Plex for Android update gets Material Design makeover with tons of new features
Plex for Android has received a pretty big update that brings in a Material Design overhaul, plus a handful of new features that Plex users will be happy to see.
The new interface fits right in with Google’s own suite of apps, and boasts easy ways to browse content and select what server you want to stream media from. The home screen has taken up a modern redesign, and everything just looks fantastic.
As far as new features go, you’ll get Plex Home support for setting up multiple users and PIN protecting accounts, and AirPlay is baked in so you can stream media from your Android device to something like Apple’s Apple TV. Useful if you’re invested in multiple ecosystems.
Plex has also upgraded the Android TV Plex app from its preview period, so users with the Plex Pass can use it for free, although you can still make a one-off purchase for it, too.
Any Plex users excited for this update?
Come comment on this article: Plex for Android update gets Material Design makeover with tons of new features
Dell XPS 13 (2015) picks up new BIOS and Trackpad Firmware
Dell’s XPS 13 (2015) with its Infinity Display seems to be doing quite well this year with some outstanding reviews, making it one of our favorite devices. Tonight we were tinkering around with our Core i5 and Core i7 versions when we noticed Dell was rolling out some firmware updates for the popular Ultrabook.
Developer edition of Sony’s SmartEyeglass now up for sale
Sony has announced that they’ll officially begin selling their SmartEyeglass developer edition in four countries for anyone interested in making a purchase. You’ll be able to snag one in Germany, Japan, the US, or the UK, unless you’re in a business customer, in which case it’ll be available to you in Belgium, France, Italy, Netherlands, Spain and Sweden.
The device runs about $820 in the US, not including tax, so it’s definitely not a cheap investment. It still comes out a little easier on the wallet than Google Glass, though, so it might be worth looking into if you’re interested in developing for it.
Shipping should begin in April.
source: Sony
via: Xperia Blog
Come comment on this article: Developer edition of Sony’s SmartEyeglass now up for sale
Test your skills with Magnetic Balls Puzzle Game
App spotlight sponsored post
Magnetic Balls Puzzle Game is casual puzzle game where you must shoot colored balls up at a bunch of other colored balls to create combos of three or more to clear them from the level. It’s currently available on the Google Play Store free of charge right now and there are some optional in-app purchases you can use as well.
How does the game work?
The game works like this. Every level starts out with a smattering of balls. At the bottom, you can see the next color that you can shoot up into the shape above. You tap where you want the ball to go and it attempts to go that way. The catch is that all the balls are magnetized so your shot may get stuck on another ball or cause other chain reactions.
The point of the game is to score enough points to move on to the next round. The point totals are easier to get in the first few levels but get progressively more challenging as you keep going. There are a total of four “realms” the game takes place in that include different graphics, backgrounds, and even slightly different physics in each game type. On top of that, each realm has a bunch of levels that can be completed on easy, medium, hard, and nightmare modes. The result is a casual game that you’ll be playing for a long time.
On top of that, there are some other pieces to the game. There are Google Play Games services that let you view leaderboards against your friends. You can also change the mode of the game which switches the balls to different graphics if the ones you’re using aren’t to your liking. There are also sections where you can change the level and the realm, access the store, and a “more” section that advertises other Freemium titles for you to play.
Game mechanics
The center stage of Magnetic Balls Puzzle Game is the magnetized balls. Thanks to their unique physics, the game is capable of taking all sorts of ridiculous spins based on how you shoot. For instance, you may have a shot go awry when you aim for a spot but the magnetic balls pull it in to a different spot before it can reach its destination and yes, that frustrating bit is all part of the strategy of the game. Don’t shoot where the balls can’t get to.
You can also change the ball that you shoot. Every shot gives you four options. There is the normal, colored ball, a “white” ball that can change color to the first ball it makes contact with after you shoot it, an explosive ball that takes out every ball it touches, then an electric ball that takes out a few additional ones. Each special ball costs coins to use and you earn coins after every round you win. The color-changing ball costs two coins, the explosive one costs 10 coins, and the electric one costs 14 coins.
Of course, there is a plethora of positive aspects to the magnetization. For instance, if you have cleared a path up one side but the other side is starting to get close, you can clear balls in the center and the empty space will drag the left side up with it. This aspect of being able to pull different pieces of the puzzle together by clearing out certain balls is extremely important to the strategy as you can clear whole levels very quickly with just the right shots and, admittedly, it feels really good to see that puzzle practically disappear after almost losing.
The game does include some in-app purchases. They include:
- $0.99 to remove ads.
- $0.99 for 1,500 coins.
