PC Tech World: mobile

Showing posts with label mobile. Show all posts

Tuesday, October 1, 2013

Use Sound Frequency To Share Files Between Two Phones - Chirp

I know you won't believe this magic. I also didn't believed this till I try myself. It's actually a magic! It's fun to share files between phones now.

For this, you need two smartphones. Apple iOS or Google Android.

The software uses two matching sound frequencies to connect the phones. If the two phones have the same surrounding sounds, then you can "Chirp" between these two.

As I tried, the phones should be near around 3 meters. Because, if the phone s are not closer, the sounds each phone gets is different than the other one.

Download for Android

Download for iOS.

Let's get serious here. The app really don't share files between phones via audio frequencies. It only uses the sound frequencies to match the two phones. Chirp uses Internet connection on your phones to share files. So, I don't think it's a better idea to share large files from Chirp if you have no data packages in active.

Here is a simple video explanation for the app.

By: Unknown On 5:27 PM

Tuesday, April 23, 2013

Preva Mobile for iOS aims to track your workouts, keep you going to the gym

Dragging yourself to the gym in the wee hours of the morning already takes a heaping helping of dedication, but fitness equipment manufacturer Precor is betting that it can provide additional motivation with its new iOS app: Preva Mobile. By wielding the software, users can monitor and set goals for calories burned, distance and duration, and even log their actions outside the gym for activities ranging from rollerblading to skiing. What's more is that the application acts as an extension of the firm's Preva fitness tracking console built into its 880 line of cardio equipment, and keeps data synced between devices and exercise machines through the cloud.

In addition to helping folks keep tabs on their activity, the digital logbook rewards users with points and badges, which they can ~~brag about~~ share on Twitter and Facebook. There's no sign of an Android version just yet, but we doubt your personal trainer will buy that as an excuse to stray from your workout regimen.

Show full PR text

New Precor® "Preva® Mobile" App Motivates Exercisers to Meet Fitness Goals Both In and Outside the Gym

Take your fitness journey beyond the Preva enabled 880 Line of cardio equipment to reach goals anywhere

Woodinville, WA - April 22, 2013 - Precor®, a leading home and commercial fitness equipment manufacturer, today announced the availability of Preva® Mobile, a free iOS application available in the iTunes store. Preva Mobile is the perfect companion for enthusiasts looking to set and reach goals in their fitness journey. Whether using the Preva enabled 880 Line of Precor cardio equipment or wanting to track a variety of other activities such as cycling, strength training, running and more, Preva Mobile allows users to create a comprehensive log of activities, stay on top of goals and keep motivated. It is the first and only app to reward users with achievement badges for reaching workout milestones.

"The Preva reward system is proven to keep exercisers tuned in to their fitness goals," said Brent Brooks, Precor Vice President of Networked Fitness. "It goes beyond simple numbers tracking to provide meaningful guidance and motivation when exercisers need it most. Preva Mobile extends this same encouragement system to members away from the gym, making it a powerful tool for operators to drive up retention."

Preva Mobile is the latest enhancement to Preva, the market's most widely deployed networked fitness solution for facility operators. It extends the reach of Preva Personal Accounts beyond Precor 880 cardio equipment, and syncs all data in the cloud for anytime, anywhere access. With the app, exercisers can log activities for points, set goals, achieve badge rewards, and monitor their overall progress on a daily, weekly or lifetime basis – all through the same elegant user interface Precor is known for on their 880 cardio equipment.

•Setting Goals – It is easy to get started with Preva Mobile and start working toward your fitness goals. Simply create an account, set a weekly objective for number of workout days and an associated goal for calories, distance or duration. Exercisers that set goals with Preva are proven to work out on average one day more per week than those that don't.

•Logging Activities – Regardless of the equipment or activity, Preva Mobile allows users to quickly and easily input any activity via the "activity panel" which includes four categories: Cardio Equipment, Sports & Fitness, Strength Equipment and Body Weight Exercises. Select from expansive drop down menus that feature activities such as elliptical, swimming, hiking and more. If you're already on a Preva enabled cardio machine, simply login, or if on Precor Discovery strength equipment, scan the QR code to instantly log the activity. Don't lose a single workout while on your fitness journey.

•Tracking Results – The intuitive interface and fitness compass allow Preva Mobile users to instantly visualize progress against predefined goals. Data is stored in the cloud, so individuals can access information in real-time from anywhere in the world.

