Many Samsung apps coming to iOS in 2016
Although no official announcement yet, the folks over at SamMobile say that inside sources they’re fairly confident in have revealed that Samsung plans to bring the vast majority of its apps to the iOS over the course of this year. In fact, it might even be possible that all of Samsung’s apps will be arriving on iPhones soon.
This comes right on the coat-tails of Samsung’s announcement that the Gear S2 will soon have iOS support. Although many Samsung apps are already available in the App Store, some key apps from the Samsung line are definitely missing. The company is looking to make even more of their stuff compatible with Apple products.
Right off the bat, it looks like the Gear Fit Manager is going to be one of the most important apps to land on iOS. This will add the Gear Fit to the list of potential fitness trackers available to iPhone users. Pairing nicely with this, Apple fans will also get access the S Health app, which is a pretty sleek all-around health monitoring tool.
See also: Apple demanding $180M extra cash in settlement from Samsung
Although the Smart Camera app is currently available on iOS, it looks like Samsung will soon be taking the photo-snapping program a lot more seriously. The UI right now is pretty clumsy, by many accounts, but it looks like the app is slated for a full overhaul. Before long, controlling Samsung smart cameras from your iPhone will be a cinch.
Finally, iPhone users will be getting Galaxy View support via Remote Control and Family Squar apps for the iOS. This will give these users the ability to control the Galaxy View from their smartphones as easily as Android users currently can.
Although the company is clearly up to its elbows in the Android operating system, it’s important for Samsung to ensure that its non-smartphone devices interact smoothly with smartphones regardless of operating system. This initiative is part of their push for the ever-developing Internet of Things, which requires fluid interaction between a wide variety of devices, accessories, and wearables.
What do you think of Samsung filling out their iOS app line? Let us know in the comments below!
Display case seems to confirm LG G5 button placement
Although we’ve only heard whispers and rumors leading up to the LG G5’s release, the lack of an official announcement and spec sheet means that we really haven’t had anything solid to lean on. One way that the LG G5 is rumored to deviate from the G4 is that the volume and power buttons are rumored to appear on the device’s side.
Those of you who are thinking this sounds perfectly normal must have missed the last two entries in LG’s smartphone listing. In a controversial move, the LG G4 and V10 ditched the traditional side buttons and relocated them all to the back of the device. Responses to this change were mixed, but it certainly set the smartphones apart both stylistically and functionally. Some believed this placement would become something of a signature LG move. However, word on the street is that the G5 will be sheepishly returning to the conventional side placement, and a brand new ArmourDillo protective case seems to confirm this.
See also: Samsung Galaxy S7 vs LG G5: which are you more excited about?
The case, which looks delightfully rugged and somewhat tire-tread-esque, seems like a pretty solid case for the as of yet unreleased LG flagship. What’s most interesting about it to us, however, is that it seems to reveal some officially unreleased specs regarding the G5. It’s plain to see that the case is designed to support power and volume buttons on the side, with only the fingerprint reader remaining on the back. Seems like this rumor can pretty much be put to bed.
So yes, barring some colossal design error on the part of ArmourDillo, it looks like we have at least one more particularly solid bit of information about the LG G5. We’re looking forward to the official unveiling, which is expected to go down just before MWC 2016. The flagship smartphone is expected to be officially announced alongside its competitor, the Samsung Galaxy S7, on Sunday, February 21, 2015.
Are you stoked about the LG G5’s release, or are you more of a Samsung fan. Let us know which you are more excited about in the comments below!
Spotify is launching video for Android. Should you care?
Music streaming giant, Spotify, announced on Monday that it would begin delivering curated videos and podcasts to its customers. The videos will come from major entertainment companies like ESPN, BBC, Vice, Maker Studios, and Comedy Central.
Less than 10% of Spotify’s current users, in four test markets, have had access to video for the past several months. Now, the Swedish music provider will branch out to a larger audience. Android users will see this new video feature roll out this week in the United States, Germany, the U.K. and Sweden.
Photo via Spotify
The videos that beta testers have been able to view have generally been small clips from shows like Jimmy Kimmel Live and The Daily Show, but partners like Tastemade are coming on board with music themed series designed specifically to air on Spotify.
This is certainly a long term play for Spotify. Studies have shown that younger generations, those who would care about these kinds of features, are increasingly looking for content on their schedules. Spotify integrating video delivery into its service gives users another option of where to go to get all of the entertainment they want, instead of using multiple services and possibly paying multiple subscription fees.
