MobileNations

Game of Life and Parking Mania available to all, Shoot 1UP returns to Windows Phone 8

Paul Acevedo — Sat, 18 May 2013 13:52:28 +0000

Since summer of last year, Electronic Arts and Chillingo have been pumping out Nokia-exclusive Xbox Windows Phone games. Players not fortunate enough to own Nokia phones sometimes feel left out and/or upset because they can’t access those games from their phones. But we are talking about timed exclusivity here.

Six months after release, Mirror’s Edge became available to all Windows Phone users, followed by Risk and Connect 4. So while owners of HTC, Samsung, and other non-Nokia devices have to wait a while, Nokia’s deal with EA does pay off for them as well.

This week, two more former exclusives became available to all: The Game of Life and Parking Mania. As if that wasn’t enough, Shoot 1UP, an Xbox game that was found to be incompatible with Windows Phone 8 has just gained compatibility. Gotta love being able to play more stuff!

LIFE, the Universe, and Everything

The Game of Life brings the popular board game to your phone. It simulates a person’s path through life, from getting a first job, going to college, getting married, having kids, and eventually retiring. Players spin a wheel for movement, collect ‘Share the Wealth’ cards that help them or hinder opponents, and occasionally choose between different life paths to follow.

The Windows Phone port supports single- or local multiplayer – no online play, unfortunately. But the Achievements are fairly easy and the game itself is decently interesting for a few playthroughs. Check out our review for more details and free ice cream*.

Game of Life – Windows Phone 7 or 8 – $2.99 – 23 MB – Store Link

Parking Maniac

Parking Mania is something of a puzzle/driving game in which players must carefully steer one or more vehicles from one destination to another. Levels usually end when all of the cars have been parked in the designated spaces. Complicating matters are extremely tight spaces, occasionally large and unwieldy vehicles to drive, road traffic, and other obstacles.

Parking Mania offers a tense but reasonably challenging experience across its 80 levels, providing much more enjoyment than you might expect from a game about parking. Just make sure to turn off tilt controls in order to make your life easier.

Parking Mania – Windows Phone 7 or 8 – $2.99 – 46 MB – Store Link

Shooting for 1UPs

Now that it runs on WP8, we can take our own screenshots!

We have to give Nathan Fouts of Mommy’s Best Games (who we interviewed a while back) props. Shoot 1UP was found to be Windows Phone 8 incompatible last December. Fouts procured a WP8 device as soon as he could and then worked hard to solve the game’s crashing issues. It turns out that the differences in memory handling between Windows Phone 7 and 8 caused the problems, which are now fixed. If only the developers of incompatible games like The Harvest and Tentacles cared as much about getting their games running on all devices…

Shoot 1UP is my personal favorite shoot-em-up on Windows Phone. It boasts the unique ability for players to control up to 30 ships at once. Spreading the ships apart increases your firepower, while contracting into a tight formation keeps them safer. The surreal 2D artwork keeps things fresh too.

Just as importantly, it’s actually possible for normal human beings to complete the game without dedicating their lives to mastering it. Just turn down the game speed to reduce the challenge or turn up the speed if you need more thrills. See our full review for all the details.

Shoot 1UP – Windows Phone 7 or 8 – $2.99 – 64 MB – Store Link

Thanks to Guilherme and Pbroy for the EA games tips!

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Windows Phone 8 Games

Behind the scenes of CrackBerry Live!

Kevin Michaluk — Sat, 18 May 2013 13:47:40 +0000

When BlackBerry announced they were rebranding BlackBerry World to BlackBerry Live for 2013, we just knew we had to kick up our coverage for the annual event to include a live component. Hence, the idea for CrackBerry Live was born.

Doing live video content is a challenge on many fronts, but thanks to our friends at GeekBeat.TV, we pulled it off without a hiccup. Where we were lacking on the gear and experience front, John P. and Kien Tran were not and they helped pull it all together and kept us on track all week long.

We've been receiving great feedback on all of our CrackBerry Live content. In the video above we take a behind the scenes look at the entire setup and what it took to produce to CrackBerry Live this year. Enjoy!

Mystery Google media player drops by the FCC

Alex Dobie — Sat, 18 May 2013 13:41:25 +0000

Could a Nexus Q successor be on the way?

Google's kept pretty quiet about the Nexus Q since removing it from sale last summer. Last we heard, the company was still working on refining its streaming sphere, and that was back in January. In recent days, the lack of Nexus Q support in the new Google Play Music app had led some to believe that Google had abandoned the project. However, freshly-filed FCC documents indicate that Google could be preparing another media player device for release.

The "H840 Device" is revealed in FCC documents to function "as a media player," and was given with the model number H2G2-42, an apparent Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy reference. As is customary for unreleased products, Google has requested that diagrams and photos of the device remain confidential.

Testing documents reveal that it was tested hooked up to a 24-inch Dell monitor, and that it possesses Wifi a/b/g/n support and a USB port. What's more, it gets its power from a separate power supply unit, so we can safely assume this isn't a smartphone, tablet or wearable device.

Google unveiled the ill-fated Nexus Q at least year's Google I/O conference, where attendees were given complementary spheres. The device went up for pre-order shortly afterwards, but before going on sale Google withdrew the device and shipped Qs out to pre-order customers free of charge. Despite being a no-show at this year's I/O, Google's official stance remains that it's "hard at work" improving the multimedia orb. So could this "H840" device be the result of the past year's efforts? We'll have to wait and see.

Source: FCC; via: Liliputing

Canadian bank RBC releases official Windows 8 app

Rich Edmonds — Sat, 18 May 2013 13:21:09 +0000

RBC Canada has released an official app for Windows 8. The app enables customers to login and manage accounts. Numerous features are available, including the viewing of account details, transfer of funds, view / delete payments and pay bills. Just like other apps we've seen released in the past, customers looking for a native banking experience will be able to take advantage of more convenient access.

With Windows 8 integration, RBC Canada supports snap view, multiple user accounts and Live Tiles for social networking. The app itself is fairly secure with the RBC Online Banking Security Guarantee covering access. This means 100 percent reimbursement for any unauthorised transaction made in the app will be refunded to the customer. Pretty neat.

To access banking through the RBC Canada app, simply use an existing RBC Royal Bank Online Banking client card or username and password. One of the set personal verification questions will then be provided. If you're not yet enrolled for online banking, be sure to get in touch with the bank.

You can download RBC Canada from the Windows Store. Thanks, thaman04, for the tip!

Mini Review: Acer Iconia W510 Windows 8 Tablet

George Ponder — Sat, 18 May 2013 13:18:53 +0000

Windows 8 tablets are a great option for those wanting portable, compact options for their computing needs. We've taken a look at the Samsung ATIV Smart PC and now we turn our sights on the Acer Iconia W510 tablet.

The Acer is a smidgen smaller than the Samsung or even the Microsoft Surface series, sporting a 10.1" CrystalBrite LED-backlit TFT LCD instead of a 11.6" screen. While the W510 may be smaller, it doesn't skimp on features. The Acer Iconia W510 is a really nice option to consider if you're in the market for a compact Windows 8 tablet at a decent price.

The tale of the tape has the Acer W510 coming in at 10.18 x 6.6 x .35 inches and weighing 1.27 pounds. The design of the W510 has a headphone jack, screen rotation lock and power button along the top of the tablet.

Your volume rocker, micro HDMI, micro USB and micro-SD card slot sit along the right side of the tablet. Speakers rest on the sides of the W510 and while volume is good, the location of the speakers isn't the best. You have a tendency to cover the speakers when you grasp the tablet, essentially muffling any hopes for good volume.

The W510 has a 2MP front facing camera and a 8MP rear facing camera. Along the bottom of the tablet is the docking ports and charging port. The Acer uses a proprietary charger and it would be really nice if tablets adapted a universal charging style like our Windows Phones have (a micro-USB charger would be really nice to have for everything).

The 10.1" screen is protected by Gorilla Glass and looks really nice. It's responsive to the touch and doesn't do a bad job of it outdoors.

Under the hood, the Acer is powered by a Intel Atom 1.8GHz processor that moves things along nicely and helps give the tablet really good battery life (about 8-9 hours). The W510 is fitted with 2GB of RAM and 32GB of storage (there is a 64GB model). 32GB is a little on the short side but manageable, especially if you take advantage of the micro-SD card slot.

Performance wise, no complaints on the W510 when used as a tablet. It gets great battery life, runs Windows 8, has Wi-Fi and Bluetooth 4.0, and NFC support.

If you want to take things a bit further, Acer offers a keyboard dock for the W510 that converts the tablet into a mini-laptop. As an additional bonus, the keyboard has a battery on board that extends the W510's battery life to about 18 hours.

The keyboard has one USB port and adds a little heft to the tablet but not enough to pull a muscle. The hinge rotates 90 degrees to allow you to prop the tablet up for watching movies or video conferencing. I prefer using it this way "tent" style but you can also lay the keyboard face down. I'm just not a fan of laying a keyboard face down on surfaces.

When docked, the W510 reminds me of the 10" netbooks that were popular a few years ago. The keyboard dock compliments the W510 nicely. My only complaint is that for me, the keyboard is a little on the small size. It would have been nice if Acer could have found a way to add a little elbow room to the keys.

Compared to the Microsoft Surface, it's hard to beat the Surface with regards to build quality and design but the Acer W510 can hold it's own. You do have a smaller screen but the Acer runs Windows 8 (when compared to the Surface RT) and costs a few hundred bucks less (when compared to the Surface Pro). What makes the Acer shine is the keyboard dock. The rigid hinge allows the W510 to perform like a laptop and the extended battery life gets you through the day easily.

I think the Acer would have been better served with a 11.6" screen which would not only give you more screen real estate, but also allow for a little more elbow room on the keyboard. While I have my reservations on the keyboard size, I will admit that every time I use the W510 the thought of replacing it with something larger fades. It's a really nice tablet.

All totaled, the Acer W510 is a really nice Windows 8 tablet. The keyboard dock is running in the neighborhood of $149 and the tablet is currently on sale for $399 here at the Microsoft Store. Other retailers (Best Buy, Amazon.com, etc.) offer the W510 in the neighborhood of $499. You can also find the tablet and keyboard dock bundled in the neighborhood of $625.

Check out what real city builder simulation is like with My Country for Windows Phone

Rich Edmonds — Sat, 18 May 2013 12:53:10 +0000

Tired of old-school construction games that lack real action? You're not alone. This very quote kicks off the description for Game Insight's latest release for Windows Phone, My Country. The game is essentially a challenging city builder with more content than one would expect. Players are tasked with developing industries, transportation infrastructure, hiring employees, eliminating ecological threats and controlling energy use.

Oh, did we mention you're building your own country too?

So what makes the game so beefy? I've personally never been a fan of city builders, apart from SimCity (curse you EA / Maxis for the latest SimCity mess) but My Country offers something unique on the mobile, which makes me want to come back and continue where I previously left off. I can easily see hours being poured into this title and I'm not alone as other consumers feel exactly the same with reviews generally positive across the board.

The reason it's engaging is the player isn't simply restricted to simple construction. The task list is fairly extensive, as mentioned above. There's the hiring of employees, management of energy and ecological threats, development of industries and transport. There's a lot to do in My Country. The result can be a complex, but well-managed country, but this can also be a downside for some consumers. My Country could be seen as too complex.

Some of the basics

Currency is used in My Country to purchase buildings, upgrades and more. Game Dollars funds the player with basic construction, etc. while Country Bucks are utilised for premium options, including the completion of tasks immediately - like speed boosts. Both currencies can be added to the game through in-app purchases, but this isn't required. Here are some helpful pointers to be a successful city builder in My Country:

Build residential buildings to increase your city's population 
Open office buildings and upgrade them to employ more citizens and create higher profits - Develop industries, sign contracts and buy vehicles to transport the goods you produce 
Manage the ecology and energy use in your city by building power stations and parks 
Change the landscape: build canals, create lakes, plant trees and pave country roads 
Establish a bus transit network for your residents 
Gather collection items from the residents of your country 
Hire professionals to grow a forest of skyscrapers in your city

As mentioned previously, there's a lot to do. We've touched on the potential learning curve, but there are measures in place to help ease the player into the game. This includes a tutorial and 'ventures', which are essentially missions the player can complete to be rewarded with some XP and cash, as well as progress through city development.

The little things matter

While the game is free, there is the ability to purchase in-game currency to help with the development of the country. This isn't required to really get going and one can easily progress through the game without spending a penny. It can be expensive (with options that go over $100), so be sure to have security in place for the little ones.

You can download My Country from the Windows Phone Store (available for Windows Phone 8 only) for free. The high ratings and reviews from other consumers make this a title well worth checking out. Also, this is a game that's already available on iOS and Android which makes the deal that much sweeter.

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Intellicam for Windows Phone 8, just say cheese

George Ponder — Sat, 18 May 2013 12:49:51 +0000

Intellicam is a Windows Phone 8 camera app that might come in handy if you find yourself missing shots because of challenging subjects or have your hands full.

Intellicam utilizes facial recognition and voice commands to activate the shutter. No need to reach for the shutter button or tap the screen. Just wait for someone to face the camera or say the trigger word ("cheese" by default).

It's an innovative concept and while Intellicam may not appeal to everyone it can be a handy, hands free option for your camera.

Intellicam's interface is laid out simple. You have your camera view finder with trigger word displayed and two button controls along the bottom of the screen. One to mute the audio trigger and the other to control the flash.

Up under the three dot menu you'll find options to access the dashboard (Intellicam's settings), enable/disable auto-snap, enable/disable facial tracking, review the app, and disable image watermarking (buy the full version).

Intellicam's settings allows you to customize the trigger word, turn on/off face detection alerts and turn on/off system tray visibility. Images are saved at a reduced resolution (1536x2048) with no option to save at full resolution. You can review your Intellicam photos by swiping to the right. Images can not be shared from within Intellicam (you've gotta go to the Picture Hub for that).

The auto-snap feature snaps an image when it detects a persons face while the face tracking works on focusing on the faces of moving objects. The voice commands can be triggered by your voice, the voice of your subject (if they can speak) and unfortunately at times by background noises.

So how well does Intellicam work? Not too bad. It did struggle a little staying focused on moving people. The voice triggers are a nice touch when you can't get your finger to the shutter quick enough.

Intellicam won't appeal to everyone and is one of those apps you really should try before buying. The trial version is fully functional but does place a "Taken with Intellicam" watermark at the bottom of the photo. You can get rid of the watermark for $3.49.

You can find Intellicam Free (left QR Tag) here in the Windows Phone Store. The paid version of Intellicam (right QR Tag) can be purchased in-app or here in the Windows Phone Store.

Thanks, everyone, for the tips!

One app three devices: Helping webworks developers build applications for multiple form factors

Alicia Erlich — Sat, 18 May 2013 12:18:40 +0000

Cross platform support for BlackBerry WebWorks application developers

If you are a developer attending BlackBerry Jam one question you may have is how to launch your application across multiple platforms without building multiple bar or bundle files. During one of the Webworks sessions I attended here at Jam, they discussed different techniques that can be implemented to target multiple platforms running BB10 with only one application. There was a Cascades version of this session running concurrently at Jam as well, however, my background is in Webworks so I chose to attend this one.

CrackBerry Live: We talk BlackBerry with ING DIRECT Canada

Adam Zeis — Sat, 18 May 2013 12:10:10 +0000

Chatting with the BlackBerry Achievement Award winners, we took some time to talk to Vinay Venugopal who is the Director of IT Strategy at ING DIRECT Canada. A winner in the category of Putting Customers First, ING makes it secure and easy for customers to conduct transactions using BlackBerry 10. The app allows for easy banking that includes "orange alerts" and even integrates with the BlackBerry Hub,

Vinay explained how BlackBerry is used throughout ING as well as how it helps them give amazing service to their customers.

CrackBerry Live: Mobile Innovation of the Year Winner DIRECTV

Adam Zeis — Sat, 18 May 2013 11:57:08 +0000

The BlackBerry Achievement awards were announced during BlackBerry Live 2013 and we had a chance to chat with a few of the winners, one of which being DIRECTV. A winner in the category of Mobile Innovation of the Year, DIRECTV has deployed their app to the over 4,000 employees in the company. The app allows technicians to manage an entire service call and work order process from their phones, and supports Bluetooth technology to validate and adjust satellite signal strength.

We talked to Javier of DIRECTV who told us a bit about the app and how it helps the technicians greatly by cutting down on paperwork and providing tools to better complete their tasks in the field.

Mugen Power teases Samsung ATIV S 4800mAh extended battery, shipping June 7th

Rich Edmonds — Sat, 18 May 2013 11:12:37 +0000

The Samsung ATIV S sports a rather large battery, 2300mAh in fact. But what if you wanted some more power to last the day? Mugen Power has answered this desire with a massive 4800mAh extension. The company showcases the product in the above video, which is bundled with a case to accommodate the new battery.

There's a slight bump in the design and the Samsung Windows Phone expands somewhat, but it's a worthwhile trade-off for more than doubling the base charge. The cost of such an increase in power? $89, so be sure to really consider if you'd utilise the extra charge and wouldn't mind having the ATIV S put on some weight (dimensions wise).

Source: Mugen Power Batteries, YouTube; thanks, MBaumi, for the tip!

The Michaluk Virus is still going strong in The Becoming: Revelations

Michelle Haag — Sat, 18 May 2013 10:03:07 +0000

Need to get your zombie fix while The Walking Dead is on break? Check out The Becoming series by CrackBerry member Jessica Meigs!

Back in 2010, CrackBerry member Jessica Meigs wrote a zombie book called The Becoming: Outbreak, and she did it all on her BlackBerry. Over the course of two years, using a variety of BlackBerry smartphones (BlackBerry Bold 9000, the BlackBerry Curve 8900, the BlackBerry Bold 9700, and the BlackBerry Torch 9800), Jessica penned her first novel, which quickly grew into a series of novels.

