Bayit Smart Wi-Fi Socket, 20% off
It seems, at times, that there’s a disparity between the technological power that we harness in our handsets and the lack of sophistication of some of our appliances at home. With my …
3
Mar
Google Chrome 42 will be the last version supported for Ice Cream Sandwich
Google has just announced that Chrome version 42 will be the last version compatible with devices running Android 4.0 Ice Cream Sandwich. The company explains that developing Chrome with new features for older versions of Android is becoming increasingly difficult, so the browser’s 42nd release will be the last version for devices running that version. Google states that over the past year, the company has seen the number of Chrome users running ICS drop a massive 30%, so from a company standpoint, this move makes sense. Of course, devices running this version of Android will still be able to use Chrome, just not update the app any further.
Odds are, many users that bought an ICS device have since upgraded to a new smartphone, so this likely won’t affect too many users. In fact, according to the latest Android distribution numbers that were just posted yesterday, Ice Cream Sandwich is running on a total of 5.9% of all current Android devices. This is a .5% decrease from last month, and a .3% decrease from the month prior. Take a look at the screenshot below for more information on the most recent Android distribution numbers.
Are you using an Android device running Ice Cream Sandwich? Will Google’s move affect you in any way? Let us know your opinions in the comments.
3
Mar
Jolly Jam: Rovio takes casual gaming in a new and totally fun direction
Rovio Stars Ltd., a division of gaming behemoth Rovio, recently released its latest casual gamer, Jolly Jam. Featuring bright colorful graphics, fun characters, and a three-star scoring system, it falls somewhere between its own Angry Birds franchise and Juice Cubes. As was to be expected, the game quickly became a trending title in the Android space.
They Say
A fresh puzzle game that will surely make you jolly! Prince Jam needs YOU to help save Princess Honey and the Jelly Kingdom. Download and play today for free!
Defeat the evil Boss and his wicked, cute minions through hundreds of levels of fruit-filled goodness. Do you have what it takes to save Princess Honey and become the ultimate Jam Master in this jolly adventure?
We Say
What starts out almost too easy gets increasingly difficult over dozens and dozens of levels. It’s a slightly different take than we expected; no match-three or sliding tiles here.
We’ve played long enough to know we’re hooked and can’t walk away just yet. It doesn’t help when you’ve got all sorts of cute animations, social media competitive rankings, and that three-stars scoring.
We might have flown through the first twenty or so levels but now we’re forced to be creative in completing levels. Just watch out for those in-app purchases as they can be a slippery slope!
The post Jolly Jam: Rovio takes casual gaming in a new and totally fun direction appeared first on AndroidGuys.
3
Mar
Bayit Smart Wi-Fi Socket, 20% off
It seems, at times, that there’s a disparity between the technological power that we harness in our handsets and the lack of sophistication of some of our appliances at home. With my device, I can immediately navigate to a niche record store in some foreign city without evening using my hands but I still have to climb out of bed to turn the lights off at night. If you’re like many of the folks across the world that see the benefit of home automation, you’ll be happy to learn more about Bayit Smart Wi-Fi Socket.
The Bayit Socket allows almost any of your home appliances to be controlled via Wi-Fi. That means when you’re heading home from work you’ll be able to remotely turn on your air conditioner from your Android device. Meeting friends for drinks? Power your lights or stereo system while sitting at the bar with your tablet and enjoy your social time while knowing your pet isn’t sitting at home in dark, quiet isolation. Perfect for TV’s, lamps, fans and more, the Bayit Socket is incredibly easy to set up and can significantly reduce your energy bill. Going for $50 retail, AndroidGuys readers can smarten up their home for just $39.99!
See more at deals.androidguys.com
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The post Bayit Smart Wi-Fi Socket, 20% off appeared first on AndroidGuys.
3
Mar
Samsung Galaxy S6 gallery
Samsung refreshed its flagship smartphone line with the introduction of the Galaxy S6 at Mobile World Congress. Here’s a look at the device from a variety of angles and in a number of colors.
The post Samsung Galaxy S6 gallery appeared first on AndroidGuys.
3
Mar
Apple Shifting Security Team From Contractors to Full-Time Employees
Apple has decided to hire the majority of its day-to-day security staff in Silicon valley as full-time employees, a company spokeswoman confirmed to the San Jose Mercury News. Many of the security guards that Apple has hired in the past as contractors will become part of the company’s expanded in-house security team and receive the same benefits as other employees, including full health insurance, retirement contributions and a leave of absence for new parents.
Apple security guard in dispute with photographer at iPad event (via The Australian)
Apple will continue using contractors as security guards for special events, such as the upcoming “Spring Forward” media event at the Yerba Buena Center for the Arts on March 9th. Apple is believed to have begun constructing an extension on the Yerba Buena Center over the weekend, possibly as an Apple Watch demo area, and security guards wearing “Apple Security” shirts were spotted monitoring the premises.
“We will be hiring a large number of full-time people to handle our day-to-day security needs,” the spokeswoman told the San Jose Mercury News. “We hope that virtually all of these positions will be filled by employees from our current security vendor and we’re working closely with them on this process.”
