Facebook Lite is now official, made specifically for emerging markets
Over a billion people around the world are connected through Facebook, and it looks like the social networking giant wants to reach many more people than that. Facebook Lite, a stripped-down version of the full-fledged Facebook app, has just been released to the Google Play Store, made specifically to use less data and to work well across all mobile network types.
The app launched in select countries back in January for testing purposes, and is now making its way to many more regions. Weighing in at less than 1MB in all, Facebook Lite is quick to install, and features all of Facebook’s core experiences like News Feed, status updates, photos, notifications and more. Facebook explains:
More than a billion people around the world access Facebook from a range of mobile devices on varying networks. In many areas, networks can be slow and not able to support all the functionality found in Facebook for Android. Facebook Lite was built for these situations, giving people a reliable Facebook experience when bandwidth is at a minimum.
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The app is rolling out in select countries across Asia, and throughout the coming weeks Facebook Lite will be available in parts of Latin America, Africa and Europe. If you’re interested in checking out the new app, head to the Play Store link below.
Edward Snowden op-ed celebrates ‘power of an informed public’
It’s been about two years since we first discussed the NSA plan for “bulk metadata” monitoring of phone calls. At the heart of that information and so many revelations since, is Edward Snowden, the man who leaked documents to Glenn Greenwald and Laura Poitras about exactly what was being done in the name of national security. Still living in Russia to avoid prosecution for that act, he’s published an op-ed in The New York Times, titled “The World Says No to Surveillance.” Others like Leslie Cauley had raised alarms about overzealous spying before, but these leaks spurred action, resulting in a Senate vote this week to finally place some limits on the NSA’s Patriot Act-enabled authority. Those changes, and similar movement around the world, Snowden credits to you, the public, for making happen, but notes there is work yet to be done as the right to privacy remains under threat.
Filed under: Internet
Source: New York Times
HTC’s Cher Wang apologizes to shareholders after slumping performance
At a meeting with shareholders earlier this week, HTC’s Cher Wang apologized for how the company has performance in recent months.
“HTC’s recent performance has let people down.”
The reason for its slump, according to the chairwoman and chief executive officer, is poor operational efficiency and a conservative marketing strategy. Realistically, releasing a flagship device in 2015 that is a reiteration of the previous year doesn’t help either.
Production costs will be slashed and outsourcing will be done to improve operational efficiency. The conservative marketing strategy, though, is more difficult to fix considering the company’s financial situation. Wang’s apology arrives on the heels of HTC stock hitting its lowest point since 2003. They are in no position to spend the same amount of money that Samsung and Apple do on marketing; therefore, all HTC can really do is become smarter and more aggressive with their message.
Wang also promised that a “hero product” will launch in October while innovation and design will be the focus for a flagship device next year. This is in addition to HTC preparing to launch a virtual reality headset and activity tracker, two areas that the company has not touched before.
Source: Tapei Times
Via: Android Authority
Come comment on this article: HTC’s Cher Wang apologizes to shareholders after slumping performance
Motorola delays Moto 360 software update because it’s “not quite there yet”
The software update hitting Android Wear devices around the world has yet to make it to the Moto 360. Motorola does have a reason for that. An owner of the smartwatch concerned with the software update’s status asked the company what was going on. The company responded on Twitter by saying that “performance is not quite there yet.” However, Motorola is actively working with Google to ensure the update arrives soon without any bugs.
@davidcstevens_ Performance is not quite there yet. We’re working with Google to ensure the software works great on #Moto360. Thanks.
— Motorola Mobility (@Motorola) June 3, 2015
Another job well done by Motorola for being so transparent.
Source: Motorola (Twitter)
Come comment on this article: Motorola delays Moto 360 software update because it’s “not quite there yet”
Nest to hold press conference on June 17
Nest is planning on holding a press conference on June 17, when we may hear about new products the company will be introducing. Right now, the Google-owned home automation company only has a thermostat and smoke detector in their product lineup, in addition to the rights to security camera company Dropcam.
