Spotify goes live in Canada
Canadians: you no longer have to jump through hoops (or hope for an early invitation) to check out Spotify. The streaming music service has finally launched in Canada, complete with an extensive collection of domestically-made tunes. As elsewhere, you can play songs for free if you’re willing to put up with ads, and shelling out $10 CAD per month for Premium lets you stream without commercials. The service is definitely late to the party — it’s years behind Rdio, and even Google Play Music arrived a few months ago. Still, it’s hard to object to having one more way to listen to Grimes or Leonard Cohen.
Filed under: Cellphones, Tablets, Internet, Mobile
Source: Spotify
.CPlase_panel display:none;
Rear of Motorola’s Nexus phone leaked
The internet is hungry for new information and leaked photos of Google’s upcoming Motorola-made Nexus smartphone. Because of this, it’s very likely that someone would have the unfortunate dishonesty to put up fake photos of said phone. Be that as it may, it’s not like we haven’t seen leaked photo’s of smartphones before, even Google’s. So, take this new information with every bit of grain of salt you have.
The photo you see above is allegedly a photo of the upcoming Nexus 6 or Nexus X from Google, which has been given the code name “Shamu”, next to a LG G3. The LG G3 is arguably a big phone as it is… So “Shamu” is quite large as discussed before.
What do you think of the size of this phone? Would you get it?
Deals, Discounts, Freebies, and More! Click here to save today!
The post Rear of Motorola’s Nexus phone leaked appeared first on AndroidGuys.
.CPlase_panel display:none;
(Unofficial) Motorola Nexus 6 gallery
So you’ve been hearing quite a bit about the upcoming Motorola Nexus 6/Nexus X, have you? Perhaps you’d like to “see” what the fuss is all about? We’ve been gathering up some of the images that have made their way online. Note that these are obviously unofficial photos of the device and nothing yet has been confirmed.
We’ll continue to update this with anything we find in the run-up to the official announcement. Is there something we’re missing? Hit up our contact page and let us know!
Deals, Discounts, Freebies, and More! Click here to save today!
The post (Unofficial) Motorola Nexus 6 gallery appeared first on AndroidGuys.
.CPlase_panel display:none;
Android Auto 3rd party app UI released by Google
At Google I/O 2014, one of the things announced was Android Auto, coming to various cars by the end of this year. It looks great, allowing users to access functions from their smartphones through a sort of portal on their car dashboards. Almost like Android Wear, where the “apps” are actually extensions of functions from the actual app on your smartphone, but stretched out and made easier to access while driving so as to minimize the amount of time your eyes are off the road. Here is a video by Android Authority demoing Android Auto at Google I/O.
Well, it seems it’s time for app developers to begin work on their apps for Android Auto functionality, as Google has released a developer document that outlines how apps will look in Android Auto.
Creativity is limited, largely due to the safety Google has to put into this project. Many may view this as Google pulling in the reins, but I simply think they are making sure safety comes first. Largely all you can change are colors, and what functions various buttons do.
Are you excited for Android Auto? Do you think Google is being too strict?
Deals, Discounts, Freebies, and More! Click here to save today!
The post Android Auto 3rd party app UI released by Google appeared first on AndroidGuys.
.CPlase_panel display:none;
What you need to know about Facebook’s battle with drag queens
Maybe you’ve seen RuPaul’s Drag Race, the flagship show on Logo TV, where men (dressed as women) compete to become America’s next drag superstar. At the end of each show, the lowest-scoring competitors “lip sync for their life” in order to stay on the show another week. Now, some drag queens are fighting for their social media lives.
In mid-September, Facebook started deleting profile pages belonging to drag queens like Trannyshack founder Heklina. Why? According to Facebook’s “real names” policy, the use of any name other than your legal name isn’t allowed. Despite a face-to-face meeting with influential drag queens, Facebook won’t cave to the pressure.
