Apple Watch app roundup: It’s all on the wrist
It’s Apple Watch day. And whether you received one already, or are stuck waiting a few weeks for it, you’ll want apps to make the most out of your new wearable when the time comes. Thankfully, we here at Engadget are always thinking about you, the reader, so we’ve put together a list of third-party apps that stand out from the 3,000-plus expected to be available at launch. But first, let’s talk about some essentials. The Twitter and Instagram Apple Watch apps, for starters, will let you check out tweets and view photos right on your wrist, among other things. Sports fans, meanwhile, have access to apps like ESPN, MLB At Bat and NBA Game Time, which makes it easy to keep up with scores without having to pull out your iPhone.
The Apple Watch is going to play a big role for fitness buffs too, and there are a number of apps to choose from in that department: Misfit, Nike+ Running, Runtastic and RunKeeper, to mention a few. Travel often? Don’t worry: Delta and American Airlines, two of the most popular airlines, both have apps. Of course, you may also want to kill time every now and then; for those cases, there are games such as Rules!, a tiny puzzle designed to give your brain a workout, and Pantagu, a novel, fast-paced take on the classic Tic-Tac-Toe. Oh, and then there’s the Chipotle app. Because burritos.
We’ll be updating the list below as more companies and services make their iOS apps friendly with the Apple Watch, so make sure to bookmark this page for future use.
Food
Chipotle — App Store
Yelp — App Store
OpenTable — App Store
Green Kitchen — App Store
Lifestyle
Nike+ Running — App Store
Runtastic — App Store
RunKeeper — App Store
Misfit — App Store
Lifesum — App Store
Strava — App Store
Games and Miscellaneous
Rules! – App Store
Pantagu – App Store
Runeblade — App Store
Mattel Magic 8 Ball — App Store
justWink — App Store
Sky Guide — App Store
Honeywell Lyric — App Store
AOL — App Store
Yahoo Weather — App Store
Music
Pandora — App Store
iHeartRadio — App Store
Shazam — App Store
Djay 2 — App Store
Musixmatch — App Store
News and Sports
The New York Times — App Store
CNN — App Store
NPR One — App Store
The Huffington Post — App Store
ESPN — App Store
NBA Game Time — App Store
MLB At Bat — App Store
Productivity
Evernote — App Store
Adobe Creative Cloud — App Store
Mint — App Store
Gero Time Management Companion — App Store
Merriam-Webster — App Store
1Password — App Store
Gneo — App Store
Shopping
Amazon — App Store
eBay — App Store
Target — App Store
Fandango — App Store
StubHub — App Store
Social and Messaging
Instagram — App Store
Twitter — App Store
Foursquare — App Store
Yo — App Store
Pip — App Store
Travel and Transportation
Uber — App Store
BMW i Remote — App Store
Citymapper — App Store
Trip Advisor — App Store
Expedia — App Store
Delta Airlines — App Store
American Airlines — App Store
British Airways — App Store
SPG: Starwood Hotels — App Store
Filed under: Cellphones, Wearables, Software, Mobile, Apple
Jack White’s Third Man Records now has its own synth and amp
Jack White has been know to go all out for Record Store Day events with his Third Man Records imprint. This year, in addition to transferring Elvis’ first recording from acetate to vinyl for release last weekend, White and his label revealed a synthesizer/amplifier combo that offers some stellar retro aesthetics. The pair, which includes the Septavox synth and Terz amp, was designed and built by Brooklyn instrument company Critter & Guitari. If the synthesizer looks familiar, the same outfit also makes a more compact Pocket Piano instrument. For the Third Man version, though, a metal enclosure houses 41 maple keys alongside seven modes and seven tones. That adds up to 49 different sounds, combining electric organ, vibrato and more. There are controls for tweaking parameters, tuning and volume alongside MIDI input/output, too.
When it comes to the Terz, there’s an all-metal shell to match the synth, with a “hybrid of classic analog amplification circuitry and cutting edge power electronics” cranking out 15W inside. Three knobs handle distortion and volume settings with a 1/4-inch input and gain control on board as well. Looking to nab the set? The Septavox is priced at $395 and tacking on the Terz is an additional $250.
Filed under: Misc
Via: Fact Magazine
Source: Third Man Records (1), (2)
Selfie typewriter hammers out ASCII portraits
Dimitry Morozov, better known as vtol, is a Russian musician, engineer and artist who decided that selfies were far too modern for his liking. Instead, he wanted people to wait for their gratification, and so hooked up an iSight camera to an Arduino-controlled Brother sx-4000 typewriter. Once a person sticks their face in front of the machine, named i/o, the typewriter painstakingly hammers out a portrait in ASCII art. The hardware was shown off at the 101 festival in Smolny, St. Petersburg in Russia, which ended earlier this month – but you can still see the device in action if you watch the video.
https://player.vimeo.com/video/125523559?byline=0&portrait=0
Filed under: Misc
Via: Kotaku
Source: vtol
Cricket Wireless introduces unlimited calling and messaging to Canada for $50
2015 has already been a great year for cellular competition. We have seen T-Mobile, Sprint and even Google get into pricing wars to steal customers away from the competition. Today Cricket Wireless announced they have added unlimited calling and texting to our friends across the border in Canada. Any monthly plan that costs $50 per month will get this feature added automatically. In February, Cricket added a similar feature to this one, yet instead of Canada it was unlimited texting and calling to Mexico. The three largest countries in North America are now all accessible without additional fees through these new features, and with many immigrants who miss family and friends, Cricket offers a way to stay in touch without additional fees.
