Fresco News App Receives Major Update With Tools to Let Users Become Paid Photojournalists
Fresco News today launched a major update to its iOS app, introducing a new look and bringing tools to let Fresco News users become paid reporters and photojournalists, uploading photos and videos from newsworthy events around the world.
Any Fresco user can upload photos and videos that can be commissioned by news organizations worldwide. With the Fresco Newsroom Tool Suite, news stations can create location-based assignments as soon as an event happens, which sends an alert to Fresco News users who can go and capture photos and videos. Content is vetted by the Fresco content team, with content owners receiving credit and payment for their work.
“We want to make reporting in the media more transparent, and we think creating a way for viewers to experience news through the eyes of regular, everyday people is the best way to do that,” said John Meyer, CEO and founder. “For newsrooms, we’ve effectively created a way for them to get visual coverage of anything in 30 minutes or less using the incredible smartphone cameras in our pockets.”
Using content gathered from Fresco participants, the Fresco News app is able to deliver news through the eyes of ordinary people around the world, providing a raw look at current events that are happening around the globe. A “Highlights” tab within the app offers up a list of the most recent user-reported stories, while the “Stories” tab shows a selection of images from trending global events.
A camera is front and center within the app, so all users can capture photos and videos should they encounter anything newsworthy. An “Assignments” tab houses all of the content requests created by news sites, which is where a Fresco user can go to receive assignments to capture photos and videos at nearby events.
Fresco News also has an accompanying Apple Watch app that lets users get a quick look at breaking news headlines, with Handoff to the iPhone available for reading a story in-depth.
Fresco’s aim with the news Fresco News app is to cover a wider range of events happening worldwide. “We can shine a light on every relevant news event that should be read about and heard about,” said Fresco News CEO John Meyer.
Fresco News can be downloaded from the App Store for free. [Direct Link]
Claimed ‘iPhone 6s’ Box Appears Similar to ‘iPhone 6s Plus’ Packaging
A new image of the packaging for the “iPhone 6s” has turned up online (via MacX), appearing similar to images of a box for the “iPhone 6s Plus” that were shared in late August. Both boxes showcase a koi pond-like fish against a white surface, suggesting the rumored packaging could be what Apple will use to box the next-generation iPhones, which are expected to be the centerpiece of the company’s September 9 event tomorrow.
The fish image has also begun rumors surrounding the “iPhone 6s” and “iPhone 6s Plus,” suggesting the new smartphones will include a motion wallpaper feature. Similar in spirit to the dynamic wallpapers Apple introduced in iOS 7, the supposed update would bring something more akin to the in-depth motion backgrounds of the Apple Watch and will feature images from fish in a koi pond to different color smoke clouds.
Samsung beefs up engineering team working on Galaxy S7 Snapdragon 820 processor
A new rumor has surfaced regarding the Samsung Galaxy S7 smartphone that should launch in 2016 as the successor to the Galaxy S6. Previous reports indicated Samsung was considering going to add a Qualcomm processor, the Snapdragon 820, back into the mix for the hardware in the Galaxy S7 alongside their own Exynos line of chips. The possibility of Qualcomm getting a spot back in Samsung’s flagship device may have improved if the latest rumor is true. Sources indicate Samsung has expanded the team of engineers working on optimizing the Snapdragon 820 to be used in the Galaxy S7.
Although the Galaxy S6 may not have provided the financial boon Samsung hoped for, the device is still slated to become their biggest seller, following a line of shipping successes for their Galaxy line of smartphones. This means the Galaxy S7 will likely produce some big numbers in terms of units shipping and hence, in the number of chips used. If Qualcomm does get their latest top-tier processor into the Galaxy S7, that could help them restore some market confidence after the problem-plagued Snapdragon 810.
Sources that have revealed Samsung is expanding their engineering efforts related to the Snapdragon 820 also revealed that Samsung is the first manufacturer to have gained access to testing samples from Qualcomm. Besides using the chip in their smartphone, this may also indicate Samsung has succeeded in winning an order from Qualcomm to produce the new chipset on their 14nm FinFET production line.
source: phoneArena
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[TA Deals] Save 97% on the eduCBA Tech Training Bundle
School is back in session and students around the world are learning new things every day. Even if you’re not a student, you can still learn! The eduCBA Tech Training Bundle, which is offered by Talk Android Deals, contains courses for coders, designers, IT admins, and others.
