Google Play Newsstand adds support for Austria, Belgium, Ireland, and Turkey
Content offered in the Play Store can be limited depending upon which country you reside in. Anyone in any country can access free content offered by Google in its digital store; however, only certain countries can make purchases. Today, four new countries received support for Play Newsstand. People in Austria, Belgium, Ireland, and Turkey can purchase and subscribe to magazines and newspapers from their mobile devices.
Source: Google Play (Google+)
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Google Keep updates to v3.1 with labels and recurring reminders [APK download]
Google Keep, the note taking/list making app from Google, has received a rather useful update today that moves the app to version 3.1. The update packs in two particularly useful new functions for those that need to keep their life organized. First up is labels. Much like Gmail, Google has issued a set of labels […]
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iPhone 6S, iPhone 6S Plus and 4-Inch iPhone 6C Rumored for 2015 Release
Apple is planning on releasing three new iPhone models in the second half of 2015, according to a new report from DigiTimes. The site claims that a 4-inch iPhone model will join the 4.7-inch iPhone 6s and 5.5-inch iPhone 6s Plus.
Apple will release three different iPhones in the second half of 2015, the iPhone 6S, iPhone 6S Plus and a 4-inch device currently being referred to as iPhone 6C, according to industry sources.
A new 4-inch iPhone was also rumored in December 2014, with a report claiming that the device would be aimed toward female users. However, even if a new 4-inch iPhone isn’t introduced, Apple will presumably have the iPhone 5s to offer for free on a two-year contract once the current models slide down.
DigiTimes notes the 4-inch iPhone 6c is likely to be manufactured by Wistron while both the 6s and 6s Plus will be manufactured by Foxconn. In January, a report from Chinese site Feng.com claimed that Apple had not made any orders in its supply chain for a 4-inch iPhone.
Earlier this year, CEO Tim Cook said the new, larger iPhone models had brought the highest Android switcher rate over the past three years and that they brought in more newer customers than previous iPhone models. It’s possible that Apple believes offering more sizing choices to customers could allow Apple to reach more customers, as Cook also mentioned different regions preferred different sizes.
Apple is expected to announce new iPhone models in September, with new additions to both the iPhone 6s and 6s Plus rumored to include 2GB of RAM and Apple’s new Force Touch technology, which has already made its way into Apple Watch, the new MacBook and new 13-inch MacBook Pros.
Which iCloud services are you using?
iCloud offers numerous services, including mail, contacts, and calendars, iCloud Drive, iCloud Photo Library, Backup, iCloud Keychain, and Find my iPhone.
If you have an Apple ID, including an iTunes account, you have an iCloud account. You just have to use it. Since you can toggle each and every iCloud feature on or off on in your iPhone or iPad Settings, or your Mac System Preferences, the question then becomes, which iCloud services are you using?
Is iCloud handling your mail and syncing your contacts, calendars, reminders, Safari bookmarks, notes, Passbook passes, and other personal data? Is iCloud Drive storing your files and making them available on all your devices? Is iCloud Photo Library keeping all your photos available on every device? Is iCloud Keychain handling your passwords and credit card information? Is Find my iPhone tracking your iPhone, iPad, and/or Mac in case you lose it or it gets stolen?
Vote in the poll above and then let me know the details in the comments below. Which iCloud services are you using and why? And if you aren’t using some, why not?
BreakingSports delivers everything sports in a slick and quick Material Design package
Speed is something that both sports and mobile applications require. Why not combine the two? That is what BreakingSports claims to do by packaging an in-depth, efficient sports app covered with Material Design. The app, which is available for free in the Play Store, covers all areas expected from a sports app.
It does add an abundance of options for notifications. Users can deem the importance of notifications for headlines, injuries, suspensions, lineups, rosters, scores, stats, rumors, and trends. BreakingSports will then forward notifications when necessary. This is especially handy during the ongoing NCAA Tournament. Fire up BreakingSports and users are greeted with the Material Design goodness that we have come to know and love.
Hit the break for the gallery and download links.
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Facebook debuts Messenger Platform, allows third-party apps to integrate with Messenger
Today at the company’s F8 event, Facebook unveiled its plans to make Messenger much more useful to its users. The social network announced Messenger Platform, which allows developers to integrate applications into the Messenger service.
Users will now easily be able to send GIFs, audio tracks, videos and more by simply downloading an add-on for Facebook Messenger through the designated Messenger store. For instance, if you’d like to send a GIF with Giphy, attach an image with Imgur or send personalized stickers with JibJab, you no longer have to go to each website to complete these actions. Just download each app and you’re all set.
Over 40 applications are already on-board with Messenger Platform, and there will obviously be many more added in the future. You’ll be able to find many of these add-ons from within the Messenger app. Additionally, if your friend sends you a message with an app that you don’t have installed yet, you’ll be able to easily download and install the add-on with a few clicks and respond accordingly. If you’d like to check out a full list of compatible applications so far, head to Facebook’s Messenger Platform Showcase.
