PlayStation’s streaming TV service rolls out to Dallas and Miami
Looking to stream Sony’s TV service to your PS3 or PS4? Living in Fort Worth and Fort Lauderdale? If that particularly specific Venn diagram has you smack in the middle, then good news: PlayStation Vue launched there, today. While it won’t be on your iPad or Vita just right now, expect compatibility to roll out as soon as Sony deems it ready — then that Venn diagram overlap will get at least a little bigger.
Filed under:
Gaming, Home Entertainment, HD, Sony
Source:
PlayStation
Tags: dallas, hdpostcross, miami, playstationvue, psvue, sony, streaming, tv, vue
Apple’s website redesign kills separate ‘Store’ section
You’ll notice something new if you visit Apple’s website right now. Things might look the same at first glance, but a closer look will reveal the absence of the familiar “Store” tab. Apple has chosen to get rid of its separate online shop entirely — “store.apple.com” doesn’t exist anymore and redirects to the homepage if you load it. Instead, you’ll find Buy buttons in each specific product page, and clicking them adds items to a unified shopping bag (yep, it’s no longer a “cart” either) instead of forwarding you to the store subdomain like in the past.
If you’re wondering why Cupertino has decided to merge its virtual storefront and warehouse after all these years, an Apple spokesperson told TechCrunch that it’s “to give customers one simple destination to learn and buy without navigating between two different sites.” The redesigned Apple website is now visible to everyone on the planet. Yep, the company has managed to give it a complete overhaul without downtime, which makes one wonder why it has to go on maintenance mode every time a new product is announced.
Source:
TechCrunch, Daring Fireball
Tags: apple, applestore, retail
Samsung’s latest blog post talks S-Pen and the evolution of the writing implement
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The Samsung S-Pen stands at the pinnacle of stylus design, combining form and function to achieve something that nobody in the mobile industry has yet to come close to. To this end, Samsung has thought to reflect on the evolution of pens, naturally seeing its ultimate evolution as the S-Pen. However, it makes an interesting point about how writing implements have stamped their place in humanity’s history:
“…it was the rise of the pen that made writing a ubiquitous part of civilization”
To make its point, Samsung talks us through history, from the calligraphy brushes of Ancient China, to the quills of Charles Dickens and Jane Austen, and to Sir Arthur Conan Doyle who used fountain pens to write his Sherlock Holmes stories. The history lesson ends with technical pens and ballpoint pens which we all use on a daily basis – though perhaps not as much as a few years ago.
Of course, Samsung makes the case that the S-Pen “has evolved to meet the needs of users”, citing its trademark features like its multifunction button, use of gestures, and of course, its Air Command menu which is by far the most useful part of the S-Pen equation. As if to suggest that we didn’t know the Samsung Galaxy Note 5 is only a week away from being announced, Samsung concludes its post:
“The S Pen is already in its fourth edition. It is exciting to consider how it will continue to evolve and improve as time goes on.”
Isn’t it just?
Check out the full Samsung post about the S-Pen here.
Source: Samsung Tomorrow via SamMobile
The post Samsung’s latest blog post talks S-Pen and the evolution of the writing implement appeared first on AndroidSPIN.
Microsoft brings Outlook and Translator to your smartwatch
Microsoft has just released a bunch of productivity apps for wearable devices — nope, not for the Band, but for Android Wear smartwatches and the Apple Watch. First for the Apple Watch is Outlook, which allows you to read full emails and respond with either canned replies or your own through voice dictation. Cupertino’s wearable also gets to-do app Wunderlist and will soon be able to install private social network Yammer, which will be able to take advantage of iOS 8’s Handoff feature with an iPhone.
Android Wear, on the other hand, gets updated versions of both OneNote and OneDrive. The cloud service will now use one of your photos uploaded within the past 30 days as a watch face every time you activate your device. As for OneNote, it now shows the latest notes you’ve looked at right on the smartwatch. Finally, Microsoft has released a Translator app for both platforms: just speak into the watch, and the app will translate it into any of the 50 languages available. It also lets you pin your most commonly used translations (say, “Where is the toilet?” or “Help, I’m lost!”) and browse previous ones. All these apps besides Yammer are now available for download from iTunes or Google Play.