•Achieving Rewards – Built on the principles of gamification, Preva Mobile keeps exercisers motivated with badge achievements. Fun and educational, these one-of-a-
kind badges keep users engaged with their fitness goals, and achievements can be shared on leading social media sites like Twitter and Facebook. Gain badges such as "Golden Gate," rewarded for burning 232 calories, the average equivalent of walking from one side of the Golden Gate Bridge to the other.

•Music and More – Preva Mobile is designed to enhance the entire fitness experience. It allows users to import music play lists and save favorite workouts.

For operators, Preva Mobile deepens member relationships by providing a mobile platform for managing all fitness activities, not just those on Preva enabled equipment or inside the gym.

"Operators are eager to capitalize on networked fitness and differentiate themselves by offering customers tools that motivate them to reach goals," added Brooks. "Preva Mobile is the glue that gyms need to tie together the facility experience with the rest of a person's fitness journey. Exercisers are guided toward success from anywhere."

Source: Preva (iTunes)

Ultra Mobile debuts $19 calling plan with unlimited international SMS

If you're living on a tight budget but still need to keep in touch with loved ones who live abroad, you'll be glad to know of a new calling plan from Ultra Mobile. The upstart MVNO offers discounted access to T-Mobile's network, and for $19 per month, you'll fetch unlimited text messages to 194 countries, 250 voice minutes (with $1.25 toward international calling), and 50MB of data usage. For comparison, Simple Mobile offers a $25 plan that includes unlimited international texting and domestic calling, but if you let your thumbs do most of the talking, Ultra Mobile brings a lot of value to the table. You can snag its $19 plan starting tomorrow, which might be the perfect match for whatever Nokia has up its sleeve.

Source: FierceWireless

Monday, April 22, 2013

Mobile Miscellany: week of April 15th, 2013

If you didn't get enough mobile news during the week, not to worry, because we've opened the firehose for the truly hardcore. This week brought a possible arrival date of the Lumia 521 to T-Mobile, our best look yet at the Lumia 928 for Verizon and news of a new Android compatibility option for Tizen. These stories and more await after the break. So buy the ticket and take the ride as we explore all that's happening in the mobile world for this week of April 15th, 2013.

Lumia 521 outed for April 24th at T-Mobile Mobile Miscellany week of April 15th, 2013

Shopping for a Windows Phone on T-Mobile? Take a look at the carrier's website and you'll find a rude surprise: the HTC 8X is nowhere to be found and the Lumia 810 is only available in refurbished form. On the upside, a leak from TmoNews suggests the current drought is unlikely to last too long, as the Lumia 521 is set to arrive in stores on April 24th. Curiously, the leak also revealed that the Lumia 810 is set to receive the axe next month, but it mentioned nothing of a similar fate for the HTC 8X. Perhaps Ms. Magenta's high-end Windows Phone has yet to take its final bow? [TmoNews, WPCentral]

Lumia 928 gets an all angles tour, inside and out Mobile Miscellany week of April 15th, 2013

We know, we know, you can't get enough of the Lumia 928. This week revealed our best look yet at Verizon's upcoming Windows Phone with an all angles view from @evleaks and a video from ETrade Supply that examines the phone's display and digitizer assembly. This time around, we've learned that the Lumia 928 will contain a 4.5-inch display, and it appears that even the white model will feature a black faceplate. Meanwhile, as ETrade Supply explains, the display and digitizer of the Lumia 928 are bonded together, unlike the separate assemblies found in the Lumia 920. As you can see, this allows for a slimmer setup, with sides that are highly reminiscent of the Lumia 810, which is quite befitting of a top-shelf device. [@evleaks, PhoneArena]

Tizen gains another Android compatibility option Mobile Miscellany week of April 15th, 2013

It's no secret that Samsung is looking to decrease its reliance on Android with the Tizen OS, but to have any success, it'll need a viable app ecosystem. If Infraware has any say in the matter, however, that may not be much of a hurdle. This week, the Korean company (primarily known for Polaris Office) announced an Android-to-Tizen app converter known as the Polaris App Generator. Unlike a similar compatibility product from Open Mobile that's aimed at OEMs, Infraware promises app developers the ability to easily repackage their APKs into TPKs, which can then be published to the Tizen Store. It's no secret that BlackBerry has used the app compatibility route to a great advantage, which opens the possibility that Infraware may play a significant role in the adoption of Tizen. An enviable position, indeed. [PR Newswire]

