Call Windows’ Cortana assistant with this Bluetooth button
Now that Microsoft’s voice-guided Cortana assistant is up and running in Windows 10, you might be eager to trigger it without leaving the “hey Cortana” feature on (which might sap battery life) or staying within reach of your computer. If so, Satechi might just come to your aid. It’s releasing a Bluetooth Cortana button that will trigger the Halo-inspired helper on Windows PCs and phones from a distance. You can use it to more quickly ask about the weather from across the room, for instance, or leave your phone in your car’s cupholder when you start a call. At $23, it won’t be the cheapest single-purpose peripheral when it ships later in August. However, that purchase might pay off if you’d rather not get that chatty with your devices.
Filed under:
Cellphones, Peripherals, Mobile
Via:
SlashGear
Source:
Satechi
Tags: bluetooth, cortana, mobilepostcross, peripherals, satechi, VoiceControl, VoiceRecognition, windows, windows10
The German car industry is buying Nokia’s Here maps
Nokia is selling its Here maps service to a group of German car makers for €2.8 billion (roughly $3.07 billion). The consortium is comprised of Mercedes’ owner Daimler, BMW, and Audi. As the latter is a VW subsidiary, the buyers essentially represent the entire German car industry — or at least all the big hitters. It was previously reported that Uber was interested in purchasing the service, but the car companies clearly brought the most attractive offer to Nokia’s table.
Although Here might not be a popular mobile mapping app, it remains the in-car entertainment navigation service. Last year, Nokia said that four out of five new vehicles sold with built-in navigation were being powered by Here. New owners VW, Daimler and Mercedes all utilize the service, as have many other manufacturers, including Ford, Toyota, and aftermarket GPS companies like Garmin.
The sale will leave Nokia as a two-business company focused on network infrastructure, new technology development, software, and licensing. It still has a large portfolio of patents and also licenses its name out to other manufacturers for use in consumer electronics. As usual, such a big-money deal is subject to regulatory approval, but the acquisition is likely to go through sometime later this year.
Filed under:
Transportation, Nokia
Source:
Nokia
Tags: acquisition, audi, bmw, garmin, gps, here, maps, mercedes, nokia, sale, vw
Samsung UK confirms that the Samsung Galaxy K Zoom won’t be getting Android Lollipop
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Samsung has never been very good at keeping its more niche products up-to-date software-wise, and it appears this point is being proven again today. Samsung UK has just responded to an eager customer on Twitter, saying that the Samsung Galaxy K Zoom won’t be getting Android Lollipop, possibly ruining the customer’s day:
@ahmetgngr13 We don’t like to be the bearer of bad news, but the Galaxy Zoom will not be receiving the Lollipop update.
— Samsung Mobile UK (@SamsungMobileUK) August 2, 2015
That means that the Galaxy K Zoom will be staying on Android 4.4.2 i.e. Android KitKat, till the end of its days – which is coincidentally the software version it launched with. We can’t exactly say we’re surprised, but it likely still hurts for those affected – we’re assuming that updating the software for niche products like the Galaxy K Zoom is actually work than they’re worth, and unfortunately Samsung is in the process of streamlining its whole company. Perhaps the silver lining in all of this is that Samsung, or at least the UK Twitter branch, isn’t above responding to customer’s questions about software updates, rather than ignoring them and leaving them in the dark.
What do you think about the news the Samsung Galaxy K Zoom won’t be getting Android Lollipop? Let us know your thoughts in the comments below.
Source: Twitter via Phone Arena
The post Samsung UK confirms that the Samsung Galaxy K Zoom won’t be getting Android Lollipop appeared first on AndroidSPIN.
Empire State Building projection shines a light on endangered animals
If you were hanging around midtown Manhattan this weekend, you may have noticed some exotic animals projected on to the side of the Empire State Building. What was that all about? As it turns out, that was one of the more ambitious examples of tech-powered advocacy in recent memory. It was Projecting Change, a collaboration between the Oceanic Preservation Society and Obscura Digital that used striking imagery to highlight the plights of endangered species, such as snow leopards and manta rays. The piece relied on 40 stacked projectors to beam 5K video on to the legendary New York City skyscraper. At 33 floors tall, the resulting image was clear within about 20 blocks’ radius — you could have had a good view at 14th Street. There’s sadly no talk of repeating the event in the near future, but there are replays both on YouTube and Discovery if you want to see what happened.
[Image credit: Joel Sartore and Ron Robinson/Obscura Digital]
Filed under: Home Entertainment, HD
Via: New York Times
Source: Obscura Digital, Racing Extinction
AT&T’s first DirecTV plans include a $200 phone-and-TV combo
AT&T isn’t waiting long to take advantage of its DirecTV acquisition. The telecom giant is introducing its first plans that incorporate the satellite TV provider, including a promo plan that could save you money if you need to get both cellphone and TV service at the same time. The offering gives you basic TV service for four receivers (through either DirecTV or U-verse) and four phone lines with 10GB of shared data for $200 per month over the first year. You’ll need to agree to a 1- or 2-year TV contract and sign up between August 10th and November 14th, but you could save up to $600 in those initial 12 months — no small amount, even though the rate is likely to change in the long run.
If you’re not taking advantage of that specific promo, you’ll still have some options that include DirecTV. AT&T’s new All in One plans range between $50 to $125 for TV alone, and again let you pick whether you’re on DirecTV or U-verse. If you need phone service for your family, you tack on $160 to get the same cell service from the promo. And yes, you can bolt on internet access — promo pricing for that ranges between $30 to $50 per month for the first year. This could ultimately prove to be expensive if you’re getting everything at once, but it’s not often that you can spring for a single promo that theoretically covers all your needs.
