Facebook announces Paper: a ‘distraction-free’ news reading app for iOS
Facebook is making its own play in the news app category, going up against incumbents like Flipboard and Google’s own Currents service. It’s called Paper and it promises a “full-screen” distraction-free layout, with the app separating out your own Facebook News feed to begin with. You can then add to that, picking from Facebook’s curated themes that’ll include photography, sports, food, science and design. If you feared this would be populated exclusively by giant media corps, Facebook is promising that articles will come from from well-known sites as well as “emerging voices,” although it says it’ll also ensure that trusted publications will be easy to spot within the mix.
Navigation from article to article is done through swipes. and you’ll be able to tilt the phone and arch across bigger panoramic pictures. From the early screens that Facebook’s been sharing, the social network is going heavy on the visual appeal: pictures dominate the navigation, with soft white icons laid on top of pictures for navigation — there’s certainly flashes of iOS 7 in places. Videos, full-screen, will also auto-play (we’re hoping there will be a toggle for that). The app launches February 3rd and marks the premier release for the social network’s Creative Labs department: more apps are promised from the team going forward.
Filed under: Cellphones, Tablets, Internet, Software, Mobile, Facebook
Mint now lets you keep track of Bitcoins with its personal finance apps
Now that Bitcoin has taken root in daily financial transactions, those who fancy the digital currency need a way to easily keep an eye on the tally. Well, for the folks that meet that criteria, Mint now lets users keep track of transactions with the help of Coinbase. This means that Bitcoin Wallet figures can be viewed alongside other banking, credit card and investment accounts. The integration also automatically converts the account balance to US dollars to keep the mental math at a minimum.
Filed under: Internet, Software
Source: Mint
Flipboard now learns from your reading habits, arranges your favorites in sections
In an effort to predict what you want to read, Flipboard is updating its Cover Stories to learn from your perusing habits. This section of the app learns how you navigate content and will feature articles from sections that you spend the most time reading — rather than displaying selections in the order they’re posted. Here, stories will also be sorted by source, social network and topic for quick scanning, and the mute function is still in play for the text you wish to hide. The outfit plans to integrate the functionality in other areas of the app too, like its curated magazine The Weekend. Android and iOS users can expect to see the new Cover Stories features soon, as the roll out has already begun.
Filed under: Software
HTC to deliver KitKat to One owners a couple weeks late (updated)
HTC pledged to put KitKat on One handsets in the US 90 days after the newest version of Android’s release, but today, the company revealed that it’s going to miss its target date. While things looked to be on schedule as late as last week — when the company pushed the final software out to AT&T, Sprint, T-Mobile and Verizon — it appears that certification process is taking longer than expected (HTC One owners outside the US may experience a more timely rollout, namely in the Nordics, Eastern Europe, Turkey, Ukraine, Middle East and North Africa regions). There is a silver lining to be found, however. The delay should only last a week or two according to HTC Americas President Jason Mackenzie, and, of course you can keep an eye on the firm’s Software Update page. That way you One owners will know precisely when you’re able to break off a bit of KitKat for yourselves.
Update: We should mention that the update’s already rolling out to folks in Scandanavia, Eastern Europe, Turkey, Ukraine, Middle East and North Africa, with more to come.
Filed under: Cellphones, Software, Mobile, HTC
Source: HTC
Reported Google deal could see Samsung deliver cleaner Android, less bloat
Google and Samsung agreeing to a 10 year patent licensing deal was good news for Android. But that might only be the tip of the iceberg. According to a report from Re/code the two are working together on a broader initiative that will bring the Samsung version of Android more inline with Google’s vision. The talks appear to have started at CES following the reveal of Galaxy Tab Pro and Note Pro lines, which featured a new skin called Magazine UX. The interface was not only a dramatic departure from the familiar TouchWiz, but from the very core of Android itself. In fact, the panel-based home screen looks a lot more like Windows 8 than Mountain View’s mobile OS. But Re/code’s sources say that future Samsung devices will either feature a drastically scaled back version of Magazine UX or lose the interface all together. Obviously, keeping the Android experience as consistent as possible across devices and brands is good for Google, but it could also help Samsung, which is now looking at maintaining three different Android-based tablet skins.