What can’t be overlooked here is the partnership with ESPN. If Spotify can strike a deal to stream live sports with ESPN, something that may be very difficult, but possible in the future, this could be a viable option for cord-cutters and those who never bothered with a cord. Many of those who would like to cut the cord only stay for live sports.
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Recently, a study came out that found a staggering 56% of subscribers would drop ESPN if it meant saving $8 a month on cable. This deal could be a way to help Spotify attract cord-cutting users while giving ESPN another revenue source.
The other component that Spotify launched is Podcast support. Spotify would appear to be taking on services like Google Play Music who recently announced that it would begin to support podcasts (although we haven’t seen that feature launched yet) This is another feature that Spotify has beaten Google to the market with, most notably Playlists.
This should definitely make content delivery services like Hulu, Netflix, YouTube, Pandora, and Google Play Music take notice. All of these companies have massive amounts of users, but as we’ve seen in the past, people are willing to change services if they think they’re going to get more content elsewhere.
For the time being, Spotify will launch its video service ad-free, much like YouTube Red. It’s important to understand the difference between the two services. Spotify is paying its content partners like ABC, Conde Nast Entertainment, and Adult Swim to license and curate content. YouTube is more a delivery vessel (letting users choose what to watch) instead of Spotify’s method of offering up content based on a user’s music selection.
What do you think about Spotify’s new move? Are these new features enough to make you move from your current streaming service? Let us know down in the comments what you think.
Source: Wall Street Journal
The post Spotify is launching video for Android. Should you care? appeared first on AndroidGuys.
Sundance VR app hits the Play Store
2016 looks like it may be shaping up to be The Year Virtual Reality Took Over, what with the commercial release of the Oculus Rift, HTC Vive, and the Samsung Gear VR. If you’ve got even a reasonably modern smartphone, you can even assemble your own VR headset using just Cardboard, if you want to. Now Sundance, the renowned champion of independent film, is stepping up to the VR plate with their own Android app.
The app’s development came as part of institute’s “New Frontier” program, which is an initiative that looks to bring together artists, creators, and performers who are working with the slippery spaces between contemporary media technology. The app, called Sundance VR, is now available in the Google Play Store and was designed by IM360, a significant player in the virtual reality field. Although it is not yet available on iOS, Sundance says that the app’s development is well under way, and that it should be released later this year.
See also: Samsung to open a VR film studio in NYC
The goal of this app is to create a platform on which a variety of new VR-friendly films and experiences can be released. The institute wants to push the limits of what film, television, and even live stage performance have historically been able to do by putting the viewer directly in a professionally directed storytelling experience.
The app looks like it’s receiving some hate in the ratings just now, with reviewers complaining about a lack of content and fickle usability. However, it seems like Sundance has plans in order to bring a whole line of content to the app, so it’s reasonable to expect that the future will bring new immersive films and usability updates to Sundance VR.
What are your thoughts regarding the indie film curator’s foray into virtual reality? Is this the future of film, or just a fad that will eventually fade away? Let us know what you think in the comments below, and don’t forget to click the button to give Sundance VR a whirl for yourself!
Spotify is launching video for Android. Should you care?
Music streaming giant, Spotify, announced on Monday that it would begin delivering curated videos and podcasts to its customers. The videos will come from major entertainment companies like ESPN, BBC, Vice, Maker Studios, and Comedy Central.
Less than 10% of Spotify’s current users, in four test markets, have had access to video for the past several months. Now, the Swedish music provider will branch out to a larger audience. Android users will see this new video feature roll out this week in the United States, Germany, the U.K. and Sweden.
Photo via Spotify
The videos that beta testers have been able to view have generally been small clips from shows like Jimmy Kimmel Live and The Daily Show, but partners like Tastemade are coming on board with music themed series designed specifically to air on Spotify.
This is certainly a long term play for Spotify. Studies have shown that younger generations, those who would care about these kinds of features, are increasingly looking for content on their schedules. Spotify integrating video delivery into its service gives users another option of where to go to get all of the entertainment they want, instead of using multiple services and possibly paying multiple subscription fees.
What can’t be overlooked here is the partnership with ESPN. If Spotify can strike a deal to stream live sports with ESPN, something that may be very difficult, but possible in the future, this could be a viable option for cord-cutters and those who never bothered with a cord. Many of those who would like to cut the cord only stay for live sports.
