Facebook enables notifications from mobile site via Chrome for Android
Although many people use the Facebook app to access the social media platform, there are still lots of people who access Facebook through a mobile browser. If they happen to use Chrome on Android, those Facebook users will find that they can now receive Facebook notifications. This new option is partly due to a new API that Google released this past spring for Android enabling notifications to be pushed by web sites to mobile devices through a browser app like Chrome.
Facebook product manager Jonathan McKay has noted, “we’ve already seen an increase in visitation from launching push notifications.” The ability to push a notification to a mobile device is a tool web site operators can use to try to keep visitors engaged and returning to the site. For some site operators that do not need a dedicated app, this may be a good alternative as well.
Google hopes to see more browsers implement the new push notification API along with web sites adding support. Chrome joins the Opera browser in supporting push notifications and Firefox is expected to roll out support in November. The Chinese made UC Browser also supports Google’s new API and is reaching emerging markets. Those markets are part of the impetus for the feature as accessing sites like Facebook with a mobile browser typically uses less data than a dedicated app.
The next hurdle to be addressed will involve ways to limit duplicate notifications for users who happen to have a dedicated app installed along with accessing a site through their mobile browser.
Members of both the Google and Facebook teams reported the effort to support push notifications was beneficial for both sides. Facebook got assistance with making sure the user experience was done right while Google got insight into bugs and issues that a huge service like Facebook faces.
source: TechCrunch
via: Engadget
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Samsung takes new shot at Apple in latest video
Samsung’s marketing execs seem to really enjoy taking digs at Apple. They recently took on the iPhone’s lack of wireless charging capabilities. Now they are going after one of the biggest differences between the iOS operating system and Google’s Android that powers Samsung’s TouchWiz interface – customization.
Samsung’s new video says users should be able to enjoy a phone that reflects themselves. One way to achieve this is through the customization of themes and icons amongst other settings. Samsung encourages users to figure out how to make their Galaxy devices unique and in the process points out how Apple’s users do not get this ability.
You can check out the video below. Notice that Samsung includes a new #OptionsIncluded hashtag in this ad.
Click here to view the embedded video.
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Three UK rolls out its 4G Super-Voice ‘VoLTE’ technology for improved network coverage
Three has just announced it has begun to roll out its 4G Super-Voice technology in the UK making it easier for customers to make calls, send texts or go online in places that had previously had poor or no signal reception at all. While Three is calling the technology 4G Super-Voice, US readers may be more familiar with it under the VoLTE moniker.
Three’s 4G Super-Voice already covers most of Edinburgh, Birmingham, Exeter and most of London, with the continued rollout of the low frequency 800MHz signal allowing for improved indoor coverage, fewer blackspots and better quality call connections.
The technology is busy rolling out in Manchester, Liverpool, Cardiff and Bristol, with the aim of covering 65% of the UK by the end of 2015. By 2017, Three hope that upto 5.5 million customers will have access to the 4G Super-Voice technology.
Full Press Release:
Three UK tackles indoor blackspots with latest network enhancement
In the latest enhancements to its network, Three is introducing a new technology, named 4G Super-Voice.
- One million customers to benefit from increased indoor and rural coverage by end of year
- Up to 5.5 million customers with access to 4G Super-Voice by 2017
- Three UK first UK operator to launch VoLTE – (4G Super-Voice)
In the latest enhancement to its network, Three is introducing a new technology, named 4G Super-Voice.
Based on a roll-out of low frequency 800 MHz spectrum it allows a mobile signal to travel much further into buildings and extends its reach to more rural areas, removing many of the current coverage ‘blackspots’ across the country.
Customers will be able to make calls, send texts and get online in places that previously had poor or no signal.
4G Super-Voice is made possible by the addition of the low frequency spectrum to the Three network, that will enable its 4G network to carry voice calls using VoLTE technology as well as texts and data. Three is the first UK operator to launch VoLTE technology.
The combination of both lower and the higher frequency spectrum (1800MHz) which Three currently uses means customers will benefit from the advantages of each, meaning improved indoor coverage, less blackspots and better call connections.
The enhancement is the latest initiative in our drive to improve indoor coverage which includes adding new sites to the network and launching our WiFi calling application, Three InTouch, last year.
4G Super-Voice already covers 50% of the UK population for indoor coverage and more than three quarters of London, Edinburgh, Exeter and Birmingham. This is combined with our 3G network which already offers 98% outdoor UK population coverage.
Three has also begun rolling out the technology in many other towns and cities across the country including Cardiff, Manchester, Liverpool and Bristol.
By the end of the year it will extend to 65% nationwide, meaning millions of our customers will soon benefit from improved coverage indoors, in rural areas, and on public transport.
By 2017, we expect up to 5.5 million Three customers could have access to 4G Super Voice, subject to device compatibility and take up.
