Tag: apps

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Facebook Reverses Course on Separate Messenger App

facebook messenger returns to facebook appI WIN!!!

Ok. So I was never really concerned with privacy issues or permissions on the standalone messenger app Facebook forced users to install. The app’s notification settings and geo-location controls bothered me. Also the design, including the messenger icon in the Facebook app, which showed notifications, but then forcing a second app, was another nitpicky reason for me to fight it.

Since the switch, I’ve been replying to instant messages through my browser. Clumsy, but I could stick to my “first world problem” principles.

Well it seems that Facebook might be reversing course on the two app solution. On the newest update (version 21.0.0.23.12) if you clear out your data or reinstall the app, the messenger “Nag Screen” has changed back. You can now bypass that screen, and IM through the main FB app again. It’s unclear why Facebook might have made this 180, or if this is a permanent change.

VICTORY! How sweet it is…

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Microsoft Unveils Health App and $199 Band Smart Fitness Tracker

microsoft band smartwatch fitness trackerThe rumors of a Microsoft smartwatch are true!

Taking the wraps off of a new app and new hardware, the Microsoft Band will retail for $199. It features a 320×106 pixel capacitive touchscreen, built in GPS, a heart rate sensor, skin temperature sensor, Galvanic skin monitor, UV and Ambient light sensors, and a microphone. They’re only rating it as dust and splash resistant, so it might not be a good option for swimmers.

microsoft band smartwatch fitness tracker exploded view disassemblyInterestingly enough, there are two 100 mAh batteries, about half the capacity of the new LG G Watch R, but Microsoft is estimating 48 hour battery life.

While it’s built around fitness tracking, it will also pair with phones over Bluetooth for the standard collection of notifications and alerts. Happily, Microsoft is making this watch cross platform, so it will work with Windows Phone, iOS, and Android, though only Windows Phone users will have access to Cortana from their wrist.

microsoft band smartwatch fitness tracker heart rate monitorThe Band is being launch alongside a new Health app, which is also cross platform for Windows Phone, iOS, and Android. While Health is designed to be a fitness tracking service, both the Band and the app will leverage cloud services and will work with other fitness services like RunKeeper and UP by Jawbone.

Are these the features you’ve been looking for in a smartwatch? Leave us a comment below!

 

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Video First Look: Google’s new “Inbox” app for GMail!

Email is one of my biggest time wasters when it comes to getting my work done, and I’m pretty terrible at organizing it consistently. Any tools that can actually help me clean out my inbox are greatly appreciated, and that’s what Google is aiming to do with this new Inbox app. At the time this video was shot, it was an Invite only public BETA, so let’s take a look!

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Windows Phone Game Review: Square Me

Square ME squareI have come across quite a few interesting games in the Windows Phone Store and today we are taking a look at one of the simplest yet fun games out there.

Square Me is a bare bones game which has no options nor does it have any setting to adjust game play. Square Me has one objective which is to find the tile that does not match and tap it so you can advance to the next level.

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At the beginning of the game you start out at Level 1 which has four big tiles but as you advance the tiles become smaller and the color change of the mismatched tile become ever so slight. Believe me it can be a challenge as you advance in levels. Of course you also have a timer that counts down while hunting the mismatched color tile, adding to the tension. Good luck! Continue reading “Windows Phone Game Review: Square Me”

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Nokia Here Maps BETA on Samsung (and Other Androids if You Like to Tinker)

***Updated: See HERE Maps in action on video at the end of this post!***

First off, a little shoutout to the fanbois and “I don’t like things which are different than I currently use” crowd. If you have to ask

“Why would I want this on my Android?”

I’m going to counter with “You must not be very good with tech stuff”. You sound like Tomtom users did back when Google started developing their own mapping app. Stop it. You’re better than that.

Nokia recently made the announcement that they would be slowing development of their HERE mapping suite on Windows Phone to focus on supporting Android. We’re now starting to see the fruits of this labor with a really solid BETA effort soon available on Samsung handsets through Samsung’s proprietary app store. Of course in AndroidLand (and dealing with the more open nature of the OS) apps can leak, and it’s pretty easy to side load an app without the aid of an official app store. Such is the case with the HERE Maps BETA APK, and of course, just to be a snarky butt, I installed in on an LG G3. W?BIC!

Continue reading “Nokia Here Maps BETA on Samsung (and Other Androids if You Like to Tinker)”

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Review: Modern New Tab Page extension for Chrome

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If you are an avid fan of Chrome then you know how useful extensions can be. Today we are looking at the New Tab Page extension for Chrome.

If you love tiles then this extension is for you. The Modern New Tab Page is chock full of customization options. This extension allows you to create a custom background image which you can change the opacity and color. The live tiles can be configured into three different sizes so you can arrange the tiles any way you want. Modern New Tab Page has a total of 26 different color themes to match your style. Setting up the Modern New Tab page is really easy to do. Continue reading “Review: Modern New Tab Page extension for Chrome”

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Will Nokia End HERE Maps Support for Windows Phone?

wp_ss_20140925_0001When Microsoft acquired Nokia’s hardware division, they did not get all of Nokia’s assets. One team to remain under the Nokia badge was the HERE mapping division, and it’s quickly become a favorite of Windows Phone users, bringing terrific turn-by-turn directions and downloadable maps to Microsoft’s ecosystem.

Reported today by The Next Web, a Nokia Executive Sean Fernback was quoted in regards to future HERE development:

“today we still maintain the [HERE] Windows Phone apps, it has our brand on it so we need to look after it, although we’re not particularly investing in them at the moment, that could still change. With the Nokia X program, we were authorized to continue to work on it until about now really, but that work is about to cease. I think there have been a number of different programmes that have continued through the year onto different platforms, but now it’s just going to focus on the two – Android and iOS.”

We’ve known that HERE Maps would be making a transition to Android, specifically on Samsung devices, and it would make sense that the team would be turning more resources to the newer (and larger) platforms. HERE Maps is not leaving Windows Phone, but for fans of Microsoft’s OS (and ostensibly Nokia’s hardware) a reduction in support could be a worrying proposition. There are already precious few outlets developing for the WP platform.

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4K Video Recording Coming to Lumia 1520 and 930 with “Lumia Denim” Update

Lumia_CameraWe recently covered some of the updates we’d like to see for the Nokia Camera, and it would seem the Lumia team has been paying attention.

Following on the heels of Microsoft’s Windows Phone 8.1 Update 1, which brings Apps Corner and Folder support, Nokia is also detailing their custom software improvements. There will of course be speed improvements and bug fixes, but we’ll also see a few features coming to the camera that have been noticeably absent.

The Qualcomm 800 powered phones will finally receive 4K video recording at 24 FPS, and specific mention was made of improving low light image processing. We’ll also see an HDR mode included and the ability to save individual frames from a video as still photos.

Nokia is also leveraging their “SensorCore” tech to add Cortana voice activation. While the phone is idle, the voice command “Hey Cortana” will wake the phone and start a voice search.

You can see all the rest of the goodies included in Windows Phone 8.1 Update 1 in our video review below!

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