Microsoft’s digital assistant Cortana reportedly borrows the best of Siri and Google Now
At this point it’s a forgone conclusion that Microsoft is going to enter the digital assistant space in order to keep pace with Android and iOS. Its offering, code named Cortana (after a Halo character), is reportedly set to debut as part of Windows Phone 8.1, which we’re expecting to get a glimpse of at Build. While the final shape of the app has yet to be confirmed, recent leaks hint that it will borrow heavily from Siri and Google Now, blending what many see as the best features of each. According to the Verge, Cortana will replace the standard Bing search and feature a circular animated icon as its primary UI element. The icon will use the highlight color you’ve chosen and bounce around the screen or frown when you ask it a question. In addition to offering visual indications of its “emotional” state, Cortana will feature a Siri-like personality that can greet you by name.
Cortana’s central repository of information is called called Notebook, which will store your location, personal info, calendar and contact data, as well as track your behaviors. Over time it will adapt to individual users, but it will also include robust privacy features that will require you to specifically allow Cortana to store data and will even allow you to edit or delete that information after the fact. For example, if you allow it to access your email, Cortana can watch for phrases that about meetings or appointments and automatically add reminders.
In addition to your locally stored data and Bing, the virtual assistant will also be able to tap third-party sources of data like Foursquare. If Microsoft is aggressive in opening up Cortana to third-party apps and services that could give it a leg up on Siri and Now. Especially if it moves quickly to bring the new tool to its other platforms: namely Windows and Xbox.
Filed under: Software, Mobile, Microsoft
Source: The Verge
Google reportedly offered to acquire WhatsApp for $10 billion
While WhatsApp just agreed to a $19 billion acquisition deal with Facebook, the social network wasn’t the first to approach the messaging service with a very generous proposal. According to Forbes, Google offered $10 billion to acquire the app. Though it’s not clear exactly when Mountain View proposed this deal, sources said the offer didn’t come with the promise of a board seat, unlike Facebook’s agreement.
One thing is clear, though: Google was apparently so set on keeping WhatsApp within its reach that it offered the startup money to be informed if any other companies approached it with acquisition offers. The Information reports that WhatsApp turned down this unusual proposal about six months ago. The takeaway from all this? If you hadn’t guessed it from the astronomical figures — 19 billion dollars, you guys — Google and Facebook recognize the mobile instant messaging service’s huge value. 450 million active users every month is none too shabby, after all.
Filed under: Internet, Software, Google, Facebook
Via: The Verge
Source: Forbes, The Information
Waze navigation app now reads destinations from iOS and Android calendars
Google-owned Waze updated its navigation app for iOS and Android just before the new year, improving the user experience with all manner of tweaks. Evidently, it neglected to add one specific feature, hence another update dropping today that’ll allow Waze to talk to the calendar apps on both those platforms. It means that if you’re organized enough to associate locations with calendar appointments, you can ask Waze to take you there with but a single prod from inside the calendar app. The navigation list within Waze will also auto-populate with destination info poached from appointments. Waze is eager to highlight the feature is easily disabled from within your device’s settings — you know, if you’d rather that Miley Cyrus concert date be kept as discreet as possible.
Filed under: Cellphones, Software, Mobile, Google
Source: Waze (iOS), Waze (Android)
Microsoft rebrands Office Web Apps as Office Online because it’s an online version of Office
Use Office Web Apps much? Us neither, which is probably why Microsoft’s answer to Google Docs felt it needed a makeover. Following SkyDrive’s recent rebrand to OneDrive, Office Web Apps has received similar treatment, and now asks you to call it Office Online. Microsoft hopes this new title more accurately reflects what Web Apps was/is: an online version of Word, Powerpoint, Excel and others, free to SkyDrive OneDrive users. Furthermore, Office Online is now located at the convenient URL of Office.com, which should prompt a few more people to stumble across it and add it to their bookmarks. Otherwise, it’s the same Office-in-a-browser experience with real-time co-editing features, just with a heap of new document templates and a dropdown toolbar for selecting different apps on the fly. Now, go get your spreadsheet on — we need those TPS reports by lunch.
