MisInk for News and Applications: Infotech

Sony to begin fixing combustible Vaio Fit laptops in May

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It's always sad when a company stumbles during its victory lap, but as Sony looked to gracefully exit the PC business, some spontaneously combusting laptops ruined the day. The company has now issued an update about the Vaio Fit 11A repair program, saying that reservations are now being taken and that battery replacements will begin part-way through next month. Until then, Sony's line remains not to touch your device, and we add that you should probably shouldn't store it next to those cans of gasoline in your office. (<i>engadget</i>)</div>

Sony to begin fixing combustible Vaio Fit laptops in May

It's always sad when a company stumbles during its victory lap, but as Sony looked to gracefully exit the PC business, some spontaneo...

Intel aims at China with its speedy LTE Cat 6 solution, shipping in Q2 this year

Unknown 0 Infotech 3:19 PM

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Marking Intel's 29th year in China, CEO Brian Krzanich took the stage at IDF Shenzhen with a little surprise: his company will be shipping its first Cat 6 multi-mode LTE solution, the XMM 7260, in Q2 this year. This follows the XMM 7160 that started shipping with Cat 4 LTE and half the number of basebands last October. The new solution has added support for China's popular TD-SCDMA plus TD-LTE networks, along with the usual 2G GSM, WCDMA plus FDD-LTE around the world. With Cat 6 LTE's carrier aggregation mode, the XMM 7260 can reach a top theoretical speed of 300Mbps, which is twice that of Cat 4 LTE.</div>
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There's no word on who will be shipping the first mobile devices featuring Intel's speedy modem, but Krzanich did use a development device to make a live Skype video call over LTE with Lenovo's CEO Yang Yuanqing in Hong Kong, so we'll take that as a hint. But of course, this doesn't mean that Lenovo will be ditching its good friend MediaTek, who will be catching up with its own LTE solution very soon. (<i>engadget</i>)</div>

Intel aims at China with its speedy LTE Cat 6 solution, shipping in Q2 this year

Marking Intel's 29th year in China, CEO Brian Krzanich took the stage at IDF Shenzhen with a little surprise: his company will be shi...

Microsoft is offering free Touch Covers with Surface tablets

Unknown 0 Infotech 9:14 AM

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One of the best features of the Microsoft Surface family is the super thin and elegant Touch Cover. This dual-purpose screen protector and keyboard is one of the most innovative things to come out of Microsoft in years. Surface works great with this accessory, but unfortunately you have to purchase it separately. For a limited time you can get one for free.</div>
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The Microsoft Store is offering a limited time deal with any of the Surface devices. When you buy a new Surface RT, Surface 2, Surface Pro, or Surface Pro 2 you will get a free Touch Cover. The Touch Cover normally goes for $80. You can choose from black, white, cyan, magenta, and red. This deal ends on Saturday, March 29th. If you’ve been wanting a Surface device and Touch Cover now is the best time to pick one up. Hit the link below to visit the Microsoft Store.</div>

Microsoft is offering free Touch Covers with Surface tablets

One of the best features of the Microsoft Surface family is the super thin and elegant Touch Cover. This dual-purpose screen protector an...

OnePlus One launching on April 23rd

Unknown 0 Infotech 7:01 PM

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OnePlus will be launching its very first smartphone on April 23rd, the company has informed us in a short email. Formed by ex-Oppo employee, OnePlus operates with the “Never Settle” mantra that presumes launching a no-compromise device. Rumored specs of the upcoming OnePlus One include a 5.5-inch 1080p screen, Qualcomm Snapdragon 801 quad-core chip, 13-megapixel Sony Exmor camera, global LTE connectivity support, 3,100 mAh battery, and 16 or 64 GB of internal storage. The first OnePlus’ phone will run customized version of CyanogenMod with few of the company’s own tweaks including voice wakeup capabilities.</div>
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All this will be available for less than $400 and users will be able to personalize their device by getting some custom swap covers that will be made of different kinds of materials such as of kevlar, denim and bamboo.</div>
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As far as we know, OnePlus hasn’t managed to convince a single big carrier to offer its phone and will rather sell it directly to users…(<i>intomobile</i>)</div>

OnePlus One launching on April 23rd

OnePlus will be launching its very first smartphone on April 23rd, the company has informed us in a short email. Formed by ex-Oppo employ...