Director of customer strategy, Danny Dixon, said: “Not being able to use your phone as and when you want, no matter where you are, is one of the biggest pain points for customers. Today’s announcement is the latest step in our efforts to offer customers a quality experience on what is already the UK’s most reliable network.”
Bryn Jones, chief technology officer at Three, added: “By the end of the year, one million of our customers will have access to better indoor coverage and be able to use their phones in more places than ever before. We are proud to be the first network to roll this out across the country.”
Customers require a compatible handset to access the new technology which will be available on the Samsung Galaxy S5 at launch. New devices will be added regularly including recent iPhone models later this year.
The customer simply needs to update the software on their compatible device to the latest version to access 4G Super-Voice completely free of charge. When the update is ready for a customer’s handset an alert will be sent, notifying them to update their operating system, by following the on-screen instructions.
Come comment on this article: Three UK rolls out its 4G Super-Voice ‘VoLTE’ technology for improved network coverage
Spotify brings new Running feature to Android
Spotify is currently in the midst of rolling out an update for its official Android app via the Play Store. In terms of added functionality, this upgrade transports compatibility for its formally iOS-exclusive Running feature, as well as several much-needed bug fixes and stability improvements to the application.
To see the Running feature in action, check out the video below:
Click here to view the embedded video.
To install the update on your smartphone, simply open up the Play Store, toggle the hamburger menu by swiping in from the left-hand side of the screen, select ‘My Apps’ and click on ‘Spotify’, then all that’s left for you to do is hit the update button.
Come comment on this article: Spotify brings new Running feature to Android
‘Fruit Ninja’ studio removes ‘designer’ as a role
Fruit Ninja studio Halfbrick recently fired its final two designers, as reported by Kotaku Australia on Monday. This marks a structural shift for the company: Halfbrick doesn’t plan on hiring new designers and instead wants its artists, programmers and other employees to work on game design together, Chief Marketing Officer Nicholas Cornelius tells Engadget. “The roles were made redundant and not laid off,” he says. “This is because of a change in the way teams will work at Halfbrick.”
Cornelius continues, “As per our CEO, our teams are being empowered to contribute to design rather than design being in its own silo. To add to this, we have a design coach to guide the teams on achieving this goal. Halfbrick’s focus remains on creating new mobile games while expanding on its core brands (Fruit Ninja and Jetpack Joyride).”
Fruit Ninja was a massive success when it launched in 2010 and Jetpack Joyride kept Halfbrick’s mobile mojo rolling when it hit iOS in 2011. The studio has released successful games since, though none have garnered the same fever pitch of popularity as Fruit Ninja or Jetpack Joyride.
One game, 2013’s Fish Out of Water, demonstrated Halfbrick’s experiments in monetization and gameplay mechanics in real-time. It started out as a $1 app, but within the final six months of 2014 alone, its price fluctuated between free and $2 (the free version featuring a fresh injection of ads and other interruptions, of course).
This week, Halfbrick CEO Shainiel Deo told Kotaku Australia that the studio’s latest shake-up — making games without designated designers — doesn’t mean the studio will lack design altogether.
“Halfbrick remains a design-focused company and this change will empower everyone in our teams to contribute to design rather than concentrate design control in the hands of a few. Great ideas can come from anywhere and we want to create an environment that fosters this notion.”
Via:
Kotaku Australia
Tags: FruitNinja, halfbrick, HalfbrickStudios, hdpostcross, JetpackJoyride
Bank of America adds fingerprint logins to its Android and iOS apps
One of the most anticipated features arriving with Android’s Marshmallow OS update is the new fingerprint reader capability. And while Marshmallow won’t go live until the end of the year, a number of companies are already gearing up with fingerprint-enabled apps. Bank of America is one of them. The company announced on Tuesday (via its app update screens) that it has added fingerprint recognition for both Android and iOS’ Touch ID to its mobile banking app.
[Image Credit: Associated Press]
Filed under:
Cellphones, Wireless, Internet, Apple, Google
Via:
9to5 Mac
Source:
Google Play, iTunes
Tags: Android, apple, BankofAmerica, fingerprint, google, ios, marshmallow, TouchID
Apple will (eventually) let you remove some of its iOS apps
Apple’s iOS devices have long included apps that you’re unlikely to use (do you really need a stock tracker?), and that list only seems to be getting longer. That’s potentially a big problem, especially when the company is still shipping 16GB flagship iPhones where every megabyte counts. However, there might be some relief in sight. In a chat with BuzzFeed News, CEO Tim Cook says that his company will eventually “figure out a way” for you to remove some of those apps. You won’t get to yank all of them (that “might cause issues” with some device features, Cook says), but this could spare you from creating a folder for the bundled apps that would otherwise gather virtual dust.
There’s no timetable for when this will happen, so don’t be surprised if you end up waiting a while to clean up your home screens. However, the very mention of the idea represents a shift in Apple’s stance toward bundled apps. Cook wants you “to be happy” with your gear, not to “suck up your real estate.” To him, it’s better to let you purge some software than to risk losing a customer.
