Apple Acquires Cloud Networking Startup Union Bay Networks, Opens Seattle Office
Apple acquired Seattle-based cloud networking startup Union Bay Networks sometime in the last couple of months and has opened an office in the city that houses more than 30 engineers, reports GeekWire. The site uncovered Apple’s acquisition and Seattle office after former Union Bay Networks co-founder Benn Bollay posted a job opening for a Systems Software Engineer that read “Ever wanted to work at Apple, but didn’t want to live in Cupertino?”
Apple later confirmed the acquisition of Union Bay Networks to The Seattle Times, providing its standard acquisition statement: Apple “buys smaller technology companies from time to time, and we generally do not discuss our purpose or plans.”
Union Bay Networks was a stealth startup focused on “enabling the next generation of networking for cloud computing and software defined datacenters,” and seven out of nine former employees are said to have been hired by Apple, moving to an unknown office location.
Apple’s Seattle office is already home to more than 30 employees, and the company is hiring more, posting two software engineering positions in the city last week. Both positions mention a focus on the design and development of core infrastructure services, and both mention iCloud, suggesting Seattle is being positioned as the hub for Apple’s future cloud development projects.
Apple Releases First iOS 8.1.1 Beta to Developers
Following this afternoon’s release of the first OS X Yosemite 10.10.1 beta, Apple has seeded the first iOS 8.1.1 beta to developers. The iOS 8.1.1 beta comes two weeks after the release of iOS 8.1, which included support for Apple Pay, SMS Forwarding, and more.
The beta, build 12B432, is available though Apple’s over-the-air update system on iOS devices and through the iOS Developer Center. Apple has also released a new Apple TV beta.
As a minor update, iOS 8.1.1 includes fixes for several bugs, but major new features rumored for iOS 8, like improvements to Maps and split-screen multitasking for the iPad, will be reserved for major iOS 8 updates that are also in development.
Google Calendar is next up on the Material Design update train
Google has been releasing a slew of updates for their own applications to go alongside the release of Android 5.0, Lollipop. The latest app to jump on the update train, is Google Calendar. This update brings the Material Design found across Android 5.0, and it also brings a few new features to the forefront as well. We’ve seen updates to Gmail, Inbox, as well as the apk’s for various system apps, but the next one up is Google Calendar.
Before we touch on those updates, it must be stated that Google is really knocking the Material Design concept out of the park. After testing out the Developer Preview for Android L, I really began to notice that Google was about to release the largest update to Android that I had ever seen. Now with apps being updated, and new apps being created, everything that Google wanted to do with Material Design and Android Lollipop, is coming full circle.
Back to our regularly scheduled programming.
As I stated above, the latest update for Google Calendar doesn’t just provide us with updated aesthetics. Google finally added some additional functionality to the app, and I really can’t wait to get my hands on it and dive into it.
The first big feature that Google has added, is integration with email. Now, every time that you get hotel reservations, or get an invitation to an event, Google Calendar will recognize that you got that email, and automatically create events. Sure this could get a little hairy if you get a lunch invitation with that one person who you REALLY don’t want to go with, but this will really come in handy for any other events that you actually WANT to go to.
Assists is next on the list, and this is where Google really gets to flex its’ muscles a bit. As you are creating an event within Calendar, Assist will automatically suggest titles, addresses, or even contacts to invite to the event. As with most things nowadays, Assist will learn from your habits, and eventually, you will be able to schedule an event by just writing one word.
While not having the opportunity to get a hands-on with the Calendar update yet, from the looks of it, the feature I’m most excited for is Schedule View. This is where Google decided to really show off the Material Design within Calendar. Instead of just looking at your monthly, weekly, or daily views, Schedule View does all sorts of things to your various events. For example, if you’re planning on heading out with the guys to grab some drinks, Calendar may add a fun image to the background of the event. If you’re planning a vacation to NYC, Calendar will pull up one of the many iconic images of the New York City skyline. While it’s nothing crazy, Google wanted to add a little something extra to the Calendar app.
As for availability, the Calendar update is available today on any devices running Android 5.0 Lollipop. If you’re one of those folks that doesn’t know when or if your device will be getting Lollipop, don’t worry. Calendar will also work on any devices running Android 4.1 and above. The update will come eventually through the Play Store in the coming weeks. Oh, and Google decided to throw a little teaser in there for iPhone users, stating that they are working on an update for the iPhone app as well.
The post Google Calendar is next up on the Material Design update train appeared first on AndroidGuys.
Meet Pujie Black, one slick watch face
We’re back at you with another great watch face for your Android Wear smartwatch, and this time it’s with Pujie Black- Wear Watch Face. The watch face comes with an app to customize the settings and colors of the face. You can toggle the digital clock, analog clock hands, and much more in the app…. Read more »
The post Meet Pujie Black, one slick watch face appeared first on SmarterWatching.