Access to the bundle’s courses is not limited by time or use; therefore, you have unlimited access to more than five hundred courses for a lifetime. The eduCBA Tech Training Bundle covers everything from IT and software development to networking and computer-aided design (CAD). Languages such as C, C++, C#, Java, Ruby, Python, PERL, and more are covered, too. Really, this bundle covers everything.
The eduCBA Tech Training Bundle is currently available for only $49, a steep discount compared to its value of $2,299.
Come comment on this article: [TA Deals] Save 97% on the eduCBA Tech Training Bundle
Samsung using new free-form battery technology for the Gear S2
Samsung’s Gear S2 smartwatch is a bit smaller than the original Gear S, and it has a completely round design. Aesthetically, it looks fantastic, but typically small, unusually shaped electronics also have batteries that are way too small.
The good news, though, is that Samsung is using extremely new free-form battery technology for the battery in the Gear S2 that was critical to actually producing the device. Samsung’s SDI tech allowed the manufacturer to cram in a 250 mAh battery inside the Gear S2, since the battery can be manipulated to fit the limited space inside the watch much better than traditional batteries.
If a normal, squared battery like we’re used to seeing was used in the Gear S2, we’d likely be seeing a 200 mAh battery in the watch. That’s a 25% swing in favor of Samsung’s new technology, and even though the battery is still kind of small (it’s a watch, after all) the implications of that for bigger devices is huge.
The Gear S2 marks the first device to market with the free-form battery technology, but I’d bet we can expect Samsung to take full advantage of being able to cram as much battery into all of their high-end devices going forward.
source: Business Korea
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Canon sets world record with 250MP camera sensor
Canon has produced a new camera sensor that packs a whopping 250 million pixels on a CMOS sensor that is smaller than 35 mm. This establishes a new world record for the number of pixels on a sensor that is smaller than 35 mm. Canon says the images produced by the sensor would give someone the ability to read the lettering on a plane that was flying at a distance of 11 miles away.
In addition to the ability to pick out details from far away, the sensor can also record high resolution video that is approximately 30 times more detailed than current 4K video, or 125 times 1080p full HD. Canon says the purpose of such high resolution, whether in still images or video, is to enable cropping and magnifying portions of images without losing resolution and clarity in the process.
A sensor this powerful is not headed to the smartphone market any time soon. Canon expects most uses to be in specialized equipment used for surveillance, crime prevention, measurement tools, industrial equipment or “the field of visual expression.” That last item is where we see the long-term hope that one day such eye-popping numbers will be used for the production of images or video for the general public’s consumption.
source: TNW News
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Asus will begin selling the Zenfone 2 Laser 5.5 a week early thanks to strong pre-orders
Asus originally planned on launching its new Zenfone 2 Laser 5.5 on September 19th, but after receiving over 30,000 pre-orders for its new line of Zenfone devices, the company is moving the release date of the Laser 5.5 up to September 8th.
The Laser 5.5 was one of the most pre-ordered devices in the lineup, and had completely sold through initial stock after three days. That’s pretty impressive, but considering the device is being offered at a very wallet friendly INR 9,999 it’s easy to see why it was so popular.
The phone features a 5.5-inch HD screen, a 13 megapixel rear camera, a removable 3,000 mAh battery, and a very capable Snapdragon 410 CPU with Android 5.0 onboard. Hard to beat for that price.
The Laser 5.5 will go on sale later today in four colors, although if you didn’t lock in a pre-order you may have to wait until stock gets replenished to get your hands on one.
source: Asus
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Zuna Drive case doubles as vehicle mount
Zuna has announced the availability of a new cell phone case that can double as a vehicle dash mount for users who deploy their smartphones as a GPS unit. The Zuna Drive comes with a built-in mounting clip that is designed to hook into a horizonal A/C vent in a vehicle. Zuna says this makes such a case safer that windshield mounts, which may be illegal in some jurisdictions, and other bulky mounts that attach to dashboards.
The case itself is made of an impact resistant material to help protect devices from drops. The mounting arm that is used to clip the device to a vent can also be used to create a kickstand for your smartphone when combined with a business card or credit card.