Considering anyone can make a Twitter profile and a Google+ profile with whatever name they want (the latter ditched its own “real names” policy in July), why is Facebook refusing to budge and let its users be their true authentic selves?
WHAT IS IT?
Facebook says that its service is a “community where people use their real identities,” and requires everyone to provide their real names in order to keep its community “safe.” What constitutes a legal name to it is one that matches the user’s “credit card, driver’s license or student ID.” The policy goes on to say you can include an “alternate name” next to your legal name, which it says could be a “maiden name, nickname or professional name.”
In the drag community, a queen’s “stage name” is their identity. It’s who they are and represents their personality that they’ve grown into — and it’s certainly not a nickname. If RuPaul’s Drag Race alum Latrice Royale (above with Jennifer Hudson) were to walk down the street in “boy clothes” and you wanted to say hello, you’d likely address her as Latrice, not by her legal name: Timothy.
Facebook is the one social network that generally controls your experience, whereas on Twitter, you’re in control. Facebook decides what it thinks you want to see based on its mysterious EdgeRank algorithm. Reports from March show that less than 7 percent of fans see content from a Facebook page organically (fancy social media lingo for not being promoted with money). Naturally, Facebook is a big corporation that needs to keep its investors happy — and to that end, it expects page owners to spend money to make sure their content is seen.
WHY SHOULD I CARE?
Drag performers aren’t businesses that sell products and they’re not in a very lucrative line of work (not to mention those outfits can be expensive). On Facebook, they really just want to keep their friends and fans updated with what they’re up to, such as performances and charitable causes. And they also make plenty of room for your everyday status updates, too.
A performer will set up their account to let others follow them and selectively accept friend requests. It makes sharing news about events (using Facebook’s events mechanism) significantly easier. And most importantly, this allows for a more intimate connection.
The other challenge some performers encounter is safety and security. Most drag queens are wide open about who they are, but as San Francisco supervisor Scott Wiener reminded us, “Not all drag queens have that luxury.” They might live in a place that’s not super diverse like San Francisco or need to keep their drag life separate from possibly judgmental family and coworkers.
Let’s say I had one Facebook profile using my legal name and another with the drag persona Edwina Gadgetina. Maybe I don’t want Engadget’s readers or my mom to know about the secret persona I go by at night in Palo Alto’s hottest nightclubs. With current rules, I’d be forced to rename my “drag” persona account to “John Edwina-Gadgetina Colucci.” When someone looks me up by my legal name, both profiles will appear in search and I might not want them to see my other life.
WHAT’S THE ARGUMENT?
Facebook’s names policy is really what the company thinks constitutes a legal name. When Heklina spoke to a Facebook rep, she was told an algorithm discovered the drag queens and started going after them. Let’s break that down: There’s an algorithm within Facebook that’s trying to figure out which names are real and which are fake. Sure, this algorithm could take out the “Seymour Butts” of the world, but why drag queens, and why now?
With its “real names” requirement, Facebook is in effect telling drag queens that they can’t be their authentic selves on the service. Why, for the limited group of people Facebook serves up your content to, should it be in the business of censoring your identity and way of being? Social media is supposed to be about being yourself and saying what’s on your mind, in the manner in which you choose to do so.
Back to my example about tech journalism’s first drag queen, Edwina Gadgetina. Complying with the policy and changing my name to the one I’m born with won’t work, and converting said profile to a “page” (rather than personal profile) isn’t going to work, either. Facebook could easily have come up with a way for those who have a chosen name to use it, while still being able to weed out fakes or impersonators, but they chose to remain bullish and tarnish its image in the process.