Filed under: Internet, Software, Microsoft
Source: Microsoft (Office Blog), Office.com
Why did Facebook spend $19 billion on a messaging app? (video)
WhatsApp is a voice and text instant messaging platform with apps for most every smartphone OS. It provides free service for the first year and costs a dollar annually after that. Why then, did Facebook just buy WhatsApp — aside from the obvious cachet and free advertising that comes with its omnipresence in Katy Perry’s Roar video — for $19 billion (with a ‘b’), when it already has Facebook Messenger?
In a word: users. 450 million of them to be precise, and 315 million of those are active on a given day. In fact, WhatsApp’s users are so prolific, its messaging volume is roughly equal to that of the entire world’s SMS traffic. And, WhatsApp is huge overseas and in emerging markets. According to a report from mobile marketing and research firm Jana, the app is far and away the most used messaging service in India, Brazil, Mexico, Nigeria and South Africa. The Information, which got a more in depth look at Jana’s research, shows that Facebook Messenger usage is far, far lower in those same countries.
Now, is that massive international user base worth $19 billion? It’s hard for us to understand how it possibly could be. WhatsApp’s founders have pledged to keep the app ad- and gimmick-free, so there aren’t any indications that new revenue streams are coming. And, while the acquisition fits in perfectly with Facebook’s plan to expand its app offerings, the social network has promised to use the same hands-off approach it did with Instagram — leveraging its “expertise, resources and scale” to grow the platform, while keeping WhatsApp operationally independent. So, we’ll have to wait and see how WhatsApp plans to prove its worth. Maybe some more music video synergy like the kind found after the break?
Filed under: Cellphones, Software, Mobile
Source: WhatsApp blog, Jana, Facebook
Compare two generations of gaming across four platforms with Metal Gear Solid V: Ground Zeroes
Like so many games launching at the end of 2013 and throughout 2014, Metal Gear Solid V: Ground Zeroes straddles both last generation (Xbox 360/PlayStation 3) and the current one we’ve just entered (Xbox One/PlayStation 4). Given Metal Gear‘s history of gorgeous visuals, the question asked itself: what will Ground Zeroes look like on aging game consoles compared to the new shiny ones? It turns out that Kojima Products, the studio behind Ground Zeroes, has exactly the answer we were looking for in the form of a brand new comparison video.
If anything, we’re most shocked by how great it still looks on the older consoles! Of course, for those of you still fighting the console wars, there’s the (negligible) difference between Xbox One and PlayStation 4 to analyze. Head below to take a look for yourself.
Currents officially transitions to Google Play Newsstand with latest update
When Google Play Newsstand made its debut back in November, the folks in Mountain View let us know that Currents would be merged with the new app. Well, the day has come when Currents officially bites the dust. With a recent update, users are prompted to click through to Newsstand when trying to access the shuttered software and all current subscriptions are ported over automatically. After you swipe over the first time, Currents will be disabled and its icon disappears from the Apps menu. Of course, iOS users are still waiting for Google’s Newsstand to hit their mobile devices, which is expected to happen soon.
Filed under: Internet, Software
Via: Android Police
Google’s Russian rival offers free alternative apps and services on Android
Android is famed for being an open-source operating system. Well, kind of. Anyone can cruise and caress Android’s code thanks to the AOSP, but if you want a package complete with Google’s services — like the Play store, Mail, Maps and better-than-basic apps for messaging, imaging, etc. — then you have to pay the piper. Yandex is to Russia as Google is to most other places, in that it’s the country’s most popular search engine, has its own browser and provides email and cloud storage services, among others. And now, with the launch of Yandex.Kit, it also has an alternative to the bits of Android only a licence’ll get you.