Google has been pressuring companies to minimize the tweaks to the Android UI (with varying degrees of success) for sometime now. So it balking at Magazine UX should come as no surprise. The more interesting part of the deal reportedly involves Samsung’s in-house apps. For years now the South Korean giant has been promoting its own (often lackluster) products that replicate functions of Google’s core Play Services. For example, WatchON, ChatON and the mSpot-enhanced Media Hub. Sammy has apparently agreed to instead shift focus to the Play store, Newsstand, Hangouts and other Google-built apps. Again, this will bring additional consistency to the Android universe and, considering the size of Samsung’s market share, will broaden the reach of Mountain View’s services.
What isn’t clear, is what concessions Samsung wrangled out of Google to get this deal done. It could simply be that Sundar Pichai threatened to pull access to the Play store if the Galaxy line didn’t, well, get in line. But that seems doubtful. Perhaps the company was promised the next Nexus device or even a seat at the brainstorming sessions for Lemon Meringue Pie (Lollipop? Lik-M-Aid?).
Filed under: Cellphones, Software, Mobile, Samsung, Google
Source: Re/code
Switched On: The next steps for digital wellness, part two
Each week Ross Rubin contributes Switched On, a column about consumer technology.
The last Switched On discussed many of the limitations of today’s fitness monitors and how input regarding other lifestyle variations could create a more complete picture of how we control our health. But there are other health factors that change infrequently and can have a profound impact on our well-being.
Chronic diseases
Health problems such as diabetes and hypertension pose their own challenges to the overall picture of our health. Here, too, we are starting to see smartphone measurement solutions such as the Qardio blood pressure monitoring device and the Health2Sync interface cable that connects smartphones to common glucometers.
Prescriptions
According to findings by the Mayo Clinic published last summer, 70 percent of Americans take at least one prescription drug and more than half take two. Drugs can have an impact on all kinds of vital signs, but most apps and monitoring devices today operate in complete ignorance of prescriptions. That said, we are seeing some gadgets start to address the issue of compliance. At CES, a company called AdhereTech introduced a sophisticated cellular-connected pill bottle that measures the frequency of pills taken and the number removed.
While it can’t measure whether consumers take the pills, company representatives say that they only see patients throw out pills after removal in rare cases of mental illness. Much like the HAPIfork, the AdhereTech bottle knows nothing of what the patient actually consumes. A pricey proposition, it is intended to be distributed by specialized pharmacies serving patients with serious illnesses where medications can cost hundreds of dollars per pill.
History
Genetics are perhaps the “easiest” part of figuring out one’s overall risk of certain diseases. Recently, 23andMe had its DNA test banned by the FDA. However, as anyone who has ever visited a doctor knows, one of the first questions asked is about a family history of ailments such as heart disease and cancer because these are key factors in determining risk. And it’s not just about family history. In addition to the aforementioned chronic diseases, medical practitioners always want to know about past procedures such as surgeries. But, like so many other critical factors, today’s health and fitness apps ignore family and personal histories.
Clearly, we are making progress toward capturing a broader range of measurement about our health and well-being. Even if all these factors can be perfectly measured, the far harder challenge is in weighing their aggregate impact in a cloud. Perhaps that is the time that medical professionals will have to step in or, perhaps, one day advanced computing power will make more sense of the data.
There may also be power in comparing the results of behavior changes, surgeries and prescriptions by analyzing anonymous crowdsourced health information, but clearly these changes will require serious debate on privacy and other regulatory considerations. Alas, there’s no device that can measure the baby steps we are taking toward a more complete and actionable digital realization of health and wellness assistance.
Ross Rubin is principal analyst at Reticle Research, a technology, media and telecom advisory firm, and founder of Backerjack, which covers crowdfunded product innovation. He blogs at Techspressive.
Apple rolls out iOS 7.0.5 to iPhone 5s and 5c in China, promises network fixes
Apple’s usually pretty quick when it comes to fixing issues with its software, and today is no exception. The iPhone maker has begun delivering iOS 7.0.5 to 5s and 5c models that are available in China, an update that is expected to solve “network provisioning” for some affected handsets there. This comes shortly after Apple finally announced a deal to bring the iPhone to China Mobile, which put an end to a long, long period of negotiations and landed its shiny new devices on the carrier. As such, and even though the changelog doesn’t single the network out, iOS 7.0.5 would appear to be tailored for China Mobile subscribers who recently bought an iPhone. Either way, for those of you outside of China, no need to be hunting for this particular version — it’s only for those who actually need it.