Read the rest at SmarterWatching.com!
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Tinder for pets helps you give shelter animals forever homes
This new addition to the growing number of Tinder-like apps out there is possibly the cutest one yet — it lets you browse dogs, cats and other animals in shelters looking for their forever home. The Tinder for pets we’re talking about was developed by adoption website AllPaws, which isn’t new to taking cues from dating services. In fact, the website itself looks more like online dating portals instead of traditional pet adoption haunts on the web. Just like Tinder, you need to swipe left or right to browse through contenders and message a shelter through the app when you find one that tugs at your heartstrings.
The app lists 200,000 adoptable animals at the moment, and while we can all look at dog and cat pics all day, you can also filter them based on breed and on your geographical location to easily find viable candidates. Of course, nobody should ever adopt pets based on looks alone, but apps like this help entice people to go to shelters — many might even end up going home with another dog or cat than the one they originally wanted. You can now download the AllPaws app from iTunes and finally find someone who’ll love you more than you love him/her.
Via: Huffington Post, Slate
Source: iTunes
Monthly Android Distribution Infographic Shows KitKat on 30% of Devices
It’s a new month, and that means we get a new infographic showing us the Android distribution on those devices out there. As you can see by the numbers, KitKat has climbed to 30% taking the much deserved lead to all the other versions of Android. That percentage will most likely still rise in numbers, even though the next update we will have some of that beautiful Android Lollipop on it. Let us know what version of Android you are currently running on your devices.
Source: Droid-Life
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The post Monthly Android Distribution Infographic Shows KitKat on 30% of Devices appeared first on AndroidSPIN.
Amazon Fire TV software update ports tablet games
The selection of games on the Fire TV just got way better. A software update is available for the set-top box from Amazon that includes tablet-style games that are compatible with the Fire Game Controller. The controls are modified to work with the controller, ensuring a quality gaming experience. Now, the Fire TV can be much more useful for gaming due to less limitation. Also, the update allows a guest to mirror their device’s display to the Fire TV. The guest does not need the same Amazon account and this works with Amazon devices and Android devices running Android 4.2 and above. Amazon threw in United Kingdom support for travelers bringing along the Fire TV.
Source: Amazon
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A phone and tablet in one? It’s not far off, with foldable displays
The concept of a universal is pretty cool, mostly because you can control many of your home’s devices, lights, heating, etc. with the push of a single button on one controller.
But the common theme here is the combination of multiple functions into one device — so what if you could have one device, with the functionality of both your tablet and smartphone?
Well it’s not too far off, especially after taking a look at SEL’s tri-foldable display. The display was shown off at the Display Innovation 2014 event in Yokohama. It’s an 8.7-inch, Full HD flexible panel, and can be folded up to — wait for it — over 100,000 times, all without the viewing experience being compromised.
Check out a video of the display in action below. You can definitely expect devices to come to market with this display (or something very similar) in the next few years or so, maybe even less.
Click here to view the embedded video.
Source: Android Authority
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Verizon launches its own Motorola DROID Turbo Employee Edition
Another version of the DROID Turbo has arrived. The problem is that you cannot have it. Unless, of course, you are a Verizon employee. The carrier launched an Employee Edition of the device. The only change to the Motorola device is that there is a a red trim on the black exterior. And below the DROID logo is the Employee Edition label.
The DROID Turbo Employee Edition is available in-store only for $99 with a contract or $499 without. Employees can also choose the Edge program to pay $20.83 per month. The only storage option is 64GB. Considering that, pricing is impressive.
Source: Verizon
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Let the countdown begin for Lollipop on the HTC One (M8) and (M7)
Last summer when HTC announced the new HTC One (M8) smartphone, part of their big news was a commitment to rolling out updates to Android on the device in a more timely fashion. This was obviously in response to criticism from the market that HTC lagged, if they even got around it, at updating their devices. Thus the HTC Advantage program was born to not only get updates out more quickly, but to keep devices current for at least a couple years.
Trying to live up to their commitment, HTC’s Mo Versi announced via a tweet today that they had received the final Android Lollipop code from Google. Earlier this year HTC indicated that they would have the new version of Android ready for both the HTC One (M8) and the HTC One (M7) within 90 days of receiving the code, so the countdown has started.
Just because HTC thinks they can get Lollipop ready for their flagship devices by February 1st does not mean users will have it then. International customers could see an update hit their devices within that 90 day window. U.S. customers will probably see an additional delay while carriers work to certify the update for devices on their networks.
The major smartphone manufacturers seem to have figured out that there is a large contingent of customers that want Android updates for their devices in short order after release. Samsung is working on Lollipop for the Galaxy S 5 to be released by December and LG is doing the same for the LG G3. The pressure will increasingly be on carriers to accelerate their verification efforts.
source: @moversi
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