Apple’s secretive internal training program praises Picasso, has full-time faculty
The Apple University, as the company’s training courses have been called, was established by Steve Jobs in an effort to get employees acquainted with how Apple does things. Courses there are not mandatory, but getting employees to enroll is apparently never an issue, according to Brian X. Chen’s investigations in the New York Times — which is worth reading in full. It’s an unsurprisingly secretive setup, and no pictures of the classrooms (or their contents) have ever surfaced. Chen talked to three employees who have taken classes, and the courses are apparently unequivocally Apple: polished and planned to the finest detail. (“Even the toilet paper in the bathrooms is really nice”)
It has a full-time faculty (plucked from Yale, Harvard, MIT, Pixar and more) that create and teach courses, with recent classes including one on how to blend resources from recently acquired companies into Apple. Others focus on important decisions in the company’s past: the move to offer iTunes on Windows PCs is given as an example, a decision that turned out to be a big success. The university also touches heavily on design philosophy: one course shows a slide of The Bull, Picasso’s famous deconstruction of a bull drawn in 1945. “You go through more iterations until you can simply deliver your message in a very concise way, and that is true to the Apple brand and everything we do,” said one student. Examples of what not to do also come up. In the case of TV remotes, Google’s own 78-button remote is compared unfavorably to Apples’s stripped-down iteration.
Filed under: Cellphones, Home Entertainment, Tablets, Wearables, Software, Apple
Source: New York Times
.CPlase_panel display:none;
You can now watch YouTube videos in 1440p on the LG G3
LG’s new flagship phone, the G3, stands out for its Quad HD (2,560 x 1,440) display, and the handset is taking advantage of all those pixels to offer a high-res YouTube experience. As was first reported by TalkAndroid, G3 owners can now watch YouTube videos in 1440p, a welcome bump up from the usual max resolution of 1080p. This feature reportedly comes via a recent update, and it’s still in the process of rolling out to all G3 handsets. If you’re currently using LG’s latest flagship, let us know if you’re seeing the 1440p options by commenting below. If you don’t have a G3, don’t despair; we’re bound to see a slew of new phones sporting Quad HD screens in the months to come.
[Photo credit: Phone Arena]
Filed under: Cellphones, Internet, Software, Mobile, LG
Via: Phone Arena
Source: TalkAndroid
.CPlase_panel display:none;
Future Windows 8 updates will happen on a monthly schedule
Lately, we’ve gotten accustomed not just to frequent Windows updates, but to pretty meaty ones, too. First there was Windows 8.1, which ushered in new apps, features and even the “return” (not really) of the Start Button. That was followed in April by another release that generally made the OS easier to use with a mouse and keyboard. Going forward, though, Microsoft is taking a different tack: The company is ditching milestone updates in favor of smaller monthly releases. (On a “no duh” note, this does not include entirely new operating systems, like Windows 9.) Lest you think none of these changes will be interesting, Microsoft also says the tweaks might include new features, in addition to UI tweaks and under-the-hood performance improvements. As is Microsoft’s tradition, new versions of the OS will come out on “Update Tuesday,” with the next one slated for August 12th, just a few days from now.
Image credit: Associated Press
Filed under: Software, Microsoft
Via: Forbes
Source: Microsoft
.CPlase_panel display:none;
Anonymous email app Leak is down due to overnight success
The anonymous email app Leak just launched in late July, but it’s already been shut down — for the time being, at least. The service, which lets you send emails to anyone without identifying yourself, was built over a weekend, and its creators used the Mandrill (MailChimp) API rather than building an email server of their own. Mandrill suspended the team’s account — likely because Leak didn’t conform to the service’s focus on opt-in emails — so now the minds behind Leak are scrambling to find a new solution. If you can’t wait for another opportunity to send an anonymous confession to your coworkers, you can keep tabs on this page to see when Leak is back. And hey, there are always the Secret and Whisper apps in the meantime.
Filed under: Internet, Software
Via: TechCrunch
Source: Medium (Inside Leak)
.CPlase_panel display:none;
KitKat update rolling out for Sony Xperia E1 and E1 Dual
Sony has been working pretty hard to get their devices updated to Android 4.4 KitKat over the last several months. While the stateside devices have been lacking in updates, the rest of the worlds variants are moving right along. Today the Sony blog has alerted users of the Sony Xperia E1 and the E1 Dual that the KitKat update is ready for your downloading pleasure. Yes, a little later than expected, but it is official at least.
- 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 livewallpaper 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, Sony Select, and Battery STAMINA Mode, Sony’s Media apps: WALKMAN, Album and Movies
- And proving pretty popular, now totaling 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…
As with all updates though, your region and carrier could put a slowmo process on the update offering. I assume that the update will be handled via the Sony PC Companion as well as via a traditional OTA. However, I have noticed some devices will only be updated via the Sony PC Companion. You may want to hook your device up to your PC and see if you have an update waiting for there.
Next on the docket of devices to get some KitKat treatment from Sony is the Xperia M2 and M2 Dual. So rest assured if you own one of those devices that you will see something soon.
