Twitter’s head of news leaves after just a year in the job
Though Twitter is now a huge part of the news cycle, it’s still figuring out how to handle it internally. Vivian Schiller has just stepped down as the head of news there, almost exactly a year after she took the gig. Having worked at NBC, the New York Times and CNN, Schiller was brought on to help the social network foster ties with major news outlets. She announced her resignation in (of course) a series of tweets, and Twitter broke the news to its employees in a memo obtained by Re/Code. The document was full of praise for Schiller, citing numerous new media partnerships and Dataminr integration under her stewardship. It also revealed that the resignation came about after Twitter merged its news, government and election teams. The newly formed division will now be led by Elections and Government head Adam Sharp.
1/3 Stepping down from Twitter so new global media lead @katies can reorganize as she sees fit. Wish everyone at twitter nothing but best.
– Vivian Schiller (@vivian) October 8, 2014
Filed under: Software
Source: Reuters, Vivian Schiller (Twitter)
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Turn your text messages into comic strips with this app
Regardless of which platform you’re on, text-message windows are pretty boring. The folks behind comiXchat think they have the solution to that, however, with an app that turns your 160-character correspondences into comic strips. More than just throwing avatars onto a static background, though, the app promises real-time changes to character position, facial expression and camera angles among other things, based on implied emotion, tone and attitude. And if any of that goes horribly wrong, you can share the comics either per-pane or the entire conversation via your social media network of choice. For it to work, you need to rope your friends into downloading it too. Ad-supported, free versions are available on Android, iOS and Windows Phone and if you’d like a preview of what it all looks like in action, there’s a dubstep-accompanied video just below.
Filed under: Cellphones, Software, Mobile
Via: comiXchat
Source: ComiXchat (Google Play), (App Store), (Windows Phone)
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Apple enables unique passwords for apps that tap into iCloud
This is a reminder that starting tomorrow, app-specific passwords will be required to access your iCloud data using third party apps such as Microsoft Outlook, Mozilla Thunderbird, or other mail, contacts, and calendar apps.
If you are currently signed in to a third party app using your primary Apple ID password, you will be signed out automatically when this change takes effect. You will need to generate an app-specific password and sign in again. To generate an app-specific password:
- Sign in to My Apple ID (https://appleid.apple.com)
- Go to Password & Security
- Click Generate App-Specific Password
Filed under: Internet, Software, Apple
Source: Apple
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HTC’s Zoe app arrives for Android, heads to iOS later this year
HTC revealed its plan to turn Sense feature Zoe into a full-on social network a couple months back. Today, the company announced that the photo and video-sharing app is exiting its open beta, and is available for compatible Android devices (4.3 and above). If you’re in need of a refresher, Zoe lets you turn snapshots and video clips into highlight reels (Zoes) with music included. It also allows your pals to “remix” photos and videos with yours for collaborative efforts that can now be 7, 15 or 30 seconds in length. And as you might expect, Zoe works with footage from the company’s newfangled RE action cam to produce the final product, should the need arise. So what about the iOS app? While the Android faithful can nab the software today, HTC says that the version for Apple’s gadgets will arrive “later this year.” For now, the curious can take a closer look at the iOS app in the gallery down below.
Filed under: Software, Mobile, HTC
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Google reportedly working on bite-sized app trials for Android
While Android has soared, Google Play has struggled a bit. Customers don’t buy nearly as many apps, songs or movies as their counterparts using iOS. According to The Information, Mountain View is working to change that with a new app trial program. Since users are hesitant to throw down money (even just $0.99) for an app without ever using it, Google is planning to offer free bite-sized trials. Rather than downloading and installing the entire app, you could pull down just a piece as a “micro app.” You might even be able to select which feature or part of the app you want to try. Obviously the hope would then be that you would love the app and throw some cash at the developer (which Google would get to keep a cut of). The smaller downloads would save time and bandwidth as well, making the trial a much smaller commitment. As for how it might work, we’re not sure. Though the company recently debuted a new way to update apps that only downloads the parts that have changed — again saving precious minutes and megabytes on your data plan.
Filed under: Software, Mobile, Google
Source: The Information
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Fitbit doesn’t plan to share stats with Apple’s new Health app, for now
After a mention on stage back at WWDC when Apple Health was first announced for iOS 8, Fitbit was absent when the feature went live. Now, the activity-tracking outfit says it doesn’t “currently have plans” to opt in. “It is an interesting new platform and we will watch as it matures, looking for opportunities to improve the Fitbit experience,” a moderator responding to Fitbit forum inquires explained. “At the moment, we’re working on other exciting projects that we think will be valuable to users.” Of course, Fitbit has it’s own software and unlike others, it doesn’t shared gathered info across your arsenal of apps. Even if it has a trackerless app in the works to leverage the iPhone’s internals, it would make sense to share stats with the iOS repository. Fitbit was the top seller for activity trackers in Q1 2014 according to ABI Research, accounting for nearly 50 percent of shipments. It doesn’t appear to be struggling to grow the user base, so the need to have its wares in more places isn’t pressing. However, as you can see in the forum thread, those who have already invested in a tracker aren’t too happy with the company’s current stance.