On the other hand, Facebook has been known to be an ally with the LGBTQ community, an example of which was rolling out about 70 different gender options for a user’s profile earlier this year. Last year, CEO Mark Zuckerberg marched in San Francisco’s Pride parade along with former Baltimore Ravens linebacker and prominent “straight ally” Brendon Ayanbadejo (pictured above). This names issue likely doesn’t mean that Facebook’s suddenly had a change of heart about the LGBTQ community, but it needs to be further educated on why this issue is so important. A protest is planned on October 2nd in San Francisco to push back on the policy, and plenty of people are changing their profile pictures to the purple #MyNameIs graphic throughout various social media channels as a sign of solidarity.
WANT EVEN MORE?
Another result of this is a mass Facebook exodus: Some drag queens (and others in the LGBTQ community) are fleeing en masse in protest, to Ello. Our own Nicole Lee walks through everything you need to know about this new social network.
The queen herself — RuPaul, also weighed in on the controversy. She told The Hollywood Reporter: “In showbiz, there’s no such thing as bad publicity as long as they spell your name right, but it’s bad policy when Facebook strips the rights of creative individuals who have blossomed into something even more fabulous than the name their mama gave them.” On that note, if you need some inspirational TV viewing and a good laugh, I highly recommend a few episodes of last season’s RuPaul’s Drag Race.
Finally, Edwina Gadgetina isn’t real yet, but if she were, she’d want to remind drag queens deflated by all of this to not let Facebook get them down. Put on that wig, your Pink Pebble and hear the gospel of Latrice Royale: “Get up, look sick’ning and make them eat it.”
[Image credits: Eric Risberg/AP Photo (Lil Ms. Hot Mess, Sister Roma and Heklina), Jamie McCarthy/Getty Images (Jennifer Hudson and Latrice Royale), Shutterstock (Facebook Menlo Park, California, Campus), Jason Agron/Facebook (Mark Zuckerberg and Brandon Ayanbadejo), Mathu Andersen/Logo (RuPaul), pic via Salon.com]
Filed under: Internet, Facebook
.CPlase_panel display:none;
There will be blocks: ‘Tetris’ is coming to the big screen
If you’ve ever pined for a feature film about the beloved 80s classic Tetris, you’re in luck. The Wall Street Journal reports that an adaptation of the popular game is on its way, thanks to Threshold Entertainment. While that studio may not immediately ring a bell, it’s the force behind transforming Mortal Kombat into two full-length movies in 1995 and 1997. So, what can we expect? A “very big, epic sci-fi” effort that aims to be much more than a bunch of CGI blocks with arms and legs. “What you [will] see in ‘Tetris’ is the teeny tip of an iceberg that has intergalactic significance,” Threshold CEO Larry Kasanoff tells WSJ. What’s more, “location-based entertainment based on the epicness” in addition to the film itself could be in the plans, too. One thing’s for sure: these folks are going to be pretty excited about the news.
[Photo credit: Oli Scarff/Getty Images]
Filed under: Gaming
Via: The Verge
Source: The Wall Street Journal
.CPlase_panel display:none;
O2 now lets you charge iTunes credit to your phone bill
O2 already has a number of deals in place that allow its customers to buy digital wares and charge the cost straight to their phone bill. It now has a new partner in Apple, as the carrier’s “Charge to Mobile” program has been expanded to include iTunes vouchers this week. Direct-carrier billing is supposed to be about convenience, but O2 contract and pay-as-you-go customers need to jump through a few hoops to take advantage of this new way to pay. It’s handled through an O2 subsite — o2vouchers.co.uk — where you select an iTunes voucher of up to £30 that’ll be emailed to you when the payment goes through. You then volunteer your mobile number, and you’ll be sent a text you must reply to in order to approve the transaction. When the code eventually hits your inbox, you can use the credit in iTunes, iBooks and the iOS/Mac App Stores. A slightly more convoluted process than you were hoping for, we imagine, but at least you can get a fiver off a £25 voucher from now until this introductory promotion closes at the end of next week.