Filed under:
Wearables, Mobile, Microsoft
Source:
Office Blog
Tags: androidwear, applewatch, apps, microsoft, microsofttranslate, mobilepostcross, onedrive, onenote, smartwatch
Confirmed pictures of the Xperia Z5 and Z5 Compact?
The Sony Xperia Z4 has not done very well and I’m sure Sony is trying to forget all about it so they can get the Z5 out. Today we have some possibly leaked images of the Xperia Z5 and Xperia Z5 Compact from @ViziLeaks.
According to them the image above are confirmed images of the Z5 (left) and Z5 Compact (right). The phones look basically the same as they always have from Sony, but notably leave out a USB Type-C connection. Google said that they will be pushing USB Type-C on all future Android phones. However, it should not be a shock they left it out since Sony have already stated their next phones will not feature it.
The next two images show the phones with fingerprint reader screens open next to an iPhone. The fingerprint reader is said to be embedded into the power button. As you can see the way to add a fingerprint looks similar to how Apple and Samsung do it.
Will Sony announce them next month at IFA in Brazil?
Source: Vizileaks (Twitter)
Come comment on this article: Confirmed pictures of the Xperia Z5 and Z5 Compact?
How to setup mobile Hotspot on Android – Android customization
Ever since you followed along last week’s Android customization post, turning on data compression in Chrome, you’ve had data to spare. We can think of no better way to use up that extra data than to share it with your other devices – let’s look at creating an Android hotspot, that is, a mobile hotspot using your Android phone.
Warning: Please take the time to get to know your mobile carrier and the service plan you have purchased. Not all plans allow for tethering and hotspot services and may incur additional charges. Also, some carrier branded phones may have disabled hotspot capabilities altogether on your Android phone, we’ll try to get you up and running with a few techniques today, but it simply may not be possible on your device.
Before we begin
We will be looking at a couple different apps today, but our primary goal is to utilize the default Android mobile hotspot capabilities. If you are running a Nexus or GPe phone, or one of the many unlocked devices out there, there’s a good chance you are good to go.
FoxFi on Google Play StoreIf you are running an older phone (pre KitKat) and do not have native mobile hotspot capabilities, I would have you download and install Fox-Fi, it’s free in the Google Play Store. The free version is intended to make sure the app works on your device, you’ll then need to dish out $7.95 for the full license, which is an additional app in the Google Play Store.
Open Garden on Google Play StoreAn interesting alternative to the typical hotspot methodology is in an app called Open Garden. I’ll discuss it more below, but the social aspect to it may be what you are looking for, and it’s free in the Google Play Store.
Setup a mobile hotspot on Android
We are going to keep this super simple, truth is, if you are running stock Android, or something close to it, you have likely seen the hotspot button on your device at some point. Especially since it landed in the Quick Settings section of the Notification shade in Android 5 Lollipop.
While the button in Quick Settings is the fastest and easiest way to turn on and off your mobile hotspot, you are going to want to take a moment to configure things before use.
Head to your main system Settings.
Hit the More button at the bottom of the Wireless & networks section, right below Data usage.
Open Tethering and portable hotspot.
Tap on Set up Wi-Fi hotspot.
Input a Network name. This is what you might know as your SSID, and it will be visible to anyone around you, so have fun, but don’t be crude. Let’s use “They’reWatching” for today.
Note that, despite my bad humor above, it is not a great idea to include special characters, like my apostrophe, in your network name, but it will still work for most devices.
Choose a Security type. I do highly recommend WPA2 AES (or PSK, if AES is not available), but you may choose None, if you just want to give internet to anyone nearby.
Assuming you made the secure choice above, enter a Password. This is the password you will have to enter on all of your other devices, and provide to friends and family if you ever let them connect. Again, being crude may not be a good idea.
Great news, the hard part is over, you need now only turn on the service and you are off and running. There is a handy toggle to do so right here in the settings, or you can use the Notification shade Quick Settings. That’s all pretty boring though, why not create a project in Tasker to handle it for you? Create your Task, add Net -> WiFi Tether and toggle it on and off.