BBM stickers coming in update next week

Unknown 0 Infotech 6:48 PM

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As part of a briefing today outlining the company’s monetization strategy for BBM, BlackBerry demonstrated its upcoming virtual goods platform. What does a ‘virtual goods platform’ mean, exactly? For now: stickers, and lots of them.</div>
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David Proulx, BlackBerry’s Senior Director of BBM Business Development, said that the mandate for BBM’s virtual goods store is to provide content that is “additive to the BBM experience.” Based upon their explosive global popularity in other messaging apps, where stickers are often used in place of character-based conversation, and the longstanding appeal of those stalwart emoticons in BBM itself, stickers certainly fit the bill as a communication enhancer.</div>
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But, as with most things, implementation is key, especially as BlackBerry is playing sticker catch-up to other messaging services as it looks to continue BBM’s cross-platform growth. For its part, BlackBerry has nailed the basics while laying the foundation for more interesting developments.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhOiT4tkmHv8dDxGDwmDxLbTyDAZd-ndTEVxpf1ZUw1r9qSEmE3wxhUvXqXY9w1yA2IJxw7ChCjz1BhVUm46dB5nKKcgMa8IIq9Jw-EZ5UGxdsiBmiJi5QAPPJv0qu941pZX3qcIYroJTeR/s1600/bbmsheep.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhOiT4tkmHv8dDxGDwmDxLbTyDAZd-ndTEVxpf1ZUw1r9qSEmE3wxhUvXqXY9w1yA2IJxw7ChCjz1BhVUm46dB5nKKcgMa8IIq9Jw-EZ5UGxdsiBmiJi5QAPPJv0qu941pZX3qcIYroJTeR/s1600/bbmsheep.jpg" width="186" /></a></div>
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BlackBerry’s head of Product Marketing Jeff Gadway describes BBM’s stickers, as “bigger, richer, more emotive” versions of the classic BBM emoticon. Unlike BBM emoticons, BBM stickers will not sit inline with text but occupy their own line in chats. Unlike most stickers in other chat apps, however, BBM stickers will not be animated (yet). Users will be able to add a BBM sticker to a conversation using the same tray currently for emotions, separated by its own icon. There will also be a shopping cart icon in the same tray where users can download or purchase new sticker packets directly from within the app in one click (see above photo). Each sticker packet will contain approximately 20-25 different stickers, and the non-free packets will retail for $1.99USD. Proulx indicated this price is merely “a place to start” and could change.</div>
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BlackBerry’s initial virtual goods partners will likely sell a boatload of stickers when they’re available via an app update next week, but I’m personally more interested to see how BlackBerry evolves this relationship. Gadway stated during the briefing that virtual goods like stickers are a great way for users to opt-in brands into their chat screen. Right now this is a very static interaction, but Gadway hinted that BlackBerry was working with brands to use virtual goods as a jumping off point for richer content outside of BBM. As I said before, compelling implementation will dictate adoption, but to compete against the multitude of available messaging apps, BBM will need to differentiate, not just feature match.</div>

BBM stickers coming in update next week

As part of a briefing today outlining the company’s monetization strategy for BBM, BlackBerry demonstrated its upcoming virtual goods pla...

Two Different iPhone 6 Smartphones Launching September?

Unknown 0 Infotech 12:50 PM

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<b>There are still strong hints that there will be more than one iPhone 6 handsets that will be available this fall.</b></div>
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According to <a href="http://bgr.com/2014/03/24/iphone-6-release-date-2/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">BGR</a>, there are reports from UBS analyst Steve Milunovich hinting at two different iPhone 6 smartphones, including one that will supposedly be 4.7 inches and another that will be 5.5 inches.</div>
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As noted in the article…</div>
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“For what it’s worth, Milunovich is pretty bullish about the potential of the iPhone 6 to be a hot seller, especially as it will come just as many iPhone 5 owners are in the market for an upgrade from their old devices.”</blockquote>
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We’ll see whether or not Apple goes through with two more iPhone 6 units this time around like they did with the iPhone 5C and iPhone 5S. (<i>iphoneinformer</i>)</div>

Two Different iPhone 6 Smartphones Launching September?

There are still strong hints that there will be more than one iPhone 6 handsets that will be available this fall. According to BGR , ...

