Apple Likely Acquired Cloud-Based Music Provider Omnifone

One of Apple’s latest acquisitions appears to be cloud-based music provider and Omnifone, according to an inside source that shared knowledge of the purchase with MacRumors. Earlier this month, a Music Ally report suggested UK-based Omnifone’s tech business and assets had been purchased by a mystery buyer for $10 million, and it seems that buyer is Apple.

According to documents covering the sale, Omnifone’s alluring patent portfolio was not purchased by Apple, nor were debts or investments, but terms included a “royalty bearing license” that Omnifone says will help it determine the value of its full range of patents. Omnifone has a number of patents relating to downloading music, digital rights management, and generating recommendations that are potentially appealing to streaming music companies.

Omnifone operated a cloud platform powering its own MusicStation service and serving as the backbone for music services launched through partnerships with mobile carriers like LG, Samsung, Vodafone, BlackBerry, Sony, and more.

Omnifone, for example, powered Samsung’s Milk music service in certain locations and it was licensed by PonoMusic to power the PonoMusic Store, which is temporarily unavailable as of today following Apple’s purchase of Omnifone. Following its acquisition, Omnifone has abruptly ended all of its partnerships.

One of our key infrastructure partners – Omnifone – has recently been acquired by a large company. An impact of this purchase is that all Omnifone’s supply relationships are being terminated, effectively immediately. Omnifone has been the exclusive content provider for PonoMusic.

Omnifone was placed into administration in May after it became clear the company could no longer pay its debts following the loss of clients like Sony and BlackBerry when Music Unlimited and BBM Music were shuttered. A total of 71 staff members were laid off as it sought a buyer for its technology assets.

Apple was believed to be interested in Omnifone’s assets early on, with sources in May telling Music Ally Apple would make the purchase.

Tags: Apple acquisition, Apple Music, Omnifone
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Corning Debuts Gorilla Glass 5 With Improved Drop Protection

Corning today unveiled its next-generation Gorilla Glass product, Gorilla Glass 5. The new glass, designed to be used in mobile device displays, offers improved protection against breakage from accidental drops.

Building on previous generations of Gorilla Glass, Corning’s latest product survives 80 percent of the time when dropped face-down from 1.6 meters (5.2 feet) onto a rough surface during lab tests. According to Corning, Gorilla Glass 5 survives drops four times better than competing glass products.

“With each successive generation of Corning Gorilla Glass, we have taken cover glass technology to new levels. Gorilla Glass 5 is no exception, extending Corning’s advantage in drop performance over competitive glasses,” said John Bayne, vice president and general manager, Corning Gorilla Glass. “With many real-world drops occurring from between waist and shoulder height, we knew improving drop performance would be an important and necessary advancement.”

Corning’s Gorilla Glass 5 will begin making its way into products starting later in 2016, and it is a prime candidate for inclusion in either the 2016 iPhone 7 and/or the 2017 iPhone 8. Corning has been a long-time supplier for Apple, with Apple using its Gorilla Glass for its iPad and iPhone lineup. Corning’s last Gorilla Glass product, Gorilla Glass 4, came out in 2014.

Tags: Corning, Gorilla Glass
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Sonos App Now Supports Streaming Music From Plex

Plex and Sonos today announced a new partnership that will see Sonos’ speakers supporting Plex music playback through the Sonos Controller app. Starting this afternoon, Sonos users can access their full Plex music libraries and discover new music via Plex using the Sonos app.

For Plex customers who have a Plex Pass for premium Plex features, music collections are automatically organized by metadata and sonic fingerprinting.

With our brand new Sonos service, you can now browse and play your entire Plex music collection on any Sonos device, right from the Sonos app. This means you’ll benefit from our awesome library and discovery features, and your personal music will look better than ever on Sonos. Even if your collection is a total mess, with sonic fingerprinting for our Plex Pass users and metadata for everyone else, you’ll end up with a beautifully organized library.

Plex for Sonos is in beta and thus can be accessed through the Sonos Labs section of the Sonos desktop app or the “Add Music Services” option on a mobile device after signing up for the Sonos Public Beta Program.

Sonos’ wireless speakers are available from the Sonos website and start at $199. The Sonos Controller app can be downloaded from the App Store for free. Plex is a free service available from the Plex website, but premium features require a Plex Pass, priced at $4.99 per month.