The post Cricket Wireless introduces unlimited calling and messaging to Canada for $50 appeared first on AndroidGuys.
Verizon bringing back some promotional More Everything plans
Although Verizon CFO Francis Shammo just recently indicated the carrier was not planning to chase after price-sensitive consumers in response to pressure from T-Mobile and Sprint, the company is still making moves to entice new subscribers with some special promotions. The company is bringing back a couple promotions for their More Everything shared data plans.
According to Verizon, they will be offering their 10 GB plan for $80 per month, which is down from the current price of $100 per month, but is consistent with what that plan ran before Verizon made several price adjustments earlier this year. They are also bringing back a 15 GB plan which will run $100 per month, which is cheaper than the 14 GB for $120 or 16 GB for $130 plans they currently offer.
A Verizon spokesperson, Debi Lewis, noted that Verizon offers different promotions throughout the year and now just happens to be the time for these two deals. She indicated they would only be available for a limited time and that there was no defined end date for their availability.
Some analysts think this latest move is in response to the first quarter results and pressure being exerted on the market, Verizon in particular. The offers will likely put even more pressure on Verizon’s average revenue per account, an industry-wide trend affecting all carriers.
source: Fierce Wireless
Come comment on this article: Verizon bringing back some promotional More Everything plans
Acer announces its first Android gaming tablet
Acer have been pretty busy lately. It has now officially announced its first Android gaming table, which the Taiwanese company states goes hand-in-hand with its Predator PC’s. The slate, which has been rather aptly named the Predator Tab, is set to go on sale in Quarter 4 of 2015.
Unfortunately, we have no solid information with regards to specifications, but we do know that the device will pack an 8-inch Full HD display with a resolution of 1920 x 1080 pixels, a quartet of front-facing speakers and an aluminium unibody design.
Check out the full set of press shots below:
Come comment on this article: Acer announces its first Android gaming tablet
Leo’s Fortune is now just $0.99 on Android and iOS
To celebrate Leo’s Fortune’s first birthday, the developers over at 1337 & Senri have slashed its price on both Android and iOS from $4.99 to just $0.99. In case you have no idea what I’m talking about, Leo’s Fortune is an extremely fun and interactive game in which you assume the role of Leopold, a once rich engineer who has had his fortune stolen by a sneaky thief. It’s your job to get back what’s rightfully his by chasing after the culprit and navigating through different platforms.
Check it out in the gameplay below:
If you like the look of Leo’s Fortune and want to pick it up fro the reduced price, hit the Google Play link below.
Come comment on this article: Leo’s Fortune is now just $0.99 on Android and iOS
Samsung starts distributing Lollipop update for the Galaxy Note 4 in Croatia
Samsung has now begun pushing out the long-awaited Android 5.0.1 update to all unlocked variants of the Galaxy Note 4 located in Croatia. In terms of added functionality, this upgrade transports the latest build of Lollipop to the handset, in addition to a multitude of bug fixes and stability improvements.
Hit the break for the full changelog.
- Material Design: You will quickly notice a whole new colorful look and feel to your device – from fluid animations to new application and system themes, colors and widgets.
- Notifications UI & Priorities: In order to alert you to the mosttimely and relevant information, the format and behavior of notifications have evolved:
- notifications will appear on the lock screen and are intelligently ranked by type and who sent them.
- you double-tap to open one, swipe left or right to clear one, or clear all notifications from the bottom of the list.
- you can set the priority and privacy of notifications for each application.
- very high priority notifications will pop up briefly over other applications so that you can take action.
- when you dismiss a notification on one device it will be dismissed on your other Android devices, if they are connected to the Internet.
- you can further tailor how notifications behave with the new Downtime and Ambient Display settings (see below).
- New Interruptions & Downtime Settings: You can tailor how interruptions behave, choosing to allow all, none, or only priority interruptions. You can personalize what counts as a priority interruption (reminders, events, calls, messages) and even tailor them to be from only contacts you specify. The Downtime setting will allow only priority interruptions during the times and days that you specify. e.g. allow only priority interruptions on the weekend.
- Recent Apps (Multi-tasking): The redesigned Overview space (formerly called Recents) will include both applications and separate activities within those applications. For instance, each open tab in Chrome will also appear here along with recent applications; both your Gmail Inbox and a draft email message will appear as separate cards. This provides a consistent way to switch amongst tasks.
- Flashlight: Lollipop includes a new flashlight option as part of Quick settings (swipe down with two fingers from the status bar to see it).
