64GB HTC One M9 confirmed during Taiwan launch
Following the official unveiling of the One M9 at MWC, the company held another event in Taiwan to announce the launch date in the country. The One M9 will go on sale in Taiwan on March 16th, with the rest of the world to follow shortly afterwards.
HTC has already dished out the specifications and we’ve been hearing a few leaks about the price, but in Taiwan HTC’s Dong Junliang also confirmed that there will be two variants of the M9, each with different storage options. The 32GB model, which was already confirmed, is to be joined by a 64GB internal memory option, both of which also come with microSD card slots for an additional 128GB of space.
As for pricing, the 32GB One M9 will cost 21,900 TWD (roughly $693), while the 64GB will retail for 23,900 TWD (approximately $756), so there isn’t a huge price gap between the two. HTC did not confirm if the 64GB model will be made available in other regions, but we did see two options appear globally with M8.
Has double the internal memory made the HTC One M9 more appealing, or do storage options not matter so much in smartphones that have a large microSD capacity?
Evernote’s Android app gets Material Design update
Evernote has released a major update for its Android app, bringing all of the Material Design goodness to it. Countless apps have received Material Design updates since Google announced its design guidelines for Lollipop last year.
The major update has completely changed the look and behaviour of the Evernote app making it much more easy to use, says the firm. The key updates include a flatter look, bolder colors, and improved typography. Even the note editing and viewing experience has improved considerably as the cleaner layout brings simplified controls to allow you to write and edit more efficiently.
The new app has customizable floating action buttons, which allow you to easily create text notes just by tapping the new note button. Also, the update has improved the navigation drawer can be personalized as per your liking. You also get a new notebook covers that help you differentiate your notebook note lists from your normal note lists. While the new update is not really a groundbreaking one, it certainly has made the note-taking experience much more flexible.
Source: Evernote blog
The post Evernote’s Android app gets Material Design update appeared first on AndroidGuys.
Google Flight Search gets Happiness Factor integration from agreement with Routehappy
Flight amenity data such as Wi-Fi, in-seat power, and seat type, comes to Google Flight Search results thanks to a new agreement with Routehappy.
Routehappy has two proprietary systems. Flightpad researches and verifies flight amenities by aircraft, cabin, schedule, and route while Flightmatch is a set of algorithms that scores Happiness Factors, duration, and ratings for billions of possible flight combinations.
“We know people are looking for more information about the flights they’re taking before they buy, so integrating Routehappy Happiness Factors is a great addition to Google Flights. Now even more people have access to comprehensive flight amenity data and useful flight search information,” said Gianni Marostica, Director Business Development, Travel, Google.
Full Press Release:
Routehappy Integrates Happiness Factors Into Google Flights Results
Routehappy and Google sign worldwide data licensing agreement for use of Routehappy Happiness Factors in Google Flights
NEW YORK, March 12, 2015 /PRNewswire/ — Routehappy, the product differentiation platform for air travel, today announced a worldwide agreement with Google to integrate flight amenity data from its Scores & Happiness Factors API into Google Flights results. This integration will allow Google Flights users in all geographies to see and compare amenities by flight, including seat type, in-seat power, and Wi-Fi.
“We know people are looking for more information about the flights they’re taking before they buy, so integrating Routehappy Happiness Factors is a great addition to Google Flights. Now even more people have access to comprehensive flight amenity data and useful flight search information,” said Gianni Marostica, Director Business Development, Travel, Google.
Routehappy’s Scores & Happiness Factor data is derived from two proprietary Routehappy systems, Flightpad and Flightmatch. Routehappy researches and verifies flight amenities by aircraft, cabin, schedule, and route on a constant basis from hundreds of disparate sources to create Flightpad, the most comprehensive, accurate comparable product attribute dataset for flights worldwide. Flightmatch is a set of powerful and intelligent algorithms that dynamically match and score Happiness Factors, duration, and ratings for billions of possible flight combinations.
“Air travel has never been more differentiated, with airlines investing billions of dollars in their products and fundamentally changing how they sell flights. Airlines and distributors need data, content, and tools to manage their product differentiation,” said Robert Albert, Routehappy CEO. “Google Flights is innovating flight search in powerful new ways, including offering lightning fast search and now more comprehensive amenity data for flyers. We’re thrilled to be partnering with Google in bringing useful information to flyers everywhere.”
For more information on Routehappy, including a demo flight search application, information on products, and recent company news, please visit http://www.routehappy.com.
ABOUT ROUTEHAPPY
Routehappy is the product differentiation platform for air travel, providing the industry with data, content, and tools to improve flight shopping. Routehappy’s Scores & Happiness Factors API rates flights worldwide and provides Aircraft, Seat, Layout, Entertainment, Wi-Fi, Power and Fresh Food data by flight. Routehappy Hub is a SaaS platform that enables airlines to organize, target, and deliver their product attributes wherever flights are sold, helping airlines better monetize their products. Routehappy recently announced data licensing partnerships with Expedia and Serko, and released a Global State of In-flight Wi-Fi. Routehappy is based in New York. For more information, visit http://www.routehappy.com.
Come comment on this article: Google Flight Search gets Happiness Factor integration from agreement with Routehappy
Samsung commits to premium designs and high-res screens across its range
Samsung held its yearly shareholder meeting today in Seoul, and one of the hottest topics was the performance of the mobile unit and what Samsung is doing to reverse the decline from 2014.
Speaking to shareholders, head of mobile unit JK Shin said Samsung would double down on premium features in 2015, in a bid to make Samsung devices stand out against a resurgent Apple and the assault of cheaper Chinese competitors.
“Samsung Electronics aims to consolidate its leadership in the premium market and plans to newly change the smartphone line-up to strengthen competitiveness,” the executive said.