Using Fox-Fi for your mobile hotspot
Truth is, Fox-Fi is an older app, and it only really works on older devices, so why are we even bothering with it? If you are like me, you have at least one older device kicking around, and even though they are incapable of keeping up with daily tasks, they are still more than capable of providing one task at a time, like acting as a mobile hotspot.
I won’t bother you with step-by-step here, just know that you’ll want to be running a device that is at most Android 4.0. I’ve got an Android 2.3.3 Gingerbread device running today. You’ll want to setup a Network name and Password, then go ahead and turn it on.
Be sure to hit the Google Play Store listing for FoxFi to see what newer devices, starting with Android 4.2, are supported by the app. Also, there are USB and Bluetooth tethering modes available in the app, so you are not completely out in the cold if the actual Wi-Fi hotspot doesn’t work.
Using Open Garden for your mobile hotspot
Open Garden is now a provider of a number of apps and services mostly centered around internet connectivity on your Android devices. Their namesake app, Open Garden: Internet Sharing, also has issues with versions of Android beyond 4.2, but offers a completely unique approach, sharing with strangers.
Operating mostly over Bluetooth, Open Garden creates a peer-to-peer mesh network between your device and all other nearby Open Garden equipped devices. In your own home, this will allow your phone to connect to your tablet to provide internet. In a crowded coffee shop, however, all phones and tablets mesh together, with internet collectively being provided by you and all other enabled phones in the connection.
Do not confuse Open Garden for a super secure personal hotspot, others can mesh in and you may run out of data pretty quick. Please keep tabs on your data usage.
What’s next
There are a bunch of great apps in the Google Play Store that provide these and similar services for hotspot and tethering. Please do not think that our two apps today are the latest and greatest apps out there, we just wanted to think outside the box a little. From there, do keep in mind that with Android 4.2 and newer, Android security has changed things up, making it difficult for non-root apps to properly offer WiFi hotspots, your best bet is to use the default Android or carrier tool, if your device has one equipped.
It is also important to keep security in mind when using a mobile hotspot. You should be able to trust the hotspot that you’ve created for yourself, but if you are connecting to other networks, you may consider a VPN Proxy service. We’ve looked at a number before, including Hotspot Shield.
Next week
I do hope that your device is newer and capable of running a mobile hotspot through the default Android tools, else this Android customization post was not very useful to you. Next week will be handy for the Lollipop users in the crowd, we wish to walk through Android’s app screen pinning, which should not be confused with LG’s Guest Mode app lockdown that we covered a while back.
How often and how much do you tether to your Android phone, either by USB, Bluetooth or in creating a mobile hotspot?
Phone companies ditching copper wires will have to follow the rules
The age of the copper land-line is nearing its end, but traditional phone lines aren’t going quietly: new rules from the FCC now require service providers notify customers of the impending removal and drawbacks of switching to a VOIP line three months before killing a copper network. It sounds like a reasonable move — customers need to know that the technology replacing their traditional land-line won’t work during a power-outage without an external power source — but not everybody at the FCC is happy with the new rules.
“It appears that Chicken Little rules the roost,” writes Commissioner Ajit Pai in a dissent to the updated transition rules. “By dragging out the copper retirement process, the FCC is adopting ‘regulations that deter rather than promote fiber deployment.’” Pai argues that the FCC is making it more difficult for companies to modernize their networks because lobbyists are claiming that retiring copper will cause the “sky to fall,” disrupting services and hurting their business model. He has a point — but wouldn’t you want to be notified if the phone company was changing out your voice service worked?
Check out the FCC’s official announcement at the source link below.
[Image Credit: Raymond Kleboe via Getty Images]
Filed under:
Misc
Tags: copper, copperlandline, fcc, landline, phones, telco, telephone
Blizzard’s huge ‘World of Warcraft: Legion’ expansion hits beta this year
Blizzard ended 2014 with a promise to release bigger, better expansions faster — and today at Gamescom it finally showed off the goods. The next World of Warcraft expansion is called Legion, and like its name, its additions to the game world are many. Legion will bump the max player level up to 110 (from 100) and introduce a new continent: the Broken Isles. Here players will search for the Tomb of Sargeras, and prepare for the invasion of an all-powerful demon army. How do you fight demons, you ask? With an all-new Demon Hunter Hero Class, of course.
