Apple News to Offer Exclusive Early Access to Select Content
Apple News launched on iOS 9 this week in the U.S., delivering the latest stories from large publications and independent blogs alike in one mobile-friendly format on iPhone, iPad and iPod touch.
Apple has set attractive monetization terms for Apple News, allowing publishers to collect 100% of revenue earned from ads they sell and 70% of revenue from iAds inventory sold by Apple.
In return, publishers appear ready to give Apple News a chance. In addition to several high-profile publications that have signed on for the service, including Bloomberg, CNN, ESPN and The New York Times, at least one has decided to offer exclusive early access to select content through the app.
Re/code editor Peter Kafka recently tweeted that an upcoming Wired feature about “starchitect Bjarke Ingels” will be available exclusively on Apple News at 3 PM Eastern today, with expanded availability on the web next Tuesday — a four-day exclusive window on Apple News.
New Wired feature about "starchitect Bjarke Ingels" exclusively on Apple News 3pm today. Available on Web Tues. pic.twitter.com/BK5za4zflu
— Peter Kafka (@pkafka) September 18, 2015
http://platform.twitter.com/widgets.jsWired parent company Conde Nast, which also publishes Vanity Fair, GQ, Epicurious, Teen Vogue and Code Nast Traveler, will be pushing sponsorship opportunities to advertisers, which is perhaps a more viable monetization strategy with the emergence of content blockers on iOS 9. It has already signed up Burberry, Ford, Campbell Soup and Reynolds to flat-rate deals.
Apple News has the potential to command a large audience due to widespread adoption of iPhones and iPads, but it remains to be seen how popular the app will be with Facebook, Twitter and other platforms for consuming digital content vying for reader attention. News Corporation shut down its iPad newspaper The Daily in 2012, while Conde Nast has attempted exclusive iPad content in the past with little fanfare.
But I recall Conde and Apple pushing windowed "exclusives" to iPad editions in 2010. No one cared.
— Peter Kafka (@pkafka) September 18, 2015
http://platform.twitter.com/widgets.jsThe full potential of Apple News should become clearer as iOS 9 adoption rises and Apple News Format becomes widely available for publishers to create custom editorial layouts geared towards their individual brands.
Intex launches Aqua Power II with 4,000mAh battery in India for Rs. 6,490
The budget segment of the Indian smartphone market is extremely competitive, with new models being launched seemingly all the time. Today, India’s second largest homegrown handset maker, Intex, has announced the Aqua Power II smartphone that features a 4,000mAh battery, 5-inch IPS display, and a price tag of Rs. 6,490 ($98).
Besides a mammoth battery that Intex says will offer 500 hours of standby time, what does the Aqua Power II have underneath the hood? Let’s take a look.
Specifications:
- Android 5.1 Lollipop
- 5-Inch IPS display with 1280 x 720 resolution
- Spreadtrum Quad-core processor clocked at 1.3GHz
- 1GB RAM
- 8GB Internal storage
- MicroSD card support (up to 32GB)
- 5MP Rear camera with flash
- 2MP Front camera
- 2G/3G network connectivity
- Support for Micro/Mini SIM
- Bluetooth/WiFi/Hotspot
- Battery: 4,000mAh
- Dimensions: 146 x 74 x 10.3mm
- Weight: 152.1 grams
- Available in White, Black, and Champagne
Surprisingly enough for a smartphone aimed purely at the Indian market, the Aqua power II doesn’t appear to support Dual-SIM cards.
On the software side of things, there appears to be a fair amount of bloat: Sashakt, One Drive, ASK ME, Flashlight, Intex Play, Intex zone, OLX, Go to reach service, News hunt, FOTA, Matrabhasa, Native Browser, Clean master, Maxthon browser, Truecaller, Lets Buy Intex. With only 8GB of internal storage, you’ll probably want to uninstall or disable many of the apps listed.
But, on the positive side, it is running Android 5.1 Lollipop out of the box. The Aqua Power II also carries features such as Flip to Mute, Air Shuffle (gestures support), and Cast Screen (device mirroring).
What do you make of Intex’s Aqua Power II smartphone? Is the Rs. 6,490 ($98) price tag appealing? Let us know your thoughts in the comments below.