Disney buys YouTube powerhouse Maker Studios for $500 million

Unknown 0 Infotech 8:08 AM

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<b>Even with the Marvel and Star Wars properties under Disney's roof, there's apparently still plenty of room within the House of Mouse's walls. </b></div>
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The entertainment juggernaut has just bought YouTube hit-factory Maker Studios (the outfit responsible for Epic Rap Battles of History, The Getup and PewDiePie) for a cool $500 million according to Reuters. What's more, the final bill of sale could go as high as $950 million should Maker hit an unannounced set of performance milestones after the acquisition. While that's still an awful lot of dough, it's only a fraction of what the company paid for the likes of Captain America and that galaxy far, far away. Exactly what Disney will do with Maker's reported 5.5 billion monthly views and 55,000+ channels isn't clear yet, but the purchase should give Mickey a solid foot in another streaming-video-giant's door. (<i>engadget</i>)</div>

Disney buys YouTube powerhouse Maker Studios for $500 million

Even with the Marvel and Star Wars properties under Disney's roof, there's apparently still plenty of room within the House of Mo...

Google’s Photowall for iOS turns the Chromecast for interactive photo viewer

Unknown 0 Infotech 8:06 AM

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The iPhone camera is among the most popular on the market and for good reason: It’s a great all-around picture taker. You can share photos from an iOS device directly to television with the $99 Apple TV or you could do the same, and a little more, with Google’s $35 Chromecast. You’ll need the new Photowall app though, which Google just launched on Sunday.</div>
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9to5Mac spotted the new software, which is free in the iTunes App Store for any devices running iOS 6.0 or later. The app is also optimized for the iPhone 5. With it, people on the same network can collaboratively share photos from their iPhone, iPad or iPod touch so the software has a bit of a social component to it. Users can also edit or doodle on the pics with the app. When the Photowall session is complete, Google will automatically create a YouTube video of it for later viewing.</div>
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Photowall is being dubbed as a Chrome experiment, a distinction Google often uses to demonstrate technologies in a fun way. As such, it may never gain any additional features or simply go away in the future. Ironically, Android isn’t part of this experiment as I don’t see a corresponding Photowall app in the Google Play Store. Then again, I’m not sure Android device owners need additional incentives to drop $35 on a Chromecast; it’s more likely Google is showing off the Chromecast capabilities to iOS users who might not otherwise know about the inexpensive streamer for video, photos, browser tabs and music. (<i>gigaom</i>)</div>

Google’s Photowall for iOS turns the Chromecast for interactive photo viewer

The iPhone camera is among the most popular on the market and for good reason: It’s a great all-around picture taker. You can share photo...

Rogers and Bell LG G2 KitKat update coming March 25th

Unknown 0 Infotech 8:01 AM

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Rogers LG G2 customers could very well be tasting KitKat by March 25th. According to the latest revision on their OS upgrade schedule, Rogers has penciled in this coming Tuesday for the flagship to receive the long awaited upgrade to Android 4.4.2. Of course, the fine print notes that “release dates are subject to change,” but the carrier has been very consistent over the past couple of months with OS upgrades.</div>
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<b>Update: We’ve been informed that Bell G2 users can also expect their KitKat update to arrive in a few short hours. Probably OS 4.4.2 will make its way to all carriers.</b></div>

Rogers and Bell LG G2 KitKat update coming March 25th

Rogers LG G2 customers could very well be tasting KitKat by March 25th. According to the latest revision on their OS upgrade schedule, Ro...

How would you change's Sony's NEX-5R?

Unknown 0 Infotech 9:24 AM

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<b>Most camera geeks agree that Sony needed to make up for the NEX-F3, and that it did so with style by producing the NEX-5R. When we placed this in the hands of our in-house camera guru, he was "thrilled." </b></div>
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In fact, he described it as one of the best compact ILCs of 2012-2013, and that people should keep it in their mind the next time it came time to buy a camera. The question that needs to be asked, however, is did our man Honig get it right? If you're a shutterbug who put one of these through its paces, then share with us your impressions and feelings over on <a href="http://www.engadget.com/discuss/how-would-you-change-s-sony-s-nex-5r-1pmr/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">the forum</a>.</div>

How would you change's Sony's NEX-5R?

Most camera geeks agree that Sony needed to make up for the NEX-F3, and that it did so with style by producing the NEX-5R. When we placed...