- $1.99 for 5,000 coins.
- $2.99 for 25,000 coins.
Comparatively speaking, it’s not a bad in-app strategy. Many “cash grab” style games can ask you to fork out up to $99.99 for in-game currency and you don’t usually get all that much. In this game, you’ll never spend more than $3 at a time and you’ll get a ton of coins that will last you a long time. Using special balls in-game don’t require that many so a 25,000 coin buy will last quite some time.
The pros
Okay here’s what we liked about Magnetic Balls Puzzle Game:
- The game physics really are unique and they can ruin a good time or help you out a whole bunch. It all depends on your strategy.
- There are four realms, four difficulties, and just shy of 400 total levels. Finishing the game is going to take you a long time.
- Google Play Games leaderboards are a nice touch.
- Despite the fact that there are in-app purchases, they are reasonably priced, there are only three of them (four if you count removing ads), and they never get as expensive as other casual game in-app purchases.
- Extra content includes collecting kittens and helping penguins build a ski resort in the hidden “vacation” realm.
- It’s free to play, challenging, and fun.
The cons
And here is what we didn’t like so much:
- The main screen is a little cluttered.
- There are some weird labels. For instance, “Stars” and “Coins” are actually leaderboards, not places where you can go to view your stars and coins.
- Grinding for coins to get the higher difficulties may be a minor inconvenience for some players.
Overall
Overall, Magnetic Balls Puzzle Game is a fun, casual game that almost anyone can enjoy. Its inoffensive nature and copious numbers of kittens and penguins make it great for kids or adults while its progressive difficulty, multiple realms, and magnetic physics keep you coming back for more. What few issues it has are minor nitpicks at best and the game is a decent option overall. If this doesn’t convince you, the game has over a million downloads and currently holds a 4.1 out of 5 rating in the Google Play Store It’s also free so it won’t cost you anything to try it out! Click the button below to grab it.
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VLC for Windows Phone scores a minor bug squashing update
VLC scored a tiny update on Windows Phone today that squashes an annoying bug with Last.FM logins.
Basically, the update fixes a bug with the recently added Last.FM scrobbling feature whereby VLC would crash if your Last.FM password contained the letter “q.”
[Deal] Grab the Pioneer VH-4100NEX Android Auto car radio for $554 from Amazon
If you don’t have an Android Auto capable car, you can get the next best thing with a great deal from Amazon on the Pioneer VH-4100NEX Android Auto car radio that’s fully compatible with Android 5.0+ devices (and Apple CarPlay too).
The VH-4100NEX is the entry-level model from Pioneer, so it has a clear resistive display, but you will find that on most stock car stereos.
This radio usually retails for about $700, but you can pick one up for $554. Not a bad deal at all.
Follow the link below if you’re interested.
source: Amazon
Come comment on this article: [Deal] Grab the Pioneer VH-4100NEX Android Auto car radio for $554 from Amazon
TiVo app and TiVo Roamio Pro: dual review
For 2015, TiVo has decided to completely revamp their mobile app on the Google Play Store. Previously, the last time the current app was updated was on October 13, 2014. There has been good reason, because the new app is full of new features and an all-new design. TiVo was nice enough to send us not only the new app, but a Roamio Pro to review as well.
TiVo app
The TiVo app brings an all-new design bringing it up to-date with the latest iteration of Android. Mainly, it features a slide-out drawer which seems to be a mainstay nowadays, a search bar for shows and movies, and also a quick view of shows.
Once past the login screen, the TiVo app brings you to the “What to Watch” screen that features listings of popular TV, sports, movies, my shows, and a kids section. In order to see the other options, you must slide-out the drawer on the left side of the screen which brings more options such as info on your current show, My Shows, OnePlass Manager, To Do List, and a Remote Control.
One of the most convenient features of the TiVo app is the ability to setup your OnePlass Manager on the go. Did you forget to record that new episode of Fast N’ Loud tonight? No problem. On the top of the screen, you can search for any TV show or movie that might appear on cable in the near future. Once you find the show you want to record, press your selection and you are able to “Get show”.
Once you are in the “Get show” option, you can select “record this show” or “Get a OnePass”. Using the “record this show” option will just record it the next time it is on whereas if you select “Get a OnePass”, you will be able to record all future airings of both new episodes and or reruns.
The options for setting up your OnePass include what season to start the recording from, which channel (HD or standard definition), how many episodes to keep, how long to keep recordings, and even what time to start and end the recording.
One thing I would like to see added to the app in the future would be a way to customize the categories on the “What to Watch” section. It would be nice to have the ability narrow down the categories to make them more specific. For example, instead of all sports, narrow it to just hockey.
