SoundScape by ReFocus Tech aims to improve your focus and boost your productivity
I hate working in silence. I always need some music playing, the TV on or just some ambient noise, in general. It helps me concentrate and focus better. A new app called SoundScape, released by the folks at ReFocus Tech, seeks to help those of you out there who might be like me and need that background noise happening as well.
Google brings Android One handsets to Philippines
After expanding the Android One initiative to several Asian countries late last year, Google has announced that it would be launching the entry-level smartphones in Philippines.
VLC bringing Chromecast support with next update
If you’ve ever dabbled in playing movies and TV shows on your computer, you’ve probably used VLC, or at least heard the name a few times. The program (and Android app!) supports nearly any file format or codec you throw at it, and it’s arguably the most cohesive media player available, even if it lacks some of the extra features other players have.
One thing that VLC has not had, though, was Chromecast support. When Google’s cheap streaming device was announced, VLC said they were planning on supporting it, but as of right now that hasn’t actually panned out. But according to some changes in VLC’s source code, version 3.0 looks like it’ll be bringing full Chromecast support so you can happily sling any media around to your televisions.
The biggest thing to look for here is which app or program the casting functionality ends up on first. It would make sense for it to show up in the Android application, but they might opt for desktop casting first. And based on what we’ve seen from other apps, there’s always that chance iOS gets a taste before anyone else. Hopefully we don’t have to wait too much longer to find out.
source: OMG Chrome
Come comment on this article: VLC bringing Chromecast support with next update
Duck Dynasty and GTA V are discounted in this week’s Deals with Gold
This week’s Deals with Gold includes discounts on Duck Dynasty and Grand Theft Auto V for the Xbox One. The GTA V bundle includes a free Bull Shark Cash Card, which gives you $500,000 in-game GTA dollars that you can spend in GTA Online. There are several Xbox 360 games on offer as well.
Huawei releases MWC 2015 teaser that includes ‘Next is here’ tagline
On Monday, Huawei posted an image teasing what it has planned for MWC 2015. The company did not include anything but the silhouette of an unidentified device with the tagline ‘Next is here’ attached. The styling of the teaser closely resembles what Samsung has done with its MWC 2015 teaser. And, yes, the taglines are similar as well. Samsung is using ‘What’s Next’ and Huawei’s answer is that the ‘Next is here’.
There is some belief that the device teased by Huawei is a smartwatch that features its own 4G LTE connection. Nothing is confirmed at this time and there have been almost nothing to support the smartwatch theory, so we will have to wait and see in a few weeks what Huawei has going on.
Source: @HuaweiDevice (Twitter)
Come comment on this article: Huawei releases MWC 2015 teaser that includes ‘Next is here’ tagline
Sony tests the waters for self-driving cars with a small investment
Apple and Google aren’t the only tech giants exploring the brave new world of self-driving cars. Financial Times tipsters report that Sony has invested roughly $842,000 into ZMP, a Japanese autonomous vehicle startup. While it’s a small start, Sony apparently has big plans — it wants to combine its cameras with ZMP’s robotics to develop “self-driving technologies.” That doesn’t necessarily mean you’ll see a Sony-branded ride, but you could easily find the company’s equipment inside cars from various marques. The move at least makes sense. Sony is already working on automotive cameras, so it’s no big leap to translate that experience to hands-off transportation.
Filed under: Transportation, Sony
Via: CNBC
Source: Financial Times
Apple’s Efforts at Bringing Apple Pay to China Hitting Roadblocks [iOS Blog]
While Apple Pay has yet to expand to any markets outside of the United States, rumors have suggested international expansions could begin in the relatively near future. One of those possible markets is China, with the first iOS 8.3 beta seeded to developers last week building in Apple Pay support for China UnionPay.
According to a new report from Caixin [via MarketWatch], however, talks have stalled as Chinese financial institutions remain wary of Apple Pay and Apple has yet to approach regulators about gaining approval for the service.
“Apple is seeking to cooperate with Chinese financial institutions” including banks for the use of Apple Pay, a People’s Bank of China (PBOC) official said.
At the same time, the American company has not yet “acknowledged regulators” and as a result “it’s unclear whether the product meets the government’s requirements” for a commercial operation.
Apple is also struggling with its relationship with UnionPay, China’s state-owned credit and debit card system operator. Sources close to the companies said that talks aimed at an agreement that would open China to Apple Pay have stalled.
On the regulatory side, the NFC chips used in the iPhone are said to not fully comply with Chinese technical standards, while regulators are also insisting Apple open a data center in mainland China to manage customer information linked to Apple Pay in that country.
On the institutional side, China UnionPay is reportedly wary of losing some of its grip on the mobile payments market, as the organization currently controls the only NFC payments system in use in China. UnionPay’s control of the market has also thwarted Alibaba’s Alipay unit, which has so far proven unwilling to pay fees demanded by UnionPay for tapping into the UnionPay payment network.
China has been a major market for Apple in recent years, with Apple CEO Tim Cook highlighting the company’s efforts to understand and address that market at a Goldman Sachs conference just last week. Those efforts have led to an explosion in revenue, moving from $1 billion to $38 billion over the last five years as Apple has expanded carrier partnerships, points of sale, and other relationships to establish a strong foothold in the rapidly growing market.
Sling TV about to get a boost with Epix video-on-demand service being added in
Last week Dish made the Sling TV app available to the general public here in the US. The app brings along a packaged channel offering for streamers to access live TV on the go. The service offer up 11 basic channels like ESPN, TNT, Food Network, Cartoon Network and others for a base price of […]
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Ask AC: Why won’t my alarm sound after the Lollipop update when on mute?
Here’s one from our forums that we’ve been hearing. A lot. And experiencing ourselves as well.
If your phone’s been updated to Android 5.0 Lollipop and it’s using Google’s new interruptions scheme — that is, All, Priority and None — you might find yourself selecting “None” and using it as a way to mute your phone. I’ve done it. I still do it. But there’s a big catch.
AIVAnet 