The NFL will be the first sports team to join Snapchat’s Explorer
We recently shared a story about the NFL signing a deal with Snapchat to provide Live Stories. Now, the NFL has also signed up to be the first major sports partner for Snapchat Explorer.
With Explorer, people watching the NFL Live Stories can swipe up to see more videos based on the same event. These videos will be from other Snapchat users, and are automatically picked by Snapchat’s custom algorithms. Basically, you can be watching the official NFL Live Story and swipe up to see fan videos taken from the event. However, users can also flip through multiple user made videos to see 10 different views of it.
Ben Schwerin, Snapchat’s director of partnerships said,
“Now you can see the biggest plays from different perspectives throughout the stadium, from sidelines to the stands,”
The deal between Snapchat and the NFL will run each week until February when Super Bowl 50 happens. Snapchat hopes that by doing a deal with the NFL it will attract other large brands to join Explorer too.
This deal is already benefiting both parties as the NFL’s Live Stories have been viewed about 10 million times on Sundays and over 7 million for weekday games, with those numbers climbing. What is the most interesting is 40% of the Live Story audience is from international users. Considering the NFL is basically a US only known brand, it would be huge if it caught on throughout the world.
Source: WSJ
Come comment on this article: The NFL will be the first sports team to join Snapchat’s Explorer
Google Play Services 8.4 available as of today, includes custom email app invites
Today, Google announced that Google Play Services 8.4 is now available for all the eager developers out there. Included in this version of Android’s framework for APIs is custom email app invites, user spending and churn rate prediction, and improvements to Google Maps’ API.
Click here to view the embedded video.
This update seems to be a pretty big one including:
- Custom Email App Invites
- Predicting User Spending and Churn in Games
- Fused Location Provider Updates
- Maps API Improvements
- Support for Aztec bar codes
- Background Beacon Scanning
- Fitness Platform HistoryAPI Improvements
- Place Picker Autocomplete Widget
To get more in depth details about this long list of improvements being brought to you by Google, follow the source link below.
Source: Android Developers Blog
Come comment on this article: Google Play Services 8.4 available as of today, includes custom email app invites
HTC promises ‘very big’ Vive breakthrough to be shown at CES
HTC CEO Cher Wang has claimed that the group has a big surprise up its sleeve concerning the Vive, promising a ‘breakthrough’ at CES.
Speaking at HTC’s Vive Unbound event in Beijing, China, Wang claimed that the release delay (now set for April 2016) was due to a ‘very, very big’ technological development. Engadget reports that the breakthrough was so promising that the VR headset’s makers decided to ‘skip the original version and ship this new one instead’.
“We shouldn’t make our users swap their systems later just so we could meet the December shipping date,” the HTC boss explained.
Earlier this week, members of Reddit’s /r/Oculus community claimed to have uncovered official images of the HTC Vive controllers. The two golf club-shaped accessories will presumably arrive bundled with the headset itself, although details at this stage are vague. Other recent ‘leaks’ appear to show a mounted camera on the front face of the headset, placed in the middle of the viewing panel.
At the time of writing, there’s no word from HTC on the exact pricing of the Vive. Initial estimates are saying that the wearable will be more expensive than its competitors due to a ‘more complete experience’, but it could be also be that the recent tech advancements raise the price further.
We’ll be keeping a close eye on the story as it develops. Be sure to stay tuned for our coverage of this year’s CES, running from January 6-9.
Source: Engadget
Come comment on this article: HTC promises ‘very big’ Vive breakthrough to be shown at CES
Latest Android commercial is one of the strangest, but we like it anyway
Ever since its debut back in October last year, I’ve really liked where Google is heading with its “Be together not the same” advertising campaign. The last entry continues the marketing campaign, though it certainly takes it in a much stranger direction.
This time the whole thing is about fingers that are dressed as people doing normal (and some crazy) things, going about their day. All these people, like fingerprints, are different. Have different interests, different styles, and different lives. But at the end of the commercial, they all gather up for a holiday meal together. Reminds me a bit of my own family get-togethers, particularly the part with Dracula and the alien. But I digress.
