Microsoft reportedly buys social calendar app Sunrise
If you’re an Android, iOS or Mac user who doesn’t like the stock calendar app on your platform, you’ve probably tried (or at least heard of) Sunrise, whose socially-savvy software often fills in the feature gaps. And apparently, Microsoft has tried it too — both TechCrunch and Recode claim that the Windows maker is buying Sunrise. While the reasons for the reported acquisition remain a bit opaque, our TC colleagues say that the Redmond crew will preserve Sunrise’s existing apps while folding some of their features into Microsoft products. Neither Microsoft nor Sunrise has commented on the claim so far. However, it’s pretty easy to imagine both Windows and Outlook getting upgraded calendars that will keep you from scrounging for alternatives.
Filed under: Internet, Software, Microsoft
Source: TechCrunch, Recode
Micromax dethrones Samsung to become the biggest smartphone brand in India
As per the latest report from Canalys, Micromax has left Samsung behind to be the top smartphone manufacturer in India. The home-grown manufacturer managed to achieve the feat in Q4, 2014. According to the report, about 21.6 million smartphones were sold in India during Q4, 2014, and 23 percent of these smartphones were priced under INR 6,000 while […]
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Sprint Galaxy S5 tipped to score Android 5.0 Lollipop starting tomorrow, Feb. 5
It looks like folks on Sprint may actually nab two Android 5.0 Lollipop updates tomorrow. According to a FAQ posted by Samsung, the Sprint Galaxy S5 is set to pick up some Lollipop love starting tomorrow, February 5.
WhatsApp getting VOIP
Like anything in an open market, competition allows for changes to be made rapidly in a market space. Recently many chat applications have been adding VOIP calling as a standard feature. Apps like Google Hangouts, WeChat, and Viber allow, mostly, free calls to users over the internet. Recently the team at WhatsApp has entered the fray. According to Reddit user Pradnesh07, this feature was enabled on his device by someone else calling him. Click here to check out a video of screenshots he took of VOIP enabled in WhatsApp. In short, a user with the VOIP feature enabled called Pradnesh07 lighting it up for him. Reportedly, this feature will work on any Android device with WhatsApp build number 2.11.508. Right now, due to its lack of presence in Google Play, side-loading the app is the only option for installation.
The video released by Pradnesh07 shows clearly that the app is segmented into three parts: calls, chats, and contacts. All the standard internet phone features are there like speakerphone, instant messaging, and mute. You can even send IMs while in a call. Since this is a huge feature not officially released by the team at WhatsApp, it seem like it has rolled out to a small group of test users.
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Launchpad Toys’ services are free as Google acquires company
The company behind popular services such as Toontastic and TeleStory will be joining Google. Launchpad Toys announced today that it has been acquired by the Mountain View giant and will continue to create digital toys and tools. The aforementioned current offerings will become available to everyone at no cost as the company works on new projects. In fact, Launchpad Toys could share a peek of its future as soon as tomorrow.
Here is the statement from Launchpad Toys on the company site:
We’re proud to announce that our little toy company is pairing up with a great big team of tinkerers to empower GAJILLIONS of playful storytellers around the world. Launchpad Toys is joining Google to create even more amazing creativity tools for kids. Today, we’ve made our digital toys and tools free to creative kids everywhere. Tomorrow… well, we can’t wait to share
– Your friends at Launchpad Toys
Ironically, none of Launchpad Toys’ services are available on Android. Both Toontastic and TeleStory are iOS-only for the Apple iPad. The acquisition of Launchpad Toys likely means that Google will be directing the company to give attention to Android.
Source: Launchpad
Via: 9to5Google
Come comment on this article: Launchpad Toys’ services are free as Google acquires company
Silk Road creator found guilty on all counts
After a trial of several weeks, a federal jury has found Ross Ulbricht guilty of running and operating the online black market known as Silk Road. He was found guilty on all seven charges, which include money laundering, narcotics trafficking and computer hacking. Ulbricht was accused of being the “Dread Pirate Roberts,” the so-called kingpin of Silk Road, which he apparently started back in 2010 in order to sell hallucinogenic mushrooms. It then grew into a digital marketplace for narcotics which was cloaked in the Tor anonymity network to hide it from view. Silk Road also used bitcoin as its mode of currency because it’s assumed that bitcoin’s electronic nature makes it more difficult to track. The site was eventually shut down in 2013 when the FBI seized its servers and arrested Ulbricht.