Google expanding mark up tools to select partners to influence Google Now cards

Andrew Martonik — Sat, 18 May 2013 02:01:32 +0000

Specific partnerships not yet named; hotels, flights and reservations are the focus

Speaking on one of the countless Google Developers Live talks at Google I/O, one of the creators of Google Now Baris Gultekin explained how select partners will get better access to Google Now going forward. When commenting on how Now can offer more useful information to users, Gultekin announced that certain Google partners will now be able to use mark up tools to put flags in emails that will get them directly noticed by Google Now. Similarly to the way Gmail currently looks for flight numbers, package shipment confirmations and hotel reservations, select third parties can now alert Gmail to look specifically at its email and find the relevant information to then push to Google Now.

Gultekin didn't mention any specific names in relation to this initiative, but he did note that it was focused on things like flights, hotels and dinner reservations. Getting all of the major airlines and hotel chains on-board with this program could help ensure that Google Now never misses an important event surrounding travel, which is very important if people are going to trust Google Now to give them relevant information.

The entire 22 minute talk (seen above) is quite interesting if you're at all interested in Google Now, but if you want to jump ahead to the specific part where Gultekin mentions the partnerships you can find it at about the 16 minute mark. This surely won't be the only little gem that gets noticed as people wade through the hours of footage coming out of GDL at Google I/O this year.

Via: TechCrunch

Leaked OS 10.1.0.1880 for the BlackBerry Z10 STL100-2 & 3

Michelle Haag — Sat, 18 May 2013 01:18:15 +0000

If you're feeling the blues now that BlackBerry Live is over and looking for a bit of excitement for the weekend, you can check out this freshly leaked BlackBerry Z10 OS from lbfe!

Please note, this leak is not for all devices. This time it's just the STL100-2 & 3 getting some love so if you don't have one of those then you'll want to move along. This leak bumps the OS version up to 10.1.0.1880, and some people are already reporting improved performance and battery life. If you install this please be sure to share your findings in the comments below or in the forums.

Just like every other time - be sure to read over the instructions before you get going. You'll need a Windows PC to run the autoloader and you'll want to perform a full backup of your device first. If anything goes bad - don't blame us. Remember you can always reload your Z10 OS if something gets borked.

Grab the OS for your device at the link below then head into the forums for more help and discussion.

Download OS 10.1.0.1880 for the STL100-2 / STL100-3

Best apps for iPhone photographers

Leanna Lofte — Sat, 18 May 2013 00:53:10 +0000

It's been said time and time again that the camera on the iPhone is an excellent camera. In fact, it's become such a popular camera that there's a whole genre of photography known as 'iPhoneography'. iPhone photographers not only use the camera and lens built into their iPhone, but also an assortment of apps to edit, enhance, and show off their work. There are so many great apps out there, so we've narrowed it down to a few of our favorites.

KitCam

The first app we're going to take a look at is a fantastic tool for taking your photos. With it, you can adjust exposure, white balance, lenses, and film before you even take the photo. It also features convenient shooting modes like a timer, multi-exposure, time-lapse, and more. You can also view each photo's histogram and make adjustments to levels, brightness, contrast, and saturation. If you're looking to take more control over your iPhone's camera, definitely grab KitCam.

$0.99 - Download now

See also:

Camera+ - $0.99 - Download now

Photoforge2

KitCam does offer some nice editing options, but if you want even more, Photoforge2 is an excellent choice that's bursting with advanced controls. The most notable is the ability to use multiple layers and masks and make advanced adjustments including curves, levels, color balance, channel mixer, white balance, noise reduction, and more. You can also add over 25 different filters and FX and combine different films lenses, filters, and textures.

$3.99 - Download now

See also:

Snapseed - Free - Download now
iPhoto - $4.99 - Download now

VSCO CAM

Complex and advanced controls are great, but sometimes you want something quick and easy, yet awesome -- like VSCO CAM. This gem features a sleek design with minimal processing options, but the options are good. There's a nice variety and all the basics are covered. VSCO CAM is a great app to have in your grab bag of editing tools.

$0.99 - Download now

Facetune

If you're shooting portraits with your iPhone camera, then Facetune should be your go-to app for touching up blemishes, smoothing out skin, enhancing eyes, and even reshaping. Seriously, Facetune is amazing. Check out the review for a full rundown.

Facetune for iPhone review
$1.99 - Download now

Fuzel Pro

Collages (or "storyboards") are an excellent way to show off multiple photos at once. They are a great way to tell a story. The App Store is also flooded with apps that help you build collages, but the one I keep coming back to is Fuzel Pro. It has an artistic design, makes it quick and easy to add photos, and gives you control over the layouts of your collages.

$1.99 - Download now

See also:

Diptic - $0.99 - Download now

Photolettering

After editing your photo to perfection, you may realize that it would make a great poster, sign, or inspirational message. With Photolettering, you can do just that using fonts from world-renowned type foundry House Industries. It's free with a few fonts and additional fonts are available via in-app purchase. If you're looking to mix photography with typography, Photolettering is the way to go.

Free - Download now

See also:

Over - Free - Download now

Instagram

You didn't think I'd get through an article about photography apps without mentioning Instagram, did you? Although there are a lot of things I would love to see changed about Instagram (especially forced square crops), there's no denying it's usefulness as a way to share photos. Yes, there's a lot of snapshots of pets and kids (my own included) and plates of food, but there is also a lot of amazing photography being shared on Instagram, as well.

Free - Download now

See also:

Flickr - Free - Download now

Your favorite apps for iPhone photography?

So there you have it! iMore's best apps for iPhone photographers. Did we miss any of your favorites? What apps do you use to shoot, edit, enhance, and show off your photos taking with your iPhone?

Turbo Racing League races onto Windows Phone 8, real cash prizes up for grabs

Sam Sabri — Fri, 17 May 2013 23:58:40 +0000

DreamWorks Animation has a new film coming out later this summer called Turbo. It’s an animated film about a little garden snail who dreams of becoming the fastest thing around. We’ve attached a trailer below if you’re interested. Anyway, there’s a companion game out now for Windows Phone 8! Let’s check it out.

Turbo Racing League is a fun little game. Sure it’s mostly promotional fodder for an upcoming film, but it didn’t leave a bad first impression. Here are the features you can look forward to when playing with it:

9 Unique Race Tracks to Test Your Skills
Special Race Events: Time Trials, Limited Fuel, Slalom and Rival Races
Thousands of Performance & Design Combinations: Shell Upgrades, New Paint Jobs and Neon Glows
Ability to record your greatest race moments, watch on instant replay and share with your friends
Optional Facebook and Twitter posting to show off your pimped-out Shell and best scores
Leaderboards show how you rank amongst your friends and all the top players!
Qualify for the $1,000,000 Shell-Out Contest* by completing Daily Goals or using In-Game Tomato Currency

What’s that? You can win real cash by playing this game? Yup. There’s $1 million up for grabs during the promotion period with this game. For 8 weeks, the 10 fastest racers will earn cash prizes from a $500,000 pool. The top player from each week will earn the chance to go to Los Angeles to compete for another $500,000 in cash prizes in a live racing event. Full details for the contest can be found right here.

The game is free and only available on Windows Phone 8 devices. We’ll have a full review out over the weekend, but in the meantime grab it here to play or use the QR codes below.

Thanks for the tip JD!

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Hulu Plus for Windows Phone 8 gets a minor update, squashes bugs

Daniel Rubino — Fri, 17 May 2013 22:16:29 +0000

If you’re out and about this weekend, traveling around, you may want to update that Hulu Plus app for Windows Phone 8. The popular TV streaming site for the US got a teeny update to 1.0.0.1, which you should know by now means some bug fixes and not new features.

So what can you expect in to be fixed? Luckily Hulu detailed it in their changelog:

Addressed volume consistency issue
Various bug fixes and performance improvements

Okay, so that last one is a bit generic but hey, at least if you experienced any problems before, you have them fixed with this update. Head to the Windows Phone Store to grab it now, right here.

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Adobe Photoshop Express now available for Windows 8 and RT

George Ponder — Fri, 17 May 2013 21:21:57 +0000

Adobe has released Photoshop Express for Windows 8 and Windows RT. If you've been around digital photography for any amount of time, Adobe Photoshop should be a familiar term. The Photoshop editing software has dominated the digital photography market for years.

It's nice to see a Photoshop editor land for Windows RT and 8, especially for the tablet devices. Photoshop Express could be the answer to a lot of photographers who are looking for a mobile solution or an entry level editor for Windows 8/RT.

Photoshop Express supports Adobe Revel (cloud service) and key editing features includes:

Basic Edits: Crop, straighten, rotate, flip and remove red-eye.
Auto-Fix: One touch adjustment for brightness, exposure and shadows.
Color: Controls for exposure, contrast, clarity, vibrance, white balance.
Filters: Fifteen color filters.

You also have two in-app purchases to add a "Looks Pack" that adds twenty additional creative filters ($2.99) and a "Noise Reduction Pack" that is a very nice noise filter ($4.99). The noise filter eliminates the grain that high ISO images can produce. Both packs are reasonably priced, especially when you consider the main app is free.

We've only had our hands on Photoshop Express for a short time and our initial impressions are good. Photoshop Express may not have all the bells and whistles as...say...Photoshop Elements or Photoshop CS but it's a nice option for mobile, on-the-go editing. I could also see Photoshop Express being a nice entry level editor as well.

The one feature missing is RAW image file support. The RAW format is used by many and lacks the in-camera processing JPEG files have. It gives the photographer more control over the image by handling the processing manually. It's not a deal breaker and hopefully this will be a feature added with future updates or maybe as another add-on pack (hint, hint).

Photoshop Express is a free app for your Windows 8 and RT device. You can find Photoshop Express here in the Windows Store.

Thanks, everyone, for the tip!

Battle of the 13-inch MacBooks: Which one wins?

Peter Cohen — Fri, 17 May 2013 21:20:03 +0000

If you're shopping for a new 13-inch laptop, you may have noticed that Apple's product line in that category is a bit more crowded than in other spots. The company has three distinct 13-inch models - the MacBook Air, the MacBook Pro and the MacBook Pro with Retina Display. Which model should you get? Let's compare, but let me warn you at the outset: I think you should wait.

On the weekends I work at a local Apple Specialist. Anecdotally, I see more 13-inch MacBook Pros and MacBook Airs go out the door than any other model. They're all compact, lightweight and powerful machines, so it's little wonder that they hit the sweet spot between features and price.

Once you scratch below the surface, though, there's a lot of diversity there. At $1,199, The MacBook Air occupies the low end of the 13-inch price range, but it's a well-rounded performer: a dual-core 1.8 GHz Core i5 processor doesn't tell the full story of the machine's performance, thanks to the use of Solid State Disk (SSD) storage. With 128 GB storage standard, the MacBook Air may not be big enough for digital pack rats. Apple will double the storage for an additional $200. Four GB RAM comes standard, with 8 GB also available.

The MacBook Air is terrific for portable convenience. It weighs less than three pounds and measures a bit more than half an inch thick with the screen closed. Thunderbolt and two USB 3.0 ports make peripheral connection easy, and Thunderbolt's flexible enough to work with high speed storage, Gigabit Ethernet and external displays, using the right attachment.

The 13-inch MacBook Pro is yeoman model of the bunch, priced the same as the thinner, lighter MacBook Air. Its more conventional technology appeal to people looking to maximize storage (500GB hard drive comes standard; SSD is a pricey additional option) or who might still need a DVD burner. The machine also sports a faster processor - 2.5 GHz. Options like a faster processor and more RAM are available -- a well-appointed model runs $1,499.

The downsides of the standard 13-inch MacBook Pro include a heavier weight - 4.5 pounds - and a thicker frame. But that thicker frame also permits this workhorse to have dedicated Ethernet and FireWire 800 connections, along with Thunderbolt and two USB 3.0 connections.

Positioned next to a conventional 13-inch MacBook Pro, the MacBook Pro with Retina Display shines. The stunning display with its 2560 x 1600 pixel resolution, rich color and fantastic detail make it easy to differentiate, and its sleek chassis retains many of the benefits of the MacBook Air like SSD storage and a thinner and lighter design (almost a full pound lighter, and less than an inch thick). It's also priced at $1,499, though storage options can drive the price higher (upgrading SSD storage isn't for faint-hearted or those planning on keeping their warranty intact.

The 13-inch MacBook Pro with Retina Display wins for performance and usability - an elegantly designed machine that's flexible enough to handle everything that's thrown at it. And with SSD options stretching to 768 GB, plenty of space for big files.

If there's a downside to all three models, it's that the integrated graphics processor - the Intel HD Graphics 4000 - can get overtaxed especially when the Retina Display is driving scaled, higher resolution modes. Also, these machines are all based around Intel's Ivy Bridge architecture, which is about to be supplanted by something else that could be a really big deal for Apple's mobile Macs - something that's as applicable to the 15-inch models as it is to the 13-inch ones.

Intel's Haswell microprocessor should start shipping in quantity by the same time Apple's Worldwide Developer Conference happens next month. Haswell sports much greater power efficiency and a significant improvement in graphics performance. Even if Apple doesn't change the form factor or feature list of the MacBook Air and MacBook Pro significantly, the smart money is to put off any purchase until we see how Apple's roadmap with Haswell plays out.

Are you pining for new 13-inch hardware from Apple? Besides Haswell processors, what else do you think the new models are likely to have? Tell us in the comments.

Hangouts updated to correct tablet compatibility issues

Andrew Martonik — Fri, 17 May 2013 20:47:30 +0000

Nexus 7 and other tablet users can now update to replace the Google Talk app

Following its announcement at Google I/O, the new Hangouts app from Google has had a bit of a rocky rollout to certain devices. Because it replaces a pre-installed system app (Google Talk), there are some complications with pushing an update that makes so many changes. When the app first hit the Play Store many users wouldn't get the option to update, especially if they were on tablets. Google has just pushed out an update today that should fix those issues, making the app compatible with tablets of all sizes.

The app's description has also been updated to note that it is aware of some compatibility issues, and that Hangouts is actually being rolled out over the course of several days. That would explain why some users that were eager to install saw some hiccups. Rest assured that as of now most devices (using Android 2.3 and up) should be good to go with an update from the Play Store directly.

Map Wallpaper lets you get your location at a glance

Sam Sabri — Fri, 17 May 2013 20:25:27 +0000

Last Saturday I got the chance to check out a Hackathon down in San Diego. It was a great event and I’ll be telling you guys about that later on. But the app that won the overall hackathon is now in the Windows Phone Store. Map Wallpaper is a clever lockscreen app that gives you your current location at a glance. Let’s check it out.

We sat around our virtual Windows Phone Central meeting room and couldn’t come up with any other apps that take over your lockscreen like this. Map Wallpaper will display your location on the lockscreen. It updates every half hour with your location. There are two variables that you control when setting up the app: map source and scale. There are a variety of maps to choose from and different scales to select.

Maps Basic:

Street Map
Aerial
USGS Topographic
Radar on Aerial Imagery
Radar on Street Map

Extra maps for $0.99

Street Bing Maps with optional traffic
Aerial Bing Maps with optional traffic

While most of you will be content with the free maps, you can unlock two Bing maps with optional traffic data for less than a dollar. This to me is where the app is super handy. If you’re working and heading out of the office you can just glance at your lockscreen to get an idea of traffic in your area before deciding to jump on the freeway. There’s a healthy selection of maps to choose from, but more is on the way! Try out the topographic map if you’ve got interesting hills and mountains around you.

Depending on the map you select you’ll have different levels to choose from when selecting the scale of the map. For example selecting the one of the radar maps with weather data will give you the option of region, medium region, large region, and continent. That’s because data from radar won’t be too helpful at the street level. Bing Maps as a counter example of the following scales available: Street, city, local region, region, and large region. One thing to keep in mind when selecting scale is battery life. If you select street level your phone will be using GPS to find your specific location. While if you select something a little higher up, like region, your phone can just use cellular data to get a rough estimate of its current location. That said, I’ve been using the app for two days at various scales and haven’t noticed any negative impact on battery life.

The app is free for Windows Phone 8, but will cost just $0.99 to get Bing Maps with traffic. For being version 1.0, Map Wallpaper works with aplomb. If you have any questions or feed back hit up Morten Nielsen, the dev behind Map Wallpaper.

Grab it right here in the Windows Phone Store, use the QR code below, or swipe to the right in our app.

Itsdagram gets rapid fix for initial bugs, gets new look too in latest update

Daniel Rubino — Fri, 17 May 2013 20:18:11 +0000

It was just yesterday that Itsdagram, the first fully-featured Instagram app (albeit unofficial) for Windows Phone 8, became available. Even though the app was beta tested by a small group, some bugs did get through that hampered some user experiences. Luckily, those have been fixed.

Version 1.1.5 has just gone live in the Store and it should fix some regional issues that some were having (namely, regions where commas are used instead of periods) has been addressed and the overall app has been bumped to essentially what current beta testers are using.

That version includes an updated UI (you can now like from the feed view directly, in addition to comments), general performance improvements and we here a filter update will be pushed over-the-air tonight at some point too.

Considering Itsdagram is so high profile (just about 12K downloads in one day), it’s great to see a rapid turnaround on bug fixes, allowing you folks to begin to participate on the Instagram network.

Head here to the Store to get the latest version of Itsdagram (free, limited trial; $1.49). Windows Phone 8 only (Windows Phone 7.x is planned).

Itsdagram

instagram

Apps

Epic Battle Dude moves on over from Android and IOS, kicks butt

George Ponder — Fri, 17 May 2013 19:58:38 +0000

Epic Battle Dude is an action packed Windows Phone 8 game where you play the role of a king who has to battle a variety of monsters that have invaded your land and kidnapped your queen.

Epic Battle Dude has had decent success over on the Android and iOS platforms and we can see why. The game has bold graphics, simple but addictive game play, fifty levels of play and fantastic sound effects. It even has a unique approach to adjusting the volume in the game's settings.

Epic Battle Dude is quickly becoming our favorite new game and with it being free, dude, you've gotta give it a try.

