Dragon Dictate: Control a PC with the power of your voice $79.99 [Deal of the Day]
As we push toward a more technologically-sophisticated future, the need for menial tasks such as writing and typing just seems to melt away. While we’re not quite at Wall-E status, yet, the ability to create documents and control a PC through the power of dictation is a giant leap forward in productivity.
Dragon NaturallySpeaking 13 Home allows you to use any mic of your choosing, including your laptop’s built-in mic or your favorite Bluetooth headset. With 99.9% accuracy, you can forget the bottleneck of getting your ideas across and just begin spilling them onto pages. Not only does Dragon Dictate transcribe your input but you can also control and issue commands to most applications. Regularly priced at $100, AndroidGuys readers can now kindle their productivity for just $79.99.
Check this deal out, and many others at deals.androidguys.com!
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Google officially merges Hangouts and Voice experience for calls
This will be a day long remembered. That is, of course, if you’re a Google Voice user who has been waiting on Hangouts integration. For some of us, the wait for an improved and merged Voice experience stretches back years.
Today sees Google announcing that Hangouts and Voice will play nice together and allow for calls via Hangouts on Android, iOS and the web. Well, you’ll need to have the most recent version of Hangouts (2.3+) and the new Hangouts Dialer app installed first. According to Google, users can make free calls to numbers in the U.S. and Canada. International rates are low and vary based on where you’re calling.
We understand that there are some kinks that might need ironed out for this to work properly. We’ve also noticed that Google Voice still wants to hand off calls to the standard dialer on our Android devices. Perhaps an update is in order for that app, too. The sooner we can get rid of one of these apps, the better. I’m all for a Hangouts app for sending and receiving calls, messages, and pictures that also integrates our Voice phone number.
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Download and install Google Hangout 2.3 manually [APK]
So you’re a Google Voice user and you’re dying to try out the new Hangouts Dialer experience, eh? You’re going to need to make sure you’ve got the most recent version of Google Hangouts first. Fortunately for you, we’ve got a download link for the 14MB file. It’s a trusted and signed app from Google and you can install it in a matter of minutes. If you can’t wait a day or two for the updated app you can get it right now.
Why Download?
If you’re the type of person who likes to stay on the cutting edge of software then you’ll want to get your hands on the file. And, given software updates can take days or weeks to fully roll out, this ensures you’re moving up in the line.
What’s the Risk?
We’ll only share files or links to files that we feel can be trusted. Google does a great job of signing apps, checking them for malware, and protecting users. If you’re not sure whether you want to download the app at this time, simply wait for your update to arrive. No harm, no foul.
Download Hangouts 2.3 from MediaFire
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With larger iPhones, Apple accepts that smartphones have evolved
So it finally happened — after seemingly ages of rumors and speculation, Apple has unveiled larger iPhones (the 6 and 6 Plus) that are really, truly bigger than the 3.5-inch original. It’s no doubt a welcome move if you’re a fan who has been craving a big display, and it might even reel in people who have held off on an iPhone until now. However, this isn’t just an instance of a company tweaking its product line to accommodate changing tastes. That happens all the time. For Apple, it’s an acknowledgment that the very definition of a smartphone has changed over the years.
When Steve Jobs introduced the iPhone in 2007, the primary function of a smartphone was… well, the phone bit. Mobile data was too slow for many uses beyond email, while apps were both harder to find and more often for business than pleasure. You weren’t about to share selfies or stream your favorite show, since neither the technology nor the software was there for it. It’s not surprising, then, that Apple put a lot of its initial emphasis on basic (and usually one-handed) tasks, like calls and music.
You just have to watch the first iPhone launch event for proof. Jobs paid attention to web browsing, video and other tasks that benefit from a “really big” screen, but he was also proud of how well the iPhone fit in the hand and played Beatles albums. As far as the company was concerned, a 3.5-inch display was the sweet spot for everything, whether it was the mobile web or calling home. And it was, for a while; if you switched from a BlackBerry or Palm Treo, the iPhone’s then-huge display felt like a minor revelation.
The smartphone market started changing soon after the iPhone arrived, however. Mobile apps took off thanks to easy-to-use stores (including Apple’s own), making it simple to check your social networks and play games. Cameras got better, and cellular data got much faster. It was no longer far-fetched to share pictures with your friends or stream TV during your morning commute. Today, social sites like Facebook assume that you’re usually posting from your phone. The smartphone was quickly becoming a pocket computer that just happened to take calls, and that perfectly palm-sized design wasn’t as important as it used to be. A lot of phone makers helped fuel this trend through their endless attempts to one-up each other. Screen sizes grew to the point where a 5-inch display is now considered mid-range, and extra-large phones easily top six inches.
