Surface 3 tablet with LTE reaches AT&T on July 24th
Microsoft promised that there would be a version of its entry-level Surface 3 tablet with LTE data, and it’s finally here… well, almost. AT&T has announced that the cellular-equipped Windows slate will launch on July 24th for $30 per month on a 20-month Next plan ($600 total), or $400 if you buy one alongside a Lumia smartphone. This is the basic version of the Surface 3 with 64GB of storage, but that always-available internet connection will help a lot if you’re just looking to check email or stream music before you get to the coffee shop. Just be prepared to perform a lengthy software upgrade after you get it — although the Surface 3 LTE arrives mere days before the Windows 10 launch, it’s still shipping with Windows 8.1.
Filed under: Tablets, Wireless, Mobile, Microsoft, AT&T
Source: AT&T
Here’s what our readers think of OS X Yosemite
The public beta of OS X El Capitan might be out now, but plenty of users will continue using OS X Yosemite through the fall and beyond. And at first glance that’s just fine: In our own review we called Yosemite “a solid update for Mac users” that offered a “clean new design” and close integration with iOS devices. However, quite a few of our readers disagreed. Almost 30 of you chimed in on Yosemite’s product database page to give this iteration of OS X a user score of 4.8 out of 10, possibly making it the most contentious product on our site. What is it about Yosemite that makes it more shaky than solid for many users?
“Slapping a new coat of bright paint and changing the system font to Helvetica does not constitute a major OS release.” — emgbeeker
Yosemite didn’t leave a good first impression on many. Abiewasabi had a different take than ours about the clean design, calling the graphics “childish, garish and simplistic.” Emgbeeker says the updated user interface “suffers from many bad usability decisions,” with vedmant specifically calling out the bright colors and hard-to-read text as being “a huge step back for Apple” that distorts the reasons for switching to a flat design. Even mindfreek, who thinks Yosemite looks “very nice,” called it impractical and lacking the boldness of the previous version of OS X, Mavericks.
In performance, Yosemite didn’t shine either, with altergeist complaining of “GPU panics, hard crashes, freezes and lower performance in benchmarks than Mavericks,” commenting that even Windows Vista was “fundamentally more stable and reliable than Yosemite.” Sydneystufff said, “I have wasted countless hours of my time force quitting, re-starting, re-installing on a daily/hourly basis” and GeeboH calls Yosemite “the most unstable version of OS X I’ve used since 2001.”
Even when it’s not constantly rebooting itself on our readers, many reported that Yosemite felt slow. Pim1987 noted “extreme slow-downs” even after a clean install, and a user unabashedly named “ihateosyosemite” compared it to ’90s dial-up speeds. Sydneystufff says, “The wheel spins and spins and spins,” and ultimately for them, “productivity is at an all-time ZERO!” But these problems varied by user, with steenbag actually finding it “fast and responsive,” while Matmania says it runs “much faster than Mavericks” on his 2012 MacBook Pro.
Another major particular point of contention users had with Yosemite was its WiFi performance, with sydneystufff calling it “a disaster” and evey77 constantly force-quitting her laptop due to connection problems. Applebol notes the WiFi is “less stable than on Mavericks,” while mindfreek even decided to switch back to the previous OS due to the wireless issues.
“The iPhone sharing stuff means nothing to me, as I use an Android phone and have no plans of switching.” — OftHated
Downgrading back to Mavericks was a refrain for quite a few users, with emgbeeker and evey77 also vowing to switch back, while Mot12 calls Yosemite “a most unwanted upgrade.” The switch to Yosemite did work out for a small handful like alecbuck, who had a smattering of issues, but said, “At least it is better than Mavericks.” However, for most users, upgrading Yosemite seemed to remind them of the worst of Windows. Lwj says Yosemite made their Mac act just like a PC, and the spinning wheel of death gave OftHated “awful flashbacks to the Vista days.” Mot12 says that Yosemite is “Apple’s way of becoming a Microsoft-type klutzy product,” and sydneystufff feels that it’s the work of “Gen Y designers who don’t use the system for anything but Facebook.” In the end, mudguy simply says that the folks at Apple “can dump their Yosemite into the Grand Canyon.”