Other random tidbits Bell Mobility has put the BlackBerry Q10 up for pre-order, which will ring in at $199.95 on a three-year contract. [MobileSyrup] The Sony Xperia ZL is now available at Mobilicity for $599.99 outright. [MobileSyrup] The Nexus 4 arrived at Telus this week for $99 on a two-year contract. Likewise, the phone is also now available from Koodo Mobile, and depending on your plan, it can be snagged for as low as $250. [MobileSyrup 1, 2] Videotron introduced a new smartphone plan that brings unlimited talk, text and 3GB of data usage for $54.95 per month. [MobileSyrup] Google Voice for Android was updated to improve the reliability of SMS delivery. [Android Central] AT&T activated its LTE network in Cheyenne, Wyo., Cushing, Okla., and Florence, S.C. [Android Central] Verizon Wireless announced new LTE markets this week in El Centro, Calif.; Middlesboro, Harlan and Paducah, Ky.; Cambridge, Senecaville and East Liverpool, Ohio; and Fort Dodge, Iowa. [Verizon Wireless 1, 2] Citizens in Fredericton, New Brunswick report that LTE service is now active from Bell and Telus. [MobileSyrup] Must-read mobile stories Nokia Lumia 720 review Verizon added 677,000 subscribers, made a $1.95 billion profit in Q1 2013 (updated) Nokia hits $7.7 billion in revenue for Q1 2013 with 5.6 million Lumias sold Motorola design chief: stock Android phones, cross-carrier brands coming later this year Samsung Galaxy Mega hands-on (video) Eric Schmidt: Google now at 1.5 million Android activations per day Verizon in talks to lease Clearwire spectrum for $1.5 billion Dish Network bids $25.5 billion for Sprint, goes head-to-head with Softbank

[Mobile Miscellany photo credit: Thristian / Flickr]

Source

By: Unknown On 11:16 PM

Saturday, April 20, 2013

Twitter narrows TweetDeck AIR and mobile app shutdowns to May 7th

Twitter has been warning for weeks that it would shut down TweetDeck's AIR and mobile apps sometime in early May, but it didn't say exactly when loyalists would finally have to move on. The company now has a firm date: May 7th. In just over two weeks, Twitter will both pull the apps from their respective stores and stop existing installs from working as the service's version 1.0 API rides into the sunset. While the persisting native and web-based desktop apps will lessen some of the sting, we'd suggest that you pay your last respects if you have fond memories of TweetDeck's early apps.

Via: Android Central

Source: TweetDeck

Wednesday, April 17, 2013

Tiny lithium-ion battery recharges 1000x faster than rival tech, could shrink mobile devices

Researchers devise 'most powerful' batteries in the world, shame supercapacitors

Supercapacitors are often hailed as the holy grail of power supplies, but a group of researchers at the University of Illinois have developed a lithium-ion microbattery that leaves that prized solution in the dust, recharging 1,000 times faster than competing tech. Previous work done by Professor William P. King, who led the current effort, resulted in a fast-charging cathode with a 3D microstructure, and now the team has achieved a breakthrough by pairing it with an anode devised in a similar fashion.

The resulting battery is said to be the most powerful in the world, avoiding the usual trade-off between longevity and power while having a footprint of just a few millimeters. By altering its composition, scientists can even optimize the contraption for more juice or increased life. It's expected that the technology could make devices 30 times smaller and help broadcast radio signals up to 30 times farther, but it'll still be a while before it winds up in a super-slim phone within your pocket. For now, the researchers have their sights set on integrating the tech with other electronic components and investigating low-cost manufacturing.

Via: Eureka Alert

Source: University of Illinois News Bureau

Google speeds up mobile web search, introduces expandable sitelinks and quick view badges

Continuing its efforts to speed up the way we find things when searching the web from our smartphones, Google is rolling out expandable sitelinks. Instead of wasting time sifting through a website trying to locate a specific page, this new feature generates a list of related quick links that allow you to jump directly to what you're looking for. Already available in desktop results, expandable links are hit or miss when used on mobile. Not stopping there, Google also announced the release of its new Quick view badges. This experimental project produces highlighted links from Wikipedia, which offer snippets of information relevant to your query. Pictured above are results for different types of poker hands. It won't stop you from losing your money, but now you'll always remember a flush beats a straight. As of now Quick view is only available in English search results, but Google is working on adding support for additional languages.

