Reddit snaps up Alien Blue, makes it the official iOS app
Despite being one of the biggest websites today, Reddit didn’t have an official app and used to rely on the many, many third-party options for its mobile users. We say “didn’t” and “used to,” because that’s not the case anymore: the startup has just snapped up Alien Blue, its most popular app for iPhones and iPads. The company has been working closely with its sole developer, Jase Morrissey, for years, but they only just made things official after this latest funding round. Reddit’s head of partnership and strategic development Ellan Pao said in an interview:
We want to be able to have new features from Reddit.com show up on mobile faster and better. With Alien Blue and Jase, it was getting to a point where it was too much work for one person. He was helping us, we were helping him and the fit was really strong.
Want to see how the official version looks? You’ll need to redownload the app even if you’ve been using Alien Blue for a long time — it’s already out on iTunes alongside the official AMA app, but it might take a while before it shows up for you (we’ve had to open the direct link to get it). You can import your old settings by following Reddit’s instructions, though, and you can upgrade to Pro status for free for one week. Also, the iPhone and the iPad apps are two separate versions at the moment, but Reddit plans to eventually merge them to create one universal software. While Alien Blue’s exclusive to iOS users, that doesn’t mean Reddit’s ignoring folks on Android: the company’s currently hiring an Android engineer in San Francisco to develop an app for the platform.
Filed under: Cellphones, Mobile
Source: Reddit Blog, The New York Times, iTunes
EE’s newest 4G tablet only costs £99
When Vodafone announced its first own-brand LTE tablet, the £125 Smart Tab 4G, earlier this week, it suddenly made EE’s £209 Eagle look a little pricey. Knowing that cost is key in the lead-up to Christmas, the UK’s biggest carrier isn’t resting on its laurels and has shot back a its rival by pricing its latest 4G tablet even lower. Priced at £99, the vibrant Alcatel ONE TOUCH Pop 7S is the UK’s most affordable pay-as-you-go 4G slate, according to EE, and comes with a 7-inch WSVGA 1024 x 600 display, Android 4.3 (Android 4.4 KitKat available via an OTA update), a quad-core 1.2GHz Qualcomm MSM8926 processor, 1GB of RAM, 3-megapixel rear and 0.3 front facing cameras, 8GB storage (with microSD support) and a 3240 mAh battery. The operator will also throw in 100MB of free data every month with every 4G tablet bought between now and January 31st, sweetening the deal for parents or bargain hunters looking for a cheap connected tablet.
Filed under: Tablets, Wireless, Mobile
Via: EE
Apple Providing Live Video of Today’s iPad and Mac Event on Apple TV
Ahead of today’s special iPad and Mac event, Apple has made its “Apple Events” channel available on the Apple TV.
Image credit: iDownloadBlog
In addition to live streaming on the Apple TV, Apple will also be streaming the event live on its website. In order to watch the stream, users will need to be running Safari on Mac or iOS.
Apple is expected to introduce a number of new products at the event, including the iPad Air 2, the next-generation Retina iPad mini, and new iMacs with at least the 27-inch model sporting a high-resolution Retina display. An update published in error to the company’s iPad User Guide for iOS 8 revealed some details about the new iPads which will feature a Touch ID fingerprint sensor. Apple is also expected to preview OS X Yosemite one final time before its official launch, and some rumors have even claimed that the company may announce updated Mac Minis.
Apple’s keynote kicks off at 10:00 AM Pacific Time, and MacRumors will also be providing a live blog and live tweets via the MacRumorsLive Twitter account.
The BBC makes every Radio Times listing ever printed available online
For over 85 years, the BBC published a weekly television and radio programme listings magazine called The Radio Times. The rise of the internet and smartphone use means it’s nowhere near as popular as it once was, but the Beeb is ensuring it will continue to live on, by digitising 4,469 past editions and making them available to browse online. BBC Genome allows users to plug in a programme date or Radio Times edition from between 1923 and 2009, which reveals a Wiki-like rundown of the BBC’s TV and radio schedules on a particular day. The first ever broadcast of Blue Peter is there, as is the BBC’s coverage of the Royal Wedding of Prince Charles and Lady Diana. It lists the presenters, contributors and even how much a related BBC video or DVD would have cost back in the day. If you’re interested to see how the BBC’s scheduling has changed over time or what “the official organ of the B.B.C” was like in the 1920s, hit the source link below.
Via: BBC Media Centre
Source: BBC Genome
No camouflage can hide this weird Mercedes prototype
Spy photos from our sister site Autoblog have revealed a concept car from Mercedes that looks like it was beamed back from 20 years in the future. The silver-colored vehicle sports a wedge shape, cycle fenders, an extreme cab-forward design and narrow tires — calling to mind Volkswagen’s 260MPG XL1 hyrid. Our guess? The tires and aerodynamics suggest an extreme-mileage vehicle, likely a full-on EV, hybrid or other green-tech vehicle. As for when we might see it, we’d place a bet on January at Las Vegas. That’s when Mercedes-Benz CEO Dr. Dieter Zetsch will deliver his CES 2015 keynote speech, and yes, unveil an all-new concept car. For a full gallery, check the source.
