SlingPlayer support for Chromecast brings an obvious combination together
Watching Netflix or Plex streams on your Chromecast is great, but what about when the game is on? Sling has enabled its apps on iPhone, iPad and Android phones (Android tablets coming soon) to help with just that situation. Just tap the Cast button in the apps, and you can send video to Google’s $35 dongle. Similar to Sling’s integration with Apple TV and Roku, once the video is playing, you can use the app as a remote control, or close it and do something else while the video keeps playing. The only bad news? Chromecast support requires one of the company’s newer boxes: 350, SlingTV/500 or M1. Still, both devices already make sense for frequent travelers, and now they’re better together. The SlingTV is also getting a tweak, as the Android phone and iPhone apps can now control its living room UI directly, without the included remote.
Filed under: Home Entertainment, HD, Mobile, Google
Source: Sling Blog
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Comprehensive List of iOS 8 Apps with Notification Center Widgets
iOS 8 was released today, which means hundreds of app developers are releasing newly updated apps that take advantage of all the APIs introduced with the operating system upgrade. Those include third-party keyboards, which we covered earlier today, and app extensions, a set of APIs that allows apps to interact in new and innovative ways.
One of the neatest app extension features lets developers create widgets that show up in the Today view of the Notification Center. These widgets let users interact with apps and get information at a glance. Several apps have been updated to take advantage of Notification Center widgets, and we’ve rounded up a comprehensive list below. Many of these app updates are already available, but some will be coming later today and tomorrow.
Dropbox (Free) [Direct Link] – Dropbox‘s new Notification Center widget displays all of the files that have been recently uploaded. Tapping on one of the files opens the file in the Dropbox app.
Duolingo (Free) [Direct Link] – Duolingo displays how close a user is to reaching their daily language learning goals. Tapping on the widget in the Notification Center opens the Duolingo app and lets users continue with their current language lesson.
Evernote (Free) [Direct Link] – Evernote‘s Notification Center widget is especially useful, including five different icons that let users create a document, reminder, or list, as well as snap a photo or access photos stored in the app. Tapping one of the icons opens the Evernote app and begins the task immediately.
Clear ($2.99) [Direct Link] – Clear‘s Notification Center widget includes a handy list of upcoming reminders. Tapping on one of the reminders will open the Clear app for direct access.
iTranslate (Free) [Direct Link] – iTranslate‘s Notification Center widget is a nifty tool that will let users one-tap translate whatever happens to be copied to the clipboard to the selected language.
First look at Material Design for Google Play Store leaks online
During the summer Google released an update to the Play Store that featured a dramatic redesign and brought several elements of Material Design into the app. Some of these changes included large banner-style pictures spanning the top of individual app, music, and movie pages along with a new organization of app information. However, it was obvious that the design was not final as many pages had not been updated to include Material Design. The main pages for Apps, Music, Books, Games, and Movies still retained the same look from the previous version.
Now, thanks to an article from Android Police, we have a look at the next big redesign for the Play Store, and Material Design is front and center. Play Store 5.0 brings Google’s design elements to all its pages. The colorful banners at the top of different sections have been made taller and flatter with much more vibrant colors.
I must say, the preview of the Antenna Sampler page looks gorgeous to me! Plus, these visual changes are accompanied by the beautiful and fluid animations that are touted by Material Design and Android L. With this major Material redesign to the Play Store, it is obvious that Google is preparing its apps for the release of Android L; an announcement we are all waiting eagerly to hear.
Images from: Android Police
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Republic Wireless to carry $99 Moto E in October
Republic Wireless has a special connection with Motorola – They officially released the Moto X in March and then the Moto G in April, and now they have decided to add the Moto E as well.
Republic Wireless is planning to offer the Moto E for $99, and you can choose any plan the carrier is offering. Check out all the plans below:
$5 WiFi Only
This plan is for WiFi lovers and penny savers. Take a load off your wallet and enjoy unlimited data, talk and text on all the WiFi networks you know and love at the same time. No need for cellular when you’re around WiFi as much as you are!
$10 WiFi + Cell Talk & Text
Our members are around WiFi about 90% of the time. During the other 10%, when you’re away from WiFi, this plan gives you cellular backup for communicating via text and talk when you need to. This plan combines both cutting costs and accommodates what’s quickly becoming the norm: a day filled with WiFi.$25 WiFi + Cell (3G) Talk, Text & Data
If you’re more of an outdoors kind of person and you like to surf the internet, check email in the car (as a passenger!) or use GPS navigation, this plan lets you enjoy all the benefits of WiFi with the additional luxury of 3G cellular data. And if you only need this plan for part of the month—no problem! You can always switch to the $5 or $10 plan right from your phone (up to two switches per monthly billing cycle period).
Republic Wireless said that the phone is not an iPhone killer, instead it’s a flip phone killer (people still use that?). Moto E comes with a dual-core, 1.2Ghz Snapdragon 200 processor, 4.3-inch 960×540 LCD screen with Corning Gorilla Glass, 1GB of RAM, 5MP rear camera, 4GB of storage plus a MicroSD card slot. The phone will be available next month.
Are you looking forward to grab it? Let us know in the comment box below.
Source: Republic Wireless
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The post Republic Wireless to carry $99 Moto E in October appeared first on AndroidGuys.
