Twitter: Yes, you’re all going to see tweets from people you don’t follow
Remember when tweets started appearing in your Twitter feed from people you weren’t even following? Well, it’s no longer an experiment. In a post outlining Twitter’s “spirit of experimentation”, the social network says it’s happening across all accounts now, in the interest of surfacing tweets it “think(s) you’d enjoy.” While many of Twitter’s power-users might sigh collectively, Twitter is likely hoping it’ll offer up faster follows, a richer experience and (possibly) boost activity, especially for those users that aren’t already following hundreds of accounts. Alas, it’s not an optional thing, and is now an integral part of everyone’s Twitter timeline — alongside those occasional promoted tweets and retweets.
Filed under: Internet
Source: Twitter (1), (2)
Amazon’s grocery service hits Brooklyn starting today
Lately, Amazon’s been playing a bit of back and forth with its services on either coast. What started with retail locations is now extending to its grocery delivery option, AmazonFresh. Folks living in Brooklyn, New York’s Park Slope neighborhood will have access to the service that debuted in Seattle and California starting today, according to Recode. Naturally, you need a Prime membership to access the same-day (or next-day, depending on when you order), but starting next year a pricier $299 “Prime Fresh” subscription will be required. Not in Park Slope? Don’t fret: the e-commerce juggernaut told Reuters that it will continue to be “thoughtful and methodical” in its expansion. Bezos and Co. failed to mention, however, if and when it’ll be expanding into the likes of Manhattan or other boroughs. Don’t get too excited to use that Dash just yet, greater Gotham.
[Image credit: adpowers/Flickr]
Filed under: Amazon
Where to buy Samsung’s Galaxy Note 4
A week later than Samsung had originally planned, the new Galaxy Note 4 has today officially landed on UK shores. As far as we’re concerned, the 5.7-inch behemoth is the best big-screen phone you can get your hands on at the moment, with a gorgeous, pixel-dense display and all the power you can manage. And thanks to various software tricks, it’s not much of a chore to use one-handed, despite its beastly dimensions. Phablet fans waiting on the newest Note from the pioneer of the super-sized handset now have that all-important decision ahead: to buy or not to buy? Well, join us below as we investigate where you can get one, and how much of a dent the many options are going to make on your bank account.
| EE | Three | Carphone Warehouse | Buymobiles | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Cheapest contract (with upfront) | £15 (£460) | £38 (£99) | £25 on EE (£200) | £25 on EE (£240) |
| Cheapest contract (no upfront) | – | £49 | £43.50 on Voda 4G | £46 on EE |
| Pay-as-you-go | £530 | £600 | – | – |
| Unlocked (SIM-free) | – | – | £650 | – |
A new addition to the Galaxy Note series is usually a high-profile affair, and yet a couple of the big carriers are slightly behind the curve when it comes to updating their online stores with pricing and availability details. O2 is still listing the Note 4 as “coming soon,” while Vodafone’s keeping mum. We’d be surprised if both networks weren’t featured in the above table by the end of the day, but we’ve reached out to both to try and speed things up a bit. And by the way, if you’re after the flashy gold model, that’s currently exclusive to Carphone Warehouse customers.
Developing…
Filed under: Cellphones, Mobile, Samsung
Firefox Beta update brings ‘tab casting’ & more!
Mozilla is in the midst of pushing out a rather hefty software update to its official Firefox for Android Beta application. In terms of added functionality, the upgrade transports tab mirroring support for Chromecast, integrated Wikipedia search, the ability to change search defaults and much, much more.
Hit the break below for the full changelog.
