Plex app updates for Android, Android TV and Chromecast, brings new requested goodies
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The Plex team has pushed out an update to their app today for both Android and Android TV. The main topic is a more Material Design makeover to the UI of the app with a top-to-bottom redesign.
While I am all for an update that makes an app look better, I am more about the functionality of an app. With the update we now have multi-part video play back ability. I know some of you have movies that are split into two different files, so that is a good thing. As for Android TV, the big change comes with the added ability to search channels with rich sorting and filtering capabilities.
For those of us that cast, new Chromecast options let us change the quality, select the audio and subtitles during playback. Saves us from having to stop the show and alter settings and resume again.
Users might see some issues they might have been having gone as well since the update carries a number of unlisted bug fixes too. The official update blog post also states that the changes are heading to Amazon soon. For those with the app on Android, hit the link below to get straight to the app in the Play Store and snag the update.
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HBO NOW, the standalone service, is now available for Android with a 30 day free trial
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The cord cutting community has been begging networks like HBO, Starz and Showtime to bring standalone apps to consumers for a monthly fee. While they all offered an app to watch and buy movies/shows, you still were forced to have a supporting subscription through a traditional cable or satellite provider. HBO broke that mold not that long ago, but limited the run to Apple devices. Now the associated stand alone app is finally live on the Play Store.
The app is free to install, but will require you to sign-up for monthly charges based on the installation time. Signing up today gives you 30 days to check out the app and the service with a scheduled payment through Google of $14.99 per month. In this case, signing up today makes your first payment due on August 15th.
Amazon accompanied the announcement of HBO NOW for Android with inclusion that it is available for their Fire tablet line and it will be making its way to Fire TV and the Fire TV Stick soon. I gave it an install to check it out as the wife loves a lot of what HBO offers and we have been cable free for 8 years. The app seems to work well and looks pretty solid. Navigation isn’t all that difficult, but you can certainly expect to watch it on the device unless you want to cast the screen to your Chromecast as I see no support for Chromecast. Which still worked, but was a bit glitchy on from the Galaxy S6, might be better on a lower screen quality device. HBO’s announcement video does state that Chromecast support is coming soon though. I have a feeling that will be a big hit when it drops.
Hit the Play Store to grab the app and sign-in if you already have a HBO NOW account. If not, start one up, you do get 30 days to see if you want to keep it before you see a charge.
Download: HBO NOW on the Play Store
Press release:
HBO NOW Available on Fire Tablets, Coming Soon to Amazon Fire TV
Start watching HBO favorites on the latest generation Fire devices—all you need is the internet
Amazon customers new to HBO NOW get 30-day introductory free trial
SEATTLE–(BUSINESS WIRE)–Jul. 16, 2015– (NASDAQ: AMZN)—Amazon today announced that HBO NOW is available on Fire tablets, and will be available on Amazon Fire TV and Fire TV Stick in the coming weeks. HBO NOW is HBO’s internet only streaming service, providing audiences with instant access to all of HBO—addictive series, unforgettable movies, thought-provoking documentaries, thrilling sports programs and entertaining comedy and music specials for just $14.99 a month.
“If there’s one thing Fire TV and Fire tablet customers are telling us, it’s that they love to watch their favorite movies and TV shows. This is why the team is doubling down on adding great new movies and TV shows for Fire TV and Fire tablet customers—in less than five months we’ve added over 700 new channels, apps, and games to Amazon Fire TV, and over 300,000 apps are now available on Fire tablets,” said Steve Rabuchin, Vice President, Amazon Appstore. “HBO has produced some of the most groundbreaking and award-winning TV shows and movies, and we are excited to introduce HBO Now on Fire tablets and soon on Fire TV.”
“Amazon has cultivated an incredibly vast and savvy base of customers that we’re excited to provide with unlimited access to all of HBO through HBO NOW,” said Bernadette Aulestia, Executive Vice President, Global Distribution Operations, HBO. “The addition of Amazon devices is another great stride in the distribution of HBO NOW and affirmation of our long standing partnership with Amazon.”
Starting today, customers can enjoy HBO NOW on the latest generation of Amazon’s Fire tablets. The $99 Fire HD 6 and the $139 Fire HD 7 deliver a world-class entertainment experience—in a compact, pocketable design—with a high-definition display, ultrafast quad-core processor and Dolby Digital Plus Audio. Fire HDX 8.9 combines a 339 ppi HDX display with a powerful quad-core 2.5 GHz processor and the latest Dolby Audio—all in a startlingly light design, giving customers the ability to enjoy TV programming, movies and much more wherever they go. Learn more about Fire HD at http://www.amazon.com/fire-hd and Fire HDX 8.9 at http://www.amazon.com/hdx.