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Samsung Galaxy Note 4 hitting South Korea this month
Samsung Galaxy Note 4 is the current ‘Note’ flagship smartphone, and definitely Samsung’s most successful phablet yet. Right now, Samsung Note 4′s biggest competition is the new iPhone 6 Plus, but Samsung is not missing a chance to make fun of Apple, as they believe that Apple is now following their footsteps. Also to give Apple a run for their money, Samsung is planning to release the Samsung Galaxy Note 4 in South Korea before the release of iPhone 6 Plus. SK Telecom, LG U+ and KT will be carrying it later this month.
Samsung Galaxy Note 4
Starting September 18, Note 4 will be available for pre-order from SK Telecom. Right now, September 26th is the expected release date of the smartphone.
Do you think Samsung would be able to beat Apple in their hometown? Let us know in the comment box below
Source: ZDNet
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Apple Confirms HealthKit Bug, Promises Fix by End of September
Just before the public launch of iOS 8 earlier today, we noted that Apple had begun pulling HealthKit-related apps from the App Store, apparently due to a last-minute issue that cropped up in the new operating system. The issue has put a significant dent in the usefulness of the Health app that was to be a key feature of iOS 8, while also subjecting a number of third-party developers to uncertainty about the fate of their apps.
While details on the issue are still unknown, Apple has confirmed to Tim Bradshaw of Financial Times that it has discovered a “bug” in HealthKit that will require a software update to fix. Unfortunately, Apple is not necessarily promising an immediate turnaround on the fix, saying only that the company is aiming to “have HealthKit apps available by the end of the month”.
iOS 8 is available now to owners of recent-generation iOS devices, and will be included on the iPhone 6 and 6 Plus when they officially launch on Friday. Aside from Health, iOS 8 includes a number of other features such as a new QuickType keyboard with word suggestions, support for systemwide third-party keyboards and Touch ID integration, Photos and Messages improvements, and Continuity features to make iOS device and Macs work more smoothly with each other.
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‘Epic Zen Garden’ Metal Demo Shown Off at WWDC Now Available for Download
At its Worldwide Developers Conference in June, Apple unveiled Metal, an API designed to improve game performance on iOS. Epic Games took the stage during the event to show off Epic Zen Garden, a game built using the Unreal 4 Engine and the Metal API.
The game, which was designed to show off the impressive graphic enhancement features possible with Metal, demonstrated an expansive world with a fully interactive environment. Users could touch a tree to send a cascade of leaves and cherry blossoms swirling to the ground or interact with a group of koi fish.
As of today, Epic Zen Garden is available for download, letting users see some of the things that will be possible in iOS games in the near future. The game supports a resolution of 1440 x 1080 at 30fps, and can display 3,500 butterflies at once. One of the major features of Metal is that it allows for more draw calls, letting a huge number of objects be displayed on the screen.
Epic Zen Garden is a beautiful graphical environment showcasing the power of iOS 8, developed by Epic Games with Unreal Engine 4. Tap to navigate this interactive oasis brimming unmatched detail on mobile. Swipe the Sakura tree to make thousands of cherry blossoms swirl in the air, graze the koi pond to summon leagues of fish, and rake the sand with your finger to create subtle designs. Touch the well to bring throngs of butterflies out of hiding.
More information on how Metal works, Epic Zen Garden and the Unreal Engine 4 can be seen in the video below.
Epic Zen Garden can be downloaded from the App Store for free. [Direct Link]
(Thanks, Eli!)
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Netflix’s latest series is a romantic comedy co-written by Judd Apatow
Now that Netflix has a solid (if imperfect) track record with original shows, it appears that the big-name talent is lining up for its chance at creating an internet-only hit. Case in point: the streaming service has reached a deal with Legendary Television to release Love, an “excruciatingly honest” romantic comedy penned by 40 Year-Old Virgin producer Judd Apatow, Inglourious Basterds‘ Paul Rust and Girls‘ Lesley Arfin. You won’t see the end result until 2016, but Netflix is already confident that you’ll like it. The company has already committed to two seasons (22 episodes total) sight unseen — if you’re a fan of Apatow’s frequently blunt approach to on-screen relationships, you’re going to get your fill.
[Image credit: Evan Agostini/Invision/AP]
Filed under: Home Entertainment, Internet, HD
Source: Netflix
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Online stores now have to ship your orders on time, or else
Internet stores can sometimes be far too optimistic about the time it takes to ship your order — just ask the scores of gift givers whose packages arrived late last year. They’ll have to be much more pragmatic from now on, though. The FTC has issued new rules requiring that retailers ship within a “reasonable” selected timeframe, or within 30 days if they can’t provide a date. If they don’t meet their targets, they’ll have to either get your permission for a delay or issue a prompt refund. You can still change your mind even if you agree to wait, and saying nothing will still get your money back. The new guidelines take effect on December 8th, so you can buy your holiday presents online with a little more confidence this time around.
[Image credit: AP Photo/Paul Sakuma]
Filed under: Internet
Source: FTC
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Yelp settles with the FTC over claims it collected personal info from kids
The FTC is eager to crack down on any perceived online privacy violations, especially when they involve children — and we just got a good demonstration of that eagerness today. Both Yelp and mobile app developer TinyCo have settled with the FTC over allegations that they knowingly scooped up kids’ personal information without permission. Yelp is paying a $450,000 penalty because it didn’t have an effective age screen in its apps, letting those under 13 sign up by themselves. TinyCo, meanwhile, is shelling out $300,000 after some of its kid-oriented games asked for email addresses in return for in-game currency. These aren’t the biggest settlements we’ve seen by any stretch, but they’ll hopefully serve as warning to any app creator that wants to collect your little ones’ data.
Filed under: Cellphones, Internet, Mobile
Via: Reuters
Source: FTC
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AIVAnet 