Was your experience with Yosemite also down in the pits? Or did you have a more uplifting take on it? Feel free to write your own review, for good or ill, on the Yosemite product page.
YouTubers will be the stars of its subscription service
Google’s bringing a paid-for subscription service to YouTube next year, but don’t expect the company to sign a deal with a TV studio for some exclusive content. Instead, the site is going to see if its wide stable of home-grown talent will provide enough of a draw for you to fork over several bucks from your paycheck each month. According to Bloomberg, almost all of YouTube’s biggest names, including PewDiePie and Smosh have already signed up to be a part of the new offering when it goes live.
The report also details how YouTube is using the same heavy-handed tactics to keep its tween superstars in line as it did when it launched Music Key earlier this year. It’s believed that unless performers sign up to the new service, their back-catalog of existing clips will be made unavailable for viewing — at least until they change their mind.
For those who sign up, there is a promise of great riches as YouTube is commissioning and bankrolling a wide variety of “TV” shows for the service. That slate includes a show from the Fine Brothers and up to four feature-films produced by Brian Robbins. We wouldn’t blame you for being worried about the latter, since Robbins is better known as the producer of Fred: The Movie, and has directed several other, uh, successful motion pictures.
The piece also details how users will be coaxed into handing over a regular fee in exchange for the holiest of grails: offline playback. Since Google is concerned with owning its shows outright, it should have a greater say in how they’re distributed, giving it a big plus over services like Netflix. After all, we’d much rather watch a Brian Robbins movie than stare at a broken in-flight entertainment console, but only just.
Filed under: Portable Audio/Video, Internet, Google
Via: AdAge
Source: Bloomberg
Deal: learn to develop games on Stencyl for a mere $29
Developing a game is no easy task. For starters, it takes a substantial amount of time and effort to learn how to code. But what if that part of building a game was taken out of the equation? Stencyl does just that and you can learn how to use it for only $29!
The AA Deals Store is holding an offer on a couple courses for learning how to use Stencyl. These are “Create your first computer game with Stencyl” and “Create advanced games with Stencyl”. It’s a great deal considering the classes are priced at $99 and $149, accordingly. This means you would be getting an 88% discount!
Before you press the “buy” button, let’s tell you a bit about Stencyl. This software is a tool that enables users to make games for iOS, Android, Windows, Mac, Linux and Flash. It is mostly used for basic games, but we must also keep in mind simple games can become very successful. Some Stencyl-made games have reached app store top lists, including Impossible Pixel and Zuki’s Quest.
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Why stick with a basic builder for developing 2D games? The beauty of Stencyl is that users need not write a single line of code. The software uses a drag-and-drop system that makes it much easier to put together something as complex as an app. It has its learning curve, but Stencyl will help you make an app without studying code for years.
Want in on the action? Head on over to the AA Deals Store now. Who is signing up?!
Telltale’s Game of Thrones gets a serious discount on the Play Store today
If you’ve been waiting to pick up Telltale’s Game of Thrones adaptation, now might be the time to jump on it. The first episode has been discounted on Google Play from $4.99 to $0.60. That’s probably going to be as cheap as you’ll ever find the Android version of this game.
It’s only the first episode, so you’ll still have to shell out for the remainder of the game, but if you’re on the fence this is a good way to test it out to see if you’ll like it before buying everything else. The season pass that includes the remaining five episodes (three of which have been released) is 15% off, too.
source: Android Authority
Come comment on this article: Telltale’s Game of Thrones gets a serious discount on the Play Store today
AT&T halts Moto X (2013) Android 5.1 update
AT&T has halted the Android 5.1 updated for the Moto X (2013) after approving it earlier this month. AT&T says this is a temporary suspension, but hasn’t offered any details as to what caused it.
That said, any users still on Android 4.4.4 KitKat will have to wait a little longer before they see the full jump to version 5.1.1. It was a big leap in terms of firmware, so it was bound to have some serious bugs that needed to be ironed out. However, it’s surprising that it wasn’t all figured out during the soak test.