[Image credit: Bloomberg via Getty Images]
Filed under: Cellphones, Home Entertainment, Wireless, HD, Mobile, AT&T
Comcast’s X1 box automatically records extra-long events
There are few things worse for DVR-toting sports fans than to realize that a game is going into extra time that they can’t record — just ask Red Sox and Yankees fans, who may have missed 10 innings this April. Thankfully, Comcast might save you from similar TV tragedies in the future. It’s planning an upgrade to its X1 set-top box that can automatically extend recording in half-hour increments when a live event runs past its scheduled end. The extension feature is currently only useful for major sports leagues (MLB, NASCAR, NBA, NCAA basketball and football, NFL, NHL and soccer), but it should be reaching other live events in the future.
There’s more waiting in the wings, too. One test (shown above) gives you the option of skipping to the highlights of a sports event you’ve recorded. You might not have to worry about missing scoring moments just because you’re short on time, in other words. Another trial, Welcome Back, catches you up on both your DVR recordings and what’s hot. There’s no mention of when these features might move past the testing phase, but they’re useful enough that we could see them rolling out quickly.
Filed under:
Home Entertainment, HD
Source:
Comcast
Tags: comcast, dvr, hdpostcross, sports, television, tv, x1
BMW wants you to know when traffic lights change
Traffic lights are supposed to help keep driving orderly, but they often create more tension than they resolve. How do you know that the green light won’t turn yellow before it’s too late to slow down? BMW thinks it can help. It’s the first automaker to offer in-car support for Connected Signals’ EnLighten iOS app, which predicts when lights will change based on position and speed. All you need to do is keep an eye on your car’s infotainment display — it’ll tell you whether or not you should hit the brakes. The software is useful even if you’re stopped, as it’ll use your turn signals to show when a necessary light will return to green. This is the definition of a luxury feature when you need a BMW with ConnectedDrive Services just to give it a shot, but it could be entirely worthwhile if it spares you from an accident or a ticket.
Filed under:
Cellphones, Transportation, Mobile
Via:
Gizmag
Source:
BMW, Connected Signals
Tags: app, bmw, enlighten, mobilepostcross, smartphone, traffic, trafficlight, transportation
Andrew Bell’s Android Mini Summer 2015 figurines are appropriately hot
Despite July being over, the heat felt in many parts of the world will continue through August. That means plenty of time swimming in the ocean or a pool. Staring at an air conditioner for a few hours is also an option. If you do choose the latter, maybe you’ll want to be joined by Andrew Bell’s Android Mini Summer 2015 figurines. This set, made specifically for the hottest time of the year, features two figurines.
The lifeguard, who’s literally feeling the burn (on his shoulders), is keeping an eye on the mischievous diver who keeps tricking other swimmers with his shark fin.
Good thing the lifeguard has a whistle, right?
Lifeguard and diver figurines
Diver with shark fin
Diver preparing for a dip in imaginary ocean
Lifeguard with whistle looking out for swimmers
Lifeguard and diver after a long day in the sun
The Android Mini Summer 2015 figurines can be purchased from the link below for $30. Dead Zebra is also offering bundles that include the BBQ set or HVII set at a discounted price. All three sets, too, can ordered for $65.
Come comment on this article: Andrew Bell’s Android Mini Summer 2015 figurines are appropriately hot
HTC Desire 828w gets TENAA certification in China
A device from HTC belonging to the Desire line received certification from TENAA in China. The new Desire handset will reportedly have model number 828w. The handset looks to be a revision of the HTC Desire 826 which was released just a year ago. This variant, called the Desire 828w, comes with Android 5.1.1 out of the box and includes HTC’s signature BoomSound front-facing speakers. The handset will be offered in both single and dual SIM versions.
The TENAA certification shows it will be 7.9mm thin and weigh only 150 grams. HTC will most likely release the handset in a variety of colors like its predecessor. Beginning with black and white and adding additional color options such as Red, Orange, Deep Blue, Gray and Gold to select markets at a later date.
As of now, there is no word on pricing or availability
Source: TENAA
Via: TechGadgetsz
Come comment on this article: HTC Desire 828w gets TENAA certification in China
Groupon’s food delivery service brings discounts with every order
You’re about to get a fresh alternative to internet-based restaurant delivery services like GrubHub and Seamless. Groupon has just launched the simply-titled Groupon To Go, an order-in service that focuses on (what else?) discounts for your food. The company promises that you’ll get at least 10 percent cash back on every order, which could add up if you’re ordering pizza every week. The offering is only available in Chicago right now, but there are over 500 included restaurants ranging from big chains like Subway to local eateries like Al’s Beef and Ditka’s Restaurant. And don’t worry about waiting long to give it a shot — Groupon is expanding the service later this year, with Austin and Boston among the early highlights. It’ll eventually be available nationwide.
The move comes just weeks after Groupon bought OrderUp (which is still handling deliveries in many areas), and shows how serious the company is about expanding beyond its core service. As Groupon explains to our TechCrunch colleagues, food is already one of its hot-ticket items — it only makes sense that the firm branches out by covering that “last mile” between you and your sustenance. There’s no guarantee that Groupon will lure you away from the incumbents, but the combination of its name and pricing might give it a crucial edge.
[Image credit: AP Photo/Charles Rex Arbogast]
Filed under:
Internet
Via:
The Verge, Consumerist
Source:
Groupon To Go, BusinessWire
Tags: delivery, food, groupon, groupontogo, internet, restaurant, restaurants, seamless, takeout
AIVAnet 