Barnes & Noble’s Nook store closing outside of the US and UK
It’s no secret that Barnes & Noble has struggled to profit from its Nook reading platform. Still, there are people who continue to use and invest in the ecosystem, despite the rise of others including Amazon’s Kindle. Now, after ending its “strategic partnership” with Microsoft last year, the retailer appears to be preparing to close the Nook store outside of the US and UK — something that relied on Windows support across Europe. According to an email obtained by The Digital Reader, Barnes & Noble has informed international customers that, on August 7th, it will remove their content from Windows machines and start providing refunds.
“This means that your Nook content can no longer open on a Windows platform,” said the company in the email to users, which you can read in full below.
Dear Customer,
We recently announced that Barnes & Noble and Microsoft have agreed to terminate their commercial partnership. As a result, payments through your Microsoft account no longer supported. In addition, the NOOK App for Windows will from August 7, 2015 are no longer available outside the United States. This means that your NOOK content can no longer open on a Windows platform.
Our records indicate that you are outside the United States and that you are using your Microsoft account as a payment method in your NOOK App for Windows account. Therefore, you may be eligible for a refund from Microsoft for any purchases you have made with your Microsoft account.
“We continue to operate our Nook business in the UK. However, we no longer have a commercial partnership with Microsoft, and, as a result, we are transitioning away from our international business, based in Luxembourg,” a Barnes & Noble spokesperson told Engadget about the current situation. “As we no longer have a commercial partnership with Microsoft, the Win 8 app won’t be available in the international markets.”
[Image credit: Getty Images]
Filed under: Misc, Software, Microsoft
Via: TechCrunch
Source: The Digital Reader
iOS 9 public beta is here
If you’re eager to get your hands on Apple’s latest mobile OS, and you don’t mind running unfinished software, you can now snag an iOS 9 public beta for your iPhone and iPad. To refresh, iOS 9 includes a significantly smarter version of Siri (which seems a lot like Google Now, at this point); better system-level privacy; and split-screen multitasking on the iPad. And of course, there will be a slew of other performance upgrades. This slightly more polished beta — which supports the iPhone 4S, iPad 2 and later devices — comes after developers have had a chance to test out iOS 9 over the past month. That means most of the major issues have hopefully been ironed out. If you haven’t yet, you can sign up for the iOS 9 public beta on Apple’s website. As always, we can expect the final version of iOS 9 to land alongside new iPhones later this fall. We downloaded the beta here at Engadget HQ, so if you’re feeling adventurous, you should be able to do the same from the source link below.
[Lead photo credit: Justin Sullivan/Getty Images]
Filed under: Software, Mobile, Apple
Source: Apple
Samsung and TSMC racing to get 10nm chips out first
Samsung was set to produce it’s 10nm chips for upcoming big orders but it looks like TSMC is also beginning production. According to recent events it looks like TSMC will be skipping past 14nm and going straight to 10nm. Remind you of anyone? That’s similar to what Samsung did when it skipped it’s 10nm FinFet mark directly to 14nm in order for the trendy stacked method.
TSMC is preparing to begin production of it’s 10nm as soon as this year in order to capture some big orders. Samsung is not happy with this because similar with it’s 14nm process, Samsung tried to take large customers like Qualcomm and Apple away from TSMC. Samsung now relies heavily on it’s chip making process.
After the Snapdragon 810 overheating issues with TSMC, Qualcomm reached out to Samsung to manufacture the new upcoming 820 chipset. Apple has also reached out to Samsung for it’s new A9 chip production. Samsung believes if TSMC’s chipsets come out first rivals like Qualcomm and Apple will seek them for orders. As of now Samsung has not announced any change and will stick to its schedule to produce it’s 10nm chips at the end of next year.
The new chipset will bring improvements to power consumption and clock rates. We’ll see how this all turns out.
Source: BusinessKorea
Via: SamMobile
Come comment on this article: Samsung and TSMC racing to get 10nm chips out first
Facebook denies reports of a music streaming service plans
Earlier this month, we came across reports claiming that Facebook was planning to launch a digital music-streaming service to take on the existing players in this domain such as, Spotify and Apple Music. However, in a statement issued to The Verge, the social networking giant has quashed such reports, saying that it isn’t building a music streaming service.
“We have no plans to go into music streaming,” a Facebook spokesperson was quoted as saying.
Earlier, a report in Music Ally stated that Facebook was in early talks with music labels and it could launch an audio streaming service in the next few months.