In the coming weeks, HBO NOW will also be available on Fire TV and Fire TV Stick, joining the increasing number of developers building for the platform. Selection for Amazon Fire TV has increased by over 700 channels, apps, and games since February, and nearly 2,000 titles are now available, with HBO NOW coming soon. Amazon Fire TV is a tiny box with voice search built right into the remote, and a quad-core processor for seamless streaming; Fire TV Stick is a small streaming media stick that brings an incredible amount of power and content at a great value—it’s just $39. Learn more about Amazon Fire TV and Fire TV Stick at http://www.amazon.com/FireTV and http://www.amazon.com/firetvstick.
About Amazon
Amazon.com opened on the World Wide Web in July 1995. The company is guided by four principles: customer obsession rather than competitor focus, passion for invention, commitment to operational excellence, and long-term thinking. Customer reviews, 1-Click shopping, personalized recommendations, Prime, Fulfillment by Amazon, AWS, Kindle Direct Publishing, Kindle, Fire phone, Fire tablets, Fire TV, and Amazon Echo are some of the products and services pioneered by Amazon.
View source version on businesswire.com: http://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20150716005433/en/
Source: Amazon
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Microsoft combines OneNote for iPhone and iPad, updates Android app too
Hot on the heels of releasing a new version of OneNote for the Mac, Microsoft is pushing out some updates to its corresponding iOS and Android apps. For starters, there are no longer separate applications for the iPhone and iPad; in fact, iPad users will be prompted to re-download the app the next time they launch it. The main benefit here seems to be that Microsoft has an easy way of porting over all the features from the more advanced iPhone app, without having to re-code them for the tablet version. That means, for instance, that you can now access OneNote from the Notification Center on the iPad, the same way you already can with the iPhone. Microsoft also brought over the “recent notes” view, along with the ability to see page previews in landscape mode. Lastly, this update fixes a bug that caused problems with the whiteboard camera.
Meanwhile, the Android version adds what was apparently a much-requested feature: the ability to move or copy a note from one section or notebook to another. To do this, just press and hold on whatever it is you want to copy, select the action (move or copy), and then choose the destination. If you want, that destination can actually be the home screen instead of another OneNote notebook. Basically, it’s like creating a shortcut to a specific note. Other than that, it’s mostly bug fixes for Android, though Microsoft says that a meaty Android Wear update is also on the way. You can get a sneak peek of that if you join the beta community.
Filed under: Software, Mobile, Microsoft
Source: Microsoft, iTunes, Google Play
HBO Now hits Android devices, coming soon to Chromecast and Fire TV
After HBO Now was announced for Apple devices earlier this year, the network promised to bring it to the Android faithful this summer. Well, the time has come. If you own an Android phone or tablet, you can now access the standalone TV streaming option for $15 a month. You’ll still have to wait to employ a Chromecast, Fire TV or Fire TV Stick to do your watching, though, but the service is said to arrive on those gadgets soon enough. Apple’s 90-day exclusive window has ended, which allows folks who prefer Google’s operating system a chance to give HBO Now a shot three months after its debut. And it doesn’t require a cable subscription like HBO Go. If you decide to take the leap, you’ll get access to shows like Game of Thrones, Silicon Valley and True Detective in addition to a library of older series (The Sopranos, etc.) and movies. However, if you choose to wait until you can stream it to your set-top box or dongle, we can’t blame you.
Filed under: Home Entertainment, Internet, Software, HD
Source: Amazon, HBO (YouTube)
Misfit Link offers activity tracking and more in a $20 wearable
Misfit’s Flash activity tracker was already useful for handling stuff other than tallying your sleep and exercise stats. The new software is available on iOS now, but it won’t arrive for Android until next month. There’s a new gadget that also carries the Link name too, and the “easy to use activity tracker and smart button” offers an even more affordable option for folks who’ve been eying Misfit’s devices. At $20 (£20) the company touts the Link as the “lowest-priced multifunctional and modular wearable on the market” — $30 less than the Flash. It’s only available directly from Misfit for now, but it’s set to hit retail outlets later this quarter.
VR exhibit sheds light on immigrants chasing the American Dream
Immigration is a sensitive topic in the US, due to the millions of people living here without legal status. It’s known to spark heated debates throughout the country, with politicians, human rights activists and lawmakers all fighting for their respective cause. To get to the heart of it, you have to go to the deserts of Arizona, California, New Mexico and Texas, which are main entry points for immigrants looking to cross into the US illegally. US security officials have spent years trying to stop this or, at the very least, slow it down — they’ve even built a massive wall along the Mexican border.