Source: Google

Friday, April 12, 2013

China UnionPay and Intel join forces for secure mobile payment

Intel Developer Forum in Beijing: Day Two

April 11, 2013 - During their keynotes at the Intel Developer Forum in Beijing today, Doug Fisher, vice president and general manager, Intel Systems Software Division, and Justin Rattner, chief technology officer, discussed how Intel Corporation is modernizing computing to deliver amazing new experiences to users. Here are brief summaries and the news disclosed during the keynotes.

Doug Fisher, "Intel's Vision for Developers"
Vice President and General Manager, Systems Software Division

Doug Fisher, vice president and general manager of Intel's System Software Division, opened the second day of IDF, addressing several myths surrounding the industry and providing a vision of the vast opportunities that await developers. Specifically, he showcased Intel's transformation of the PC experience and advances in device segments, support of multiple operating environments, and efforts to help developers scale and modernize computing with new hardware features and software advancements for more compelling user experiences. He discussed how developers can incorporate touch and sensor interfaces to modernize applications, and use perceptual compute technologies to enable consumers to interact with PCs via voice control, gesture recognition, and more.

Intel® HTML5 Development Environment: Intel strongly supports and actively invests in HTML5 to ensure this development platform continues to evolve and remain open to innovation, while also helping application developers lower total cost and improve time-to-market for cross-platform application development and deployment. Based on Web standards and supported by W3C, HTML5 enables software developers to create applications once and deploy across multiple platforms with the potential to reach billions of devices, users and customers -- a feat that is difficult to achieve due to the fragmented operating system environment.

Fisher introduced the Intel® HTML5 Development Environment to make HTML5 development accessible to all developers. The solution provides a front-to-back and integrated cross-platform development environment to develop, test and deploy applications for multiple operating systems including iOS*, Android*, Windows* 8 and Windows Phone 8. The Intel HTML5 Development Environment assists developers deploy applications through multiple application stores including Amazon* Appstore, Apple* App Store, Facebook*, Google Chrome Web Store, Google* Play Store and Windows* Phone Store. The Intel HTML5 Development Environment is available to developers from the HTML5 zone on Intel® Developer Zone with no license or usage fees.

UnionPay Announces Cooperation with Intel in Mobile Payments: Using complex technologies including near field communications (NFC), mobile payments and Intel® Identity Protection Technology, Intel has collaborated with a global bankcard network UnionPay, to make mobile payments both easy and secure. Speaking during Fisher's keynote, Hongfeng Chai, executive vice president of UnionPay, introduced the UnionPay Quick Pass service in which consumers can use a NFC smartphone powered by the Intel processor to pay for products everywhere from department stores to vending machines.

Justin Rattner, "Architecting the Future of Computing"
Chief Technology Officer

Intel Chief Technology Officer, Justin Rattner, took the stage to discuss how Intel Labs is drawing up plans for a bright future. He revealed a vision for connected and sustainable cities where information technology helps to address challenges of clean air, clean water, better health and improved safety. He explained how today's mobile, urban lifestyle is demanding faster and cheaper wireless broadband communications. Forecasting a move beyond the information age, Rattner described a new era coined "the data society" and showed how information in the cloud will work on everyone's behalf, collaboratively and safely, by analyzing and relating different data to deliver new value to individuals, enterprises and society as a whole.

Silicon Photonics: Today, Rattner demonstrated for the first time publicly a fully functional silicon photonics module incorporating Intel® Silicon Photonics Technology (SPT) and operating at 100 gigabits per second (Gbps). This is a completely integrated module that includes silicon modulators, detectors, waveguides and circuitry. Intel believes this is the only module in the world that uses a hybrid silicon laser. The demonstration was made via a video during Rattner's keynote.

In addition to the Intel SPT module, Rattner showed the new photonics cable and connector that Intel is developing with Corning. This new connector has fewer moving parts, is less susceptible to dust and costs less than other photonics connectors. Intel and Corning intend to make this new cable and connector an industry standard. Rattner said the connector can carry 1.6 terabits of information per second.

Intel Developer Forum

IDF spans the worlds of mobility, digital enterprise, digital home, and technology and research. Held at the China National Convention Center on April 10-11, the event is geared toward the Chinese market in support of local innovation and Intel's industry leadership in the region. Next up on the IDF schedule is a 3-day event in San Francisco, which will be held Sept. 10-12 at Moscone Center West. Further information is available at www.intel.com/idf.

