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14
Jul

The Big Picture: NASA previews best Pluto image yet


Anxious to see the best images of Pluto ever? NASA is set to release high res photos soon, but in the meantime, the space agency has posted a “love note back to Earth” with a low-res Instagram image. That marks the first time the agency has every given a social network first dibs on a major image, according to Wired. The image itself was snapped by the New Horizon probe 16 hours before its closest approach, some 476,000 miles away. NASA said it will release higher resolution versions of the image and discuss them in a briefing at 8AM briefing (EDT) on NASA Television. We’ll bring you all the details of that a bit later on, but in the meantime, enjoy the best photo ever taken of our solar system’s bastard stepchild planet.

Filed under: Science

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Source: NASA (Instagram)

14
Jul

Emailing yourself? Google Inbox suggests saving reminders instead


Google’s Inbox app can become a powerful productivity tool if you get the hang of its numerous features. One of its latest offerings, for instance, makes sure you know you can save reminders within the app. Next time you send an email to yourself for whatever reason — say, so you can access a shopping list on several devices — the app will ask if you want to create a reminder instead. If you tap the pop-up prompt (see image above) and save, that reminder will contain everything you typed in the email. Not a bad little feature, though it would be a lot more useful if it can also auto-upload attached files or images to Drive or to Google’s new Photos app.

Filed under: Misc, Mobile, Google

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Source: Android Police, Mark Dodsworth (Google+)

14
Jul

Galaxy Note 5, S6 Edge Plus coming August 12, launch August 14/21 – Report


samsung galaxy s6 vs note 4 aa 15

We’re approaching the traditional launch cycle for Samsung’s next phablet and both, the Galaxy Note 5 and Galaxy S6 Edge Plus, are leaking more frequently; two separate reports today have revealed the supposed launch date for the smartphones but it’s earlier than past years.

First, DigiTimes reported that the Galaxy Note 5 would be announced on August 12th with a launch in major markets just two days later on August 14th and now, SamMobile is reporting that its sources have confirmed the August 12 launch but point towards a release nine days later on August 21. Both reports corroborate yesterday’s Wall Street Journal report that stated a mid-August launch for Samsung’s next smartphones and we’re inclined to believe the latter report’s release date of August 21 which is more likely.

The latter goes on to confirm that the Galaxy S6 Edge Plus will be announced at the event with a release scheduled for the same day as the Galaxy Note 5. If both smartphones do launch together, the biggest concern for Samsung will be accurately forecasting demand; with the Galaxy S6 and S6 Edge, the Korean manufacturer expected four times more demand for the non-curved flagship but found demand was equal leading to a mismatch in supply and ‘poor’ sales.

The Galaxy Note 5 will resemble Samsung’s early 2015 flagships and feature metal construction and glass backs and as such, it will definitely not feature a microSD card slot. The phablet is also expected to feature a really thin bezel like the Galaxy A8 and this could be to make the handset as small as possible given the bigger 5.7-inch display. Like previous Galaxy Note devices, we’re also expecting a redesigned S-Pen to be onboard with the latest version expected to look and feel more like a traditional pen and be available in the same colour as your device: silver, gold, white or black.

Information on the Galaxy S6 Edge Plus seems to be a tad more scarce but the key thing is that it will be modelled around the Galaxy S6 Edge so expect the 5.67-inch Super AMOLED Quad HD display (the same as the Note 5) to have a dual-curved Edge. One of the biggest issues with the Galaxy S6 Edge is that the Edge panels “apps” aren’t all too useful and hopefully the larger screen on the Galaxy S6 Edge Plus will mean they’re as useful as the Note Edge’s panels.

Galaxy in video:

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The Galaxy S6 Edge Plus is expected to launch in the same colours as the Galaxy Note 5 but will use a different processor, with Samsung opting for an Exynos 7420 instead of the Snapdragon 808 on the Note 5, possibly due to compatibility with the curved display.

The other key difference is that while the Galaxy Note 5 will become the first Samsung smartphone to employ 4GB RAM, the Galaxy S6 Edge Plus will pair the Exynos processor with 3GB RAM. Storage options for both handsets are likely to be the same 32GB, 64GB and 128GB available with both the Galaxy S6 and the Galaxy S6 Edge, although some handset storage options may be limited in supply.

Samsung’s next two phablets are certainly highly anticipated like the Korean manufacturer’s first flagships this year were. Like most manufacturers, Samsung’s first attempt at a bold new strategy certainly had a few flaws – although they were vastly less than you might expect from a first-generation product – and its next phablets represent a chance to see the second generation take shape. For more on the new phablets, check out our Galaxy Note 5 and Galaxy S6 Edge Plus rumour round-up.

14
Jul

Deal: SanDisk memory cards are up to 50% off today on Amazon


amazon sandisk deal

Another Gold Box Deal of the Day, another batch of SanDisk memory products put up on generous discounts.

SanDisk’s microSD cards, SD cards, and memory sticks are among the most popular on the market, and today Amazon has a selection of them available at discounts ranging from 34% to 57%.

