Flipboard now learns from your reading habits, arranges your favorites in sections
In an effort to predict what you want to read, Flipboard is updating its Cover Stories to learn from your perusing habits. This section of the app learns how you navigate content and will feature articles from sections that you spend the most time reading — rather than displaying selections in the order they’re posted. Here, stories will also be sorted by source, social network and topic for quick scanning, and the mute function is still in play for the text you wish to hide. The outfit plans to integrate the functionality in other areas of the app too, like its curated magazine The Weekend. Android and iOS users can expect to see the new Cover Stories features soon, as the roll out has already begun.
Filed under: Software
Google hacked together some pretty underwhelming games for Glass (video)
While Google Glass may still be in its infancy, gaming on the wearable is practically in the zygote stages. To help change that, developers at the search giant have cobbled together some games in an effort to “inspire” developers. That said, what Google is offering doesn’t seem too different from what we’ve seen out of other teams. There are five diversions in total (including a Fruit Ninja clone, as well as tennis and a matching game), but there isn’t anything particularly exciting about them. For example, Balance tasks you with keeping a stack of shapes from falling off of your skull via Glass’ baked-in accelerometer. Clay Shooter, on the other hand, has you yelling “pull!” to line up the target with your eyepiece’s crosshairs, and shouting “bang!” to shoot the pigeon — sure to be a big hit in crowded areas. Still, if you’re curious what official Glass games look like, we’ve embedded video after the jump.
Filed under: Wearables, Mobile, Google
Source: Google Developers
Evernote now syncs your documents four times faster
Syncing Evernote content was quick when most users had just a handful of notes, but times have changed — many people are now transferring pictures, presentations and web clips. The company may keep up with that seemingly insatiable demand, though, as it just launched a brand new sync engine. The improved infrastructure syncs data roughly four times faster than before. You may not notice a difference if you’re a casual user, but veterans and Business customers should see the impact right away. This isn’t the end of the story, either. Evernote is updating its native apps to make better use of the engine, and developers will get to take advantage of the upgrade in the future.
Source: Evernote
Twitter update now lets you crop, rotate photos on Android
Love sharing photos on Twitter? If you’re an Android user, it just got a little easier. The microblogging service’s latest app update adds a simple photo-editor that allows users to crop and rotate images without the aid of a third-party program. It also flashes a reminder to @mention friends whenever you upload pics with people in it, emulating Facebook’s photo-tagging feature. Pulling down on the timeline reveals other new features: if there aren’t any tweets to load, the app will show recommended tweets, trending topics and will suggest users to follow. In the US, that list also includes news, sports, TV and events updates. While these new additions to the Twitter feed are only available for Android right now, the company promises that they’ll soon arrive on iOS.
Source: Twitter
Chrome update for iOS now lets you quickly translate text and save on data too
Even though Chrome promised it would bring data compression and an automatic translation bar to iOS a couple of weeks ago, it hasn’t actually rolled out the update until today. As a reminder, the latest mobile browser release from Google includes a site compression feature, that when enabled promises to reduce data usage by up to 50 percent, which should theoretically help save you a little cash on your monthly phone bill. Additionally, it will automatically offer a “Translate” button whenever it comes across a page in a foreign language. Last but not least, it also has a New Tab Page feature that lists a prominent Google search bar and a list of frequently visited sites so that you can search for stuff that much quicker. If that sounds like an intriguing alternative to Safari for you, go ahead and download the latest Chrome 32 update from the source link below.
Filed under: Mobile, Apple, Google
Source: App Store, Google Chrome Releases
Starwood swapping room keys for mobile phones at two hotels
Starwood plans to roll out refreshed SPG apps that can unlock your guest room later this quarter. The new tech, which the company refers to as “keyless key” in its intro video (embedded after the break), will soon let you bypass the front desk and enter your room using an Android 4.3 or iPhone 4s (or newer) device at the Aloft Harlem and the Aloft Silicon Valley. Existing locks must be upgraded in order to communicate with the Android and iOS apps via Bluetooth, according to a WSJ report, but Starwood’s CEO says that the “investment would not be substantial.”
Starwood currently offers a Smart Check-In solution at several Aloft hotels, but the existing system requires guests to obtain (and carry) a compatible membership card. It’s also quite limited, with only nine hotels currently participating. Meanwhile, if this initial smartphone rollout is a success, your phone could be the key to all W and Aloft hotels worldwide by the end of next year.
