Apple makes its mobile ads longer, bigger
Next time you’re playing a favorite game on your iPhone and iPad, a huge ad — or worse, a minute-long video roll — might take over the screen. iAd platform’s full-screen interstitial banner and pre-roll video ads, which were first announced earlier this year, are now available to developers. The full-screen ads appear as transitional screens, say, whenever you reach the end of a game level, while the video ads come in 15, 30 and 60-second variants. These are already available on other ad platforms, of course, but iAds were typically more unobtrusive, just banners that you can click on to launch advertisers’ websites. As you’d expect, these new options will cost devs a lot more money. But if Apple does unleash an iPhone with a much larger screen (possibly this September), then these ads might just be worth their cash.
Filed under: Cellphones, Tablets, Mobile, Apple
Via: The Verge, Apple Insider
Source: Apple Developers
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HP recalls 6 million laptop power cords after reports of burns
Heads-up: if you’re holding on to an HP or Compaq laptop sold between September 2010 and June 2012, you may need to swap out its power cord. HP has recalled the cabling for about 6 million of these older portables (5.6 million of which reached the US) after 29 incidents where the cord either burned or melted. As is usually the case with these kinds of programs, you just have to prove that you’re using an affected system to get a free replacement. This certainly isn’t what you want to hear if you’re bringing one of these computers to school, but it beats losing your power cord to a fire in mid-semester.
Via: Reuters
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The LG G3 will be LG’s first smartphone to sell over 10 million handsets
If you were ever wondering exactly how well the LG G3 has been doing for its manufacturer, LG, you need not look past this news courtesy of The Korea Times. According to the Times, the LG G3 is on track to sell 10 million handsets, the first of LG’s smartphones to achieve the feat. This comes on the back of LG shipping 14.5 million handsets in one quarter earlier this year, resulting in a 16% profit increase and snapping a streak of quarterly losses.
It wasn’t specified exactly when the milestone will be reached, but given the sales pace that it showed in Korea, it’s clear that the device is by far LG’s most popular and should cross the threshold sooner rather than later. Thanks to selling points like being the first smartphone to launch with a Quad HD display and featuring a OIS+ enhanced 13MP camera with lots of gadgets, the LG G3 was supremely equipped to take the smartphone world by storm pre-IFA – we’ll see if anyone has an answer to LG’s best in a few weeks in Berlin.
What do you think about the LG G3 making the 10 million handset milestone? Let us know your thoughts in the comments below.
Source: The Korea Times via Phone Arena
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NASA’s ‘Swarmies’ are a squad of smaller, less intelligent rovers
Typically, we send rovers to our planetary neighbors one at a time — but what if we sent a small team of smaller, less impressive robots instead? That’s the idea NASA is exploring at Kennedy Space Center with Swarmies: a quartet of four autonomous robots designed to work together to complete a single mission. Working as a colony of insects might, the four machines use a combination of WiFi, GPS and webcams to survey an area, assess its value and contact the other robots if assistance is needed. The robots are less advanced than a typical rover might by, but working in tandem allows them to cover more ground. It also serves as a security measure: if one rover fails, there are three left to complete the mission.
“For a while, people were interested in putting as much smarts and capacity as they could on their one robot,” says Kurt Leucht, one of the engineers working on the project. “Now people are realizing you can have much smaller, much simpler robots that can work together and achieve a task” Right now the machines are just prototypes, but if all goes well they may one day be used in search and rescues missions, or even scaled up for use in space. “Assuming this pays off,” Leucht says,” we know somebody’s going to take this and extend it and go beyond the four or five rovers we have here.”
[Image credit: NASA/Dmitri Gerondidakis]
Source: NASA
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OnePlus One is on Fire! T-Mobile continues to Change the Carrier Game! – ManDroid Daily
Happy Tuesday Android friends. The ManDroid Daily is here to give you that quick news. The OnePlus One is on fire, and not in a good way. Guess those 24 hour invites got to this lucky guy’s device. T-Mobile continues to change the carrier game, and we love them for doing it. Enjoy the daily!
Android News
OnePlus One catches fire
T-Mobile will double your data
T-Mobile gives you 10 lines
Google News and Weather gets Material Design
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Limited Edition Plants vs. Zombies Skullcandy Ink’d 2 Earbuds will make you hunger for flesh
Love Plants vs. Zombies? Need earbuds? Maybe these Plants vs. Zombies Skullcandy Ink’d 2 Earbuds might just be the product you have been looking for. Not interested in earbuds? Have no fear as Skullcandy and Astro Gaming are going to be creating a whole line of devices inspired by the hit game series by Popcap Games, Plants vs. Zombies.
As you might expect from licensed products, the themed Ink’d 2 Earbuds are coloured an almost iconic purple with green highlights, a colour scheme which is complimented by the packaging too. Apart from the striking appearance of the earbuds, they also feature Supreme Sound technology, a one-button in-line control for hands-free calling taking, and the usual staples like a flat cable and interchangable earbud sizes. The earbuds are available now for $24.99 USD, so if you’re interested in picking the up, check out www.skullcandy.com or read the press release below.
