Buy a BlackBerry phone and get a free case & dock
Have you been looking into buying a BlackBerry phone? Normally we would advice against it, but now that the BlackBerry Priv is in the picture we can say there is definitely a reason to go with the company that once owned the smartphone market. And this holiday season BlackBerry is getting especially generous with those of you who do purchase a handset from them.
See also: BlackBerry Priv review
From now until January 5th at 10 AM EST, customers buying a smartphone from ShopBlackBerry.com will get up to $95 worth of accessories, in the form of a case and a dock (otherwise known as a “sync pod”).
Of course, this offer does include the BlackBerry Priv, but if those who purchase a Leap, Classic, Passport or Passport Silver Edition will also get this holiday treat. In addition, both Passport versions are getting discounted down to $459 and $499, accordingly.
See also: BlackBerry Priv – Second opinion
Need an excuse to buy that new BlackBerry Priv? I say this is by far the best one, so make sure you make your purchase before January 5th and enjoy your freebies. The Priv is by far the most expensive BlackBerry phone at $699, but it’s one hell of a handset and competes with the best of the best.
Who’s signing up for one?
Hulu and the WWE are now available on the TiVo Bolt
TiVo’s newest set-top box, the Bolt, got some added functionality on Tuesday when the company announced the addition of two new streaming content sources: Hulu (now upgraded from Flash for the new box’s HTML5 platform) and WWE. Both services are available directly through the TiVo Central screen, though you will need a subscription to TiVo as well as both channels in order to watch them.
Source: TiVo
‘House of Cards’ season four is coming March 4th
While a field of contenders vied for attention during tonight’s Republican debate, Netflix took the occasion to reveal Frank Underwood’s 2016 campaign plans. House of Cards and its star character/villain will be back for a fourth run next year on March 4th, and there’s already an FU2016 website up to push its candidacy. The ad itself is only a brief 30-second teaser that you can watch without expecting any spoilers, check it out below.
It’s a new day in America. #FU2016 https://t.co/0AcBefiby5
— House of Cards (@HouseofCards) December 16, 2015
Source: FU2016
Pokemon fighter ‘Pokken Tournament’ gets a Wii U controller
Pokken Tournament, the Pokemon-infused fighting game hitting the Wii U worldwide in the spring, will get a dedicated controller in Japan, as spotted by Tiny Cartridge. It’s wired and doesn’t include any analog sticks, instead opting for a directional pad, four action buttons, and “ZL” and “ZR” buttons on its face. Those final two buttons are traditionally placed as “triggers” on the backside of a gamepad.
The controller is meant to mimic the arcade version of Pokken Tournament, according to Pokemon-news website Serebii. It’s due to launch in March in Japan — a trailer posted today puts the Japanese release date for Pokken Tournament on March 18th.
Via: Tiny Cartridge
Source: Serebii
Los Angeles Public Transit Information Added to Apple Maps
As noted by IT professional and writer Tom Bridge on Twitter, public transit information for Los Angeles has started to go live in Apple Maps on both iOS and El Capitan. The rollout adds another major city to a feature that launched as part of iOS 9.
Transit information may still be rolling out to users. Support will include train, light rail and bus services in addition to transit directions. In October, Apple added transit directions for both Sydney and Boston. Apple has not yet added Los Angeles to the transit section of its iOS 9 feature page.
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[Deal] Want a $20 Best Buy e-gift card? Use Android Pay with your Nexus
Next time you’re out for a stroll, stop by any store where Android Pay is accepted and get a $20 e-gift card from Best Buy.
Oh, of course there’s a catch.
You’ll need to use a Nexus device with Android Pay at checkout. Do exactly what Google asks and the company will store that shiny piece of digital plastic in your online wallet.
This isn’t a very limited promotion considering the number of Nexus devices compatible with Android Pay. The Nexus 4, 5, 5X, 6, 6P, 7, and 9 are all Android-Pay ready for you to get that $20 e-gift card. Google is obviously restricting accounts to just one redemption.
