Facebook Lite uses less storage and bandwidth for emerging markets
Facebook’s regular Android app just uses too much data and storage for devices in developing areas. It also tends to eat up a good bit of pricey data. To remedy those connectivity woes, the folks in Menlo Park announced Facebook Lite: a version of the mobile software that’s less than 1MB is size, yet still offers the social networks essential tools. Despite requiring a modet amount of space and time install, even on a slow network, the app still handles News Feed, status updates, photos, notifications and other items users employ on the regular. In addition to this new software, Zuckerberg & Co. are also behind the Internet.org project that’s bringing free access to essential services to underdeveloped countries, too. Facebook Lite is rolling out today in Asia, and it’s set to hit parts of Africa, Europe and Latin America in “the coming weeks.”
Filed under: Cellphones, Software, Mobile, Facebook
Via: TechCrunch
Source: Facebook
Google Tap to Search makes its way to Chrome on Android
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At Google I/O the company showed of what they dubbed Google Now on Tap. In a nutshell it let users tap then hold the home button to ask Google Now a question. It was able to be used on any app and anywhere in the device and was contextually aware of the content that was on-screen. You could search with minimal efforts by stating things like “What is his real name?”, “When are they open”, and the listed returns would deliver details about what you were actually looking at. A similar feature is now active on the Google Chrome for Android web browser.
The new addition isn’t quite as robust as Now on Tap, but it is certainly useful. Simply tap on a word, or long press and highlight multiple words, and a small Google pop-up will grace the bottom of your screen. Simply drag the globe up and you will be given all the details you could possibly need regarding the word, phrase, person, movie and so on. This includes apps that are relevant, YouTube videos and Twitter accounts if need be.
A simple swipe back down, even from a full screen search return, will take you right back to the site and page you were on. Making it really easy to get back to where you were before you inquired about something else.
The feature is active by default but users can disable it at will through Chrome Settings > Privacy > Touch to Search. Give it a whirl the next chance you get, you mind find it to be a rather useful function to everyday living. It was present on Chrome build 43.0.2357.78 for me, which was updated just a few days ago. However, I am only now seeing the ability to use this function.
The post Google Tap to Search makes its way to Chrome on Android appeared first on AndroidSPIN.
Hitman: Sniper is the latest Square Enix title to go live, don’t be afraid to get creative with your kill shots
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Square Enix has been putting a lot of effort into bringing great titles to Android users for a number of years. Fans of the Final Fantasy series have had the chance to pick up a number of classics to play on the go over the years. The gaming studio has also brought other great titles like Mini Ninjas, Dues EX: The Fall and the THIEF companion apps. Another great set of titles that they are behind is Hitman. The first Hitman title they brought forward was Hitman Go. It was more of a strategic board game puzzler, but it was fun none the less. Now they are stepping up their game in the Hitman line up with the release of Hitman: Sniper.
As you would think, the title is all about long-range sniper action with a purpose. You continue on as the infamous Agent 47 who is sitting in a fixed position from afar looking to complete his assignment. The title features over 150 missions set in Montenegro. Each mission will offer up a variety of ways to complete them, the best path might not be the easiest, but will grant you more rewards when completed. For instance, mastering undetected kills using environmental objects to eliminate your target rather than just shooting them in the head.
As you progress you will find weapon parts and blueprints to help you construct 13 epic sniper rifles to help you carry out your objectives. Square Enix also states that there is a solid replay value as you will be able to uncover more secrets as contracts evolve. I imagine you might need to play a mission over a few times to find the best kill solution for maximum score. After all, there is a leaderboard in place to help you take aim at your friends abilities as an assassin.
Hitman: Sniper will set you back $4.99 right out the door and it does off in-app purchases ranging from $0.99 – $9.99. I haven’t installed it just yet , so I can’t speak to how well you will be able to progress without spending more real money though.
Head to the Play Store and pick it up when you have a chance.
The post Hitman: Sniper is the latest Square Enix title to go live, don’t be afraid to get creative with your kill shots appeared first on AndroidSPIN.
