Samsung lets you make apps for Tizen-based TVs that don’t exist yet
The open source Tizen platform may only just be making its way on to wristwear, but Samsung has much bigger plans… in a very literal sense. The company is releasing a developer kit that will let you create apps for Tizen-based smart TVs, including software that supports hand gestures, mobile device pairing and voice commands. And unlike some TV development tools, you won’t need a real set to try things out; you can replicate many core features from the comfort of your PC.
The kit should be available from Samsung’s Developer Forum in early July if you’re eager to start tinkering, or just want to try the resulting apps. However, you’ll be waiting considerably longer for the hardware — to date, Samsung hasn’t said when it will release TVs running Tizen. While the software is a sign that these sets are getting close, the kit is mostly useful for aspiring coders who want a head start.
Filed under: Home Entertainment, Software, HD, Samsung
Source: Samsung Tomorrow
WhatsApp returns to Windows Phone with new features in tow
Windows Phone users worried that Whatsapp’s devs might be enjoying their Facebook money too much to fix the app can now rest easy. Whatsapp is now back on the Windows Phone Store after a couple of weeks’ absence, and it even comes with new features, including chat backgrounds, better privacy settings and the ability to customize notification tones. Its devs pulled the app from the store after a lot of users reported having serious issues with update 3 for Windows Phone 8 that permanently disabled notifications or caused persistent errors. Just as Microsoft’s Windows Phone guy Joe Belfiore promised on Twitter, though, Whatsapp’s back and ready for more cross-platform messaging.
[Image credit: Luis/Flickr]
[Thanks, Manthan]
For those w Q’s on Whatsapp: they pinged us about an issue that popped on notifications, we’re working with them on a fix. More info soon
– joebelfiore (@joebelfiore) May 22, 2014
Filed under: Misc, Mobile, Microsoft
Via: Neowin
Source: Windows Phone Store
Apple Expected to Introduce Health Tracking App and Smart Home Toolkit at WWDC
The New York Times reports that Apple will be delving into two new areas on Monday — connected health and the smart home.
At WWDC 2014, Apple is expected to introduce a new health tracking app that will track statistics for health and fitness. Author Brian Chen cites an anonymous source “briefed on the product”
The health app will initially pull data from third-party fitness and health-monitoring hardware, the person said, but it will most likely be able to connect with a smart watch that Apple is widely expected to release this year.
Apple has also been rumored to be announcing their efforts in the connected smart home. On this front, Chen reports that Apple may introduce “tool kits for developers” to make smart home integration easier for developers and consumers. This initiative was previously described as a “Made for iPhone”-like certification.
Both of these products have been rumored in the lead up to WWDC, but last minute rumors and reports frequently leak out in the hours and days before the keynote. Apple’s WWDC Keynote kicks off tomorrow at 10am Pacific. We’ll provide live coverage here at MacRumors.com.
Windows Phone now lets you browse your files
You no longer have to go searching app-by-app to find a buried file on your Windows Phone. Right on schedule, Microsoft has released its Files app; if you’re running Windows Phone 8.1, you can now dig through folders to open and manipulate documents stored anywhere on your device. The interface won’t compare to what you get on your PC, but it should be useful for offloading photos to an SD card or deleteing videos that are chewing up space. If you’re already running Microsoft’s latest and greatest mobile OS, you only have to swing by the Windows Phone Store to give the file browser a spin.
Filed under: Cellphones, Mobile, Microsoft
Via: WPCentral
Source: Windows Phone Store
Rdio’s Android app finally lets you listen to live albums correctly
Imagine this, if you will. You’re sitting in a recliner listening to Electric Light Orchestra’s Time, and just as Prologue gives way to Twilight — nothing — and then music. Those odious little pauses are hell when you’re really trying to let certain live or gapless albums wash over you, and now Rdio is addressing the problem for listeners on the go. In one of the rare instances of an Android app getting a feature ahead of its iOS cousin, the streaming service has brought gapless playback to Google’s faithful first (if you’re running Android 4.1 or later, anyway) Alas, there’s still no word on when iOS users will get the gapless treatment other than “soon.” In fairness, Rdio is a little behind the curve here anyway — rival Spotify has had uninterrupted playback for what seems like ages now — but we’re always pleased when a music service lets us listen to Pink Floyd’s oeuvre the way it was meant to be heard.
Source: Rdio
‘Infinity Blade II’ Named App of the Week, Available for Free [iOS Blog]
Chair’s hit sequel Infinity Blade II has been named Apple’s App of the Week and as a result, it is free to download for the second time since its initial 2011 release.