Android Pay is accepted at more than one million locations in the United States; finding a place to score your e-gift card won’t be difficult. And the promotion runs for two weeks before ending on December 31.
Source: Google
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Firefox is finally 64-bit on your Windows PC
Believe it or not, Firefox on Windows has been a 32-bit affair until now — while Google and Microsoft made the leap to 64-bit web browsing a while back, Mozilla hasn’t been quite so quick off the mark. All’s well after today, though, as Mozilla has released a 64-bit version of Firefox for Windows. So long as you’re running at least Windows 7, the browser can take better advantage of processors from recent years. The software won’t necessarily run faster, but you should get improved security, greater app compatibility (some intensive web apps won’t run otherwise) and other upgrades that come with the added headroom.
There’s more, regardless of what platform you’re running. You can now use Private Browsing to block a wider range of web trackers, and you can choose search suggestions right from the address bar. It’s also better about supporting Windows touchscreen devices by bringing up the keyboard when you need it. If you ditched Firefox a while back, it might be worth a second look.
[Image credit: AP Photo/Manu Fernandez]
Source: Mozilla (1), (2)
Rdio will shut down for good in one week
It’s been a couple of weeks since Rdio announced its bankruptcy and plans to become a part of Pandora, and now we know exactly when it will shut down. The music service emailed subscribers tonight informing them it will shut down worldwide on December 22nd, at approximately 5PM PT (8PM ET). Until then subscribers can continue listening to the free ad-supported version of Rdio and using the “Farewell” feature to look back at their activity and export data like playlists, favorites and comments — but a week from tonight it will be all over.
Source: Rdio
Apple Working on Scalable 3D Touch Technology for Future iPads and iPhones
Apple is working on next-generation pressure-sensing display technology that will work on screen sizes as large as the iPad Pro, reports AppleInsider citing a source with knowledge of Apple’s plans. The new display technology is said to be in development, but it won’t be finished in time for inclusion in the third-generation iPad Air or the next-generation iPhone.
According to a source familiar with the matter, Apple is unable to scale existing 3D Touch technology to accommodate larger displays like the 9.7-inch panels used in the iPad Air line. The source, who has in the past provided accurate information about Apple’s future plans, said the company is working on a comparable technology for integration in both iPhones and iPads, potentially offering support for the 12.9-inch iPad Pro, Apple’s largest iOS device.
AppleInsider‘s information comes following a similar report from KGI Securities analyst Ming-Chi Kuo, who said the next iPad Air, set to be released in the first half of 2016, will not include 3D Touch because of production issues. Kuo also said the upcoming iPhone 7, coming in the fall of 2016, will continue to use 3D Touch technology that’s similar in structure to the 3D Touch in the iPhone 6s and the iPhone 6s Plus.
Positioned as one of the flagship features of the iPhone 6s and 6s Plus, 3D Touch adds new pressure-based gestures to iOS devices. Apple has called 3D Touch “the future of multi-touch,” so it’s a logical assumption that the company is working on expanding pressure sensitive touch gestures to its entire iOS lineup.
Taken in tandem, Kuo’s statements along with AppleInsider‘s rumor suggest 3D Touch or a comparable technology will not be available on iPhones and iPads until after the fall of 2016, perhaps pointing towards a 2017 debut for the feature.
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Pebble releases dedicated health and fitness application called ‘Pebble Health’
Pebble is looking to take its wearable devices to the next level with the release of Pebble Health.
Pebble Health is an app dedicated to fitness tracking and health. The app takes fitness to the next stage with a much wider list of functionalities. The app works directly with Pebble Timeline and can give one suggestions on how to improve sleeping patterns and better their health. In addition, the app still counts your steps and measures your sleep just like before.
Pebble Health has its own API so that developers can build on top of what’s already included. The app is available for Android and iOS devices and will work only on Pebble’s series of smartwatches. However, the good news is that it can be integrated with both Google Fit and Apple Health. To use the new features, make sure you’re running the latest firmware version 3.8 on your Pebble and you should be all set.
Source: Pebble
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