Stand-Alone SHOWTIME app on the horizon, Apple getting first dibs though
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Cord cutters are a very dominate market share these days and the like of Hulu, Netflix and other streaming services are gobbling up the benefits of those who have killed off traditional cable and satellite services. The big network subscription channels, like HBO and SHOWTIME are finally starting to get the idea and getting in-line with offering up streaming abilities. Sure, many of them have offered the function for years, but you always needed a subscription to their channels via a supported cable or satellite provider in order to access them on your phone or tablet. Now we are starting to see the dawn of a new era where these major players are going to offer stand-alone apps with subscription offers that are separate from the cable and satellite guys. SHOWTIME has just announced that they will be following suite shortly with a stand-alone service called SHOWTIME. Blatantly obvious, but smart to not confuse the branding with more words.
In a news release on the site regarding the service SHOWTIME announced that they will be bringing the cord cutting service to consumers in early July with a monthly service charge of $10.99. Further in the release they sort of give out the date and time of launch stating, ” The launch of SHOWTIME will coincide with the new season premieres of the critically-acclaimed, hit series RAY DONOVAN and MASTERS OF SEX on Sunday, July 12th starting at 9 p.m. ET/PT ”
The downside for Android users is that the first release will carry an Apple device exclusive with it. I know many Android users out there sport more than just Android phones, tablets and Android TV though. So those of you that rock dual ecosystems will be excited about the news. For those that only sport Android running products, we are out of luck. That doesn’t mean it will be that way forever though. We know HBO Now started off as an Apple exclusive as well and Google announced that the service was coming to Android TV soon. I don’t mind letting Apple users test out the service and drop the cash to show these guys that it is worth doing. It will, hopefully, give them time to solve any issues and adjust pricing structures if needed.
Source: SHOWTIME Via Android Police
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Tesco trials app for donating unsold food to charity
It’s strange to think that in an affluent nation like the UK, there are people going hungry while shops and eateries throw out masses of perfectly good food every day. Charity organisation FareShare has tasked itself with saving this unwanted food from the bin out back and distributing it to other charities that can use it, and under a new partnership with Tesco, it’s turned to technology to grease the wheels. With the FoodCloud mobile app, Tesco store managers can log items earmarked for disposal, informing FareShare of the potential donation which the charity can then arrange to collect. Born from ongoing partnerships with FareShare and FoodCloud, Tesco’s kicked off the UK pilot in its Surrey Quays store, and will expand it to a further nine locations in four cities under a wider trial. FoodCloud is already in use across all of Tesco’s supermarkets in Ireland, so there’s definite scope for the pilot to become a widespread initiative. And hopefully, Tesco will inspire other businesses to take part, too.
Filed under: Cellphones, Software, Mobile
Software can detect your pain level just by looking
Remember Baymax’s pain scale in Big Hero 6? In the real world, machines might not even need to ask whether or not you’re hurting — they’ll already know. UC San Diego researchers have developed a computer vision algorithm that can gauge your pain levels by looking at your facial expressions. If you’re wincing, for example, you’re probably in more agony than you are if you’re just furrowing your brow. The code isn’t as good as detecting your pain as your parents (who’ve had years of experience), but it’s up to the level of an astute nurse.
As you might imagine, the technology could be very helpful in the hospital and beyond. Nurses could use it to tell whether or not you’re getting enough painkillers after surgery. Alternately, medical robots could offer treatment if they see you grimacing. Doctors could eventually refine procedures based on feedback, and you might never have to wait for a health care worker to see that you’re suffering.
Filed under: Science, Software
Via: Walyou
Source: Pediatrics
Google Keyboard updates, offers cross-device personal dictionary syncing
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Google has been on a pretty good roll lately with keeping updates rolling for their apps on Wednesdays. Today’s round of updates covers a variety apps and brings in a number of changes that are notable. In today’s update for the Google Keyboard, which is now at v4.1, we see a new ability that many have been eager to have included, cross-device dictionary syncing.
Accessing the new feature is pretty simple, just head in to the Google Keyboard settings after updating the app and you will see a new tab, “Accounts & Privacy” option. Simply turn it on and away you go. That is assuming you don’t have a Google Apps for Business account synced to your device. As you can see in the screenshots above, the options are not changeable due to a few email accounts I have synced up on Google apps only device.
Don’t fret though, there are still a few other little goodies, and not so goodies, with the update. Users who link up with a physical keyboard will be able to access emoji’s by simply hitting the ‘Alt’ key which will bring up an emoji icon row on-screen for you to navigate with the arrow keys. The sometimes helpful, and other times irritating, text correction function loses its various level settings and is either on of off now. One function that was removed, but probably won’t be missed by many, is phrase input gesture typing. That is where you could keep your finger on the screen the whole time and swing over the space bar to indicate the word was done and move to the next. It wasn’t a feature I ever used, but apparently it didn’t work all that well any ways.
