Amazon’s first Fire phone update tackles its big interface problems
Generally speaking, Amazon’s Fire phone hasn’t had the warmest of receptions, and the online retailer is looking to improve things with its first major update for the device. To start with, the flagship smartphone from Amazon is finally capable of multitasking, a feature that’s hard to believe could be missing to begin with — double-pressing on the home button now lets you quickly switch between apps and tasks. In this new version of the handset’s Fire OS, Amazon has also introduced App Grid Collections, aka application folders; Carousel Pinning, which lets users pin their favorite apps to the main home screen; and the ability to take Lenticular photos with 11 images rather than only 3, something that should make the optical illusion better on those type of images. Perhaps most importantly, however, this update is said to bring “dozens” of system tweaks which improve the Fire phone’s battery life, and we all know how important that is.
We should mention that, strangely enough, these features have been there for people with review units, including ours, but this is the first time Amazon is making them available to formal customers — the company said it was waiting for AT&T to approve the update. So, knowing this, give the refreshed software a try and let us know in the comments what you think of the handset now.
Filed under: Cellphones, Software, Mobile, Amazon
Via: Android Police
Source: Amazon
.CPlase_panel display:none;
Maybe it’s not Maybelline: Omote paints your face with digital makeup
Enhancing the world around us with projectors and 3D scanners is nothing new. But what about stylizing yourself? With Omote, you can use face-tracking tech to paint on digital makeup — or anything imaginable, really. In the demo below, it renders a variety of makeup styles and visual effects (like changing eye color) on a model’s face. What’s most impressive, though, is that the CGI-like projection reflects her movements in real-time. This doesn’t necessarily mean your face-painting days are coming to an end though, ladies. Omote’s visual magic is equipment-heavy and limited; the woman in the video below never leaves her seat and doesn’t crack so much as a smile. But if you someday find yourself using the technology to virtually try a new shade of foundation, we wouldn’t be surprised.
Filed under: Software
Via: Slash Gear
Source: Nobumichi Asai
.CPlase_panel display:none;
KitKat rollouts begin for the Sony Xperia M2 and M2 Dual
Ten days ago Sony announced that an Android 4.4, KitKat, update was available fro the Sony Xperia E1 and E1 dual. Pending location and carrier pushes, of course. At the end of that announcement they said that KitKat was on the way for the Sony Xperia M2 and Xperia M2 dual next. While they were all slated for a July release, a month late ins’t all that terrible.
The changelog for what the update will bring looks pretty good, and very similar to previous Sony device updates.
- Google’s Android 4.4; KitKat as standard – bringing performance & UI optimisation…
- We’ve added our tweaked Status Bar and Quick Settings… now more intuitive and customisable (and pretty easy on the eye)… cleaned up to ensure you only get the notifications you really need
- If you’ve got a Sony PlayStation 4, you might recognize our new user interface – we’ve added the same sleek launch animation and live wallpaper across the lock and home screens
- Better storage choice – you now have the option to easily move applications from internal memory to SD card – we recognised the need to have more control over your content… as something particularly useful for devices with slightly less space
- We’re also uplifting Sony’s entire native app portfolio to the latest versions – bringing tweaked / improved / current experiences for (to name but a few): Messaging, Smart Connect, TrackID, What’s New, and Battery STAMINA Mode, Sony’s Media apps: WALKMAN, Album and Movies
- And proving pretty popular, now totalling over 2 million downloads (!) – our unique custom interface experience: “Xperia Themes”, with downloadable UI packs from Sony Select – skin up to 280 assets across your Xperia smartphone with a variety of styles…
- Compatibility with our SmartWear Experience; SmartBand SWR10 and Lifelog app – enabling you to record social, physical and entertainment activities and have them all visualised in a beautiful interface… reminisce at that past, make the best of the present and plan for the future
As with any update like this, specific market timing and availability will be released independently. Unlike the previous announcement, Sony didn’t toss out any device names that are next up. If you happen to own a Xperia M2 or M2 Dual, eel free to check for the update on your device and/or through the Sony Companion app. Let us know if you see it and where you are located.
Source: Sony Blog
//<![CDATA[
ord = window.ord || Math.floor(Math.random()*1E16);
document.write('‘);
//]]>
The post KitKat rollouts begin for the Sony Xperia M2 and M2 Dual appeared first on AndroidSPIN.
.CPlase_panel display:none;
‘Minecraft’ add-on helps you learn programming while you play
Programming languages can be daunting to learn, especially if you’re a kid who’d rather be playing games than creating them. Thankfully, ThoughtSTEM has found a way to make coding both accessible and entertaining in one shot. Its upcoming LearnToMod software teaches you how to write JavaScript code by producing Minecraft mods that are appropriate to your skill level. If you’re just starting out, you can use building blocks of code that produce simple-yet-fun features, such as a bow that shoots teleporters. Advanced students, meanwhile, can write in raw JavaScript and produce content that you wouldn’t think was possible in Minecraft‘s cuboid universe, such as a Tetris mini-game.
