Amazon scores a deal with Marvel to offer comics directly to Kindle devices
A little while ago, one of the only ways to read digital copies of Marvel comics was through comiXology, but Amazon purchased it last year. Now Amazon is offering all the comics (up to 12,000 of them) without needing the comiXology app. The best part is the titles in the Kindle store or on comiXology will be available the same day they come out in brick and mortar stores. Some comics offered are Ultimate Spider-Man, Avengers, and Daredevil.
Peter Phillips, EVP of Interactive and Digital Distribution at Marvel Entertainment, said:
“After Amazon’s acquisition of comiXology in April of 2014, we collectively saw a great opportunity to expand our relationship and create more ways for fans to access Marvel’s vast library of characters as well as leverage comiXology’s technology, together with Amazon’s incredible consumer focus and reach.
Source: Marvel
Come comment on this article: Amazon scores a deal with Marvel to offer comics directly to Kindle devices
Amazon releases Cloud Drive SDK for better app integration
Amazon has released the Cloud Drive SDK so developers can integrate the platform into their apps. Amazon’s Cloud Drive is an excellent cloud storage solution, but a big hurdle has been that apps aren’t able to easily take advantage of the service like they can with, say, Dropbox or Drive.
Amazon notes that four apps have already taken advantage of the Cloud Drive SDK, albeit three of the four are from a single developer. Keep in mind that the Cloud Drive SDK isn’t a standalone development kit. It’s actually bundled in with Amazon’s Mobile App kit.
If Amazon has piqued your interest, just head on over to the source link below for the SDK.
source: Amazon
Come comment on this article: Amazon releases Cloud Drive SDK for better app integration
GameFly Streaming App review
GameFly recently released their new video game streaming app for the Amazon Fire TV. They have support coming to the Fire TV Stick as well. This is great news for budget gamer’s, who don’t mind paying a subscription fee and at this point, it’s the only way to get console quality games on your Fire TV. Oh, and did I mention you can play any game in their library for 10 minutes free?
To get started, you’ll need an Amazon Fire TV and a video game controller. You can purchase one from Amazon for $39.99, but the app also officially supports the Xbox 360 wired and wireless controllers, Logitech F710 wireless controller, and the Logitech F-310 wired controller. I used the Xbox 360 wireless controller myself in reviewing this app.
The app starts out by testing your internet connection. In order to use the app, you need to have a wired connection or a 5GHz wireless connection. Gamefly recommends that you have a 5.0 Mbps connection at the very minimum, but for HD resolution they recommend at least an 8.5 Mbps connection. The maximum resolution at this point is 720p and the system can automatically adjust the resolution and bit rate to keep your game playing smoothly. In short, it looks great.
The interface is top notch as it was very easy to use and find games to play. In order to play a game, you select the category on the right and then use the cover-flow style interface to select a game.
You can play any game for 10 minutes free of charge and you don’t need to set up a different account because your Amazon account is your GameFly streaming account. If you would like to play beyond the 10-minute demo, you’ll need to subscribe to a game pack. Game packs range between $6.99/month and $9.99/month. Unfortunately at this point there is no all inclusive game pack, but you can subscribe to more that one game pack at a time.
| Pack | Price | Titles |
|---|---|---|
| Action Pack | (7 titles) – $6.99/month | F.E.A.R. 3, Operation Flashpoint: Dragon Rising, Red Faction: Armageddon, Red Faction: Guerilla, Mafia II, Sleeping Dogs and Hitman |
| Adventure Pack | (7 titles) – $6.99/month | Dark Void, Overlord II, Darksiders, Darksiders II, Batman: Arkham Asylum, Batman: Arkham City, Batman: Arkham Origins |
| Gamer Pack | (16 titles) – $9.99/month | F.E.A.R. 3, Red Faction: Armageddon, Red Faction: Guerilla, Sleeping Dogs, Hitman, Darksiders, Darksiders II, Batman: Arkham Asylum, Batman: Arkham City, Batman: Arkham Origins, Shank, Shank 2, Dark Void, Operation Flashpoint: Dragon Rising, Mafia II, Overlord II |
| Speed Pack | (7 titles) – $6.99/month | Ace Combat, Dirt 3, GRID, GRID 2, MotoGP13, Ridge Racer Unbounded, WRC 4 |
| Fun Pack | (7 titles) – $6.99/month | Flock!, PAC-MAN Championship Edition, PAC-MAN and the Ghostly Adventures, LEGO Harry Potter: Years 5-7, Giana Sisters: Twisted Dreams, Giana Sisters: Twisted Dreams – Rise of the Owlverlord, BlazBlue: Calamity Trigger |
| LEGO Pack | (7 titles) – $6.99/month | LEGO Batman, LEGO Batman 2: DC Super Heroes, LEGO Batman 3: Beyond Gotham, LEGO Lord of the Rings, LEGO Harry Potter: Years 5-7, LEGO Marvel: Super Heroes, LEGO The Hobbit |
The game graphics are console quality. I did not have any screen artifacting or latency issues while playing. Especially since I was using the Xbox 360 controller, it was easy to forget what device I was playing on. The only time it seemed to have a small stutter, was during a few cut scenes. Overall I was very impressed at the graphics and image quality during streaming.