As usual, you can head to the Play Store and see if the update is waiting for you to install. If it isn’t, then you can swing past Gappsearly and manually install the APK.
The post Google Keyboard updates, offers cross-device personal dictionary syncing appeared first on AndroidSPIN.
The DEA’s eavesdropping has tripled over the past decade
A federal agency eavesdropping is nothing new — even if sometimes they do it with controversy. But, aside from the NSA, there’s one in particular that has been quite active in the past few years: the Drug Enforcement Administration. According to records obtained by USA Today, thanks to the Freedom of Information Act, the DEA more than tripled its use of wiretaps (and other electronic tools used for snooping) over the last decade. As of last September, it had recorded 11,681 intercepts, compared to 3,394 made 10 years earlier. That’s not the most interesting part about the report, however.
The problem, as noted by USA Today, is that the DEA bypassed federal courts and Department of Justice lawyers when filing for these surveillance requests. Instead of doing that, the administration is taking the majority of its petitions — 60 percent, to be exact — to local prosecutors and judges from states like New York and California, who are said to be more lenient in the approval process of requests. A DEA spokesperson told the news outlet that the increase in wiretap requests stems from “the proliferation of communication devices and methods.”
US federal law specifies that wiretaps must be approved by senior DOJ officials, even before agents can seek permission from a federal court to conduct one. On a state level, that’s not the case, hence why the DEA chooses to go this route. “That law exists to make sure that wiretap authority is not abused, that it’s only used when totally appropriate.” Electronic Frontier Foundation attorney Hanni Fakhoury said to USA Today. “That’s a burden. And if there’s a way to get around that burden, the agents are going to try to get around it.”
[Image credit: Tony Webster/Flickr]
Filed under: Cellphones, Misc, Software
Source: USA Today
Leaked trade deal stops countries from saying where your data goes
There’s been a fair share of leaked trade deals raising hackles in recent memory, but the latest could have some big repercussions for your data privacy. WikiLeaks has slipped out details of the in-progress Trade in Services Agreement (TISA), and one of its clauses would prevent the US, European Union and 23 other nations from controlling both where your data is stored as well as whether or not it’s accessible from outside of the country. Germany, for example, couldn’t demand that Facebook and Google store residents’ account information on local servers.
The pact might also be bad news if you’re a big fan of open source programs. One article would ban countries from requiring access to the code of “mass-market” software in order to provide services related to that software. A TISA partner could still use Linux, OpenOffice and other software with easy-to-dissect code, but it couldn’t require that kind of software.
Negotiations for TISA are happening behind closed doors, and it’s not clear whether or not these measures would make the final cut. However, they’re definitely problematic. The restrictions on exports would prevent Russia-like control over data that makes it easier to censor and snoop on your communications, but they’d also make it hard to stop your info from traveling overseas. Likewise, while the open source clause would allow for more flexibility in software, it also risks weakening security by making it harder to check for spy agency back doors. As a whole, the agreement’s tech-related elements favor businesses over privacy rights and transparency.
[Image credit: Getty Images]
Filed under: Internet, Software
Via: Ars Technica
Source: WikiLeaks
Windows will make it easier to remote-control Linux PCs
In case there was any doubt that Microsoft’s war against Linux is (mostly) over, the company just offered another olive branch. The company has revealed that its PowerShell team is working on support for the Secure Shell protocol and shell sessions (aka SSH) to make it easier for Windows- and Linux-based PCs to connect to and remotely control each other. While SSH has been an option in the Windows world, Microsoft’s Angel Calvo says there have been “limited implementations” so far — this would simplify things and give you “tight integration” with Windows that wasn’t feasible before. It’s too early to tell when the feature will be available, but it’s at least in the cards.
The move isn’t completely surprising. As Calvo notes, the “changes in leadership and culture” in Redmond made this possible. CEO Satya Nadella is interested in spreading Microsoft’s services (such as Azure) to every platform that can use them, rather than insisting on Windows-only solutions like his predecessors. SSH support should make it easier to integrate Microsoft’s technology into environments where Linux has a solid foothold, whether it’s a data center or your home network.
[Image credit: AP Photo/Sakchai Lalit]
Filed under: Software, Microsoft
Via: Phoronix
Source: MSDN Blogs
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