This ongoing conflict is what inspired Virtual Borders Arizona, an art exhibit that uses virtual reality to take you to one of the most dangerous deserts in the US — where it often reaches 100 degrees. For people chasing the American Dream, it is a deadly road to travel. The project, created by artist Jamie Toll, consists of three sculptures representing those who have dared cross Arizona’s dry areas, often in search of a better life for themselves and their loved ones. But his piece seems to go beyond that. It’s about the idea that physical borders, regardless of the law, limit human creativity and our ability to learn from each other as a species.
To deliver his work and message, Toll wanted to do something out of the ordinary. Instead of a traditional gallery, he took the sculptures to the middle of nowhere and captured stereoscopic, 360-degree panoramas of them. The last, and perhaps most important step, was to create a VR experience that could be enjoyed via Google Cardboard and other similar headsets. “Using VR as a technology enables the audience to experience the site [and] specific art in a completely new way,” says Gabija Grusaite, who is the content curator for the project. “It’s not about being a spectator anymore, but rather a fully immersed experience.”
“At some point of life everyone needs to cross [a] metaphorical desert in order to succeed or to survive.”
Interestingly enough, the sculptures are still located in remote locations of the Arizona desert — about a two- to three-hour drive away from Phoenix. And they’re not easy to miss, since each one measures roughly 20 feet in diameter. Ultimately, though, Grusaite says this exhibit is about shedding light on things that jeopardize people’s creative freedom. “We are aiming to raise a dialogue by taking people down to the desert and showing that [the] harsh terrain borders imposed by people are not important,” she explains. “Desert is a very powerful symbol of an extreme climate and landscape, and at some point of life everyone needs to cross a metaphorical desert in order to succeed or to survive.”
The experience itself is slightly underwhelming, namely because there’s not much room to interact with the story. Sure, you can see the sculptures displayed on the desert grounds, but the VR implementation could be stronger if it also shed light on other elements of the journey — like the gallons of water US citizens leave for migrants to drink in times of need. After all, Virtual Borders Arizona was created to make you feel as if you were an observer. And although it does do that to a certain degree, you never really “feel” as if you’re in the shoes of an immigrant. It’s definitely a more immersive representation than framed pictures on a wall, but you need more than virtual reality to understand what these people have gone through.
Virtual Borders Arizona made its debut in New York City yesterday, but the iOS and Android app won’t be available to everyone until later this week. So keep an eye on the App Store or Google Play if you’re interested in checking it out.
Filed under: Science, Internet, Software, Mobile
Source: Virtual Borders Arizona
Gett tweaks its UK taxi app to help visually-impaired users
Thanks to smartphone apps, hailing a taxi no longer requires memorising the phone number of the local cab company or gesturing at a passing driver in the street. However, none of these options are particularly useful if someone is visually impaired. Gett, the black taxi app formerly known as GetTaxi, agreed more could be done to help its blind or partially-sighted users, so it acted on a suggestion by an Israeli teenager to overhaul its iOS and Android apps.
The company has built upon the stellar accessibility features already included in Apple and Android smartphones to guide visually-impaired users through its app using voice prompts. Customers in the UK, New York, Russia and Israel will be the first to enjoy the new functionality, which can also be found in other taxi apps like Uber. The app update is also backed by The Royal National Institute for Blind People (RNIB), giving riders more peace of mind when navigating around Gett’s 18 new supported cities.
Filed under: Cellphones, Transportation, Software, Mobile
Source: Gett (App Store), (Android)
Apple Pay goes live in the UK: Here’s how to use it
It’s been a while coming, but Apple Pay is now live in the UK. If you own an iPhone 6, 6 Plus, or an Apple Watch connected to an older iPhone, you now have the option of paying for purchases without cards or cash. But how do you set it up, where can you use it, and how much can you spend? These are all questions you might, quite rightfully, need answering before you even think about going on an iPhone-fuelled spending spree. That’s where we come in. We’ve put together a handy cheat sheet that explains all you need to know about Apple Pay in the UK. Read on to learn more.
What does it do?
Apple Pay is a service that allows you to buy things in physical stores, as well as in apps and online. Inside the latest iPhones is an NFC chip that can wirelessly communicate with payment terminals in hundreds of thousands of shops all over the UK. Once you’ve paired a credit or debit card to your Apple Pay account, you can simply touch your iPhone against a card reader and approve the purchase with your fingerprint. That’s it, job done.
Developers and online retailers can also incorporate Apple Pay checkout buttons into their apps and websites. Instead of wading through a complicated payment form, you can hit the Apple Pay button and immediately charge whatever you’re buying to a card connected to your account.
How do I set it up?
First, you’ll need to update to the latest version of iOS. Once you have that, you’re all set.
Next up is adding your cards. The majority of UK banks are on board, including Lloyds, Halifax, Natwest, HSBC, Santander, Royal Bank of Scotland, American Express, Nationwide, First Direct and TSB. However, not all will be available on day one (see graphic below). On your iPhone 6 or 6 Plus, open the Passbook app and tap the + icon next to Apple Pay in the top-right corner. If you already have a card bound to your iTunes account, you’ll be prompted to input its three-digit CVV code and it’ll automatically be added.
