‘myLINGO’ iOS App Lets Users Listen to Spanish Audio Tracks in Real Time at the Movies
A new app called myLINGO lets Spanish-speaking users listen to studio-recorded dubs of the most popular movies while they’re in theaters, thanks to backing from studios including Disney, Paramount, and Sony. The app has also obtained “strategic partnerships” with Regal Entertainment Group and Cinemark Theaters within the United States.
myLINGO works by letting users search for the movie they’ll be watching, and then downloading the Spanish audio track to their iPhone, which is recommended to be done at home on Wi-Fi. After that, the app does all the work by listening for the film’s audio through the iPhone’s microphone, and delivering the Spanish version through the user’s headphones “in perfect sync with the film.”
The company noted that the app’s tracks are “studio-sanctioned Spanish versions” of each film available on the app, which were originally created and distributed for international release. The audio translations only play if the app can hear the movie on screen, includes a dark mode that prevents distractions in the theater, and once the movie is over the audio file self-deletes from the iPhone. Right now, myLINGO is only available for Apple’s iPhone.
“Hispanic audiences spent approximately $2.5 billion at the box office in 2015, proving a big incentive for cinemas to cater to this market segment,” said Olenka Polak, co-founder and CEO of myLINGO. “Even so, our research shows that nearly half of all Spanish-dominant Americans avoid going to the movies because films aren’t shown in Spanish. myLINGO addresses that challenge as a partner to both studios and exhibitors, with an innovative way to drive new customers and revenue,” she added.
The app’s business model sets prices on a movie-by-movie basis. Users will have to pay $1.99 for each audio track they wish to listen to at the theater, although a few movies currently in the app — including Disney’s Moana and Marvel’s Doctor Strange — are free “for a limited time.” myLINGO also doesn’t support Bluetooth or any wireless headphones and recommends users remember to bring their wired headphones with them to the movies.
The limit on the app’s use in its current state is placed on the studios supporting it, but there are still popular films out now and coming soon that users will be able to try with myLINGO, including: Moana, Office Christmas Party, Rogue One: A Star Wars Story and Passengers. Other languages are coming down the line, but myLINGO CEO Olenka Polak told Variety that the focus is only on Spanish at this time because “we want a clear marketing message.”
You can download myLINGO on the iOS App Store for free. [Direct Link]
Tag: myLINGO
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Latest Nougat beta for Galaxy S7 and S7 edge renames TouchWiz to Samsung Experience
Third Nougat beta release brings new features, slew of bug fixes.
If you’re enrolled in the Galaxy Beta Program for the Galaxy S7 and Galaxy S7 edge, it’s time to check your phone for an update. Samsung is rolling out the third Nougat beta version, adding Samsung Pass, the Samsung Note app, an auto brightness button in the Quick Panel, and moving the “Close All” button to the bottom of the recents panel.
Interestingly, the software info section lists the UI as Samsung Experience version 8, so it looks like Samsung is transitioning away from the TouchWiz name for its user interface. We haven’t necessarily seen the TouchWiz branding highlighted in recent times, and with Nougat, the company is moving away from blue-green accents to a more refined layout that features a lot of white elements interspersed with light-blue accent colors.
Samsung notes a few bugs that are yet to be fixed (which were present in the second beta as well), including a delay in the screen switching on after pressing the power button, and Wi-Fi connection issues. Samsung is looking into the problem, and will roll out an update once it finds a solution. The update itself comes in at 528MB, and includes the December 1 security patch.
Eager to know what’s new in Nougat on the S7 edge? Be sure to check out all the features on offer.
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Google Duo updated with better camera rotation, major video quality improvements
Duo now works better on slow connections.
Google’s video-calling app Duo has been updated to version 5.0, bringing seamless camera rotation and “major video quality improvements.” Duo technical lead Justin Uberti tweeted that the app will now work better over slower connections, a common problem in emerging markets.
The engineer claimed that Google is putting “massive energy” behind improving Duo’s media quality as well.
Duo 5.0 relnotes (12/5):• Major video quality improvements• Simpler signup flow• Seamless camera rotation• Fix sound not playing issue
— Justin Uberti (@juberti) December 6, 2016
Uberti mentioned that an Allo update is also coming soon. Don’t hold out for SMS integration though.
Chrome for Android now lets you download videos and web pages for offline viewing
You can now take entire web pages offline.
Google has announced that it is rolling out an update to Chrome for Android (55.0.2883.84) that gives you the ability to download videos, music, and entire web pages for offline viewing. You’ll also be able to view and share your downloads without leaving Chrome.
The upcoming build will also highlight misspelled words in text fields, and brings a slew of improvements to the contextual search user interface. Along with the new features, the update contains the usual performance, memory, and stability fixes.