The remote control I found was very helpful when my remote was nowhere to be found or it was on the other side of the room. It comes with all of the controls as the remote. The phone layout is a little odd because you have to scroll through three screens of controls, where the tablet remote is much more intuitive.
The best way to picture the TiVo app is essentially your TiVo remote with a screen on the go. It is capable of all the same things as your remote, but you are able to stream recorded content to your device. The app is very stable and it has never forced closed on me, which is good for an app that is capable of so much. Another perk is that it is both optimized for phones and tablets. If the buttons were slightly smaller to fit more buttons on the screen, I think that would be for the best.
A few things I would note about the app is you are only able to have a total of 12 devices connected to your single TiVo box, which may be a problem. Make sure you pick your devices sparingly. Another thing that surpised me, but then again not really, was that you cannot stream content to a device that is rooted. There are ways to record your screen on non-rooted devices so what’s the big deal if the device is rooted? That kind of irked me.
TiVo Roamio Pro
I have never owned a DVR previously, so this was an entirely new experience for me. Previously, I had been relying on Comcast for updating their On Demand playlists when I wanted to watch a show I missed. Unfortunately, I would have to wait a few days or even up to a week for them to upload the latest episodes. While it wasn’t the end of the world, it sure was a hassle. That is where the TiVo box comes in.
Setting up the Roamio Pro was quite easy and the hardest time I had with the setup was dealing with Comcast. Once plugged in, the TiVo box fired right up and setup was very basic. Following the on-screen prompts is as easy as it gets and it is very clear.
For getting the cable to work through a TiVo box on Comcast, you need to get a CableCARD (M-Card) to decrypt the encrypted programming. Once I picked an M-Card from my local Xfinity store, I was good to go, just needed to activate it by calling Comcast support.
My advice to you if you are going to pick up a TiVo box, make sure everything is squared away with your cable provider or else you may be without TV for a day or two. Like I said earlier the TiVo box setup was less than 5 minutes, but I spent more time getting a CableCARD and waiting on the phone with Comcast… so be prepared.
TiVo has come a long way since just being a DVR service; they now are a complete in-home entertainment system. The Roamio Pro comes with full internet access, both wired and wireless capabilities. Since the Roamio Pro has internet access, it is able to stream video services such as Netflix, Amazon Instant Video, and Hulu Plus just to name a few. It can also stream web apps such as YouTube, Pandora, Spotify, and MLB.
With my first takes of the device, it is very quick and responsive. Never once has it froze while surfing through content, settings, or setting a recording. Not only is the Roamio Pro great at doing its job by recording your set shows, it also records programming that it thinks you would like. At first, it isn’t very accurate, but that is understandable. The more programming you rate, the more accurate its suggestions will be.
You are also able to search for TV shows and movies throughout all platforms. That means if you search for a TV show, it will not only look for future airings from your cable provider, it will also search through Netflix, Amazon Instant Video, and Hulu Plus. This is the ultimate convenience so you don’t have to search every platform independently. This was definitely one of the most useful features I found on the device.
You might think that having the Roamio Pro record programming you may like will take up too much storage, but it doesn’t. I have about 30-40 shows recorded as of now, both recorded by me and from suggestions, and I am still at 0% of capacity. The Roamio Pro has enough space for around 3,000 hours of standard definition TV. That’s 125 days of streaming content right there. Since HD is quite larger than SD, it can hold up to 450 hours of HD content. That comes out to around 19 days worth of content. Still a good amount.
If you for some reason think that 3,000 hours of TV is not enough content for you, all of the TiVo boxes today come with the ability to expand storage via an external hard drive. As long as the hard drive has an eSATA cable, which nearly all of them do, it’ll be compatible.
The feature that I found myself using the most though, was streaming video services like Netflix and Amazon Instant Video. Usually, I find myself having to turn my Xbox, find my controller, and switch inputs. The fact that my TV and streaming services are all on one device and one input, it makes it so convenient.
Among other things, the Roamio Pro does come with the ability to play some apps and games. They definitely aren’t anything groundbreaking, but the fact that they are included makes me look at the Roamio Pro as a total viewing experience. Not one thing is left out.
One way the TiVo box could get better is if they had the ability to add profiles like Netflix. The problem I have with the current setup is that the opinion shows I like differ from the tastes of those in my house, so it skews my overall “suggestions”. I figure it couldn’t be too much trouble to add the feature, as the Roamio Pro receives updates via the internet.