Tags: Plex, Sonos
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Facebook Messenger exceeds 1 billion monthly active users worldwide

Facebook has revealed that its Messenger service now has over 1 billion monthly active users worldwide.

Facebook stated that it will celebrate this new milestone in an interesting way:

We’re grateful for all the people who are sending billions of messages every day and we hope to send 1 billion thank yous in the form of a new floating balloon gift that everyone can use to celebrate. Just send a balloon emoji to your friends to add a touch of whimsy and delight to any conversation.

Facebook announced in April that Messenger had reached the 900 million monthly user level, which means that the service added over 100 million new active users in just over three months.

Android Auto rolls into 8 additional Kia models

Kia has announced that it will roll out Android Auto to select 2014 to 2017 model year vehicles via a software update. Specifically, Kia says the free update will be available for “eligible vehicles when equipped with a compatible navigation system4 or UVO35.” There are a number of vehicles from Kia that already support Android Auto, but it is great to see the company bring it to even more models.

Here’s the rundown of models that are eligible for the update, from Kia:

• Forte (MY17)
• Optima (MY15-16)
• Optima Hybrid (MY15-16)
• Sedona (MY15-16)
• Soul (MY14-16)
• Soul EV (MY15-16)
• Sorento (MY16)
• Sportage (MY17)

According to Kia, registered owners should receive an email by the end of July, sending them to Kia’s UVO website, where step-by-step instructions on updating are available.

Don’t own a Kia? Be sure to check out our full list of vehicles that support Android Auto to see if your vehicle is currently supported.

Swiftmoji from SwiftKey will try to predict your next emoji

SwiftKey has launched its first product since its acquisition by Microsoft, Swiftmoji. An all-new emoji keyboard, Swiftmoji helps you find the perfect emoji for your messages by predicting them based on what you type.

Here’s what Swiftmoji brings to the table:

• Find the emoji you want FAST – no more slow searching!
• Be CREATIVE & use emoji you forgot existed
• No more switching to emoji, let them come to you!
• Get emoji INSPIRATION right when you need it
• Always have the latest emoji available

Swiftmoji for Android also comes with a standard keyboard, offering a row of predictive emoji as you type. Note that, for now, the keyboard only supports English. You can grab the app from the Google Play Store right now.

Digivolve your home screen this Wallpaper Wednesday

Don’t let your home screen fall into a rut — switch out your wallpaper!

You don’t have to pull out a complex new theme like Spider-Man to bring a breath of fresh air to your home screen. A new wallpaper can do wonders, and launchers like Action Launcher can re-theme your entire home screen around a good wallpaper. In our effort to help brighten your device — and maybe your day — we’re compiling some wallpapers for you to try out.

If you’ve got a wallpaper you use everywhere, share it in the comments below! We’re always looking for something new. Now get your wallpaper picker ready and see what’s in store this week.

Gabumon by WeelJustWeel

Gabumon’s shy, relentlessly devoted, and clever. He’s also a vaccine-attribute Digimon, meaning he’s the Digimon I’d want around my systems. This wallpaper shows that fierce protection and loyalty as Gabumon prepares to defend his friends. The glow also adds a beautiful depth to it.

Gabumon by WeelJustWeel

Minimalistic Digimon Wallpaper Collection by Ferecium

There’s a lot of digimon we all wish were partnering with us, and while I wish I could showcase every one of them here, I don’t have the space for them. Luckily, this gallery from Ferecium features all our favorites from Digimon Adventure in a beautiful minimalist style. From Koromon to Paildramon, you can showcase them all on your desktop.

Minimalistic Digimon Wallpaper Collection by Ferecium

Fairymon by moremindmoremel0dy

There are a lot of strong women in the ranks of the digidestined, and in Digimon Frontier, they went beyond helping their partner digivolve: they became digimon and fought themselves. And while Frontier only had one female digidestined, Zoe Orimoto was awesome. She was smart, she wasn’t afraid to call out the boys, and her digimon was graceful while still kicking serious digital butt. Oh yeah, and did I mention the awesome outfit and the wings? Could I get a pair of those?

PS. Digimon Frontier had the best theme song.

Fairymon by moremindmoremel0dy

Makino Ruki by Riza23

And speaking of kick-ass girls with awesome outfits, Ruki Makino from Digimon Tamers (or Rika, for those of us who grew up on the dub), has the market cornered on cool digidestined. Her single-minded determination, her dry wit, her simple but killer outfits, and the coolest Rookie partner ever, Ruki can shut down opponents with a single look, and if not, a Diamond Storm will take care of things in short order.