Players that adopt the Demon Hunter class will be able to transform into powerful demonic forms that take on the guise of in-game enemies. Hunting not your thing? Don’t worry — Blizzard is adding a new “Class Orders” system that gives characters access to a new champions system (similar to the follow system from Warlords of Draenor).
Blizzard says it’s doubling down on dungeons as well, and promises better designed and more repayable dungeons and raids than previous expansions. The company hasn’t announced a release date for the expansion yet, but promises that you’ll be able to play a beta later this year. Check out the embedded videos above and below (or just click on the source link) to see the expansion for yourself.
Via:
Polygon
Source:
Youtube (1), (2)
Tags: blizzard, Gamescom, gaming, video, videogames, warcraft, worldofwarcraft, wow
Is this the next Huawei Nexus?
We have heard a lot about Huawei making the next Nexus phone, but now a new video has surfaced showing an unamed prototype by Huawei.
The video is not very clear, but from what we can tell it seems to have a random square that is possibly a finger print reader. To be fair it doesn’t actually have the Huawei logo anywhere on it and could be a prototype phone from any manufacture. We are only assuming it’s from Huawei based off of what we have been told.
There is a word written on the back of the bottom, but I can not make out what it says. If you can please leave it in the comments below.
Click here to view the embedded video.
Come comment on this article: Is this the next Huawei Nexus?
Motorola Moto G 2015 review
Motorola calls it the Moto G (3rd Generation), but we know it as the Moto G 2015. Whatever you call it, Motorola’s latest entry-level smartphone bumps up the features but keeps the affordable price tag. From additional durability to a more premium design, this year’s Moto G continues where the 2014 model left off. But can this budget device reign supreme as the best bang for your buck budget smartphone, or will it fall short this time around?
We find that out, and much more, in our full review of the Motorola Moto G 2015!
Editor’s note: Before we get into the full review, know that we reviewed the higher end model with 2GB of RAM and 16GB of on-board storage. Motorola also offers a less expensive model with 1GB of RAM and 8GB of storage.
The latest from Motorola
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Design
The design of the Moto G 2015 is almost identical to previous generations, but this year’s model does have a couple of tweaked elements. The addition of mid-plate detail delivers a more premium design, while the metallic accent around the camera (which can be customized) adds a bit of contrast. Of course, it wouldn’t be a Moto device without the all-too familiar dimple beneath the camera.
While the Moto G’s design is meant to resemble the company’s higher-end offerings like the Moto X Style, don’t be fooled. The metallic accent that surrounds the device feels cheap and plasticky, which makes the device feel more affordable than premium.
Moving around the sides, the power/standby button sits above the volume rocker on the right side of the device, while the top features a center-mounted 3.5mm headphone jack – a design element we’ve come to expect from Motorola devices. The left side of the device doesn’t sport any buttons whatsoever, and the bottom houses the Micro-USB port. Both the power and volume hardware buttons provide particularly poor tactile feedback; this is where the “budget” aspect of this device really shines through.
Up front, we have a 5.0-inch LCD display flanked by two front-facing speakers. Last year’s model only featured one front-facing speaker, so this is likely a change most users will welcome to the handset.
The other nice addition to the handset is a textured finish on the device’s back plate, which is great as it provides more grip when using the Moto G in your hand. The curved design of the rear helps ergonomically, but the rear cover causes an issue with a key feature on the handset: IPX7 certification. One of the biggest additions to the handset, IPX7 certification means it is somewhat resistant to water but the snap-on back cover design has the same issue faced by other waterproof handsets with removable covers (here’s looking at you, Samsung Galaxy S5). If you don’t secure the back cover on properly, you’ll find that water can get in underneath the device, and if it does cause water damage, you may find that this isn’t covered under your warranty.
Motorola also decided to introduce the Moto G line to the Moto Maker program this time around, allowing users to fully customize their handsets online. You can customize the device’s front, back, accent color, storage/RAM configuration, and even add an engraving if you choose.