Source

By: Unknown On 10:34 AM

LG Optimus F7 leaked as potential suitor for Boost Mobile

Travel back to the time of Mobile World Congress and you'll surely recall the LG Optimus F7, a well-specced mid-tier smartphone that left us quite impressed. Now, @evleaks has shared a peek of the device that's adorned with the Now Network's branding, and if all goes according to plans, the serial leaker suggests the phone will soon hit Sprint-owned Boost Mobile. A few notable features of the Optimus F7 include a 4.7-inch True HD IPS display, a dual-core 1.5GHz CPU, an 8-megapixel primary camera, 2GB RAM and Android 4.1.2, which would pose a heavy challenge to Boost's current premiere smartphone, the HTC One SV. Naturally, we'd certainly welcome the Optimus F7 on Sprint (and even Virgin Mobile), and given the Sprint Zone branding, we'll remain cautiously hopeful that Dan Hesse is thinking the same.

Source: @evleaks (9to5Google)

Wednesday, April 10, 2013

Nintendo lands 'remotely controlled mobile device control' patent

You know those goofy tennis racket peripherals that allow for Wiimote insertion? Or, perhaps more sensibly, those Guitar Hero axes that wouldn't function without a Wiimote planted at the heart? Looks as if Nintendo's going to do us all one better. Based on a rambling new patent granted to the Big N this week, the company now holds the power to concoct a "remotely controlled mobile device control system." Distilled down, the verbiage describes a Wiimote-type controller being embedded within a "remote controlled toy," which would then be (unsurprisingly) used in conjunction with a game console. Essentially, this opens the door for Honda to develop a new variant of ASIMO that takes commands via an embedded Wii controller... or, for a Wii-infused robot to turn on its owner and commit unspeakable crimes against humanity. But hey, it'll probably be pretty cute.

Source: USPTO

Saturday, March 30, 2013

FCC confident in its mobile phone radiation limits, seeks second opinions

Cast your memory back to last summer. Sweep away memories of iPhone 5 leaks galore, and you might remember that the US Government Accountability Office (GAO) asked the FCC to reevaluate its radiation limits for mobile phones. Now a few seasons later, the FCC has finally wrapped up a report that responds to the GAO, and there are no changes to its RF radiation levels in sight because it feels comfortable with its current caps. "We continue to have confidence in the current exposure limits, and note that more recent international standards have a similar basis," reads the report. However, given that its guidelines were adopted in 1996, new research on radiation and the proliferation of mobile devices, the FCC would like some feedback regarding its restrictions. It's put out a call for comments from concerned parties and even federal health and safety bodies.

Though the freshly-released document didn't rock the proverbial boat, it made one change worth noting. The pinna (outer ear) is now classified an extremity, which means the FCC allows devices to hit the tissue with more radiation. Feel like poring through 201 pages of regulatory minutiae? Click the source link below for the commission's full dossier.

Via: The Verge

Source: FCC

Tuesday, March 26, 2013

T-Mobile's Sonic 2.0 mobile hotspot revealed, brings LTE-powered WiFi to the masses

TMobile's Sonic 20 mifi revealed, brings LTEpowered WiFi to the magenta loving masses T-Mobile's UnCarrier announcement event is taking place a little later today, but some bits of news have started to leak out ahead of time. First was the BlackBerry Z10, and now comes an LTE mobile hotspot, the Sonic 2.0. It's T-mo's first LTE mifi and can feed data to up to eight devices at a time. Not only that, it's compatible with both Mac OSX 10.8 and Windows 8, plus Microsofties get the added benefit of compatibility with the Win8 Carrier application so users can easily access real-time data usage info for every connected gadget. As for the hardware, the Sonic 2.0 has a 1.77-inch color LCD on the front, a 3,000 mAh battery, 802.11 b/g/n WiFi and quadband LTE and 3G radios on board. There's also a MicroSD slot for simple file sharing of up to 32GB cards. It'll be available by the end of the month, though we don't yet know how much it'll cost. Guess you'll have to tune into our liveblog to find out.

Via: Laptop Mag

Source: T-Mobile

Havok announces Project Anarchy, a new development engine for mobile gaming

HAVOK™ LIBERATES MOBILE DEVELOPERS WITH PROJECT ANARCHY!