Makino Ruki by Riza23

Choose Your Partner by moremindmoremel0dy

While your starter doesn’t quite so much in Pokemon (and even less so in Pokemon Go), in Digimon, your starter well and truly becomes your partner. Another perk of Digimon over it’s more popular cousin, while Pokemon evolve and stay evolved, digimon will regress back to their lower levels to conserve energy, make travel easier, and gosh darn it, they’re just cuter! I mean look at those mon! LOOK AT THEM!!

Choose Your Partner by moremindmoremel0dy

You can now grab the second public beta for iOS 10 and MacOS Sierra

Apple has released the second public beta for not only iOS 10 but MacOS Sierra.

Two weeks after releasing the first iOS 10 public beta to anyone willing to test the unfinished mobile operating system update and just a few days after seeding a third beta for developers, the Cupertino, California-based company has begun rolling out the second iOS 10 public beta as an over-the-air install, meaning you can update to it by tapping Settings > General > Software Update.

The second public beta of iOS 10 is likely the same as the third developer beta. That means you should get a new keyboard sound, haptic feedback when locking your iPhone, improved Quick Actions for sharing apps, and a new Accessibility option for using Touch ID, among other things. In general, iOS 10 brings many new features, such as a new Lock screen experience and more, which you can read all about from here:

• Apple iOS 10: Release date and everything you need to know

As for the second public beta of MacOS Sierra, it also comes two weeks after the release of the first MacOS Sierra public beta and a few days after the release of the third developer beta. Again, it likely has all the same features found in the third developer beta. To get the operating system update for your Mac (as long as you’ve already installed the first public beta), simply use the Software Update tool from the Mac App Store.

• Apple MacOS Sierra: New features and everything else you need to know

In order to be a beta tester, you must be signed up for Apple’s beta testing program. It’s free and gives you access to both the iOS and OS X betas. Keep in mind betas are not stable and may include bugs, so you should only try unfinished software like betas on a secondary device that you don’t really need. You can read all about how to become a beta tester for iOS 10 and MacOS Sierra in these step-by-step guides:

• How to get iOS 10 right now and get it working on your iPhone and iPad
• How to get MacOS Sierra right now and get it working on your Mac

The final, consumer versions of iOS 10 and MacOS Sierra are due this autumn.

Pokemon Go Plus explained: Release date, price and everything you need to know

There are few out there who haven’t heard about Pokemon Go, on a basic level at least. It’s a global phenomenon that has been covered way beyond the confines of games or tech news outlets.

However, as the craze settles and the true Pokemon Go gamers settle more into their new passion, it’ll be time to focus on other aspects that help them. Long after the world gets tired of talking about churches and sex offenders institutes as PokeStops, there will be a fanbase looking for ways to improve their experience.

Pokemon Go Plus is such a device. It is coming to different countries, including the US and UK, soon, and could be a fantastic tech extension for the true Pokemon Go player.

That’s why we’ve put together everything you need to know about it, so when it arrives you’ll know whether you want or need one.

Pocket-lint

What is Pokemon Go Plus?

Pokemon Go Plus is a wearable device that links to your smartphone through Bluetooth and informs you when a Pokemon is nearby as you travel the streets – sort of like a Pokemon flavoured smartwatch.

It can even be used to catch the Pokemon itself, so you don’t have to take your phone out of your pocket.

The device should, therefore, help Pokemon Go players be more aware of their surroundings, without constantly holding a mobile screen up to their faces.

• Pokemon Go: How to play and other tips and tricks
• Help! Pokemon Go isn’t working: How to fix common Pokemon Go problems
• Can’t get Pokemon Go in your country yet? Here’s how to download it now
• What is Pokemon Go and why is everyone talking about it? 
• Pokemon Go: Best, worst and craziest places people have found Pokemon
• London through the eyes of Pokemon Go
• Pokemon Go top tips: Master the Pokemon mayhem

How does Pokemon Go Plus work?

The small wearable can be worn around a wrist thanks to an included band, clipped onto a shirt or even just placed in a pocket.

Pocket-lint

Whenever a Pokemon is nearby, an LED with flash and the device will mildly vibrate. You can then either check out which Pokemon it is by looking on your phone and using the app, or press a button on the Plus and it will attempt catch the Pokemon by throwing a Poke Ball for you. A further notification will let you know if you were successful.