Available to those making devices for the Russian market, Yandex.Kit comprises 15 apps from browser, mapping, store and email clients to a launcher and dialer. (There’s a slimmed-down version of the firmware for outside Russia, too). Most importantly, it’s totally free, and has already attracted the likes of Huawei and local manufacturer Explay. Chinese firm Xiaomi forgoes Google’s wares in its Android-based MIUI OS due to censorship issues. Here, however, Yandex is intentionally wedging itself between Android and Google to erode any reliance on the latter’s ecosystem in Russia. The fact it allies you to Yandex instead being pure coincidence, of course.
Filed under: Cellphones, Software, Mobile, Google
Via: TechCrunch
Source: Yandex
Here’s Windows Phone 8.1’s notification center in action (video)
Windows Phone users have been waiting years to have all their notifications in one convenient place, and over the past few months, there have been multiple reports that a notification center will come with WP 8.1. Today, a video showed up on Unleash the Phones that appears to confirm those earlier rumors. The feature apparently will be called Action Center, and packs many of the same capabilities that Android and iOS users have enjoyed for some time now — namely app and system notifications available via a swipe down from the top of the screen.
Additionally, users get quick access to four shortcut buttons for often toggled settings (WiFi, Bluetooth, screen brightness, etc.). The best part is, those shortcuts can be tailored to users’ preferences, unlike the set-in-stone settings toggles in Android and iOS. Oh, and speaking of WiFi settings, the folks at Windows Phone Central revealed that 8.1 will also allow users to switch it off for a set amount of time, after which WiFi will turn back on automatically. We aren’t sure exactly how such capability benefits users, but we’re sure you fine folks will figure it out, assuming it’s still around when WP 8.1 rolls out to the public.
Filed under: Cellphones, Software, Mobile, Microsoft
Via: The Verge
Source: Unleash the Phones, Windows Phone Central
Noodlecake Studios Bringing Mikey Shorts Speed Runner to Android Feb 20th
The last time we brought a Noodlecake Studio game to your attention was back when they launched Bloop and Box Cat in August. Noodlecake has some other pretty popular tiles that you might be more familiar with like Super Stickman Golf 1 & 2, The Blockheads, Punch Quest or Ready Steady Bang. Just because we haven’t covered any releases in a while, doesn’t mean they haven’t been hard at work. To that end, Noodlecake Studios has a new game on the horizon that is scheduled to launch tomorrow February 20th called Mikey Shorts.
In Mikey Shorts you run, jump and slide through the levels rescuing people and picking up coins to buy disguises along the way. It features a slew of things too.
FEATURES:
• 72 different levels across 2 game modes
• 6 unique environments
• Choose from over 100 disguises to wear
• Finish a level fast to earn up to 3 stars
• Golden Shorts are hidden in all Story levels
• Race against a ghost of your best score
• Split times at gates show +/- your best score
• Earn achievements both online and offline
• Easy access to Game Center scores
• Quick retry button for restarting a level
• Ability to customize controls
• View various game stats
The game controls are extremely simple. You have a left or right directional pad along with a red and blue button. The red button lets you jump and the blue button makes you slide. You can edit their placement and transparency if they are in your way at all.
As far as gameplay is concerned. It is straight forward with the simple controls and easy to pick up and put back down. You must touch each person that has been turned into a statue to free them from their stone prison. Only after you do that are you able to break the barrier to the next section. You will want to move fast and not waste time trying to get every single coin if you want a high score. Fiddling around after a couple coins you missed will cost you precious seconds that could result in lower stars and score. You will want those stars to unlock the next set of levels as you progress through the 2 various worlds that are currently available.
I can’t wait for this one to launch for you all to get your hands on. The game is a great side scrolling platformer. It also is fully integrated with Google Play games for leaderboards and achievements too. When Mikey Shorts does launch tomorrow you can expect to spend $0.99 to add it to your collection of time killing games. It won’t offer any sort of IAP at all. Check the video below for some gmaeplay action.
If getting your hand son this hit retro game isn’t enough, you can also expect to see Mikey Hooks in just a few weeks too. The link for its pending location on the Play Store is already in place, so when the time comes tomorrow you will be able to hit the button below and pick it up.
AIVAnet 