COMPLETE 3D MOBILE GAME DEVELOPMENT ENGINE AVAILABLE FOR FREE THIS SPRING

SAN FRANCISCO, CA-March 26, 2013-At the 2013 Game Developers Conference today, Havok™
unveiled Project Anarchy, a complete end-to-end mobile 3D game production engine. Havok announced
that developing and releasing a game with the technology will be free on many leading mobile
platforms, without commercial restrictions on company size or revenue.

Project Anarchy will include Havok's Vision Engine together with access to Havok's industry-leading suite
of Physics, Animation and AI tools as used in cutting-edge franchises such as Skyrim™, Halo, Assassin's
Creed®, Uncharted and Skylanders. The free download will also include a broad range of game samples
and tutorials to help the mobile development community hit the ground running. Havok will be giving
open previews of the technology on the main show floor throughout GDC.

As part of this initiative, Havok will launch an online community to proactively promote and support
developers through all stages of production via a dedicated website www.projectanarchy.com.
Project Anarchy will also encourage free sharing and collaborative development of extensions and
customizations by the community.

"We're consistently blown away by what the AAA industry creates with our technology," said Ross
O'Dwyer, Head of Developer Relations at Havok. "We're really delighted to be able to offer these
professional grade tools to mobile developers for free and we look forward to supporting the mobile
game development community to make some stunning games with the technology over the next few
years."

Source

By: Unknown On 9:35 PM

Saturday, March 23, 2013

Plex for iOS 3.1 brings a mobile media server, deep content filters

Plex just last month gave its Android app a big overhaul that turned it into a full-fledged media hub; it's now the iOS app's turn. A Plex for iOS 3.1 update adds the same Mobile Media Server that we saw earlier, letting an iDevice dish out both its photo albums and synced content to any other Plex client, whether it's a PC or a Roku box. It also introduces the extra-refined library filtering you see above, push notifications for social interactions and the rough version of a unified transcoder that can handle more recent codecs. There are many, many other tweaks and fixes under the hood -- suffice it to say that you'll want to swing by the App Store for an upgrade if Plex is a cornerstone of your home theater.

Via: Plex

Source: App Store

Wednesday, March 13, 2013

Google Shopping ads go mobile for especially impulsive buyers

Many of us have done some online comparison shopping while we're standing in a physical store. Just ask Best Buy. Google, however, is betting that at least some of us want to splurge on a better deal without even leaving the search page: it's expanding Google Shopping product listing ads to include smartphone search results. Run a relevant query and you'll see a small block of store listings, with options to either jump right to a tempting product or visit a location-aware Google Shopping page with a wider selection. Some existing ads automatically fit the bill and should start showing immediately, but we'd expect considerably more of them as companies look to snag customers before they've even considered heading back home.

Via: The Next Web

Source: Inside AdWords

Deezer App Studio goes mobile, brings apps to Android and iOS listeners

As much as we like extending our music universe through apps within the likes of Deezer and Spotify, that wider experience hasn't usually carried over to mobile. Deezer, at least, thinks it can put those apps inside our pockets. App Studio now supports building add-ons for both Android and iOS devices, giving travelers music and social components beyond what Deezer can provide on its own. The company isn't relying just on phones and tablets to pad its customer base, though. It's also improving the behind-the-scenes framework to bolster gaming through its API, and an affiliate program will pay social app creators every time one of their users subscribes to Deezer. Us listeners will just have to wait for developers to implement App Studio and the API changes before we reap any potential rewards.

Show full PR text

Deezer unveils its developer reward scheme, powerful API upgrades and a series of new apps

Leading music streaming service Deezer is to launch a series of sweeping updates to its platform to give developers the opportunity to build products around music globally and open up new revenue streams from their products.

Deezer's Affiliate Programme

Deezer is to launch an affiliate programme for developers using its Open API. This will enable developers building music into their social apps with the API to be financially rewarded for every person they refer to Deezer who goes on to subscribe. Every time a person subscribes to Deezer after discovering the service through an app, the developer will receive a payment equivalent to a month's Deezer subscription.

The programme has been created not only to encourage more sign-ups to Deezer, but also to generate a more interactive and fluid experience, where fans enjoying a music or gaming app can find themselves discovering Deezer's 20 million song catalogue in just a few clicks.