There’s no additional info besides the fact that they are actually holding the press conference, so stay tuned to TA on June 17 to hear more.
Source: The Verge
Come comment on this article: Nest to hold press conference on June 17
Facebook Lite released to more markets today
Facebook and Google Chrome are synonymous in one, irritating and annoying way for mobile devices and desktops. They eat too much RAM and run ridiculously slow sometimes. Today, Facebook announced, and released, Facebook Lite to more emerging markets after the initial run in January.
Facebook Lite is designed with those in developing areas, which usually are limited to 2G speeds. Also, Facebook Lite is to work better for those who have limited data caps, and can’t have the regular Facebook app constantly refreshing and eating up all of your data.
More than a billion people around the world access Facebook from a range of mobile devices on varying networks. In many areas, networks can be slow and not able to support all the functionality found in Facebook for Android. Facebook Lite was built for these situations, giving people a reliable Facebook experience when bandwidth is at a minimum.
Once downloaded, users will still have access to most of Facebooks major features, such as the News Feed, status updates, and photos. However, with a download size of less than 1MB in space, Facebook Lite also doesn’t leave a large footprint on your device. This is helpful for either devices that are already limited in storage, or if you just want to trim down on how much storage apps are using.
As of today, Facebook Lite began rolling out to countries in Asia, and will become available in Latin America, Africa, and Europe in the coming weeks. If you want to give this new app a whirl, check out the widget below, and test it out for yourself.
The post Facebook Lite released to more markets today appeared first on AndroidGuys.
Poke monster heads and solve puzzles in VR with ‘GNOG’ on PS4
GNOG is a weird game from a strange studio, which is probably why it’s attracted the attention of both Sony and Double Fine, the company behind Broken Age and other big-name indie games. GNOG is a colorful, quirky game that turns giant monster heads into puzzle boxes, and it’s coming to PlayStation 4 and the accompanying Morpheus virtual reality headset in 2016, Director Saleem Dabbous announced today. The game is part of Double Fine Presents, an indie support program that includes Gang Beasts, Escape Goat 2 and Last Life, and it’s getting help from Sony’s Pub Fund program, which helps finance games for Sony platforms.
“It’s something we’re incredibly excited to be able to realize, thanks to the Sony Pub Fund program, and we think it’s a game that you’ll really lose yourself in if you’re a fan of puzzles, adventures, cool art and chill music,” Dabbous writes. “We’re also super honored to be part of the Double Fine Presents label and to have the good folks at DF helping us with production support and design feedback.”
GNOG isn’t a one-trick monster-pony: It’s also still heading to Steam (PC, Mac and Linux) and iOS after the PS4 launch. But of course, with Morpheus on PS4, it’s going to be an actual head-turner.
Source: PlayStation Blog
Samsung reportedly working on a Galaxy S5 Neo, Exynos processor in tow
Samsung is no stranger to releasing new smartphone variants just about every month, oftentimes recycling its familiar design language and just changing around the internals. Last year we saw the release of the Galaxy S3 Neo, a repurposed Galaxy S3 proper with slightly different specifications. It looks like the company is looking to continue that trend with last year’s flagship, according to a new rumor from the folks at SamMobile.
Samsung is reportedly gearing up to launch the Galaxy S5 Neo, which will feature mostly identical specifications to the S5 proper, with only a few notable changes. The device will feature a 5.1-inch Full HD Super AMOLED display, 16GB of internal storage, 2GB of RAM, a 16MP rear-facing camera and a 2800mAh battery. Even the dimensions will be the exact same as the S5 – 142×72.5×8.1mm and 145 grams. Instead of Qualcomm’s Snapdragon 801 processor, though, the S5 Neo will feature a 1.6GHz 64-bit octa-core Exynos 7580 processor, a Mali-T720 GPU, and an upgraded 5MP front-facing camera. Both camera sensors will reportedly be provided by Samsung.
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The new device will come in both single-SIM (SM-G903F) and dual-SIM (SM-G903FD) variants. The report states that the dual-SIM model may be released in markets such as India, China and Russia, and will feature LTE-A connectivity. Both variants will run Android 5.1 Lollipop out of the box, though the author wasn’t sure whether or not the newest version of Samsung’s TouchWiz UI would make it to the new handset. No pricing or availability information was given in the report.
