Amazon gives UK customers early e-book access with Kindle First
While Amazon tends to release new e-reader and tablet hardware in the UK and US simultaneously these days, we’re still not top priority when it comes to new services. That being said, the UK has caught up significantly in the past week with the launch of the all-you-can-read Kindle Unlimited subscription and now, Kindle First. Amazon runs a bunch of publishing houses, and what Kindle First offers is early access to new releases originating from them. Each month, Amazon editors will select four books scheduled for publication the following month, and let you buy one (and only one) of them in e-book form for 99 pence, or snag one for free if you’re a Prime member. Once you’ve registered, it’s basically as simple as that. You can head to the Kindle First page now to check out the selections for this month, and sign up for the newsletter if you’d like to know when other titles become available for pre-release reading.
Source: Amazon
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Garmin’s multi-sport GPS watch now talks to your phone
Garmin’s GPS watch lineup has had an imbalance as of late; while more modest athletes have had luxuries like color displays and phone integration, you’ve had to make do with monochrome and old-school PC syncing if you need multi-sport wristwear like the Forerunner 910XT. Thankfully, you won’t have to make that sacrifice any more now that the company has launched a much-needed follow-up — not surprisingly, the Forerunner 920XT. The new watch tracks your biking, running and swimming stats like its ancestor, but catches up on 2014-era tech through a color screen, phone support (including call and message notifications) and advanced data like your running gait and oxygen volume estimates. It should be lighter, thinner and more comfortable than the 910XT, too, so you won’t notice it quite so much while you’re in the middle of a practice session. Just be ready to pay up if you want Garmin’s most capable wearable. The 920XT starts at $450 ($50 more than the 910XT) all by itself, and you’re looking at $500 if you want a heart rate monitor at the same time.
Source: Garmin
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Tesco’s looking to sell or close its Blinkbox streaming service
When supermarket giant Tesco announced it was closing its free Clubcard TV streaming service, it didn’t come as much of a surprise. However, bigger changes could be afoot, after The Times caught wind of the company’s plans to get out of the streaming business altogether. In a recent tour of Tesco’s media division, newly-appointed CEO Dave Lewis decided that the Blinkbox business was a distraction, so he’s instructed senior staff to sell it. Apparently, if a buyer can’t be found, it will simply shut down the service it acquired a little over three years ago.
The news comes at a crunch time for the supermarket. The company is currently subject of an investigation after it overstated its quarterly profits by £250 million, and is just days away from unveiling its new Hudl 2 tablet. Tesco bundled its Blinkbox service on the first-generation Hudl, but with rumours circling about its possible closure, it’s possible the app may not make an appearance on its successor. Tesco has already sunk hundreds of millions of pounds into the streaming service, but with Netflix, Sky and Amazon also spending big, the company may go back to basics in order to return to growth.
Filed under: Home Entertainment, Tablets, Internet
Source: The Times
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Uber for Business now automatically expenses taxis in 45 countries
The nice thing about traveling for work is that you can hop in a taxi without worrying about the cost since, after all, you’re not picking up the tab. The downside of that privilege is that, about a week or two after that, you’ll have to sit down and tediously justify your expenditure to your boss. That’s not a problem, however, if your company has signed up with Uber for Business, which sends the bills straight to the firm instead of piling on your own credit card. Until now, however, that service was only available in the US and Canada, with a few trials taking place in the UK and France. As you might have guessed from the headline, today’s the day that the company opens up Uber for Business to all of the 45 countries in which it operates. Now all we have to do is work out if we can pretend that our hand slipped and we hit the Uber Lux button by mistake.
Filed under: Transportation, Internet, Software
Source: Uber
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Big theater chains team up against Netflix’s first movie
Unsurprisingly, there’s one group that’s not at all excited to hear Netflix and IMAX are arranging for the Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon sequel to hit theaters and streaming at the same time: movie theater owners. According to the LA Times, Regal, AMC, Carmike and Cinemark have all stated they don’t plan to screen Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon: The Green Legend on their IMAX screens when it arrives next year, while Variety notes Canada’s Cineplex and Europe’s Cineworld are also staying away from the flick. The studios blocked a planned experiment to sell Tower Heist viewing for $60 a pop (honestly, they saved everyone there) back in 2011, but it seems doubtful they’ll be able to intimidate Netflix into backing down.
Previous day-and-date home/theatrical releases, from Steven Soderbergh’s Bubble in 2006 to recent flicks like Snowpiercer and Arbitrage, have usually been very limited. When Kickstarter-backed Veronica Mars debuted earlier this year, Warner Bros. had to buy every ticket in the theater in advance just to set up the screenings. IMAX seems content to screen the movie mostly in China, where Variety says it will have over 200 locations by the time this movie is out (and where Netflix does not yet offer service).