Deezer CEO Axel Dauchez said:

"Music streaming isn't about giving people access to soulless databases of songs – we want to build an immersive and entertaining experience that gets people hooked on Deezer. Our affiliate scheme and API improvements will help developers seamlessly bring music into their greatest apps. We can't wait to see what they'll build."

Deeper API Integrations to enable global reach

Deezer is announcing a series of changes to its API, all of which allow deeper integrations between social apps and the music service. Activity within Deezer apps will now appear in Deezer's social bar, giving apps greater visibility, helping them spread faster through friends and creating a more engaging experience for those using them. Additional API features have been added to enable and encourage the development of gaming experiences built around music.

To demonstrate the potential of the updated APIs, Deezer is to launch Askking Music, an app which combines gaming with music discovery. People using Askking Music can challenge their Deezer contacts and Facebook friends to identify tracks from shared favourites and playlists.

Additional apps coming soon to the platform include:

Moosify – dating through a shared love for music
Seevl – new tools for music discovery

These apps are available globally, showcasing the ability of Deezer's Open API to support international app development and revenue generation for developers. Askking Music is available in 9 languages and 183 countries. Local Deezer editorial teams will tailor the music available to local tastes.

Deezer's Platform Partnerships manager Axel Calandre said:

"Developers and the amazing apps they build are incredibly important to Deezer and make the platform a richer experience. We're giving developers a set of tools to reach new audiences anywhere in the world, make money, and create incredible experiences across any device."

Enabling app discovery on mobile – Deezer's mobile App Studio

Following last year's creation of the App Studio, Deezer is now announcing the launch of its App Studio for mobile and tablets. This will enable people to discover music and social apps on any Android and iOS device, creating even more opportunities for fans to enjoy and experience Deezer.

Thanks to this next step, developers will be able to build responsive apps using Deezer APIs that work on Deezer mobile, tablet and web apps.

These changes are all being supported by the upcoming relaunch of Deezer's developer website - developers.deezer.com - which will be undergoing major upgrades. New resources and guidance will be provided to help developers get the most out of Deezer's new and improved APIs, while a series of updated SDKs will also be made available.

In the last six months alone, Deezer has seen 35 apps added to its platform. Deezer's push to introduce more apps to the platform continues next month with a Music Hack Day at their Paris HQ and API partner support for The Next Web's forthcoming Hack Battle event.

Source: Deezer for Developers

Source

By: Unknown On 7:30 PM

FTC: your mobile and social media ads still need disclosures*

We've all seen online banner ads with lengthy disclosures and other warnings that what we see isn't necessarily what we'll get. Think that the tight spaces of a smartphone screen or a 140-character tweet are exempt from the rules? Think again: the FTC just updated its guidelines to make clear that any "constrained" ads on mobile platforms or social networks still have to reveal their true purposes and show realistic figures. Marketers can't use multiple posts, pop-ups or other tricks to tuck the disclaimers away, either. The warning won't prevent your favorite celebrity from suddenly posting out of character about diet pills, but at least you'll know the difference between a pure enthusiast and someone who has some skin in the game.

*: This is a news post, not an ad. While we're at it, though, we'd really love it if you swung by Engadget Expand.

Source: FTC

More Coverage: The Verge

Source

By: Unknown On 7:11 PM

Saturday, March 2, 2013

The Engadget Interview: Chul Bae Lee, VP of LG's mobile design lab at MWC 2013

We first met Chul Bae Lee -- VP of LG's mobile design lab -- in Seoul last fall and were lucky to spend a few minutes with him in the company's booth at MWC. LG's flagship Optimus G Pro made quite the splash in Barcelona but looks rather different from the Optimus G. We asked Mr. Lee to walk us through the design process behind the company's new superphone. He mentioned that LG offers two high-end product lines, one focused on premium design (Optimus G), the other on high-performance design (Optimus G Pro) and shared a diagram with us to illustrate this (after the break). The new handset puts an emphasis on ergonomics rather than style by featuring a comfortable and a friendly shape, with soft edges and round corners.

We discussed the extremely narrow display bezel, striking RGB notification ring around the home button, recessed camera lens and IR blaster (for the QRemote functionality). Mr. Lee explained that the placement of the buttons around the Optimus G Pro was carefully chosen to minimize interference with the power / lock key -- this includes the QNote button, which can be remapped to invoke other apps, and even double as a shutter key. We then talked about the new Optimus F series, which blends the design DNA of flagship devices with performance specs (like LTE) at a more affordable price, and the Optimus L II line, which offers unique designs for specific markets (single SIM in Europe, and dual-SIM in Latin America). Hi the break for our video interview and to check out the aforementioned design diagram.

