Microsoft invites Android and iOS apps to join Windows 10
Microsoft’s Terry Myerson confirmed on-stage at Build what many of us suspected in the hours leading up to the event — the company’s going to make it easier for developers to bring Android apps into the Windows Store. To make this possible, Myers said, Windows phones “will include an Android subsystem” meant to play nice with the Java and C++ code developers have already crafted run on a rival’s operating system. Turns out, that’s not the only dev-friendly coup we’re seeing today: iOS developers can compile their Objective C code right from Microsoft’s Visual Studio, and turn it into a full-fledged Windows 10 app. This, frankly, is huge. With one announcement, drawn out of the course of a few minutes, Microsoft may have just changed its mobile trajectory completely.
Haven’t been keeping tabs on the matter? Well, today’s news (particularly the iOS bit) came like a bolt from the blue this afternoon, but the situation that probably predicated it has been brewing for a while now. Microsoft’s Windows Phone platform — while distinctly charming in ways its rivals aren’t — has never been the place to go if you’re looking for the newest, buzziest apps. Even Windows software maintained by social giants like Twitter don’t get the same attention as their iOS and Android counterparts; Vine’s video sharing app for Windows Phone got its first update in over a year just a few weeks back. By throwing its arms open to iOS and Android developers, it’s possible that Microsoft just solved that problem. And of course, since Windows 10 is built around the concept of Universal Apps, we’ll start to see all that converted software running on a slew of differently sized devices down the road.
One of the weightier questions surrounding this shift in thinking is, well, what are these apps going to look like? Sure, King may have ported a version of Candy Crush Saga to Windows 10 without breaking much of a sweat, but plenty of iOS and Android apps rely on a set of specific UI flourishes, interactions and design elements that don’t always jibe with Windows 10’s aesthetic. We’ll soon see how this whole thing shakes out, but one thing seems clear for now: Microsoft’s still doing whatever it takes to court developers and this time it could really pay off.
Filed under: Mobile
Desktop apps are coming to the Windows Store
One of the reasons some people didn’t like Windows 8 was that it seemed to include two versions of Windows: Live Tiles and the desktop, with touch-friendly apps kept far away from traditional x86 programs. With Windows 10, Microsoft seems to be trying hard to make the user experience feel less jarring, and now, it’s taking things a step further with the Windows Store. Once home exclusively to touch-friendly, “Metro-style” apps, it will now house a mix of Win32 and .NET apps as well, along with server-hosted web applications. The result is that users will now have a one-stop show for all manner of Windows downloads. From a developer standpoint, meanwhile, all of these apps will be able to take advantage of the same Windows Store platform — that means updates are delivered the same way, and developers can also enable in-app purchases, as they would in any other Windows Store download.
Additionally, Microsoft is giving developers an easy way to port over code from their Android and iOS apps, making it (relatively) painless to convert them to Windows applications and them put them up in the Store. This, too, should soon make the Windows Store catalog look bigger than it once was.
Filed under: Microsoft
Any site can be a Windows app
At today’s Microsoft Build conference, vice president of operating systems, Terry Myerson announced that websites can now be placed inside a Windows 10 universal framework. In other words, developers can make a Windows 10 app out of their site. The site-based apps can be listed inside the Windows Store and support Cortana notifications and in-app purchases. Building these apps is pretty simple according to Myerson. Couple this with news that the company is helping iOS and Android developers port their apps to Windows 10 and the inclusion of .NET and Win32 apps in the marketplace and it’s pretty clear Microsoft really, really wants you to start using the Windows Store.
Filed under: Cellphones, Desktops, Tablets, Internet, Software, Microsoft
Windows 10’s web browser is called Microsoft Edge
TAG Heuer’s first Android Wear smartwatch to launch by November for $1,400
About a month ago, we got word that luxury watchmaker TAG Heuer was beginning to develop a high-end Android Wear smartwatch, though details were scarce when we first heard the news. Now a bit more information is beginning to trickle in, thanks to a new report from Bloomberg. Jean-Claude Biver, CEO of TAG Heuer, on Wednesday said that the company would begin selling the smartwatch sometime around October or November of this year. The watch will go to market for about $1,400 and will boast up to 40 hours of battery life on a single charge.
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Android Wear has yet to see a high-end option, the most expensive ranging up to $349.99. And of course, 40 hours of battery life is more than any of the available Android Wear devices can offer at this time.