Only Apple’s hardware design didn’t seem to acknowledge this shift. While iOS was quick to support more sophisticated apps and media, the iPhone was purposefully limited to a 3.5-inch screen size for five years. As Jobs explained at a 2010 press event, he believed that people weren’t going to buy “Hummer” phones that they couldn’t grip using one hand. He had point a regarding the clunky designs at the time (a 5-inch Dell Streak feels gigantic compared to a Nexus 5), but this opinion was in stark contrast to an industry where larger phones were becoming commonplace. Even the 4-inch iPhone 5, while excellent, showed Apple’s reluctance to let go of its philosophy. The folks at 1 Infinite Loop went so far as to run ads where one-handed use was the big selling point, such as the TV spot you see below.
That insistence on going against the grain hasn’t hurt Apple’s bottom line so far. The company still sells gobs of iPhones, after all, and plenty of fans like the notion of a compact phone with top-tier performance. Even so, it’s apparent that this strategy clashes with modern tastes. If research is any indication, you probably prefer a big screen for internet access and video — I know I feel claustrophobic when web surfing or watching YouTube on my iPhone 5 versus the other devices at my disposal. There’s an appeal to having a phone small enough that you can easily use it in one hand while juggling bags in the other, but that convenience is arguably outweighed by the limitations it puts on software.
And practically speaking, there’s at least some concern that the world might eventually move on, leaving small iPhones by the wayside. At least one of Apple’s internal studies suggested that it was missing out on sales by sticking to 4-inch displays, since nearly all of the growth in high-end phone sales was limited to larger hardware. The company has definitely been losing opportunities in countries like China and India, where some people save money by buying an oversized smartphone in place of both a smaller handset and a PC or tablet. If your phone is going to be your only computing device, why wouldn’t you get the largest screen possible?
And that’s why the super-sized iPhones represent a milestone. Whether or not you think Apple needs to change to make a tidy profit, the company is clearly aware that the smartphone world has changed. It accepts that there’s a lot more on your phone than just messages and albums, and that all your content should have more room to breathe, whether it’s a Netflix video or a social update. The 5.5-inch iPhone 6 Plus in particular is a recognition that your smartphone can be good enough to replace a tablet, since it expands what you see in landscape mode. If Apple is afraid of losing iPad sales, it’s not showing that concern — it’d clearly prefer that you buy something from its lineup than risk losing you to a Galaxy Note.
It’s hard to say whether or not these new iPhones are hints that we’re looking at a more responsive Apple that not only creates trends in the smartphone space, but adapts to them as well. This could be the start of a more aggressive update strategy, or just a brief change in direction for a tech giant that will otherwise plot a steady course. Either way, it’s evident that the crew in Cupertino isn’t looking at the iPhone in the same light as it did in years past.
Filed under: Cellphones, Mobile, Apple
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Back to School 2014: The 8 best HDTV devices
Even if you aren’t hauling a 55-inch smart TV with you to campus, you can do better than watching Netflix on your laptop. Our picks include an affordable Blu-ray player, set-top boxes and a few big-screen stunners. There’s more where that came from, too — check out the rest of our guide here.
Filed under: Home Entertainment, Samsung, Sony, Google, LG
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Cricket announces increased data pools for its wireless plans
Cricket Wireless on Wednesday announced a limited time promotion which sees the carrier upping the amount of data for its wireless plans. Set to take effect on September 13, customers will be able to score at least 1GB of monthly data. It’s unclear how long the promo will last so, if you’re in the market for additional monthly data, you ought to act fast.
Rate plans
- Basic Plan – 1GB per month (normally 500MB) for $40
- Smart Plan – 3GB per month (normally 2.5GB) for $50
- Pro Plan – 10GB per month (normally 5GB) for $60
As a reminder, Cricket is also offering another deal for customers who switch from T-Mobile and MetroPCS. Those who bring their account from either of these two providers can score $100 credit for the effort. This particular deal lasts until October 19.
And, finally, Cricket customers can save $5 per month if enrolled in the Auto Pay program.
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Will Android Lion roar into view this autumn? [Guest Post]
Hot on the heels of the year’s biggest Apple event, there’s been plenty of conjecture on what the latest Android OS, until now codenamed Android L, will be called.
Some say it’s Lollipop, others insist Lemon Meringue Pie, yet the latest rumour is that the newest offering will be called Android Lion. Doesn’t sound very sweet, you might say, but bear in mind Lion Bars are a popular confectionary, made by Nestle, with whom Google partnered for the shock Android KitKat unveiling earlier this year.
The source of these rumours comes from the EMT Leaks Twitter account, so like any leak it has to be taken with a pinch of salt. Regardless, Android L will be available later this quarter, with the developer preview available now – but what other key talking points will the autumn bring?