Press Release
SKULLCANDY ANNOUNCES LIMITED EDITION
PLANTS VS. ZOMBIES™ – INK’D 2 EARBUDS
Protect Your BRAAAAAINS with Headset Inspired by PopCap Games
Classic Lawn-Defending Action Strategy Franchise
SAN FRANCISCO – August 25, 2014 – – Skullcandy, Inc. (NASDAQ: SKUL), the original lifestyle and performance audio brand, and its division ASTRO Gaming, creators of premium video gaming equipment, announced the release of the Limited Edition Plants vs. Zombies™ Skullcandy Ink’d 2 Earbuds. The new in-ear headset is the first in a series of products being developed by Skullcandy and ASTRO Gaming which are inspired by PopCap Games iconic Plants vs. Zombies franchise.
“One look at our new Limited Edition Plants vs. Zombies™ Skullcandy Ink’d 2 Earbuds and gamers will see how perfectly we’ve captured the addictive fun and distinctive style of Plants vs. Zombies” said Aron Drayer, VP of Marketing, ASTRO Gaming and Skullcandy Gaming. “Our in-ear headsets deliver high quality game audio and are a great way to experience the game, listen to music, watch videos and communicate with your friends.”
The Limited Edition Plants vs. Zombies™ Skullcandy Ink’d 2 Earbuds feature set includes:
- Supreme Sound technology, which has attacking bass, natural vocals and precision highs;
- MIC1, an integrated one-button in-line control toggle providing mic clarity and device control;
- Interchangeable silicone gel tips for a more custom in-ear fit;
- Flat audio cable designed to eliminate tangling; and
- Plants vs. Zombies special edition customizations, including, iconic zombie imagery on the Ink’d 2 baffles, unique deep purple cables with green highlights and classic Plants vs. Zombies packaging.
The Limited Edition Plants vs. Zombies™ Skullcandy Ink’d 2 Earbuds are available now directly through the Skullcandy website at www.skullcandy.com and from select retailers nationwide for an MSRP of $24.99. Details about additional and upcomingPlants vs. Zombies-inspired products from Skullcandy and ASTRO Gaming will be announced in the coming months.
For more information about Skullcandy or its Limited Edition Plants vs. Zombies™Skullcandy Ink’d 2 Earbuds, please visit www.skullcandy.com. For more information about ASTRO Gaming, please visit www.astrogaming.com.
About PopCap Games
PopCap is a leading global developer, publisher and operator of casual video games: fun, easy-to-learn, captivating games that appeal to all ages across PC, mobile, social and other platforms. Based in Seattle, Washington, PopCap was founded in 2000, was acquired by Electronic Arts in 2011, and has a worldwide staff of more than 400 people in Seattle, San Francisco, and Shanghai.
About Skullcandy, Inc.
Skullcandy is the original lifestyle and performance audio brand inspired by the creativity and irreverence of youth culture. Skullcandy designs, markets and distributes audio and gaming headphones and other accessory related products under the Skullcandy, Astro Gaming and 2XL by Skullcandy brands. Skullcandy was launched in 2003 and quickly became one of the world’s most distinct audio brands by bringing unique technology, color, character and performance to an otherwise monochromatic space; helping to revolutionize the audio arena by introducing headphones, earbuds and other audio and wireless lifestyle products that possess unmistakable style and exceptional performance. The company’s products are sold and distributed through a variety of channels in the U.S. and approximately 80 countries worldwide, including the company’s website at skullcandy.com.
About ASTRO Gaming
ASTRO Gaming creates premium video gaming equipment for pro gamers, leagues, gaming enthusiasts and their lifestyles. Spun-off from design powerhouse ASTRO Studios, known in the gaming world for designing the Microsoft Xbox 360™, Alienware PCs, and HP’s Gaming PCs, ASTRO Gaming produces a line of gamer-centric “tech-life” products, supporting this rapidly growing community. ASTRO Gaming’s product line includes the A40 Audio System, the A30 Cross-Gaming Headset, and theTransport Series of gaming gear bags.
All ASTRO Gaming products are available at www.astrogaming.com,www.astrogaming.co.uk and www.astrogaming.fr
PopCap and Plants vs. Zombies are trademarks of Electronic Arts Inc.
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Australia will let flight passengers use electronics gate to gate
A number of countries are starting to change those outdated rules on the use of personal electronics on flights, with some places taking slightly longer than others. The latest to follow suit, in a gadget-friendly list mostly comprising of US-based airlines, is Australia. Earlier today, the Australian Civil Aviation Safety Authority finally approved the request from Qantas and Virgin Australia to allow passengers to keep their devices on at all times while traveling, from liftoff to touchdown — so long as they are kept on Airplane Mode. As expected, this only applies to handheld electronics, such as smartphones, tablets and e-readers; anything that weighs more than 1kg (2.2 lbs) will need to remain stowed during takeoff and landing. It is effective as of tomorrow, so now you won’t have to throw a fit the next time your Virgin Australia steward tells you to turn that phone or slate off.
