HTC and Valve ready to release HTC Vive Developer Edition on very limited basis
With the smartwatch market seemingly reaching a point of maturity, many companies are working on what they hope will be the next big wave in consumer tech hardware, virtual reality headsets. Not to be left out of the mix, HTC is working on their own version called the HTC Vive in partnership with Valve and their SteamVR platform. As the companies work to release their product later this year, they have progressed to the point where they are ready to release the HTC Vive Developer Edition to a select few developers.
In order to get their hands on a the device, developers need to submit an application to Valve explaining their project, the team working on the project, and how the HTC Vive Developer Edition works into the development process. Valve will use that information to select developers to receive the device. According to Valve, the plan to distribute sets every couple weeks on a continuous basis, although supplies are expected to be limited. Developers will not be charged for the HTC Vive Developer Edition if they are selected to receive one.
source: Valve
Come comment on this article: HTC and Valve ready to release HTC Vive Developer Edition on very limited basis
Android Wear companion app updated with support for Wi-Fi, multiple watches, and more [APK Download]
A couple of days ago, Google announced that Android Wear will get a major update in the coming weeks that will bring support for Wi-Fi, always on apps, the ability to draw emojis, and more. It’s no surprise that the companion Android Wear app just received an update in preparation for some of these changes, but it also adds a couple of new goodies.
When you open the app for the first time after the update, you will notice a screen asking you to accept that your watch will be connected to Wi-Fi via CloudSync. You will however still need to enable CloudSync in the settings. I should note that none of this matters until your watch receives the new update.
The main screen is also different in that it gives you a chance to watch a video showing you the features of your watch. You will also find sections for “Jump into action with watch apps” and “Try out watch notifications.”
Another new feature is the ability to pair more than one watch and easily switch between them without having to re-pair them. I am not sure how many people own multiple Android Wear watches, but it’s a nice feature to have.
The Settings have also changed in that there are now two settings screens. The first page is more general and includes a new option for Calendar settings in which you can select what types of events will show on the watch itself. You can tap on the device to open a second page of settings that include the usual stuff like “Tilt to wake” and “Card Previews.”
This update is rolling out slowly so you might not see it in Google Play as available to you for several days, but we have the APK download link for you if you’re impatient and want to sideload now.
source: Android Police
Come comment on this article: Android Wear companion app updated with support for Wi-Fi, multiple watches, and more [APK Download]
Microsoft Office preview now available for Lollipop users and tablets powered by Intel/x86 chips
Microsoft Word, Excel, and PowerPoint became available in Google Play for Android tablets in January, but they weren’t compatible with Android 5.0+ Lollipop, nor any tablet that sported an Intel/x86 chip.
Microsoft announced yesterday via a Yammer post that a preview has been released that take care of both of these issues. These apps are beta, so you have to jump through a couple of very simple hoops in order to try them out.
You must first join the Microsoft Office for Android Tablets Preview community on Google+. Once you do that, you need to become a tester for each app (Word, Excel, Powerpoint) that you’re interested in trying. The links are below…..
Now you will have to ability to download the preview apps from Google Play. The below links might not be available to you for at least 10 minutes and as much as 2 hours. Google Play has to replicate the permissions.
Also be sure to provide feedback in the Google+ community. The faster everyone reports bugs, the faster Microsoft can fix them, which means the faster it exits the preview stage and will be available to everyone.
You will need a qualifying Office 365 subscription in order to get the most out of these apps. You can still use them without a subscription, but you will only be able to make core edits for free, assuming your tablet is between 7-inches and 10.1-inches. If you want extra features like the ability to track changes or insert page breaks in Word, you need to go with a subscription. Subscriptions start at $6.99 per month or $69.99 per year.If your tablet is greater than 10.1-inches, you will need an Office 365 subscription regardless.
Come comment on this article: Microsoft Office preview now available for Lollipop users and tablets powered by Intel/x86 chips
5.7-inch LG G Stylo announced for Korea
LG on Wednesday introduced its latest plus-sized smartphone, the G Stylo, for its Korean market. Running Android 5.0 Lollipop, the handset features a 5.7-inch HD IPS display and an 8-megapixel rear camera. And, as the name somewhat implies, it features a built in stylus.
Under the hood you’ll find a 1.2GHz quad-core Qualcomm Snapdragon 410 processor with 1.5GB RAM. Nothing too powerful, but we’re expecting LG will keep the price nice and affordable.
Other specifications include 8GB storage with microSD expansion support up to 2 TB, a 3000mAh battery, and support for 4G LTE.
It’s not clear whether this might make its way stateside however we wouldn’t hold our breath.
The post 5.7-inch LG G Stylo announced for Korea appeared first on AndroidGuys.