The Zuna Drive case sells for $39.99 at several major retailers like Best Buy, Fry’s Electronics, Amazon or directly from Zuna. The case is available in black, blue or orange. Zuna indicates the device should be available for the Samsung Galaxy later this year, although it is unclear which Galaxy device they may be referring to.
Click here to view the embedded video.
source: Zuna Designz (PR)
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Try and block those pesky ads on your Android device with Adblock Plus
Ads are annoying, we all know it, but they serve a purpose. Regardless of the purpose served, these ads cause frustration with just about everyone due to slow loading times for various websites. Plus, those pesky ads from YouTube are frustrating.
On our computers, there are a plethora of ad-blocking services and apps that we can use to speed up our experience. However, on mobile devices, the choices aren’t so clear. Today, a familiar name has released a way to block ads and speed up those websites on your devices.
Adblock Plus has released a new application that hopes to replace your browser of choice and speed everything up. The application is free, and has been in beta since May of earlier this year. There is even a Google+ community dedicated to this application.
Adblock Plus may seem like a familiar name due to its popularity for Chrome and Firefox users on the desktop. In fact, in the press release, the company states that the desktop ad blocker “has been downloaded more than 400 million times”. That is a ridiculous amount of users who can’t stand ads.
Here are some of the features that the new Adblock Plus browser brings to Android users:
- Automatic adblocking – This is the first browser of its kind to offer users ad blocking as an integrated feature. As more users block ads on their desktop, many are finding little value in the ads served on their phones and tablets. A study by PricewaterhouseCoopers from last year found that most mobile ad clicks were accidents. Automatic ad blocking in a browser app is the crucial first step in a complete mobile ad blocking solution.
- Fast, efficient browsing – Ads cause pages to load slower and can consume 23 percent of your battery. Loading ads also costs data, so blocking them on your mobile browser saves you on your data plan.
- Safer browsing – Malware often hides behind ads, even on trusted networks. Blocking annoying ads reduces your risk of infection, and Adblock Plus has been recommended by Stanford University, UC Santa Barbara and the Electronic Frontier Foundation.
- Total control – Annoying ads are always blocked, but users can encourage better ads by allowing nonintrusive ads to display. Users can change this setting at any time by simply tapping the Menu icon > Settings > Acceptable Ads.
So in an effort to bring that ad-free experience to mobile devices, Adblock Plus has a mobile browser application replacement. Based on Firefox mobile, the browser probably seems pretty familiar to you, but is different in its own way.
We haven’t put Adblock Plus through its paces yet, but if you’re in the market for a new browser, and want block those pesky ads, give Adblock Plus a try. You can grab it from the Google Play Store via the Play Store widget below.
Let us know what you think about this new browser option, and whether it’s really time-saving.
The post Try and block those pesky ads on your Android device with Adblock Plus appeared first on AndroidGuys.
Sign up for a 30-day free trial of Amazon Prime, get a 5600 mAh battery worth $20
Amazon Prime has certainly evolved considerably over the years, adding movies, music, books, and even special Black Friday-esque sales to its resume. While these moves have certainly helped the service grow, there are still a number of folks that have yet to try Amazon Prime. Offering its 30-day free trial certainly is one way to lure these would-be users in, but now Amazon is sweetening the deal by giving away a free AmazonBasics 5600 mAh external battery as well.
As long as you sign up for a 30-day trial with an account that has never been associated with Prime, you’ll be able to get your hands on the 5600 mAh battery, valued at $20. To get started, you’ll need to visit Amazon’s promotion page and begin the free trial. Within 72 hours, you’ll get a special email code and the directions needed to get your new battery for free. After that, you can cancel Prime at any time and it won’t affect your eligibility for the free battery, though Amazon is banking on the idea that most of trial users will end up letting their subscription renew at $99 (for an entire year’s service) after the 30-day trial ends.
Keep in mind that this is a limited time offer, though Amazon doesn’t specify an end-date just yet. If you are at all interested, we’d act sooner rather than later. For those that are already on Amazon Prime, do you regret getting the service or do you find it well worth the annual subscription cost? Let us know your thoughts in the comments.
AIVAnet 