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3
Nov

Twitter Rebrands ‘Stars’ & ‘Favorites’ to ‘Hearts’ & ‘Likes’


twitterTwitter today announced the impending rollout of a new “Hearts” and “Likes” system for its social network, which will replace the traditional “Stars” and “Favorites” that’s been used on the service for the past few years. The company cites a “confusing” quality to the star system that causes a disconnect between a new Twitter user and anyone who favorites their tweet. The heart, it believes, is more of a universal symbol of expression and connection.

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We are changing our star icon for favorites to a heart and we’ll be calling them likes. We want to make Twitter easier and more rewarding to use, and we know that at times the star could be confusing, especially to newcomers. You might like a lot of things, but not everything can be your favorite.

The heart, in contrast, is a universal symbol that resonates across languages, cultures, and time zones. The heart is more expressive, enabling you to convey a range of emotions and easily connect with people. And in our tests, we found that people loved it.

The hearts system will also make its way to the Twitter-owned Vine service, rounding out the social networks that the company owns — including Periscope — with a more uniform liking system. The company notes that the new update will roll out starting today on Twitter for iOS and Android, the web, Windows 10, TweetDeck, “and on Tweets across the Internet.” Other services, like Twitter for Mac, will see support coming “soon.”

Tags: Twitter, Vine, Periscope

Discuss this article in our forums

3
Nov

Google’s Inbox gets a ‘Smart Reply’ tool that suggests short responses


Gmail’s Inbox app packs a number of features aimed at helping you better tackle your email load. Starting this week, it’s getting one more. The new tool is called Smart Reply and it automatically suggests short responses to messages where a lengthy discourse isn’t needed. After using machine learning to analyze the emails you receive, Inbox comes up with some appropriate responses to save time by allowing you to respond with fewer taps. And just like it does to wrangle spam, the app learns how you reply over time so it can offer better suggestions the more you use it. Smart Reply will be hitting both the Android and iOS versions of Inbox this week, so keep your eye peeled for the update to arrive.

Source: Official Gmail Blog

3
Nov

Twitter replaces stars with hearts because it loves new users


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Say goodbye to favs. The Twitter stars you’ve so desperately collected over the years with your witty status updates are being replaced with hearts. Starting today, both Twitter and Vine will start transitioning to “likes.” According to Akarshan Kumar, Twitter product manager, stars could be confusing to new users, “you might like a lot of things, but not everything can be your favorite.” The social network has been testing hearts since June and says that those people love it and that the heart symbol transcends languages and cultures.

Source: Twitter

3
Nov

Sling TV now works with Google’s Chromecast


Just as Google promised, Sling TV has brought its streaming television service over to Chromecast iOS and Android apps. Even better, the company is offering a few deals to sweeten the pot. New customers who prepay for three months of Sling TV’s “Best of Live TV” package (worth around $60, in total) are eligible for a free Chromecast. Current Chromecast owners can instead opt for a two-month trial of Sling TV, which you’ll be able to sign up for from the Chromecast site today. We found Sling TV to be pretty solid when we first tested it earlier this year, and it’s only gotten better over time, as more channels were added and the overall experience improved. The news also puts Sling TV on pretty much all of the major streaming boxes, aside from the new Apple TV. But we hope to see it there too — even Plex has made its way to the Apple TV already.

Source: BusinessWire, Sling TV

3
Nov

Roku 4 review: 4K is nice, but otherwise it’s not a huge upgrade


It’s no surprise that the Roku 4 is a solid set-top box — Roku has been making them for a while now, after all. It’s also not surprising that the new Roku’s search is smart, that the interface is fast and fluid or that there’s a bountiful selection of apps. In fact, there isn’t much that’s truly surprising, or revolutionary, about the Roku 4 ($130). It’s a solid, if somewhat unexciting upgrade, especially after the Roku 3 from earlier this year, which brought voice search into the mix. Just like the new Fire TV, Roku is betting that the addition of 4K ultra-high-definition video (UHD) is exciting enough on its own. And, while it’s certainly noteworthy, it’s also something that will only appeal to just a handful of consumers. Basically, if you’re happy with your Roku 3, or any other equivalent set-top box, you won’t need to rush out and grab this one. Although when you do finally go 4K, it’s a worthy choice. Slideshow-338174

3
Nov

The Siam 7x is focused on the next smartphone innovation


People have been looking for the next big innovation in smartphones for the past few years, but we have yet to find it. Many believed it would be curved displays, but the implementations by companies like Samsung and LG have been less than revolutionary.