[Image credit: Autoblog]
Filed under: Transportation
Source: Autoblog
Google Hints at a Galaxy S5 Google Play Edition
Today Google announced Android 5.0 Lollipop, which is its latest mobile OS. However, it seems that Google may have more up its sleeve. On one of the announcement pages, there is an image showing all of the devices running stock Android, like the Nexus 6 and 9, a few Android Wear watches, and the two current GPE models: the Moto G and HTC One. However, hidden among these devices are a few Galaxy S5s running what appears to be stock Android.
Is Google planning on releasing a GPE GS5? It’s possible, but it might just be a mistake on the photo. It has been a half year since the release of Samsung’s flagship, so it seems that the GPE ship has sailed at this point. However, we can’t know for sure as of yet, so we’ll just have to wait.
Source: Android
Via: SamMobile
Come comment on this article: Google Hints at a Galaxy S5 Google Play Edition
Smart deodorant applicator provides a high-tech way to keep B.O. at bay
Have you become so dependent on technology that you need gizmos to remind you about personal hygiene? If your answer’s yes, then you may want to take a long hard look in the mirror at ClickStick: a high-tech deodorant dispenser for people who either keep forgetting to put some on… or for those who want extremely precise deodorant application. Like many smart devices out there, it connects to a smartphone app that’s in charge of reminding you to wear deodorant everyday and of how much product the device should dispense (at the push of a button), depending on your activity level. The applicator itself is refillable and comes with LED lights (because the best deodorants can double as rave glow sticks, right?), though its Kickstarter campaign offers a limited edition chrome version for those with refined tastes. You can get an ordinary ClickStick if you pledge at least $26 and a chrome version for at least $40 as early as May 2015, provided its makers meet their rather hefty $55,000 crowdfunding goal.
Filed under: Misc
Source: Kickstarter
Facebook ‘Safety Check’ lets friends know you’re OK after a major disaster
Despite the frivolous nature of most social media interactions, Facebook’s latest new feature is intended for use only in serious situations. Unveiled today in Japan, Safety Check notifications are pushed to users when a natural disaster hits and area you have listed as your location, where you’ve checked in on Nearby Friends, or where you recently logged in from. Tech companies like Google and Facebook have worked to connect people after significant disasters in the past, and Facebook says the project is an extension of the Disaster Message Board its Japanese engineers rolled out after the 2011 earthquake and tsunami there. Safety Check is rolling out globally on Android, iOS, feature phones and the desktop — there’s a demo video (embedded after the break) to explain how it all works.
A simple I’m safe / I’m not in the area set of buttons can push an update (and comments, if you enter them) that’s visible only to people on your friends list, intended to quickly give some piece of mind when they notice a USGS report for your zipcode — or worse. If you simply have friends who are in the area of a natural disaster, there’s a notification when they check-in as safe that can take you to a list of their updates.
A truly useful tool, or just a cagey way to try to take some of the creepiness out of the apps’ location tracking features? We’re figuring the latter impression doesn’t hurt from Facebook’s perspective, but in this connected age it’s also a reflection of how people really use the net in trying times. Additionally, it can take some pressure off of overloaded infrastructure with everyone trying to call affected areas after disasters hit, and of course, save you from a post-tragedy chewing out for failure to let people know you’re fine. C’mon, just call your parents / friends / casual acquaintances once in a while, it’s not that hard.
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Filed under: Internet, Mobile, Facebook
Source: Facebook
Now Google’s Translate Chrome extension can zoom in on short bits of text
Say, you’re reading an article written in your third language but can’t properly decipher a sentence or two — you can just highlight those specific lines and let the Google Translate extension for Chrome do the rest. The add-on’s new update makes it simpler to translate small snippets out of websites: highlighting part of the text leads to a pop-up icon you can click to view the translation (or some semblance of it, since we all know the service isn’t always on point) on the same screen. You can also right click and choose Google Translate to view the original sentence and its meaning in a separate tab, though. Of course, if you want to to read the whole page in the language of your choice, you can always click the service’s icon living in the corner of your browser. The extension should update itself if it’s already installed, otherwise, you can download it right now from the Chrome Web Store.
Source: Google Chrome Blog
Verizon Increases Edge Upgrade Time and some Pricing Points
Starting October 16th, Verizon will increase the number of monthly payments Edge customers must make from 20 to 24 months in order to upgrade to a new device. The increase in time between upgrades should decrease a customer’s monthly payment; although customers much pay off 75% instead of the 60% previously required to upgrade early. With the new system, customers sticking to their upgrade plan will be able to get a new device every 18 months as opposed to 12.
Verizon is also offering bigger discounts for users of edge plans as well, offering a $15 per line discount for data plans from 500 MB to 8 GB and $25 off for plans higher than 8 GB. Verizon also lowered the cost of its 500 MB plan from $30 to $20, but raising the cost of its 2 GB plan from $60 to $75. These plans still feature severe overage charges.
Verizon is making some changes in order to raise the percentage of users on an Edge plan in order to compete with AT&T’s success with its NEXT plan, which has about half of its users, as compared to 18% of Verizon users on Edge.
Source: Fierce Wireless
Come comment on this article: Verizon Increases Edge Upgrade Time and some Pricing Points
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