Epic Battle Dude is laid out fairly simple. The main menu has options to jump into the game and access the settings. When you first head into game play a series of narrated story boards will run detailing how the monsters invaded your country, left you in your boxers and kidnapped your queen. While you can skip the intro, it's not very long winded.

From there you jump into game play tutorial detailing basic game play.

In a nutshell you have your vital statistics and treasure counts across the top of the screen. Your weapon choices line the left side and icons representing your enemies along the right.

To provoke the enemy and start the battle, just tap on the icon to send the monster into play. You tap your weapons icon to launch your attack and as the monsters fall, they leave a little gold to be collected. Additionally, at the end of each level a treasure chest will appear to give you a little bonus gold.

Gold can be used in between levels to upgrade your weapons and shields. There are fifty different weapons available and as you progress through the game, you can have three available. The downside is that once you buy a weapon, the old one is no longer available. Not a big deal seeing that the new one is an upgrade.

In between battles your health will regenerate naturally but health potions will become available periodically to speed up the process.

We've only tinkered with Epic Battle Dude for a short time but it has quickly become one of our favorite games. From game play to sound effects to the awesome double wide tile, Epic Battle Dude is definitely worth a try. With it being a free game, you really have no excuse.

Epic Battle Dude is available for your Windows Phone 8 device and you can find it here in the Windows Phone Store.

Epic Battle Dude

games

Windows Phone 8 Games

monsters

epic

Games

Who has the most satisfying customer experience in the UK? That'll be Apple Retail

Richard Devine — Fri, 17 May 2013 19:43:51 +0000

Leading UK consumer campaigner, Which?, has conducted a survey into customer satisfaction across UK high-street retail stores. While the likes of WHSmith and carrier, EE, scored near the bottom, is there any surprise who topped the table? Apple Retail Stores.

Over 11,000 UK consumers responded to the survey, with Apple coming out on top with an 85% satisfaction score. Apple Retail Stores were praised specifically for their "unique look and feel" and "great customer service."

Apple Retail Stores do stand out among their competitors. The look and feel is indeed unique, but such customer services as EasyPay allowing payment via your iTunes account through your iPhone sets Apple apart from the rest. It's no doubt a great result for Apple, but 11,000 people doesn't come close to the numbers that pass through Apple Retail Stores each and every day.

Personally, I can't recall a visit to an Apple Store that I'd consider unsatisfactory, and though they're often extremely busy, there's never much of a wait to be dealt with by a member of the store team. Not counting the Genius Bar, of course. But how about you, have you ever had a bad experience in an Apple Retail Store?

Source: The Independent

Apple neglects to secure streaming album previews

Nick Arnott — Fri, 17 May 2013 18:52:19 +0000

Periodically, albums become available for live streaming on iTunes prior to their official release date. The hope is that not only do consumers get a chance to hear the album before buying it, but also that by offering a free and legal way to listen to the album before it’s available, there will be less motivation for eager fans to pirate leaked albums. With unreleased albums from Daft Punk and The National currently streaming on iTunes, 9to5Mac has discovered that the streams are being left completely unprotected, offering an easy way for pirates to get high-quality cuts of the albums before they’re officially released.

With traffic sniffing tools (such as Charles Proxy or HTTP Scoop) anybody can monitor their traffic while streaming the album which will show the URL of the M4P media file being streamed. Using this URL, users can easily save the album to their computer for future listening. While it’s true somebody could also just record the stream from their computer as they listen to it, it would lose some of the quality. Downloading the stream directly offers a crisp 256kbps AAC recording. It’s also true that rather than ending up with individual tracks that a listener can easily navigate through, you’re stuck with a single file that contains the whole album. You could split the album up into separate tracks yourself (though first you'd have to get around the DRM), but at that point it would be less effort for most people to just go pirate the album elsewhere. In fact, an illegal download of Daft Punk’s Random Access Memory currently available on a popular torrent site appears to have come from the iTunes M4P stream.

Admittedly, even if the streams were protected, piracy would still be happening. There are some people who just don’t want to pay for music. However, Apple’s handing these albums to pirates on a silver platter by offering up an unprotected, high-quality streams like this ahead of their release dates. Ironically, Apple has documentation available for developers that covers how to encrypt HTTP audio and video streams to protect from this sort of thing.

Source: 9to5Mac

iOS 6 reports for U.S. defense duty with new approval

Peter Cohen — Fri, 17 May 2013 18:50:03 +0000

The U.S. Department of Defense has approved the use of iOS 6 devices, which may help Apple to build some strength in a market still dominated by BlackBerry devices. The US D.O.D. currently has about 470,000 BlackBerrys in use across its networks, with 41,000 Apple mobile devices and 8,700 Android devices.

The Department of Defense is building a multivendor environment, it said in a press release, with BlackBerry and Samsung Knox devices also receiving similar approval.

The D.O.D. has cracked the door open to Apple and Android users, but it's not a Bring Your Own Device (BYOD) environment: The organization doesn't support personal phones to connect to the network.

BlackBerry's security proofing of their systems is legendary, but is that enough, paired with recent products like the Q10, to keep them on the government payroll? Or is Apple (or Samsung) likely to take over, as they have elsewhere? Let us know in the comments.

[Via US Department of Defense]

Google Play Services gives control of Android back to Google

Jerry Hildenbrand — Fri, 17 May 2013 18:06:34 +0000

With API services outside of the core operating system, Google is taking back control of Android

We didn't get a new version of Android this year at Google I/O. You can read all the lamenting and gnashing of teeth over this across the web, so I'll spare you the play by play of how it was supposed to happen (a proverbial lock), but didn't.

Instead, I'll tell you a little bit about what we did get -- a huge updated version of Google's service APIs, which turns out is much better.

Wait. Better? How can an app I never wanted that got magically pushed to my phone be better than a newer, higher number in my about phone screen? That's crazy talk, right?.

Turns out, that little app is a powerful beast. Read on.

Pocket Casts updated with improvements and fixes galore

Andrew Martonik — Fri, 17 May 2013 17:59:22 +0000

Continuous playback over notifications and more bug fixes than you can shake a stick at

Since making the move to a completely new design with Pocket Casts 4, a few lingering bugs have been piling up. Those are getting squashed today, along with a few new feature adds, with a big update to the app today. First up, the update brings the option to have playback not be interrupted by notifications, which is still set to be off by default. The sharing menu for podcasts has also received a tweak that gives you three simple options -- email, other apps, copy link -- to cut down on the interface clutter. You can now mark every episode from a certain podcast as "unplayed", and long-pressing on the "next" button will skip to the next item in a playlist.

Some of the big user-facing bugs, such as duplicate episode downloads and action bar bugs that showed extra action buttons have been notably fixed. When episode downloads fail, they now properly show up in the "not downloaded" filter once again. There are also many more back-end issues that have been fixed as well. If you haven't had a chance to see Pocket Casts in action, now may be the time -- grab a download from the Play Store link above.

BBM or Google+ Hangouts; are you excited by either? [Poll]

Richard Devine — Fri, 17 May 2013 17:56:21 +0000

The big talk of the week has definitely been cross-platform messaging. First up at BlackBerry Live, BlackBerry CEO Thorsten Heins dropped the huge news that their signature messaging platform, BBM, would be going cross-platform this summer and coming to iOS as well as Android. Then, literally 24 hours later Google stepped up and introduced their cross-platform offering, Google+ Hangouts, released the same day on iOS. What we want to know is; are you excited by either of these products?

For many, BBM needs little introduction. Before the iPhone, many of you, like me, used a BlackBerry and BBM with it. Some like it for its security, others for the little 'D' and 'R' notifications that let you know for sure what happened with your message. There's a lot to like about BBM, and as it has evolved with the latest version on BlackBerry 10 it now incorporates voice chat, as well as screen sharing and an excellent, and free, video calling experience. While iOS will not see these video calling features at launch, BlackBerry has said they will be bringing it in future updates.

Google+ Hangouts seems to be an amalgamation of the existing Hangouts experience, merged together with Google Talk. Indeed, on Android, Hangouts has now replaced the stock Google Talk application, and on iOS we're treated to very much the same experience as our Android counterparts. Unlike BBM, Hangouts is already with us, and incorporates free, group video calling at launch.

Both are arriving on iOS after the likes of other third-party clients such as Kik or WhatsApp, not to mention that iOS has its own messaging service, iMessage. OK, so iMessage is somewhat more limited than the others in that it requires an iOS device or a Mac to operate, but iMessage is seamlessly integrated into the stock messaging app. So, when sending a message on your iPhone to one of your contacts, you don't have to worry if they have access to iMessage or not; they just get an SMS message if they don't.

So, are you excited by either of these two newly announced products, or is it too little, too late? Are you and your friends and family already invested in a third-party messaging client? Or is iMessage all you need, or even SMS? Cast your vote in the poll above, and be sure to drop into the comments and share your thoughts with us.

CrackBerry Live: New Rubik's Cube game for BlackBerry 10 kicking classic puzzle up a notch

Simon Sage — Fri, 17 May 2013 17:45:57 +0000

The Rubik's cube is one of those timeless, classic toys that you don't expect one can mess around with much, but you may change your mind after seeing Magmic's treatment on BlackBerry 10. We talked with Phil Giroux from Magmic at BlackBerry Live 2013 about their upcoming adaptation which has the standard 3 x 3 x 3 puzzle mode we're all familiar with, but they've also tossed in a 4 x 4 x 4 and a 5 x 5 x 5 cube to mix things up. There's also a 2 x 2 x 2 if you need to start off slow. Speaking of which, they've got a dedicated teacher section which offers newbies some starting strategies for figuring Rubik's cubes. This is great, because personally, I've only ever fiddled randomly with the things and never got very far.

Beyond that, you've got some visual enhancements, such as a picture mode which swaps out colors each side for an image of your chosing. Then there's 3D mode, so you can pop on your dorky glasses and be totally blown away by the cube's intense realism. Rubik's Cube is coming soon to BlackBerry World, but in the meantime, take a look at the new NFC capabilities of their hugely popular Texas Hold 'Em game.

Microsoft to roll out Xbox dashboard UI alterations before next-gen console

Rich Edmonds — Fri, 17 May 2013 17:39:24 +0000

According to sources familiar with company plans, Microsoft is preparing to roll out an update for the Xbox 360. This package will implement changes to the dashboard UI and will enter into a public beta in late June or early July. Said changes are believed to be in preparation for the next-generation console, which Microsoft will be announcing soon.

The Verge has learned that the dashboard will be refreshed with small Live Tiles to match what's presently available on Windows Phone as well as Windows 8.1. Darker or lighter themes are also touched on, providing more customisation for consumers. Microsoft is said to be aiming for complete unity between older consoles and the next generation with messaging, beacons and achievements all included.

If that wasn't enough, we could well be seeing the end of the Microsoft Points system, with currency and gift card replacements favoured to match other platforms within the Windows ecosystem. Update estimated time of arrival? August. We'll hopefully have more information as Microsoft unveils the next Xbox. This gives you an excuse to stay tuned to our feeds, as well as the new Xbox Wire blog.

Source: The Verge

Movie fans should check out Film Closet for Windows Phone and Windows 8

Daniel Rubino — Fri, 17 May 2013 17:34:38 +0000

If you’re a movie buff (and really, who isn’t?), then you’ll want to peep a relatively new app called Film Closet from Vaggelis Diatsigkos, a student at the University of Patras (Greece). The app is available for free on Windows Phone (7.x and 8) and Windows RT.

The app is what it sounds like: a repository for all things in movies these days. Think of IMdB but with more meat to it and a solid Modern UI design. The app accesses TheMovieDB for its info and it should allow users to access more than 60,000 movies, including all current and upcoming releases.

Windows Phone 7.x and 8

When you choose a movie you get info, trailer links (built-in video player), cast, crew, similar, share the info, add to favorites/watchlist/, links, backdrops and posters (you can click to save to your phone) and pin to start. You get similar features when selecting an actor as well.

The app also features a swanky double wide Live Tile that updates with the last image of the last film you explored using the app, adding some nice variety to your Start screen.

The Windows 8 app, also free (no ads either), has the same layout and is a great companion app to the Windows Phone version.

Windows 8/RT

If we had to be picky about such a fantastic movie app, we would ask for SkyDrive access to backup/share our history/favorites/watch list or even more, have them sync between our phone and Windows 8 device (ala Package Tracker). Another feature that would make this app fantastic would be local access to look up showtimes in your area, so that you can take the next logical step after looking up a movie.

Having said that, Film Closet is a great first effort from the developer. It has a gorgeous UI, is easy to use and we love duo-apps for Windows Phone/Windows 8. Plus it’s free with no ads, meaning there is no risk here for you. If you use IMdB but want a better app (in our opinion), then give this a go.

Pick up Film Closet for Windows Phone here in the Store or the Windows RT version here. Let us know in comments what you think!

Sony brings AOSP open-source Android to Xperia Tablet Z

Alex Dobie — Fri, 17 May 2013 16:48:33 +0000

Vanilla, open-source Android available for 10-inch tablet on Sony GitHub

Like the Xperia Z before it, Sony has announced that it's bringing the Xperia Tablet Z into its version of the Android Open-Source Project (AOSP). The project brings the latest vanilla Android 4.2.2 Jelly Bean to the tablet, with the caveat that it's not "certified or intended for daily use," and many of the features from the shipping ROM will be missing.

You'll also need to do a bit of legwork yourself if you want to get AOSP up and running on your Xperia Tablet Z. The code is available on the Sony GitHub, just as it is for the Xperia Z, but you'll need to download and compile it yourself. So this is by no means a quick, easy fix to turn the Tablet Z into a Nexus-style device, but active development from Sony -- not to mention community developers -- could eventually make this a tablet of choice for Android hackers.

You'll find more technical details over on the official Sony blog, linked below. The Xperia Tablet Z is already available in some countries around the world. The Sony U.S. store is currently taking pre-orders, with an estimated ship date of May 24.

Source: Sony Blog

CrackBerry Live: Scoping out new games coming from the maker of Alpha Zero

Simon Sage — Fri, 17 May 2013 16:47:05 +0000

3 Little Kingdoms recently launched for strategy lovers, while Eyebert is on the way for those looking for twitchy platforming goodness.

We got to check out some new games from Funkoi at BlackBerry Live 2013 this week, and they're a decidedly different direction than what they currently offer with Alpha Zero.

3 Little Kingdoms launched not too long ago, which is a base defense game where players have to produce and command waves of troops to clash against an opposing side. For all of its 2D graphics, there are some very polished perspective effects with the foreground, plus the strategic elements look solid. A brand new game getting its first look at the show is Eyebert, which takes a tried-and-true runner formula and tosses in some Mario-style platforming and a lot of colorful artwork.

Now, even with the new games, Funkoi's not leaving Alpha Zero in the dust. They showed us the awesome multitouch space shooter running on the Q10 for the first time, and let us know that they've recently added Bluetooth controller support. Be sure to check out Funkoi's current apps in BlackBerry World. If you haven't tried Alpha Zero yet, it's definitely worth a go.

Sprint closes deal to buy spectrum and customers from U.S. Cellular in the Midwest

Alex Dobie — Fri, 17 May 2013 16:31:05 +0000

PCS spectrum and 420,000 U.S. Cellular customers part of deal

Sprint has announced that it's closed a deal to purchase PCS spectrum and a large number of customers from U.S. Cellular in the Midwest. As part of the deal, Sprint gets its hands on 20MHz of PCS airwaves in " various Midwest markets including Chicago, South Bend, Ind., and Champaign, Ill.," and 10MHz in St. Louis. As part of the transaction, Sprint will also inherit around 420,000 U.S. Cellular customers. That transition, Sprint's press release reveals, will last "several months."

The customers affected by the purchase have already been informed, Sprint says, and it aims to offer them a smooth transition to its own network or one of its pre-paid brands, on a "similar or better" device at "little or no cost." The additional spectrum will help Sprint boost its network in these areas, as it looks to expand its 4G LTE coverage.

Source: Sprint

Microsoft launches official Xbox blog ahead of next-gen announcements

Rich Edmonds — Fri, 17 May 2013 16:18:30 +0000

Microsoft has launched a new Xbox blog for consumers to remain up-to-date with all the latest news and content from the company.Microsoft has been revamping its news sources across the board, but the video game console has been left with no official source for some time, except or Larry Hryb ("Major Nelsen").

Taking the Editor of Xbox Wire position, Lisa Gurry has published an entry on the website to welcome everyone to the new home of Xbox news:

"In preparation, we’re launching Xbox Wire – a news blog to help you keep up with the latest Xbox news. You will be able to follow our journey as we bring you the best in games and entertainment and along the way we’ll introduce you to the people, places and technology that bring it all to life."

It's perfect timing with the next generation console just around the corner. The blog will officially come out of "beta mode" on May 21st, the very same day we're set to see what Microsoft has planned for everyone. So who's excited for potential announcements?

Source: Xbox Wire, via: Neowin

Download the NY Times app and get full access free through June

DJ Reyes — Fri, 17 May 2013 16:18:21 +0000

The New York Times app has been available since the BlackBerry 10 launch. It's free to download and there are free articles that you can browse and then you had to subscribe to get access to other content like videos and slides. It's a pretty decent app built natively and also allows you to easily share articles to your favorite social media sites. It even includes push notifications.

Right now, the New York Times is offering up full free access to all content to all users who download the app. Free access is being given as of now and will continue until June 26, 2013.

Features include:

Access to all the articles, blogs, videos and more from the world's finest journalists
Flow from section to section, article to article
Peek at the next article without leaving the current one
Share favorite content with friends and dedicated BlackBerry Groups
Create your own library to read whenever you like on any device

If you haven't gotten the app already, check it out now and make use of this neat offer.

Download the NY Times app from BlackBerry World

Vodafone Smart III is new own-branded budget offering

Alex Dobie — Fri, 17 May 2013 16:07:38 +0000

£95 up-front gets you Jelly Bean on a 4-inch screen

If you were wondering just how much smartphone you can get for under £100, Vodafone UK has your answer. The Vodafone Smart III is the latest entrant in the operator's Smart line, coming with mostly vanilla Android 4.1 Jelly Bean (despite the distinctly ICS-looking search bar) on a 4-inch WVGA screen. It's powered by an unnamed 1GHz processor with 512MB of RAM, and packs 5-megapixel rear camera, so there's nothing too fancy going on under the hood. But it's an attractive enough design, and we always like to see more vanilla Android out there.

