Hulu’s former CEO lets you try his YouTube alternative
Hulu’s ex-CEO Jason Kilar has been extolling the virtues of Vessel, his would-be YouTube rival, for weeks. Today, though, you can finally find out whether or not it’s all that it’s cracked up to be — Vessel has launched an invitation-only public beta. You’ll have to watch on an iOS device or the web (Android is coming “soon”), but you’ll otherwise have a month’s worth of unfettered access to the service’s early, professional-level content. There’s no word on when Vessel will be available invitation-free. Even so, the beta is at least proof that the video hub exists as more than just a well-meaning concept.
Filed under: Cellphones, Internet, Mobile
Source: Vessel
Vector 74: Google Glass, iTunes as an studio
Vector is a news and analysis show focusing on the biggest stories, hottest trends, and most important issues in technology and popular culture. On this week’s show, Dave reads 1-star reviews, Georgia reads 5-star reviews, Guy serenades, we talk Google Glass, Amazon and Woody Allen, and iTunes as an indie publisher or studio. Then Rene stops recording.
(Note: Audio turned out weird this week. We’re investigating. Sorry folks!)
Show notes
- Pending.
Panel
- Georgia Dow of Isometric
- Guy English of Kickingbear
- Dave Wiskus of Better Elevation
- Rene Ritchie of Mobile Nations
Feedback
Question, comment, recommendation, or something you want us to follow up on for the next show?
- Email vector@mobilenations.com or leave a comment below.
BlackBerry CEO calls for ‘app neutrality’, iMessage for all!
BlackBerry CEO John Chen has not only weighed in on net neutrality, but bizarrely face-huggered the idea of ‘app neutrality’ into his statement as well. In other words he thinks Apple should be mandated to make iMessage for BB10 phones. From the BlackBerry blog:
Unfortunately, not all content and applications providers have embraced openness and neutrality. Unlike BlackBerry, which allows iPhone users to download and use our BBM service, Apple does not allow BlackBerry or Android users to download Apple’s iMessage messaging service. Netflix, who has forcefully advocated for carrier neutrality, has discriminated against BlackBerry customers by refusing to make its streaming movie service available to them. Many other applications providers similarly offer service only to iPhone and Android users. This dynamic has created a two-tiered wireless broadband ecosystem, in which iPhone and Android users can access far more content and applications than customers using devices running other operating systems. These are precisely the sort of discriminatory practices that neutrality advocates have criticized at the carrier level.
Therefore, neutrality must be mandated at the application and content layer if we truly want a free, open and non-discriminatory internet.
The blog post is adapted from a letter sent to the Chairman of the U.S. Senate Committee on Commerce, Science and Transportation, the Chairman of the House Committee on Energy and Commerce, and Ranking Committee Members.
I love BlackBerry. They’re Canadian, like me, and they bought QNX and gave it a human interface, which is incredibly cool. I wish they had other lines of business to support them, the way Windows Phone has Office and desktop Windows. Instead of Samsung rumors, if they do sell, I hope very much it’s to another Canadian company — No, not Tim Horton’s or lululemon! — that can provide similar support. I hope it’s to someone who can give them the room and the runaway to make products so compelling the Netflixes of the world race to make apps for them.
(I’ve written before about why there’s no iMessage for Android, or no FaceTime. It’s not the business Apple’s in, and also why I think something like iTunes for iCloud is more likely when it comes to future cross-platform support.)
But there’s a huge difference between fair and equal transport of content and information and the forced production of that content. iMessage and BBM should both have equal access to the internet, but Apple should no more be forced to make iMessage for BlackBerry than McDonalds should be forced to make Big Macs for Burger King or Joss Whedon should be forced to make a Justice League movie for Warners, or BlackBerry should be forced to make BBM for Tizen.
It really does suck that Netflix isn’t available as a native app for BB10 and that Google refuses to make most of their apps for Windows Phone, but the idea of ‘app neutrality’ doesn’t fix that. Making a phone that hundreds of millions of people just have to have fixes that.
Google adds Work Chrome to Play Store, pulls it just as quickly
Earlier today, Google tipped its hand at a new app it’s working on called Work Chrome. It appears to be part of the Android Work program, which is promoted as an enterprise solution for companies wanting to use Android for business purposes. The app or apps could appear on personal devices with company profile log-ins or with business provided Android devices.
Just as mysteriously as the app’s arrival to the Play Store, Work Chrome was pulled by Google shortly after.
As you can see in the image above, captured by Liam Spradlin of Android Police, Work Chrome has a small indicator on the lower-right of the icon. This badge is probably what will be used to distinguish Android Work apps from their personal counterparts.
Companies like Spectralink, who provide communication solutions for healthcare settings, already create Android devices for the work environment. So perhaps we may see more of these type devices which will begin utilizing Android Work in the future. Additionally, with bring-your-own Android smartphones or business provided ones, companies will be able to keep personal data and business data separate by using Android Work and its series of applications.
Source: Android Police
Come comment on this article: Google adds Work Chrome to Play Store, pulls it just as quickly
Google+ updated with new refresh gesture and section name changes
Update Wednesday has arrived! So what does Google have in store for us this week? So far Google+ has been the only update we’ve spotted, though it is possible we’ll see at least a few other minor app updates as the day progresses. Google+ v.9 is a fairly minor update, but that doesn’t mean there isn’t any noticeable changes.
First, you’ll find that Google has decided to change up some of the section names for G+, for example changing Everything to Home. Google has also introduced a new swipe down gesture that refreshes individual posts, making it easier than ever to see new comments. We’re sure there are at least a few other minor changes to the aesthetics here, but those are the most noticeable things. It’s also likely that the latest update includes the usual bug fixes and performance improvements seen with these types of updates, but we don’t have an official changelog just yet.