The system also includes plenty of motivators, in case the gameplay itself isn’t enough. There are more than 100 lessons with video tutorials, badges for accomplishing certain tasks and private servers that let you show projects to your friends. You can even get credit at the University of California in San Diego, if you’re pursuing a programming degree. While only 150 students are testing LearnToMod now, you can pre-order it for $30 ahead of its wider October launch — a bit late for back-to-school, but just fine if you’re hoping to get your feet wet.
Via: Wired
Source: LearnToMod
.CPlase_panel display:none;
Google Now tempts you with a Field Trip to nearby sights
The folks in Mountain View have been adding new tools to Google Now, like suggesting another flight if yours is delayed. The search company’s Field Trip app has been suggesting local points of interest since its launch in 2012, and now the two are in cahoots. Now already displayed a list of nearby sights, but with a recent update, the other app’s more detailed info on art, architecture and more is automatically beamed to your mobile device. So when you’re out of town, expect to see a few more recommended cards in that feed to entice you to change those plans.
[Photo credit: Melville B. Grosvenor/National Geographic/Getty Images]
Filed under: Software, Mobile, Google
Via: BGR
Source: Google Search (Google Play)
.CPlase_panel display:none;
Next version of Windows to get public trial in the fall
While some people are still getting used to the idea of Windows 8, Microsoft’s already working to put the next major iteration of Windows in people’s hands. And that could be happening sooner than you think. According to ZDNet’s Mary Jo Foley, who has a solid track record on Microsoft-related scoops, the Surface maker is looking to release a “technology preview” of Windows Threshold, aka Windows 9, toward the end of September or the beginning of October. Foley notes that, in an effort to enhance the serviceability of the OS, people who instal the preview will be required to agree to “have subsequently monthly updates” pushed to their computer — which seems like a small pledge to make in exchange for trying some new software.
As a refresher, Threshold is expected to further unify Microsoft’s operating systems, like Windows 8 and Windows Phone 8. The OS will reportedly ship in three modes — desktop, tablet and smartphone –and is capable of tailoring the experience to fit whatever device you’re using. You’ll be able to check it out soon enough, since the “technology preview” of Threshold is said to be coming as a public teaser once it officially arrives.
Filed under: Desktops, Laptops, Tablets, Software, Microsoft
Source: ZDNet
.CPlase_panel display:none;
Microsoft updates Xbox One SmartGlass Beta app with new Goodies to test Out
The Xbox One SmartGlass Beta companion app has received an update that should prove to be some what exciting for some. It is important to note that Xbox One SmartGlass companion is a different app entirely than the beta version. The beta version requires you to be part of the Xbox One’s dashboard preview program before hand. The new additions to the second screen app will bring in some live TV streaming from your Xbox One to your mobile device. You will also be able to record game clips and be able to boot the console to television playback while it is in standby.
The full list of new additions is as follows:
Share and post activity feed items
Post status updates to your activity feed
See your activity feed on your profile
Display messages in a new conversations view
Record game clips
In-app display of release and feature notes
Expanding to new markets
TV and OneGuide available in new markets
As for the bad news, there is some, at least for most of the world. The live TV streaming feature is only available in select European markets where they are previewing its new digital TV tuner accessory.
//<![CDATA[
ord = window.ord || Math.floor(Math.random()*1E16);
document.write('’);
//]]>
The post Microsoft updates Xbox One SmartGlass Beta app with new Goodies to test Out appeared first on AndroidSPIN.
.CPlase_panel display:none;
Apple’s now storing some personal user data in China
It’s no secret that the relationship between Apple and China hasn’t always been the best. From the banning of its products for government use, to the Chinese state media wanting the Cupertino company “severely punished” for NSA spying, these cases are well-documented. That said, China’s consumer market is extremely important to Apple — which isn’t really surprising, given the sheer magnitude of it. But now, with a number of new iDevices hitting shelves there of late, Apple’s had to look to servers located in mainland China to store Chinese users’ personal data. As Reuters notes, this is the first time the company has begun storing this type of data in that country — Apple says the decision was made as part of a plan to improve the overall performance of its cloud service, iCloud.
“We have added China Telecom to our list of data center providers to increase bandwidth and improve performance for our customers in mainland China. All data stored with our providers is encrypted. China Telecom does not have access to the content,” Apple told Reuters, addressing whatever questions may rise about the security of said data. What’s more, Reuters writes that a source familiar with the matter says the encryption keys for this data “would be stored offshore” and China Telecom wouldn’t be given access to them. In other words, China’s users can rest assured their personal iCloud belongings are being well taken care of.
Filed under: Misc, Storage, Software, Mobile, Apple
Source: Reuters
.CPlase_panel display:none;
The future of Xbox One: early access gaming, Cortana and more
Since the Xbox One launched last November, Microsoft’s latest game console has changed pretty dramatically. From “going all-in” on Kinect to offering a camera-less $400 model; from focused on TV and home entertainment to appealing directly to “core” gamers. The last year for Microsoft’s Xbox division has been one massive pivot. The future sounds brighter.