The Vodafone Smart III sells for £95 outright on PAYG, and is given away for free on contracts starting at £13 per month. The device is on sale now in black and white color options.

Source: Vodafone

See what's inside the Verizon Nokia Lumia 928

Rich Edmonds — Fri, 17 May 2013 15:59:36 +0000

Just like the Lumia 920, Nokai's new Lumia 928 has had its case pulled off to reveal what's inside. We're always under the impression that Nokia packs magic inside its family of Windows Phones, with an army of fairies making the experience complete. Unfortunately, the Verizon Lumia 928 is (like technology in general) powered by circuitry. Interested to see what's inside?

All the goodness, including wireless charging can be spotted in the published shots, but what's interesting to note is how the Lumia 928 doesn't sport the same board layout as the 920 and looks similar to the Lumia 820. Be sure to head on over to the Chinese forum for more images of the multiple parts that make up the Lumia 928 as we know it.

Source: tieba.baidu.com; thanks, dyx171, for the tip!

nokia

Lumia 928

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Load up on some great apps and themes with MMMOOO's Mega Sale (select regions)

Alicia Erlich — Fri, 17 May 2013 15:59:31 +0000

Rocking a legacy BlackBerry device in Asia Pacific, Africa, or the Middle East? This one is for you!

Popular theme and application developer MMMOOO let us know that from now until May 22 they are holding their Mega Sale. They have chosen eight of their best selling apps and themes to be offered at the low price of $0.99. Unfortunately, there is one caveat to this sale. The promotion is only available in the Asia Pacific, Africa (except South Africa), and Middle Eastern Regions for compatible BBOS devices.

Nokia Italy lists Lumia 925 for preorder with €599.90 final price

Daniel Rubino — Fri, 17 May 2013 15:56:55 +0000

Nokia looks good on keeping their promise for a quick release on the Lumia 925—estimated to arrive in some European markets by the second week of June. Indeed Nokia Italy on their official shop site have now listed the super slim aluminum device for preorder.

Users can leave a €99.90 deposit down on the phone, available in black, grey or white, and then pay the remaining €500 when the product is ready to ship (there is no added shipping cost). Of course Nokia notes that the final price could change, though we highly doubt it will (and even if it did, it would most likely go down, not up).

With Italy taking the lead, hopefully other markets will follow soon. Anyone up for a good ol’ pre-order?

Source: NStore.it; via Plaffo

Multiple Vulnerabilities Found in File Lite and File Pro iOS Apps

Nick Arnott — Fri, 17 May 2013 15:45:54 +0000

Bad news this week for any users of the iOS file management apps File Lite and File Pro. Researchers over at Vulnerability Laboratory have published details for three vulnerabilities that they discovered in the latest versions of both apps.

Ranging from low to high risk, two of the vulnerabilities allow for code injection in the user’s browser when they view a file listing, while the most severe vulnerability allows an attacker to upload arbitrary files to a user’s account without any user interaction. While the impact of these vulnerabilities could be quite severe, exploitation requires a victim to be running the app’s Wi-Fi Sharing option.

The Wi-Fi Sharing method for sharing files runs a web server locally on your iPhone. It appears that all of the published vulnerabilities rely on the web server running to be exploited. If you already have the app on your phone and don’t want to lose the documents you have in it, you should be fine leaving the app on your phone, just avoid using the Wi-Fi Sharing option. Although based on the insecurities found by Vulnerability Laboratory, it’s probably not unwise to start using a different app to manage your files.

BlackBerry Jam: Build a native application in under an hour

Alicia Erlich — Fri, 17 May 2013 15:31:51 +0000

Heading in BlackBerry Live and the subsequent Jam Sessions I was a bit nervous. One of the reasons I made the trek from New York all the way down to Florida was to expand my coding skills and try my hand at learning Cascades. Now I had never used C++ or QML before nor did I have any experience with JavaScript so it did seem a bit intimidating going into the Cascades 101 sessions. However, all that changed when attending the App in Sixty Minutes session hosted by David Clayworth and Mattias Öhman. They would be compiling a native Cascades application in less than an hour.

Galaxy S4-compatible Samsung TecTiles 2 NFC tags now on sale

Alex Dobie — Fri, 17 May 2013 15:29:46 +0000

Available today from Samsung, $15 for pack of five tags

Samsung has announced the availability of its second-generation TecTiles tags, tiny writable NFC stickers that can be used to trigger various actions on a smartphone. For example, used with the TecTiles app, they can be programmed to check in on social networks, or toggle various settings on the device when it's within range.

TecTiles 2 are compatible with all NFC-enabled Samsung phones, and the company says they may work on other Android-based phones with NFC too, though it's making no promises. Unlike first-gen TecTiles, TecTiles 2 are fully compatible with the Samsung Galaxy S4. (Go figure.)

The tags are available today from Samsung's online store, priced at $15 for a pack of five, and they'll be starting to appear in brick-and-mortar stores from June. Hit the Google Play link above to grab the TecTiles app, or the source link below to buy the tags themselves.

More: Samsung TecTiles

iTunes 11.0.3 brings a number of important security fixes

Nick Arnott — Fri, 17 May 2013 15:15:44 +0000

Apple recently released iTunes 11.0.3 with a number of cosmetic improvements including an updated MiniPlayer and songs view. However, this release is more than just a pretty face, bringing a number of security patches which address a wide range of vulnerabilities. Even users not interested in the visual treatments will want to grab this update.

Out of all 40 of the vulnerabilities listed in Apple’s article detailing the security content of the update, only one of them affected Mac users. The remaining 39 vulnerabilities addressed in this iTunes release only affected Windows users. Though this doesn’t mean that it’s not important to update if you’re a Mac user. The bug fixed for OS X users addresses an issue with certificate validation, where iTunes could accept an untrusted SSL certificate without alerting the user, potentially leading to intercepted or maliciously altered traffic.

Windows users were also affected by the certificate validation bug, as well as a significant number of memory corruption bugs in WebKit. These bugs could allow for a man-in-the-middle attack and potentially lead to arbitrary code execution on a user’s computer. While specific details aren’t available for all of the fixed bugs, a number of them seem to have been previously patched in iOS and Safari and are not particularly new. In fact, details of the oldest bug on the list were first discovered over a year ago, and fixed in iOS and Safari earlier this year.

If you haven’t already updated iTunes, you can update to 11.0.3 with iTunes’ “Check for Updates...” option or grab it straight from the iTunes download page.

HTC One production capacity to double in May

Alex Dobie — Fri, 17 May 2013 15:01:21 +0000

Component supply issues behind it, HTC ramps up production of flagship device

Despite suffering some early setbacks due to camera component shortages, HTC is looking to ramp up production of its flagship HTC One handset. HTC North Asia president Jack Tong told Taiwan Focus that production will double in May and rise further in June to meet "strong demand." Speaking at a news conference, Tong added “We are optimistic about our high-end sales during April and June.”

Tong also highlighted the HTC Butterfly (the global version of the Droid DNA sold in Asia) as a strong performer, noting that sales had increased by as much as 50 percent since a price cut made it free on-contract in Japan. The Butterfly, Tong says, should also be getting a software update with Sense 5.0 and new features like BlinkFeed before the end of the month.

A shortage of specialized camera components resulted in shortages of HTC One stock around the phone's European launch, which had the knock-on effect of pushing back the U.S. release slightly. After a pretty dismal few months of financial results, HTC will be hoping that this increased demand for its phones will result in a stronger set of numbers in Q2.

Source: ZDNet, Focus Taiwan

Nokia helps you find the latest trends with App Highlights Social (Beta) for Windows Phone

Rich Edmonds — Fri, 17 May 2013 14:37:04 +0000

Nokia has released a new beta for Lumia Windows Phone owners to enjoy - App Highlights Social. So what can one do with said app installed? It essentially takes the baton from the App Highlights app we've come to know and love, but improving the overall experience with new functionality and a more advanced interface. Our first impressions: it's really, really cool.

If you're one who enjoys discovering new apps for your Lumia Windows Phone, App Highlights Social is a must have. There's an array of features to hep consumers get the most out of Nokia's Collection and the Windows Phone Store itself. As the name suggests, there's a social element implemented to make finding new apps and games more fun and worthwhile.

Users can create their own app lists, have the community follow said collections and rise to the top of a leaderboard. It's an interesting way to have the community involved with not only finding new apps to download and enjoy, but also sharing what they've already got installed to benefit others. Here are some highlighted (pun intended) features:

Enjoy browsing through tons of different apps lists brought to you by Nokia and App Highlights Social Beta users around the world
While you browse you can thank users for cool app lists
Sign in to create and share lists of apps with your friends and with the world in order to gain thanks and followers in your lists
Search for your friends and tech celebrities to start following them and gain insights from their lists of apps

Utilising its own account system, there's the element of personalisation with different experiences for each individual, depending on which apps one's interested in. You can download App Highlights Social from the Nokia Collection on the Windows Phone Store - note that the app is currently listed for Windows Phone 8 hardware only.

Update: Nokia informs us that this is a very limited beta, for US, Italy, Finland and India ONLY at the moment.

app highlights

app highlights social

nokia

Nokia Collections

News

Deal of the Day: 43% off the Incipio Smart Feather Ultralight Hard Case for iPad 4th gen and The New iPad

Brent Zaniewski — Fri, 17 May 2013 14:36:12 +0000

Today Only: Purchase the Incipio Smart Feather Ultralight Hard Case for iPad 4th gen/The New iPad and save $14.99!

Measuring less than 1mm thin, Incipio's Ultra Light Feather Case is ideal for the iPad user seeking inconspicuous, first-class protection. Feather is made of an ultra light, ultra strong polymer for light as a feather, form-fitting durable protection without the added bulk. Available in a variety of colors to choose from!

List Price: ~~$34.99~~ Today Only: $20.00

Learn More and Buy Now

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Deal of the Day: Save 69% on the BlackBerry Rapid Wall Charger for PlayBook

ShopCrackBerry — Fri, 17 May 2013 14:01:58 +0000

Today Only: Buy the BlackBerry Rapid Wall Charger for PlayBook and save $47.99!

The BlackBerry Rapid Wall Charger is made for maximum reliability and portability. Use one at home, or take it with you to the office, to the airport, or virtually anywhere. The cable is 3 ft. long to maximize your flexibility. And, like other BlackBerry chargers, it charges your PlayBook rapidly and helps preserve the life of your battery.

List Price: $69.99 Today Only: $22.00

Deal also available in the Canada store

Learn More and Buy Now

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AdDuplex crosses 3,000 active app marker, celebrates with advertising discount

Rich Edmonds — Fri, 17 May 2013 13:55:24 +0000

Developer advertising network for both Windows and Windows Phone, AdDuplex has managed to cross the 3,000 active app marker. To celebrate this milestone being smashed, the company is celebrating with a 30 percent discount on commercial advertising.

As well as this enticing offer, AdDuplex also teases some exciting things to announce later this year. If you're interested in taking advantage of the special offer, be sure to act quickly as it ends as we close up May.

Source: AdDuplex

Deal of the Day: Seidio Innocell 3500mAh Extended Battery for Galaxy S3

ShopAndroid.com — Fri, 17 May 2013 13:44:23 +0000

The May 17 ShopAndroid.com Deal of the Day is the Seidio Innocell 3500mAh Extended Battery for Samsung Galaxy S3. When you can’t get to an outlet, this extended battery will keep you moving forward. It utilizes a premium Japanese cell to ensure the highest level of safety and performance, offering up to 60% more battery life than your stock battery. Includes replacement door and does not support NFC.

The Seidio Innocell 3500mAh Extended Battery is available for just $50.00, 29% off today only. Grab yours while supplies last!

Deal also available in the Canada store

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NVIDIA Shield up for pre-order ahead of schedule

Alex Dobie — Fri, 17 May 2013 13:40:20 +0000

"Growing buzz" moves up pre-order date for gaming handheld

NVIDIA has announced that it's moved up the pre-order date for its Shield handheld gaming device, due to "growing buzz" from partners in recent days. That means you can now pre-order NVIDIA Shield right now, either directly from NVIDIA or through one of its retailer partners -- Newegg, Gamestop or Canada Computers. Pre-orders are live three days ahead of the planned May 20 date.

As was announced a few days back, Shield sells for $349.99, and devices pre-ordered today should be arriving "by the end of June." Alongside the console itself, NVIDIA's also offering pre-orders on the carrying case, which costs $39.99, and carbon fiber and glossy black replacement lids, which go for $19.99 each.

NVIDIA Shield has changed a bit since we first saw it under the "Project Shield" moniker at CES back in January. Check out all our recent Shield coverage, including our hands-on preview, to see what's new.

We've got pre-order links after the break.

Windows Phone Leaf: A concept to improve the user interface

Rich Edmonds — Fri, 17 May 2013 13:18:23 +0000

A concept, created by recent French graduate Ferid, has been published online. The concept goes into some detail about possible improvements that could be implemented to make it easier and more convenient for consumers to carry out standard tasks on a mobile phone.

It's definitely worth checking out. One slide that caught my eye was an idea that our Daniel Rubino and I lightly touched on in London this week. Utilising the Windows logo on each device as the notification light, with pulsating or flashing animations to alert owners when notifications have been saved on the lock screen, etc.

Microsoft will be throwing in new features with its batch of updates, so it'll be interesting to see where the company takes its platform. We'll not cover each and every element from the resource, so be sure to head on over to MonWindowsPhone to check out all the slides - quick heads up: it's in French so have your translators on standby.

Source: MonWindowsPhone

windows phone concept

Intel's outgoing CEO explains how they turned down the original iPhone

Richard Devine — Fri, 17 May 2013 13:16:40 +0000

Intel CEO Paul Otellini has stepped down from his post, but not before divulging some interesting revelations in the process. As it turns out, Otellini and Intel turned down the chance to work on the original iPhone, now with some element of regret. As Otellini told The Atlantic:

"We ended up not winning it or passing on it, depending on how you want to view it. And the world would have been a lot different if we'd done it. The thing you have to remember is that this was before the iPhone was introduced and no one knew what the iPhone would do... At the end of the day, there was a chip that they were interested in that they wanted to pay a certain price for and not a nickel more and that price was below our forecasted cost. I couldn't see it. It wasn't one of these things you can make up on volume. And in hindsight, the forecasted cost was wrong and the volume was 100x what anyone thought."

On the one hand, at the time no-one probably did know just how much of a success the iPhone would become, and how many units would be shipped. Since then, Intel has finally begun to make moves into the mobile market, but they're very much late to the party and going their own way.

The full article at The Atlantic is a lengthy profile of Paul Otellini's time at Intel, and is definitely worth a read. If they had supplied chips to the original iPhone, though, how different their presence in mobile could be today.

Source: The Atlantic

Looking for a tough Lightning cable? Moshi has just the thing for you

Richard Devine — Fri, 17 May 2013 13:01:12 +0000

Moshi makes some great accessories for the iPhone and the iPad, and their latest is no exception. Lightning cables are always a handy commodity to have around, but Moshi has done something a little different with theirs. They've encased them in aluminum.

Moshi claims that their new USB to Lightning cables are "almost indestructible," so definitely worth a look if you're the sort of person who keeps breaking plastic things. Better yet, Moshi's cables cost only $20, just $1 more than the Apple Lightning cables, making them extremely good value for money. The cables are available in black as well as a white and silver option, and are available to order from Moshi now.

Are you one of those people who would love a rough and tough Lightning cable? Will you be picking one of these up?

Source: Moshi

Good for Enterprise updated, now supports Windows Phone 8

Rich Edmonds — Fri, 17 May 2013 12:50:47 +0000

If you're not familiar with what Good is all about, it's an enterprise messaging service. We've had an app available for Windows Phone since last year, but now we're looking at a large update, which bundles Windows Phone 8 support with a list of improvements and new features. Version 1.8 expands on the foundation already available on the store with more functionality for those who take security rather seriously.

A number of reviews have hit out at some of the annoying issues that plague the user experience. So what's new in version 1.8? As well as support for the latest Windows Phone hardware, there's also the following:

Secure access to email, calendar and contacts
Synchronize contacts with native address book
Conference dialer from calendar event
Application remote lock and wipe
Support blocking copy/paste policy
Office and PDF attachment viewing through third party apps(require enabling importing/exporting policy in GMC)
Support Exchange and Domino servers
Support Fast Application Resume

That' quite an improvement and one we believe will address some of the concerns many have had. You can download Good from the Windows Phone Store (works on both Windows Phone 7.x and 8). Thanks, Steve, for the tip!

Fitbit app updated with Bluetooth 4.0 sync support for Galaxy S4

Alex Dobie — Fri, 17 May 2013 12:37:48 +0000

Samsung's latest now syncs with your Fitbit

We might have to wait a while for native Bluetooth 4.0 support to make it into the Android code base, but while OEMs are shipping phones with their own implementation of the wireless standard, app developers seem more than willing to hop onboard.

As such, the Fitbit app for Android has today been updated to take advantage of Bluetooth 4.0 syncing on the Samsung Galaxy S4, with all the improvements in efficiency that it brings. As Bluetooth 4.0 support isn't yet standardized in Android, Fitbit says custom development work is required for each new handset. Naturally, Samsung's big-selling flagship was an early priority.

Here's hoping support will follow for other BT 4.0 handsets like the HTC One. In the meantime, you can grab the latest version of Fitbit for Android over at the Google Play link above.

Source: Fitbit Blog

Windows Phone shopping apps, helping you survive the bargain hunt

George Ponder — Fri, 17 May 2013 12:35:41 +0000

Windows Phone Central App Roundup: Shopping Apps

Shopping. Everybody does it. Some enjoy it, some despise it but few will argue that making shopping easier is a bad thing.