While Facebook may not be currently looking to enter into a streaming war with Apple Music and the likes, sources familiar with the development revealed that Facebook indeed is in talks with major labels to create something unique and completely different from the existing services.
Source: Music Ally
Via: The Verge
Come comment on this article: Facebook denies reports of a music streaming service plans
Deal: Grab eight SunLabz 2800mAh AA Rechargeable Batteries and Smart Charger for just $30
Keeping all of our tech devices charged up can be a hassle, especially if there are disposable batteries involved. Not only is it extremely inconvenient to run out of batteries in a time of need, but it can also be quite pricey in the long run. To help fix these problems, we’d suggest trying out the SunLabz 8-Pack 2800mAh NiMH AA Rechargeable Batteries and Smart Battery Charger, which are both currently being sold for a massive 40% discount in the AA Deals Store.
Not only will you be saving money on single-use batteries, but you’ll also be throwing away much less toxic waste into the environment every time you run out of power. These batteries offer up 2 to 3 times the capacity of an equivalent NiCD cell and they’re also rechargeable 1,000+ times. Also included in this bundle is the SunLabz 4-Slot Smart Battery Charger, which is able to charge either AA or AAA batteries at the same time. Compatible with both NiMh & NiCD batteries, this charger also features a handy LCD screen that displays the battery percentage.
If you frequently run out of juice and want a way to save some money, look no further than the Android Authority Deals Store. This pack of eight rechargeable batteries and Smart Battery Charger can be yours for just $29.99, which is 40% off the suggested retail price. If you’re interested in picking some up for yourself, head to the deal link below.
We have the Sony Xperia Z3+: ask us anything!
It’s no secret that Sony has been having a tough time with mobile, which has lead to plenty of rumors about if or when Sony might jump ship from making smartphones and tablets altogether. Sony has vehemently denied this on more than one occasion, and recently even unveiled the Sony Xperia Z4 for the Japanese market. This handset later became known as the Z3+ in international markets.
The Xperia Z3+ shares a lot in common with the original Xperia Z3, though it does offer an upgraded Snapdragon 810 processor and a few other enhancements that help bring it a little more on par with other 2015 flagship devices.
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If you’re curious as to how the Xperia Z3+ performs and whether it is a worthwhile upgrade, you’ll want to stay tuned to our upcoming full review from Ash Tailor. In the meantime, we wanted to take the time to find out what kind of questions you might have about the device. The best place to post your questions is in the Sony Xperia Z3+ official forum page, where Ash and other members of the team will checking in from time to time. You can also pose your questions here and we’ll do our best to answer them.
Essential productivity apps for your Android
Much of today’s office work is done outside an office thanks to our smartphones. New apps are making it easier to create and edit documents on the move, delivering better experience and productivity to users. Today, there is a great number of productivity apps available, which millions are using to become more efficient, meet deadlines, and find more time to do the things they love.
What you find below is the list of apps that will let you get things done efficiently and will also help your productivity to get back on track.
Flynx – Read the web smartly
Price: Free
Flynx is a mobile browser , but not like others that we are probably used to. Flynx is a floating web browser just like Facebook’s Messenger, meaning that it loads links and articles while you are doing something productive in another application. Flynx helps you open articles and links from all your favorite apps like Facebook, Twitter, Whatsapp, Google+, etc. in a revolutionary new way. It also allows you to save articles offline to read them later. There is a quick read mode which gets rid of all the ads and provides you with only relevant content saving your time and data.
AfterShip Package Tracker
Price: Free
We all order different items online, from groceries to gadgets and keeping track of each and every package can be quite a hassle. Aftership is the app that organizes all of your package information in one place. It helps you to track each package and also provides notifications of each along the way as they make their stops. Aftership is different from all other package tracking applications available in a way that it automatically detect the tracking number if you have copied it into clipboard of your phone. If you track packages on regular basis then we definitely recommend this app.
Google Keep
Price: Free
Google Keep is an organisational tool that lets you quickly take notes, voice memos, and checklists. It also syncs with your Google drive and makes it easy for you to access it on any web connected device. You can even assign different colors to different notes. The interface is quite simple and follows material design language.