Full Press Release:
Intex Launches another Power-Packed Smartphone –the Aqua Power II
- A sleek and light weight feature-rich brilliance at a more affordable price of Rs 6490/-
- Power packed with a 4000 mAh Li-Polymer battery
- Swift performer with latest Android Lollipop 5.1; has Tethering and Portable Hotspot
- Features ‘Cast Screen’ that helps mirror anything on the device onto the LED/LCD TV screen, thereby giving the user Big Screen experience
New Delhi (India) – September 18, 2015: Intex Technologies, the second largest smartphone maker of Indian origin, with a market share of 11%, today announced the launch of its new affordable offering in the form of another Aqua Power series-the Aqua Power II. The 5-inch IPS HD phone is power packed with big 4000 mAh battery, yet flaunts sleek design and runs on the latest Android Lollipop OS 5.1.
The Aqua Power II reproduces 16.7 million colors on display engineered for the user to enjoy every single detail on phone. Loaded with 1.3Ghz, Quad CORE processor, a 1GB RAM and storage capacity of 8GB ROM that can be extended to 32GB. One of the Lightest smartphone at 152gms, despite having a heavy 4000mAh battery. The powered battery assures endurance and longevity and provides the verbose user a talk time of up to 15 hours along with a standby time of 500 hours.
Commenting on the launch, Mr. Sanjay Kumar Kalirona, Mobile Business Head, Intex Technologies said, “The Aqua Power 2 is yet another development in the power packed category of Intex Mobiles. We have customized our offerings and have loaded it on an Android Lollipop 5.1 OS for smoother functioning. This new offering is better, bolder and will compete to be a true stunner, leveraging the signature product category of Intex.”
For the amateur clickers and selfie lovers, the handset comes with a brilliant 5 MP rear camera with LED Flashand a 2MP front camera to create beautiful selfies with various modes even in low light. The camera comes with innovative features like slow motion capture and gesture. Also the new Aqua Power II features Flip to Mute for calls and alarms and along with Interruption Priority.
A unique feature of Aqua Power II is the “Cast Screen”, which mirrors everything on your android device onto the TV screen, thereby giving users Big Screen Experience. Also continuing with other features is the Air Shuffle that allows users to operate the phone with simple hand gestures without even touching the screen.
The smartphone has a bunch of pre-loaded apps like Sashakt, One Drive, ASK ME, Flashlight, Intex Play, Intex zone, OLX, Go to reach service, News hunt, FOTA, Matrabhasa, Native Browser, Clean master, Maxthon browser, Truecaller, Lets Buy Intex.
Intex Aqua Power II is available in three premium colors- white, black, champagne. The device comes with one protection cover and screen guard.
Come comment on this article: Intex launches Aqua Power II with 4,000mAh battery in India for Rs. 6,490
Apple No Longer Offering ‘One to One’ Training as Add-on During Online Store Checkout
Apple continues to move toward retiring its One to One training program aimed at Mac customers, with the company’s online store checkout process no longer offering the program as an add-on option for Mac purchases as of today.
Current online store checkout process for Macs with no mention of One to One
Today’s change comes a few weeks after MacRumors initially reported rumors of One to One’s impending demise and later confirmed meetings with retail staff to announce the change. The program will officially be discontinued on September 28, although with today’s change it’s clear the company is looking to halt new signups as much as possible ahead of that date.
Previous checkout options with both AppleCare and One to One offered
Priced at $99 per year and valid for up to three years following the purchase of a new Mac, Apple’s One to One program offered to teach customers unfamiliar with the company’s products everything from basic setup to more specialized sessions on apps like GarageBand and Final Cut Pro.
Apple will continue to offer free workshops and training in its stores, but with the more advanced paid One to One option being discontinued, it could offer an opportunity for resellers to promote their own similar programs.
Apple’s Move to iOS app yet another example of ‘innovation’
Earlier this week Android fans were treated to Apple’s first app that could be used on Android. The downside was that the app’s purpose is to help users migrate their data from an Android device over to an iPhone, ostensibly to help support consumers ordering a new iPhone 6S or iPhone 6S Plus, although it would worker with older models. Predictably, this triggered a bunch of ire on the part of Android fans. The tale gets even better as Apple appears to have lived up to a frequent criticism – that their idea of “innovation” is slapping their name on someone else’s creation – as it has been discovered the Move to iOS app is merely a repackaged app produced by another company.