YotaPhone_Photo_3Sure, the technology behind actually curving a smartphone screen is amazing, but the features a curved screen adds pale in comparison to the awesome engineering behind the screen itself. Now, curved screens seem more like a gimmick or a party trick than a revolutionary step forward in the smartphone market. So what makes a phone innovative or revolutionary? It allows people do things with it and interact with it like never before.

A few years ago, a small phone manufacturer called Yota released a phone that attempted to give you more screen real estate without making the screen larger. They added an E-Ink display on the back to give you more functionality and space to work. Plus, they claimed it saved battery when reading an e-book or browsing the web compared to using the LCD screen on the front.

The idea itself was amazing, but the phone did not sell well at all. They did make a second version of the YotaPhone that improved on the first model, but it’s limited availability resulted in lackluster sales for that phone, too. It was basically absent in the United States, which resulted in most people not even knowing the phone existed.

What’s new?

Siam 7X front and back 2Today, a company called CRBT is attempting to bring this dual screen goodness to the United States with their smartphone dubbed the Siam 7X. They have
 started a Kickstarter project in attempts to raise enough money to mass produce the Siam 7X. Before you go and hand over your hard earned dollars to help fund this phone’s existence, let’s take a look at some specs.

The Siam 7X comes with a 5″ IPS display at a resolution of 720p on its front which is flanked by a 4.7″ touchscreen E-ink display at a qHD resolution (960×540). As for cameras, we have a 16-megapixel rear facing shooter and an 8-megapixel front camera. The phone will only come with 16GB of storage, but there is a microSD card slot that supports cards up to 64GB. It is running on Android 5.o Lollipop which is powered by a MTK6735A SoC, a MaliT760 GPU, and 2GB of RAM. All of this is being powered by 2100mAh non-removable battery. Everything here is wrapped up in a pretty sleek looking body with a nice metal band around the frame.

So what can we take away from all this information? Obviously, the Siam 7X is a mid-range device with its only decent specs. The cameras have enough megapixels available to kick out some stunning pictures, but with no information on the sensor being used, we will just have to wait and see how the cameras actually perform. Of course, the real draw here is the E-ink display on the back that promises to add some real functionality.

Siam7 backCRBT gives you a few examples of just how useful an extra display can be. You can keep track of your grocery list on one screen while using a calculator on the other to add up the cost. You can stay on track with your GPS on one side while skipping tracks in your music app on the other. While you are not using the E-ink display, you can have it display pictures or information to truly customize your phone and make it totally you.

While this all sounds great, there continues to be a problem with dual-screen phones. You cannot use a full body case with them. When you put a phone like this into a case, you totally lose the functionality of the extra display by covering it up. Of course, you can still use a bumper case with no problem, just don’t expect the same amount of protection you would get from a full case.

What’s the cost?

Enough about the phone, it is time to get down to the price. With a mid-ranger phone like the Siam 7X, you would probably expect a low price to match. Well, you would unfortunately be wrong. The lowest tier pledge available with the phone included comes in at $420, and that is only for the first 100 people. After that, the next tier available is $470.

NOW, WAIT! Before you close this window and wonder why this phone is costing so much, there is way more than just the phone included in that price. First off, the first 10,000 buyers get a lifetime warranty which is extremely generous considering most phones only come with a 2-year warranty. The warranty covers basically anything from manufacturer defects to accidental damage like drops or spills. All buyers get a pair of SMS Audio earbuds that have built-in heart monitoring technology. You even get a bumper case and screen protector bundled in.

Siam 7X e-inkIf that was not enough to convince you to pledge to the Siam 7X, then this final extra perk should definitely help. Included in every tier that has the Siam 7X, you also get a free upgrade to the next model. That means you are basically getting two phones plus all the other perks for under $500.