The case against Ulbricht was seemingly overwhelming. When arrested, his laptop was seized, and showed him logged into Silk Road under his pseudonym. Law enforcement also allegedly traced thousands of bitcoin transactions between Silk Road servers and Ulbricht’s laptop, stating that a total of nearly $13.4 million was transferred to Ulbricht. Additionally, police found a “crumpled piece of paper” with details that contained a ratings system similar to one that was discussed on a Silk Road forum. Law enforcement was also able to track chat logs, forum posts, messages and emails that all point to the Dread Pirate Roberts dealings in drugs and, yes, even plotting the assassination of would-be blackmailers. Prosecutors accused him of spending almost $730,000 to arrange the hits, though there’s no evidence that these murders actually took place.
The defense, for their part, said that though Ulbricht started Silk Road, he left a few weeks later, and that the Dread Pirate Roberts was someone else. They cited as evidence the fact that Silk Road 2.0 cropped up shortly after Ulbricht was arrested and that personal accounts are often duped or faked. Defense lawyers also pointed out that Mark Karpeles, the former head of Mt. Gox, the now-defunct bitcoin exchange, was once under investigation as being the head of Silk Road. Unfortunately, the latter was not admissible in court as the judge deemed it merely law enforcement suspicion rather than anything concrete.
Ulbricht faces a maximum penalty of life in prison from the narcotics and criminal enterprise charges.
[Image credit: Getty Images]
Filed under: Misc
Source: Wall Street Journal
Under Armour spent half a billion dollars on two fitness apps
Under Armour just outed its own fitness-tracking app at last month’s CES, but the company seems keen on continually improving its software arsenal. To do so, the Baltimore-based sports outfitter paid $85 million in early January Endomondo: an app for Android, iOS, Windows Phone and BlackBerry that keeps tabs on data from running, walking, cycling and other distance sports. Endomondo also plays nice with wearables from Jabra, Garmin, Fiitbit, Withings and more. But that’s not all: Under Armour also announced alongside its Q4 earnings report that it had nabbed MyFitnessPal for $475 million, too.
MyFitnessPal offers the nutrition piece of the healthy-living puzzle, allowing users to tally daily stats on their food habits. With 100 million registered users between the two, it’s easy to see why UA for be interested in the pair, and for now, they’ll operate individually as subsidiaries of the larger company. Of course, Under Armour has activity-tracking gadgets, and in late 2013, it nabbed MapMyFitness to bolster the software of things. One thing’s for sure: the folks in Maryland are getting serious about grabbing a share of the fitness tech space, unafraid to shell out some serious coin to do it.
Source: Under Armour (1), (2)
Gold and silver Mario Amiibo will test your figurine addiction
You might want to make some more room on your shelves, Amiibo fans. Nintendo is apparently working on some gold and silver variants of its popular Mario Amiibo figurines, which can be used together with the Wii U and the new 3DS. At this point though, it’s unclear when you’ll actually be able to get your hands on them. An eagle-eyed NeoGAF poster dug up the furtive figurines on Nintendo’s site, but it looks like the box art is all the info we’ve got so far. We’ve asked Nintendo what’s up, but for now you can start prepping your riot gear to ensure you make it out of the store alive when the bloodbath for these toys begins. Nintendo’s already sold more than 2.6 million Amiibo, and the demand doesn’t appear to be stopping anytime soon.
Via: Tiny Cartridge
Source: NeoGAF
Netflix’s next expansion could reach Japan
During Netflix’s last earnings call executives announced plans to reach 200 countries (up from the 50 or so currently served) over the next two years, and now CNBC’s Julia Boorstin is hearing that will include Japan by this fall. Hulu actually beat Netflix there back in 2011, but sold off its service to a local broadcaster last year. Currenty, Netflix is active in South America and Europe with a launch in Australia and New Zealand coming next month, but this could be a part of its first push in Asia. Otherwise the company is “exploring modest options” in China, but we expect there should be plenty of places to watch those Marvel series by the time they’re all released next year.
Sources familiar with the situation tell us Netflix is entering Japan in Fall 2015 $NFLX
– Julia Boorstin (@JBoorstin) February 4, 2015
Filed under: Home Entertainment, HD
Source: Julia Boorstin (Twitter)
Google Search can now calculate your mortgage for you
Google is rolling out an update to Google Search that brings a mortgage calculator right to your smartphone. You can ask Google things like “How much can I borrow at $200 per month?” or “At 5% APR how much can I borrow over 10 years?” The mortgage calculator will even let you adjust your mortgage amount, interest rate and mortgage period. You can also get monthly payment information, as well as the maximum loan amount available. Additionally, if you don’t have any specific numbers in mind, you can simply search the term mortgage calculator on Google to pull up the new feature.
Heading to financial websites or other online loan calculator sites can be a huge hassle, since many of them require a username and password to use their services. This certainly isn’t the most groundbreaking feature of all time, though it could come in handy if you’re in a pinch while house hunting.
The update will be pushed to Google Search automatically, so you won’t need to go to the Play Store to update.
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