Conclusion
At the end of the day, if you are looking for a new DVR, be sure to look at TiVo before you purchase one from your cable provider or someone else. I’ve said it multiple times throughout this review, but convenience is the number one thing on the Roamio Pro. TiVo has done a wonderful job piecing together an all-in-one entertainment center and it has not left me disappointed. It is especially helpful if you use multiple streaming services and you want to bring them into one place.
Couple the TiVo Roamio Pro with the all-new TiVo app and you have yourself a winner. TiVo has definitely worked hard on their new app and it pairs excellently with their TiVo boxes. If you think having a TiVo box is convenient, once you have the app to go along with it, it doesn’t get any better. With a few tweaks though, it definitely could get better.
You can find more info on a TiVo box here.
The post TiVo app and TiVo Roamio Pro: dual review appeared first on AndroidGuys.
Next Windows 10 for phones build will expand to a massive number of devices
In a new blog post from Microsoft this evening, the company says the next build of the Windows 10 Technical Preview for phones will hit a lot more devices.
In addition to a massively expanded list of supported devices, the blog post notes that Microsoft is looking to increase the frequency at which Windows 10 builds will be released for phones.
New shake-up at HTC as designer Becker announces departure
HTC’s management team has been shaken again this week as their VP of Industrial Design, Jonah Becker, has announced he is departing from the company. Becker took over from his predecessor Scott Croyle less than a year ago as the lead designer for the company. Those two, along with Claude Zellweger, were principals with One & Co, a design firm that HTC acquired back in 2008. Zellweger will continue to work on connected products for HTC’s line, but a statement from the company says Creative Director Daniel Hundt will be taking over Becker’s role and will focus on the company’s smartphones.
According to some sources, there is a growing struggle within HTC between the design team and the sales team. This could be the reason HTC has seen two lead designers leave the company now within the space of a year.
HTC issued the following statement concerning Becker’s departure:
We can confirm that Jonah Becker has left HTC; he had been with the Company since HTC acquired One & Co over six years ago. We would like to thank Jonah for his work with HTC, and wish him all the best in his future endeavours. He has been succeeded by Daniel Hundt, based in our San Francisco design office.
Becker’s move comes only one week after Peter Chou moved on from his role as CEO to lead the new Future Development Lab. In his place, chairwoman Cher Wang took over as CEO. Thus far there is no indication that Becker’s decision was directly related to that change in leadership.
It's been an amazing seventeen year journey with One & Co and HTC, but it's time for a new adventure. Stay tuned for details of what's next.
— Jonah Becker (@JonahABecker) March 26, 2015
source: @JonahABecker
via: Engadget
Come comment on this article: New shake-up at HTC as designer Becker announces departure
The Windows 10 preview will work on more phones soon
If you’ve been itching to try out a technical preview version of Windows 10 on your phone but didn’t have a device on the short list, then we have good news. Microsoft just released a list of devices that it expects to support in the next “flight” and it includes additional Lumia models like the 1020, 1320, 1520, 920, Icon and so on (the list is after the break — it does not include the Lumia 930). It will be at least a week until the next update rolls out, but there’s no specific date promised, and the list of supported devices could change.
Some news about phone builds and supported devices. http://t.co/feNeegyYHw
– Gabriel Aul (@GabeAul) March 28, 2015
Until now, differences in partition sizes had kept the Windows 10 testing to just a few devices, but Windows Insider manager Gabriel Aul says that the “partition stitching” code needed to support more devices is finally ready. If you have a Lumia devices, then a taste of the next big update is close at hand, until it arrives take a look at our early experiences here.
The current list of supported phones:
- Lumia 1020
- Lumia 1320
- Lumia 1520
- Lumia 520
- Lumia 525
- Lumia 526
- Lumia 530
- Lumia 530 Dual Sim
- Lumia 535
- Lumia 620
- Lumia 625
- Lumia 630
- Lumia 630 Dual Sim
- Lumia 635
- Lumia 636
- Lumia 638
- Lumia 720
- Lumia 730
- Lumia 730 Dual SIM
- Lumia 735
- Lumia 810
- Lumia 820
- Lumia 822
- Lumia 830
- Lumia 920
- Lumia 925
- Lumia 928
- Lumia ICON
- Microsoft Lumia 430
- Microsoft Lumia 435
- Microsoft Lumia 435 Dual SIM
- Microsoft Lumia 435 Dual SIM DTV
- Microsoft Lumia 532
- Microsoft Lumia 532 Dual SIM
- Microsoft Lumia 640 Dual SIM
- Microsoft Lumia 535 Dual SIM
Filed under: Cellphones, Mobile, Microsoft
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