Seeing as how the company probably has a few extra Galaxy S5 units hanging around due to the handset’s poor sales, rebranding the device as the S5 Neo might be a good way to get rid of some extra units. We’ll let you know if we hear anything more about this handset.
AltConf Barred From Streaming WWDC Keynote, Developer Sessions [Mac Blog]
For several years running, AltConf has been held at the same time as Apple’s Worldwide Developers Conference, giving developers who did not get a ticket to attend WWDC a place to go to meet up and mingle.
Content streamed live from Apple, including developer sessions and keynote events, has been shown at AltConf in past years, but this year, Apple has barred AltConf from streaming video content from the Worldwide Developers Conference.
In a press release, AltConf notified attendees that it had received a letter from Apple’s legal representatives, preventing it from showing Monday’s keynote event and video sessions from WWDC. Apple’s letter said that the company “exercises control over not only the content of its messaging, but also the manner in which those messages are packaged, distributed, and delivered.”
AltConf’s streaming of Apple content “would strip Apple of exclusive control over one of the most anticipated events of the year, and could deprive Apple of potential revenue generated from its exclusive rights.” Thus, AltConf must “refrain from publicly streaming or showing any WWDC content. Apple further demands that AltConf and each of its organizers refrain from reproducing or distributing any WWDC content belonging to Apple, in any manner.”
It is not clear why Apple has decided to crack down on AltConf’s plan to stream WWDC content as AltConf has been able to do so in the past, but this is the first year that AltConf has offered a paid ticket option. AltConf sold a limited number of $300 tickets providing “guaranteed seating at speaker sessions and a swag bag.”
According to AltConf’s note, the conference’s organizers are hoping to come to an agreement with Apple that will allow them to share WWDC content. As an alternative, AltConf will show developer sessions from Google I/O, Microsoft’s Build, NSConference, 360 iDev, and 360 iDev, and UIKonf in its viewing rooms, and it will also include sessions with various speakers. Live blogs will be displayed during the keynote instead of Apple’s live stream, and there will be a “keynote reaction panel” from iMore.
Apple Still Negotiating With Music Labels Over Streaming Terms Days Before WWDC Launch
Days before Apple is expected to announce its rebranded and revamped version of Beats Music at WWDC, the Cupertino company is still negotiating terms with music labels, reports Bloomberg. Last month, it was also reported that the two sides had not reached a deal.
The labels are pushing to get a larger chunk of revenue than they receive under their current deals with Spotify Ltd., a competing streaming service, people familiar with the negotiations said. Both sides want to complete a deal before Apple’s June 8 annual event in San Francisco for more than 5,000 developers, according to the people, who asked not to be named because the talks are continuing.
Currently, labels receive 55% of Spotify’s $9.99 monthly rate while publishers take 15%. Music labels are hoping to take closer to 60% from Apple, according to the report. Previously, rumors have suggested that Apple was seeking an agreement that allow it to offer a streaming music service to customers for $7.99 a month rather than the standard $9.99 rate. However, Apple was forced to back down after record labels resisted the change.
Additionally, Apple has allegedly been urging music labels to cease offering licenses for freemium tiers that Spotify and other music services offer as the Cupertino company does not plan to offer a free tier with its new streaming service. These efforts have earned Apple scrutiny from government organizations like the European Commission and U.S. Department of Justice, as the two groups are said to be looking into Apple’s negotiations.
It’s likely Apple still plans to unveil its new streaming service at WWDC, as the two sides want to complete a deal before June 8’s keynote address. The new Music app is said to include the rebranded streaming service, a revamped version of iTunes Radio and traditional downloaded music. Apple also plans to offer exclusive content, like behind-the-scenes video from recording sessions. Artists will also get their own pages where they can host videos, songs and other content for free as part of a program called Apple Connect, with Apple compensating the artists and labels for songs they give away.
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