In this week's Windows Phone Central app roundup, we're taking a look at a few shopping apps designed to make it easier to find the best prices and/or make your purchases on the go. As with all our roundups, if we missed your favorite shopping app feel free to sound off in the comments.

Home Depot (free): Like it or not, there comes a time in everyone's life that a hardware store becomes a routine stop when you're out shopping. Whether it's for lawn and garden supplies or a replacement toilet seat, hardware stores will become a necessity.

The Home Depot app is designed to make filling your hardware needs easier by helping you find locations, check in-store inventory, and make purchases.

The app will let you sign into your Home Depot account, sign up for savings alerts, and search for inventory by keyword or scanning a products barcode.

The Home Depot app can come in handy when you need to visit the hardware store but don't really want to spend to much time doing so. The Home Depot app is a free app that you can find here in the Windows Phone Store.

RedLaser (free): We've mentioned RedLaser before and find it to be one of the best price finder apps available. Especially after the latest update.

RedLaser will let you search for the best price by scanning the product's bar code, entering a keyword, by taking a photo of the item or through voice commands. RedLaser taps into thousands of online retailers to find the lowest price on the item.

The app will also find the best prices locally, give you driving directions to that location and pull up product reviews and descriptions.

The latest update for RedLaser allows you to scan those merchant loyalty/rewards cards (from grocery stores, drug stores, big box stores, etc.) that often clutter your keychain. Once scanned, the information can be scanned directly from your Windows Phone.

RedLaser is a free app for your Windows Phone that you can find here in the Windows Phone Store.

Liquor Run (free): Liquor Run is a shopping app that may not appeal to everyone but if you need to find the closest store for adult beverages, it can save you time and maybe even a little cash.

Liquor Run will let you search for liquor retailers by your current location, zip code, or address. Store information details the address/phone number of the store, driving directions to get there, store hours and a "call this store" link.

On top of finding the liquor, Liquor Run also over a thousand mixed drink recipes, alcohol and calorie counts for the top beers, and a link to find a safe ride home.

If you're favorite store isn't listed, you can add the information to the listing. Not sure if it's stored locally or sent to the full database.

All totaled, if you need find the closest beer or liquor source Liquor Run isn't a bad option to consider. It's a free app and you can find Liquor Run here in the Windows Phone Store.

ShopAdvisor (free): ShopAdvisor is similar to RedLaser in that you can search for products to find the lowest price. You can scan the bar code or search by keyword.

ShopAdvisor will search thousands of local and online retailers for the best price. Local retailers will be mapped out and in tapping on an individual location you can view the address, contact numbers, store hours and in some cases if the product is in stock.

You also have an Advise Me Page that will chart the pricing of the product and offer buying advise and reviews.

One nice feature on ShopAdvisor is the ability to set price alerts. When you find a product, simply set an alert for when the price falls below a certain point. Alerts can be pinned to your Start Screen for easy access.

All totaled, ShopAdvisor is a nice app to help you find the best price out there. It's a free and you can find ShopAdvisor here in the Windows Phone Store.

You also have the Amazon.com app, the BestBuy app, Ebay app, HSN Shop App, the Groupon app and a few others in the Windows Phone Store.

We all shop and these apps can help make it easier and save you a little in the process. From personal experience, RedLaser has save me a few bucks at stores that matched prices and the Home Depot app saved me a trip when I notice the items weren't in stock.

Again, if we've overlooked your favorite shopping app feel free to make your recommendation in the comments.

mSecure for iOS and Mac 50% off for a limited time, and now comes with iCloud sync!

Richard Devine — Fri, 17 May 2013 12:17:14 +0000

Password managers are a mightily useful thing to have around, but at the same time they're not the most affordable apps for your iOS devices or your Mac. It's tough to put a price on security, but if you've been holding off for a sale then mSecure might be just what you're looking for. For a limited time, both iOS and Mac versions are 50% off their regular price, and with the latest updates iCloud sync is now also included!

Until now, cloud syncing of your mSecure information has required a Dropbox account, so the added option of being able to use your iCloud account to sync between your Mac and your iOS device is a welcome one. While 1Password is no doubts the popular choice when it comes to managing passwords and sensitive information across your devices, mSecure is a more than competent alternative.

If you'd like to see a comparison of mSecure to some of the other leading alternatives, then be sure to check out our shootout with 1Password and Lastpass. To get a copy of mSecure for yourselves at the special promotional price, head over the the iOS and Mac App Stores.

Which is your preferred password management solution, and why? Does this price cut to mSecure make it a much more compelling choice for you? Let us know in the comments!

mSecure for Mac ($9.99) - Download Now
mSecure for iOS ($4.99) - Download Now

Samsung Galaxy Tab 3 8.0 allegedly revealed alongside specs

Alex Dobie — Fri, 17 May 2013 12:07:48 +0000

Looks like a Galaxy Note 8 that lost its S Pen

Samsung's continuing its Android tablet push with the Galaxy Tab 3 series, and it looks like there might be an 8-inch variant on the way alongside the current 7-incher. SamMobile obtained the shot you see above, which it claims shows the Samsung Galaxy Tab 3 8.0.

According to a spec sheet released alongside the image, the 8-incher will come in Wifi-only and 3G flavors, and run Android 4.2.2 Jelly Bean on a 1280x800 panel. On the inside, it's supposedly an unnamed 1.5GHz dual-core CPU doing the number-crunching, with 1GB of RAM, 16GB of internal storage and a microSD slot. A 1.3-megapixel front-facing camera and 5-megapixel rear shooter are also listed. The dimensions are also a point of interest, with a thickness of just 6.95mm being reported, potentially making this an extremely thin tablet.

The shot itself appears to be little more than a mock-up, but if accurate it would indicate that the 8-inch Tab 3 is running a the latest version of TouchWiz, and is also lacking the earpiece of its 7-inch counterpart. No release date is reported just yet, but we imagine it'll appear sometime after the 7-inch Tab 3's roll-out, due to take place over the next month.

Source: SamMobile

Gameloft is giving you some free premium games to play this weekend!

Richard Devine — Fri, 17 May 2013 11:57:52 +0000

If you're looking for some new games to play this weekend on your iOS device, Gameloft wants to help you out. Starting today for a limited time only -- this weekend to be precise -- premium titles N.O.V.A. 3 and Gangstar Rio can be had completely free of charge. That's a combined saving of just under $12 if you're counting.

Gangstar Rio sits in the same vein as Grand Theft Auto, where you're exploring a 3D environment set in Rio de Janeiro. Missions, weapons, vehicles, all combine to create a game where you do well, by doing wrong.

N.O.V.A. 3 is an extremely impressive First Person Shooter with a storyline that spans 10 levels across the galaxy. It comes with 7 different multiplayer modes with support for up to 12 players, as well as in-game voice chat so you can communicate with your friends while playing.

Both are available in the App Store to download now, so go get them!

N.O.V.A 3 (Free) - Download Now
Gangstar Rio (Free) - Download Now

JK Shin: Galaxy S4 to top 10 million sold next week

Alex Dobie — Fri, 17 May 2013 11:39:09 +0000

Galaxy S4 could pass the 10 million mark twice as quickly as the S3

JK Shin has told the Korean press that he expects the Samsung Galaxy S4 to pass 10 million units sold next week. Speaking with the Korea Times, the Samsung co-CEO said he was "confident" the milestone would be met, adding "it is selling much faster than the previous model S3."

The Galaxy S4 benefits from having launched across three major U.S. carriers at the same time as the global launch. By contrast, the U.S. release of the S3 took place several months behind the initial European launch. That device passed the 10 million mark in late July 2012, having begun shipping a little under two months earlier. If the S4 hits 10 million next week, it'd mean S4s are being shifted twice as fast as last year's S3. It'd also make it Samsung's fastest-selling smartphone, the Korea Times notes.

The last set of shipment numbers reported in the Korean press suggested 6 million GS4s had shipped as of May 10. Today's Korea Times article refers to units sold, not units shipped, so it's possible the distinction may have been lost in translation. Either way, that's a lot of Galaxy S4s.

Source: Korea Times; via: Engadget

Contest Winners: Black Ops Elite cases from Element and Aria cases from Pad & Quill!

Michelle Haag — Fri, 17 May 2013 09:19:09 +0000

If there's one thing iMore loves even more than iPhones and iPads (and iPods!), it's giving cool iPhone and iPad accessories and apps to our awesome readers. This week we have amazing cases from both Element and Pad& Quill! The winners are:

Black Ops Elite Case for iPhone 5 from Element
kataran
PrePlus79

Aria case for iPad from Pad & Quill!
jmecca09
MrAlakija

Congratulations everyone! Winners will be contacted via email in the next few days. Looking for another chance to win? We always have a contest underway for something cool, so keep your eyes on the blogs for those announcements.

Time to announce the winner of the BlackBerry Q10 from @RogersBuzz and CrackBerry!

Michelle Haag — Fri, 17 May 2013 06:26:01 +0000

With BlackBerry Live 2013 underway this week, there was a bit of delay in getting this contest sorted, but here is the big announcement our Canadian readers have been waiting for. It's time to reveal the winner of the BlackBerry Q10 from @RogersBuzz and CrackBerry! If you see your name below then congratulations and watch your email as we will be in touch soon with information on claiming your prize.

Android Central 135: Google I/O Day 2!

Phil Nickinson — Fri, 17 May 2013 04:55:27 +0000

Podcast MP3 URL:

http://traffic.libsyn.com/androidcentral/acpc-io2.mp3

No show notes this time. Just listen and enjoy. Namaste.

Gates becomes world's richest man again, Microsoft stock keeps a-rising

Sam Sabri — Fri, 17 May 2013 04:10:34 +0000

Bill Gates doesn’t have anything to do with the day-to-day operations of Microsoft. Since stepping down back in 2008, he’s been full-timing it at the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation - the largest transparently operated private foundation in the world. But he’s still an important figure in the tech world, especially for anyone following Microsoft. He’s also back on top as the world’s richest person.

According to the Bloomberg Billionaire Index, Bill Gates is back on top with a net worth of $72.7 billion. The previous number one was Mexican telecommunications mogul Carlos Slim, who now sits in the number two position with a-nothing-to-scoff-at $72.1 billion.

How did our man Bill take the top spot? Two things. First, Carlos lost about $3 billion due to his primary company, America Movil, dropping 14% in value after a bill was passed in Mexico to break up American Movil's monopoly. Second, Microsoft is trading at its highest value in 5 years. That helped give Bill his number one spot on the Bloomberg Billionaire Index, a position he hasn’t held since 2007.

It’s worth noting that Bill Gates has contributed $28 billion to the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation. And has plans to donate up to 90% of his fortune by the time he passes. Without donating, he could easily have been the wealthiest man.

So Bill Gates is number one again. Big deal, right? While it won’t really change life for you, me, or Dupree, it’s worth nothing that Microsoft is doing well as a company. A company that could be doing much worse in this “post-PC” age.

A lot of pundits have questioned Gates’ business tactics while in charge of Microsoft. But it’s hard to ignore the amount of good he’s done with his fortune so far and what can be accomplished over the next few decades. I’m just hoping he’ll never lose his ability to jump the standard office chair. Bill Gates: billionaire, philanthropist, and most importantly - slayer of chairs.

Source/Image: Bloomberg

BlackBerry 10.1 OS now available in Australia

Michelle Haag — Fri, 17 May 2013 01:27:16 +0000

That's right Australians, you should now be able to download and install the BlackBerry 10.1 update on your BlackBerry Z10! As announced earlier this week at the BlackBerry Live 2013 keynote, the update is rolling out around the world, with many people already seeing the update on their devices. Keep reading to see what changes and updates you can expect to find in this new version of BlackBerry 10, and be sure to let us know in the comments below if you're seeing the update down under.

Deal Alert: Grab the Nokia Lumia 928 on Verizon for as low as $29.99

Sam Sabri — Fri, 17 May 2013 00:05:42 +0000

Mother always said life was like a box of chocolates. If you shop around you’ll find older, seasonal selections for a cheaper price. Giving you some extra money for the rest of the date. Or something like that. Same applies for smartphones, if you shop around you’ll get some sweet deals for a phone that isn’t old – the Nokia Lumia 928 on Verizon.

Newegg - $29.99

The first deal, from Newegg, is most inexpensive way to get a Lumia 928 that we can find right now. You’ll need to be either starting a new account, be eligible for an upgrade, or add another line to snag the Xenon packing 928. Doing that will only cost you $29.99 versus the $99 price you’ll find at most Verizon stores. Go to Newegg to get the Lumia 928 in either ebony or ivory.

RadioShack - $49.99

Why shop at The Shack for 20 dollars more compared to Newegg? Lots of reasons, you may be telling a relative to get the Lumia 928 and they just absolutely love shopping locally. Then tell them to go to RadioShack for a Lumia 928 that costs just $49.99, still half off compared to their local Verizon store. As usual, to get that price you’ll need to be starting a new account, upgrading a line, or starting a new line. RadioShack also gives the phone in either black or white.

Sam’s Club - $49.74

What?! You can get the Lumia 928 for 25 cents cheaper through your local Sam’s Club than RadioShack? While we won’t be seeing Black Friday crowds trampling each other for the savings, Sam’s Club is also getting in on the game of saving you money on a Lumia 928. A Reddit user posted a picture showing an in-store promotion for the newest Lumia on Verizon. Head to your local store to take advantage of this deal.

Wirefly - $49.99

Another place to snag a Nokia Lumia 928 on the cheaper side is Wirefly. The online site has the device going for $49.99 with either a new contract, upgrade, or new line. You can get that deal right here.

Have you found any other deals we missed? Share them below! Who is planning on picking up the Lumia 928? Already have it? Discuss in the forums.

Thanks to James S and everyone who sent this in!

eBay app for iPhone gets a visual overhaul and license scanning for quick registration

Richard Devine — Fri, 17 May 2013 00:01:15 +0000

The official eBay app for iPhone just got a nice update that brings a UI refresh to the online auction service. The bump up to version 3.0 adds a general refresh to most areas of the app, and improves photos in listings making them now much larger and better looking. Photos also now look larger in search results at the tap of a button, though iOS 6 and above is required for this.

Beyond the visuals, U.S. customers in selected states now have the facility to scan their drivers license for quick and easy eBay registration. Also available to U.S. customers now, along with those of us in the UK is access to the new eBay shopping cart, giving you the option to checkout multiple items at once.

Sellers in Spain will also be happy to know that finally they can sell their wares using the eBay app, as this feature has been turned on in the latest version. Grab it from the App Store now, and be sure to let us know how you're finding it. Does it make your eBay experience a little better now?

Free - Download Now

Android Team Fireside Chat Liveblog: 8:20 p.m. EDT tonight!

Phil Nickinson — Thu, 16 May 2013 23:56:08 +0000

Strap in, folks. Some of the top brass from Google's Android team are about to take the stage here at Google I/O, and maybe we'll get answers to a few of the burning questions from this year's conference. Plus, it's a chance for developers to chat directly with the other folks who make the magic happen.

It kicks off at 8:20 p.m. on the east coast, and 5:20 here in the west.

Join us for the liveblog after the break!

Lenovo K900 now available in China, more markets to follow

Andrew Martonik — Thu, 16 May 2013 23:07:12 +0000

Pricing set in retail and online at RMB 3,299 for Chinese launch

We've been getting looks at the latest high-end Intel device from Lenovo, the K900, since all the way back at CES and it's finally ready to make its debut in China. Starting today both online and in retail stores, the K900 will go up for sale for 3,299 Yuan (about $536). If you'll recall back to our previous hands-on with the device, the K900 has a very flashy stainless steel construction with a couple of cool color options, and has many of the high-end specs you'd expect. We're looking at an Intel Atom Z2580 dual-core 2GHz processor, 2GB of RAM, a 5.5-inch 1080P display and 13MP (f/1.8) Sony Exmor camera sensor. For software, Lenovo is shipping the K900 with Android 4.2 on-board, which is a good sign, along with its own set of customizations integrated.

Lenovo says that the launch is just in China for now, where it has done pretty well in the past, but that there are additional international markets that will see the device as we move through the summer. Given Lenovo's previous device launches, we still wouldn't expect to see this one head to the U.S. in any capacity.

Instagraph and Metrogram are becoming one. Here’s a tease.

Sam Sabri — Thu, 16 May 2013 22:39:58 +0000

Instagram is here for Windows Phone, unofficially at least now that Itsdagram is in the Store. But if there’s one thing we like, it's competition. And soon we’ll see another app in the Store that will allow you to upload, view, comment and more to Instagram. We’ve already told you that Instagraph and Metrogram have plans to join forces. Here’s your first sneak peak.

The developers have shared some screenshots and information about what’s coming next with the project. These are the next updates for Instagraph + Metrogram for the devs.

Integrating Metrogram into the app (see screenshots above)
Instagram account creation
Other goodies

The team highlights that their approach to uploading to Instagram doesn’t use any private APIs and will still find a way to provide 100% Instagram functionality in their app. They plan on doing this through a mix of public APIs and server-side push magic.

Are you excited for this combination, guys? Or has Itsdagram sated your thirst for Instragram clients?

Google I/O Hunt is likely the nerdiest scavenger hunt you'll ever see

Andrew Martonik — Thu, 16 May 2013 22:39:33 +0000

Have a little fun discovering hidden clues around Moscone Center

It's not all crazy long keynotes and intense developer sessions at Google I/O, sometimes you get to have a little fun too. Google just published an app called "Google I/O Hunt" in the Play Store today to let attendees of this year's conference have some fun exploring everything around I/O. As the name suggests, this is a scavenger hunt game you play around the Moscone Center to try and find "Alex the Android Dog" by following instructions and finding clues. You'll answer Google trivia questions, scan hidden NFC tags with your phone to get clues and unlock achievements throughout the game.

Now of course you won't be able to play if you're not at Google I/O, but hopefully at least a few of you out there get a chance to see what Google has you running around the conference for. The Google I/O Hunt trail starts off from the Google+ Office Hours counter.