MergePay Pulse lets businesses worldwide track and manage their finances

Unknown 0 Infotech 9:22 AM

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MergePay, the beautifully simple business-focused financial tracking service that we wrote about back in 2012, has finally exited beta and made a number of significant changes, including a rebrand to MergePay Pulse and shift to a freemium model.</div>
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Previously, users opting to use the service for free were limited to tracking a maximum of nine bills, but now you can track as many as you wish without paying a dime.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhX1IH7a9nQdW2uISYTNMaMn3y7x33r2hnmUfzkiPnfsc_VPMCVO7GQvYPx3OGYFHG7C_VmCmsJWxz2E7WWXZzY_VJlf_ozo7ANr_1P0A00qXj8Rz0PWkzkVa0cBjAxzOuEpxacr3lXkb8a/s1600/mpp2.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhX1IH7a9nQdW2uISYTNMaMn3y7x33r2hnmUfzkiPnfsc_VPMCVO7GQvYPx3OGYFHG7C_VmCmsJWxz2E7WWXZzY_VJlf_ozo7ANr_1P0A00qXj8Rz0PWkzkVa0cBjAxzOuEpxacr3lXkb8a/s1600/mpp2.png" /></a></div>
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To recap, MergePay Pulse is essentially a Mint-like service for businesses that tracks incomings and outgoings to ensure users are on top of their finances. But while Mint only covers the US, MergePay Pulse supports over 12,000 banks, which cover “practically any country in the world,” founder Ian Borders tells TNW.</div>
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In addition, it integrates with Stripe and PayPal, and syncs user receipts to Evernote and Dropbox accounts, giving you some solid storage for your digital ‘paperwork’.</div>
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Bills are added using a range of customized categories — which seemingly cover every tech service under the sun — while you can add notifications to remind you when a payment is due or about to be paid.</div>
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MergePay Pulse can also automate bills from emails, and a cool OCR feature in its iOS app lets you snap a photo of a bill and watch it magically sync to your account.</div>
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For now, iOS is the only mobile app available, but Thailand-based Borders says an Android app will arrive in around six weeks time.</div>
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Away from the basics, MergPay Pulse offers a $39 per month premium service which unlocks the OCR feature in the app and gives users full access to their data, which can be exported from the MergePay Pulse service. So, for example, if you need your data for another system or want to export it for tax returns or other reasons, you can do so as a paying member.</div>
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Borders explains that the move to freemium is aimed at bringing the benefits of the service to more entrepreneurs and businesses, particularly those outside of the US who may currently track their finances offline or using a spreadsheet-based system.</div>
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Interestingly, he says that MergePay will introduce a payments service this year that he expects to generate the bulk of the company’s revenue, which takes the pressure off MergePay Pulse.</div>
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So, if you’re a business owner or executive who is stuck tracking your company finances using primitive means, MergePay Pulse is worth considering. Likewise, it is open to consumers, and may appeal to those outside of the US or Europe who are unable to use financial tracking tools like Mint.</div>
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<b> <a href="https://mergepay.com/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">MergePay Pulse</a> | <a href="https://itunes.apple.com/hk/app/mergepay/id649865137?mt=8" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">iOS app</a> | <a href="http://thenextweb.com/apps/2014/03/21/mergepay-pulse-lets-businesses-worldwide-track-and-manage-their-finances" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">TNW</a></b></div>

MergePay Pulse lets businesses worldwide track and manage their finances

MergePay, the beautifully simple business-focused financial tracking service that we wrote about back in 2012, has finally exited beta an...

HTC will stream its All New One event live

Unknown 0 Infotech 9:55 AM

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We’ll be in New York on Tuesday to bring you all the hands-on details of the much-leaked All New HTC One. But if you want to keep track of things in the comfort of your home, office or home office, HTC is taking care of you, too.</div>
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The device is expected to look similar to its predecessor, with a 5-inch 1080p display, a 2.5Ghz Qualcomm Snapdragon 801 processor, 2GB of RAM, 32GB of internal storage, a 4MP rear camera with a second sensor for added depth and low-light performance, a 2,600mAh battery, running Android 4.4.2 KitKat. (<i>mobilesyrup</i>)</div>

HTC will stream its All New One event live

We’ll be in New York on Tuesday to bring you all the hands-on details of the much-leaked All New HTC One. But if you want to keep track o...