Created as a followup to the original Infinity Blade game, Infinity Blade II has enhanced graphics with detailed environments, character textures, and ambient light touches like sharper shadows and atmospheric effects.
The Infinity Blade series is known for its impressive graphics, action RPG gameplay, gesture-based combat and console-quality experience. In addition to improved graphics, Infinity Blade II also offers deeper character customization and new styles of combat.
The God King has been defeated, an unlikely hero has emerged and now you must discover the truth behind the secrets of the Infinity Blade. The continuing journey of young Siris unfolds as you delve deeper into the world of the Deathless tyrants and their legion of Titans. Can you unlock all the mysteries and successfully wield the power of the Infinity Blade in this timeless swordplay adventure of champions and villains?
The third and final game in the Infinity Blade series, Infinity Blade III, is also available at the discounted price of $2.99 for a limited time.
Infinity Blade II can be downloaded from the App Store at no cost for the next week. [Direct Link]
Infinity Blade III can be downloaded from the App Store for $2.99. [Direct Link]
Lookout alert system sends you email when it detects thief-like activities
Getting your phone stolen can make your stomach drop in the blink of an eye, that’s why some security app devs, like Lookout’s, try to make it easier by offering anti-theft features. The app’s latest version comes with a new tool suite called Theft Alerts, which, as you can tell, gets the digital sirens blaring when it detects unusual activities. Lookout studied the common ways thieves deal with stolen phones and now sends out emails when someone removes your SIM card, enables Airplane mode, turns off your device and removes the app as the phone’s administrator. You can then decide whether to use the other weapons in Lookout’s arsenal, including those that let you lock and wipe a phone remotely.
The software has also long been able to capture and email a picture of the thief (snapped by the phone’s front cam) who tries and fails to enter the correct PIN. With this update, though, that feature, along with the other new additions, becomes exclusive to paid users. Luckily, everyone can try out these premium add-ons for free until September 31st… unless you have an iOS device, in which case, you sadly have limited access to the tool suite. Oh, if you’re prone to typing in incorrect PIN codes or accidentally deleting apps, don’t worry — Lookout won’t flood your inbox if you take time to customize the Theft Alerts suite.
[Image credit: Getty Images/Flickr RF]
Filed under: Cellphones, Tablets, Mobile
Source: Lookout
Google’s camera app now lets you shoot in different aspect ratios
Google isn’t done getting its Android camera app up to the standards set by third-party software — not by a long shot. The company is now rolling out an update to Google Camera that lets you choose the aspect ratio for your photos, not just the resolution. If you prefer a movie-like widescreen look to all your pictures, you can crop the image to match. Fans of family portraits, meanwhile, will be glad to hear that the timer has returned; also, creative types can shoot panoramas with fisheye and wide-angle lens effects. The refresh isn’t available on every supporting Android device just yet, but we’d give it a few days — it should hopefully arrive in time for your next big photo safari.
Filed under: Cellphones, Mobile, Google
Via: Android (Google+), 9to5 Google
Source: Google Play
Pocket’s new paid service gives you a permanent reading collection
Read-it-later apps like Instapaper and Pocket are handy for digesting large articles, but they’re really just pulling up optimizing internet links. What if your favorite story disappears a few years from now? Pocket now has a solution to that long-term problem. Its new Pocket Premium service saves a permanent copy of any article you flag, giving you access even if the host site goes down or changes the content.
The upgrade also brings in a deep search option that scours entire texts, and it suggests tags to help you find what you’re looking for in the future. If archiving is your thing, you can sign up for Premium at either $45 per year or $5 per month. That’s a lot if you rarely look at something more than once, but it could be a bargain if you can’t bear to be without memorable reading material.
Filed under: Cellphones, Tablets, Internet, Mobile
Via: The Verge
Source: Pocket (1), (2)
BBC’s major iPlayer update comes to iOS and Android
Incredibly, Windows Phone users were the first to see the BBC’s big mobile iPlayer refresh, but platform parity has now been restored. Continuing its ongoing iPlayer revamp, the Beeb has launched updated versions of its iOS and Android apps, bringing with them up-to-date channel pages, themed programme collections and clearer categories. Both apps now sport a fresh new UI, making it easier to browse and find programmes, and displays subtitles on downloaded shows for the first time. Other sections of the app like Favourites, Downloads and Search remain unchanged, but the BBC says it intends to deliver new features “at regular intervals,” including options like Live Rewind and continuous play. However, the most notable upcoming feature is likely to be Netflix-like cross-platform playback, allowing you to play, stop and pick up where you left off on any device.
Filed under: Mobile
Via: BBC Media Centre
Source: BBC iPlayer (App Store), (Google Play), Windows Phone
AIVAnet 