Hangouts for iPhone and iPad review: Google+ cross-platform messaging service

Leanna Lofte — Thu, 16 May 2013 22:27:29 +0000

Hangouts for iPhone and iPad is Google's new cross-platform messaging app that lets you converse with your friends regardless of what phone, tablet, or computer they are using. It features a beautiful, clean design and support for video messaging.

The chat view in Hangouts is very traditional and flat with some subtle shading. Your messages and picture are on the right and everyone else is on the left. All users' chat bubbles are the same color, so only the picture distinguishes users from each other; something I actually like. It's simple

Tapping a user's photo will take you to their profile which includes everything they've made available on Google+, including work history, basic information, education, and more.

Video chatting with Hangouts is super easy, looks great, and also sounds crisp and clear. I had a quick conversation with Rene while he was in a noisy environment, yet I had no problem hearing or understanding him.

Google Hangouts also gives you control over who gets to hangout with you and who must send a request. You can also choose to automatically snooze notifications after 1-72 hours and block specific users.

The good

Clean design
Cross-platform
Group conversation support
Video chat support
Get notifications only once. After you see an alert, it disappears from other devices.
Snooze notifications
Save history
View collections of photos shared from each Hangout
Emoji support
Connect to Messages for Mac with Jabber
Universal for iPhone and iPad

The bad

Requires Google+, a simple Gmail account is not enough
Can't set your status/availability
No sound when new message comes in
No SMS integration. This is not a fault of Google, but rather of iOS API limitations, but it's still a bummer.

The bottom line

If you chat with friends on Google Talk or Google+ often, then Hangouts is awesome and you should definitely pick it up.

Free - Download now

Original Sonic the Hedgehog now available in the Play Store

Andrew Martonik — Thu, 16 May 2013 22:16:31 +0000

SEGA brings yet another classic Sonic game to mobile devices

Just a handful of weeks after SEGA let everyone know that it would be releasing a natively written version of Sonic the Hedgehog for Android, it has finally arrived in the Play Store. Sonic fans will appreciate that this is the complete original game from start to finish, remastered to make the gameplay experience higher quality. Users will get access to every original level, but with an improved soundtrack and all-together new features like leaderboards, achievements and a Time Attack game mode. A new feature has been added to let players unlock Knuckles and Tails as playable characters through the game as well.

Best of all SEGA is releasing the entire game for $2.99, which is a great price for another iconic piece of classic gaming on your phone or tablet. You can grab a download of Sonic the Hedgehog at the Play Store link above.

More: SEGA Blog

Review – 12x Telephoto Lens for the Nokia Lumia 920

Daniel Rubino — Thu, 16 May 2013 22:10:04 +0000

If there is one thing Lumia 920 owners are happy about, it’s their camera. So it’s finally nice to see some aftermarket-accessories build off of what Nokia has started (though personally, we’d like to see Nokia get involved in this area too).

We’ve covered some magnetic lens adapters in the past, and while “cheap” they did offer users a new creative ability with their phones. After all, if you’re a good photographer, you can make “art” out of anything and those lenses enabled some neat options.

Now we have a 12x telephoto lens that comes out of Guangdong, China and it goes for just slightly less than $20 (plus shipping). We ordered ours through Amazon.com and it took about 10 days or so for the product to arrive.

So how is it? It’s surprisingly well built. It’s a solid, elegant machined aluminum body with a sturdy tripod. Truth be told, we’re a bit shocked about how nicely it all works together—nothing feels “cheap” about it, including the box that it came in (it’s one of those nice ones with a magnetic flap).

Of course the big issue is, quality of the photos. The lens is a fixed 12x telephoto, meaning you have to "frame the photo with your feet", so to speak. The lens can be manually focused and it too excels beyond our expectations. Anyone who knows a quality lens knows it should have a smooth, slow and steady rotation and this lens actually has that, making it feel like you’re focusing an old-school prime lens for a DSLR.

Photos themselves are “ok”. Let’s be clear: this is not Nikkor, Canon or Carl Zeiss making the glass and there’s a reason why some of us pay $1K+ for our lenses in the first place. Purple fringing, darkened corners and a narrow focal area are all side effects of a $20 lens.

Having said that, it’s still pretty cool.

Hey, for $20, we can think of worse things to spend our money on. Will we use it often? Who knows. But the 920’s camera is a work of art and it’s fun to play around with such add-ons, even if they are niche or novelty.

You can order your 12x Zoom Lens through Amazon.com right here. Make sure you watch our video walk through for our impressions.

Pudding Monsters adds 25 new levels in 'Sky View' update

Andrew Martonik — Thu, 16 May 2013 20:43:38 +0000

New levels that will keep the game fresh and let you move mountains

Pudding Monsters, the latest game from the makers of Cut the Rope, is expanding the number of levels it offers today with a new "Sky View" update to the game. Sky View adds 25 fresh new levels with new gameplay and mechanics for everyone to enjoy, whether you're on the paid or free version of the app. Developer ZeptoLab says you'll be introduced to a new character, "Mr. Powerlifter Monster", that will come in handy when moving some mountains in the new levels.

You can grab your download or update to the free version of the Pudding Monsters app from the Play Store link above, or the paid version right here as well.

Archos introduces the 80 Xenon tablet, arriving in June for $199

Richard Devine — Thu, 16 May 2013 20:32:40 +0000

Quad-core, Android 4.1 Jelly Bean and 3G capabilities in Archos' latest 'Elements' line tablet

Archos has today introduced another tablet to their Elements series, the Archos 80 Xenon. This 8-inch tablet comes with 3G and WiFi, Android 4.1 Jelly Bean, a quad-core Snapdragon S4 1.2GHz processor and a 1024x768 resolution IPS display. So, we're looking at a solid mid-range tablet, with Jelly Bean and full Google Play access as is now the norm for Archos tablets.

Other specs to mention include 1GB of RAM, but just 4GB of on-board storage expandable by way of microSD card. It comes with a pair of cameras, though neither is much to shout about. The rear camera is just 2MP, with a front facing 'webcam.'

The 80 Xenon is set to be available sometime in June, priced at $199.99.

Source: Archos

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Sam Sabri — Thu, 16 May 2013 20:24:28 +0000

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Evernote, Twitter and Facebook apps for Google Glass announced

Alex Dobie — Thu, 16 May 2013 20:17:46 +0000

Major players get official apps for Google's smart glasses

Following the start of this year's Google I/O developer conference, Evernote, Twitter and Facebook have announced official apps for Google Glass. If you're among the lucky few people packing "explorer edition" Glass devices, you can turn on these new applications by heading to your MyGlass page at google.com/myglass and enabling the app you want.

While the Facebook app for Glass is primarily focused on sharing pictures you've taken on the device, the Twitter app offers much of the functionality of a full-blown Twitter app, including the ability to send and receive regular tweets, images retweets and direct messages. (You might remember Twitter for Glass has been rumored for some time.)

Evernote, on the other hand, focuses on quickly added photo or video snippets to your notes, and sending existing notes to your Glass timeline, so it's always within view. These are small first steps, but it's early days for Glass, and we can't wait to see what developers come up with in the months ahead.

If you're rocking Glass already, be sure to hit the comments and share your thoughts on these new apps.

Source: Evernote, Twitter, Facebook

CrackBerry Live: Checking out the latest BB10 game from the creator of Pixelated

Simon Sage — Thu, 16 May 2013 20:12:17 +0000

Pixelated fans will want to check out the next game from creator Ebscer. Eric Harty was showing off Starbeams at BlackBerry Live 2013, a simple yet challenging puzzle game where players have to assign colors to points in a shape so that no two of them connected by a line are the same. It's pretty hard once you get to the later levels. We also chatted with Eric about his general impressions of the show from the perspective of an independent developer.

Ebscer has a bunch of other games in BlackBerry World, so go ahead and take a look at what's there. There's still plenty more of our CrackBerry Live footage to see, so keep that CB browser tab open!

Sony 'Xperia UL' could be headed to Japan's KDDI AU

Alex Dobie — Thu, 16 May 2013 20:04:08 +0000

Codename 'Gaga' device pictured, rumored to pack Snapdragon 600 CPU, 1080p display

Things could be getting a bit more crowded at the high end of Sony's smartphone range. Recently-leaked images obtained by Chinese site CNMO suggest that a new handset may be on the way. The "Xperia UL" -- previously known by its codename "Gaga" -- is shown in images that seem to have been taken during regulatory testing of the device. From the front and back the "UL" looks a lot like the Xperia ZL, with a similarly curved back and featureless front. From the side we can also see Sony's iconic round power button.

But unlike the ZL, the Xperia UL seems to feature a removable battery door, allowing access to a 2300mAh juicer. Other specs reported by CNMO include a Snapdragon 600 CPU, 2GB of RAM, 32GB of storage and a 1080p display of unknown size.

The branding on the back suggests it'll be headed to KDDI AU in Japan, so there's nothing yet to indicate a wider global launch. We suspect the next major Sony launch for the west might be the rumored "Honami," said to include Cyber-shot-inspired optics in a 20-megapixel rear camera.

Source: CNMO; via: UnwiredView

CrackBerry Live: PriceCheck Mobile - Winners of the app of the year award

Bla1ze — Thu, 16 May 2013 19:56:07 +0000

After the announcement of the BlackBerry Achievement Award winners, PriceCheck Mobile, who took home the app of the year award swung by CrackBerry Live to give us a walkthrough of their offerings. Andre W. de Wet, General Manager, PriceCheck guided us through it all and explained why their app is doing so well in South Africa, possible expansion plans and and winning the BlackBerry Achievement Awards. If you're not familiar with PriceCheck, give the video a look and if you're interested in grabbing the app, the link is below for you all.

Download PriceCheck Mobile for BlackBerry 10

Itsdagram, the first fully featured Instagram client for Windows Phone 8, is now available!

Daniel Rubino — Thu, 16 May 2013 19:39:46 +0000

Instagram, unofficially, has finally come to Windows Phone 8

It’s been a while in the making, but Itsdagram, a fully functional Instagram client, is now ready to be purchased (with a free trial, of course).

The app goes for $1.49 and is currently for Windows Phone 8 only (Windows Phone 7.x will come later). A free, ad supported version is due later next week but for now, you can try out and use version 1.1 of Itsdagram, which will allow you to upload photos directly to Instagram as well as create an account and view your friends’ photos.

From the app description:

"The only fully featured Instagram client on the market. Register, upload, comment, like, follow, find your facebook friends; All from Itsdagram!

What would an Instagram app be without filters!? Itsdagram filters can be updated daily without the need to update the app. You will never know when you've got a brand new filter waiting for you!"

Double tap to like

Tap and hold to swap between Timeline view and Grid view.

See photos you've liked and have been tagged in on your profile page

Change your profile picture and password there too!

Pin your favorite hashtags and users to your homescreen to keep track of them.

Free Trial will allow users that already have an account to upload 1 image to test. All other features are completely enabled. Commenting, Liking, Following, etc...

Registering a new account with Instagram requires the full version of Itsdagram.

We’ve been very happy with Daniel Gary’s progress on this project over the last few weeks and we think you’d be silly to not at least give it a go. Let us know in comments what you think!

Update: There’s a problem with some European cultures that use commas instead of decimals (ie $1,49 instead of $1.49). It will be fixed in an update early next week.

Download Itsdagram for Windows Phone 8 here in the Store.

Itsdagram

instagram

Apps

Tour of the awesome BlackBerry Keep Moving Van

Adam Zeis — Thu, 16 May 2013 19:36:22 +0000

The BlackBerry Keep Moving Tour is in full swing, bring BlackBerry 10 love to everyone across the globe. The most notable and high-profile vessel for the tour are those awesome vans that we've seen more than a few times now. They are popping up all over major cities in the US and showing off the BlackBerry Z10. Manned with a staff of BlackBerry experts, anyone can jump in the van and learn all about BlackBerry 10 from top to bottom.

So far we've seen the vans in places like Toronto for the Z10 launch, Alicia Keys shows in various cities and here at BlackBerry Live 2013.

If you haven't checked one out in person, sit back as Kevin runs us through the ins and outs of the BlackBerry Keep Moving Van.

Learn more about the BlackBerry Keep Moving Tour

CrackBerry Live: Talking faxes and VoIP on BlackBerry 10 with Jim Courtney

Simon Sage — Thu, 16 May 2013 19:18:59 +0000

Faxing is still a thing!

As it turns out, sometimes people still need to send a fax. Luckily, there's a mobile app out there for BlackBerry 10 called PamFax which lets you handle it without all of the fuss of a bulky machine. Users can pay a subscription fee for an inbound line, or get a bucket of credit for outbound faxes, which can be pulled in from on-device images and documents.

We met up with Jim Courtney at BlackBerry Live 2013, who had helped roll out PamFax to BlackBerry World, but he also has a history with VoIP going waaaaaay back. We chat a bit about Skype on BlackBerry 10, and he goes so far as to say that it's the best implementation of a mobile Skype solution to date, even though it's an Android port. Those are some bold words - do you guys agree?

We've got plenty more CrackBerry Live content to get up, including more interviews and product demos. Oh, and if you're interested in PamFax, you can find it here in BlackBerry World. Be sure to check out Voice on the Web for more from Jim.

Cut the Rope for Windows Phone gets three new level packs at last

Paul Acevedo — Thu, 16 May 2013 19:04:12 +0000

When Cut the Rope: Experiments arrived on Windows Phone last month, fans of the Cut the Rope series were of course pleased to see another installment on our platform. But the sequel’s arrival also reminded us that the first Cut the Rope had yet to receive an update since launch. The original game on Windows Phone had only 275 levels - 75 less than other versions.

As mobile Xbox gamers surely know, Rovio has been busy updating several of its Angry Birds games lately. Now it looks like Russian developer ZeptoLab has decided to join in the fun, because they’ve updated Cut the Rope at last! The update brings our version up to par with the iOS and Android games and gives players a great reason to rejoin Om Nom on his quest for candy.

Moar levels

The key feature of the update is the addition of three new level boxes:

Spooky Box – iOS release date: August 23, 2012 – Adds ghosts to the game
Steam Box – iOS release date: January 10, 2013 – Adds Steam valves to the game
Lantern Box – iOS release date: February 7, 2013 – Adds Chinese lanterns to the game

Each box contains 25 levels, so Cut the Rope on Windows Phone now has 350 levels – just like every other version. Nice!

iOS promo screens (all other images from Windows Phone)

Interestingly, the level packs are now divided up into seasons instead of one long list like before. Players can jump between seasons at any time, regardless of a previous season’s completion. The first box in every season starts out unlocked by default. However, stars from one season don’t contribute to unlocking level boxes in future seasons. So you’ll need to put the 11^th level pack, DJ Box through its paces before you can unlock the new boxes, even if you already have piles of stars from earlier boxes.

More cartoons too

At the bottom of the new season selection screen, you can also jump to the Cartoon menu. Previously, the game only linked to the first episode of Om Nom Stories via an option on the title screen. Now, players can easily access and enjoy the cartoon series’ first 13 episodes (14 and 15 are MIA). Kids and the young and heart will certainly have fun watching the game’s protagonist Om Nom get into trouble.

Experiments next?

It’s fantastic that ZeptoLab released these new level packs and revised the game’s UI with this update. We know that updating games through the Xbox Live certification process can be time consuming and costly for developers. Perhaps those factors inspired this dev to hold out until they had a sizable amount of content to add before working on the update.

That begs the question though - what about Cut the Rope: Experiments? ZeptoLab’s follow-up game launched with 150 levels on Windows Phone, whereas other versions have an extra box (Ant Hill) for a total of 175 levels. Check out our review for more details.

The developer might just choose to hold out for another level box to release on other platforms before they choose to update Experiments on Windows Phone. But we can hope it comes sooner, just as many of us hope for Cut the Rope: Time Travel to hurry up and come over!

Lotsa gameplay for ya dolla’

Cut the Rope – Windows Phone 7 and 8 – 99 cents – 29 MB – Store Link

Cut the Rope: Experiments – Windows Phone 7 and 8 – 99 cents – MB – Store Link

Thanks to Dome85 and Guilherme for the tip!

Need a reference tool for web development? Check out Web Design Cheat Sheet

James Richardson — Thu, 16 May 2013 19:02:16 +0000

This one will appeal to a niche market, but if you are looking to get into web development then it's well worth checking out. The application is essentially a Web Design Cheat Sheet which is a reference tool for HTML5, CSS3, and JavaScript which gives:

Useful Information
Syntax
Examples
Documentation
Site Feeds

I must admit that my experience and knowledge of development is extremely limited but Web Design Cheat Sheet looks to be the perfect tool to help get you into developing and finding out what's what. Built using Cascades - the app is a perfect example of how wonderful BlackBerry 10 apps can be. It's user friendly with an attractive, yet simple user interface.

Features of the app include:

BBM Connected
Reader Mode
Share Functionality
Request Additional Site Feeds
App Cover When Minimized
Sort by Letter

More information/Download Web Design Cheat Sheet for BlackBerry 10

CrackBerry Live: Hands-on with Samadhi relaxation apps

Bla1ze — Thu, 16 May 2013 18:38:50 +0000

Everyone has stress in their lives and for some folks listening to some soothing sounds helps relax situations. Stopping by CrackBerry Live was Till Adam, Services Director at KDAB, to show us some apps he's been working on with Samadhi Group and Tasia Valenza. The apps are beautifully designed and if you enjoy tuning out the world in an attempt to regain some sanity, they should do the trick.

Right now, all of the apps are on sale for $0.99 and can be found in BlackBerry World. Check out the video above and be sure to stick around until the end -- there's an epic Star Trek tie in from Till and Kevin.

View all the Samadhi Group apps in BlackBerry World

Microsoft announces Surface Pro for the UK, available May 23rd

Rich Edmonds — Thu, 16 May 2013 18:35:46 +0000

Microsoft has confirmed that the Surface Pro will be released in the UK next week. The Windows 8 tablet will be available for order from May 23rd. With recommended retail pricing of £719 for the 64GB version and £799 for the 128GB model, consumers will be forking out for tablets that are grouped in the Ultrabook price range.