Former Microsoft employee arrested for leaking Windows 8

Unknown 0 Infotech 9:52 AM

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The tech world is driven by leaks. People are constantly trying to learn more about unreleased devices. Many sites and people have risen to fame by simply being leaking tech news. That practice is relatively harmless, but sometimes it can go too far. That is exactly what happened to a former Microsoft employee who leaked the full version of Windows 8.</div>
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Seattle PI reports that Alex Kibkalo is accused of stealing trade secrets and leaking beta copies of Windows 8 to an unnamed “French tech blogger.” The reason why? Alex was given a poor performance review at Microsoft. What;s even worse is that Alex also stole Microsoft’s “Activation Server Software Development Kit.” This software is used by Microsoft to protect against piracy. The French blogger was able to leak that online and allow people to circumvent Microsoft’s security. Alex will appear in U.S. district court today.</div>
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Leaking renders of unreleased Lumia phones is one thing, but when you steal copies of an unreleased (and usually expensive) operating system you are asking for trouble. How do you feel about leaks? Is it a necessary evil for tech sites, or is it an immoral practice? (<i>winsource</i>)</div>

Former Microsoft employee arrested for leaking Windows 8

The tech world is driven by leaks. People are constantly trying to learn more about unreleased devices. Many sites and people have risen ...

Moto X for AT&T is getting Android 4.4.2

Unknown 0 Infotech 9:15 PM

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Moto X owners with an AT&T edition of the phone should be on the lookout for an update. The Motorola support page shows a change log for the Android 4.4.2 software along with a few fixes and a new feature. PhoneScoop spotted the log on Wednesday morning, which is an indication the update is on its way to Moto X phones that use AT&T’s network.</div>
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The software hasn’t hit my own phone yet and my attempts to force a download haven’t been successful so AT&T is likely rolling this out in waves over a few days time. Surprisingly, AT&T is the last of the four major U.S. carriers to push the software as the Moto X handsets on Verizon, Sprint and T-Mobile already saw this update starting in mid-February.</div>
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Once installed, the Moto X will jump from Android 4.4 to 4.4.2, which is a relatively modest Android update. The change log notes that the software addresses a battery issue that some Moto X users were experiencing, fixes email delays when using Microsoft Exchange and squashes an international roaming bug. Additionally, the update adds support to print photos and documents over Wi-Fi, Bluetooth or Google Cloud Print. (<i>gigaom</i>)</div>

Moto X for AT&T is getting Android 4.4.2

Moto X owners with an AT&T edition of the phone should be on the lookout for an update. The Motorola support page shows a change log ...

Good news for Brits buying a Chromecast: the iPlayer app already supports it

Unknown 0 Infotech 9:03 PM

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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEixz8G1As848njd9mKA1II7OkAYM6EjYjjKfEzfpTafvq2oaacjtnsqxNpPd9IYqKEtVRp-7QOtQXYFPldj_n7F9cyCxTuPCr1uqQAqjDFg9GJcMi9fZCbYVIdkUJbX7x_3x46s8BKbXyLH/s1600/iplayer.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEixz8G1As848njd9mKA1II7OkAYM6EjYjjKfEzfpTafvq2oaacjtnsqxNpPd9IYqKEtVRp-7QOtQXYFPldj_n7F9cyCxTuPCr1uqQAqjDFg9GJcMi9fZCbYVIdkUJbX7x_3x46s8BKbXyLH/s1600/iplayer.jpg" /></a></div>
If you’re in the UK and plan to finally get your hands on a Chromecast, the good news is that the existing BBC iPlayer Android app is already compatible with the device, reports iMore.</div>
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It may take a minute or so, or even a relaunch of the app to kick it into gear. When it’s ready to go you’ll see the standard Chromecast logo along top of the app. To cast your content you need to first connect the app by tapping on the Chromecast logo and selecting which you want to pair to. After that just go ahead and choose what you want to watch and let it do the rest … </blockquote>
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Chromecast is available in the UK from Amazon, Google Play, Currys, and PC World for £30. The iPlayer app is a free download from Google play. It allows you to watch live TV (licence required), watch programmes from the past week and download shows to many popular devices. (<i>9to5google</i>)</div>

Good news for Brits buying a Chromecast: the iPlayer app already supports it

If you’re in the UK and plan to finally get your hands on a Chromecast, the good news is that the existing BBC iPlayer Android app is alr...