Facebook didn’t just focus on add-ons at the F8 event, though. The social network also unveiled a service called Businesses on Messenger, which allows users to easily communicate with businesses through the Messenger app. After purchasing something from a website, users will be able to receive receipts, track/cancel orders, and even have a conversation with the business regarding the order. Of course, you don’t have to receive your updates through Messenger if a business supports it, but the option is now there if you’re interested.
Facebook will launch the new Businesses on Messenger feature with a number of different partners, but there’s no word yet as to when the service will be available to everyone. With all that said, if you have yet to download the Messenger app, now may be a good time to do so.
NASA’s asteroid capture mission is a testbed for trips to Mars
NASA is finally done assessing its two options for the Asteroid Redirect Mission (ARM). Its final choice? Option B: it plans to grab a chunk of its target asteroid and take the boulder-sized piece to the moon’s orbit. While Option A sounded more exciting — it entailed capturing an entire asteroid — NASA has decided to go with this one, because it will allow the agency to test new technologies for future manned trips to Mars. One of those technologies is called Solar Electric Propulsion (SEP), which uses sunlight instead of traditional fuel. More specifically, it uses solar arrays to convert sunlight into power, which propels charged atoms that move the spacecraft — it’s not as fast as rocket propulsion, but it could save manned missions a lot of money.
The agency will name its target asteroid in 2019, a year before the ARM spacecraft is scheduled to launch. It’s eyeing Itokawa, Bennu and 2008 EV5 at the moment, but it’s still looking for more viable candidates. Once it finds its target, the spacecraft will spend 400 days circling the asteroid to test a technique that could prevent one from crashing into Earth. No, not drilling and embedding an explosive into it, but using the spacecraft’s gravitational field to alter the asteroid’s orbit. After that, the vehicle will deploy a robotic arm to the surface of the celestial object to dig up a boulder, and then embark on a six-year journey to bring the sample rock to the moon’s orbit.
The mission doesn’t end there, though. In mid-2020s, after the boulder reaches its destination, NASA will send a manned spacecraft aboard the SLS rocket to rendezvous with and collect samples from it. At the moment, the agency’s planning to deploy a two-person crew to the site for 25 days, but that might change when the time comes. That will serve as some sort of trial phase for the astronauts, giving them ideas on how to best collect and return samples from Mars.
[image credit: GETTY/Elenarts]
Filed under: Science
Source: NASA
VisionTek Wallet Drive review: Great looking, great storing
Having a 2.5-inch hard drive/SSD sled comes in really handy. When it looks great, it’s even better.
Whether you’re a field tech or an armchair computer mechanic who occasionally has to do some triage on a hurting system, having a 2.5-inch USB drive sled in your tool kit is mandatory. VisionTek’s new Wallet Drive combines plug-and-play simplicity with executive looks.
The Good
- Inexpensive
- Simple to use
- Good looking
- Integrated USB 3.0 cable
- Toolless installation
The Bad
- Floppy cable
The Wallet Drive is first and foremost a drive sled for any 2.5-inch SATA-equipped solid state or hard disk drive up to 9 mm tall. Support for 6 gigabyte per second SATA interfaces guarantees lightning-fast data throughput.
Diagnosing and fixing problems becomes as easy as plugging the cable into the Mac, turning the Mac on, and holding down the Option key to boot off the external drive. It’s a really handy way to be able to troubleshoot Macs that are having difficulty.
SATA Drive sleds can be ugly, functional devices – warts that plug in to the back of a bare drive or cheap-looking plastic sleds. VisionTek decided to go the executive route with this case design, so it’s padded in a leatherette case.
The USB cable wraps around two sides of the sled and tucks beneath a magnetic clasp that holds the wallet closed. The cable works, though I’d prefer if it were more integrated into the Wallet: Even with the clasp in place, the cable looks like it’s dangling.
The sled holds the SATA storage device in securely. Plastic tabs integrated into the sled hold the drive in place once you’ve connected it to the SATA interface: They align with the mounting screw holes 2.5-inch drive makers drill as part of the standard drive chassis design. The tabs offer a satisfying “chunk” noise when the drive is place, letting you know that it’s resting securely.
Obviously tech support and field service is only one use for the Wallet. It also looks nice on your desk as it does Time Machine backups or acts as supplemental storage for your Retina MacBook Pro or any other use you can dream up.
The bottom line
The Wallet Drive is an attractive way to store and carry a 2.5-inch hard drive. Whether you’re using it for backup, supplemental storage or as a forensic device for field service like I do, it’s sharper and cleaner looking than other USB drive sleds. And sometimes, presentation counts.
- $24.61 – Buy now
Google Play Newsstand expands paid content to Austria, Belgium, Ireland, and Turkey
Starting today, those in Austria, Belgium, Ireland and Turkey can enjoy paid content from Google Play Newsstand.
With these additions, folks in the aforementioned countries join a fairly limited number of countries that have access to paid content from Google Play Newsstand.
New Android 5.1 build LMY47I factory images now available for the Nexus 5 and Nexus 6
Google has released a new Android 5.1 build for both the Nexus 5 and Nexus 6 today.
Coming roughly a week after the last updated build for the Nexus 6, the new factory image for the Nexus 5 and Nexus 6 clocks in at build number LMY47I.
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