Filed under: Wireless, Mobile, Apple
Via: The Inquirer
Source: O2
.CPlase_panel display:none;
Hands-on with Nokia’s Here Maps for Android
When Microsoft finally completed its €3.79 billion acquisition of Nokia earlier this year, the company took control of its smartphone business but left behind a number of Nokia’s other powerful and profitable properties. One such property was the company’s mapping division, now called Here, which has become the defacto maps app for Windows Phone users the world over. Nokia tried to replicate the experience on iOS, but after poor reviews and the admission things “went horribly wrong,” the company pulled its iPhone app and went back to the drawing board. As for Android, it looked like Nokia would never deliver a real Google Maps alternative.
Luckily, that’s all about to change. Thanks to some marketing muscle from Korea, Nokia will soon give Samsung Galaxy smartphone owners advanced access to its maps app. While Nokia readies Here Maps for Samsung’s Galaxy Apps store, which is expected to drop in the coming weeks, the company gave us an early preview of its new app, and it’s good.
When you first launch the app, you will be asked to sign up or log in. It’s important that you do, because you need an account to download maps and save collections for later. For ease of use, Nokia lets you use Facebook to sign in, but if you don’t like the idea of sharing data with Zuckerberg and co., you can simply use Nokia’s own signup form.
Once you’ve cleared that hurdle, you’ll immediately notice how basic the app is — there are no bells and whistles here. That’s no bad thing, because the app loads instantly and transitions are very smooth. Just like Google Maps, Here supplies the default mapping data (labelled Maps) and turn-by-turn navigation (labelled Drive).
Getting Around
Selecting Drive will immediately ask you select your destination. You can either enter a location directly or pull up a list of journeys you’ve recently made. Once you’ve plugged in that in, Here Maps will list the duration of the journey, the total number of miles, the main routes it expects to take and will also, as long as you’re not using offline mode (more on this later), list any potential traffic delays you might encounter on your journey. There are options to include or exclude major roads, toll roads, ferries or tunnels if your mode of transport requires you to.
In the wider settings, you can choose to enable a feature that will gauge your speed and warn you if you exceed a speed limit in a certain area. The app offers two sliders: one that lets you choose how fast you need to be going to trigger an alert in an area where the limit is under 50mph, and another for when you’re beetling down a major road (over 50mph). There’s the usual option to switch navigation voices, but unlike Waze, which offers guidance from none other than Terry Crews, you’re stuck with regular male and female voices in at least nine European languages (which I’d still consider a huge plus).
During my short test, Drive performed well. It delivered early navigation prompts, meaning you can familiarize yourself with your surroundings before you make the turn. Although I was navigating roads I’m already familiar with, the app appeared to list the most effective route (i.e. the one I would’ve always taken), but did provide alternatives just in case.
If you don’t have a car, Nokia also includes train travel and walking options. Once a destination is entered, the app will detect your current location and provide walking distances to your local station and a number of upcoming trains. Like when you’re driving, it’ll list the total journey and estimated arrival times, how many changes it expects you’ll make and also give you a detailed summary of the journey ahead of you.
Offline Maps
One of Nokia’s mapping strengths is its ability to offer offline data not just for specific countries, but entire continents. Google offers a way to make selected areas available offline, but even then you’re only getting a tiny fraction of what Nokia can offer. To enable offline mode, Nokia has included a small tickbox in the menu. As soon as you enable it, you can search for specific locations and enable turn-by-turn navigation, but you won’t benefit from traffic warnings or Nokia’s updated place listings. Be warned, though, if you want to use offline maps, you need to make sure you have a chunk of free space on your device. For reference, North American and European maps take up 6.8GB and 9GB, respectively, and there are no options to dial it down to capture smaller areas.
Offline maps are likely to be a huge help if you want to see the sights while you’re abroad but don’t want to waste money on roaming fees. Before you go, though, you can add the places you’d like to visit to a “Collection,” which you can then pull up when you arrive in a distant land. The point-of-interest database might not be as comprehensive as Google’s, but it’s certainly not lacking. Nokia also lets you share these locations with other people using its Glympse integration, letting others see where you’re visiting and possibly join you (if you’re online, that is).