As part of a dive into some of the source code for Move to iOS, it has been determined that the creator of the app is actually a company from the U.K. called Media Mushroom. Further, the app is not even new as versions of it have been available in both the Google Play Store, as Copy My Data, and in iTunes as Device Switch. Both apps, along with the rebranded Move to iOS, were designed to aid users in migrating between different devices which is the claimed specialty of Media Mushroom.
Sources have noted that Apple does note on their website that they have access to “an extensive library of reusable white-label software” if a particular need has to be met on a short time frame. The move to get an app out to help Android users move to a new iPhone, an app with Apple’s name on it, appears to have fallen within that category.
source: Phandroid
Come comment on this article: Apple’s Move to iOS app yet another example of ‘innovation’
AG Picks: The best Android phone you can buy today (September 2015)
As we get out of summer and head into the autumn season we’re at an important time of the year. Specifically, a number of key smartphones have recently launched and customers have quite a selection to choose from.
Picking the right device isn’t exactly easy, especially when most of today’s phones can be had across multiple carriers. Some of us try as hard as we can to future-proof ourselves and stay ahead of the curve with high-end models. Others, care less about tomorrow and just want a kick-ass handset, no matter the price.
We here at AndroidGuys like to think there is some crossover between those two categories, particularly among the upper echelon of Android smartphones. Sometimes you can actually end up with something that lasts for years and doesn’t break the bank in the process. In other words, cost isn’t indicative of experience.
We conducted an internal poll among the team, anonymously collecting our choices for the top smartphones of September. The criteria was simple: pick the best, and second-best phone you can purchase today. With more than a dozen of us chiming in – some are self-admitted brand loyalists – we reached a pretty clear consensus.
Here are those results, with some details as to why they were selected. In short, these are the three best Android phones you can buy today.
Samsung Galaxy Note 5
Nearly every single one of us picked the Samsung Galaxy Note 5 as the best or second-best phone on the market. Why? It’s gorgeous, sleek, and features some incredible specifications.
You’d have to see one of these in person to really appreciate the beauty in the design. Throw in a killer display, wireless charging, a smarter stylus, and the latest version of Android, and you have one attractive smartphone.
You can pick one of these up from just about any wireless carrier around, however, it doesn’t come cheaply. We’d like to see the price drop just a smidge but we were on board anyhow. If you’re looking to score a top phone this coming holiday season, keep your eyes peeled for some discounts and promotions.
Motorola X Pure Edition
How can you argue with a phone that has this much hardware with a price that’s almost half that of other top flagships? Even when compared to the aforementioned Galaxy Note 5, it comes out on top in some areas – if only on paper.
The 21-megapixel rear camera is the best Motorola has offered in a phone thus far. The nearly stock Android experience ensures quick updates and a bloat-free software package. The level of customization and configuration through MotoMaker is unparalleled. Are you picking up what we’re putting down, here? You won’t find this much bang, or support, for the buck from a top-tier brand such as Motorola. The Motorola Moto X Pure Edition should be considered for your next phone.
Samsung Galaxy S6 Edge+
As an almost identical counterpart to the Samsung Galaxy Note 5, this one trades out the stylus in favor of two edge-displays that wrap and taper.
Not only does this screen look and feel incredibly awesome, it adds extra capabilities in the process. Want an at-a-glance view of time, messages, or other notifications? You’ll find that here. Want quick access to contacts without having to create shortcuts or icons? Bingo.
The Samsung Galaxy S6 Edge+ is virtually swappable for first place and almost beat out the Motorola for second place. As a testament to the two Samsung models here, our team has a few staffers who tend to judge its brand harshly.
Honorable Mentions
Other smartphones placing high on our chart this month include the Nexus 6, LG G4, and OnePlus 2.
Your pick
What phone do you have your eye on? Is it one of these or is there something else you’re considering? We’d love to hear from you in the comments below, so please take a moment to share your opinion.
The post AG Picks: The best Android phone you can buy today (September 2015) appeared first on AndroidGuys.