Hopefully Motorola or AT&T will shed some light on this situation soon. Owners have been waiting for this update for some time now.
source: AT&T
Come comment on this article: AT&T halts Moto X (2013) Android 5.1 update
‘Square Dashboard’ Gives Businesses Ability to Track Sales in Real-Time
Square today launched a new app called “Square Dashboard,” which aims to provide business owners with complete overviews of their businesses thanks to real-time data read-outs of various sales and analytic figures (via TechCrunch). The app sees Square’s continued expansion away from its simple start as a third-party payment processor, and into a more widely used enterprise-focused software company.
The app will allow business owners to track the sales figures of their business, and is even able to distinguish between individual locations for a franchised business. Users will be able to set dates and goals to meet, and compare items for sale, categories, and gross sales. Thanks to the app’s ability to go back and see sales from previous weeks, months, and years, business owners can more easily track their busiest seasons or discover the cause behind a bump or decline in profit.
Speaking with TechCrunch, Sidecar Coffee owner Andy Fuchtman noted the new app succeeds in keeping him up-to-date on the daily goings-on of his business, and even provides useful glimpses into the most popular items on sale at the shop.
I use the data to help me build the schedule, to see if my ideas for the shop are working, and to help me understand the identity of my business. For example, it turns out that vanilla lattes were among our top five selling items almost every day this spring so I had my staff make and taste a vanilla latte every time they started their shift. I tried a cappuccino happy hour to promote our favorite drink to make, then I watched to see if it worked.
Business owners interested can download Square Dashboard for free today from Square’s official website, after first creating a free Square account with the company.
Apple Music, Beats 1, iTunes and App Store Experiencing Issues During VMA Nominee Announcements
A growing number of users on Twitter are reporting issues with Apple Music, Beats 1, iTunes and the App Store as nominees are announced for the 2015 MTV Video Music Awards (VMAs) exclusively on Beats 1. MacRumors can confirm that many of Apple’s cloud-based services are currently not loading or displaying error messages in the United States and Canada.
Apple has updated its System Status page to reflect service disruptions for some users for the App Store, Apple TV, iBooks Store, iTunes in the Cloud, iTunes Match, iTunes Store, iTunes U, Mac App Store, OS X Software Update, Beats 1 Radio and Volume Purchase Program. The issues have been ongoing for several users since approximately 10:15 AM Eastern.
Garmin’s Vivoactive fitness tracker isn’t for everyone — and that’s okay
There may never be a wearable equivalent of the iPhone — a must-have gadget that sparks a fundamental change in how we live. Instead, the future of wearables is all about niche products that may be right for some, but won’t necessarily be everyone’s cup of tea. That’s my main takeaway after spending a few weeks with Garmin’s Vivoactive ($250), which is yet another one of its wearable gadgets for people who make working out a way of life. Honestly, though, it’s a thought I’ve had percolating for a while now, especially after Jawbone’s disappointing Up3. The Vivoactive isn’t a great smartwatch or activity tracker for most people, but for someone who demands a GPS-enabled wearable for tracking their runs, swims and just about anything involving movement, it might be ideal.
Garmin’s never been known for its design chops, and that’s clearly apparent with the Vivoactive. It’s a fairly nondescript black slab of plastic and glass that, from afar, might look like an old digital timepiece. Up close, you can see it’s a bit more intriguing: There’s a low-resolution color touchscreen LCD with an interface that resembles Pebble’s watches, as well as a relatively thin profile (it’s even thinner than the bulbous Apple Watch). The Vivoactive’s watchband isn’t anything fancy, but it’s relatively comfortable for prolonged wear. Overall, it’s not the sort of thing that screams for attention. That’s a good thing, since it’s a tad too dorky for when you want to dress up.
After testing out the Apple Watch and several Android Wear devices, it took a while to get used to the Vivoactive’s sluggish and archaic interface. Tapping the home button on the right side of the watch opens the main menu of activities to track, which includes running, biking, swimming, golfing and walking by default. You navigate through the Vivoactive’s screens by swiping right on the display, and there are “Back” and “Menu” buttons (a la Android) on the bottom. It’s a functional interface, but really nothing more than that. It takes a bit of time for your swipes to register, and I often had to tap the watch repeatedly to activate the bottom buttons. The Vivoactive ended up crashing multiple times after I apparently overloaded it with swipes and button presses.