The app provides a decent mix of features without becoming bloated or troublesome to use. If you’re looking for a legitimate alternative to Google Maps, Here Maps matches its rival in many aspects and betters it in others. The new iOS and Android apps will be available later this year, after Samsung has enjoyed its period of Android exclusivity.
Filed under: Cellphones, Internet, Software, Nokia
.CPlase_panel display:none;
Velvetwire Unveils First Smart USB Charger Powered by Apple HomeKit Technology
Smart energy company Velvetwire today announced Powerslayer Blu, the latest addition to its Powerslayer lineup of USB chargers. This new model offers Bluetooth low energy (BLE) connectivity and is compatible with Apple’s HomeKit technology rolling out with iOS 8. Apple’s vision for HomeKit is to make it easy for developers to allow users to control and interact with accessories around the home, leveraging BLE for energy-efficient communications.
“We are proud to be among the first group of companies to produce HomeKit-compatible devices,” said Eric Bodnar, co-founder and CEO at Velvetwire. “By integrating Bluetooth technology into the Powerslayer, we’re offering customers a new way to interact with their devices and be part of Apple’s HomeKit. Velvetwire is committed to developing intelligent, energy-efficient devices that allow users to live more consciously without sacrificing convenience. We look forward to sharing Powerslayer Blu and future generations of our power-saving devices with the world.”
The Powerslayer Blu improves upon earlier Powerslayer models with HomeKit integration and iOS app support that gathers information from the charger using Bluetooth LE. Users can receive notifications about the charging status of their devices and view energy level information via Velvetwire’s iOS app. The device also includes the option to switch between a fast, high-power charging profile and an energy conservation mode that maximizes battery life.
The Powerslayer Blu will be available before the end of the year and will retail for $89. While the price tag is likely to be a hurdle for many potential customers, Powerslayer Blu serves as a good example of the potential of HomeKit to use iOS as a hub for bringing together devices from around the home.
.CPlase_panel display:none;
Mass Production of Apple Watch Reportedly Slated for January 2015
Apple is reportedly finalizing the details on its upcoming Apple Watch as it prepares to begin mass production of the device ahead of its launch early next year. Mass production of the smartwatch device may begin January 2015, reports Taiwanese news source AppleDaily (via G For Games).
According to the news report, Apple is working only with long-time manufacturing partner Quanta to produce the device. This contradicts an earlier report suggesting Quanta would be handling the bulk of the production with Inventec supplementing the supply.
Quanta has allegedly received Apple’s heads-up and has begun making preparations (which involve increasing its worker head count to 4 million). Even more, it is said that Apple and Quanta have entered a deal which prohibits the Taiwanese company from manufacturing/assembling smartwatches for Apple’s rival OEMs.
Inventec was among several assembly companies said to be vying for Apple Watch orders months ago, but Quanta may have won an exclusive arrangement due to the complexity associated with manufacturing the device.
Apple says its Watch is unlike any device it has ever made, with cutting edge sensor and haptic feddback technologies. Given the advanced features of the device, it’s not surprising Apple has selected to work with only one manufacturer as it streamlines the production process, as others may have been unable to meet Apple’s standards.
Relatively reliable KGI Securities analyst Ming-Chi Kuo had previously reported that Apple was planning a November production ramp for the Apple Watch, so a shift to January could indicate Apple believes it needs a bit more time to finalize the product’s design.
Apple is expected to begin selling the Watch starting in early 2015, with one insider saying Apple would be “lucky” to launch it in time for Valentine’s Day on February 14. A production ramp beginning in January would indeed make it difficult for Apple to have significant quantities available in time for Valentine’s Day purchases. The smartwatch will retail at a starting price of $349 for the base model, with several collections including 18-karat gold luxury options available at higher prices.
.CPlase_panel display:none;
AIVAnet 