with streaming music services to aid listeners, and also enhancing the lyrics experiencing with syncing and other features.
Shazam for Mac is a free app launching today in the Mac App Store.
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Google Fiber hardware is being streamlined: fewer boxes, same functionality
Remember that new Google Fiber box we spotted in the FCC last month? It’s almost here. According to Kansas City residents in Google’s beta program, a new router is on the way that combines the service’s existing network and storage boxes into a single unit. The unit is also reported to be ushering in a Google Fiber Android app. There aren’t too many other details (though forum users did confirm the WiFi upgrade we saw in the FCC) but Dave Zats did find a new image lurking on Google’s servers, pictured above.
Filed under: Internet, HD, Google
Source: ZatsNotFunny, KCrag
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HTC’s latest J Butterfly is a supercharged One M8 in a waterproof body
Japanese carrier KDDI has just announced a new HTC J Butterfly, a handset which resembles the HTC One in specs but with features aimed at its home market. Like a lot of other Japanese devices, the 5-inch, full HD handset is waterproof, for starters, in case you feel like taking fish photos. For that, HTC has brand new cameras: a 13-megapixel rear dual-camera model, with a selfie-friendly 5-megapixel front shooter. That differs from the One M8′s 4-megapixel Duo “Ultrapixel” camera; KDDI instead calls it a “Duo Effect” camera with features like depth-of-field adjustment. Filling out the spec sheet are a Snapdragon 801, 802.11ac WiFi, LTE-Advanced, 150Mbps 4g, 2GB of RAM and Android 4.4 KitKat. All of that sounds pretty nice, but will it come to US shores? Hard to say, but the last J Butterfly model did eventually arrive as the Droid DNA (to Verizon), so we wouldn’t be surprised to see the new model here too.
Filed under: Cellphones, Mobile, HTC
Source: KDDI (translated)
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Google Search Watches You Travel. Swiftkey Adds Improvements. – App Updates
It is Wednesday, and Wednesday is a day your phone blows up with Google updates. Not really this week though. Guess they decided they were okay for this week. There was mention though that Google Search will now keep track of your hotel reservations and help you in your travels. What did we do without these phones? SwiftKey got a pretty significant update, so hopefully you Swiftys out there are having fun with it.
App Updates
SwiftyKey update
BBM redesign
//<![CDATA[
ord = window.ord || Math.floor(Math.random()*1E16);
document.write('’);
//]]>
The post Google Search Watches You Travel. Swiftkey Adds Improvements. – App Updates appeared first on AndroidSPIN.
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Sony explains what ‘s in the PlayStation Now open beta for PS4
Sony’s had limited tests of its cloud-based gaming service running for the last few months, but it’s taking PlayStation Now to the next level tomorrow by letting anyone with a PS4 (that’s in the continental US or southern Canada) join in. There’s a new blog post and video up now telling gamers what to expect: PS3 games, cloud saves, trophies, and “a variety of rental periods” depending on the game. As far as an all-you-can-eat option following the lead of Netflix or EA’s just-announced EA Access — that Sony doesn’t think you need — Sony reaffirmed that it’s working on a subscription option for PS Now, but didn’t provide any more details. As for how much it costs now, there will be four-hour rentals for $2, as well as 7-, 30- and 90-day options for between $3 and $20, across a library of more than 100 titles. You can check out our hands-on impressions from CES after the break, or check out Sony’s website for more information like which games are available (Metal Gear Solid V, Ratchet and Clank: Into the Nexus, Ultra Street Fighter IV and more.)
PS4′s PS Now open beta begins tomorrow: http://t.co/0PBLST2eey Rent and stream 100+ games, with more added regularly http://t.co/OnXhAcE5RK
– PlayStation (@PlayStation) July 30, 2014
Source: PlayStation Blog, PlayStation Now
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FCC head chastises Verizon for throttling unlimited data plans
Not happy that Verizon is going to throttle unlimited LTE data plans? You’re not alone. FCC Chairman Tom Wheeler has just sent a letter to Verizon Wireless CEO Dan Mead criticizing the carrier for the new policy. He’s “deeply troubled” by the move, and suggests that the arbitrary slowdowns may be violating the open access rules that Verizon said it would obey back in 2008. The FCC defines “reasonable network management” in terms of technology-related issues (like congestion and security) rather than service plans, Wheeler says. To him, Big Red is abusing a “loophole” in order to boot customers off of unlimited data and wring out more profit — Mead may have to do a good job defending the decision if he wants to avoid a regulatory fight.
We’ve reached out to Verizon for its response to the letter, and we’ll let you know if it has something to say. With that said, it’s no secret that larger US carriers (chiefly AT&T and Verizon) have been doing their utmost to push customers towards more lucrative capped plans. Verizon itself requires that you buy new devices at full price if you want to keep unlimited data; AT&T has been throttling unlimited plans (and occasionally restricting features) for some time.
Mead and company may contend that unlimited users are more likely to choke the network. However, that could be a difficult argument to make when Verizon is targeting only unlimited customers, not capped users who chew up similar amounts of bandwidth. The provider also can’t point to the lack of penalties for AT&T’s actions, since that carrier didn’t agree to open access rules for its LTE frequencies. Unless Verizon can persuade the FCC that throttling is genuinely necessary, it may have to reconsider its strategy.
[Image credit: Andrew Harrer/Bloomberg via Getty Images]
Filed under: Cellphones, Wireless, Mobile, Verizon
Via: 9to5Mac
Source: Sam Gustin (Twitter)
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Samsung’s paid Milk Music Premium service arrives with offline listening
Samsung has spent months promising a paid tier for Milk Music that takes the gloves off. Well, it’s here at last — an update to the Android app for its exclusive (if Slacker-based) streaming service offers a $4 per month Premium tier that brings offline listening, unlimited skips and the option of removing DJ banter. Both the free and paid tiers remain ad-free for now, so don’t rush to upgrade unless you need constant access to your tunes. That parity isn’t going to last forever, though, so be prepared to cough up some cash in the future if you want to dodge commercials.
Filed under: Cellphones, Internet, Mobile, Samsung
Via: Android Police
Source: Google Play
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AIVAnet 