Filed under: Wireless, Software
Source: Wall Street Journal, Starwood Hotels
SoundHound’s music search app turns its focus to the Grammys with real-time updates and more
Awards nights tend to give rise to slews of app tie-ins, and for this year’s Grammys, SoundHound’s tossing its hat in the ring. In addition to being able to recognize songs by “listening” to them, the refreshed app comes with a dedicated page for the event that currently lists performers and nominees. Anyone who clicks SoundHound’s orange button during the live broadcast on Sunday night, though, will see real-time info, the list of winners and relevant Twitter posts instead. Chances are, music lovers don’t exactly need SoundHound to identify “Just Give Me A Reason” and other nominated songs. Those who find these special features useful, however, can download the app from the source links below.
Source: Google Play, iTunes, BlackBerry World, Windows Phone Marketplace
iWork updates let you share password-protected files through iCloud
Many fans of cloud services are used to sharing secure files with their friends, but that surprisingly hasn’t been an option for iWork users — at least, until today. Apple has updated both iWork for iCloud and all its Keynote apps to let productivity mavens share password-protected documents through iCloud links. Appropriately, iCloud now offers a list view that helps you find shared documents. Whether or not you’re the sharing kind, we’d suggest at least grabbing the Keynote update; both iOS and Mac users get better presenter display options, new transitions and more sophisticated charts. You’ll find all the iWork upgrades at the source links.
Filed under: Internet, Software, Apple
Via: GigaOM
Source: Mac App Store, iWork for iCloud, App Store
Korg Gadget packs 15 synthesizers and drum machines into an iPad app
Fancy feeding your music production hobby with a slate rather than a collection of pricey gadgets? If so, Korg has added to its iPad-based offerings with the Gadget app. The software for Apple tablets bakes in 15 different sythesizers and drum machines (called Gadgets) that can be combined any way you’d like to construct those beats. Ranging from the Kiev digital synth to the Chicago tube bass machine, the app’s instrument arsenal (which can be previewed here) covers quite the sonic spectrum with drum and synth sounds a plenty. Keeping the orientation vertical, the UI is divided into two sections that allow for dual control at all times. This is aimed at making both track and instrument adjustments quick and easy. If you’re concerned about your lack of musical skill, there’s a scale function helps you avoid hitting a wrong note whilst getting your feet wet.
Already splurged for the latest iPad? Korg says you’ll be able to run more than 20 of the instruments at the same time, thanks to its beefed up chipset. Once those audio files have been tinkered with enough, options for sharing to Facebook, SoundCloud and Twitter or beaming them to Dropbox for safe keeping are all built in. There’s also access to GadgetCloud for showing off projects with fellow users of the software — complete with its own ranking system. The app is a bit pricey at $38.99, but if you commit before February 23rd, you can snag a $10 discount at that second source link below.
Filed under: Software
Disney’s ‘Where’s My Mickey?’ Named App of the Week, Available for Free [iOS Blog]
Disney’s Where’s My Mickey app has been named Apple’s App of the Week, and as a result, it is available for free for the first time since its initial June 2013 release. Based on the popular Where’s My Water? game Where’s My Mickey? is a physics-based game that asks players to help Mickey Mouse collect water to progress through levels.
While the gameplay is similar to Where’s My Water?, it introduces new Mickey-based art and weather mechanics including wind, clouds, and rain, that were not available in the initial Where’s My Water? app. Where’s My Mickey includes five different episodes of levels for free and it also offers two additional episode packs for $0.99 as well as in-app purchases for hints.
– Original Episodes – Explore up to 5 unique episodes with surprising and witty scenarios! Watch how each story unfolds and ends as you play through individual level packs!
– Brand New Weather Mechanics – Use wind, clouds and rain to maneuver through 100+ levels filled with fun challenges!
– A Whole New Look – A classic Mickey art-style with a contemporary touch, inspired by Disney Channel’s new series of Mickey Cartoons!
– Collectibles and Bonus Levels – Help Pluto look for hidden collectibles to unlock more bonus puzzles!
– Stuck on extra challenging puzzles? – Get a hint to help you out!
– Featuring Mickey and Friends – Discover more hilarious episodes with Goofy & Minnie Mouse!
Where’s My Mickey? can be downloaded from the App Store for free for the next week. [Direct Links: iPhone/iPad]
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