Filed under: Home Entertainment, HD
Source: Variety, LA Times, Washington Post, Reuters
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Apple Watch has a smaller screen in tweaked video
Apple has released a new version of its Apple Watch design video, and a perceptive viewer noticed a slightly different design from the original. Most noticeable is a smaller sapphire screen and larger bezel on the Watch render, which appears to more closely match the prototype hardware we saw last month. None of this too surprising — Apple had no doubt prepared the video using 3D renders before the final design was locked, and the changes are small enough that most folks won’t care. Still, it does make us wonder if there may be more fine-tuning before production starts in January, especially given rumors of battery-life issues.
[Image credit: Khaos Tian/Twitter]
Via: 9to5 Mac
Source: Khaos Tian (Twitter)
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Deezer’s redesigned its web interface to look more like a tablet app
Excited to take advantage of Deezer’s ad-free desktop streaming, but prefer the look of the service’s tablet app? You’re in luck: the company just gave its web interface a visual overhaul, conveniently inspired by its own tablet interface. The new design puts music discovery front and center, replacing the current header with a prompt for Flow, the service’s recommendation engine. The updated UI also redesigns the sidebar to grant faster access to Deezer’s basic features and adds more feedback options for for liking or disliking suggested music. Interested? Log in to your Deezer account and check it out –the new look should be live today.
Filed under: Internet
Source: Deezer
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UK government swaps paper car tax discs for its vast camera network
The paper car tax disc has had a very good innings, but it’s finally come to the end of its life. Presented proudly by UK motorists for more than 90 years, those circular bits of paper have today officially been replaced by an electronic register. What does that mean for you? Well, you’ll still need to pay for your tax the same way each year, but you’ll no longer need to fix the disc to your windscreen, even if it’s still yet to expire. Authorities can’t now physically check you’ve paid, instead they’ll fully rely on the hundreds of thousands of ANPR (automatic number plate recognition) cameras that adorn Britain’s roads. Considering replacement tax discs (well, forgetting to renew them) cost British motorists more than £7 million a year, some might be glad to see them gone. However, “velologists” (tax disc collectors) might pay a pretty penny to get their hands on one of the last ever discs, as long as you’ve kept it in top notch condition.
[Image credit: funfilledgeorgie, Flickr]
Filed under: Transportation
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Galaxy Note 4 has Gap Issues. OnePlus 2 Announced! – ManDroid Daily
The ManDroid Daily is here gang, and hopefully your Tuesday is treating you well. The Galaxy Note 4 is seeing a tiny be of controversy that involves a gap in the design. The Note Edge doesn’t seem to be as gimmicky as we might have thought, and the OnePlus 2 is coming soon. Enjoy the Daily!
Android News
Galaxy Note 4 gap
Galaxy Note Edge features
OnePlus 2 announced on Reddit
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The post Galaxy Note 4 has Gap Issues. OnePlus 2 Announced! – ManDroid Daily appeared first on AndroidSPIN.
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Pokemon Trading Card Game Now Available for iPad with Online Multiplayer [iOS Blog]
The Pokemon Trading Card Game (TCG) Online has officially launched for the iPad following its debut at the Pokemon World Championships in August.
The title is the first licensed Pokemon game to be released for iOS, and allows players to build a deck of Pokemon cards and battle against other players while obtaining booster packs. Users can also enter tournaments for prizes, and customize the look of their cards, deck boxes, and avatar.
PLAY, TRADE, AND CHALLENGE OTHER PLAYERS AROUND THE WORLD
Have fun learning and mastering the Pokémon Trading Card Game Online! Practice against the computer or go head to head with your friends or other players from around the world. Unlock cards and decks as you play to build up your collection and make truly unique decks. Your decks and card collection are stored as a part of your Pokémon Trainer Club account, allowing you to switch between iPad and desktop with ease.EASY TO START: Choose from Grass, Fire, or Water decks, step right into a game, and learn as you go in an easy play experience.
EXPAND YOUR COLLECTION: Earn cards, open booster packs, trade with other players, and build the perfect deck around your favorite cards. Your collection grows with you!
CUSTOMIZE YOUR EXPERIENCE: Build your own decks, customize the look of your cards, deck boxes, and avatar, and join your friends online.
Pokemon TCG Online is a free app for the iPad and can be downloaded through the App Store. [Direct Link]
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AIVAnet 