Overall, the design and build aren’t as premium as we’ve seen on other low-cost handsets, but after all, it’s not all about design. To make up for it, Motorola has provided a way for consumers to make their handsets truly unique, and given that these customization features come at no extra cost, it’s definitely something we’d recommend doing.
Display
Motorola chose to include the same 5.0-inch IPS LCD display on this year’s handset that it did with last year’s, and unfortunately, it shows. While the bump up to a 5.0-inch display size will satisfy some, the decision to go with a 720p resolution is a disappointment. Obviously Motorola had to do this to keep the cost down, so just keep that in mind if you’re looking for a device with a Full HD resolution or higher.
With 294 pixels per inch, the relatively low pixel density is very noticeable when viewing basically any type of media, and we question whether Motorola would have been better served offering a Full HD panel (while keeping the price tag affordable). The display also sports Gorilla Glass 3, which can protect the handset from scratches and fingerprints. The display seems solid enough to withstand a knock or two, as well. With that said, sunlight legibility and viewing angles are decidedly average.
Given that other handsets like the Vodafone Smart Ultra 6 offer a Full HD panel (and are cheaper), the 720p resolution is certainly a disappointment. However, if Full HD is a must, be sure to check out the Moto X Play which is a more premium handset at a slightly higher price.
Hardware
What the new Moto G lacks in the display, it more than makes up for in its hardware and optimization. Under the hood, the biggest changes include a newer, better chipset and additional RAM (at least on the upper version).
That’s right – Motorola has followed in the footsteps of other companies and offers different specs for different versions of the handset. The lower 8GB version comes with just 1GB RAM but the more premium edition offers double the storage and RAM at a slightly higher cost. Given you get around 11GB storage available on the 16GB version out of the box, we definitely recommend the extra storage and if you need, you can expand the storage on both versions using a microSD card.
Although Motorola has included a removable back cover, the 2470mAh battery is non-removable. In case you’re worried about running out of juice, you’ll be happy to know that the Moto G 2015 delivers impressive battery life. The battery is a 400mAh upgrade over last year’s model and this definitely shows, with battery life around 16 to 18 hours with 5 hours of screen on time and two to three days of standby time. If you do run out of charge, however, the lack of quick charging means it takes over two hours to charge from full, so you’ll want to plan your charging accordingly.
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Overall, the hardware is what you might expect from a mid-range device. In actual use, though, the performance is definitely a surprise given the price tag. From mid-range hardware, you’d probably expect average performance, but the Moto G delivers so much more than this.
Performance
The Moto G’s software is essentially a few additions away from a pure Android experience, and this shows when it comes to performance. From general multitasking to heavy gaming, this handset is more than capable of handling whatever you ask of it, despite the mid-range processor. Unlike other Android Lollipop-powered devices, we’ve not experienced any RAM management issues with the handset, and during the past week, we’ve noticed that even adding several apps and filling the storage doesn’t impact the responsiveness very much at all.
Overall performance on the Moto G is certainly impressive, especially when considering the mid to low-end specs. For those lamenting over the lack of a cheap Nexus, the Moto G definitely delivers in this part.
Camera
Despite the entry-level price tag, Motorola has included a large camera on the back of the device, and it’s the same Sony IMX214 sensor found in Google’s flagship Nexus 6. That gives you 13MP resolution, f/2.0 aperture and a dual-tone LED flash while an IR filter helps to reduce glare. There’s no optical image stabilization, however, meaning photos and videos can come out shaky if you don’t hold perfectly still.
Just like on other Moto devices, the viewfinder is extremely simplistic here, which means you’ll need to download a third party application if you’d like to shoot with any extra filters or camera modes. Given the price tag, the camera is very impressive on paper and it delivers, as long as you have enough light in the scene.
In daylight, the camera produces colors that are vibrant and captures an impressive amount of detail. In particular, HDR mode makes a big difference to images and while some other phones do very little in HDR mode, the Moto G does a really good job in lighting up shadows. The addition of a manual exposure slider is also really useful when capturing scenes with hot zones and lets you view the changes in the viewfinder as you change the setting. Daylight performance is definitely impressive, but sadly, as the sun drops so does the camera performance. Daylight images have very little noise but a lack of light results in focal problems and digital noise. And this camera captures SO. MUCH. NOISE.
