Skype rolls out ‘Click to Call’ for desktop and Android devices
There’s a fine line between convenience, and laziness, and often we confuse the two, intentionally or not. Skype has introduced a new tool for us to help differentiate, or further confuse the two. This week, the folks over at Skype have released a tool that will works in parallel with your browser, and allows users to quickly call companies that have been found via search.
There are only two or three prerequisites that must be met before we can go ahead and start calling to order pizza, or to check availability of something before heading out to the store. You must have a Skype account and be logged into either your computer, or your phone.
What makes this tool cool, is that if you already have Skype on your device, you can simply tap the “Click to Call” and the number will be dialed for you and the call will be directed to the Skype app on your phone. Most phone plans have unlimited minutes, but there are plans still out there that have limited minutes, so this can help out and make sure that your minutes don’t get burned through.
Imagine you’re tracking a parcel on your computer and you need to call the delivery company. Simply find their number online, which Skype Click to Call will have highlighted for you, then select Call from mobile and the number will be sent to Skype on your mobile. Just pick up your mobile, swipe and start the call without ever having to type in any numbers.x
After the Add-On is installed, while users are searching, users will see the phone number associated with whatever company they are researching. From here, you should see a small Skype icon, and when the number is selected, a drop-down menu appears. From the drop-down menu, you will either be able to Call using your desktop Skype client, Call from Mobile, or Add to Skype.
Currently, the ability to Call from Mobile is only available for Android users, but it is expected to roll out to other platforms later this year. It will be interesting to see if this catches on, and turns into more than just a “convenience” tool. In regards to the cost, most companies absorb the cost that would normally be attached to this, so most calls can be made for free, without having to purchase any Skype credits or minutes.
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Facebook Lite released to more markets today
Facebook and Google Chrome are synonymous in one, irritating and annoying way for mobile devices and desktops. They eat too much RAM and run ridiculously slow sometimes. Today, Facebook announced, and released, Facebook Lite to more emerging markets after the initial run in January.
Facebook Lite is designed with those in developing areas, which usually are limited to 2G speeds. Also, Facebook Lite is to work better for those who have limited data caps, and can’t have the regular Facebook app constantly refreshing and eating up all of your data.
More than a billion people around the world access Facebook from a range of mobile devices on varying networks. In many areas, networks can be slow and not able to support all the functionality found in Facebook for Android. Facebook Lite was built for these situations, giving people a reliable Facebook experience when bandwidth is at a minimum.
Once downloaded, users will still have access to most of Facebooks major features, such as the News Feed, status updates, and photos. However, with a download size of less than 1MB in space, Facebook Lite also doesn’t leave a large footprint on your device. This is helpful for either devices that are already limited in storage, or if you just want to trim down on how much storage apps are using.
As of today, Facebook Lite began rolling out to countries in Asia, and will become available in Latin America, Africa, and Europe in the coming weeks. If you want to give this new app a whirl, check out the widget below, and test it out for yourself.
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Google search on iOS now works like it does on Android
Google’s been including contextual search results (links to content from installed apps, not just web pages) for Android users since 2013. Today, iOS users will be able finally be able to do the same. Google recently announced on its Inside Search blog that the company will populate search results with in-app content for both the Google App and Chrome on iOS devices starting this week. So if you tell your iPhone, like in the example below, “I need a reservation at Bombay Cricket Club” Google will return a link to the OpenTable app that takes you directly to the Bombay Cricket Club’s reservation page.
This feature isn’t universal just yet. Initially, Google’s only returning results from a small batch of early partners including Eat24, Free Dictionary, Huffington Post, OpenTable, Pinterest, SeatGeek, Slideshare, Tapatalk, Yellow Pages, YouTube and Zillow. If you don’t have any of these apps yet, don’t worry. Google also announced today that it will begin popping links to apps that you haven’t yet installed but probably should — just like it already does on Android.
Filed under: Internet, Apple, Google
Source: Google Inside Search (blog)
Sharp Aquos Xx – The bezeless phone
After shaking up the tech industry last year with the first almost bezel less (except at the bottom) phone, Sharp, the Japanese phone manufacturer, is already set to bring the next phone into its portfolio. Sharp just announced the Aquos Xx, a phone with no bezels on three of its sides.
The phone with looks amazing and boasts a pretty high end specifications to compete with the top-tier smartphones. The Sharp Aquos Xx packs a full-hd (1080*1920) 5.7 inch LTPS screen resulting in screen density of 386ppi. The LTPS screen panels are highly vivid and has great outdoor visibility.