3 Reasons to Skip the 8GB iPhone 5c

Unknown 0 Infotech 8:58 PM

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There are droves of new consumers out there. They’re all searching for a cheaper way to get the Next Big Thing. They want to be a part of the crowd using smartphones with the latest cool features and robust accessories. These people are excited over Apple’s announcement that it’ll introduce an 8GB iPhone 5c.</div>
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The trouble is, it makes more sense to simply skip the 8GB iPhone 5c.</div>
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<b>The Move Is Simply About Making Things Cheaper</b></h3>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi7Ga8vXVHJHR1IKKjUGjpTztPYOHBnkODwTVGWjjILeCAYmenVs6nHtMEyCvwA7P5z5HhspJVT4nJxQFK4Vw1Br-zL1a1od6KWVx2qbKAdbjgz5ngeJEP1yj7U0XuPmaCqIk6e3WQ9kach/s1600/iphone-5c-620x412.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi7Ga8vXVHJHR1IKKjUGjpTztPYOHBnkODwTVGWjjILeCAYmenVs6nHtMEyCvwA7P5z5HhspJVT4nJxQFK4Vw1Br-zL1a1od6KWVx2qbKAdbjgz5ngeJEP1yj7U0XuPmaCqIk6e3WQ9kach/s1600/iphone-5c-620x412.jpg" /></a></div>
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I always find it odd when Apple introduces a new model of anything mobile outside of September. Traditionally, these launches aren’t really about taking bold new steps to bring the latest features to users everywhere. More often than not they’re more about repositioning Apple’s line-up against industry trends the company wasn’t prepared to deal with the previous September.</div>
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Take the iPhone 5c for example, even last year industry insiders were complaining that the iPhone 5c wasn’t as cheap as Apple needed it to be. Apple clearly took this criticism to heart, but decided it would be much faster to introduce a lower cost iPhone 5c with less storage and get a bit closer to that low price investors and market analysts were hoping they would hit last year. If this is true, this move wasn’t about making iOS so small that it could fit on a device and leave users with a comfortable amount of extra storage. It was literally about hitting a price point and no matter how bad the user experience because for consumers.</div>
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8GB of Storage Is Not Enough torage</h3>
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Following that line of thinking brings us to our next real truth. For a smartphone that can record HD video and sync music collection seamlessly, 8GB of storage is an astonishing paltry amount of storage to include in the iPhone 5c. In fact, months ago some people called for Apple to stop shipping devices with 16GB of on-board storage.</div>
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Yes, there are those who stream their Netflix’ entire video collection instead of buying anything through iTunes. Yes, users could have created their music library in Spotify and stream that all too. However, all of this ignores two simple realities. First, people like to download an absolutely ridiculous amount of apps and games onto their device. Second, the size of those apps and games is increasing.</div>
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Forcing users to have to investigate whether the game they need to uninstall because they don’t have much space left syncs their saved games is just a bad idea. It’s also decidedly not like Apple to arbitrarily introduce products that create new pain points for users.</div>
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Other Devices Will Get Cheaper</h3>
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Lastly, there is the very real issue of perception versus reality with the 8GB iPhone 5c. The iPhone 5c itself isn’t some new device that adds features users couldn’t get their hands on before. Instead, it’s a way for Apple to continue to sell parts of the iPhone 5 and market it without creating consumer confusion. What people aren’t aware of is that they’re still buying last year’s iPhone and paying a premium to do so.</div>
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Based on Apple’s upgrade cycles, isn’t it just better to wait until the iPhone 5 itself actually gets cheaper? Also, it’s not as if 8GB iPhone 5c is somehow miraculously cheaper than an iPhone 5c with 16GB of storage, it’s just $55 cheaper. That’s money many users are going to wish they would have spent the moment they get addicted to a high-profile game, or storing music for offline playback later.</div>
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The iPhone 5c is launching today in the United Kingdom, Australia and China. Whether it’ll it hit the United States at some point remains a mystery. (<i>gottabemobile</i>)</div>

3 Reasons to Skip the 8GB iPhone 5c

There are droves of new consumers out there. They’re all searching for a cheaper way to get the Next Big Thing. They want to be a part of t...