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Recently, a study came out that found a staggering 56% of subscribers would drop ESPN if it meant saving $8 a month on cable. This deal could be a way to help Spotify attract cord-cutting users while giving ESPN another revenue source.
The other component that Spotify launched is Podcast support. Spotify would appear to be taking on services like Google Play Music who recently announced that it would begin to support podcasts (although we haven’t seen that feature launched yet) This is another feature that Spotify has beaten Google to the market with, most notably Playlists.
This should definitely make content delivery services like Hulu, Netflix, YouTube, Pandora, and Google Play Music take notice. All of these companies have massive amounts of users, but as we’ve seen in the past, people are willing to change services if they think they’re going to get more content elsewhere.
For the time being, Spotify will launch its video service ad-free, much like YouTube Red. It’s important to understand the difference between the two services. Spotify is paying its content partners like ABC, Conde Nast Entertainment, and Adult Swim to license and curate content. YouTube is more a delivery vessel (letting users choose what to watch) instead of Spotify’s method of offering up content based on a user’s music selection.
What do you think about Spotify’s new move? Are these new features enough to make you move from your current streaming service? Let us know down in the comments what you think.
Source: Wall Street Journal
The post Spotify is launching video for Android. Should you care? appeared first on AndroidGuys.
Foursquare helps you ask friends for travel advice
It’s a familiar problem: you’re heading to an unfamiliar city and looking for things to do, but you’d rather not ask each and every friend in the area for advice. What do you turn to? Foursquare has an answer: it just launched Trip Tips. The site lets you give friends a custom link where they can suggest places to go based on where you’re traveling and your own notes. Any locations they offer will go into a Foursquare list that you can use to plan your itinerary, whether it’s on the web or in mobile apps. Your friends can even save the list for themselves, in case there’s something they hadn’t already tried.
The planner comes as a bit of a surprise given Foursquare’s increasing focus on the business crowd, but it makes sense for both sides. However much it helps you, it also shows companies how Foursquare’s location data can help them — you’re more likely to visit a restaurant if your buddies are clamoring for you to give it a try. Even if you don’t use Trip Tips very often, the feature could help popular hotspots grow.
Source: Trip Tips, Foursquare Blog
Microsoft to Bring Windows Phone Keyboard to iOS With Unique One-Handed Mode
Microsoft is working on bringing its Word Flow Windows Phone keyboard to iOS devices and new images shared by The Verge offer a look at some of the included features, such as a one-handed mode for larger phones like the iPhone 6s and the iPhone 6s Plus.
To enable one-handed typing, the keyboard has an arc-like design with letters radiating out from the iPhone’s display to be reached with just a thumb. The keyboard can be used this way on either the left or right side of the device, so it works for both right-handed and left-handed users. Microsoft’s own devices have a one-handed mode, but it shrinks the letters down to one side rather than rearranging the keys.
Microsoft’s upcoming iOS keyboard also has a standard view like any other third-party keyboard, and it’s said to be similar in design to the Word Flow keyboard used on Windows 10 Mobile devices. The Word Flow keyboard, first introduced with Windows Phone 8.1, is seen as a defining feature of the mobile Windows experience.
It features swipe-based typing like the third-party Swype keyboard on iOS, and it also features a built-in word prediction engine, automatic word corrections and shortcuts, multi-language support, emoji recommendations when typing, and more.
News of Microsoft’s work on a third-party iOS keyboard first surfaced earlier this month after Microsoft began sending out beta invites to select people for testing purposes. It is not known when the keyboard might be ready to launch to the public, but The Verge says it will be available “in the coming months.”
Third-party keyboards have not yet been widely adopted on iOS devices due to ongoing issues with slowness, crashing, and other bugs, so it remains to be seen if Microsoft’s one-handed mode will win over iOS users.
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Seeing Samsung apps on iOS might be a reality in the near future
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It’s no secret that there is no love lost between Samsung and Apple – their long-running, bitter patent infringement lawsuit is probably the best example of this. Despite this bad blood, it sounds like Samsung is looking beyond its hate to do something a little uncharacteristic for them – putting Samsung apps on iOS. We know that Samsung has already committed to iOS support for the Samsung Gear S2 smartwatch, but this latest report appears to suggest that there is a lot more coming from Samsung to Apple’s devices.