Source

By: Unknown On 9:54 PM

The After Math: Cinder block-chucking robots, Barcelona's mobile bonanza and brain doctors

Welcome to The After Math, where we attempt to summarize this week's tech news through numbers, decimal places and percentages.

The After Math Barcelona's mobile bonanza, Big Dog and brain doctors

Barcelona's Mobile World Congress may have formed the backbone for this week's news but there was also notable news elsewhere -- like the fact that Boston Dynamics' upgraded quadruped robot can now throw cinder blocks. We'll be sticking closer to the (safer) events in Spain, however, so take a look for yourself after the break.

Attendees at this year's Mobile World Congress: More than 72,000 Attendees at MWC 2012: More than 67,000 Attendees at this year's Consumer Electronics Show: More than 150,000 MWC 2013 show floor area at the new Fira Gran Via venue: 1.01 million square feet CES 2013 show floor area: 1.85 million square feet Number of Engadget liveblogs this week: 6 Number of Engadget liveblogs last week: 2 (Sony and HTC) The price of Nokia's new 105 basic phone: 15 euros (about $20) Price of three coffees on the show floor: 6 euros Price of Nokia's new Lumia 720 Windows Phone: 249 euros (about $330) Launch event date for Samsung's next major smartphone: March 14th, 2013 Announce date for the Galaxy S III: May 3rd, 2012

Number of monthly active users on Instagram: 100 million Number of monthly active users on Facebook: More than 1 billion Time taken to create the first version of Surgeon Simulator 2013, now out on Steam: 48 hours Battery life of Boston Dynamics' awesomely terrifying Big Dog: 24 hours Top speed of Boston Dynamics' Cheetah robot: 29.3 miles per hour Usain Bolt's top speed: 27.79 miles per hour

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By: Unknown On 9:10 PM

Logitech cuts 5 percent of core staff as part of its shift to mobile

Logitech made clear in January that it was jettisoning weight in a bid to stem losses and focus on more successful technologies like mobile peripherals. Sadly, we're learning today that this also includes cutting jobs. The company is shedding 140 positions, or about 5 percent of its non-manufacturing workforce, as part of a streamlining plan that could save an extra $16 million to $18 million during Logitech's fiscal 2014. While there's no specific timeframe mentioned, it's suggested the layoffs will come quickly when the company may pay up to $14 million to address the cuts during its ongoing fourth quarter. Let's hope those affected land on their feet, and that the savings pay off in the long run.

[Image credit: Coolcaesar, Wikipedia]

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Logitech Realigns Organization with Strategic Priorities, Resulting in Expected Incremental Cost Savings of $16 to $18 Million for FY 2014

NEWARK, Calif. - Feb. 28, 2013 and MORGES, Switzerland, March 1, 2013 - Logitech International (SIX: LOGN) (Nasdaq: LOGI) today announced an organizational alignment to the strategic priorities outlined by newly appointed CEO Bracken P. Darrell last month. These priorities include increasing focus on mobility products, improving profitability in PC-related products and enhancing global operational efficiencies. This alignment to the strategic priorities creates incremental cost savings of approximately $16 to $18 million in operating expenses in Fiscal Year 2014, a result of a workforce reduction. This is in addition to the previously announced $80 million savings in annual operating costs (operating expenses plus costs of goods sold) for Fiscal Year 2014 related to the Company's April 2012 restructuring.

"As we align the organization with our strategy to become a faster, more profitable company, we have also created opportunities to become more focused, improve operational effectiveness and even deliver additional cost savings that will contribute to improved profitability," said Bracken P. Darrell, Logitech president and chief executive officer. "These actions support our goals to develop outstanding mobility- and PC-related products, streamline our cost structure and achieve faster times to market."

Logitech anticipates recording a pre-tax, cash charge of approximately $12 to $14 million in the fourth quarter of Fiscal Year 2013. The charge is related primarily to personnel reductions, with the Company eliminating approximately 140 positions, or 5 percent of its worldwide non-direct-labor workforce.

Additional information regarding the restructuring charges is provided in Logitech's Current Report on Form 8-K being filed with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission on March 1, 2013 and made available on Logitech's website at http://ir.logitech.com.

Source: Logitech