The Apps World Europe event, on 12-13 November at the ExCeL in London, will be the key hub for all things Android with the free to attend Droid World track. With the ever popular inflatable Android hovering over proceedings, this year’s conference promises to be bigger and better than ever with case studies, technical talks and live coding on display. Register for your free pass here.
Early birds will get to see Sir Nigel Shadbolt, co-founder and chairman of the Open Data Institute, while speakers from the BBC, SlideShare and LINE are all confirmed to give their industry expertise.
Can’t make London in November? Apps World will be hosting its first event in Germany in April 2015, with Ian Livingstone, co-founder of the iconic Games Workshop company, confirmed as the first keynote speaker. Find out more here.
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Qualcomm’s Snapdragon 210 processor announced for entry-level smartphones and tablets
Qualcomm on Tuesday announced its latest mobile processor, the quad-core Snapdragon 210. Aimed at entry-level smartphones and tablets, features include multimode 3G/4G LTE and LTE Dual SIM configurations, full HD playback, up to 8-megapixel cameras, and QuickCharge 2.0 capability.
Additional features of the Snapdragon 210 processor include:
- Seamless, advanced LTE connectivity with fully integrated 4G LTE-Advanced Cat 4 Carrier Aggregation, LTE Broadcast and LTE Dual SIM/Dual Standby — all firsts in this category of products.
- High-quality yet cost-effective multimedia experiences with Full-HD (1080p) playback with hardware HEVC.
- Enhanced performance and power efficiency in the entry-level tier with quad CPU and Qualcomm® Adreno™ 304 graphics.
- Superior camera capabilities, including up to 8 megapixel camera support and leading enhanced computational camera functionalities, including Zero Shutter Lag, high dynamic range (HDR), autofocus, auto white balance and auto exposure.
- Qualcomm® Quick Charge™ 2.0 support, enabling up to 75% faster battery charging than devices without fast-charging technology.
We should look for the first devices to feature Qualcomm’s Snapdragon 210 processor in the first half of 2015. Our gut says we’ll have announcements at CES 2015 with availability in the ensuing weeks.
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OK Go Accuses Apple of Ripping Off Concept From Hit Music Video
Apple is facing criticism from alternative rock band OK Go following the release of its promotional video, “Perspective,” that promotes the company’s philosophy of “seeing things differently.” Showcased as the introduction to Apple’s Phone 6 press event, the video pans around a room, using camera angles to align random shapes into words. OK Go is accusing Apple of lifting this visual trick from the band’s recently released “The Writing’s On the Wall” music video.
While the general concept used in the videos is not unique, there does appear to be more to this story. Speaking to Bloomberg Businessweek, OK Go manager Andy Gershon claims the band met with Apple to discuss the concept for its music video in hopes that Apple would collaborate on the project. Apple declined, and OK Go made the video along with production company 1stAveMachine. Released in June 2014, the video won a Video Music Award for best visual effects and has accrued over 10 million views on YouTube.
Following the talks between Apple and OK Go, Gershon claims Apple also hired 1stAveMachine and even employed the same director that worked with OK Go on its hit music video to produce the video for the company’s iPhone launch event. As a result, Apple’s latest promotional video has an uncanny similarity to OK Go’s “The Writing’s On the Wall”.
“The videos speak for themselves and you can draw your own conclusions,” says Gershon, adding that the band is exploring its legal options.
OK Go may have a hard time proving a copyright violation or idea theft in court, but that isn’t stopping them from complaining publicly about the perceived injustice. This isn’t the first time Apple’s advertising efforts have face scrutiny. In one high-profile case, the company faced a complaint over its Siri commercials that showcased an ease-of-use which the lawsuit claimed was not present in real-world usage.
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Philips Unveils Lightning Cable-Equipped Fidelio M2L Headphones
Apple recently updated it Made for iPhone (MFi) program with a new set of specifications that allow for the transmission of audio through Apple’s Lightning cable port instead of the traditional 3.5-mm headphone jack. As spotted by Pocket-Lint, one of the first manufacturers to produce this new category of Lightning cable-equipped headphones is Philips, which is preparing its Fidelio M2L headphones for launch later this year.
Pascal van Laer, headphones business leader, WOOX Innovations says: “We’re excited to launch the Philips Fidelio M2L, our first headphone that has a direct digital connection to your iOS device. This means we can deliver an incredible audio experience today, and also opens up exciting opportunities for innovation for the future.”
The Fidelio M2Ls connect to an iPhone or iPad via a Lightning port and will support 24-bit audio using an internal DAC and amplifier built into the headphone unit. The closed headphones also feature two 40-mm high magnetic intensity neodymium speaker drivers and leather memory foam ear pads.
The Philips Fidelio M2L headphones will be available starting in December. They will debut in Western Europe and North America with a suggested retail price of €250/$320.
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AIVAnet 