That's not all as the Type Cover and Touch Cover will set you back £110 and £99 respectively. That said, the Surface Pro runs the full version of Windows 8, unlike the RT models. You're packing a full PC in the palm of your hands, with functionality matching a desktop environment (excluding keyboard and mouse, of course).

The month of May will also see Microsoft launching the product in Australia, Austria, Belgium, Denmark, Finland, France, Germany, Hong Kong, Ireland, Italy, Luxembourg, New Zealand, the Netherlands, Norway, Portugal, Spain, Sweden, and Switzerland. Korea, Malaysia, Russia, Singapore, and Thailand will follow in June.

So why have we had to wait for so long until Microsoft finally releases its premium Windows 8 tablet? One word: demand. Here's what Robert Epstein told TechRadar:

"That's why we're where we are today really, because of the success in the US. We're really pleased with how things are going. [Surface is] two different propositions. Surface RT is a tablet with PC characteristics, surface pro is a PC in a tablet form factor."

This is understandable if we look at how badly the Surface has been backordered in the past, particularly in the US. Should you be looking for an advanced Windows 8 tablet, the Surface Pro is one of the best choices out there, alongside Acer's offering. In fact, there are a number of solid tablets to choose from multiple vendors. We'll give you all a heads up when it's ready to order.

via: TechRadar

We catch up with Constable Ken Koke - a true BlackBerry fan

James Richardson — Thu, 16 May 2013 18:17:45 +0000

You may remember last year when we were here in Orlando, BlackBerry were proudly showing off the PlayBook Police Cruiser. The car was manned by Ken Koke from the Chatham-Kent Police Service and he showed us just how great the PlayBook integration into the cruiser was making life easier for police officers on the street.

CrackBerry Live: Bruce Haendel stops by to discuss the Tazzle IT printing solution for BlackBerry

Bla1ze — Thu, 16 May 2013 18:02:26 +0000

While a lot of focus at BlackBerry Live was placed on BlackBerry 10 apps, there's still plenty of BlackBerry OS developers out there. One long standing app in the community is Tazzle IT. Bruce Haendel, CEO Tazzle It, stopped by the CrackBerry Live stage to give us a run through of what his app does, how it can be used and where people can get it. Tazzle IT offers its customers a software and hardware solution. The Tazzle IT USB key provides the quickest, easiest way for you to view, print and send email content, photos and files directly from your BlackBerry to any Windows PC.

Learn more about Tazzle IT

Hands on with Gadget Box on the BlackBerry Q10 and a chat with the developer

James Richardson — Thu, 16 May 2013 18:01:39 +0000

Here at BlackBerry Live I bumped into James O'Connor - the developer behind Gadget Box for BlackBerry 10. With the app recently being updated, now with Q10 support, I thought it was too good an opportunity not to have a chat with him and get his thoughts on why he created the app and what the future holds.

iTunes gets updated, check out the new MiniPlayer!

Richard Devine — Thu, 16 May 2013 18:01:37 +0000

There's a new iTunes update in town, and at the top of the list of new goodies is a new look MiniPlayer. The tiny little iTunes window has had a makeover that now includes a progress bar for the track currently playing, alongside your album artwork too. It may well be tiny, but it does look a lot nicer now, so good job on that front, Apple.

Also getting the visual makeover treatment is the songs view. With this latest update you can enjoy all your album artwork whilst in songs view. It's a small touch, but I know from personal tastes that having album artwork on show just makes the whole experience a little more pleasurable. But, that's just me.

That's not all though. Also improved in iTunes 11.0.3 is support for multi-disc albums. No more will separate discs be listed as separate albums, all discs will now appear in your iTunes library as a single album. Something I've wanted for some time, as I'm sure countless other users have.

Grab a copy of iTunes 11.0.3 from the download link below, or by heading into Software Update on your Mac, or iTunes on your Mac or Windows PC and hitting check for updates. Once you're done, head on back here and let us know how you like the new updates.

Free - Download Now

CrackBerry Live: Talking QNX and BlackBerry 10 with Sebastien Marineau

Simon Sage — Thu, 16 May 2013 18:00:32 +0000

At BlackBerry Live 2013, we had the chance to talk with a QNX veteran and colleague to Dan Dodge, Seb Marineau. He's a senior VP of software at BlackBerry and was with QNX throughout the BlackBerry acquisition.

Seb has since worked on the PlayBook and more recently, BlackBerry 10. Kevin talks with him about the transition process between companies and between platforms. They go over QNX's history in automotive and more generally everything that was happening at the show in Orlando, such as BBM going cross-platform.

We're all done livestreaming for CrackBerry Live, but we've still got plenty of segments to put up from our many, many interviews - stick around!

First Look: Pebble smartwatch working with BlackBerry 10

Adam Zeis — Thu, 16 May 2013 17:48:40 +0000

While we still have plenty of content to come from BlackBerry Live 2013, we're breaking things down and getting ready to head back home. We've had plenty of great chats and interviews with a slew of developers and BlackBerry fans, and while we certainly didn't get to talk to everyone, we did get lucky that Ritesh swung by the CrackBerry Live stage before we left. Even though we had it mostly dismantled we fired up the camera for one last video.

If you remember waaaay back in 2009 we got the first look at the InPulse Smartwatch and it's BlackBerry integration. The watch has been through a lot since then and most recently was released in a totally new version dubbed the Pebble Smartwatch.

Today, Ritesh showed off some pretty cool BlackBerry 10 action which involves the Pebble smartwatch. While the Pebble isn't working with BB10 off the bat, Ritesh hopes to have a completed app soon that will allow for email, SMS and music playback and more from a BlackBerry 10 device. It's not totally full-featured (for instance it doesn't support any time functions) but it's still pretty awesome as it is.

Check out the video above for more and hit up the comments with your thoughts!

Google Play Books catches up with the times and allows PDF files and ePUB books

Richard Devine — Thu, 16 May 2013 17:28:37 +0000

Amid the extravaganza that is Google I/O, the folks from Mountain View quietly pushed out an update to one of their applications that finally catches up with the times. Google Play Books has never quite matched iBooks or Amazon's Kindle, but the latest update to their iOS app finally adds support for PDF files and ePUB books bought from other sources.

Features such as these are likely taken for granted by users of Apple's or Amazon's eReading platforms, but anyone who is heavily investigated in Google Play Books will now see the benefit. The only drawback is that the files have to be added to your Books account via the web, for them to then become available on your iPhone or iPad.

There's also a handy dose of stability and performance improvements for good measure. Grab it now for iPhone and iPad from the App Store now. Anyone out there using Google Play Books? Does this make your reading life that much more bareable?

Free - Download Now

The State of Apple's Location Services and User Privacy

Nick Arnott — Thu, 16 May 2013 17:24:16 +0000

Apple’s handling of location data has made its way back into headlines recently due to a tool written by security researcher Hubert Seiwert. Seiwert presented the iSniff GPS tool, which makes it easy to capture potentially sensitive iPhone user data, last July at the Blackhat USA security conference and posted the source code to Github a month later. While the tool isn’t particularly new, it has been the recipient of some media attention after being covered earlier this month by SC Magazine. While the disclosure of the sensitive information by iPhones was previously known, iSniff makes the information more easily accessible and is worth a closer look to determine if users need to worry.

iSniff has two primary components; the first extracts relevant data from traffic captures while the other provides a web interface to interact with collected data. The first component, iSniff_import.py, captures ARP requests from iPhones on the same network and SSID probes from iPhones not currently connected to WiFi. While SSID probes are something normal for all WiFi enabled devices not currently on a network to send out, these particular ARP requests seem to be unique to iOS devices and were initially reported on by Ars Technica after Mark Wuergler initially discovered them.

Normally ARP requests are sent by networked devices in order to resolve the network IP address of other devices on the network to their hardware MAC addresses. Upon joining a network, iOS devices send ARP requests addressed to MAC addresses belonging to the DHCP servers for the last three wireless networks they’ve been connected to. Nobody quite seems to understand why, but one guess is that it’s an attempt to speed up the device’s joining to the network. This means that if your iPhone is connected to WiFi at your house, then you head to Starbucks to get some work done and connect your iPhone to the network there, upon connecting, your iPhone will send an ARP request on Starbucks’ wireless network containing the MAC address of your home router. What makes this concerning is that the geographical location of most wireless access points, along with their MAC address, have been mapped, placed into databases, and are available for anybody on the Internet to lookup. If somebody on Starbucks’ network was monitoring for these ARP requests, they could acquire your MAC address and do a lookup to find out where it is located, potentially revealing to them where you live.

When your device is trying to determine your current location, it can use GPS, but depending on the availability of satellites, this can take a while to determine your location. Nearby WiFi base stations offer a faster way to determine a user’s approximate location. As you walk around with your iPhone and it detects various wireless signals, it sends anonymous data back to Apple, reporting the device’s location and information about nearby wireless base stations (~~concerned users can disable this in Settings > Privacy > Location Services > System Services > Diagnostics & Usage~~ see update below). Apple adds this information to their giant database of known wireless base stations and locations. By crowd-sourcing this data gathering out to the millions and millions of iOS devices used worldwide, Apple is able to keep a fairly accurate database which allows users to get relatively accurate location services readings when they’re near any known base stations. Of course, such a database requires a way for iOS devices to read from it in order to make any use of it. This is precisely what the second major component in iSniff is for.

iSniff makes a location query to Apple’s servers with a single MAC address to find out the MAC’s location. By spoofing the user-agent in the request to appear to be from iOS’ location daemon (locationd), iSniff gets Apple to return not only the latitude and longitude of the given MAC address, but information on up to 400 nearby base stations. iSniff will then plot all of this data onto an interactive map in your browser, making it easy to view the data held by Apple’s location services servers... 400 APs at a time.

While interesting to see, this also raises a number of privacy concerns for users. But should regular users need to worry? Not really. While there are issues with sensitive information being disclosed without customer awareness or control, the likelihood of this information being leveraged in any sort of attack on a user is quite slim. While you could capture and use the information to figure out where somebody lives, you would not only need to get them to join your network, but you’d also have to know which one of the three MAC addresses, if any, belong to their home router. In specialized cases like security audits performed on companies by hired penetration testers, it might make sense to exploit this information in order to track employees back to their houses to try and acquire more sensitive information. But for day-to-day users, it’s extremely unlikely that anybody would try to perform an attack like this in order to learn where a user lived. After all, since physical proximity is required to be on the same WiFi network, in many cases it would seem just as easy to simply follow the person when they drive home.

It would be interesting to know why exactly Apple’s devices exhibit this behavior. You also can’t help but wonder if it’s possible to exploit Apple’s location services servers in other ways. In fact, Seiwert has mentioned in some of his talks that he’s currently exploring this possibility. It might be wise of Apple to try and lock those servers down a little tighter before information disclosed by them becomes a bigger concern for users.

In the meantime, this isn’t something users should be too concerned about. If you’re already joining untrusted wireless networks or networks with malicious users on them, your problems are likely much bigger than somebody getting the MAC address of your router.

Update: Seiwert has informed me that while initially it was believed turning off Diagnostics and Usage in Settings would opt you out of contributing access point data, he has since witnessed devices still transmitting this information even when the Diagnostics and Usage option is disabled.

Karateka Classic brings legendary beat-em-up to iOS

Peter Cohen — Thu, 16 May 2013 17:15:50 +0000

Legendary game designer Jordan Mechner went back to his roots in 2012 with a reimagined Karateka, a brand new game based on his original 1984 Apple II hit (it would eventually make its way to just about every other common home computer platform of the day). Now the original has returned in all its eight-bit glory.

They've recreated the original gameplay experience right down to the sound of a floppy disk drive grinding away reading sectors off a 5.25-inch disk as the game first loads. What's more, settings let you adjust between color, green, or amber displays, since color displays were relatively rare back in the day.

Karateka Classic is, quite literally, the same game that appeared for the Apple II in 1984. It's the original game code running within an Apple IIGS emulator developed to work on iOS and other platforms called ActiveGS. The game runs natively on iPhone and iPad.

Karateka was Mechner's first game, before he created the Prince of Persia series that he's best known for. He programmed it when he was still a university undergrad, and it is, for its age, a real gem. It's a side-scrolling martial arts combat action game set in feudal Japan. You assume the role of the titular karateka (literally, a practitioner of karate) as you attempt to save Princess Mariko from the clutches of the evil Akuma.

Debug 7: Jordan Mechner and Karateka
with Guy English and Rene Ritchie

To do so, you must make your way inside Akuma's heavily guarded fortress, squaring off against opponent after opponent in karate duels. The game's original keyboard commands have been replaced with on-screen buttons that control your movement, your fighting stance, three punching positions, and three kicking positions. You can turn off the button overlay if you find it distracting.

Each time your opponent hits you, you'll lose a health point, and once you're down to zero, that's it - game over. You need to restart from the beginning. And just like the original Apple II game, there's no saved game or continue feature. Your health does slowly regenerate in between rounds, so sometimes it's a good idea to not rush into the next melee before you've had a chance to catch your breath.

In addition to other run-of-the-mill enemies you need to defeat, you'll occasionally be attacked by Akuma's hawk (which can be deflected with a well-timed punch), and avoid various pitfalls around the castle. Then, finally, you'll face off against Akuma himself in a boss battle.

The good

Bit-perfect recreation of the original Apple II game that first put Jordan Mechner on the map.
Inexpensive
Fun to play

The bad

No save game feature
Limited replay value once you've beaten the game

Bottom line

For a 29 year old game, Kareteka is surprisingly challenging, and it still looks good. Working within the significant technical limitations imposed by the hardware of the day, Mechner employed techniques like rotoscoping to get realistic animations for his characters. The simple graphics and color palette won't challenge gamers cut on today's sophisticated titles, but the gameplay more than makes up for it.

$0.99 - Download now

New OS X Spyware Discovered at Oslo Freedom Forum

Nick Arnott — Thu, 16 May 2013 17:08:50 +0000

During the 2013 Oslo Freedom Forum, an annual conference focused on human rights, a new piece of spyware was discovered on an attendee's Mac. The spyware, which was discovered by security researcher Jacob Appelbaum, is currently being analyzed by F-Secure to fully understand what it does.

Appelbaum discovered the backdoor during a workshop in which freedom of speech activists could learn how to protect their devices from government monitoring. An interesting property of the spyware is that it’s actually signed with an Apple Developer ID. The use of Developer IDs for signing software is meant to prevent users from installing known malicious software, but isn't effective against newly discovered malware. Fortunately, now that the malware is known, Apple should be able to block installation of the malware by more users, and may have already done so.

What is known so far about the spyware is that it will add itself to the list of applications that are launched when the user logs in, ensuring it runs every time the victim logs in to their computer. While running, the spyware takes periodic screenshots and stores them in a directory called MacApp that is created in the user’s home directory. Information was also uncovered about two C&C (command-and-control) servers apparently used by the spyware to upload captured screenshots. C&C servers can also allow for malicious software to receive instructions from the spyware’s author(s).

While the full impact of the spyware is not currently known, hopefully its reach is restricted by security features introduced with Gatekeeper. And with Apple's ability to block further installations of the spyware, the risk to other users should soon be mitigated. Users can easily check for the presence of the spyware on their own system by checking for the MacApp folder in their home directory.

Source: F-Secure

CrackBerry Live: Igor Smirnoff talks up buying newspapers on BlackBerry 10

Simon Sage — Thu, 16 May 2013 17:04:38 +0000

PressReader was one of my favorite news apps for BlackBerry 10, and the fine folks that made it managed to find their way to our BlackBerry Live 2013 stage. Igor Smirnoff, their VP of Digital, walked us through the app, and hinted at some pretty exciting stuff that's coming down the pipe.

PressReader allows users to either subscribe to their massive international catalogue of newspapers, or buy individual issues a la carte. Headlines are tappable, allowing you to dive into a reading view for individual articles, and with a few casual swipes, you can work your way through the issue. The biggest upcoming feature is the expansion of the audio dictation function. Right now it will read stories out loud with minimal fuss, but soon you'll be able to listen to translated stories

As much as I like to kid that print is dead (even if it sort of is), solutions like this provide traditional outlets a way to go digital in a sensible way without switching wholesale to a web or blog format. From the reader's perspective, I'm a bit more dubious - though the information is all there, complete with optimizations for mobile viewing, I worry that those that those still attached to traditional media are just as keen on the good ol' feeling of paper and ink on their fingers as they are on the information printed.

iPhone 5S component leaks show updated vibrator assembly and more

Allyson Kazmucha — Thu, 16 May 2013 17:01:05 +0000

Some parts have been posted online that purport to belong to the iPhone 5S, or whatever Apple calls their next generation phone. While the iPhone 5 might continue the tradition of keeping the previous year's form factor, that doesn't mean the internals can't change. If these parts are genuine, they show updates to the vibrator assembly, earpiece and speaker brackets, and more. Here's the image from BGR:

Taking a look at the images, major updates could be made to the vibrator assembly, earpiece and loud speaker brackets, the SIM tray, and more. The photo above is a photo of the vibrator assembly and component cable running to it which purportedly will surface in the iPhone 5S. The photo pictured below shows the current vibrator component cable and motor that is found in the iPhone 5.

Apple made the switch from a rotational vibrator motor in the iPhone 4S back to a linear motor in the iPhone 5 which was an odd choice. Rotational motors are typically a lot smoother and have less problems. The vibrator motor in the GSM variant of the iPhone 4 had a linear motor and typically saw more issues than the rotational variant found in the CDMA 4 and the iPhone 4S. This switch back was probably made in the iPhone 5 in order to conserve on space.

It looks as if the next generation iPhone will still feature a linear vibrational motor but with an overhaul and better design. This isn't surprising as the iPhone 5 has suffered vibrator issues. In my experience with AnoStyle and according to iMore's sources within Apple, the current vibrator assembly in the iPhone 5 can be sketchy at best when it comes to performance. If the cable isn't secured just right with the contacts laying on top of it, it produces a weak and/or sporadic vibration pattern. Securing the assembly to the actual cable would make sense and most likely solve a lot of the issues users are experiencing with the iPhone 5.

