Slack’s App Directory proves it’s more than just a chatroom
All those apps in collaboration suite Slack are about to get a little easier to find and integrate within your team — and over 160 of them live within the company’s new Slack App Directory. Just type “/apps” and then the keyword of your choice to bring up a list of compatible applications. For example, “/apps productivity” in the Engadget Slack channel brings up Google Calendar, Wunderlist and WorkingOn, while “/apps video” comes back with storage and video chat applications like Dropbox and Google+ Hangouts. The idea is that when one of these integrated apps is connected, like Weiko’s visitor check-in system for example, the relevant party will automagically get a ping saying their guest has arrived.
As TechCrunch reports, Slack will use venture capital funds to support developers making enterprise apps for the platform to keep pushing that type of functionality ahead. Basically, it’s investing within itself to make sure the list of integrated apps keeps growing. Cool. I just hope after all this, “/giphy” keeps delivering unintentionally hilarious results.
Via: TechCrunch
Source: Slack
Google Play Books has been updated with “Night Light” feature that reduces blue light
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We’ve all heard various health experts tell us that reading on smart devices immediately bed is bad for sleeping habits, but for many of us, it’s the only time that we get to kick back and enjoy a good book. In fact, Google says that peak reading times for its users is between the hours of 8pm and 10pm, a period that most health experts would be recommending you switch off your devices. Lucky then that Google Play Books has been updated with a “Night Light” feature that reduces the amount of blue light coming from your device’s display as the day goes on, making for more comfortable and safer reading later in the day, even in low-light.
http://playboard.me/widgets/pb-app-box/1/pb_load_app_box.jsTo use this new feature, you’ll need the latest version of Play Books which is rolling out from today on all Android devices with it installed – you’ll probably need to keep an eye out for it over the next few days. To activate it, all you need to do is start reading and then select the Night Light option from the menu.
What do you think about this new Night Light feature in Google Play Books? Let us know your thoughts in the comments below.
Source: Android Official Blog via Android Police
The post Google Play Books has been updated with “Night Light” feature that reduces blue light appeared first on AndroidSPIN.
Hideo Kojima’s first independent game is a PS4 exclusive
Konami’s loss is PlayStation’s gain: Tonight Sony announced an exclusive collaboration with legendary game developer Hideo Kojima, the auteur responsible for the Metal Gear and Zone of the Enders franchises. In the announcement video from PlayStation below, Kojima says that he’s making a new franchise that’ll be console-exclusive to the PlayStation 4. Sitting alongside him, PlayStation president Andrew House said that Sony will offer its “full support” on Kojima’s new project. And really, aside from the shiny new Kojima Productions logo, that’s about it in terms of details.
Considering that Kojima’s been a free agent for all of approximately five minutes at this point, the lack of information shouldn’t be much of a surprise following the very public departure from his last employer, Konami. Why Sony instead of Microsoft? Well, Kojima and the company go pretty far back. Metal Gear Solid was exclusive to the first PlayStation. Its sequel, Metal Gear Solid 2: Sons of Liberty, had the same deal on the PlayStation 2 and most recently, P.T. was only available on PlayStation 4.
Now the guessing games begin: Just what is this new project going to be like? Hit the comments below for your best idea.
— HIDEO_KOJIMA (@HIDEO_KOJIMA_EN) December 16, 2015
Source: PlayStation (YouTube)
Project Fi now available on tablets and other data-only devices
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A new Project Fi support page has gone up on Google’s website, and it allows Fi users to add a tablet or other data-only device for no additional monthly fee. This follows suit with Google’s “pay for only what you use” structure. It appears like Google is not charging for SIM cards either.
Google’s current list of acceptable hardware is as follows:
- Nexus 7 – K009 (US LTE)
- Nexus 9 – 0P82300 (US LTE)
- iPad Air 2 – Model A1567
- iPad mini 4 – Model A1550
- Galaxy Tab S – Model SM-T807V
You can add up to nine data-only devices to an existing Project Fi plan. If you do not have an existing plan, you can sign up for one here. Google’s support page also mentions that some T-Mobile compatible GSM-unlocked phones may work with the service as well, and that users can order a SIM and test it for themselves.
Project Fi is a Google MVNO that uses the T-Mobile and Sprint networks in the U.S. It costs $20/month for unlimited calls and texts and $10/month for each GB of data thereafter. Google refunds you for unused data, so for example, if you you use 2.5GB of data one month, your total bill would be $45 for that month. On this data-only plan however, you are only able to access the T-Mobile network.
Source: Google Support
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Google Play Books new blue light filter reduces eye strain
Google’s usage research indicates that most of us do a majority of our reading between 8 and 10 pm — you know right before bed. But doing so in a dimly-lit bedroom can wreak havoc on your eyes, not to mention your circadian rhythm. That’s why Google’s newest update to its Play Books app includes a new feature called Night Light.
It gradually replaces the amount of bright blue light emanating from your screen with warmer, yellow tones that don’t reset your internal clock. What’s more, the app matches the screen’s color and brightness to the time of day to further reduce visual strain. The feature is available on Play Books’ most recent versions for both iOS and Android. To activate it, simply tap the Night Light option and the app will take care of the rest.
Source: Android Blog
Rdio to Officially Shut Down on December 22, Will Allow Users to Download Collection Archive
Last month Pandora announced that it acquired “key assets” and employees from Rdio for $75 million. Tonight, Rdio began emailing its users to let them know that it would officially shut down on December 22, 2015 at 5 p.m. PST.
Rdio will also let its former subscribers download an archive of their favorite music and playlists in various formats so that they can import them into their new music streaming service of choice. The service also created a timeline that allows users to see their “life on Rdio”, including a user’s most played song and album and the first playlist they created.