Oh, and that button on the left? It manually turns on the Vivoactive’s LED backlight — no different than your cheapo Timex of yesteryear. Talk about taking a step back in time.
So why get the Vivoactive when just about everything tracks your steps these days? Like all of Garmin’s wearables, it’s meant more for keeping tabs on specific workouts. Since it’s GPS-equipped, it can accurately track how far you go, as well as plot your excursions on a map. It’s also waterproof up to 50 meters, so you won’t have to worry about it when going for a swim. You can get it bundled with one of Garmin’s heart rate monitor chest straps for around $300, or just use a chest monitor that you already own. There’s no built-in heart rate monitoring like the Apple Watch or Fitbit’s recent entries, but then again, fitness junkies typically prefer chest straps, which are more accurate than wrist-based monitors. It also offers far better battery life than more advanced smartwatches, lasting around a week for typical usage.
While the Vivoactive wasn’t anything special for typical smartwatch use — it also pipes in phone notifications, including call and text details — it was ideal for tracking my runs around the neighborhood. Being able to hit a physical button to start and stop your laps is far more useful than stopping what you’re doing and swiping a touchscreen on Android Wear watches or the Apple Watch. But since I can only fit in two or three runs a week, the Vivoactive ended up feeling like a step backward for me most of the time. I longed for the plethora of apps on other platforms (Garmin has a handful available through its Connect app), and the larger, more colorful touchscreen interface on modern smartwatches.
If I were the sort of person who had time to work out every day, or at least more than three times a week, the Vivoactive might make more sense. But even then, it’s not the sort of thing that I’d recommend wearing outside of workout sessions. Most smartphones do a decent job of basic step tracking, and fitness bands from Fitbit and Jawbone do a much better job of sleep tracking. It’s really only worth shelling out for the Vivoactive if you’re actually going to use its advanced tracking features regularly.
It’s also a shame that Garmin’s software offerings are still far weaker than what Apple, Fitbit and Jawbone are offering. The company’s “Connect” app syncs with the Vivoactive and displays all of your fitness data (no surprises there), but it’s not as well-designed as other apps. There’s plenty of detail for all of the activities you log, at least — my runs included data about the elevation I climbed and my cadence. You can also get to Garmin’s “Connect IQ” store from the app to get more software for the Vivoactive, but honestly there’s not much there that’s compelling.
None of this is to say that the Vivoactive is a bad device; it’s just one meant for a certain type of very active consumer. Given the company’s history of wearables so far, that shouldn’t be too surprising, but with its lower price, I hoped it would also be a decent option for mainstream users. That sadly isn’t the case here.
Rhino horn cameras promise to catch poachers in the act
Anti-poaching teams can only do so much to protect rhinos. Their immediate presence can deter rogue hunters, but a lot of the slaughter happens before these teams even know that something’s wrong. That’s where non-profit group Protect’s RAPID (Real-Time Anti-Poaching Intelligence Device) should come in handy. The system uses a blend of heart rate sensors, GPS tags and cameras drilled into one of the rhinos’ horns (don’t worry, it’s painless) to warn conservationists when a rhino is under threat. If a rhino’s heart starts racing or suddenly goes still, observers get an alert that lets them turn on the camera to see if something’s wrong. Ideally, this will prevent poachers from even firing a shot — they know that they’ll likely be caught within minutes if they chase or kill a tagged animal.
Only prototypes are active right now, but there should be a wider launch by the end of 2016. Protect has grand plans for its technology, as well. It’s hoping to use kinetic and solar power to keep the heart monitor running, and it hopes that versions of RAPID could protect elephants, lions, tigers and whales. Provided all goes well, endangered species wouldn’t need near-constant oversight (or radical steps like removing horns) to survive.
Source: Protect RAPID
AIVAnet 