According to SamMobile, Samsung is considering porting its Gear Fit Manager, S Health, Level, and Smart Camera apps to iOS as alternatives to what already exists on iOS and allows for the Gear Fit wearable to be paired with the platform. Perhaps the most surprising news among all of this is that Samsung is working on a way to add iOS support for the gigantic Galaxy View – the idea is to allow an iOS device stream its material to a Galaxy View tablet, not unlike how a Chromecast streams to a TV. Overall, it might seem like an unusual move from Samsung given how closed Samsung has kept their ecosystem in the past, but it might turn out to be a stroke of genius – only time will tell.
What do you think about Samsung putting Samsung apps on iOS? Let us know your thoughts in the comments below.
Source: SamMobile
The post Seeing Samsung apps on iOS might be a reality in the near future appeared first on AndroidSPIN.
Galaxy S7 photos snapped in manufacturing plant, shows a familiar faceplate
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Over the last few months, we’ve heard quite a few rumours about Samsung‘s new flagship smartphone, the Galaxy S7. Today, we may be getting our first looks at the device (or at least, part of it) in some Galaxy S7 photos that have been snapped in a manufacturing plant somewhere in the world. The first of the two photos shows the faceplate of the Galaxy S7, and astute Samsung fans will notice that the shape is slightly sharper at the corners than the Galaxy S6 – note though that the grey frame around the faceplate could be masking some of its shape.
While a sticker covers what is probably the Samsung branding, the physical home button and capacitive back and menu buttons make it an undeniably Samsung phone. And yes, the photo was taken by the leaker’s HTC One M7. The second photo is perhaps less interesting, showing us a batch of camera modules that will likely be used in the Galaxy S7, but what it does confirm is a model number for at least one variant of the device: SM-G930F. This model number has previously been associated with the Galaxy S7 and suggests that these photos are quite legitimate.
What do you think about these Galaxy S7 photos? Let us know your thoughts in the comments below.
Source: GSMArena via Droid-life
The post Galaxy S7 photos snapped in manufacturing plant, shows a familiar faceplate appeared first on AndroidSPIN.
Two major visual effects studios join forces for VR push
Digital Domain, the visual effects studios that brought you feature films like the Transformers series, the X-Men series, Iron Man 3 and Her, has announced that it’s acquiring an 85 percent stake in Hong Kong’s Post Production Company Limited and its parent company for HK$135 million (about US$17.3 million), in order to make a big push in virtual reality. This is obviously a big deal for both parties: Post Production has been involved in many major Chinese movies, TV ads, music videos and even a cooking show hosted by the company’s founder, Nicholas Tse, who also happens to be a local pop artist and actor. Digital Domain CEO Daniel Seah put it best by calling Post Production “the Digital Domain of China,” and he added that Tse will stay on to run that part of the business.
The acquisition is probably a timely rescue for Tse’s Post Production. Back in September, the company had to reduce its workforce in Hong Kong to focus on its more lucrative business in Mainland China, according to Apple Daily. But that’s not to say Digital Domain is in its best form just yet, as its CEO admitted that his company has yet to become profitable since it was bought out of bankruptcy in July 2013.
To reassure us, Seah said he’s received sufficient funding to keep things going for a while, and he’s confident that with major brands like Google, Sony, Samsung, HTC, LeEco and more driving the VR market, it’ll convert to good business for Digital Domain. Not to mention that HTC’s Peter Chou is also the Chairman of Digital Domain, though oddly enough, there were no Vive headsets at the event; only Samsung units were used to show off Digital Domain’s VR demos like the Nike Hypervenom II ad (this was my favorite), a Conan 360 clip and a David Haye boxing match.
Following the acquisition, the two companies will be bringing Hong Kong’s famous cartoon pig, McDull, to the VR world. On the other end of the spectrum, though, VR porn is still a definite no-go zone for them, according to Managing Director Rich Flier.
As evidenced by the Samsung Gear VR demo units and the cardboard VR headsets given out at the event, the smartphone is currently the key to driving VR adoption rate, which is critical to content providers like Digital Domain. But this does mean downgrading the content’s quality to suit the common hardware, as opposed to limiting consumers to the expensive dedicated devices like the Vive or the PlayStation VR. Speaking of the experience on smartphone-based VR headsets, COO Amit Chopra said that while it should still please users in developing markets, he agreed that there’s plenty of room for improvement. “[Right now] it’s probably more of a 40 to 45 out of 100, but I think within one year you’ll see us getting to the 60s and 70s. There’s still a lot more to do, but the technology has to catch up.”
AIVAnet 