I’m on the Chrome Canary channel (it’s a fun place to be), which has had offline downloads for some time now. Here’s how it works: the update brings a download button to the menu bar (next to the bookmark button), and clicking it when you’re on a web page or viewing a video initiates the download. Once the content is downloaded, you’ll be able to view it without an internet connection. There’s also a dedicated “Downloads” section that lets you view all the media you’ve downloaded.
Google mentions that the update will be available over the coming days, so if you don’t see it just yet, hold tight.
Best Phone For Business
The BlackBerry DTEK60 is the best phone you can buy to use with your business.
Best overall
The BlackBerry DTEK60
See at BlackBerry
The BlackBerry DTEK60 is the best phone you can use to manage your business.
Android software built by BlackBerry carries years of knowledge and experience about the things you’re looking for when it comes to the tools you need every day. Business users have specific needs above and beyond what most users have, and the DTEK60 brings things like BlackBerry Hub and the full suite of tools that are an integral part of many road warriors and executives.
The DTEK60 is also secure. Building atop Google’s security measures, BlackBerry deems the DTEK line the most secure Android phones available. Extra hardening and monitoring app installs keep you or your employees from getting any random malware, and of course, Google for Business and BlackBerry’s own management tools extend administration even further.
And it does all this while being responsive and user-friendly. You won’t have to settle for sub-par performance to have the things that help you make money.
Bottom line: Everything a business person needs with no compromises.
One more thing: The BlackBerry Hub integration will help keep you in touch and organized.
Why the DTEK60 is the best
A phone you want to use can also keep your data safe — both personal and business data.
The phone you carry to serve your customers and keep things running smoothly at work needs to be able to do them quickly and keep all that data safe. the DTEK60 is our top pick when it comes to these specifics.
BlackBerry has built a reputation on serving business owners with highly capable and very secure phones. That legacy lives on with their Android offerings. BlackBerry’s additions like the Hub and contact manager are proven to be effective ways to manage busy business accounts, and extras from Google for Business and BlackBerry can make management a breeze.
And the DTEK60 is a phone that does all this with no compromises when it comes to performance. The high-power Snapdragon 820 CPU and 4GB of memory are the same components the other Android powerhouse phones use, and it shows. Whether you’re managing email, sorting through a spreadsheet at the airport or watching a video in your downtime, the DTEK60 can handle it all.
Best for updates
Google Pixel
See at Google
See at Verizon
The Google Pixel is the most secure Android phone you can buy, and one of the most secure phones of any available today.
Without disabling any security protections, the Pixel and Pixel XL are protected against known public security exploits and remote installations are monitored by Google’s scanning software which blocks potential malicious content. While security and privacy are two very different things, when you decide you want private things to stay private you need to make sure your phone is secure to keep them that way. Security is paramount when it comes to using a phone with all your important business contacts and details.
One of the things that make the Pixel and Pixel XL the best is that they use the latest — and most secure — version of Android. It’s also updated monthly with fixes for security exploits (both known and unknown) directly from Google. For those who can’t wait for the update to reach them, the update files are hosted by Google for download and installation. More importantly, the changes and code behind these fixes are available for peer review so they can be made more robust.
Bottom line: The Google Pixel will always have the latest and most secure version of Android for the duration of its lifetime.
One more thing: Verizon carries the Pixel and your account rep can take care of any order.
Best value
BlackBerry DTEK50
See at Amazon
BlackBerry says the DTEK50 is the world’s most secure Android phone.
Using the same methods as the more expensive DTEK60 to keep Android up to date and hardened to BlackBerry’s specifications, the out-of-the-box experience on the DTEK50 lets BlackBerry claim the most secure title with both models.
The experience of using the DTEK50 just isn’t as pleasant as the other phones on our list. Clearly designed as an entry-level phone for people who need connectivity and security, the phone is well worth the asking price. But it’s just not a smooth as any of the other phones here.
That shouldn’t tarnish the DTEK50’s reputation, though. If you’re looking for something safe and affordable with access to well over a million apps — and a tool to monitor them all — the DTEK50 may be just what you’re looking for.
Bottom line: BlackBerry knows that security doesn’t only apply to the flagship phones and the DTEK50 is a welcome addition for business persons and IT managers.
One more thing: Scott Wenger, VP of design and devices for BlackBerry says DTEK stands for “Detection.”
Conclusion
Media outlets like to give Android a bad reputation when it comes to security, and it’s difficult to blame them. Old, outdated software from manufacturers with no real concern for your security or privacy are the norm when it comes to phones running Android. The phone you use to run your business can’t be this way.
The DTEK60 has the BlackBerry legacy of security and professional tools behind it, and the move to Android also makes even more services available. When it comes to the day-to-day needs of running a business or having your staff using the best tools possible in a safe and secure way, you can’t beat the BlackBerry DTEK60
Best overall
The BlackBerry DTEK60
See at BlackBerry
The BlackBerry DTEK60 is the best phone you can use to manage your business.