The streaming service also shared its own timeline. Rdio revealed that its first subscriber signed up on August 3, 2010, that the first played song was Katy Perry’s “California Girls”, the most played album was Drake’s “Nothing Was The Same”, the most played song was Bruno Mars’ “When I Was Your Man”, the most popular playlist was Dave Novak’s “1000 (April 2015)” and the company’s favorite comment was “Very touching tribute to turning things down for reasons we forget,” regarding DJ Snake and Lil Jon’s “Turn Down For What.”
On its export page, Rdio says the files it’s allowing users to download are metadata that’ll make it easier for users to restore their collections in their next music streaming service. It also points users to Soundiiz and StAMP, two services that allow users to directly transfer their collections to their next music streaming service. Finally, Rdio warns that it doesn’t know when its exporting website will go down, so users should download their collections as soon as possible.
Rdio subscribers can download their collection and view their timeline at Rdio’s farewell page.
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The new Ford GT will use Gorilla Glass for its windshield
The Ford GT is an iconic car that has been around for many years, but Ford is bringing it back with a totally new and improved version. Literally everything has been changed, but one of the most notable changes is in its windshield.
Ford says they have made a deal with Corning to make a Gorilla Glass hybrid windshield. Yes, the same glass that is probably protecting your smartphone will now be on a production car.
This special windshield will be made out of multiple layers, and different types of glass. It will also cover the bulkhead glass, and the engine glass at the rear as seen on the picture above. The reason for this decision is lightness. Ford says it’s 32% lighter than normal glass. The Ford GT will be a super expensive car built for extreme speeds, and any edge to make it faster Ford has done. Plus, Gorilla Glass is more scratch-resistant than normal glass, which should result in less cracks and scratches.
The new glass is approximately 25% to 50% thinner with the same, or better strength compared to traditional laminate. Normal laminate glass is also 4-6mm thick, while the new Gorilla Glass hybrid is only 3-4mm thick. This new glass should result in a large improvement over all of its competition. Also, with all the new research being done, this might result in stronger and lighter screens for our smartphones in the future.
Source: Ford
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Lyft changes bonus system to prevent drivers from cheating
Lyft’s old bonus scheme that offered more money based on the number of hours a driver clocks was a bit too easy to manipulate, forcing the ride-sharing company to rethink its strategy. Now, Lyft is doling out bonuses based on the number of rides a driver makes instead, which is definitely much harder to falsify. According to Recode, under the new scheme, drivers get 100 percent of their earnings if they do 100 rides per week, with 30 of those rides accomplished during peak hours.
Previously, Lyft would forego taking its commission for those who clock 50 hours per week — unfortunately, some unscrupulous drivers would apparently log into the app to accumulate hours even if they had no intention of picking anybody up. A company spokesperson told Recode that the new bonus scheme was designed to give its drivers more flexibility, but we think the best thing about it is that it translates to more real rides you can hail.
[Image credit: Raido/Flickr]
Source: Recode
Now that Play Music’s family plan is out, have you switched?
Like millions others, I’ve been a happy Spotify Premium member for some time now, and have been very satisfied with the music abilities it provides. High quality sound, downloading music for offline playback, and no ads made this service an easy choice for me. It was only until Google made the announcement that they were launch a family plan for Google Play Music that I had doubts of being a Spotify premium member for much longer. Of course, this isn’t because I’m in any way dissatisifed with Spotify, it’s just how enticing Google’s new offer is.
The timing made all the difference too. Half of my family used Beats Music thanks to a deal offered by AT&T a while back, but when Apple announced they’d be shutting down Beats Music to integrate its resources into Apple Music, they needed a better family alternative. When I mentioned to them that a six device family subscription to Play Music comes with YouTube Red, a package that gets rid of ads and allows audio playback when your device is off, it was obvious what they did next.
While offering a family plan for $14.99 is very similar to other music services, Google’s inclusion of YouTube Red is a great deal for us, and if marketed right, will attract a lot of new subscribers. Getting rid of the two things that YouTube users hate on mobile devices (ads and no sleep mode playback) is truly the cherry on top for their family plan.
So my question is, are there any of you in a similar situation? Spotify clearly understands the situation and competition this holiday season, as they are offering three months of premium service for an extremely low price of 99 cents. Another great deal being offered by them until the end of December is a $9.99 family plan for the first three months. Which music service appeals to you most this holiday season? Will it be Google’s new intriguing family package, Spotify’s crazy low prices, the new Apple Music service, or maybe the ad-free Pandora One? Let us know what you’re listening to in the comments!
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BlackBerry compares the Priv display next to devices that aren’t Samsung or LG
All manufacturers intentionally try to make their devices look good, and BlackBerry is no exception. Their latest blog post pits the Priv up against other high-end phones, specifically in the screen category. And for what it’s worth, BlackBerry put a pretty fantastic screen on the Priv. It’s high resolution, has a high PPI, and that curved display offers some features that other phones simply can’t match.
Next to Apple’s iPhone 6 and 6 Plus, the Priv has a noticeably higher PPI. When compared with other Android flagships, like HTC’s One M9, the OnePlus 2, and Motorola’s meek, 720p Moto G, the Priv also comes out on top. But that shouldn’t surprise you, since none of those phones are known for their uber high resolution displays.
Next to something like an LG or Samsung flagship? The Galaxy S6 Edge has 577 PPI thanks to its slightly smaller screen, and LG’s G4 has 438, which is just 2 PPI less than the Priv.
None of this is to say the Priv has a bad display. It’s extremely high resolution, very crisp, and its curved display is one of the only screens like that on the market. But it’s a little disingenuous of BB to boast about its great screen without comparing it to the actual heavy hitters in the screen category.
source: BlackBerry
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