CamScanner
Price: Free | $1.80
CamScanner helps you scan, store, sync and collaborate on various content across smartphones, tablets and computers. It allows you to scan documents with your Android phone’s or tablet’s camera and convert them to PDF. It also gives you the functionality of uploading all of your documents to their cloud storage(200MB). You can also upgrade your cloud storage to 10GB. However, this extra storage comes with additional cost. CamScanner is one of the best productivity apps that is available in the market and we definitely recommend it.
Pushbullet
Price: Free
Pushbullet is a cross-platform application that lets you view and control your notifications on many different devices. It also allows you to send links, notes, lists and files from your android phone to your Windows PC and vice-versa. Pushbullet’s Android app pushes all the app notifications to its Windows PC client, allowing you to interact with notifications while working on your PC. With a recent update you can now even quick reply to all the messages that you are getting on your Android smartphone.
Evernote
Price: Free | IAP
Evernote is another note taking application and hands-down the best of all note taking apps that is present in the market. Evernote is the modern workspace that syncs between all of your devices. Evernote is fast and simple but its also powerful enough to handle all the different ways you might need to take your notes. Evernote also lets you record voice memos, upload photos and even set reminders. The application follows Google’s Material design and is very simple to use.
Qwik Beta
Price: Free
If you are looking for an app to replace Google Now, look no further than Qwik. Qwik is an application that replaces your Google Now and you can access it by swiping up from your virtual home button or by just long pressing the capacitive home button. The app will open up as an overlay above your current application, this means you will be able to productively perform tasks without having to leave your current application. The application provides you the unique features like direct calling, direct messaging, built-in google search and advance power menu. All of these features you can access by just swiping up the home button without leaving your current application.
Todoist: To-Do List, Task List
Price: Free | $30/year
Todoist is a cross-platform To-Do app, with group projects and tasks. You can add, complete, and re-schedule tasks from your phone, tablet, desktop, browser, email, smartwatch and more – even offline! You can even add integration to the application like Google Drive, IFTTT and Cloudmagic.The best part of Todoist is that it’s free and available across multiple platforms. At the reasonable price of $29 per year, you can upgrade the service to include calendar sync, extended sharing, and more.
join.me
Price: Free
With the join.me mobile viewer you can join an online meeting no matter where you are. Download the app, and in seconds you can view someone’s screen and collaborate in real time, on your time. This is probably the easiest screen sharing service that I have encountered. The person sharing their screens downloads and runs a single executable file to their PC or Mac, then gives the other person the meeting ID #, and voila, you can see what they see. The best part is that it’s all free.
Any.do: To-Do List | Task List
Price: Free
Any.Do is at heart just a task list, but it’s an incredibly stylish one that doubles as a note-taking solution and diary. You can schedule things for the future with reminders, or just let them rest in the present. To cross something off your list, just swipe across its entry and Any.Do greys it out. You can also share tasks and lists with your team and family. Any.do stays perfectly synced on your mobile, web app, Chrome, and even offline. The Application follows Google’s Material design and its easy to use.
Rewire
Price: Free | IAP
Rewire offers a clean and easy way to keep track of activities that you want to do everyday. It helps you create good habits or break bad ones. Rewire uses Seinfeld’s productivity secret which consists of creating a chain of days in which you have to complete your goal. The longer the chain gets, the less likely you are to break it. Your only goal will be to not break the chain. It is an effective way to keep yourself motivated and change how you spend your time.
Journal with Narrate
Price : Free | IAP
Now you may be wondering why a journal app has made its way to the productivity section. Well the answer is simple. Keeping a running log about what you have done in a day reminds you of how productive or not productive you were. If you were productive, you will feel better about how that day went, or if you weren’t as productive, keeping a journal about it will help you realize that you haven’t accomplished what you wanted in that day. Narrate offers a clean and intuitive way for people to keep them on track to accomplish what they want.
Google Drive
Price: Free | $1.99 – $299.99
With up to 15GB of free storage, and the ability to upload any file type makes Google Drive incredibly useful in backing up, editing, and sharing documents and images. The most common files types like PowerPoint documents, Excel documents, Word documents, PDFs, MP3s, and jpegs are mostly what I store in my Google Drive. Given that Google built Chrome as well, Google Drive integrates seamlessly to your desktop and makes locating documents even easier than using Windows Explorer. Gone are the days of needing to email yourself a file, or saving documents to flash drives thanks to apps like Google Drive. Another great feature is the ability to collaborate on a file with multiple people, with easy ways to view edits and comments. This is definitely a “must have” app for almost everyone.