- Pin a view/app: Screen pinning allows you to keep a specific app or screen in view. For example, you can ‘pin’ a game and your child will not be able to navigate anywhere else on your phone.
- Battery: The Battery settings panel now shows an estimated projection for how much time you have left while discharging or charging. You can also enable a new battery saver mode that will save power by reducing performance and most background data operations to extend your battery life.
- Smarter Internet Connections: With Android Lollipop, your phone will not connect to a Wi-Fi access point unless there is a verified Internet connection. This feature improves hand-offs between Wi-Fi and cellular connections, helping to maintain your video chat or voice-over-IP (VoIP) call as you switch.
- Performance: Your phone now uses the new Android Runtime to help optimize application performance. After upgrading to Lollipop, your applications will undergo a one-time optimization process. Note that the optimization for ART requires more space.
- Security: Encryption can now use a stronger 256-bit key to help protect your data. Note that the stronger key willonly be used after you perform a factory reset on Android Lollipop. Otherwise encryption will continue to use 128-bit key. You can turn on encryption in the Security settings menu.
As is customary with all manufacturer updates, the upgrade is being rolled out in stages, but if you don’t feel like waiting for a notification confirming that it’s ready for your device, you can search for the update manually. To do so simply follow the four steps below:
- Open the Settings app
- Scroll to the bottom and tap on “About Device”
- Hit “System Updates”
Come comment on this article: Samsung starts distributing Lollipop update for the Galaxy Note 4 in Croatia
[Deal] – Geek Squad certified refurbished 16GB Samsung Galaxy Tab S 10.5-inch WiFi tablet on sale for $239.99
If you’re in the market for a new tablet you may want to check out eBay or Best Buy. Currently they both have the 16GB Samsung Galaxy Tab S 10.5-inch WiFi tablet on sale for $120 cheaper than they normally are. That’s right instead of $359.99 you’ll get the tablet for $239.99. However there’s just one small detail you’ll need to know.
That detail? They’re refurbished, meaning they aren’t brand spanking new tablets. They are Geek Squad certified though, meaning they’re as close to new as possible. Typically — at least according to Best Buy — most of the Geek Squad certified devices come from customer returns. From there, folks from Geek Squad give it a once-over, then its given to agents who put it through other tests before these devices are sold.
If that isn’t enough, it comes with a one-year limited warranty, so it’s as if you’re buying the device like new. If you decide to buy the devices you’ll be getting a 10.5-inch tablet at 2,560×1,600 resolution, 16GB of storage with up to 128 GB of extra storage via a microSD slot, an Octa-core Exynos 5 processor, 3GB of RAM, an 8MP rear shooter with 2.1 MP front facing camera onboard and Android 4.4 KitKat (though it looks like it’s in the process of getting Android 5.0.2). It also comes with a fingerprint scanner and stereo speakers.
So while they may be refurbished, you’re getting one hell of a deal at two-thirds the price. Hit the source links below to snag one, but you’d better hurry, there’s no telling as to when this sale will be over.
Come comment on this article: [Deal] – Geek Squad certified refurbished 16GB Samsung Galaxy Tab S 10.5-inch WiFi tablet on sale for $239.99
SquareTrade Announces 2-Year Apple Watch Protection Plans [iOS Blog]
Alternative insurance protection plan service SquareTrade today confirmed support for both the Apple Watch Sport and mid-tier Apple Watch models. The plans sit near the cost of AppleCare+ for the Watch, but cover accidental damage done to the device, unlike the additional charge required in AppleCare+.
The SquareTrade Apple Watch plans offer customers options with and without deductibles. So, for example, the Apple Watch Sport plan ranges from $59 to $69 (with deductible) and $129 to $159 (with no deductible). Similarly, the mid-tier Apple Watch models stretch from $79 to $149 (with deductible) and $169 to $239 (without deductible).
Both Watch tiers are 2-year plans covering malfunctions as well as accidental damage. The company believes that one of the most likely points of risk for the Watch will be “among others, drops and falls from nightly charging stations.” But it assure customers that anything beyond intentional damage, loss, or theft will be covered by the plan.
“We don’t mean to dampen all the excitement about the Apple Watch, but inevitably the klutz in us will come out. Just like smartphones, the Apple Watch accompanies us everywhere and is susceptible to the wear and tear of daily life,” said Jessica Hoffman, vice president of global communications for SquareTrade.
The company has even gone so far as to create a “Wrisk” Predictor Lifestyle Quiz that aims to predict which Apple Watch model is most suitable for each customer’s lifestyle. The company created the so-called Wrisk Factor to detect and perceive the risks for the wrist-worn device.
AppleCare+, in comparison, sees its two-year plans priced at $49 (plus $69 deductible for accidental damage) for the Sport and $69 (plus $79 deductible for accidental damage) for the mid-tier Watch, with the only gradient pricing range increasing with the added option of a combination iPhone/Apple Watch plan. AppleCare+ also provides a $1500 plan for the Apple Watch Edition, but SquareTrade appears to have opted out in focusing on those higher-end customers for its new Watch protection plans.
AIVAnet 