For new cards, you’ll be asked to snap a photo of the card you want to add with the iPhone’s camera. You might need to add a few extra bits of information (including the three-digit security code), which your bank will then verify. What you need to enter manually will depend on which bank you’re with, but once you’ve completed the verification process, you’re ready to use Apple Pay.
Note: As Apple Pay rolls out, you may find that the option takes a while to display in Passbook. To force it through, change your iPhone’s language to United States in Settings – General – Language & Region and add your debit or credit cards. Once you’ve added them, simply switch back to the UK and the cards you have added will remain available.
Where can I use it?
While Apple Pay is a proprietary technology, the contactless platform it supports has been widely adopted by retailers up and down the country. By that, we mean you can use your iPhone to make purchases in any high street store that supports contactless payments, just like you would with a contactless card. If you see one of the following icons, you know you can pay with your phone:
In June, Apple announced it had partnered with a number of big name brands for Apple Pay. Lidl, M&S, the Post Office, McDonald’s, Boots, Costa, Waitrose, Pret, Subway, KFC, Nando’s, New Look and Starbucks are among the supporting retailers, with more expected to back it in the coming months. Transport for London is also on board, so you to pay your bus, train and Tube fare by tapping your phone on the readers at the gates, as you would an Oyster card. Companies like Argos, Domino’s, British Airways, Just Eat, Ocado and Hailo will also let you use Apple Pay inside their apps.
How much can I spend?
This is where things get interesting. You see, Apple Pay facilitates payments of any amount, since Touch ID fingerprint authentication is as secure as confirming a transaction by entering a PIN code. However, because it’s a contactless technology, it will (at least to begin with) be beholden to the same rules as contactless cards. That means that many retailers will limit your iPhone payments to £20 (rising to £30 in September).
This won’t always be the case, though. The contactless limit will only be enforced on older payment terminals. Some outlets may have the necessary hardware installed to handle larger sums from today, but many won’t, so don’t assume your iPhone will be omnipotent right away.
How do I pay?
Luckily, the iPhone knows when you want to pay for something using Apple Pay. If the terminal supports contactless payments, simply hold your iPhone 6 or iPhone 6 Plus about an inch from the contactless reader with your finger resting on the Touch ID (home button). If you use your finger to unlock your phone, you’ll know exactly what to do.
What about my Apple Watch?
Apple Pay on your smartwatch is very similar to using it on an iPhone. The Watch must already be paired with an iPhone 5 or newer (you don’t need an iPhone with you to pay) and it must also have a passcode set (for security reasons).
Despite their link, Apple won’t let you copy the cards your iPhone already has on file. That means you’ll have to add them again using the Apple Watch app on your handset and go through the same prompts as we’ve noted above.
If you’re out and you’re ready to pay for something using your Apple Watch, double-click the side power button (below the crown) to select which card you’d like to use. Tilt your wrist towards the contactless terminal until you feel the watch vibrate and hear a quiet beep. Get that feedback and you’ll know your payment has been successful.
Filed under: Cellphones, Internet, Software, Mobile, Apple
Facebook testing its own virtual assistant, ‘Moneypenny’
It sounds like Siri, Cortana and the entity known only as Google Now could get some competition. Facebook is launching a virtual assistant of its own, according to The Information, and James Bond fans might smile when they hear what Zuckerberg and Co. are calling it. Moneypenny is a feature that lives within the social network’s Messenger app and it’ll apparently let you ask real people for help with stuff. Exactly what? The Information‘s sources say research and shopping. And that’s about it. A release date wasn’t given and details are otherwise pretty non-existent. Perhaps the function being a part of Messenger will help it avoid a fate similar to the Home or Poke apps.
Filed under: Cellphones, Software, Mobile, Facebook
Source: The Information
Spotify map compiles playlists from musical tastes around the world
If you’re curious what kind of music folks in other parts of the world are listening to, Spotify now offers a handy tool that compiles just that. The streaming service gathers info from popular tracks around the globe and compiles them into playlists. Rather than list them in a boring in-app search, it plots them out on an interactive map for quick visual reference. This means that when you click on Durham, North Carolina, for example, you’ll be greeted with a collection of tracks the folks there are listening to on the regular. Mandolin Orange and Future are quite popular in that part of NC, in case you were wondering. As you might expect, once you queue up a playlist in the app, you can add any notable findings to your personal collection for future use. Spotify says it updates the lists about twice a month, and each time it does, it sorts through 20 billion listener and song relationships.
Filed under: Internet, Software
Source: Spotify Insights
AIVAnet 