Google Play officially extends return window to two hours
While Google already had been offering an extended two-hour window for app and game returns, the outfit has officially acknowledged the change. Before the switch, Android users had 15 minutes to decide whether or not they wanted to keep software they’d just purchased. From the title’s page in Google Play, options for Open and Refund are displayed during the 120-minute period following the initial download. Once that time is up though, you’re saddled with it for good as Refund is replaced the Uninstall button. Don’t expect to get multiple refunds for the same app, either. Once you’ve received your funds back, if you choose to splurge for the same selection again, you can’t return it a second time.
Filed under: Software, Mobile, Google
Via: Android Central
Source: Google Play Support Page
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Overwatch: a smartphone app that makes airsoft more like a video game
Prefer the physical activity (and force feedback) airsoft, paintball and laser tag provide, but miss the peripheral luxuries of the virtual battlefield? Well, now you can have both — we found a new app at TechCrunch Disrupt makes physical warfare games a lot more like video games. It’s called Overwatch, and it gives any player with access to an Android or iOS device access to player stats, live voice-chat, in-game perks and controllable game modes. One feature stands out in particular, however: real-time GPS-radar mapping the locations of all players on the field.
Naturally, the app’s tracking ability only works out if every player on the field participates, but it shows a lot of potential. In our short demo with the product, we saw an airsoft rifle mounted iPhone actively track our location, betraying the location of an nearby enemy player on a simulated radar screen. Aware of our proximity, the opposing player was able to activate a “perk” to jam our radar. The app’s creator, Josh Moody, explained that the app can also be used to facilitate new game modes.
It’s a neat idea, with one flaw: nobody wants to pull a smartphone out of their pocket while they’re on the battlefield. Moody has an answer for that too: Overwatch has partnered with CyberGun, a major airsoft manufacturer to create durable smartphone mounts (pictured above) for recreational weapons. Don’t feel comfortable putting your smartphone on a gun? The company is making a arm-band, too – both will be available at Walmart and airsoft retailers later this year for $14.99 and $8.99, respectively. The app is available for free on iOS now, with an Android version coming soon.
Filed under: Gaming
Source: Overwatch
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Now Google Play Movies & TV for iOS works offline too
Before you leave the house for that trip to the middle of nowhere (or if you simply have shoddy internet connection), make sure to update your Google Play Movies and TV for iOS. The latest version gives you the power to save any flick or TV show episode you want to watch offline at a later time — the same feature Google added to the app for Chromebooks a few months ago. Hopefully, everything you download (over WiFi only, as always) gets you through a rough trip or a particularly bad day for streaming. The update should hit your iPhones and iPads soon, but those who don’t have the app yet can download it from iTunes.
Filed under: Cellphones, Tablets, Mobile, Apple, Google
Via: 9to5mac
Source: Google Play (Google+), iTunes
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The Samsung Gear S’ real killer app is Engadget
See Samsung’s new conspicuously-screened wearable? Gear S made its debut this week and will be coming to a wrist near you (maybe) in October. That’s a long time to wait, but you’ll be able to speed read Engadget should you choose to get one of your own. Our app’s powered by Spritz technology that rolls through article words one at a time, efficiently combining our collective knowledge with your own. A preview awaits after the break.
Filed under: Wearables, Mobile
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Love emoji-only messaging? Try logging activities with the tiny pictures
Hey you guys, I love messaging with just emojis. It’s the best. They let people know how I really feel when tone is so hard to convey in a text or email. Those quick notes are great, but I really want the cute pics to be in my life more, so I’ve started logging my location and activities with Steven. It’s a new app built by former Twitter Chief Scientist Abdur Chowdhury that tracks where I go in the background on my iPhone and records the appropriate icon. Don’t worry, it’s not creepy or anything — it’s totally cool. Coffee shops get a coffee cup, drowning my sorrows gets a beer mug, etc… It’s pretty great. I can also assign my smartphone snapshots to those places and all my pals can give emjoi-based comments on the burrito I had for lunch. I mean, it’s named after a cat. What’s not to love?