You’ll need a leather jacket for this retro e-bike
If you’re worried that the future will make us lose our sense of style, you should check out what the e-bike industry has been up to. In order to accommodate the electric motors and batteries, designers have thrown off the shackles of minimalist design to make retro-styled vehicles that ooze ’50s B-movie chic. Vintage Electric’s new Cruz is one such offering, boasting a 1900’s motorcycle design and a top speed of 36 miles per hour.
Of course, as much like Marlon Brando in The Wild One, the rugged exterior hides a gentle inside. After all, this electronic bike comes with a 3,000 watt, 3-phase brushless electric motor and a 52 v battery that, the company promises, will last you around 30,000 miles. There’s a range of 30 miles which should be helped by Vintage Electric’s proprietary regenerative braking, but if that fails you, then recharging should only take two hours.
Now, all of this sounds expensive, and it is, but not as expensive as you may have expected, since the whole package can be picked up for $4,995 — a lot less than some electric vehicles we could mention. The Vintage Electric Cruz is available in three colors, Fiesta Red, Aqua Blue/Green and Cola Black/Brown and is available… from… now.
https://player.vimeo.com/video/124994694?title=0&byline=0&portrait=0
Filed under: Transportation
Amazon trial delivers packages directly to Audi cars
Tired of having to stay home (or ship to the office) just to collect your online orders? If you live in Germany and drive the right car, you might not have to. In an expansion of what Volvo tried last year, Amazon is teaming up with Audi and DHL for a trial that delivers Amazon Prime purchases directly to connected Audi cars in the Munich area. All you have to do is provide the rough location of your car during the delivery window — after that, the DHL courier gets temporary access to the trunk of your vehicle to drop off your packages. Suffice it to say that this could be more than a little handy if you’re busy working or visiting family. The trial will only involve a handful of people when it kicks off in early May, but here’s hoping that it expands quickly… the days of staring anxiously at your front door could eventually come to an end.
Filed under: Transportation, Internet, Amazon
Via: Financial Times
Source: Amazon.de (translated)
E4 will ‘shut down’ on election day to encourage young people to vote
What’s the best way to encourage young people to vote? There’s no definitive answer, but switching off a TV channel is one of the more unusual ideas we’ve heard about. For the UK’s General Election on May 22nd, Channel 4 says it will “shut down” E4 from 7am and instead show a fictional character called Darren. As promotional ads reveal, the idea is that Darren runs E4 behind the scenes, and will be turning off the channel to make sure everyone places their vote. It’s not like E4 will actually close down that day, but still, it’s brave of the broadcaster to abandon its usual slate of shows, ads and promos. We’re interested to see how the public reacts — it’s a little patronising to suggest all of Britain’s youth is incapable of voting and watching The Big Bang Theory in a single day.
Filed under: Home Entertainment
Via: The Guardian
Source: Channel 4
‘The Whole Pantry’ App Developer Admits Faking Cancer to Boost Sales [iOS Blog]
After facing a wave of controversy in March over reports of false claims made towards her cancer diagnosis, Australian indie developer Belle Gibson this week spoke out, admitting that “none of it’s true” in regards to her ever having cancer (via News.com.au).
Last month, when $300,000 of her app sales failed to find its promised home at certain charities, the legitimacy of her cancer claims began to be questioned. Gibson is the founder of The Whole Pantry, a healthy lifestyle and diet app that focuses on naturally-occurring ingredients and solutions to complicated recipes.
Gibson claimed that her app, which launched in 2013 on iOS, was the culmination of a lifestyle and choices that helped her personally overcome terminal brain cancer, a statement she’s now claiming to be completely false when talking to The Australian Women’s Weekly earlier this week.
“No. None of it’s true,” she confessed. “I am still jumping between what I think I know and what is reality. I have lived it and I’m not really there yet.”
“In the last two years I have worked every single day living and raising up an online community of people who supported each other … I understand the confusion and the suspicion, but I also know that people need to draw a line in the sand where they still treat someone with some level of respect or humility — and I have not been receiving that.”
Amid the firestorm against her, Penguin Australia has stopped selling her book and Gibson has faced monetary troubles as numerous accountants have instructed her to provide any leftover funds from The Whole Pantry‘s sales to the charities she initially pledged money to.
The Whole Pantry Apple Watch app before it was removed by Apple.
The Australian Women’s Weekly suggests that Gibson may suffer from Factitious Disorder, whose sufferers feign illnesses and disease to gain a wider audience and recognition. Despite the whole ordeal causing her to shut down The Whole Pantry‘s Facebook page and even her own personal Instagram account, Gibson hopes her honesty on the matter helps her grow from the situation.