Sony unveils a virtual reality device for the PlayStation 4

Unknown 0 Infotech 9:08 AM

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At the Game Developers Conference today, Sony took the wraps off a virtual reality device for the PlayStation 4, codenamed ‘<i><b>Project Morpheus</b></i>’. The immersive headset creates “presence” via sight, sound, tracking, control, ease of use, and content, Sony says.</div>
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According to a <a href="http://blogs.wsj.com/digits/2014/03/18/live-blog-sony-press-conference/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">WSJ live blog</a>, Shuhei Yoshida, the head of PlayStation’s videogame software division, explains Sony’s rationale for the headset: “Nothing elevates the level of immersion than VR… Many of us in PlayStation have dreamed of VR and what it can mean to the games we create.”</div>
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Project Morpheus’ development kit employs a 1080p display, has a 90 degree field of view and features support for 360 degree head tracking. It also features spatial sound — or what’s known as 3D audio effects.</div>
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Project Morpheus still isn’t a final product — it’s a work-in-progress so users may not get their hands on it till some time further down the road. The company, however, declined to give a possible timeline of when the headset will be launched or how much it would cost. Sony will begin demonstrating the headset at GDC and gather feedback from developers. Some Project Morpheus VR demos at GDC include The Deep, The Castle, EVE Valkyrie and Thief.</div>
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Virtual reality in gaming has been cool again thanks to Oculus Rift – and it’s little wonder that game console makers also want a slice of the pie to make gaming even more immersive. (<i>thenextweb</i>)</div>

Sony unveils a virtual reality device for the PlayStation 4

At the Game Developers Conference today, Sony took the wraps off a virtual reality device for the PlayStation 4, codenamed ‘ Project Morp...

Say hello to Android Wear, Google’s wearable operating system

Unknown 0 Infotech 8:56 AM

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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgruzvawQf3QMoXFjiu48_2i3ICSk2PkyjFJnIuOZ1xKre3lM16vk37iQq3xIywLniUqRqmf10SIkkDYSNLfTcVh4H5QQo6oII54V0tpIBNAbWN_itNlpnsMyNk7RZylAnMmzgT8iPLZeNE/s1600/Say+hello+to+Android+Wear,+Google%E2%80%99s+wearable+operating+system.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgruzvawQf3QMoXFjiu48_2i3ICSk2PkyjFJnIuOZ1xKre3lM16vk37iQq3xIywLniUqRqmf10SIkkDYSNLfTcVh4H5QQo6oII54V0tpIBNAbWN_itNlpnsMyNk7RZylAnMmzgT8iPLZeNE/s1600/Say+hello+to+Android+Wear,+Google%E2%80%99s+wearable+operating+system.png" /></a></div>
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In a surprise announcement today, Google unveiled Android Wear, an operating system for mobile devices. Based on the existing Android codebase, Wear minimizes and pares down the touch elements for a smaller display, like a smartwatch.</div>
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Along with a proof of concept watch design (seen below in the video), Android Wear combines touch and voice, based on Google Now’s extensive database of cards, to interact with the operating system. Developers can use the preview SDK, available today, to adapt their existing apps for smaller screens, but the company says “with Android’s rich notification system, many apps will already work well.”</div>
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Google is already working with OEMs like Asus, HTC, LG, Motorola and Samsung, along with Broadcom, Imagination, Intel, Mediatek and Qualcomm for chips. Fashion companies like Fossil will also power watches by Android Wear “later this year.”</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEho3V8d302_IvrmQNOKtd_YPukyzCSySYvLxOt6UcgoGuqOFa_9T3w9-5WtoJ9C9ft6HTPvXTryUjm0UuW4tX3AumcfStuEoguhZtsllS-XRocrOjGrbDjz0F3PvtxWpqdjESzV7fvOpoZq/s1600/Say+hello+to+Android+Wear.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEho3V8d302_IvrmQNOKtd_YPukyzCSySYvLxOt6UcgoGuqOFa_9T3w9-5WtoJ9C9ft6HTPvXTryUjm0UuW4tX3AumcfStuEoguhZtsllS-XRocrOjGrbDjz0F3PvtxWpqdjESzV7fvOpoZq/s1600/Say+hello+to+Android+Wear.png" /></a></div>
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The “expansive catalogue of apps,” which will soon be available, will provide quick access to information like social media posts, chats and notifications; the ability to reply using the existing voice command “OK Google,”; exercise goals from fitness apps and activity reminders; and a cross-platform screen between the phone and the smartwatch.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiPVhxrBbktgidsZEr-FIBSjYshDPi0myoUEQCDftERgr_9hcfPZtZa79bkCx_nOIO2kPArtB41KIwxsR_o8fdrkREAPhYb4eXQMZopEZ2nh1v5qXHMOXLq2PJqeaLccMr-x4K6DAP0x6N-/s1600/Google%E2%80%99s+wearable+operating+system.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiPVhxrBbktgidsZEr-FIBSjYshDPi0myoUEQCDftERgr_9hcfPZtZa79bkCx_nOIO2kPArtB41KIwxsR_o8fdrkREAPhYb4eXQMZopEZ2nh1v5qXHMOXLq2PJqeaLccMr-x4K6DAP0x6N-/s1600/Google%E2%80%99s+wearable+operating+system.png" /></a></div>
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More on this soon. (<i>mobilesyrup</i>)<br />
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Say hello to Android Wear, Google’s wearable operating system