Now that $420 price tag isn’t sounding so bad, is it? Not only should the free upgrade perk excite you because you are getting two phones, it also shows that CRBT is committed to the Siam line for at least to years if they are already seeing a next model.

I love the idea of having a screen on both the front and back of my phone because it adds functionality and usability to a previously unused part of the phone. Hopefully, CRBT will see more success with their Siam 7X than Yota did with their YotaPhone.

If you are as interested in the Siam 7X as I am, you can hope over to their Kickstarter page to help fund them. If you are not looking to buy the phone and want to fund less than $420, there are other tiers available including one for those cool SMS Audio earbuds that track your heart rate.

What do you think of the Siam 7X? Are you going to help fund it? Tell us down in the comments!

The post The Siam 7x is focused on the next smartphone innovation appeared first on AndroidGuys.

3
Nov

No more unlimited storage for Office 365, OneDrive free storage cut to 5GB


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Cloud storage has, for many users, become a ubiquitous part of their digital lives: everything from media to memories can be saved to a server somewhere far, far away and then retrieved “locally” later. Some individuals are a bit too cloud-friendly however, at least according to Microsoft. Earlier today, Redmond announced major changes to its OneDrive storage plan citing advantageous users as part of the problem. Specifically, Microsoft states that:

Since we started to roll out unlimited cloud storage to Office 365 consumer subscribers, a small number of users backed up numerous PCs and stored entire movie collections and DVR recordings. In some instances, this exceeded 75 TB per user or 14,000 times the average. Instead of focusing on extreme backup scenarios, we want to remain focused on delivering high-value productivity and collaboration experiences that benefit the majority of OneDrive users.

While one can only guess as to what kind of figure “numerous users” refers to, the problem speaks for itself. Much as how some took heavy advantage of unlimited mobile data plans, so too do some make liberal use of online storage. To this end, the following changes are being introduced to the OneDrive system. Says Microsoft:

  • We’re no longer planning to offer unlimited storage to Office 365 Home, Personal, or University subscribers. Starting now, those subscriptions will include 1 TB of OneDrive storage.
  • 100 GB and 200 GB paid plans are going away as an option for new users and will be replaced with a 50 GB plan for $1.99 per month in early 2016.
  • Free OneDrive storage will decrease from 15 GB to 5 GB for all users, current and new. The 15 GB camera roll storage bonus will also be discontinued. These changes will start rolling out in early 2016.

onedrive

For those that will and shall be affected, Microsoft is seeking to ease any possible problems that may present themselves during this transition. Specifically it is taking the following steps to make the transition as easy as possible:

  • If you are an Office 365 consumer subscriber and have stored in excess of 1 TB, you will be notified of this change and will be able to keep your increased storage for at least 12 months.
  • If you are an Office 365 consumer subscriber and find that Office 365 no longer meets your needs, a pro-rated refund will be given. To learn more visit the FAQ.
  • If you are using more than 5 GB of free storage, you will continue to have access to all files for at least 12 months after these changes go into effect in early 2016. In addition, you can redeem a free one-year Office 365 Personal subscription (credit card required), which includes 1 TB of OneDrive storage.
  • Current customers of standalone OneDrive storage plans (such as a 100 or 200 GB plans) are not affected by these changes.

The company has reaffirmed the role of its platform however, concluding the piece with the following:

OneDrive has always been designed to be more than basic file storage and backup. These changes are needed to ensure that we can continue to deliver a collaborative, connected, and intelligent service. They will allow us to continue to innovate and make OneDrive the best option for people who want to be productive and do more.

A sign of things to come?

While Microsoft may have arguably caused some of the problem detailed above with the generous inclusion of unlimited storage, the real question is what will now happen in the fall out of this major change. Will users take to other alternatives? If so, will those companies also feel compelled to revise their pricing structures?

Given that the internet itself has “expanded” exponentially even in the past few years, everything we do draws more and more data and command new pricing initiatives. Even Google itself has had to confront this in its recent decision to raise the maximum price ceiling on the Play Store.

It will be very interesting to see what comes out of this news to say the least. For now however, we want to hear what you, our readers, think. Is Microsoft justified for revising OneDrive, or could there be alternative reasons for the sudden change of heart? Let us know below!