“I just think [speaking out] was the responsible thing to do. Above anything, I would like people to say, ‘Okay, she’s human. She’s obviously had a big life. She’s respectfully come to the table and said what she’s needed to say, and now it’s time for her to grow and heal.’”
Apple began promoting Gibson’s app The Whole Pantry as a featured spot on its Apple Watch app page, going so far as to fly Gibson out to Cupertino to assist her in being one of the first-wave launch apps for the Watch. The company ended up pulling the app from its App Store, and stopped promoting the Apple Watch version, when the fraud allegations began in March.
Note: Due to the political nature of the discussion regarding this topic, the discussion thread is located in our Politics, Religion, Social Issues forum. All forum members and site visitors are welcome to read and follow the thread, but posting is limited to forum members with at least 100 posts.
Sony raises earnings estimate again, but it’s not thanks to smartphones
For the second time in three months, Sony announced that it will raise its outlook for the fiscal year that just ended.
Sony first raised its earnings estimate for FY2014 in February, when the company projected that it would make 20 billion yen in operating profit, thanks to stronger than expected sales of the PlayStation, camera sensors, and entertainment units.
Today Sony said it expects better results compared to the last estimate, and by a big margin. The company now expects to make 68 billion yen ($569 million) in the year that ended on March 31. That’s more than three times the previous estimate, and more than double the operating profit from last year, which was 26.5 billion yen. Sony also surprised analysts polled by Bloomberg, who were expecting on average just 47.2 billion for the year.
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Sony will publish its final results for the year on April 30.
The good news is Sony’s focus on gaming, sensors, and entertainment seems to be paying off. The bad news is the company will actually post a net loss of 126 billion yen, due to the massive impairment charge it took last year for its mobile unit.
Furthermore, there’s nothing in Sony’s statement suggesting any positive developments on the smartphone front. The company just introduced the Xperia Z4 in Japan, sparking controversy on whether that’s a massive mistake or a purely local play with no bearing on the international market.
Sony said in February that it doesn’t see mobile as a growth driver in its mid-term strategy. The company will focus on bringing its smartphone unit to black, by cutting costs and focusing on the higher end of the market. Cost cutting measures include the layoff of 2,100 employees this year.
Samsung Galaxy S6 sales reportedly fall short of expectations in South Korea
The Samsung Galaxy S6 and S6 Edge have certainly been at the top of tech headlines since they were first unveiled back at MWC. Bringing improved specs and an attractive new design, we’ve heard numerous reports about how successful the latest Galaxy S devices have been with Samsung exceeding pre-order expectations both in Korea and around the globe. However, now that the dust has settled a bit, things may not be as rosy as they seem.
Read also: Android innovation: Sony and HTC risk falling behind even more
Just last week we learned that the Galaxy S6 and S6 Edge had achieved a combined 300,000 pre-orders, leading at least one Samsung exec to boldly state that the Galaxy S6 and S6 Edge could reach over 70 million units sold. Unfortunately, a new report from Korea indicates that out of the 300,000 pre-orders, only 200,000 units have been sold. This suggests early forecasts may have been inaccurate.
The Galaxy S6 continues to be well received among tech fans and casual consumers alike, and so we certainly wouldn’t be worried if we were Samsung.
Does this situation sound at all familiar? It should, as we saw a similar scenario with the Samsung Galaxy S5. Initially sales seemed to be strong for the Galaxy S5, and then things slowed down — considerably. Of course, that doesn’t mean that Samsung’s latest Galaxy is following in the same footsteps.
The Galaxy S5 actually saw a ramped up and more aggressive launch (120 vs 60 launch markets) over the Galaxy S4, which is why sales initially seemed stronger. In contrast, we’ve actually heard reports about how there is a great demand for the Galaxy S6 Edge, more demand than Samsung can meet at this point. As Samsung increases production of the Galaxy S6 Edge, sales will only get better.
Beyond this, the report from Yonhap News mentions that South Korea’s telecom watchdog has been working hard to improve transparency, banning carriers fro paying subsidies far exceeding the legal ceiling.
Latest Galaxy S6 videos
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This lead carriers to keep the subsidies modest at 210,000 won ($193.90) upon release, below the maximum legal ceiling of 330,000 won. As carriers increase subsidies, resulting in a lower price for contract-signing consumers, the Galaxy S6 sales should improve even further.
Bottom-line, these are still early days for the Galaxy S6 and there are a number of factors that could have lead to slightly less impressive sales than initially believed. The Galaxy S6 continues to be well received among tech fans and casual consumers alike, and so we certainly wouldn’t be worried if we were Samsung. Despite this latest report, all indications point to one of the most successful Galaxy S launches in history.
Own a Galaxy S6 or S6 Edge? Check out our list of best cases and wireless chargers!
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