Performance wise the phone packs Qualcomm’s tru-octa core 64-bit Snapdragon 810, 3GB of RAM, Adreno 430 GPU which will be more than sufficient enough to handle all the high graphics game available in the market, and 32GB of on-board storage with the option to expand via micro-SD card . The battery is 3200 mAh non-removable and should provide plenty of on-screen time.
In the optics department, the phone packs a 13.1 megapixel rear facing camera and a 2.1 megapixel front facing camera. In my opinion, the front facing camera is a downside, as we are now in mid-2015 and almost every phone packs at least a 5mp front facing camera. But the software does pack a great amount of customization. One of the rear camera’s ability is that it can record slow motion videos upto 2100 frames per second but only at FWVGA resolution. though the camera can only record upto 120fps, its the software that make it into 2100fps .
To make it even more compelling, Sharp has also put a lot of extra features in its new Aquos Xx. The phone is water and dust resistant (IP57-certified), and packs DTS-sound certified speakers. Sharp Aquos Xx is said to be running stock version of Android Lollipop 5.0 . I
The Sharp Aquos Xx is set to release on Japan’s Softbank. For now there is no word on pricing and release date.
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Facebook Lite uses less storage and bandwidth for emerging markets
Facebook’s regular Android app just uses too much data and storage for devices in developing areas. It also tends to eat up a good bit of pricey data. To remedy those connectivity woes, the folks in Menlo Park announced Facebook Lite: a version of the mobile software that’s less than 1MB is size, yet still offers the social networks essential tools. Despite requiring a modet amount of space and time install, even on a slow network, the app still handles News Feed, status updates, photos, notifications and other items users employ on the regular. In addition to this new software, Zuckerberg & Co. are also behind the Internet.org project that’s bringing free access to essential services to underdeveloped countries, too. Facebook Lite is rolling out today in Asia, and it’s set to hit parts of Africa, Europe and Latin America in “the coming weeks.”
Filed under: Cellphones, Software, Mobile, Facebook
Via: TechCrunch
Source: Facebook
5.2-inch ZTE Nubia Z9 Borderless Smartphone announced for US market
ZTE just let the wraps off the Nubia Z9, a very neat 5.2″ device with absolutely no borders on the sides. And they have not just done this for aesthetics, there is a bunch of functionality built-in to make use of the ability to make inputs on the screen from the edge of the phone. Very clever ZTE. It looks like the Samsung S6 Edge may have been 1up’d here.
ZTE is dubbing this functionality as Frame interactive Technology (FiT). They have implemented a multitude of gestures and shortcuts, claiming “With FiT technology, users will reduce the average smartphone process to 2.7 steps as compared to traditional smartphones.”
Here’s some of things you can do with FiT:
- Unlock the phone with your grip.
- Scroll through the screen by swiping on the edge.
- Launch the camera by turning the phone sideways.
- Take a selfie by squeezing the phone.
- Gripping the phone twice has recognition to tell which hand (left or right) is holding it and shrink the screen appropriately for one-handed use.
ZTE is playing in the US market with this one, stating that the Nubia Z9 will be available in Q3 of 2015 (black and gold colors).
Base specs for the Nubia Z9 are a modest 5.2″ 1080P display, Qualcomm Snapdragon 810 SoC, 16 MP (OIS) rear and 8 MP front cameras, 2900 mAh battery, and Android 5.0. Interestingly, there are going to be three tiers to this phone, at different prices. The Classic base model will have 3 GB of RAM and 32 GB of storage at $564, the Elite model will have 4 GB of RAM and 64 GB of storage at $645, and the Exclusive model will be an Elite with an added fingerprint sensor at $725.
This is certainly an impressive (and dare I say, innovative) offering by an unfamiliar brand in the US.
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Apple Maps rumored to make its way to Android & Windows devices
A job listing on Apple’s website has revealed that Apple might be looking to extend the reach of Apple Maps beyond their iDevices.
A recruitment advert posted by Apple last month seeking a “Maps JavaScript Engineer” who is a Web technology expert “to help make maps work seamlessly on the web.”
Its been a long time since Apple has been looking to expand into the web domain to give competition to Google Maps. A JavaScript expert will certainly help migrate Apple’s dreams to reality sooner.
Apple Maps are currently only available on iOS 6 and later, as well as OS X 10.9 Mavericks and newer. Its unsurprising that Apple would call for a web based maps solution since they already have iCloud and iWork which are hugely popular platform independent web services.
Apart from this, Apple also seeks a HTML and CSS master who is highly deliverable with a “proven track record of shipping excellent client-side web applications.”