Mobile users will mostly be interested in the microSD cards, ranging from 32GB to 128GB, available in 48MB/s and 60MB/s options. SD cards, USB 3.0 sticks (OTG included) and even a couple of SSDs flesh out this excellent promotion.

Here’s the full list, or check out the breakdown below.

Amazon offers free shipping for all Prime members, and if you haven’t signed up for the $99/year program yet, now may be a good time to do so. That’s because Amazon has been teasing some truly spectacular discounts for “Prime Day,” which takes place tomorrow in celebration of Amazon’s 20th anniversary. While details are scarce, Amazon promises Prime members a day of discounts to rival Black Friday.

If you’re interested in Amazon Prime, you can sign up for the service with a free 30-day trial. Students have it even better: 6 month free trial for students, with 50% off after 6 months.

Happy shopping everyone!

14
Jul

TiVo Adds AirPlay Support to Allow Streaming to Apple TV Via iOS Devices


TiVo today is announcing an update to its iOS app that adds AirPlay support to allow users to stream content to the Apple TV. The feature builds on previous support for streaming content to an iOS device from a TiVo box, and the TiVo app now makes it easy to watch content recorded on a TiVo box on any TV in the house with an Apple TV connected.

TiVo Inc., a global leader in next-generation television services, has announced that for the first time TiVo users can access their content on TV via a third party consumer electronics device, giving entertainment junkies an amazing multiscreen experience. TiVo users can now stream their recorded shows to Apple TV via AirPlay. TiVo users have yet another way to watch their favorite shows, on another screen, wherever they are.

The feature works with TiVo’s latest Roamio Pro and Roamio Plus boxes, which provide up to 3,000 hours of recording time and have built in Wi-Fi and MoCA support to enable easy streaming from the set-top box to other devices. Streaming from a basic Roamio or Premiere box requires a separate TiVo Stream auxiliary box to enable mobile streaming.

By turning on AirPlay Mirroring to an Apple TV from Control Center on the user’s iOS device, content from the TiVo box can be streamed to the device and on to any Apple TV-equipped television on the local Wi-Fi network, replacing some of the functionality of the company’s TiVo Mini box.

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We’ve had a few days to test out the new feature and have found it relatively easy to use. Following a one-time setup for streaming from the box to the iOS device, users simply need to turn on AirPlay to their desired Apple TV, navigate to My Shows in the TV app to find the show they wish to stream, and select the option to watch the show on their iPhone.
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14
Jul

Barclays Confirms Apple Pay Support in Future, First Direct and HSBC Delayed Until Later This Month


Barclays Apple Pay UKBarclays today announced that it will support Apple Pay for debit and credit cards in the United Kingdom in the future, confirming a MacRumors report that claimed the bank expected “imminent” support of the mobile payments service.

Apple Pay officially launched in the U.K. earlier today and can be used at more than 250,000 locations across England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland. A full list of retail shops and apps that accept Apple Pay can be found on Apple’s website.

Apple has also updated its Apple Pay participating banks list in the U.K. and moved First Direct and HSBC to the “coming soon” section. First Direct has confirmed on Twitter that Apple Pay will be “available later in July,” while HSBC tweeted that it will be “launching Apple Pay by the end of this month.”

HSBC First Direct Apple Pay UK
The full list of banks with plans to support Apple Pay includes Barclays, HSBC, Lloyds Bank, Bank of Scotland, Royal Bank of Scotland, First Direct, Halifax, M&S Bank, MBNA, NatWest, Nationwide, Santander, TSB and Ulster Bank.


14
Jul

Samsung could launch the Galaxy Note 5 and Galaxy S6 edge+ on August 12th, to go on sale from August 21st


Samsung_Galaxy_Note_4_S_Pen_Partial_Way_Out_TA

So, in recent weeks we’ve seen a lot of rumours about the release dates of the Galaxy Note 5 and Galaxy S6 Edge Plus handsets. We’ve had rumours saying the Note 5 would be released in July (later denied by Samsung’s President J K Shin), then August while I steadfastly believed Samsung would stick to its tradition of announcing it at the IFA in September. It would seem that both handsets will indeed be announced next month on the same day.

According to SamMobile, who have a good record when it comes to this sort of thing, Samsung will announce the Galaxy Note 5 and Galaxy S6 Edge Plus together on August 12th, which is just under a month away. Both handsets are scheduled to go on sale on August 21st, just under 2-weeks later. Samsung Pay will also launch on the same day, in the US at least.

As rumoured the other day, the Note 5 will not support MicroSD cards. Depending on your feelings towards memory cards, that’s either a good or a bad thing. It will, however, have a massive 4GB of RAM. As for the phone’s design, again, as previously rumoured, it will follow the design cues of the Galaxy S6 with a metal and design exterior. Extremely thin bezels are the order of the day apparently, which will hopefully make it easier to grip. Hopefully.

The S Pen will also undergo a makeover, both appearing and feeling more like a pen. The S Pen will also be the same colour as the Note 5, which will be initially available in silver, black, gold and white.