Given the price tag, the Moto G camera is definitely very impressive in daylight, but in low light conditions, this camera needs a lot of work.
Software
Unsurprisingly, the new Moto G features a near-pure Android experience, meaning you’ll have access to the Google Now launcher, with just a couple Motorola-specific apps thrown into the mix. The first of those, by the way, is Moto Display, which shows you waiting notifications or the time automatically when you pick the handset up or pull it out of your pocket. Moto Display is very useful when you consider how many people don’t carry a watch and check the time on their phone and it definitely helps improve the battery if you are one of them.
Motorola’s suite of apps also includes Moto Assist, which lets you set custom behaviors for specific locations. As an example, if the phone detects you’re at the movies, it can automatically silence the ringer. Or if it detects you’re driving, it can automatically speak your messages to you and let you reply using your voice. These little tweaks are definitely useful as they help make the smartphone experience be what it should be – your phone, doing simple tasks automatically, so you don’t have to.
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By far my favorite feature is the number of different Quick Gestures, which let you accomplish simple things easily. A double flick of the wrist turns the flashlight on or off, while a double twist of the wrist launches the camera. This latter feature is a little too responsive for our liking, and often we’ve activated the camera just by picking up the phone from a table.
The Moto G’s software experience, overall, is great. It’s responsive, easy to pick up for the first time, and allows the phone to runs as fast as ever. While none of the Moto-specific features are actually new this year, we’re very happy with the additions Motorola brought to the G line.
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Specifications
| Display | 5.0-inch IPS LCD display 720 x 1280 resolution Gorilla Glass 3 |
| Processor | 1.4GHz quad-core Qualcomm Snapdragon 410 |
| GPU | Adreno 306 |
| Storage | 8/16GB expandable up to 32GB |
| RAM | 1/2GB |
| Connectivity | Wi-Fi 802.11 b/g/n Bluetooth 4.0 GPS GSM/CDMA/HSPA/LTE |
| Software | Android 5.1.1 Lollipop |
| Camera | 13MP rear-facing camera 5MP front-facing camera |
| Battery | non-removable 2470mAh |
| Colors | Black, White customizable via Moto Maker |
| Dimensions | 142.1 x 72.4 x 11.6mm, 155g |
| IPX7 certification | Yes |
Gallery
Pricing and final thoughts
Motorola calls this a $180 smartphone, but that’s not the version we reviewed. As noted above, we got the chance to review the higher end version with 2GB of RAM and 16GB of storage, which costs $219 from Motorola’s website. There’s also an entry-level handset that comes with 8GB of storage and 1GB of RAM, which is only being offered for $179. It should be noted that if you choose to engrave the handset, the price tag rises even higher than that.
So, should you buy the Moto G? Well, it’s complicated.
When the first Moto G launched, it introduced the concept of premium entry-level smartphones, but since then, plenty of handset makers have launched products that try to take the Moto G’s crown. On paper, the list of specifications isn’t the best you can get at this price point, but on the performance front, the Moto G is definitely up for the task.
The many positives of this handset definitely outweigh the few and if you can handle the shortcomings in the display and camera, the Moto G is the one for you. With that said, we had a great experience with the higher end model. If you can, spring for that one. But if you’re trying to pinch as many pennies as possible, we’re sure the entry-level smartphone will do just fine in your pocket.
Check out these other great reviews
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float: right;
.rvs_wrapper.align_center.cbc-latest-videos ul li
padding: 0 7px;
.rvs_wrapper.cbc-latest-videos ul li > a
font-weight: 400;
.rvs_wrapper.cbc-latest-videos ul li > a .yt-thumbnail
margin-bottom: 0;
@media only screen and (min-width : 480px)
body #page .rvs_wrapper.cbc-latest-videos ul
width: 100% !important;
@media only screen and (max-width : 480px)
body #page .rvs_wrapper.cbc-latest-videos
width: 100%;
float: none !important;
overflow-x: auto;
overflow-y: hidden;
body #page .rvs_wrapper.cbc-latest-videos ul
overflow: auto;
max-height: none;
body .rvs_wrapper.cbc-latest-videos ul li
float: left !important;
clear: none !important;
AIVAnet 