Dropbox
Price : Free | IAP
Dropbox is a free cloud service that manages photos, documents, and videos and helps keep your smartphone’s memory free. Similar to Google Drive, Dropbox can store any file type and manage them via mobile devices, laptops, desktops, and is compatible with Windows and Mac OS. Dropbox is great for when you have a large file that you cannot email due to size. Upload your 200MB video to Dropbox and then share it with friends, family, and coworkers with shareable links. Dropbox also comes loaded with features like being able to view PDF documents without having to leave to app.
IF by IFTTT
Price: Free
IF is an automation app that works for you. Its job is to connect apps and services – think Facebook, Dropbox, Gmail, and many more – in a way that makes them react to specific triggers. You can create your own recipes according to your needs. The “this” part acts as a trigger while the “that” part acts as an action. You can create recipes like posting all of your Instagram Photos to Twitter. Overall, this is a neat little handy app that deserves a try!.
Slack
Price: Free
Slack is a great app for team communication. Here at AndroidGuys we use Slack to keep in touch and communicate new ideas with each other. We have writers that span the globe from Southern California to India making Slack an essential tool in keeping us productive and up-to-date. Features include real time messaging, group messaging, one-to-one conversations, integration with tools like Dropbox and Twitter, configurable notifications, and inline images and video so you don’t have to leave the app. Slack also has a web interface for using at your computer as well as a stand alone computer app.
Conclusion
Overall, if you are looking to get the most of out your smartphone then these apps are for you. Do you have another productivity app not listed here that you can’t live without? Let us know in the comment section down below.
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T-Mobile expands Simple Choice coverage to Mexico and Canada
Merely two weeks after beginning their Un-carrier Amped campaign, T-Mobile is continuing the momentum and throwing their customers another bone. They have just announced the removal of roaming restrictions from the two countries neighboring the US, Mexico and Canada.
In CEO John Legere’s sit-down, he addresses how carriers take advantage of unsuspecting roamers, jacking up rates and making tons of moolah in the process. Legere bluntly puts down carrier restriction, “…if you step one inch out of line, they punish the hell out of you.”
The ability to use your phone across the US borders will begin on July 15th, and of course, this only applies to Simple Choice plan customers. Coverage as you move across the border is said to be seamless, just like moving from state to state in the US. You will have access to everything your plans allows, unlimited calls, texts, and 4G LTE.
“We give more to you, without asking more from you.“
It’s great to see T-Mobile continuing to rattle cages and give us more for our money. Have they done enough to tempt you to switch over?
Source: T-Mobile
The post T-Mobile expands Simple Choice coverage to Mexico and Canada appeared first on AndroidGuys.
LG G4 Beat offers mid-range take on familiar flagship design
LG on Thursday introduced the G4 Beat, a mid-range version of its 2015 flagship smartphone. The handset carries over many of the physical traits and characteristics of the G4 but features dialed-down internal hardware.
Key specifications include a 5.2-inch full HD display, 8-megapixel rear camera, and 8GB storage. The standard G4, by comparison has a quad HD screen, 16-megapixel camera, and 32GB storage.
Running Android 5.1 Lollipop, the G4 Beat is powered by a octa-core Qualcomm Snapdragon 615 processor and 1.5GB RAM. Rounding things out, other details include a 5-megapixel front-facing camera and a removable 2300mAh battery.
The G4 Beat will be initially be sold in Europe and Latin America, followed by other markets down the road. LG did not indicate if any US carriers might be in line to support the device.
The post LG G4 Beat offers mid-range take on familiar flagship design appeared first on AndroidGuys.
Facebook update lets users customize news feed preferences
Facebook today introduced new configuration settings for its mobile apps which let users handpick their news feed appearance. Expected to hit Android in the coming weeks, the app also allows for easier discovery of pages for artists, businesses, and more.
Users will be able to select which friends and Pages should appear at the top of the News Feed. Tapping a friend’s profile picture brings up their respective posts first. New stories shared since your time with Facebook will be at the top with a star in the top right. Below said favorites will be the rest of the normal news feed. You can scroll down to see the rest of your News Feed normally.
Once in place, the new Facebook will provide tools to help follow and unfollow friends, Pages, and groups. This isn’t the same as outright unfriending but more of what you see in your News Feed.
The more customized Facebook layout should bring about more interaction and time spent within the app. The more configurable News Feed settings are available for the iOS app today; the Android and desktop versions will show up in the next few weeks.
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