Filed under:
Cellphones, Tablets, Mobile, Apple
Source:
BuzzFeed News
Tags: app, apple, apps, bloatware, ios, ipad, iphone, mobilepostcross, smartphone, tablet, timcook
India gains access to Google Play gift cards at five retail outlets
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The Google Play gift card doesn’t just make a great gift for Android lovers. They are also a great way to be able to purchase apps, games, music and other content from the Play Store if you don’t have a credit card. Those of you in India will now see 3 gift card denominations (₹750, ₹1000 & ₹1500) at Spice Hotspot, Vijay Sales, Planet M, Planet Mobile and Sangeetha Mobiles. They can also be purchased at Snapdeal.com.
To kick off the new launch, Google has put together a list of promotional apps, games and the likes for users in India. Among the deals you will find Prince of Persia for Rs. 10 and discounts on movies like Sherlock Holmes. The deals are specific to India for the launch of the Google Play gift cards.
Giving India residents access to these great cards will only help bolster Google’s ability to support the country. Mix in the Android One program and the area is starting to shape up nicely.
Source: Google India Via 9to5Google
The post India gains access to Google Play gift cards at five retail outlets appeared first on AndroidSPIN.
Moto X Pure owners running into issues starting service with Verizon, fix on the way
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The Moto X Pure Edition is one of Motorola‘s largest device launches in a long time. While the DROID Turbo could be mixed in there, specific carrier models aren’t as widely looked upon as stock unlocked devices at an extremely great price point. While its size, battery, processor, camera and other aspects stand out quite a bit, it is a bit more important that the device, as is, supports all US-based networks out of the box. While awesome, it did produce some worries with the biggest carrier state side, Verizon. Big red hasn’t always had the best track record of devices that aren’t theirs being compatible out of the box. The Nexus 6 comes to mind. However, I have seen a number of videos where swapping in an already active Verizon SIM card into the Moto X Pure works without a hitch, but apparently there seems to be an issue with customers attempting to start-up a new account.
According to a statement that was provided to Dorid-Life on the matter; “Moto X Pure Edition is certified and supported for activation on Verizon’s network. We are working with Motorola to resolve the activation issue by Friday Sept. 18.”
It is important to note that this issue is related to new lines of service or a new SIM card activation for the device. Utilizing an already active line and SIM card from another Verizon phone seems to work just fine. If you are stuck in that situation, rest assured, you will be up and running soon. If 3 more days is too long for you to wait, then you might want to investigate another service provider.
Source: Droid-Life
The post Moto X Pure owners running into issues starting service with Verizon, fix on the way appeared first on AndroidSPIN.
Samsung Gear S2 coming to Verizon, AT&T, T-Mobile and US Cellular on October 2
Samsung just recently launched its new Tizen-powered smartwatch, the Gear S2, at IFA 2015 in Berlin. Even though various retail stores have already opened up pre-orders, until now, Samsung has been doing a great job at keeping us in the dark about the watch’s availability. At the trade show, Samsung told us that the Gear S2 would be available for purchase from its website and other retailers sometime in October, though the exact date has yet to be officially announced.
The Gear S2 won’t be available on Sprint at launch
According to an SEA Training video, which is associated with Samsung Electronics America, we now have a little more information regarding the watch’s U.S. release date. Around the one hour and fifty-five minute mark in the video, the speaker explains that the Bluetooth-only version of the Gear S2 will come to Verizon, AT&T, T-Mobile and U.S. Cellular stores in the United States on Friday, October 2nd. He adds that Sprint will not carry the Gear S2 at launch, though he doesn’t specify whether or not the carrier has plans to sell the smartwatch in the future. Sprint has yet to comment on the Gear S2’s availability.
The 3G variant of the device is launching in the U.S. on Friday, November 6th, though no carrier information was given. Both Verizon and T-Mobile have previously announced plans to carry the 3G version, so we expect these two carriers will be among the first to get the device on the 6th of November.
Don’t miss: Samsung Gear S2 hands-on
Pricing information has yet to be announced, but we’ll let you know as soon as we learn more.
Perhaps the biggest news regarding the Gear S2 is that it will be compatible with other Android devices, unlike other Gear smartwatches in the past. Although there might be a slight hiccup in software and apps here and there when connecting to other Android devices, we’re sure fans of the new wearable will be quite happy with this news. As for other specifications, the Gear S2 features a 1.2-inch circular display with a resolution of 360 x 360, and it’s powered by a dual-core 1GHz processor, 512MB of RAM and comes with 4GB of built-in storage. There’s also NFC on this device, which will enable users to purchase goods from stores around the world using Samsung Pay.
Now that it’s been some time since the official announcement, do you think you’ll purchase the Gear S2 on launch day, or are you more interested in some of the new Android Wear watches? Be sure to let us know your thoughts in the comments below.
Thanks for the tip, Salvatore Thomas!
AIVAnet 