The only real negative that I could come up with, is the limited selection of games in their catalog. Although there are some pretty great games in that catalog, many of the games are at least a few years old. They do, however; have more titles coming in the near future. One major limitation is that the games do not have online multiplayer support. If the game supports a local multiplayer option, then you are more than welcome to play with friends using that option. You will, of course, need additional controllers to play together.
Overall this is a great service, and if I hadn’t already purchased and finished 90% of the games in the adventure pack, I would subscribe. The lack of more recent games and games in general, really kills it for me. However, if you haven’t played many of these games, the Gamefly Streaming service provides a great way to play the games in their library with a minimal financial commitment. Also if you unsubscribe from one of their play packs, all your save data remains in the cloud to access at any time when you may wish to resubscribe.
GameFly Streaming – Amazon App Store
The post GameFly Streaming App review appeared first on AndroidGuys.
Amazon’s Marvel deal puts 12,000 comics in the Kindle store
Amazon has a virtual monopoly on digital Marvel comics, but it’s just opened up another way to get them. Kindle owners can now purchase single issues through Amazon’s store without needing the Comixology app as before. You can still get Marvel comics through Comixology, but of course Amazon acquired it last year, so the money goes to Jeff Bezos either way. All told, you’ll be able to purchase up to 12,000 back issues of titles like Guardians of the Galaxy, Daredevil and The Amazing Spiderman at the Kindle Store. Moreover, all titles will be available the same day they arrive in regular stores.
The only other place to find the e-comics is via Marvel’s own $10 monthly subscription service, but it only stocks issues more than six months old. Given the popularity of Marvel titles and Amazon’s lockdown on distribution, you may not be shocked to hear that Comixology is the top-grossing book app on iOS. On Google Play, meanwhile, it’s merely the top-grossing comic app. Hopefully Amazon will remember that with great power, comes… eh, probably not.
Via: The Verge
Source: Marvel
Grab a 2nd Gen. Moto G for $140 on Amazon
style=”display:block”
data-ad-client=”ca-pub-8150504804865896″
data-ad-slot=”8461248232″
data-ad-format=”auto”>
(adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push();
The Moto G has become one of the best budget phones you can buy out there, even if you have super high-powered device that takes you to the moon. Many of you out there might have a Moto G just as a phone to play around with, or you have recommended it to someone who not into all the fancy features of the big boy phones. But just in case you are not one of these people, you can now grab yourself a 2nd generation Moto G on Amazon for the cheap price of $140. That is a $40 discount you will get, so if you feel it is time to get yourself a Moto G, hit the link down below and grab one. Let us know if you did.
The post Grab a 2nd Gen. Moto G for $140 on Amazon appeared first on AndroidSPIN.
[Deal] Get a Moto G (2nd Gen) for $140 from Amazon
There are plenty of options available for off-contract smartphones, and Motorola offers one of the most impressive solutions, the Moto G (2nd Gen). Amazon has discounted the smartphone to a mere $140, which is 22% off the original sale price.
Keep in mind that the device comes in Global GSM and US GSM options, so you won’t get to experience the wonders of 4G LTE. However, for $140, it’s still one hell of a smartphone. You’ll need to act fast, though. The deal is running on Amazon’s Gold Box Deal, meaning it’ll only last until the end of the day or until the Moto G (2nd Gen) is sold out.
Motorola’s Moto G (2nd Gen) features a 1280 x 720 5-inch display, a Snapdragon 400 1.2GHz quad-core CPU, 1GB of RAM, 8GB of expandable storage, a 2070mAh battery, and it’s running Android 5.0 Lollipop. If you’re interested in picking up the device, hit the source link below.
source: Amazon
Come comment on this article: [Deal] Get a Moto G (2nd Gen) for $140 from Amazon
BlackBerry 10 phones get the Amazon Appstore in the US
If you’re a BlackBerry-toting American, you’re about to get a ton of Android apps on your plate. As promised, BlackBerry has started the US rollout of an update that gives all BB10 devices access to the Amazon Appstore, saving you from having to sideload some of the Android titles you can’t live without. You’ll also get better anti-theft protection and a “fresh look” that includes faster access to common tasks.
Just when you get your upgrade is a bit of a toss-up. On AT&T, you’re first in line if you’re carrying the older BlackBerry Q10 or Z10; on T-Mobile and Verizon, you’re at the start of the queue if you’re rocking a BlackBerry Classic. Every other BlackBerry 10 device in the country will receive the new software eventually, though, so don’t worry if your Z30 isn’t part of the initial wave.