When asked about the Apple Watch and the high price tag associated with the wearable, Biver commented:
I hope they sell millions and millions and millions of [Apple Watches]. The more they sell the more a few people will want something different and come to TAG Heuer.
Read more: Top Android Wear alternatives to the Apple Watch
These are the only details we have regarding the new Android Wear device, but we’ll be sure to update you as we hear more. Would you be interested in a high-end Swiss-made Android Wear device? Or would you rather stick to the low-cost items?
LG G4 – Top Features
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LG took the wraps off of its latest and greatest yesterday, and the device does bring a lot to the table, combining the best aspects of the company’s last two high-end releases, the G3 and the G Flex 2. Here’s a round up of what we think are some of the top features of the LG G4!
More LG G4 videos
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*Note: There are some unfortunate issues with the sound in the above video. Audio comes out a bit distorted, especially at higher volume levels. We apologize in advance!*
#1 – Display
Just like its predecessor, the LG G4 packs a 5.5-inch IPS+ LCD display with a Quad HD resolution, resulting in a pixel density of 534 ppi. Unlike the LG G3 though, this display comes with Quantum Dot technology, which was quite a big deal at CES earlier this year. If you’re unfamiliar with the term, what this essentially means is the presence of tiny crystals that breaks down the back light to produce a richer white light, resulting in a better overall image. LG claims that the display has a 20% better color gamut, 25% more brightness, and a contrast better by 50% when compared to the competition. A lot more testing is required to see whether these claims hold true, but it definitely is a
LG claims that the display has a 20% better color gamut, 25% more brightness, and a contrast better by 50% when compared to the competition. A lot more testing is required to see whether these claims hold true, but it definitely is a much-improved display when compared to that of the LG G3.
#2 – Rear Camera
The LG G4 features a 16 MP rear camera with an aperture of f/1.8, which is the widest we’ve seen on any smartphone so far. Not only are you going to get some really great looking depth of field, but it should allow for some good low light performance as well. The built-in OIS now provides stabilization on the x, y, and z axis, that should result in some steady footage while shooting video.
LG claims that this is also the world’s first smartphone camera to feature a color spectrum sensor, that provides a better white balance for a more color accurate image. The camera also comes with a full-fledged manual mode now, with the ability to tweak features like white balance, iso, shutter speed, and more, along with being able to shoot images in the RAW and JPEG format.
Read also: LG G4 official camera samples
#3 – Front-facing Camera
When it comes to the front-facing camera, the LG G4 packs an 8 MP unit, that should make for some great high-resolution self-portraits, a big plus for all you selfie lovers out there. The gesture shot has also been improved, allowing you to take up to 4 selfies in sequence, and should be a really fun feature to take advantage of.
#4 – Removable Battery
The reason this is considered a top feature now is that the option to replace the battery is missing from almost every, if not all, current flagships out there in favor of unibody design languages and premium build materials. If this is a feature you find yourself missing, the LG G4 is basically the only high-end device to come with it, and could be one of its bigger selling points. That said, the device does pack a large 3,000 mAh battery, so this might be a feature you won’t end taking advantage of all that often.
Read also: Is a Removable battery still a must have feature
#5 – MicroSD expansion
MicroSD expansion is still a feature available with many modern Android phones except for, rather surprisingly, the latest flagships from Samsung. With 32 GB of on-board storage, power users may end up needing microSD expansion, which the LG G4 supports up to 2 TB of. Granted, there are no commercially available microSD cards with a storage of 2 TB, so this is mostly about future proofing the phone, but if nothing else, storage isn’t going to be a concern with the LG G4.
#6 – Back Covers
Along with the more standard polycarbonate back covers with a metallic finish, for the titanium version, and ceramic finish, for the white and gold version, the LG G4 also comes with the option of genuine leather back covers. These back covers give the device a more elegant, premium look, and a variety of color and texture options are available, with more to be added over the summer.
It’s nice to see another OEM besides Motorola offer some extra color and material options, even if it still isn’t something as robust as the Moto Maker. If you’re on the lookout for something a little different, the leather options are definitely worth checking out.
LG G4 2015 flagship rivals
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So there you have it for this roundup of some of the top features of the LG G4! Do let us know what your favorite aspect of the LG G4 is in the comments section below.
Google might offer a new Nexus 5 that supports Project Fi
Google announced Project Fi last week, which will bring down your cell phone costs considerably. The only catch is that it only works with one phone, the Nexus 6. A decent phone, but it’s too big for a lot of people.