New:
Tab mirroring support for Chromecast
Added support for Prefer:Safe HTTP header
Wikipedia search now uses HTTPS for secure searching
Beta search default changed to Yahoo for evaluation
Toggle wifi on error pages
Public key pinning support enabled
Implementation of HTTP/2 (draft14) and ALPN
Redesigned first run experience
Browser theme refreshHTML5:
ECMAScript 6 WeakSet Implemented
JavaScript Template Strings Implemented
CSS3 Font variants and features control (e.g. kerning) implemented
Device Storage API for privileged apps enabled
WebCrypto: RSA-OAEP, PBKDF2 and AES-KW support
WebCrypto: wrapKey and unwrapKey implemented
WebCrypto: Import/export of JWK-formatted keys
matches() DOM API implemented (formerlymozMatchesSelector())
Performance.now() for workers implemented
WebCrypto: ECDH support
Support for the ECMAScript 6 Symbol data type addedFixed:
CSS transitions start correctly when started at the same time as changes to display, position, overflow, and similar properties
If you would like to download or update your copy of the Firefox Beta app for Android – click the source link below. Alternatively, you can scan the QR code using your smartphone’s camera.
Come comment on this article: Firefox Beta update brings ‘tab casting’ & more!
Belkin Announces Keyboard Cases and Folio Covers for iPad Air 2 and iPad Mini 3 [iOS Blog]
Belkin has announced a lineup of new cases made for Apple’s new iPad Air 2 and iPad mini 3, including new keyboard cases and a variety of protective covers catered to the design of both tablets.
The QODE Ultimate Pro Keyboard for the iPad Air 2
The QODE Ultimate Pro Keyboard for the iPad Air 2 ($149.99) features an improved keyboard layout that features the same amount of keys as a laptop, and also includes three brightness levels for backlighting. The keyboard is rated for up to one year of continuous battery life and also has adjustable landscape and portrait modes with two viewing angles.
The QODE Ultimate Keyboard for iPad Air and iPad Air 2
Belkin is also offering the QODE Ultimate Keyboard for the iPad Air 2 ($129.99), which features a foldable design, three adjustable viewing angles, and up to six months of battery life. The QODE Slim Style Keyboard ($99.99) for the iPad Air and iPad Air 2 offers a folio-style cover and Bluetooth keyboard in one that contains a built-in stand and flexible corner tabs.
Slim Style Cover and Slim Stripe Cover for iPad Air 2 and iPad mini 3
In addition to the keyboard cases, Belkin is also launching a variety of new covers for both the iPad Air 2 and iPad mini 3 that are similar to Apple’s own Smart Covers. Each cover can fold into a keyboard stand and features smart-wake technology. Made for the iPad Air 2 ($49.99) and iPad mini 3 ($39.99), the Slim Style Cover includes a curved, form-fitting design with a velvet finish, while the Stripe Cover for the iPad Air 2 ($39.99) and iPad mini 3 ($34.99) comes with a classic folio style. Belkin is also offering a Classic Cover for the iPad mini 3 ($29.99) that features a slim two-tone design and a Chambray Cover for the iPad Air 2 ($39.99) that features a folio style with a chambray finish.
Classic Cover for the iPad mini 3 and Chambray Cover for the iPad Air 2
Belkin’s new protective covers for the iPad Air 2 and iPad mini 3 are available to order now at its official website. Belkin’s QODE Ultimate Pro Keyboard Case and the QODE Ultimate Keyboard Case for the iPad Air 2 will be available starting in December.
Local multiplayer is coming to Android games
Ever wish that you could just whip out your Android device and harass a passer-by to play games with you? It’s the sort of thing that Nintendo DS users, for example, have been using thanks to that company’s StreetPass feature, but, until now, hasn’t been available on Google’s smartphones. Now, however, the company has an added an update to its games infrastructure that enables “ambient, real-time” games with more than one user – so long that the game relies upon Google’s home-grown multiplayer backend. Still, maybe don’t sprint into the street and start challenging people to a dual, because they might get the wrong idea.
Filed under: Cellphones, Gaming, Mobile, Google
Source: Android Developers (G+)
Your eco-friendly LED lights are drawing an awful lot more moths
Blue-light emitting LED bulbs have taken off with consumers because they have few downsides — they’re bright, use far less energy and last much longer than other types. In fact, the inventors just won a Nobel Prize, proving their huge benefit to consumers and society. But it now appears there’s a teeny issue: flying insects. Scientists in New Zealand tested blue-light LEDs (which look white due to a phosphor coating) against regular yellow-hued sodium-vapor streetlights. The result? The LEDs attracted nearly 50 percent more insects, regardless of the brand and type used. While that could be a pain for your next porch party, there’s a more serious downside. The researchers said that when used on city street lamps, the bulbs could interfere with the food chain and even draw invasive species like gypsy moths.