Filed under: Wearables, Internet, Software
Via: 9to5Mac
Source: Fitbit Community
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Google Officially Announces Backdrop feature for your Chromecast [APK Download]
At Google I/O they talks about a new feature that would be coming to Chromecast that would let you choose the images that appeared on your TV when on the idle Chromecast screen. Today is that day. Google has announced the official roll out of the feature that is called “Backdrop.”
With a new backdrop option, you can customize your TV screen with:
- Your favorite photo albums from Google+
- Amazing artwork from galleries and museums around the world via the Google Cultural Institute
- News and lifestyle images from The New York Times, The Guardian, Saveur and more (U.S. only)
- Satellite imagery of some of the hardest-to-reach places on Earth from Google Maps
- and even more beautiful photos from the Google+ community
It goes a step further than just displaying a more user selected approach at image viewing though. If you see an image that you want to know more about simply open the Google search app and ask Google “What’s on my Chromecast?” to get details.
The update brings the app to 1.8.22 and is rolling out to devices in a typical staged roll out fashion. If you are impatient and want to snag it for your device right now, just pop over to gappsearly and grab it.
Chromecast v1.8.22 APK download at Gappsearly
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The post Google Officially Announces Backdrop feature for your Chromecast [APK Download] appeared first on AndroidSPIN.
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Playdate: We’re livestreaming ‘Alien: Isolation’ on Xbox One!
Welcome, ladygeeks and gentlenerds, to the new era of gaming. The one where you get to watch, and comment, as other people livestream gameplay from next-gen consoles. Because games! They’re fun!
My first experience with Alien: Isolation was in virtual reality at E3 2014, where I was stabbed in the chest (virtually) by said alien. What I’m playing today is the same game — Alien: Isolation — sans Oculus Rift headset. Bummer? Kind of, but we’re told that the game’s pretty good even without virtual reality integration. Joystiq EIC Ludwig Kietzmann calls it, “a trauma machine masquerading as a video game” in his (positive!) review. So, with all that said, please join me below as I try my best not to get murdered by a Xenomorph in Alien: Isolation.
[For the record, I’m playing Alien: Isolation on an Xbox One, using a retail copy (disc) provided by Sega. I’m streaming the game over wired internet using an Elgato Game Capture HD. All that to say, “This game will likely look prettier and run more smoothly on your home equipment. Streaming conditions vary!”]
And now, the stream:
http://www.twitch.tv/engadget/embed
http://www.twitch.tv/engadget/chat?popout=
Filed under: Gaming, Software, HD, Sony, Microsoft
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Square now tells your barista when to start brewing
Square isn’t just in the business of selling things — it wants to help you buy stuff too. And now, it’s taking the latter a step further by simplifying your daily quest for a piping-hot cup o’ joe. After today’s update, you can use the Square Order app to purchase coffee from a nearby Square-friendly cafe. So? Here’s the cool part: By using your phone’s location data, Order alerts the barista to start brewing the drink once you’re within a certain distance from the shop.
Once you arrive, the pickup is a cinch: Just grab it, walk out and your payment will be processed automatically — no lines, no interaction. That means whether you order the night before or while en route, you, the happy customer, is (almost) guaranteed a freshly made cup of java. And, if you have a regular routine, your daily orders customizations will be saved within the app for future use. Want to try it out? Blue Bottle coffee houses will support the feature as early as today, but you can bet your bottom dollar that it won’t be the only business to jump on the bandwagon.
Filed under: Software
Source: Square
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Nokia’s HERE Maps Android app now available on Samsung Galaxy devices
While we were able to get our hands on an advance release of Nokia’s new HERE Maps app for Android, the company had to a make a few minor tweaks before it was ready for public consumption. It appears all of those outstanding boxes have now been ticked, because the app has just gone live on Samsung’s Galaxy app store. Unfortunately, thanks to Samsung’s considerable marketing muscle, the app currently only offers Galaxy device owners access to its offline maps, turn-by-turn navigation and transit features. That means you’ll have to wait a little longer to grab the app (or until an enterprising developer extends its availability) if you own a non-Samsung device. However, if you’re looking for a very accomplished alternative to Google Maps, it’s definitely worth being a little more patient.
Filed under: Cellphones, Internet, Software, Mobile, Samsung, Nokia
Via: HERE Blog
Source: HERE Maps (Samsung Galaxy App Store)
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AIVAnet 