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Samsung will focus on three core aspects: metal casings, slim designs, and high-definition displays, according to Shin, and interestingly, these features will be used across Samsung’s range of models. That’s a clear sign that Samsung intends to employ metal designs in more devices this year, joining devices like the Galaxy A series and, of course, the new Galaxy S6.
Samsung Electronics Vice-Chairman Oh-Hyun Kwon reiterated the focus on premium devices in his letter to the company shareholders:
“For our core businesses, we will focus more on developing premium products and reinforcing technology leadership to secure competitive advantage. By doing so, we will maintain our absolute superiority not only in advanced markets but also in growth segments such as emerging and low-priced markets.”
Samsung’s newfound focus on premium designs has likely been bolstered by the warm reception that its new flagship is enjoying – regular customers, pundits, and carriers have showered the Galaxy S6 and the S6 Edge with praise, prompting Samsung to increase the initial production run by a million.
Do you think a bigger focus on premium features will be enough for Samsung to resume growth?
23andMe plans to use your genetic data to create new drugs
For over a year now, 23andMe has been stuck in a regulatory quagmire with the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA). Although it’s still able to sell its personal DNA kits, the company is effectively banned from offering health-related genetic tests in the US. A few weeks ago it was given the go-ahead for a single check, a rare disorder called Bloom syndrome, but it’s only a small step towards the broader health reports it provided before. While it waits for wider FDA approval, 23andMe has decided to enter the drugs market. The company already works with major pharmaceutical firms including Pfizer and Genentech, but now it’s prepared to go it alone. The startup has accrued a vast amount of health-related information from its users, so there’s an obvious opportunity to apply that database to the field of medicine. Instead of just looking for health-related ailments, and offering users the results, 23andMe wants to go one step further and develop the cures too.
According to Bloomberg, 23andMe hasn’t decided on any specific diseases or types of drugs to target first, and it hasn’t ruling out working with other, more established pharmaceutical companies in the US either. Regardless, the direct relationship 23andMe has with its customers could be a potent combination. “By engaging [our users] and giving it to them as a prize, saying, ‘You’ve powered this study and you’ve made this happen,’ we can do things in a different way,” 23andMe chief executive Anne Wojicki says.
Filed under: Misc
Via: The Verge
Latest Windows 10 Preview leak shows off Task View and Wi-Fi improvements
The Windows 10 Technical Preview is well under way, and while Microsoft has yet to release another build to the public, that hasn’t halted certain folk from publishing screenshots of unreleased builds. Improvements have been spotted in build 10036.
Google knows if your flight has WiFi
Google Flight Search can send you to a random spot on the globe, and now it’ll tell you if that fare offers WiFi too. Through a partnership with flight-rating service Routehappy, the search giant will populate your queries with amenity information like the aforementioned internet availability, in-seat power outlets, media streaming to your own device and seat type. Since trips on Virgin America’s kitted out planes aren’t exactly feasible for every trip, Google’s new tools should make it easier to see what flights offer a somewhat comparable experience before you board.
[Image credit: Jupiterimages.com]
Filed under: Transportation, Internet, Google
Via: AndroidCentral
Source: PR Newswire
Transformers: Battle Tactics sees its first in-game event to take down the evil Stunticons
DeNA has announced the first in-game event to hit Transformers: Battle Tactics, launching Menasor’s Might on both Android and iOS. This special event will take place from March 12 through March 18.
During the Menasor’s Might event, Transformers: Battle Tactics players will be tasked with taking on the evil Stunticons who have linked to form the ruthless Combiner, Menasor. Players will be able to battle elite new enemies for a limited time only, alongside collecting Stunticons. New characters are on offer with PvP combat, making Menasor’s Might a solid event for fans of the game to enjoy.
If you haven’t already checked out the turn-based title, and are a fan of Transformers, we strongly urge you do so. As noted already, the event has already commenced and will continue through March 18.
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Google Looking to Launch VPN Service for Android
There is talk spreading that Google may be considering creating a VPN service for Android users everywhere. This talk stems from a secret hidden beneath the new Android 5.1 update for the Nexus 6. If you currently own a Nexus 6 running Android 5.1, follow along and see if you can find what we’re talking about.
Included in the update for the Nexus, there is an app called Google Connectivity Services. Don’t check your app drawer; you won’t find it there. It can only be found in the list under Settings > Apps > All. It is possible to run it after tweaking it a bit. (If you are interested, follow the link below.) Once it is run, you are alerted that Google VPN is being run to keep your data transmitted securely. If you select, “Got It,” you will be taken to a Connection request window that requests your permission to set up a VPN. If you select, “OK,” the app will stop running, so it is far from finished.
While no one can be certain what exactly Google has in mind, there are plenty of things to consider. Will this service be freely available to all Android user, or will there be a charge to use it? Will there be unlimited bandwidth, or will we have caps to our VPN usage? Is Google only planning to use this feature in relation to the Mobile Network it is trying to run? Leave your comments below and start a discussion on what you think is happening.
Via: GSM Arena
Source: Pocketables
Come comment on this article: Google Looking to Launch VPN Service for Android
Unofficial ChromeOS Extension lets you access Dropbox
Although Google Drive is incredibly easy to use from the ChromeOS, other cloud storage providers don’t quite mesh as well. That has changed with a new unofficial Dropbox extension added to the Chrome store. Now you can sync files to and from your account on Dropbox right from the Files app.
The installation and setup are quite simple, but do keep in mind that this is a third party app, so use at your own risk. As soon as it’s set up, you will see your Dropbox files in your Files app.
Go ahead and follow the link to get it set up, and let us know how it goes!
Source: Google Chrome Store
Come comment on this article: Unofficial ChromeOS Extension lets you access Dropbox
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