Bing Maps’ traffic cam views let you preview your commute
When you switch on the traffic layer in Bing Maps, you’ll now get a lot more info than color-coded route details. On top of letting you know how bad (or good) traffic is along your route, Bing allows you to see where traffic cameras are for a look at that commute. You can also check multiple cameras at the same time if you want to take a glance at the places where you typically encounter delays along the way. Like Google Maps and other navigation apps, Bing Maps already let you know if you should expect a backup, and now you can take a look at the congestion, or lack thereof, for yourself with this latest addition.
Source: Bing
Make your ‘Halo 5’ Spartan into a 3D-printed trophy
Halo 5‘s campaign is hot garbage if you’re playing through it solo, but the multiplayer suite is pretty much the opposite if you’re into competitive shooters. It’s a likely reason why Microsoft is shifting its latest ad and PR focus around the mode — pre-release hype centered on the game’s flaccid story. The latest step in that? Bringing your customized Spartan soldier into the real world via 3D printing. Redmond has aligned with custom 3D printing house Sandboxr and printer manufacturer 3D Systems to put your unique Slayer combatant (sorry, Kerry King) in the palm of your hand. Using the web interface, Xbox Wire says you can choose from 175 armor and helmet options, over 30 color variants and five different poses with a quintet of weapons. The classic “teabag” pose isn’t one of the available selections, however, but you can make an 18-character moniker for the statue.
Source: Xbox Wire, Halo Waypoint
Apple and Microsoft’s advocacy group is against encryption backdoors
Following Tim Cook’s lead, the advocacy group behind Apple, Google, Microsoft and plenty of other big tech firms has come out against calls to weaken encryption, which authorities argue would make it easier to track criminals. “Weakening encryption or creating backdoors to encrypted devices and data for use by the good guys would actually create vulnerabilities to be exploited by the bad guys,” said Dean Garfield, the CEO of the Information Technology Industry Counsel (ITIC), who also represents Facebook, Twitter and AOL. It “would almost certainly cause serious physical and financial harm across our society and our economy,” he added. The backlash against strong encryption is particularly heated today, following the recent Paris attacks. While secure communications are generally a good thing for consumers, governments (including the US and UK) have argued for backdoors that would allow them to intercept encrypted data. Naturally, that would make life easier for intelligence agencies, but it defeats the point of having encryption at all.
Via: The Guardian
Source: ITIC
Microsoft app tries to lure you from Android to a Windows phone
It’s true that Windows Phone (and now Windows 10 Mobile) doesn’t have as many apps as Android or iOS. However, the perception of that app deficit may be just as problematic — why would you switch to a Lumia 950 if you assumed that none of your favorite apps had Windows equivalents? Microsoft clearly isn’t happy with this state of affairs, as it just released AppComparison for Android to help set the record straight. The app (a spiritual sequel to the old Switch to Windows Phone) tries to match the Android apps on your phone with their mobile Windows counterparts, either giving you an exact parallel or the next best thing.
Via: VentureBeat
Source: Google Play
20 majestic HD wallpapers of the beautiful night light
Just because the sun goes down doesn’t mean beauty stops. It make take a different eye to catch where the beauty may lie at night, but I assure you it is there. Check out the 20 HD wallpapers of the night we curated for you and please enjoy. My personal favorite is the Milky Way in the night sky. And if you have an OLED display you can find on devices like the Samsung Galaxy Note5, S6, S6 edge, Nexus 6P and the like you will absolutely love the deep blacks your display will put out with these wallpapers.
The wallpapers are all in the scrolling images above, and if you want to save them, follow these instructions:
- Click the left/right arrows to scroll through the images
- Maximize the image you like by clicking on it
- Long press or hold down on the image and click “save”
- Go to your gallery or Google Photos and find your image
- Click “use as” and then click wallpaper
If you see a wallpaper that belongs to you and you would like to receive credit, I would love to give it to you! Just drop a comment in the section provided below with some proof (You know, just so we don’t have people claiming things that are not theirs…) So, please choose those that you like and enjoy!