Android software built by BlackBerry carries years of knowledge and experience about the things you’re looking for when it comes to the tools you need every day. Business users have specific needs above and beyond what most users have, and the DTEK60 brings things like BlackBerry Hub and the full suite of tools that are an integral part of many road warriors and executives.
The DTEK60 is also secure. Building atop Google’s security measures, BlackBerry deems the DTEK line the most secure Android phones available. Extra hardening and monitoring app installs keep you or your employees from getting any random malware, and of course, Google for Business and BlackBerry’s own management tools extend administration even further.
And it does all this while being responsive and user-friendly. You won’t have to settle for sub-par performance to have the things that help you make money.
Bottom line: Everything a business person needs with no compromises.
One more thing: The BlackBerry Hub integration will help keep you in touch and organized.
Sony is bringing ‘Parappa’, ‘Wild Arms’ and more to mobile
Hot on the heels of PlayStation Experience, Sony has announced the first smartphone games developed under its new “ForwardWorks” banner. The roster includes a new Everybody’s Golf title (known as Hot Shots Golf in the US), which is due to come out in spring 2017. The company is also working on a new Wild Arms game, an adaption of Arc the Lad and What Did I Do to Deserve This, My Lord? Looking further ahead, ForwardWorks has confirmed it’ll be working on a new Parappa the Rapper game, as well as apps based on Doko Demo Issho and Boku no Natsuyasumi.
It’s a sizeable list, though one clearly geared towards the Japanese market. While some of its chosen franchises have a fanbase in the West — Parappa and Everybody’s Golf, for instance — most are considered niche or long abandoned. Reviving them as smartphone apps is an intriguing way to measure fan interest. If the games are free, and more importantly good, it could spur demand for new, higher budget console and portable titles. Sony is taking a similar approach on the PS4 right now, having confirmed HD remakes for Parappa the Rapper, Crash Bandicoot and Wipeout.
Sony has tried to make smartphone games before. PlayStation Mobile was an abject failure, however, producing few titles with lasting appeal. It shuttered the project in 2015 and shifted focus to the PlayStation 4, a wildly successful console, and the PlayStation Vita, a brilliant but unpopular handheld. With ForwardWorks, Sony will be hoping to re-assert itself in the mobile market. That’s easier said than done, given the cut-throat competition on iOS and Android. A broad line-up could work in Sony’s favor — effectively spreading its bets — while contrasting Nintendo’s smaller, more cautious portfolio of smartphone games.
Source: Sony (Blog Post)
Amazon’s Music Unlimited family plan comes to the UK
When Amazon launched its unlimited music streaming subscription in the UK, it offered access to over 40 million tracks, thousands of curated playlists and tight integration with its Echo speaker. The one thing it didn’t provide was a dedicated family plan like those offered by Spotify and Apple Music. It took more than three weeks, but Amazon has today extended its subscription to include a Family option — it costs £15 a month or £149 for a full year and allows up to six people to stream to their heart’s content.
Today’s addition means Amazon customers now have four plans to choose from. Prime members can sign up for the standard service at £8 a month or £79 a year, but non-Prime subscribers pay a little extra at £10 a month. The cheaper £4 a month plan is reserved for a single Echo or Echo Dot, which incentivises sales of Amazon’s intelligent speaker and gives it an edge over its streaming rivals.
Source: Amazon Music Unlimited
The Morning After: Wednesday December 7, 2016
This morning, we’re reading about how Google has upgraded its search app to keep personal information and news events separated, the same company’s attempt to solve router troubles forever… and the Novint Falcon’s transformation from haptic games controller to sex toy.
Your to-go guide
Google’s search app splits up news headlines from your upcoming events.
The automated interests formerly known as Google Now are getting another refresh. In a change that’s rolling out first on Android (soon on iOS) the app will display two different sections of information. Upcoming has all of your personal info, like incoming packages, calendar events and reservations. Feed is where current events, sports and trending updates will go. In the age of personal AI assistants, figuring out a place for different types of info is going to be key.
Technology’s biggest patent fight still isn’t over
Supreme Court sides with Samsung over Apple patent penalty
Samsung’s Supreme Court appeal worked: the justices unanimously voted that the company’s violations of Apple’s iPhone design patents were only valid for a part of a smartphone, not the entire device. This means the $548 million penalty sum will return to the lower courts and be reduced. To what degree, however, is up to the courts. The iPhone’s design is iconic — and that will be noted.
It makes a world of difference
Spotify Connect is live on Sonos
After a short beta period, a feature that lets Sonos owners control their audio gear from within Spotify’s app is available to all. It works across desktop and mobile, and can jump from speakers to headphones with the tap of a button.