Blackberry Venice shown off in quick look video
Earlier this week we brought you an exclusive look at some new pictures and features from the upcoming Blackberry Venice. At the time we didn’t reveal our source, but they have now decided to step forward with a new hands-on quick look video!
In the video above, our friends at Baka Mobile gives us a rundown of the Venice. We highly recommend watching it for yourself, but let’s run through some of the biggest takeaways.
First, design. In terms of the design, the key layout is quite similar to what you’d find with other Blackberry devices, offering a physical camera button on the left and volume rockers and a smart action key on the right. Baka also confirms that the phone has a front facing speaker grille and a microSD slot.
Of course, one of the biggest stories here is the keyboard. One thing we didn’t know about before this is just how well the keyboard would work, or how it would affect how the phone feels. According to the video, the keyboard is actually really well balanced. Unlike devices such as the Blackberry Torch, the Venice isn’t too bottom heavy and should be comfortable even when used open or closed.
We have also learned that the keyboard offers biometric sense touch similar to the Passport. What this means is that you can swipe up or down on the keyboard to scroll, which could be handy when browsing or for reading.
Turning to the software experience, you’ll notice that the phone packs a near-stock build at first glance. Under the surface though, you’ll find some cool additions. For one thing, the phone has tap-to-wake functionality. For another, swiping up on the test software brings Blackberry Hub, Blackberry Device search, and Google Search. We imagine there are at least a few other enhancements to be found with more digging.
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While we still don’t know much about when the Blackberry Venice is coming, the fact that Baka got its hands on a test unit indicates that an official release might not be terribly far off. Again, special thanks to Baka Mobile! You can learn more about the company by following their Twitter, Facebook, Google+, or heading to their website.
What do you think, excited for the Blackberry Venice?
Xbox 360 cloud saves prep you for Xbox One backwards compatibility
Microsoft has done right by Xbox 360 users lately, making their games backwards-compatible on Xbox One consoles and introducing Windows 10 game streaming. A new update gives users of the last-gen console cloud storage, albeit a tiny amount — 2GB. Still, the idea is to give you enough to port your Xbox 360 game saves over to an Xbox One for any compatible titles you decide to port over. The new feature is a good sign that backwards compatibility is coming out of preview soon, so you may want to get the update and upload your game saves forthwith.
So what else? Microsoft launched a new Xbox 360 activity feed, that lets you “like, comment, share your friend’s activities, post new messages, watch game clips, view screen shots, and see what your friends are playing from your Xbox 360 (or Windows 10).” You can also connect your Xbox 360 to a public WiFi network that requires you to accept “terms of use” — like at hospitals or airports, for instance. We doubt that was a problem for many folks, but it could come in handy for gaming sessions in dorm common areas, for instance.
You can also redeem Xbox Live Marketplace codes from within a message by pressing “redeem code” and see your account balance when browsing games in the Marketplace. You should be able to grab the update now from your Xbox 360.
Source: Major Nelson
The Uncharted 4 beta launches December 4th
Uncharted 4 won’t arrive until 2016, but the forthcoming Nathan Drake Collection should keep you happy until it does. The remastered versions of the first three Uncharted games are launching in the first week of October, but if that seems like an eternity away, then help is at hand. The PlayStation Blog has revealed that the single player demo for the title will land on the store a week earlier, on September 29th. Of course, the key reason to buy the product is that you’ll be able to take part in the Uncharted 4 multiplayer beta that’s scheduled for December 4th through the 13th. Sony has also revealed to Eurogamer that European Nathan Drake fans will be able to snag a 500GB and 1TB PS4 bundle with the collection thrown in, the former setting you back £299.99 and the latter priced at £329.99.