For reference, additional information related to the OneDrive changes can be found at Microsoft’s FAQ.

3
Nov

Google drone package deliveries to arrive by 2017


Google Project Wing delivery drone

Google’s restructure under the new Alphabet umbrella company could be the start of exciting new things for each of the brand’s sub-divisions. Today David Vos, leader of Google’s Project Wing, announced that the company plans to have a drone delivery service up and running come 2017.

The company is said to be in talks with the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) and the Department of Transportation (DoT) to come up with a drone registration and air traffic control system that would enable safer mass flight. The system will apparently use cellular and internet technology to coordinate flights at altitudes under 500 feet (152 meters). Drones over a certain size are likely to require registration with the DoT and enforcement could begin before the end of the year.

“Our goal is to have commercial business up and running in 2017,” – David Vos, Project Wing

Project Wing is part of the Google X research group and was announced back in August 2014, but the group had been working on the technology for two years before then. Project Wing showcased a large prototype drone in Australia at the time, but new designs are apparently in the works.


google project wing droneSee also: Project Wing: Google’s drones could one day drop your groceries from the sky10

This isn’t the first time that we have heard about flying deliveries. Amazon unveiled its own plans for flying drone package deliveries back in 2013. Other companies are also planning similar drone based businesses, but these are not expected to take off until rules and regulations regarding commercial drones have been finalized and published. This is expected to happen sometime in early 2016.

There are clearly some technical and regulatory hurdles still left to overcome, but packages could be arriving on your doorstep via drone in the not too distant future.

3
Nov

Matias Duarte is disappointed that Windows 10 works just like XP


matias duarte (2)

Matias Duarte: designer extraordinaire, flamboyant shirt aficionado, r/androidcirclejerk’s object of adoration.

If there’s any one person that is responsible for the way Android looks and feels, it’s Matias Duarte, Google’s VP of Design. Under his watch, Android transitioned from a hotchpotch of mediocre design elements to the fresh, modern, and unitary design language known as Material Design.

In a recent podcast with Josh Topolsky, Duarte revealed that he moved beyond Android to oversee the adoption of Material Design across Google’s many products.

We know, for instance, that Chrome OS will adopt more Material elements in the future. And, according to several reports, Google plans to merge Chrome OS and Android in the future, creating one “super OS” that works on PCs, in addition to smartphones, TVs, and wearables.

Android is on a collision course with Windows 10. But what does Matias Duarte think about Microsoft’s latest? Apparently, he’s not impressed.

In what Duarte himself called “overly clever tweetbait,” the Google executive expressed disappointment with the functionality of Windows 10, which isn’t very different from the venerable Windows XP.

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Duarte was partially joking, and he was quick to clarify that he’s fine with the appearance of Windows 10, but not with the lack of progress in terms of features and functionality.

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In fact, it seems like Windows 8 was more to Duarte’s tastes. For Windows 10, Microsoft famously reversed some of the radical changes it implemented in Windows 8, in order to make it work like previous versions of the OS.

http://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js

Why is Matias Duarte taking a swipe at Windows now? It’s possible that, fresh off his podcast debut, Duarte is really just looking to increase his Twitter engagement. Or to troll his followers.

Or maybe he is talking about Windows because he spends his days thinking about what a modern PC operating system should be and how Android could leapfrog Windows. If that’s the case, Duarte has his work cut out. Android is absolutely great on smartphones. But it’s lacking when it comes to tablets, and nowhere nearly ready to take on Windows on PCs.

Do you agree with Matias Duarte’s take on Windows 10? Or is this jab undeserved?

3
Nov

Pulse is a ‘3D’ music controller for the multi-instrumentalist


Tapping out everything from a bassoon to a bass drums with a MIDI keyboard and a sampler is no big deal — it’s been a staple of electronic music for years. But, as anyone who’s tried it will attest, that’s a long way from “playing” those instruments — to the point MIDI drumming has become an art in and of itself. Enter Pulse, a versatile hardware controller recently shown off at London’s famous Abbey Road studios as part of its Red program, and launching on Kickstarter today. It’s modest claim? Being the future of music playing.

Source: Kickstarter

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