SamMobile says the Galaxy S6 Edge Plus will be known by the moniker, Galaxy S6 edge+, and will feature the much-rumoured 5.7-inch dual-edged QHD display. Instead of being powered by the Snapdragon 808 though, it will instead use Samsung’s own Exynos 7420 processor, with 3GB of RAM on tap for multitasking. Storage options will apparently be the same as the Galaxy S6.

Now, it’s just a matter of time until Samsung send out invitations to the launch of the Note 5 and Galaxy S6 edge+. What do you think of about the Note 5 abandoning support for MicroSD cards? Personally, I won’t miss the MicroSD card, but I did appreciate that it was an option to choose if I chose to use it. Finally, are you excited that the Galaxy Note 5 announcement has been brought forward to August 12th?

Source: SamMobile

Come comment on this article: Samsung could launch the Galaxy Note 5 and Galaxy S6 edge+ on August 12th, to go on sale from August 21st

14
Jul

BBC iPlayer Radio app will soon let you download shows


One of the reasons why podcasts are so popular is because, unlike live radio, you can download episodes and listen to them when you don’t have a connection. The BBC has long understood their popularity, offering both dedicated podcasts and shows cut from its daily broadcasts. Now, however, it’s going one step further and adding radio show downloads to its iPlayer Radio app. The feature should blur the line between the two mediums, making it easier for listeners to catch up with their favourite shows and DJs.

An update will be rolling out this week, introducing a “download” option to programme pages. You’ll be able to keep shows for up to 30 days and also stack multiple downloads for when you’re next on a WiFi connection. It’s being rolled out to coincide with the BBC Proms music festival — the broadcaster says “almost all” of Radio 3’s broadcasts will be available for offline playback over the next eight weeks. It also suggests that, similar to TV programmes in the BBC iPlayer app, not all shows will be available to download.

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Via: Recombu

Source: BBC

14
Jul

Firefox now blocks Flash automatically


Flash is the Justin Bieber of browser plugins: it’s everywhere, it does nothing useful and every time you see it you want to smash a window. Yesterday, Facebook’s head of security publicly opined that it was time for the platform to die, and just a day later, Mozilla’s Mark Schmidt has joined in. In a tweet, Schmidt has announced that, as of the latest update, the Firefox browser will block Flash automatically. It looks as if the technology world has decided that if Adobe won’t do the decent thing and kill it, then everyone else will just tool up and beat it to death themselves.

It may have been the best way to deliver video in the early days of the internet, but the rise of standards compliant technologies make Flash look obsolete. More importantly, however, Flash is riddled with holes, and it’s often used as a beachhead for hackers to get comfortable inside your computer. Oftentimes, this is met with silence from Adobe, a point that The Register put to the company’s Wiebke Lips. Her response was that there are “extensive efforts” in progress at the company to make the code harder to crack, although they’re not yet ready to be pushed out to users.

2015 is becoming the year that Flash gets killed-off once and for all, with Google tweaking Chrome to “intelligently” block auto-playing adverts. In addition, YouTube, the site that was probably the plugin’s biggest proponent, switched to HTML 5 to deliver video at the start of the year. It’s likely that other notable holdouts will be pressured, either by these latest moves, the most recent security controversies or the Occupy Flash movement. Yup, there’s a whole movement dedicated to eradicating this stuff from the web.

Oh, and should you want or, more likely, need to use Flash, you can reactivate the feature at your liberty by dipping into Firefox’s settings menu.

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Via: The Verge

Source: Mark Schmidt (Twitter)

14
Jul

Reddit’s chief engineer quits after losing faith in site’s direction


Reddit’s VP of Engineering Bethanye Blount has quit after just two months on the job, telling Re/Code that she lost confidence in its new direction. “There are some very aggressive implied promises being made to the community — in comments to mods, quotes from board members — and they’re going have some pretty big challenges in meeting (them),” she said. She didn’t feel she could deliver on those promises, which include new subreddit mod tools and a content policy aimed at reducing harassment. Blount is the third female employee to leave Reddit in less than two weeks following the departure of CEO Ellen Pao and AMA coordinator Victoria Taylor. The site is now in the hands of former CEO and Reddit co-founder Steve Huffman.

Blount also had a few parting shots about Ellen Pao’s firing. She felt that Pao had been set up to take a fall over a “glass cliff,” implying that gender discrimination may have been involved. However, she added, “I wouldn’t say my decision to leave was directly related to my gender,” and didn’t feel that Taylor’s firing was either. Huffman also said that “Bethanye’s departure had nothing to do with gender, and I was looking forward to working with her.” He replaced her in the interim with former team leader George Pang, a move that Blount endorsed. “I have full confidence in (Pang),” she said on Twitter.

Huffman also addressed Blount’s criticism about aggressive promises. “I returned because of my confidence in the company to accomplish (these) goals, and I’ve committed publicly to two things: creating a new content policy, which we are hard at work on, and improving tools for moderation. I don’t foresee any difficulty in accomplishing either of these things in the near future.” Meanwhile, Blount said, “it’s just time for me to take on something new. Start another company, write some code, all my favorite things.”

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Source: Re/Code

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