The Pokemon Go Plus will also notify you when you are near a PokeStop. You will, however, have to then use your phone for interaction.

Do I need Pokemon Go Plus?

Because it is an extension of Pokemon Go, it is not needed to get the whole experience – you simply need a smartphone for that.

Instead, it can help make the search for PokeStops and Pokemon easier and more comfortable. If you wear one on your wrist, for example, you can go about your daily life, occasionally stopping whenever it tells you a Pokemon is nearby.

Will Pokemon Go Plus work with my phone?

On launch, Pokemon Go Plus will only work with iOS. It will be compatible with iPhone 5, 5c, 5s, SE, 6, 6s, 6 Plus, and 6s Plus. They will also need to be on iOS 8 or higher.

Is Pokemon Go Plus compatible with Android?

Sadly, the Pokemon Go Plus will not work with Android on launch. Compatibility with Android is “under development”.

Pocket-lint

What are the Pokemon Go Plus’ specifications?

Inside the pack you get the Pokemon Go Plus device, a polyester wristband that measures 4-7cm when worn, and a removable CR2032 Lithium coin cell battery for power.

The device itself, which looks like the pointer in the app (and on Google Maps) is 46 x 33 x 17.5mm and weighs 13g.

How much is Pokemon Go Plus?

The Bluetooth enabled device costs £34.99 in the UK, $34.99 in the US. It might be available in other regional prices too. Check with your local supplier.

Where can I buy the Pokemon Go Plus?

Nintendo stocks the Pokemon Go Plus in the UK. It is yet to open for pre-orders, with a shipping date of 31 August.

US pre-orders, however, have been and gone. GameStop has the exclusive and as soon as the device went on pre-order it sold out very quickly. It ships on 31 July, so after that date you might get one from a second stock roll out.

There are also reports of units being offered on eBay for ridiculous sums of money.

How to make your home smart right now

Smarthomes were once associated with the rich and famous. The kind of houses you only saw in your dreams or TV programmes like Cribs. That’s no longer the case.

There are hundreds of devices available these days that not only make a smarthome possible, but accessible too. Yes, some of the options are pricey, but not all of them are, and there are plenty of gadgets available that will make your home smart right now, without breaking the bank.

Here are just a few to get your started from smart heating to smart lighting, with plenty in between.

Amazon Echo

Amazon

Amazon Echo is a 9.25-inch-tall cylinder speaker with a seven-piece microphone array. This mic setup allows the speaker to respond to the wake word “Alexa,” which happens to be the name of the speaker’s Siri-like assistant. With Alexa, Amazon Echo is capable of voice interaction, controlling compatible smarthome devices and music playback from devices over Bluetooth.

It can make to-do lists, set alarms, stream podcasts, play audiobooks, read PDFs, provide weather forecasts, warn you of traffic, answer trivia, and serve up other information in real-time. Echo requires a Wi-Fi connection to respond to voice commands, and it must remain plugged in for power.

PRICE: $179

Nespresso Prodigio

Amazon

The Nespresso Prodigio is the first connected Nespresso machine. It will connect to your smartphone via a dedicated app and allow you to prepare your coffee remotely, whether that’s from the comfort of your bed or the dining room table. You could even do it from the bath if you really wanted to.

It will alert you when your favourite pods are running low, when you need to empty the capsule container and when you need to top up the water tank. The Nespresso Prodigio is available in silver or titan colour options and there is also the Prodigio&Milk model that offers an integrated milk frother. Both have multiple size settings.

PRICE: $289.99 for the Prodigio&Milk model

Google Chromecast

Google

Chromecast plugs into any TV with HDMI and USB ports (or requires separate power if not) and it can be controlled from a phone, tablet, or computer. From there, you can “cast” content displayed on your device’s screen to your TV.

Many popular apps have a Google Cast button built directly into their apps, including the likes of Netflix and YouTube, enabling you to send a movie or YouTube clip to your TV with a simple tap of a button. Its purpose is to makes a dumb TV smart and it does a brilliant job of it.

PRICE: $35

Honeywell Lyric Thermostat

Honeywell

A smarthome wouldn’t be complete without a smart thermostat and Honeywell offers several options including Lyric. The Lyric Round Thermostat adapts to your life without a learning curve and offers control from wherever you are in the world via your Android or iOS smartphone.