In a surprise announcement today, Google unveiled Android Wear, an operating system for mobile devices. Based on the existing Android cod...

Mt. Gox login page returns, only lets users check their balance

Unknown 0 Infotech 10:00 AM

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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiQBIZKkf8yJQEMg6CM7K1a-7jcIsTIa6PoPFj2kRKtBv1uGPamS2JARKUkBYSn1r12liT6GOmStiGE5xIvSRsSyJPnaw7KU5p9y1RfynkzL9rakMRN8mGXR0GxVTKzfoIQGSuIytWoJB8H/s1600/bitcoin_yearinreview.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiQBIZKkf8yJQEMg6CM7K1a-7jcIsTIa6PoPFj2kRKtBv1uGPamS2JARKUkBYSn1r12liT6GOmStiGE5xIvSRsSyJPnaw7KU5p9y1RfynkzL9rakMRN8mGXR0GxVTKzfoIQGSuIytWoJB8H/s1600/bitcoin_yearinreview.jpg" /></a></div>
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Wondering where your Bitcoins are? Looks like Mt. Gox is giving you an official way to check. The fallen Bitcoin exchange has updated its homepage with a sparse login screen, inviting users to sign in and check their wallet's balance -- with a caveat. "This balance confirmation service is provided on this site only for the convenience of all users," the site warns. "Confirming the balance on this site does not constitute a filing of rehabilitation claims under the civil rehabilitation procedure... ...and should also not be considered an acknowledgement by MtGox Co., Ltd. of the amount of any rehabilitation claims of users."</div>
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That legalese is referring to Japan's Civil Rehabilitation Law and Mt. Gox's bankruptcy proceedings, which are counting the company's assets to suss out a liquidation value. Mt. Gox users with Bitcoin stuck in limbo may eventually get a percentage of their wallet's worth based on the official totals. It's not a particularly heartening disclaimer, but at least it gives users a way to verify their online wallets without putting their accounts at risk. (<i>engadget</i>)</div>

Mt. Gox login page returns, only lets users check their balance

Wondering where your Bitcoins are? Looks like Mt. Gox is giving you an official way to check. The fallen Bitcoin exchange has updated its...

iPhone Is Most Desired Smartphone In Emerging Markets [Survey]

Unknown 0 Infotech 8:57 AM

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Companies pay special attention to emerging markets as there’s significant room there for growth. Such markets are catered to by a plethora of low-end or mid-range smartphones, usually powered by Android. Samsung holds a strong position, which gives it a leg up on Apple when it comes to their global statistics. The iPhone doesn’t exactly fit the range of most customers in emerging markets, though that doesn’t mean they can’t desire for one. A recent survey finds that in majority of the emerging markets, iPhone happens to be the most desired smartphone.</div>
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Customers polled by Ovum and Upstream in China, India, Brazil, Nigeria and Vietnam were asked about the smartphone of their choice. 32 percent of all polled said that they desire the iPhone. Samsung came in second place with 29 percent. In third place comes Nokia, with 13 percent of polled consumers desiring its devices. Even if they can’t buy an iPhone, the survey goes to show that they would if they could afford to.</div>
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The interesting thing to note is that back in 2012 the exact same survey revealed 32 percent in favor of Samsung. Back then, only 21 percent of those polled said that they desired an iPhone. In just one year Apple has managed to knock Samsung off in emerging markets, as far as the desirability is concerned. (<i>ubergizmo</i>)</div>

iPhone Is Most Desired Smartphone In Emerging Markets [Survey]

Companies pay special attention to emerging markets as there’s significant room there for growth. Such markets are catered to by a pletho...