[Image credit: swburdine/Flickr]
Filed under: Science
Via: Physorg
Source: ESA Journals
Lollipop to be Released November 3th for Wi-Fi Nexus Devices
Google’s Lollipop is making waves worldwide, causing everyone to wonder who will get a taste of its sweetness first. As far as current models go, the Nexus 4 and 5 will not be receiving the update as promptly as their fellow Nexus devices. The Nexus 10 and 7s (Wi-Fi only) will be receiving the update to Android 5.0 on November 3rd.
The reason the Wi-Fi tablets will be receiving the update first is that it takes more tweaking and fine-tuning to get software working smoothly with a data connection than it does with only Wi-Fi. So, if you have one of these tablets, you can expect an update in about 2.5 weeks. If you have a Nexus phone, you’ll have to wait a bit longer.
Source: Android Police
Come comment on this article: Lollipop to be Released November 3th for Wi-Fi Nexus Devices
Audi’s self-driving RS 7 hits the racetrack this weekend (video)
Audi, who’s long been toying with the idea of building self-driving cars, has upgraded one of its RS 7 sedans to build an autonomous concept vehicle for those who like to ride fast. The prototype looks pretty much like a production version RS 7, except its steering wheel, brakes, throttle valve and other components are all controlled by a self-driving system. This system uses GPS (for orientation), radio signals and a 3D camera (which takes pictures used for additional positioning information) to drive the car around a race track. You read that right: the upgraded RS 7’s nothing like Google’s wholesome bug-like car meant for ordinary people and everyday driving.
http://www.engadget.com/embed-5min/?sid=577&playList=518467389&responsive=false
No, it was made for race tracks and Fast and Furious movies, that’s why the company’s demonstrating what it can do on the Hockenheimring, a motor-racing circuit in Germany, on October 17th and 19th. The car will do one lap around the track — where Audi’s expecting it to reach a top speed of 149.1 mph and to finish in 2 minutes and 10 seconds — on both days completely driverless. This isn’t the first time Audi’s sending an autonomous car to conquer a race track, though: back in 2010, a driverless Audi TTS Coupe successfully climbed Colorado’s Pikes Peak mountain race circuit within 27 minutes.
Filed under: Transportation
Via: Autoblog
Source: Audi
Student upgrades a 1930s typewriter for modern-day messaging
When people restore old typewriters, they mostly just make them (1) look new and (2) usable again. Joe Hounsham from Plymouth University in the UK, however, had other ideas in mind: he took one and added the appropriate upgrades to turn it a high-tech typewriter that connects to the internet. To be precise, Hounsham’s device called Dico connects you to a random person from a chat room — in fact, it starts looking for a stranger to talk to as soon as its ultrasonic sensor feels you approaching. The other person’s messages are then processed by an Arduino microcontroller, which controls the solenoids the pulls down the keys on the typewriter. Yes, a paper serves as the device’s “screen,” and to reply, you need to type on it, as well.
Hounsham designed Dico (the Latin word for speaking, talking and playing an instrument) as his senior year project at Plymouth. It won him an IBM Smarter Planet Award, since (according to his website) the company though it demonstrated “the technical qualities and imagination required to help make the world a Smarter Planet.” Sounds like it could be fun to use, especially since it sometimes types up encrypted messages (he wanted the piece to post questions about online security, as well) in the middle of a chat that you can decode with a book he made. But since not everyone’s capable of making a version of their own, you can watch Dico in action below or read how Hounsham created it on the IBM blog.
PS: You know what’ll make Dico even better, though? If it can also type up images, similar to that typewriter that can create ASCII portraits.
Filed under: Misc
Via: Physorg
Source: Plymouth University, Joe Hounsham, IBM Business Mobile Insights
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