The post 20 majestic HD wallpapers of the beautiful night light appeared first on AndroidGuys.
Microsoft launches AppComparison tool for Android
AppComparison is an all-new tool available on the Google Play Store just in case you want to switch from Android to Windows Phone.
AppComparison gives you an idea of the apps you have installed on your Android device that are also available for Windows Phone. The app also gives suggestions based on your likings and introduces some popular apps for Windows Phone. Users can start off by taking a survey on the categories that interest you. It’ll then pull up a list of recommended apps and matches. From there, you can investigate the cost and read the ratings if you so choose. A nice and useful tool if you’re thinking about transitioning over to Windows Phone.
Come comment on this article: Microsoft launches AppComparison tool for Android
Microsoft HoloLens to provide AR demos in Volvo showrooms
Microsoft and Volvo have joined forces, thankfully not for the sake of creating a gaudy car-themed phone, but to equip the automaker’s showrooms with HoloLens headsets. Starting next year, Volvo will be able to showcase things not usually possible to demo instantly and indoors — say, its cars’ safety features, such as collision avoidance, and various possible customization options — through holograms. The two companies have recently exhibited a prototype version of the system at Microsoft’s HQ in Redmond using the upcoming S90 luxury sedan as their subject. Thanks to augmented reality, they were able to display not only holographic models of the unreleased car, but also cross sections of its parts.
7 awesome gaming gifts
Winter is coming. And with it also comes the need to show the loved ones in your life just how much you care for them by spending, spending, spending on gifts. Trouble is, there are just so many options to choose from. What you really need is someone, some outside force to hold your credit card-holding hand. And boy, do we have some suggestions for you. Happy Holidays! You’re very welcome.
Chances are you know someone you hold dear who just loves video games. Heck, that person might even make a living from playing them online for an audience. Whatever the case may be, there’s no better way to treat the gaming enthusiast in your life this holiday season than with a fresh new console and some interactive art. Take a peek at our picks below.
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Image credit: SSPL via Getty Images
Microsoft’s Black Friday deals include $299 Xbox One bundles
Microsoft is desperate for the Xbox One to make an impact this holiday season. In addition to a slew of exclusive games, including Halo 5: Guardians, Rise of the Tomb Raider and Forza Motorsport 6, the company is continuing to undercut Sony’s PlayStation 4. To mark Black Friday — specifically November 26th to 30th — Microsoft is slashing $50 from 12 Xbox One holiday bundles. The cheapest of which will be going for $299 with either a copy of The Lego Movie Videogame or Gears of War: Ultimate Edition. Needless to say, there’s never been a better time to jump on board with Microsoft’s latest console. Combined with the greatly redesigned dashboard, a customisable “Elite” controller and backwards compatibility, there’s little else the company can do at this point to promote sales.
Source: Major Nelson (Blog Post)
Skype gets a bunch of new features in version 6.11
Skype 6.11 for Android is finally here, bringing a lot of little handy features to the communications app. Not only are users now able to manage conversations better, but they can also save video messages, search for content better, and share photos easier.
Managing conversations has gotten a lot simpler. All users need to do is long-press a contact or chat session in the Recents tab, which will bring up a toolbar giving users access to a variety of actions, such as delete, mark as read, or mute notifications. Video messages have also gotten a minor, but handy feature: users need just tap on a video to save it to their gallery.
Search also got some improvements, allowing users to better search for content in conversations, find contacts, and even group names. Finally, users will also find it easier to share content, as photos from a gallery can be uploaded directly into Skype conversations. Not only that, but users in group chats can even tap on an image and forward it to another contact or group.
Overall, Skype received some minor, but really nifty features. If you haven’t received the update yet, be sure to hit the download link below.
source: Skype
Come comment on this article: Skype gets a bunch of new features in version 6.11
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