From tomorrow, you will be allowed to use your hand-held electronic device on most flights at any point during your journey with us.
– Virgin Australia (@VirginAustralia) August 25, 2014
[Image credit: Virgin Australia]
Filed under: Misc, Transportation, Mobile
Via: Tech Digest
Source: News (au)
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Your social networks discourage you from speaking out on politics
The internet is supposed to be a bastion of self-expression, where you’re free to speak your mind knowing that someone, somewhere shares your feelings. However, Pew Research and Rutgers University have published a study showing that many social network users feel compelled to keep their mouths shut on sensitive topics. While the majority of those studied say they’d be willing to discuss a political issue like US government surveillance at dinner or at work, they’re very shy about doing the same on Facebook or Twitter. Effectively, the internet is mirroring the real world — people face a “spiral of silence” where they’re afraid to share opinions that differ from those of their friends. That’s borne out by additional findings that people suspect they have more disagreements with their online buddies than their personal acquaintances.
The study wasn’t large (1,801 adults) and only tackled one issue, so it’s not going to be a perfect microcosm of society. All the same, it might reveal a problem with the way social networks are structured. Because services like Facebook and Twitter are heavily focused on showing you content they think you’d like, you may end up in a like-minded community where it’s difficult to speak your mind without feeling ostracized. If anything, Rutgers’ Keith Hampton says, these sites should go out of their way to show you things you might disagree with — you’d be more likely to express yourself and participate in the democratic process.
[Image credit: Shutterstock/Arman Zhenikeyev]
Do you engage in political discussions over social media?
Filed under: Internet
Via: New York Times
Source: Pew Research Internet Project
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The CYSPO OmniStation is able to charge any, and all, of your devices at once
I like the idea of charging stations, however, a big gripe I have is that they don’t have enough scalability. Sure, it can charge the small number of devices you have, but have a few friends over and before long, they’ll be combing your place for a free power socket. Not so with the CYSPO OmniStation, which jams more than enough charging ability into one unit that looks awfully like a cyborg cephalopod. The CYSPO OmniStation is currently in the midst of its Kickstarter campaign which has already raised $33,946, leaping passed its $30,000 target. Check out their pledge video:
It’s a pretty nifty piece of technology, and even more so when you can interchange the cables for basically anything that charges with a USB cable. Also being able to use it for qi-wireless charging is just icing on the cake, and being able to put a photo on the charging surface keeps it from looking out of place in the living room when not charging a device. There are still 33 days in the campaign, and an OmniStation can be nabbed for just $80 USD; links to the Kickstarter campaign are below.
Source: Kickstarter
Press Release
CYSPO OmniStation: Charges all of your devices via wireless and wired charging
If you’re charging more than 2 or 3 devices daily, we think the OmniStation will simplify your life, free up your space and your outlets.
Los Angeles, CA. Today everyone has at least 2 or 3 devices that need to be charged daily which means you need a lot of cables that end up tangled and messy. The OmniStation can charge all of your devices without tangled wires, without creating messy outlets, and without having to unplug one charger to use another. We love the idea of having wireless charging but we also realize that not all of our devices have wireless capability yet, and until the development OmniStation, there hasn’t been a single charging station that has been able to take care of all of our devices. Manage all of your chargeable devices with a single easy-to-use charging station.
- Universal Charging Station: Charge cell phones, cameras, bluetooth speakers, eBook readers, tablets and more.
- Hassle-free wireless charging experience: The OmniStation utilizes the latest Qi Standard multi-coil free positioning wireless charging transmitter technology to create a simple and easy charging experience.
- The OmniStation provides 6 customizable USB ports with interchangeable adapters, you can switch to your own cables with varying lengths for more charging flexibility.
- There are two additional USB ports on the side; one port offers a faster 2.1A output for charging tablets and larger devices.
CYSPO wanted to design a charging station that will look good in any room, so we designed this simple but elegant shape that is simple to use. The charging station is available for pre-order on Kickstarter where its currently 106% funded with 34 days to go.
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Showtime Anytime brings live and on-demand streaming to Apple TV
Showtime’s Anytime streaming portal has already been available to Xbox 360, Roku and other capable gadgets with the proper cable subscription. Now, Apple TV owners can access the network’s library of programming and the cable channel’s live feed (East and West coast) via the compact set-top box. Customers on Time Warner Cable, Comcast Xfinity, Cox, DirecTV, AT&T U-Verse, Verizon FiOS, Optimum and Bright House Networks can input their credentials to start streaming the likes of Dexter, Homeland, and Masters of Sex — just to name a few. If you’ll recall, Apple TV also received apps for NFL Now, ACC Sports and WWE Network (among others) over the last few months.
Filed under: Home Entertainment, HD
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AIVAnet 