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Kickstarter’s Kung Fury kicks and punches with Kung Fury: Street Rage (review)
Say what you will about Kickstarter the crowdfunding website that allows creators to offer up cool stuff in exchange for supporting their projects. Kickstarter has done a great job at promoting their “hit-worthy” projects.
Prime example
A 1980’s based nostalgic action/comedy entitled Kung Fury raised over $630,000 via the crowdfunding platform. Kung Fury was recently let loose to the web and in only five days the 30-minute martial arts, Nazi slashing, dinosaur riding, and time traveling film has already received over 11 million views on Youtube.
If the film did not quench your thirst for going back to the 80’s there’s now a game! Kung Fury: Street Rage.
Get blown into another dimension as you experience the gut busting fun of the KUNG FURY: STREET RAGE game. Beat the nazis to stop Kung Führer and uphold the law! BECOME THE ACTION! BECOME KUNG FURY!!!! Street Rage is now available on Android,IOS, and $1.99 on Stream.
Street Rage is not incredibly profound or new, although the character and visuals make it enjoyable to play. Street Rage pays homage to great beat-em-up games like Double Dragon and Golden Axe. Honestly, I cannot believe how much I have missed the game play of beat-em-ups. Oh, the thrill of overcoming challenges! It was simple, fun, and I loved those glorious combo moves.
The game has been compared to One Finger Death Punch due to the fast paced arcade action style. Playing as the high-top wearing martial arts comedic cop Kung Fury. Kung Fury allows you to travel back in time smashing Nazis and his antagonist Adolf Hitler, a.k.a. “Kung Führer”. Moving left to right kicking and punching with style any and everything in his way.
Street Rage doesn an awesome job achieving its beat-em-up style of game play and provides a sense of nostalgia. It, surprisingly, makes you feel as if your actually in an arcade playing.
Initially I was turned off by the game controls – or lack thereof. I thought tapping the screen rapidly would execute fatal kicks and punches. After more time I realized that I could do more than just tap the screen. In fact there are actual movements and combos that players can bust out.
All things taken into consideration if you love Kung Fury or games like Double Dragon and Bad Dudes you will probably want to give Kung Fury: Street Rage a go. The game will distract you for hours on end and allow you to be the action hero you always dreamed of being. What do you think of the game? Let us know by leaving comments below!
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Sony announces game plan for Android 5.0 and 5.1 releases
Sony fans have something rejoice about today. Sony has announced somewhat of a game plan for rolling out Android 5.0 and Android 5.1 for specific devices over the course of the next year.
Owners of the Sony Xperia Z, Xperia ZL, Xperia ZR, and Xperia Tablet Z, have already begun to see the Android 5.0 update rolling out to their devices. Well there’s even more good news, as Sony has announced that they plan to update those devices to Android 5.1.
Also expected to get the Android 5.1 update, are the Sony Xperia T2 Ultra, and Xperia Z3. Something to be mindful of, is that while Sony is expecting to start these rollouts in July, there are still some various hoops to jump through your service provider of choice.
We’ve also seen a fevered raft of feedback and requests for us to extend our Android Lollipop rollout to other products in the portfolio – so, we’re happy to announce that we’ll be bumping Xperia M2 and Xperia M2 Aqua directly to Android 5.1. The upgrade will start a little after we’ve made the update available for the Xperia Z Series, but stay tuned as we’ll share more on timings soon.
This will more than likely be a staged roll out, so please don’t expect your device to have the update as of July 1st. So while you shouldn’t jump to your Settings application and start spamming the Software Update button, you at least have a timeline for when to expect the update to start rolling out.
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Motorola Moto X 3rd-gen further leaked in video
Lenovo owned Motorola is ready to launch the next generation of its popular device Moto X. Rumors about Moto X successor have been there for a while now. But recently a image and proposed specification list has been leaked and claims to stem from Motorola insider .
The leaked image shows the wooden back, which is always a plus point and video by TotalTech showing the purported specification of the new gen Moto X.
As the video suggests, the Moto X is to come with 5.64 inch QHD (1440 x 2560) resulting in a screen density of 564ppi. The phone is supposed to have 3GB of RAM and 32GB internal storage with no confirmation on whether it has a micro-SD card slot.
The next-gen Moto X is supposed to be running the latest version of Android Lollipop (5.1.1) with Qualcomm’s Snapdragon processor. The all new Moto X is reported to have all the premium back option that were previously available as well as new mysterious back options.
Ideally, I would like to see a Snapdragon 810 processor, an option of 128GB storage (especially if there is no micro-SD card slot), 3GB of RAM and 3200mAh of battery.
What do you people have on your mind? What specifications do you wanna see on your future phone? Feel free to write about them in the comment section down below.
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