Filed under: Cellphones, Software, Mobile, Apple
Source: 9to5Mac
Dead Trigger 2 Updates with new European Locations, Guns and More
Madfinger Games has released a substantially huge update to Dead Trigger 2 today. The battle to stay alive in the zombie infested world has just gotten bigger, better and badder. The update moves the game to version 0.4.0, while the Play Store doesn’t show anything new in the “What’s New” section, we have the skinny on what you can expect.
Video Sharing
A brand new way to show and share your adventures! Record your daring missions and wow other zombie hunters from all around the world! This feature is available on iOS for devices with more than 512 MB RAM only (iPad Air, iPad mini 2, iPhone 5, iPhone 5C, iPhone 5S)New Weapons
Get your hands on 3 new weapons – FN2000, Spagin and the mighty Minigun!Friends
Make a list of friends in Dead Trigger 2! Compare your stats, hype your friends up, or have a chat in between zombie destruction!New Warfare
Infection is an equal opportunity employer… So let’s get to work! Death knows no boundaries. It’s high time to fight for humanity in Europe!Environments
Resistance intel has revealed 9 new environments! Fight your way through the city streets, countryside, warehouses, factories and many more!
Auto-heal
Bored of classic Bandages? The new Auto-heal gadget will keep you in shape all the time.Permanent Money Booster
Get this booster and double your mission income. For how long? FOREVER!New Production
Resistance now allows you to upgrade your Hideout up to level 9.Warfare Tweaks
From now on, rewards are awarded in relation to score, not kills. So go set your sights for some new and difficult tasks!
If you don’t have Dead Trigger 2, or just haven’t checked for the update yet, you can find it in the Play Store via the nifty little badge below.
Motorola announces multitude of updates, including “KitKat sweetness” for Canada and Australia
Motorola took to its blog yesterday to announce that despite the chilly weather, it’s not preventing its engineers from churning out software updates.
Among the updates are a new “Motorola Gallery”, offering an enhanced UI with faster navigation, a streamlined album drawer and bigger/boulder thumbnails, and an update to “Motorola Migrate,” making it easier to migrate from from an iPhone with the ability to transfer iCloud contacts and calendar events right from the app and not just in the MotoMaker web tool.
The latest version of Android 4.4.2 KitKat is also coming to more devices. Moto started releasing KitKat to the Boost Mobile Moto G in the U.S. and Australia and to the Moto X on Rogers and Fido in Canada.
All this being said, the new Google-owned Moto is definitely keeping its word in delivering timely software updates worldwide.
Please note that while “Motorola Migrate” can be used on any Android smartphone to migrate to a new Moto smartphone, “Motorola Gallery” can only be installed on supported devices, the Moto G and X, and Verizon’s Droid Ultra, Mini and Maxx.
via Motorola
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Scribd takes on Amazon, brings its subscription e-book service to Kindle Fire tablets
The whole point of owning an Amazon tablet is that you’re eventually gonna buy stuff. Want movies? Amazon’s got you covered. Music? Time to check out Amazon’s MP3 store. And then, of course, there’s books: Amazon expects you to buy lots and lots of reading material through the built-in Kindle app. Now, though, another company is trying to get in on the action. Scribd, which already runs a $9-a-month e-book subscription service, is opening up shop on Kindle Fire tablets. As on the existing apps (Android, iOS and a web version), the Kindle version offers unlimited monthly access, allowing readers to share what they’re reading and embed books onto websites. The catch? Scribd only has a deal with one major publishing house, HarperCollins, with the rest of the catalog comprised of titles from independent publishers. So, while you’ll enjoy authors like Michael Chabon and classics like Sh*t My Dad Says, you’ll be missing out on things like the Game of Thrones series. Then again, if you read even two books a month, that $9 fee could pay for itself.
Filed under: Software
Source: Mashable
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