Filed under: Cellphones, Mobile, Amazon, Verizon, AT&T, Blackberry, T-Mobile
Source: Inside BlackBerry
Amazon’s delivery drones could be in the air within a year
Commercial drone operations like Amazon’s highly-touted delivery service could commence in about a year, according to a senior official from the Federal Aviation Administration. FAA Deputy Administrator Michael Whitaker told a congressional committee on Wednesday the necessary regulations for commercial UAVs to operate in public airspace will “be in place within a year.” That’s way shorter than the 2017 start date that the FAA originally figured on. And when the rules are finally settled on, Amazon will be ready. “We’d like to begin delivering to our customers as soon as it’s approved,” Paul Misener, Amazon’s VP of global public policy, testified at the hearing. “We will have it (the technology) in place by the time any regulations are ready. We are working very quickly.”
Amazon debuted the delivery drone idea way back in 2013 and began lobbying for FAA acceptance. This February, the FAA proposed that drones be allowed to operate only during daylight hours at a maximum height of 500 feet while staying within the pilot’s line of sight. However, since the regulations hadn’t been set in place at that point, Amazon had to take its initial flight tests to Canada. However, the FAA’s position has changed rapidly since March making it easier for companies to acquire operational permission and giving Amazon the ok to conduct drone tests (in the continental US no less). At this pace, the company may not need to move forward with its proposed crowdsourced delivery scheme.
[Image Credit: Associated Press]
Filed under: Amazon
Source: Reuters
HTC One M9+ and One E9+ launch on Amazon in the U.S.
Were you pretty torn by the fact that HTC launched a better version of the One M9 shortly after its release and out of your reach? Well, we got some good news today, with the help of Amazon.
The One M9+ just popped up on Amazon via a third-party seller (sorry Prime subscribers), in either gunmetal grey or silver gold. The asking price? It ain’t cheap, at $799 (plus shipping). To compare, the price of the vanilla One M9 is $649.
If the extra $150 doesn’t deter you by your desire to have it all, we’re looking at some worthy upgrades from the M9: 5.2-inch screen (vs 5.0-inch), QHD (vs 1080P), Duo camera sensor (like on the M8), and a fingerprint scanner. For better or worse, the M9+ uses a MediaTek Helio X10 octa-core SoC, since it was made for the Chinese market.
Amazon is also providing us the cheaper, plastic variant of the flagship, the E9+, in either grey or rose white at $499. This guy is as powerful as the M9+, but subtracts the second Duo sensor, the fingerprint scanner, and metal build. However, the screen size is bumped up to 5.5-inches.
Note that because these are not U.S. models, like usual there is no CDMA frequency support. So if you’re on Verizon or Sprint, you’re out of luck if you want one of these. They should work on AT&T or T-Mobile, but unfortunately it is said their LTE radio won’t work in the U.S.
Source | Source | Source | Source
The post HTC One M9+ and One E9+ launch on Amazon in the U.S. appeared first on AndroidGuys.
HTC’s QHD One M9+ and E9+ arrive in the US via Amazon
Third-party sellers on Amazon have brought the One M9+ and E9+ to the US, despite HTC making it clear that it wouldn’t launch the two devices outside of Asia, which could contribute to the company’s increasingly poor earnings.
HTC’s One M9+ and E9+ are the company’s first devices to feature a Quad HD (2560×1440) display, putting the One M9’s 1080p panel to shame. That’s not all that’s different in two models, though.
The HTC One M9+ touts a 5.2-inch QHD display, a 2.2GHz octo-core MediaTekX10 CPU, 3GB of RAM, 32GB of expandable storage, a fingerprint scanner, a Duo 20.7-megapixel rear camera, and a 4-megapixel Ultrapixel camera on the front. The device is running Android Lollipop, and runs at a steep price of $799 in the US.
HTC’s E9+ is for those of you that like larger options, featuring a 5.5-inch QHD display. The device has all the same hardware as the One M9+, but lacks the fingerprint scanner, Duo camera, and has a plastic chassis over the M9+’s metal frame. On the positive side, all of that means the device is $300 cheaper, with a price tag of $499.
Do keep in mind that since these are devices straight out of Asia, neither of the devices will work with LTE in the US due to incompatibility with our frequency bands. In fact, the One M9+ doesn’t work on Sprint or Verizon networks whatsoever. It would be wise to double check frequency bands before throwing down a large chunk of money on either of these two devices, unless you’re picking it up for Wi-Fi only.
If you’re alright dealing with those restrictions, hit one of the links below to pick one up:
via: Phone Arena
Come comment on this article: HTC’s QHD One M9+ and E9+ arrive in the US via Amazon
AIVAnet 