The Lyric Round Thermostat will use your smartphone’s location to find out where you are, ensuring you come home to a warm house or you save energy when you aren’t coming home. It is compatible with a number of platforms including Apple HomeKit, Samsung SmartThings and IFTTT, allowing for easy and simple control. There is also a Lyric security and home control system that allows you to control numerous elements of your home including the Lyric thermostat, as well as lights and locks.

PRICE: $229

Sonos Play:1

Sonos is a wireless HiFi system that consists of various different sized speakers, a sound bar and a sub, all of which you can control using the Sonos app, which is compatible with iOS, Android and Windows. The Sonos Play:1 is the cheapest and smallest of the speakers available, offering two custom-designed drivers with dedicated amplifiers inside. 

It comes in black and white colour options and you can stream your entire music library, a range of music services such as Spotify, and internet radio from the app to the speaker. Sonos speakers can also be grouped, no matter which combination you have so it’s nice and easy to add to your collection and fill your home with music.

PRICE: $199

Netatmo Welcome

The Netatmo Welcome is one of the more expensive smarthome camera options out there, but it allows you to customise user profiles thanks to its facial recognition technology and it’s a great feature. Welcome will recognise faces from various angles and build a profile relating to that person.

You have to teach the camera who is who so it learns but for each profile you build, you can alter the recording preferences. For example, if you want to know when your partner is home from work but you don’t want their every action to be recorded when they are home, you can select this, making the Welcome camera far less intrusive than others available. Door and window sensors that work with the camera are also available.  

PRICE: $199

Philips Hue

Philips

The Philips Hue system consists of connected bulbs and a wireless bridge, which can be controlled using a smartphone from wherever you are. The starter pack comes with three bulbs and the bridge, which can control up to 50 Hue light bulbs, so you can buy more bulbs individually depending on how many lights in your home you want to connect.

You’ll be able to create light settings based on your favourite photos, or photos you have uploaded, and there are millions of colours to choose from. Hue also has a party mode that makes the bulbs flash in time with your music and you can set timers to help you wake up every day. Of course you’ll also get the ability to turn the Hue bulbs on, off and dim them to suit the mood you are trying to create.

PRICE: $199.99 for the starter pack

Honeywell Lyric Water Leak and Freeze Detector

Honeywell

The Honeywell Lyric Water Leak and Freeze Detector is the latest device to be added to the Lyric range of products. Its purpose is to catch a leak or frozen pipe early in order to try and avoid the devastating and costly effects a flood or burst pipe could cause.

The detector works with the Lyric app, notifying you via your smartphone if a leak is detected or the temperature drops below that which you have set, allowing you to take action before the situation gets worse. It also has a 100dB buzzer and LED lights to warn users if they are home. The Lyric Water Leak and Freeze Detector connects to your home Wi-Fi network without the need for a hub, is battery-powered and several devices can be connected to the Lyric app, allowing you to place them around your home.

PRICE: $79.99

Belkin WeMo Switch

Amazon

The Belkin WeMo Switch is part of a modular system so you can control as much or as little of your home as you want to. The idea of the switch is to give you wireless control over home appliances and electronics, for example a lamp, fan, TV or coffee machine.

You plug the WeMo Switch into an outlet in your home and plug any device or appliance into it. The Switch then needs to be connected to your home Wi-Fi network, which you do through the Android or iOS app, and after you complete the installation instructions, you’ll be able to turn whatever you have plugged in on or off from anywhere using your smartphone. The Belkin WeMo range is also compatible with IFTTT so you’ll be able to create various recipes if you want to.

PRICE: $49.99

Belkin WeMo Maker

Amazon

The Belkin WeMo Maker is a device that makes it possible to control low-voltage electronic devices using your smartphone or tablet. It can connect to nearly any device controlled with a DC switch and once connected, you’ll be able to turn them on or off, put them on schedules or connect them to different sensors.

The customisation possibilities are endless with the WeMo Maker as it too works with IFTTT. With this compatibility, it means you could connect a WeMo Maker to a garage door and create a trigger to open the door when you are nearly home based on your smartphone’s location for example.

PRICE: $79.99

The Honeywell Lyric Water Leak and Freeze Detector is an early warning system that notifies you on your smartphone when a leak is detected or the temperature drops below a temperature of your choice. By catching it early, you may be able to avoid expensive repairs and loss of treasured items. To find out more visit Honeywell.com

This article was created in association with Honeywell.