Apple has faced increasing pressure to provide individuals who cook, clean and monitor security for the company with the same benefits as other employees. Local union United Service Workers West staged a protest on Apple’s headquarters in Cupertino, California in December over complaints that its security contractor Security Industry Specialists treated workers poorly and that many positions were part-time.
Other service workers in Silicon Valley are also fighting for better wages and benefits. The Wall Street Journal reported that a group of 158 bus drivers working for Compass Transportation, which provides shuttle service for Apple, eBay, Genentech, Yahoo and Zynga, voted on Friday to be represented by local union Teamsters Local 853 in negotiations with Compass over fair working conditions.
3
Mar
Android Wear watches are reportedly getting iPhone support
If you carry an iPhone but would rather accessorize it with a Moto 360 than an Apple Watch, you might just get that choice without resorting to unofficial tricks. Sources for French outlet 01net claim that Google is “preparing to launch” an iOS version of its Android Wear app. There aren’t any other details, although it’s safe to say that third-party app support would require additional effort — it wouldn’t be an Android-to-Android connection any more, after all. This is very much a rumor and may not pan out, so don’t assume that you’ll be strapping on a Huawei Watch any time soon. With that said, Google isn’t strictly denying that something is afoot. The folks in Mountain View say they “don’t have anything to share at this time,” so hope springs eternal.
Filed under: Wearables, Mobile, Google
Via: iPhon.fr (translated), MacRumors, SlashGear
Source: 01net (translated)
3
Mar
YotaPhone 2 will launch in the US this Spring via Indiegogo
Ever since the YotaPhone 2 launched last December, the phone had many eager consumers wondering when it would make its way to the US market. The two-faced phone originally launched in over 20 countries including Europe, the CIS and the Middle East, though the promise of a US launch wasn’t slated until “late 2015″. In January, we reported that the phone would make its way to T-Mobile this Spring, and it seems as though we now have a bit more information on the YotaPhone 2’s US availability.
According to spokesperson Mike Kelley, the smartphone will make its way to the US this Spring through an Indiegogo campaign. It will also be compatible with both AT&T and T-Mobile networks, including a number of LTE bands. As for the crowdfunding campaign, the phone will be available for approximately $600, and there will be extra incentives if you’re willing to pay more. There’s no word on those extra incentives quite yet, but rumor has it that Yota may offer a bumper case or an accessory to go along with the device. If the Indiegogo launch goes well, Yota plans to expand the phone’s availability to third party US retailers like Best Buy. For right now, the phone is running Android 4.4 KitKat, though Yota hopes to have the upgrade to Android 5.0 Lollipop rolling out by the time it launches.
For those unfamiliar with the YotaPhone 2, it’s a dual-screened smartphone with a 1080p LCD panel on the front and an e-paper display on the back. The e-paper display can be used as a normal smartphone screen to save on battery life, as well as offer up a great way to read books or magazines while you’re on the go. We reviewed the YotaPhone 2, and you can check out our full comprehensive review here.
If the phone launches on Indiegogo in the Spring for $600, will you pick one up? Why or why not?
3
Mar
Gear VR owners can now access paid apps from the Oculus Store
The Oculus Store is now accessible for owners of the Samsung Gear VR. This means that customers can finally look outside Samsung’s limited collection of apps and download some worthy games and applications.
These will cost you money though as they’re games built from the ground up. We’ve seen demos of these games on the Gear VR, so it will be familiar to users of the wearable.
This makes the Gear VR a near consumer product as it was touted to be a developer only offering until now. The device still has the Innovator Edition moniker attached to it, which doesn’t seem to be going away anytime soon.
Here’s the full list of paid apps already available in the Oculus Store:
- Bandit Six (WWII flying game) – US$3
- Darknet (cyber-puzzler, previously free) – $10
- Dreadhalls (first-person horror) – $5
- Esper (puzzler) – $5
- Gunner (space shooter) – $4
- Protocol Zero (first-person stealth) – $5
- Proton Pulse (brick-braking arcade) – $3
- Nighttime Terror (arcade defense) – $4
- Romans from Mars (arcade defense) – $3
Via: Gizmag
Come comment on this article: Gear VR owners can now access paid apps from the Oculus Store
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3
Mar
SXSW updates iPhone app for 2015, festival will once again use iBeacons
The South By Southwest (SXSW) festival will once again be using iBeacons during the popular event in Austin, Texas, Attendees will be able to interact with the iBeacons through the newly updated and official SXSW Go app.
SXSW used iBeacons for the 2014 festival and this year will see over 1,000 of them deployed during the event. The Next Web says:
When an attendee checks in with the app, the beacons will let them know what’s happening nearby and who else has arrived recently. The idea is make to networking at the massive event that little bit easier.
The app also features attendee matching to hook up like-minded visitors, the ability to connect to Facebook to find friends who are attending, and Session Live – which also uses the iBeacon deployment to show who else is at sessions and let you have discussions with them.
SXSW starts on Friday, March 13 and runs through March 22.
- Free – Download now
Source: The Next Web
3
Mar
Surface Pro 3 wins Best Mobile Tablet at Global Mobile awards during MWC 2015
GSMA, the group behind this week’s Mobile World Congress trade show in Barcelona, Spain, has handed out their Global Mobile awards for the 2015 show. Microsoft claimed one of them for Best Mobile Tablet thanks to the Surface Pro 3.
AIVAnet 