Source: Sony Blog
//<![CDATA[
ord = window.ord || Math.floor(Math.random()*1E16);
document.write('’);
//]]>
The post KitKat update rolling out for Sony Xperia E1 and E1 Dual appeared first on AndroidSPIN.
.CPlase_panel display:none;
T-Mobile giving device unlocking an easier approach with new App
T-Mobile and the uncarrier initiative has certainly raised a lot of eyebrows. They have single-handedly changed the wireless game and a lot of people are loving it, I know I do. They continue to make changes that help alleviate customer pain points. While there will always be something to complain about, every small step helps in the long run. T-Mobile has just released and app that will undoubtedly be a welcomed sight for travelers. The apps is called “Device Unlock”, and while aimed at one specific device currently, it is one step closer to wireless freedom.
The Device Unlock app only works with the more recent Samsung Galaxy Avant, a mid-range Galaxy device that is only $216 full price. The app offers a quick and simple UI to request that your Avant is SIM unlocked so that it can be used on other carrier networks at will. Pretty nice really. I assume this came about for more reasons than just a customer pain point. No one likes to call in to request a SIM unlock code. I assume this also got pushed through based on number of calls from customers who are only requesting an unlock code. Drive down the call volume, save time and money.
The app can be installed on any T-Mobile device, but it won’t do you a lick of good unless it is the Galaxy Avant. You will be met with a screen that tells you that your current device is unsupported. It wouldn’t be a bad idea to have it installed and check every so often if your current device gets some support for it though. If you have an Avant then you will be presented with two options, a permanent unlock and a temporary one. Your choice. Naturally i assume there will be a wait period and that you will input your email address to receive your code. I don’t have an Avant sitting around to try it on, so I am just guessing. If anyone out there does and they go through the process, please let us know how it worked out.
Source: Android Police
//<![CDATA[
ord = window.ord || Math.floor(Math.random()*1E16);
document.write('’);
//]]>
The post T-Mobile giving device unlocking an easier approach with new App appeared first on AndroidSPIN.
.CPlase_panel display:none;
VSCO Cam for Android taps into its Grid for endless inspiration
Popular mobile photo-editing app VSCO Cam made its way to Android back in December, and now the preset-driven option has reached version 3.0. On top of adding the free VSCO Grid image showcase that’s already included in the iOS version, you can now search and follow fellow photogs posting images there. What’s more, updated sharing options make it easy to share what you find in that library and tweaked privacy tools allow you to nix location settings to keep your locale private. And of course, there’s the usual UI and performance tweaks in this latest Visual Supply Co. release that’s now available for download via Google Play.
Source: VSCO, Google Play
.CPlase_panel display:none;
Tour college campuses from the couch with Google Maps Street View
The time for choosing a college to attend this fall may have long passed, but you can get a jump start on next year with Google Maps. Street View added 36 more campus tours in the US and Canada, including a look at Georgetown University’s Healy Lawn that’s pictured above. University of Miami and University of Regina are also included in the tally, allowing you to familiarize yourself with prospective surroundings ahead of that formal campus visit. Or if you just really fancy an academic summer vacation.
Filed under: Internet, Software, Google
Source: Google Maps
.CPlase_panel display:none;
Android L preview version gets updated to LPV81C with Google Fit Support
Looks like today is a fun day at Google. The Google Fit Preview SDK just went live for developers to start tinkering with. They also pushed out updates for Google+ and Android Device Manger, that we know of so far, and now we find out that the Android L preview build has a new version available for those who like to get dirty with unreleased software.
The new files carry version LPV81C vs the previous LPGV7 from earlier. The update apparently adds in all the support needed for the Google Fit API’s for those wishing to develop for the Google Fit Platform. The new updated Android L preview files are live now for the Nexus 5 and 2013 Nexus 7. There isn’t any mention of anything else on the Google Developers blog about other changes, so if Google Fit app building isn’t in your future, flashing this might not do you any good. Like that has ever stopped anyone before though.
Direct yourself over to the Google Developer page and get your flash file now.
Source: Google Developer Blog
//<![CDATA[
ord = window.ord || Math.floor(Math.random()*1E16);
document.write('’);
//]]>
The post Android L preview version gets updated to LPV81C with Google Fit Support appeared first on AndroidSPIN.
.CPlase_panel display:none;
Drake vs. Lil Wayne gets the ‘Street Fighter’ treatment from Capcom
What happens when Capcom signs on to sponsor your upcoming tour? Well, you may be in for a Street Fighter-esque app to bolster the live show. In the DvsLW app for Android and iOS, hip-hop artists Drake and Lil Wayne get help from the crowd during their co-headlining dates starting this week. Developed with a hand from the video game outfit, the mobile software lets you choose between the two stars before tapping a button to “power up,” boosting performances in real-time. That’s right, concert goers will select their tour date and then influence the results each night. It’s worth noting that tour-specific apps (and album-specific offerings, for that matter) are nothing new, but big name acts continue to crank out mobile companions to go along with the trek.
[Photo credit: Photo by Ronald Martinez/Getty Images]
Via: Pitchfork
Source: Billboard
.CPlase_panel display:none;
AIVAnet 