We can only assume that future Nexus phones will also support it too. It has already been rumored that Google will offer not one, but two Nexus phones this year. Huawei and LG seem to be the likely suspects. It’s also likely that Google will end up calling these devices the Nexus 5 and Nexus 6 since there is nowhere to go with the current naming scheme. The Nexus 5 refers to a 5-inch display, while the Nexus 6 refers to a 6-inch display. And they can’t call either device a Nexus 7 for obvious reasons.
In a recent video that Google released about Project Fi, there is a phone that is clearly not the Nexus 6. Many sites have considered it a place holder, which could very well be the case. It looks an awful lot like an updated Nexus 5 though. Now the new Nexus 5 might not look exactly like it, but it’s more than likely this phone represents what is coming later this year.
You can see it in the video below….
Click here to view the embedded video.
source: Tech Times
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TAG Heuer smartwatch to come with big price tag and long battery life
Jean-Claude Biver, who is heading up the effort to bring a TAG Heuer smartwatch powered by Android Wear to market later this year, revealed some new details about the device in comments at a recent store opening. According to Biver, the TAG Heuer device is expected to hit the market in October or November at a starting price point of $1,400. Biver did not indicate whether the device that sells for that amount will be the only version available or if that is just the base and prices for other versions could be higher. TAG Heuer hopes to compete against Apple in the smartwatch market, whose watches start at $349, but can go for as much as $17,000 for versions in gold.
Biver also indicated that the TAG Heuer watch will come with a battery projected to last 40 hours on a single charge. Although the price may turn off a lot of buyers, that long battery life should make the device attractive to many interested consumers. After all, anyone who buys one may be able to make it through a short weekend jaunt to the resort without needing a recharge if that projected battery life holds up.
In his comments, Biver also indicated that the company looks forward to competing with Apple,
“I hope they sell millions and millions and millions of them. The more they sell the more a few people will want something different and come to TAG Heuer.”
source: Bloomberg
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Cyanogen eyes new Chinese vendors for partnerships
During the Global Mobile Internet Conference in Beijing, Cyanogen’s CEO Kirt McMaster revealed the company is looking to partner with some new Chinese smartphone vendors to carry their CyanogenMod operating system in the future. McMaster did not name names, but he did indicate the vendors they are courting have plans to participate in the international market and not just China. By finding new vendors to install their operating system, Cyanogen hopes to expand the installed basis for their version of Android beyond the current 50 million users they claim.
The move to connect with new smartphone manufacturers comes as the Cyanogen and OnePlus partnership comes to a close according to Cyanogen chief technology officer Steve Kondik. After some rifts developed between the two young companies, OnePlus began development of their own custom Android build to use on their devices. That new ROM was released last month. While OnePlus co-found Carl Pei noted that the partnership has been “mutually beneficial,” McMaster indicated that OnePlus shipments constituted “reasonable volume, but nothing compared to what some of these other partners can ship.” McMaster also claimed OnePlus essentially rode on the back of Cyanogen and would not have been nearly as successful without the partnership.
Cyanogen also managed to entice Microsoft to come on board as a partner recently and the move to help some bigger companies than OnePlus is a benefit for the new partnership. McMaster thinks OnePlus will be able to help these Chinese handset makers break out of China onto the international scene thanks to the visibility of CyanogenMod and Microsoft.
source: PCWorld
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Samsung’s Milk VR brings Lip Sync Battle to virtual reality
The Spike TV hit show, Lip Sync Battles, is now getting a virtual reality treatment – a move that could prove to be the much needed shot in the arm for this new technology.
Footage from 10 episodes of the show, which has already seen a host of celebrity guests such as Anne Hathaway, Jimmy Fallon, Dwayne Johnson, John Legend, Justin Bieber, Anna Kendrick, Jennifer Lopez, John Krasinski, Meghan Trainor, Common, Terrence Howard, Mike Tyson, Taraji P. Henson, Queen Latifah, Will Arnett, Iggy Azalea, Alison Brie, Terry Crews and more will debut exclusively on Samsung’s Milk VR app. Starting April 28th, the Samsung’s Milk VR users will be able to get front row seats to celebrity guests such as Dwayne Johnson, Common, John Legend and Jimmy Fallon.
The television series has already earned the distinction of being the highest rated premier for adults in network’s history for a non-scripted debut and also is the most watched non-scripted series debut in network history with over 3 million viewers. By collaborating with a show which is heavily rooted in online platforms, Samsung’s Milk VR will likely see a spike in traffic.
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