You’ve already read about the updates coming to Xbox One this fall. What about beyond that? Head of Xbox Phil Spencer offered us some possibilities in an interview this week at Gamescom 2014. What about, say, a version of Steam’s massively popular Early Access program, which enables developers to release games still in development and gamers to participate in the development process? “I think it does make sense. I think we have to land it the right way on console,” Spencer told us. That’s certainly a start!
On Valve’s hugely popular Steam service, people can buy and play games that range from barely playable to nearly done. It’s a system that works especially well on PC — Steam’s main customer base — because PC gamers are more used to dealing with technical complications. On game consoles, there’s an expectation of ease of use. There’s also a guarantee of functionality. “There’s a certain bar that we want to keep on consoles because of the nature of who plays on a console,” Spencer said. “The model itself I think does make sense. I think we probably just wanna model it a little bit differently.”
So, what would something like Early Access look like on Xbox One?
“The fact that we exist on both Windows and on a console could make it a strength of ours in the long run,” Spencer said. In so many words, because of the Windows side of Microsoft, the service and its games could first exist in the PC world before making the jump to Xbox One in a more stable state. “So it starts in one space and kind of graduates up,” Spencer said. “Maybe early access starts on PC, but it’s targeting the main console customer.”
It’s also a question of Microsoft depending on its relationships with game developers to know which games are more likely to succeed in such an environment. I offered the example of Vlambeer’s Nuclear Throne, a game that’s been available on Steam’s Early Access for months, with weekly updates and development livestreams demonstrating the impact the game’s community has had on the game itself.
“Vlambeer is different. We know them,” Spencer said. “But it could be ‘Vlambo,’ and we don’t know them. And you’re like, ‘Okay, is this real; is it not real?’ I think there’s a certain bar that we want to keep on consoles because of the nature of who plays on a console.” The company’s indie game program, ID@Xbox, could help in the vetting process; dozens of indie devs and their studios are already registered through the program.
CORTANA
Phones, tablets, computers and even televisions all offer a basic level of day-to-day information: weather, traffic, stock info, news headlines, etc. Despite Xbox One’s intention to act as a living room hub — from “waking” the console with your voice to including an HDMI-in port for television viewing — it’s still missing the vital, basic information that far older technology delivered long ago.
It still feels magical every time Google Now tells me (without asking) about an upcoming flight, or the traffic on my commute, or some other helpful life information. Why doesn’t that exist on the Xbox One dashboard? Hell, why isn’t Windows Phone personal assistant program, Cortana, on the Xbox One? It’s even named after a character from Halo!
“I think we get permission to do that as we succeed as a gaming console,” Spencer said. The Xbox pivot isn’t over, clearly, and Spencer and co. are still worried about alienating the Xbox “core” audience in favor of the general public. “It makes sense that I can get up in the morning and say ‘Xbox, what’s the traffic’ and it brings up something that shows my commute in the morning,” Spencer said. “That all makes sense to me in the long run.”
That last bit — “in the long run” — is important. He repeatedly stressed that, despite already having discussed a variety of additions to Xbox One functionality (from Early Access-like games to alternate voice control inputs to Cortana), time is the primary lacking resource. “I think there’s a ton of opportunity,” he said. “Time is in precious quantity when we’re talking about those scenarios.”
Filed under: Gaming, Software, HD, Microsoft
.CPlase_panel display:none;
This app does pillow talk so you don’t have to
Just for a second, let’s imagine that your ultimate sexual fantasy is to be doused in custard while standing on a salmon as you hum the Timesteps symphony from A Clockwork Orange. It’s left-field, we admit, but we won’t judge. The question is, how would you go about telling your partner or partners about such a fantasy? After all, unless you’re very confident about their reaction, telling them during a Saturday morning lie-in might cause howls of anger or derision. That’s why a German startup has built UnderCovers, an app that is designed to help couples who, for whatever reason, might struggle to communicate their innermost desires to one another.
It’s designed to work a little bit like Tinder, in so much that there are 99 special interests grouped beneath headers such as group sex, voyeurism, BDSM, roleplaying and “Gimmicks,” an odd list that includes making love on a washing machine during a spin cycle. At the presentation of each fantasy, you can say that you’d like to try it, you’d do it for your other half, or drop a big “X” onto it if it’s not your bag at all. Once both of you have entered your fantasies, it’ll list only the ones where you’ve both agreed to it, which should serve as something of an icebreaker in a delicate situation. The creators have also thought about privacy, so rather than asking for your phone number or Facebook profile, a randomly generated unique identifier code is all that’s stored on the app. It’s available for both Android and iOS devices, although we can’t guarantee that the fantasy mentioned in the first paragraph is on the list, we’re sure the developers could add it in a future update.
[Image credit: Alamy]
Filed under: Cellphones, Internet, Software
Source: App Store, Google Play, Undercovers
.CPlase_panel display:none;
AIVAnet 