Via: TechCrunch
Source: Steven (iTunes)
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The Dynamic Dev Power Bundle: Over 170 hours of development tutorials $59 [Deal of the Day]
If you’ve had even a passing thought about diving into the development game, this bundle couldn’t have come at a better time. The Dynamic Dev Power Bundle charges through deals.androidguys.com at a massive 92% off, giving you access to:
- Develop iPhone and Android Apps with No Coding Required Bundle
- Become a Professional Web Developer
- Unity 3D Game Development and Design
- Become a Professional Web Designer Bundle
- iPhone & iPad App Development Bundle
- Android App Development Bundle
- HTML5 App & Game Development Bundle
- Game Development for Non Coders Bundle
Perfect for those interested in developing games, apps, or for the web, this bundle offers lifetime access to over 170 hours of content and course materials. Don’t worry about outdated lessons as you’ll also receive access to free course updates.
Check this deal out, and many others at deals.androidguys.com!
The post The Dynamic Dev Power Bundle: Over 170 hours of development tutorials $59 [Deal of the Day] appeared first on AndroidGuys.
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Pinterest Chrome extension brings inspiration to freshly-opened tabs
When you open a new tab in Google’s Chrome browser, you’re greeted with a search box, rows of recently-visited sites and a tucked-in menu for individual apps. It’s really not very inspiring, is it? Pinterest doesn’t think so, and thanks to an internal make-a-thon, there’s a new Chrome extension that aims to remedy the gray box blues. Once you’ve installed the add-on, you’ll be prompted to select what you’re interested in for the day amongst sports, food, photography and several others. When you open a new tab, you’ll be greeted with a full-bleed image populated from Artsy, 500px or National Geographic. I’m told these are the libraries for now due to the “good spectrum” of options they house, but more could be on the way later. On top of the visual stimulus, Google Calendar info is situated at the bottom left while weather details for your current location is pulled in from Yahoo. And of course, info for the displayed photo and the ability to pin it is down on the right. The digital repository already has an extension for adding to boards from websites, and that’s included here too, but the original will still be available for those who don’t want to spice up their tabs.
Filed under: Internet, Software
Source: Pinterest, Chrome Web Store
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Starbucks’ iOS app lets you hail an Uber to get your caffè latte
Uber wants to make sure you always hail one of its cars on your way to get a pumpkin spice latte, so it has latched itself onto Starbucks for iOS. The coffee shop has just updated its app to show a special Uber button, just like the one on Google Maps, a couple of weeks after the ride-sharing service released a free API to a bunch of partner companies, including United Airlines, Hyatt Hotels and TripAdvisor. This button launches Uber from within the app, so you obviously need to have both software on your device for the scheme to work. That’s not such a bad deal, though — you might suddenly need it for a ride or to get lunch delivered to your doorstep… assuming Uber’s not banned where you live.
Filed under: Cellphones, Transportation, Mobile
Via: TheNextWeb
Source: iTunes
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Daimler nabs two taxi apps, but wants no part of an Uber-like uproar
While Daimler, Mercedes-Benz parent company, announced that it had acquired two ride-hailing apps today, it was clear that it wanted no part of disrupting the taxi industry. The oufit grabbed mytaxi and RideScout to boost its efforts to serve folks who don’t have cars with its limousines, according to Reuters. If you need a quick introduction, mytaxi is a German-based service that hails, tracks and pays for taxis while RideScout is a tool for folks to find both public and private options for arriving on time with offices in Austin, Texas. What the company made perfectly clear is that it wants no part of ruffling the feathers Uber has; however, it does plan to work with taxi operators to get customers where they need to go. Deals were made through a subsidiary Moovel GmbH, and with that outfit, Daimler owns the car2go car-sharing option and the Park2gether service for finding empty spots to stop.
[Photo credit: Thomas Trutschel/Photothek via Getty Images]
Filed under: Transportation
Source: Reuters
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Making a beer selection at happy hour has never been easier
Even the most experienced beer drinker comes across selections they aren’t familiar with, especially when traveling to a new locale. To help analyze the selections on a bar’s suds list, just snap a picture with your trusty smartphone and let SipSnapp do the rest. The app will sift through the available selections and provide you with a list of crowd-sourced ratings and reviews from RateBeer. Now, you’ll have little excuse when that IPA you ordered isn’t quite up to snuff.
Source: SipSnapp
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AIVAnet 