The latest commercial is a bit weird, admittedly, and yet it still fits in with Google’s theme at the same time. What do you think of it? Let us know your thoughts down in the comments.
Have a smaller bank? Link your physical Google Wallet card to Android Pay
Android Pay is a pretty great service. I wouldn’t know off-hand, though, because I personally use a smaller bank that has yet to add support for Google’s new payment service. If you’re in the same boat (which I’m sure many of you are), fear not! There’s a way around this problem, and it will actually put one of your old and forgotten cards to good use.
A few years ago, Google began giving out physical Google Wallet cards to anyone who wanted one. They’re still available today, and you can sign up for one by following this link. If you happen to own one of these bad boys and are itching to try out Google’s payment service, you can actually link your physical Google Wallet card to Android Pay.
See also: Use Android Pay on your Nexus and receive a $20 Best Buy gift card
To add your card to Android Pay, all you need to do is press the “add new card” button at the bottom left of the app, select “add a credit or debit card”, then click “add manually.” Just enter in your Google Wallet card number, expiration date and CVC code, and you’re all set. We understand this isn’t really the most convenient method of paying with your mobile device, especially since you’ll still need to reload your Google Wallet card every once in awhile. You’ll also be missing out on points from certain retailers if you’re accustomed to that. Still, though, this is a decent way of using Android Pay in the wild until your bank adds support for the service.
If you plan on going through with this method, you’ll want to take a look at the Google Wallet support page to read up on transfers, regulations and more. Has your bank still not added support for Android Pay? If not, will you be trying this method in the near future? Let us know what you think in the comments!
Download Android Pay from the Play Store
Sign up to get your own Google Wallet card
HTC teases a “big technological breakthrough” with the Vive at CES 2016
HTC CEO Cher Wang says she has something big for us to look forward to at CES 2016. At today’s Vive Unbound developers forum in China, Cher Wang said that her team and Valve have made “a very, very big technological breakthrough” with their Vive virtual reality system. While we aren’t entirely sure what this big upgrade is about, Wang did say that it’ll be shown off for the very first time at CES 2016 in early January.
Engadget spoke to Wang about the big advancement, and she gave some comments as to why the Vive pre-order date was changed from late 2015 to early 2016:
We shouldn’t make our users swap their systems later just so we could meet the December shipping date.
We should add that the Vive isn’t slated to be only for consumers. The HTC chief said that next year, Audi will be installing Vives in most of its flagships stores to offer virtual reality test drive experiences. She added that this will be followed by “many of the major car brands that you can think of.” In addition, HTC is pitching this VR idea to hospitals to use for 3D scanning purposes.
Of course, Android Authority will be at CES 2016 in full force, bringing you all of the latest and greatest news revolving around our favorite mobile operating system. We’re really excited to see what HTC is planning on showing off, so be sure to stay tuned for the big announcement that’s coming in January.
Review: Zagg’s Slim Book More Than Doubles the Weight of the iPad Pro, but Keyboard is Great
Zagg’s newest Slim Book is its first product designed specifically for the iPad Pro. Following in the footsteps of its previous Slim Books for other iPads, the Slim Book for iPad Pro features a protective case that snaps around the iPad and fits into an accompanying full-sized keyboard.
The Slim Book is one of the few keyboard cases available for the iPad Pro, and it essentially turns the iPad Pro into a full-fledged laptop, plus it is versatile because it’s able to serve as a standalone case or a case that offers full protection. That might sound appealing, but as I’ve discovered testing it for the last week, there are some downsides to Zagg’s latest offering.
Design
The Slim Book consists of two pieces: a black plastic shell that fits around the back of the iPad Pro and a matching silver aluminum keyboard with black MacBook-style keys and a matching black plastic exterior. The shell piece that fits around the iPad Pro is relatively slim, snapping into place to protect the back of the iPad. It doesn’t feel cheaply made, but it also doesn’t feel as premium as an Apple product given all the plastic.
