iOS 9’s web browser can block annoying ads
Don’t like having to wrestle with pop-up ads and similar intrusions when you’re browsing the web on your iPhone? You might not have to when iOS 9 rolls around. Apple has quietly let slip that the operating system’s version of Safari includes support for content blocking extensions, much like its Mac counterpart — in other words, it can block ads. You only have to install an app with the right Safari extensions to make cookies, images, scripts and other unwanted material disappear. It’s not certain how Apple will police apps with these add-ons, but it’s feasible that at least some ad blockers will get approval.
This kind of ad blocking is readily available on Android devices and the desktop, so it’s nothing new. However, some ad outfits (including Google) and website owners aren’t likely to be happy. Apple’s wide-ranging influence in the mobile world could lead to considerably more people blocking ads and hurting revenue. And unlike services such as Adblock, there might not be a white list of ads that are allowed to get through. You probably aren’t going to cry a river over the loss of annoying promos in your Safari tabs, but there could be a backlash from content creators.
Filed under: Cellphones, Tablets, Internet, Software, Mobile, Apple
Via: 9to5Mac
Source: Apple
T-Mobile customers can use iOS 9 beta’s Continuity over cellular
The Continuity feature that allows you to continue text convos and calls across devices used to require those gadgets to be on the same WiFi network. With the iOS 9 beta, though, the functionality can be used over cellular and T-Mobile is the first to flip the switch for its customers. The tool allows users to send texts and make calls from your iPad or Yosemite-equipped Mac if you don’t have that iPhone handy — so long as you also have the iOS 9 beta software installed, of course. If you aren’t the adventurous type and want sit out the public beta, you can rest easy knowing that the feature will arrive for everyone when the final version of the mobile OS becomes available later this year. And yes, we’d imagine other carriers will follow suit shortly.
AT&T Address Book enhancement update hitting LG G4 devices, don’t panic
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The web is all a flutter about an update that is landing on LG G4 devices on AT&T’s network. The update is a minor one, coming in at 26.5MB’s, and actually was released on June 5th, which was the official launch date for the device. Being that updates don’t always hit devices immediately, it isn’t much of a surprise that it is just now starting to grace consumers devices. Unfortunately the update isn’t anything that is all that concerning. AT&T’s software update page for the LG G4 tells the story as it being an AT&T Address Book enhancement update.
The AT&T Address Book is AT&T’s app, of sorts, to back up and sync your contacts with the carrier. It makes it easy to retrieve your contacts if you are bouncing between various devices that sport different operating systems. It is also useful for those newer to Android who have saved their contacts to their device rather than their Gmail account. Similar situation for users coming from feature phones to smartphone. Believe me, it happens more than we all might think. AT&T bundles the app with the OS build since it is more of a service than an app, and runs the first time you try to get to your contacts. Hence the need to manually push an OTA to the device. While a bit archaic in the current era, it is still how some things get done. Hopefully they can migrate it out as an app and put it in the Play Store soon to help avoid this confusion in the future.
Via: AT&T
The post AT&T Address Book enhancement update hitting LG G4 devices, don’t panic appeared first on AndroidSPIN.
Noodlecake Games to launch ‘Brickies’ on June 11th; It’s like classic Brick Breaker, but flat and crazy
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Noodlecake Games, the studio behind some of my favorite titles like Super Stickman Golf 2, The Blockheads, Ready Steady Bang and League of Evil, will be bringing another title to Android that is sure to kill plenty hours in your day. The new title is called Brickies, and while not entirely new, is new to Android. Yes, those iOS users have had it available since May 21st, but we aren’t all that far behind them this time around. Brickies takes a chapter out of many gamers pasts with an approach to Brick Breaker and flattens it out, makes it colorful and gives you some double paddle action to complicate life.
Brickies will bring along over 100 crazy levels packed with stackable power-ups, boss fights, special hidden levels packed into two game modes. In the traditional game ode you progress through the levels one after another, each getting harder than the last. Noodlecake didn’t build in any silly life bars or the need to pay-to-play functions to the title. You are free to try your level over and over again until you succeed. It isn’t always easy though as the levels are timed. You can get some additional time added to the tough ones by watching a video ad if you would like. The second game mode is an endless barrage of fun. They did take out the time increase ability to keep the leader boards free from video watching addicts though. Check out the demo video of Brickies in action, I think you will want to get our hands on it. (Note, it launched on iOS May 21st, hence the video title)
Oh, did I mention that you can’t lose your ball? Yeah, if you miss hitting the ball with either paddle the ball keeps going. That doesn’t mean you can just let loose and walk away though. The levels I have played clearly make the ball a bit useless as it won’t break any of the Brickies until you hit it with the paddle again.
Be on the lookout for Brickies to launch as a free-to-play ad-supported title on June 11th in the Play Store. The tentative link is below.