The next big thing in teledildonics
Computer Love: Novint Falcon (NSFW)
The Novint Falcon debuted as a haptic joystick in 2005, and despite a lot of enthusiasm, never made it to market in a big way. Now, it’s had something of a resurgence, but this time as a sex toy. In this edition of Computer Love, Executive Editor Christopher Trout investigates whether its hardware is up to the task.
An end to “Have you tried switching it off and on again?”Review: Google WiFi
Google WiFi is a solid choice if you’re looking for a router that mixes smart design with simple features and solid performance,. However, users who like to get their hands dirty may prefer the control and flexibility of more conventional products. For the rest of us, Google WiFi will likely provide an easy transition to the connected home. Check out our full review.
Somehow it’s not just an endless RIP list
The top ten Twitter conversations in 2016
The clock is almost up on 2016, and not a moment too soon. Twitter has a round up of the top conversations from this year, including Game of Thrones, Brexit and Black Lives Matter in its Moments format. Of course, it wasn’t all death and politics — remember, Leo finally won an Oscar.
But wait, there’s more…
- Constant updates and online functionality pushed Bungie out of making ‘Halo’ games
- Chance the Rapper’s ‘Coloring Book’ is the first streaming-only album up for a Grammy
- Apple’s TV single sign-on feature is live
Judge sentences celebrity hacker to five years in prison
A federal judge has sentenced Alonzo Knowles, the Bahamian man who hacked into celebs’ emails to get scripts, secrets and sensitive photos, to five years in prison. That’s twice longer than what the federal sentencing guidelines suggested, because Judge Paul A. Engelmayer felt that Knowles “would be a clear and present danger to commit the very same crime again.” While the hacker expressed remorse in court (“What I did was wrong. I could have ruined people’s lives,” he said), he sent out some emails from jail that cemented the judge’s decision to hand him a longer sentence.
In them, he said he’d “shake up Hollywood for real” by writing a book, “name dropping everyone involved” in it and including pictures he didn’t leak in the past. He also said that he plans to hack into Twitter accounts to promote the book, which he wants to sell for $35. “Everyone loves gossip. I cant wait to get out i already know how the cover is gonna look,” he added.
Knowles got access to celebs’ emails by infecting their computers with malware and sending them fake automated text messages. If they prove to be quite tech-savvy, he’d hack into their friends’ accounts to find juicy info on them or any sensitive images. Knowles was arrested in December 2015 when he tried to sell unreleased scripts for six episodes of Starz TV drama Power. He flew to New York to meet the potential buyer, who turned out to be an undercover agent.
Back in May, the defendant pleaded guilty, and his lawyer asked for a 14-month sentence. Unfortunately for him, Judge Engelmayer decided that his emails show he’s devoid of remorse and that he belongs behind bars in federal prison, where he has no access to the internet.
Source: The New York Times, CBS News
Fitbit Buyout Will See Pebble’s Time 2 and Core Wearables Canceled, Refunds Issued
Late last month we reported that Fitbit was closing in on a deal to acquire smartwatch maker Pebble “for a small amount”. Bloomberg has now revealed that the buyout will cost “less than $40 million” and exclusively concerns Pebble’s software assets, which are being sought by Fitbit “in a bid to better compete with Apple”, according to people familiar with the matter.
Yesterday’s update on the details of the acquisition comes at a time when the wearables market as a whole appears to be facing increased uncertainty and significant profit hurdles. Earlier this week, in response to IDC market research claiming that Apple Watch’s share of the wearables market had fallen to 5 percent, Apple CEO Tim Cook said Apple Watch’s sell-through rate had hit a new high. Cook was responding to data which suggested fitness trackers “reigned supreme” in the market, yet Fitbit has seen its own struggles, with the company’s shares tumbling 30 percent after announcing mixed third-quarter results and weak guidance for its fourth quarter.
To improve its standing in the market, Fitbit reportedly wants to hire Pebble’s software engineers and testers, and get hold of intellectual property including the Pebble OS, watch apps, and cloud services. The $40 million buyout sum does not include Pebble’s debt and other obligations, product inventory or server equipment, all of which will be sold off separately, said the people, who asked to remain anonymous.
The news all but confirms the end of the road is in sight for Pebble’s entire product line-up, including its most recent smartwatch announcements, the Pebble 2, Time 2, and the Pebble Core. The Pebble 2 has already started shipping to people who funded the startup through crowd-funding site Kickstarter, but the Time 2 and Pebble Core will be canceled and refunds will be issued to Kickstarter backers, said the sources.
Following the buyout, Pebble’s offices will be closed and former engineers will relocate to Fitbit offices in San Francisco. There’s no word yet as to whether Fitbit will decide to use the Pebble brand in future.
The deal will make Pebble stock held by employees “worthless”, said sources, with the money earned on the acquisition going to debt holders, vendors, some equity investors, and Kickstarter refunds for the Time 2 and Pebble Core orders.
Tags: Pebble, Fitbit
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