Source: PlayStation Blog
The Everyday Messenger bag isn’t just for camera freaks
The Everyday Messenger camera bag has grabbed the imagination of Kickstarter users, raising an unprecedented $4 million and counting. You may wonder how the folks behind it, Peak Design, managed to convince more than 14,000 people to roll the dice on a $200-plus concept sack instead of snagging one from an established company like Ona. I was certainly curious, so when the company offered me a chance to try it, I took it — even though we don’t review bags very often. And while the style is not to everyone’s taste, the attention to detail and unique features like a magnetic latch and folding dividers make it the best small camera (and regular bag) I’ve tried. Slideshow-321012
Peak Design describes the Everyday Messenger as a “bag designed around the workflows of photographers, creatives, travelers and commuters.” As I depend on my laptop and heavy-ish Canon 7D DSLR, it’s been a struggle to find just the right bag for events and trade shows. I’ve gone through backpacks, rolling sacks and messenger bags, but none have been satisfactory for the pounds of gear I carry. If it can also double as an “everyday” bag for myself, as promised by the name, even better.
The company created several handmade samples for reviewers, a wise move given all the positive articles so far that have surely helped the massive sales. The bag I received was in “Charcoal” gray, with the other color option being “Heritage Tan.” The first order of business was loading it with stuff, including my camera, lenses, cables and laptop. I was able to cram in my DSLR body and a pair of lenses, including a 50mm prime and a 15-85mm zoom.
All told, with some careful organization, I was able to squeeze in all my batteries, laptop, lenses and power bricks. You may have trouble fitting a longer telephoto lens, obviously, given that it’s still a shoulder bag. One issue was that my 15-inch Dell XPS 15 (last year’s model) didn’t fit in the laptop pouch at the back; I had to put it in the main compartment instead. However, it’s big enough to hold a 15-inch MacBook Pro, and easily handled my 13-inch MacBook Air.
Peak Design collaborated with Stuck in Customs HDR Photographer Trey Ratcliff to design the bag, and they clearly put some thought into camera use. The bag expands to handle your extra stuff thanks to the origami-style folding compartments and patent-pending adjustable, spring-loaded mag-lock cover. Other touches for camera nuts include the ability to carry a tripod while keeping access to the bag, an ultra-comfortable padded strap and a stabilizer/waist strap. Optionally, you can get a field pouch, Peak Design camera clip and a slide camera sling. The clip could be handy for quick-draw photography, but it would be easy to damage your camera if you’re not careful.
For an organization-challenged person like me, it made a delightful day bag, offering a surfeit of easy-to-access pockets for cellphones, tablets, my metro pass and more. In my regular bag, all my crap normally sits in a messy jumble at the bottom. The Everyday Messenger also has a waterproof waxed shell, which stood up to a formidable Paris downpour. The one niggle is the style — my American and Canadian friends liked it, but my French friends found it a bit ordinaire. My verdict? It keeps me so much better organized that I don’t care if it’s the height of Paris fashion — it’s now my go-to bag.
If you’re looking to get one, the Everyday Camera bag starts at $195 on Kickstarter, and up to $375 if you want Peak Design’s mini-me pouch, camera clip, protective camera cover and sling. You’ll need to act quickly, though — the campaign ends on September 20th.
Source: Kickstarter
Pentagon is building a system that instantly detects security breaches
The Department of Defense wants to be able to combat cyberattacks before hackers get the chance to steal sensitive files and employees’ data, as well as access the country’s weapons systems. The only way the Pentagon can do that is to be more proactive in dealing with its computers’ and networks’ vulnerabilities. That’s why it’s building an electronic system that can help them prioritize those flaws, according to how much threat they pose. While data entry will initially be done by hand, the military envisions its final form as an automated system that can instantly detect infiltration attempts and notify cyber response teams to stop them before they can wreak havoc.
Numerous US government and military agencies have suffered security breaches in recent years, and a report from the Pentagon indicates that all the country’s weapons systems remain susceptible to unauthorized remote access. The DoD’s email network was recently infiltrated in what seemed to be an effort to collect information on military movements. A couple of American missile systems were compromised after a security breach that reportedly originated from China. Then there’s that massive attack on the Office of Personnel Management, which led to the leak of millions of federal workers’ social security numbers and other sensitive data. This new technology could prevent similar events from happening.
The deputy commander of US Cyber Command, Lieutenant General Kevin McLaughlin, told Reuters that military officials could agree on the framework within months. In fact, the military’s already done sorting 6,200 people into half of the 133 response teams they plan to establish. It will take a while to reach its final form, but the system might be operational as soon as 2016.
[Image credit: Getty Images/iStockphoto]
Source: Reuters
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