In Google’s usual fashion, expect this update to rollout in stages. For those that don’t want to wait any longer than they have to, we’ve uploaded the APK for your downloading pleasure. What do you think of the update? Let us know in the comments.
Apple’s Time Machine, Cover Flow, and Safari for iOS Targeted in New Patent Infringement Lawsuit
Patent holding company TriDim Innovations this week filed a patent infringement lawsuit against Apple, accusing the companying of violating two 3D workspace patents the company owns. The lawsuit was filed in the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of California with a judge assignment still pending.
TriDim asserts in the suit that Apple is infringing on U.S. patents 5,838,326 and 5,847,709, both of which address document management in 3D workspaces. Specifically, Apple Time Machine, Cover Flow, and Safari for iOS 7 and 8 are claimed to be infringing on the patents.
One embodiment of the document display space disclosed in TriDim’s patents
Both of TriDim’s patents were originally filed in 1996 and awarded to Xerox in late 1998, although they have changed hands several times in recent years. Patent ’326 details a method of moving and manipulating document objects in a 3D workspace using touch-drop, flick and other gestures.
A computer controlled display system for displaying a three-dimensional document workspace is disclosed. One or more documents objects are present in the document workspace. The present invention provides for interaction with the collections, e.g. viewing, moving and storing, while balancing the necessary tradeoffs of rapid access, number of collections and associated documents, and available screen space.
TriDim is asking for unspecified monetary damages for Apple’s alleged infringement, along with interest and court costs.
https://www.scribd.com/embeds/253305528/content?start_page=1&view_mode=scroll&access_key=key-9WdfkBv5VHawdj4NjBpj&show_recommendations=true
TriDim’s lawsuit is not the first time Apple has been accused of patent infringement for its Time Machine and Cover Flow interfaces. In 2010, Apple was initially hit with a $625 million judgment in a case centered on a different set of patents owned by Mirror Worlds LLC. That verdict was ultimately overturned, however, and became final when the U.S. Supreme Court declined to hear the case.
Google lists the Motorola Turbo Charger as “coming soon” in the Play Store
Devices like the Nexus 6, Motorola DROID Turbo, and HTC One (M8) are capable of enhanced charging with Qualcomm Quick Charge 2.0 technology. The special chargers, when paired with supported devices, powers them much quicker than ordinary chargers. Both Motorola and HTC have released their own Quick Charge 2.0 chargers, but availability has been somewhat limited. The Motorola Turbo Charger will soon be available in the Play Store. When? No one is sure. It is a good sign, however, that its status reads “coming soon.” The price listed is $34.99.
In the meantime, you can purchase the Turbo Charger directly from Motorola.
Source: Google Play
Come comment on this article: Google lists the Motorola Turbo Charger as “coming soon” in the Play Store
BlackBerry CEO John Chen calls for ‘app neutrality’
BlackBerry CEO John Chen has taken to the Inside BlackBerry Blog to share his thoughts on Net Neutrality and something he calls ‘App Neutrality’.
The post is adapted from a letter sent to the Chairman of the U.S. Senate Committee on Commerce, Science and Transportation, John Thune, the Chairman of the House Committee on Energy and Commerce, Fred Upton, and Ranking Committee Members, U.S. Senator Bill Nelson, and U.S. Representative Frank Pallone Jr.
While Chen hits on topics such as the definition of net neutrality and carrier neutrality, it is perhaps his comments on app and content neutrality that will grab the most attention.
WhatsApp comes to the desktop, with a catch
About a month ago we first heard whispers about the possibility of a WhatsApp client for desktop and now the trigger has officially been pulled. The new desktop oriented WhatsApp experience is presented as a web app for Chrome and while it works rather well, it’s not a stand-alone experience.
The WhatsApp client actually mirrors your conversations and messages from your mobile device, and requires you to scan a QR code on your computer via your phone in order to get started. What this means is that if your phone isn’t working (dead, off, etc), WhatsApp won’t work for you on the desktop. Although it would be nice if the experience wasn’t so tied to your phone, this is still a welcome addition for WhatsApp fans looking to utilize their computer’s full-sized keyboards in order to pound out messages faster than ever. And yes, as you can tell by my lack of contacts, I’m not an active WhatsApp user — though I understand the appeal for many folks out there.
To get started, you’ll want to head on over to WhatsApp’s website, where you will be given instructions that will help you get the desktop experience working correctly. If you don’t already have WhatsApp on your phone, you can download it through Google Play. For those that have already tried it, what do you think so far?
Google Docs suite updated with a few handy new features
Google Drive and Docs have come a long ways over the years, and in 2014 Google even unbundled its Drive apps for Android, allowing folks to grab only the apps they actually plan on using. Now with the latest update to Google Doc Suite updates rolling out today, the experience is getting even better.
The latest versions of Docs, Sheets and Slides now support more advanced features including real-time spell checking for Docs, the ability to hide rows and columns in spreadsheets, and the grouping of shapes in presentations for Slides.Google is also pushing improved security with Touch ID support for our iOS-using friends, and better support for screen-reading services like TalkBack for those with low vision.
Google says the updates will be rolling out sometime later today, though we’ve yet to get our hands on an APK yet. Of course, don’t be surprised if it takes a few days before the update arrives to your device. For those that have already received updates for the Google Docs Suite, we’d love it if you shared the APK files and encourage you to share them with us through our Contacts page.
AIVAnet 