The post Noodlecake Games to launch ‘Brickies’ on June 11th; It’s like classic Brick Breaker, but flat and crazy appeared first on AndroidSPIN.
Android Lollipop update for 1st gen Moto X coming in the next few weeks
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Are you a 1st gen Moto X owner and feeling a bit left out in the cold? Well, your feeling of abandonment is about to come to an end after Motorola‘s David Schuster has confirmed that soak tests for the Android Lollipop update for 1st gen Moto X has started in various places this week. Schuster mentions that soak tests in France and Germany have already commenced this week and tests in the US and Brazil will start in a matter of days. The post goes on to say that the update itself will start rolling out a few after the soak tests are complete – assuming everything goes to plan.
Of course, if you have a carrier variant of the Moto X 2013, you’ll want to keep your excitement in check, because as always you’ll be at the mercy of your carrier. Still, it’s exciting to know that the update is inbound and that 1st gen Moto X’s could soon be rocking Google’s latest and greatest.
What do you think about the Android Lollipop update for 1st gen Moto X dropping soon? Let us know your thoughts in the comments below.
Source: Google+ via Droid-life
The post Android Lollipop update for 1st gen Moto X coming in the next few weeks appeared first on AndroidSPIN.
Two states don’t think Universal helped Apple stifle free music
It’s no secret that both Apple and music labels are less than fond of free music streaming from Spotify and other services, but are they conspiring together to hurt these services in favor of pay-only options like Apple Music? Not if you ask the attorneys general of Connecticut and New York state. Both of them have accepted a statement from Universal Music Group swearing that it isn’t illegally blocking free tunes, indicating that antitrust regulators didn’t find evidence of collusion between UMG, rival labels and Apple.
This doesn’t mean that the folks in Cupertino are free and clear, mind you. Both states say they’re still conducting investigations into the competitiveness of streaming music, and European Union officials are also looking into Apple’s dealings. If there’s any clear sign that Apple and labels are trying to steal the thunder of free services (such as by yanking artists), you could still see a repeat of the antitrust crackdown that shook up the e-book world.
Filed under: Internet, Software, Apple
Via: New York Times
Source: New York Attorney General (PDF)
Websites can use Apple’s pressure-aware trackpad in OS X El Capitan
Apple’s pressure-sensitive Force Touch trackpad isn’t tremendously useful in typical Mac software, but it might just get a new lease on life in OS X El Capitan. The new operating system’s development tools let websites define what happens when you make that extra-strong click. You could favorite that adorable cat photo instead of zooming into it, for instance. There are some big gotchas associated with this, however. You’ll need a circa-2015 Mac laptop to start with, but you’ll also have to surf the web in Safari — this won’t help much if you’re using an iMac, or prefer browsers like Chrome and Firefox. As clever as pressure-aware pages might be, you might not run into them that often without wider app and device support.
Filed under: Internet, Software, Apple
Via: TechCrunch
Source: Apple
Send destination info from your desktop to Google Maps for iOS
If you’re looking for an easy way to send places from Google Maps on the desktop to your trusty iOS device, the wait is over. The folks in Mountain View updated the software for iPhone to allow you to send restaurants and other spots you search for on the desktop to your mobile device for reference while in route. You’ll need to be signed in on both your computer and your iOS device with notifications enabled on the latter. From there, hunt for a new dinner spot and click “send to device.” When you do so, a notification delivers the address alongside options for getting directions or skipping straight to navigation. Version 4.7.0 of the app also lets you edit business hours for those listings and view all of your reviews and photos from the Your Places section of your profile. If you’re iOS device hasn’t alerted you to the new version yet, you can nab it from iTunes now.
Filed under: Software, Mobile, Apple, Google
Via: 9to5Google
Source: iTunes
Instagram tidies up web profiles with bigger pictures and less clutter
It may be a tad late for spring cleaning, but Instagram redesigned profile pages on the web to cut down on the clutter. On both mobile and desktop, profile pages, hashtag collections and your home feed are all getting tweaks to make things a bit neater. Desktop profiles, for example, nix the rotating image header up top and display larger images in rows of three instead of five. The changes get rid of the added boarders, button styles and more that the mobile app’s redesign already updated in favor of a cleaner, flatter look. Not seeing the new design yet? Don’t worry, it’s rolling out now and you should be seeing it by the end of the week.
Vine makes it easier to search for the right clip
If you’ve ever tried to find a video on Vine you know that unless you know the name of the user or the tag associated with that video, you’re pretty much out of luck. Starting today, Vine is going to start fixing that with a new search capability. The Explore tab now supports search for the title of vines in addition to tags and usernames. The results will be divided into recent and top vines. The new feature will be rolling out to the iOS version of the app over the coming weeks with an Android update in the works.
https://vine.co/v/eOMg3luxenr/embed/simple
Filed under: Cellphones, Handhelds, Internet, Software
Source: Vine
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