All of the ports on the iPad Pro are left open with the shell on, leaving everything from the headphone jack to the Lightning port accessible. Because the shell fits so tightly to the iPad Pro, it’s difficult to remove. This is not a shell that I would want to be taking off my iPad on a regular basis, because it takes a lot of force to get it off. It also makes the volume and the sleep/wake buttons on the iPad Pro more difficult to press because it causes them to be recessed.
For a while after I put it on, I wasn’t even sure my iPad Pro would ever come out, so expect a tight fit there. Given the amount of force it took to get that shell off, I’m concerned about future breakage, especially at weak spots near ports. If you get this case, you’re going to want to leave the back shell on all the time, so that’s something to keep in mind. On the plus side, it does offer some rear protection from scratches and dings.
Amazon’s best-selling unlocked Android phones (December 19)
The recently discounted Moto X Pure is this week’s top seller
Motorola’s unlocked flagship smartphone for 2015 has moved into the top spot for this week. The top ten shakes up a little bit, but it’s largely comprised of the same models as last week. Blu’s latest, the Life One X drops a few spots, but it’s still a bargain at $150. You’ll also notice the price dropped a little across some of the devices here – something we’re always fond of.
The benefit of an unlocked smartphone, for those who aren’t aware, is that it can be used on a variety of wireless service providers. Moreover, going this route ensures you don’t have to worry about contracts or long-term obligations. Want to hop from T-Mobile to AT&T or vice-versa? That’s no problem when you’re using an unlocked GSM phone.
We’ve gathered up the 10 best-selling unlocked Android smartphones from Amazon so you can get a sense for what’s available. Indeed, you’ll see a nice mix of big-name vendors and devices from other, scrappy players. Note that we’ve omitted color variations; you might find other colors available. Yes, you’ll also find some iPhones in the mix, too, but that’s not our bag.
So, the next time you need to replace your existing phone, consider scooping up one of these. It’s often a heck of a lot cheaper than going through your carrier in the long run.
- Motorola 32GB Moto X Pure Edition – $450
- Asus Zenfone 2 Laser – $200
- Blu Advance 4.0 – $60
- Blu Life One – $100
- Motorola Nexus 6 – $350
- Samsung Galaxy Grand Prime DUOS – $145
- Motorola Moto G (3rd Gen) – $178
- Blu Life One X – $150
- Blu Energy X – $109
- Samsung Galaxy S5 Unlocked – $322
The post Amazon’s best-selling unlocked Android phones (December 19) appeared first on AndroidGuys.
You’re invited to explore the White House’s Christmas decorations
Every year, the White House decks the halls for Christmas and puts up a magnificent tree with decorations to create one of the best holiday experiences anywhere in the world. Now you’re being invited inside the home and office of the President of the United States to explore the White House’s Christmas decorations. A 360-degree video published this morning takes you from room-to-room over the course of five minutes, showing just how President Obama, his family, and staff get to enjoy the holidays in the nation’s capital.
Click here to view the embedded video.
The narrator explains everything seen in the White House that was captured using Google’s JUMP technology. Viewers can fully immerse themselves in the White House’s Christmas decorations by using a Google Cardboard viewer with their phone or by simply panning around with any viewer at all.
Come comment on this article: You’re invited to explore the White House’s Christmas decorations
BlackBerry’s quarterly earnings are in
BlackBerry’s quarterly earnings report is finally in, and the Blackberry Priv played a role in the charge.
BlackBerry reported a revenues total of $557 million, which is far above the $488.8 million predicted. In the third quarter, BlackBerry launched the long-anticipated BlackBerry Priv, which was the first Android-powered handset in the company’s history. BlackBerry’s report indicated that 700,000 was the number of total Priv sales for the quarter.
The total hardware sales was down year-over-year, however saw a minor increase from the second quarter which increased from $201 million to $222.8 million. BlackBerry’s largest growth came in the area of software and services which rose 183% when comparing to last year’s total revenues. Revenue in this category totaled up to $162 million. This incremental increase led to a surge in the company’s share price which rose roughly 11% today. It looks like BlackBerry won’t have to ditch hardware anytime soon.
Source: BlackBerry
Come comment on this article: BlackBerry’s quarterly earnings are in
AIVAnet 