The other changes such as the loud speaker and earpiece brackets aren't surprising as shields and brackets typically do see revisions every year to some extent. Currently the iPhone 5 earpiece speaker is attached to the display assembly. While there haven't been many issues reported to iMore, it does take up quite a bit of space and could be changed to make room to accommodate other revised components.

The SIM tray doesn't appear to take a different sized SIM card but is shallower which could indicate that the contacts on the board have moved slightly, which isn't all that surprising with revised components and internal hardware. You can hit the link below to view all the components BGR managed to snag photos of.

Overall, it appears that Apple is minimizing the amount of space component cables need to occupy. The WiFi flex has shrunk as well as many of the other brackets and components. This begs the question, what is Apple making space for?

Source: BGR

The BlackBerry Elite team go bowling at BlackBerry Live - Story Maker style

James Richardson — Thu, 16 May 2013 16:53:13 +0000

Here at BlackBerry Live the BlackBerry Elite team got treated to a night of fun at a local bowling bar. There was plenty of great food and drinks on offer and as well as the bowling we got to play various other games as well as all hang out and get to know one another.

'SMS integration is coming soon' to Google Hangouts [Updated]

Alex Dobie — Thu, 16 May 2013 16:25:46 +0000

Update: Dori Storbeck now says Google has "nothing to announce at this time."

Original: If you were wondering why the new Google Hangouts app asked you to confirm your phone number, this might be the reason. Googler Dori Storbeck, Community Manager for Google+ Hangouts and Chat, has confirmed in a Google+ post that SMS integration will eventually be headed to the new messaging app.

Responding to a question about the unification of Hangouts and SMS, Storbeck said "SMS integration is coming soon - it is one of our most requested features!" There's no information on when this feature might arrive, nor what the implications might be for built-in SMS apps. If nothing else, it's another baby step towards the true unification of messaging that Hangouts aims to deliver.

Source: +Dori Storbeck

iMore show 349: Live from Orlando

Rene Ritchie — Thu, 16 May 2013 16:06:13 +0000

John P. of GeekBeat.tv, Christina Warren of Mashable, and Kevin Michaluk of CrackBerry join Rene live from BlackBerry Live in Orlando to talk BBM for iOS, the new Google Hangouts, Google Maps for iPad, and a look ahead to WWDC 2013.

Subscribe via iTunes:Audio | Video
Subscribe via RSS: Audio | Video
Download directly: Audio | Video

Show notes

Pending.

Guests

Hosts

Rene Ritchie of iMore

Credits

Thank to Kien Tran for producing the show!

You can reach all of us on Twitter @iMore, or you can email us at podcast@imore.com or just leave us a comment below.

For all our podcasts -- audio and video -- including the iMore show, ZEN and TECH, Iterate, Debug, Ad hoc, and more, see MobileNations.com/shows

Sprint's HTC One getting an OTA update

Jerry Hildenbrand — Thu, 16 May 2013 15:57:08 +0000

Minor OTA bumps the software version up to 1.29.651.10, update is pushing out now

Sprint and HTC are pushing out a software update for the HTC One. It's a minor update, addressing a few issues that the phone shipped with, which means you'll want to get this one installed as soon as you can. Specifics are:

BlinkFeed improvements
New Sprint Zone client
Improved Back and Home key sensitivity

We expect BlinkFeed "improvements" and adjustments while the service is finding itself, and Sprint needs to keep their Sprint Zone client current. The interesting portion is the Home and Back key sensitivity adjustment. They can get a little wonky, especially when using a screen protector. Hopefully, changes are getting dialed in to make the buttons as responsive as the rest of the phone.

You should see notification of the update soon, and the impatient among us can manually check in settings. When you get this one, be sure to share your experience and let us know how it affects your button sensitivity.

Via: Sprint Community. Thanks, ahaxton!

Apple announces 50 billion app downloads. For real.

Rene Ritchie — Thu, 16 May 2013 15:55:19 +0000

Apple has released a statement concerning their recent 50 billion app downloads, and in it, they completely bury the lede. From Apple PR

50 billion unique downloads excluding re-downloads and updates.

That makes an already impressive number even more impressive. Here's what Apple's SVP of internet services, Eddy Cue had to say:

“Apple would like to thank our incredible customers and developers for topping 50 billion apps downloaded. The App Store completely transformed how people use their mobile devices and created a thriving app ecosystem that has paid out over nine billion dollars to developers. We’re absolutely floored to cross this milestone in less than five years.”

Apple also included a selection of quotes from happy developers. Find them below, and let me know -- do download numbers mean anything beyond bragging rights? Are they an indicator of app ecosystem health or user delight?

“We were blown away with our success on the App Store back in 2008,” said Rich Riley, CEO of Shazam. “And almost five years later we continue to be amazed with how much people love using Shazam on their iPhone or iPad. With the App Store, we can effortlessly provide users with updates that give them great new features while making it easy for new users to discover and download Shazam for themselves.”

“We started our company in 2008 as three friends focused on creating great educational apps for our children,” said Caroline Hu Flexer, co-founder of Duck Duck Moose. “The App Store brought ‘Wheels on the Bus’ to the world in a big way. Sixteen apps later, a fan base of millions of parents, children and educators and a growing company with 20 full-time employees, we couldn’t be happier with our success.”

“The App Store has been integral in getting us into the hands of millions of iOS users and has transformed our business,” said Elizabeth Francis, Chief Marketing Officer of Gilt.com. “Our apps allow our members to access their favorite sales on Gilt every day, anytime, anywhere. App Store customers have proven to be a loyal shopper base and have been influential in making Gilt the globally recognized brand it is today.”

Source: Apple PR

ZTE Grand X 2 In announced, launch scheduled for Q3

Alex Dobie — Thu, 16 May 2013 15:52:40 +0000

Second-generation Intel handset from ZTE, running Atom Z2580 CPU

ZTE has announced a new Intel Atom-powered smartphone, the Grand X 2 In. The somewhat clumsily-named handset is the successor to last year's Grand X IN, which saw a limited global release late last year.

It's powered by a 2GHz Intel Atom Z2580 CPU -- that's CloverTrail+ for those of you keeping track of platforms. The x86 number-cruncher is backed up by 1GB of RAM and 8GB of internal storage, expandable via microSD. On the front there's a 4.5-inch 720p display and 1-megapixel front-facing camera, around the back an 8-megapixel camera.

On the software side you're looking at "Android Jelly Bean" -- we're guessing 4.1, since ZTE isn't saying which exact version is on there. That's lightly skinned with ZTE's own MIUI-like user interface.

The ZTE Grand X In 2 is due for release in Europe during the third quarter.

Source: Press Release

Deal of the Day: 64% off the Amzer Shellster ShellCase w/ Holster for iPhone 5

Brent Zaniewski — Thu, 16 May 2013 14:47:13 +0000

Today Only: Purchase the Amzer Shellster ShellCase w/ Holster for iPhone 5 and save $15.95!

The form-fit ShellCase is impact resistant for complete protection of your iPhone 5 and quickly slides in and out of the holster for instant phone access. The holster is lined with a soft fabric for a scratch free device and the 180 degree swiveling belt blip doubles as an adjustable clip stand, perfect for displaying or media viewing.

List Price: ~~$24.95~~ Today Only: $9.00

Learn More and Buy Now

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Animoog award-winning synthesizer app now available for the BlackBerry Z10

Bla1ze — Thu, 16 May 2013 14:33:02 +0000

During CrackBerry Live, we got hands-on look at the awesome high-quality synthesizer app Animoog. At the time, we were told it would be showing up in BlackBerry World in a few weeks but it has now arrived for the BlackBerry Z10 and is available for purchase. Previously only available on iOS and geared towards professional and avid amateur musicians alike, the app is full of features and is beautifully designed.

“This project is the beginning of a collaboration with BlackBerry’s innovative user experience team and an exploration of new means for creative expression with handheld devices. It is always our intention to create better tools for artists and this relationship allows us to investigate exciting future possibilities,” said Emmy Parker, Moog’s Senior Brand Manager.

Until May 23rd, as part of the celebrations for what would be Bob Moog's 79th birthday, Animoog is available for $0.99 after which it will return to the normal price of $9.99. A deal you'll certainly want to take advantage of if you're interested in the app. Need to see it in action? Check out the demo video above to get a better idea of what you're getting into or check out the CrackBerry Live hands-on demo from earlier.

Learn more / Download Animoog

Google I/O 2013 day one recap

Alex Dobie — Thu, 16 May 2013 14:29:00 +0000

Missed yesterday's keynote and announcements? Here's a quick-fire look everything you need to know

Google I/O 2013 kicked off at Moscone West in San Francisco yesterday, with keynote announcements from the Android and Chrome teams, as well as new features for Search and Maps, a re-vamped Google+ and a new Hangouts app, as well as a brand new music subscription service. Oh, and a Galaxy S4 running stock Android. The keynote was rounded off by a some words of wisdom from Google CEO Larry Page, followed by a Q&A session.

Although we didn't get a new version of Android or (strictly speaking) any new devices, the first day of I/O was packed with stuff you need to know about. Check past the break for a quick run-through of all the major points.

Want to watch the full three-hour presentation instead? The video's available over here.

Deal of the Day: Save 70% on the Mobi Gloss Soft Shell Case for BlackBerry Z10

ShopCrackBerry — Thu, 16 May 2013 14:22:25 +0000

Today Only: Buy the Mobi Gloss Soft Shell Case for BlackBerry Z10 and save $13.95!

Made of a highly durable TPU material that feels great when gripped, the Gloss Soft Shell Case features anti-slip properties that gives your Z10 more grip on all types of surfaces. Completely flexible, this case is custom fit for your BlackBerry Z10 and provides protection against drops and scratches at an affordable price with a variety of colors to choose from!

List Price: $19.95 Today Only: $6.00

Deal also available in the Canada store

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Deal of the Day: Case-Mate Tough Case for Samsung Galaxy S4

ShopAndroid.com — Thu, 16 May 2013 14:10:50 +0000

The May 16 ShopAndroid.com Deal of the Day is the Case-Mate Tough Case for Samsung Galaxy S4. Built to withstand sudden drops and accidental falls, the Tough Case is the epitome of protection. A snug, form fitting silicone provides shock resistance, while the polycarbonate hard shell protects against impacts. Color options include black or purple.

The Case-Mate Tough Case is available for just $20.00, 33% off today only. Backed by our 60-day return policy and fast shipping!

Never miss a deal. Sign up for Daily Deal alerts

CrackBerry Live: Chad Tetreault talks joining #TeamBlackBerry and supporting HTML5 apps

Simon Sage — Thu, 16 May 2013 14:02:23 +0000

We chat with Chad, a recent hire that's handling BlackBerry developer support for HTML5 apps.

The BlackBerry Live 2013 interview train keeps on a-rollin' with Chad Tetreault. This time last year, Chad was an indie developer at mblware, which was probably best known for their JeeoSuite Wi-Fi remote file access app.

Since then, he's joined #TeamBlackBerry in a very real way as an Application Development Consultant. Basically, that means he helps HTML5 developers chew through whatever their problems may be, often through the community support forums. Be sure to take a listen and get a feel for what it's like on the inside of BlackBerry.

CrackBerry Live is, err, live! Hop in, chat with our stars, and catch these interviews as they happen!

Bluetooth Low Energy support coming to future Android version

Alex Dobie — Thu, 16 May 2013 13:02:50 +0000

API version 18 will bring Bluetooth Smart support in 'a few short months,' AVRCP 1.3 also coming

As many expected, it's been announced that Bluetooth Low Energy support -- also known as Bluetooth Smart and Smart Ready -- will be coming to a future version of Android. Android API level 18 (the current 4.2 Jelly Bean release is API level 17) will introduce support for the feature, which is designed to significantly reduce the power usage of Bluetooth while maintaining comparable data speeds and ranges of operation.

Certain Android devices -- such as the Samsung Galaxy S4 -- already implement Bluetooth Low Energy, however the new platform version will bring native support to all Android devices with compatible Bluetooth hardware.

In related Bluetooth news, Android API version 18 will also include support for AVRCP version 1.3, a standard for controlling TVs, Hifi equipment and other devices over Bluetooth. AVRCP 1.3 includes methods for showing metadata from music tracks and querying the status (i.e. playing, stopped) of the music source.

Googler Sara Sinclair Brody, who presented the 'Best Practices for Bluetooth Development' session at Google I/O, says API version 18 should be landing in "a few short months." That also means we can probably rule out any major Android releases for the immediate future.

Source: Google+, Google Developers, Press Release

Juice up your iPhone 5 with the new Mophie Juice Pack Plus

Richard Devine — Thu, 16 May 2013 11:11:58 +0000

iPhone owners who need a little extra battery power to see them through have been turning to Mophie for many years now. The current lineup for the iPhone 5 includes the Juice Pack Helium and the Juice Pack Air, and now they're back with this, the Juice Pack Plus.

The Juice Pack Plus packs more battery than either the Helium or the Air, and as such occupies a slightly larger form factor than either of those two. The Juice Pack Plus measures in at 0.70 inches thick, compared to 0.63 inches for the Air and 0.59 inches for the Helium. That extra thickness means a 2100mAh battery in the Juice Pack Plus, giving you an extra 125% battery power over the standard iPhone 5 battery.

The Juice Pack Plus is available to buy in black right now, white coming May 22 and a PRODUCT(RED) version will follow on May 31. All three are available for $119.95. Anyone going for one of these?

Source: Mophie

iMore show live!

Rene Ritchie — Wed, 15 May 2013 21:47:59 +0000

We're hijacking CrackBerry Live and turning it into iMore Live so we can talk BBM for iOS, the new Google Hangouts for iOS, Google Maps coming to iPad, and our predictions for WWDC 2013. Join me, Christina Warren of Mashable, John P. of Geekbeat.tv, and Kevin Michaluk of CrackBerry!

Update: Shows over, thanks everyone!

The App Store officially reaches 50 billion downloads, did you win the $10,000 gift voucher?

Richard Devine — Wed, 15 May 2013 21:19:13 +0000

In just under two weeks since first announcing they were approaching the milestone, the Apple App Store has officially ticked over its 50 billionth download. Coincidentally the milestone was reached during the first few hours of Google I/O, where Google themselves were shouting about their own download numbers. In reaching 50 billion, that now means one lucky iOS user is set to receive a $10,000 App Store gift card, with 50 billion and one through to 50 each receiving $500 vouchers.

Apple likes to have fun with these milestone celebrations, and it's just over a year since the last one took place for reaching 25 billion. The first 25 billion took nearly 4 years to reach, with the next 25 billion coming in a remarkable 14 months. That shows amazing growth for the App Store and for the platform as a whole, and long may it continue. At this rate of growth, who knows how quickly the next milestone may come around. Will Apple celebrate 75 billion, or hold off until the magic 100 billion?

The grand prize winner will be announced soon, but the biggest question now is, just who is it that won? Was it you? Do you feel confident? If you downloaded an app in the last 3 or 4 hours you could be in with a shout. Let us know if you're feeling lucky!

Source: Apple

Google takes on Game Center with Google Play game services

Peter Cohen — Wed, 15 May 2013 20:10:49 +0000

A significant announcement for game developers emerged from the Google I/O keynote in San Francisco this morning: Google officially launched Google Play game services, a framework to help facilitate social play, cloud-based storage of saved games and multiplayer gameplay. What's more, they're taking it to iOS - a challenge to Apple's own Game Kit frameworks, the technology that enables iOS games to tap into Apple's Game Center app.

While games have been plentiful on Google Play, Google's actual gaming Application Programming Interfaces (APIs) have lagged behind, so Google Play game services comes as good news to Android developers. Developers have either had to roll their own services or rely on third-party tools to add things like achievements, competition ladders and public leaderboards. Now that all comes as an API package from Google.

Several game developers have been let in the door early, so Google also announced Android games already making use of the new technology: World of Goo, Super Stickman Golf 2, Beach Buggy Blitz, Kingdom Rush, Eternity Warriors 2 and Osmos.

Perhaps it's no coincidence that each of these games is available for iOS. iOS games have been a huge focus of energy for developers and are key moneymakers for many of them, so Google's decision to make Google Play game services cross platform is a smart one.

Apple has had its own frameworks for managing much of this for quite some time - Game Center was introduced way back in 2010 with iOS 4.1. It's been widely adopted by iOS game developers, but it's an Apple-exclusive technology. Game Center provides both Mac and iOS games with a frameworks for managing social connectivity, multiplayer, achievements and more, but if you're a cross-platform developer, you're out of luck. In that respect, Google Play game services may be a better choice for developers looking to maximize their potential player base.

It's worth noting that Google isn't limiting this to iOS and Android, either. The company is providing an API that works with web browsers, with libraries for JavaScript, Java, Python and other technologies.

Google Play game services isn't the first time a cross-platform social platform for iOS and Android games has been produced. One of the highest profile examples of this was OpenFeint. OpenFeint preceded Game Center and built up a good head of steam before being sold to a Japanese company, which promptly shut it down in favor of its own technology.

If there's an Achilles' heel in Google Play game services, it's the fact that it isn't mandatory for Android developers to use, and it is, of course, purely optional for iOS developers to work with.

So there's no way to tell today how well-received or widespread the technology will be. Then again, neither is Game Center, though it's become the de facto standard for iOS games. Google understands the importance of game developers to the Android ecosystem, so I doubt that Google Play game services will end up on the scrap heap like so many other Google projects have.

Will Google Play game services take over Game Center's territory, or is it likely to end up like OpenFeint did? Let us know what you think in the comments.

Google Maps for iPad, new features coming later this summer

Rene Ritchie — Wed, 15 May 2013 19:42:35 +0000

Live from Google IO 2013, Google has announced that new features will be coming to the Google Maps for iPhone later this summer and, what's more, it'll be getting an iPad-specific interface as well!

I didn't manage to catch which of the new features will hit iOS, but they could include Google's new five-point rating system, integrated Google Offers, and more.

Also interesting, Google Maps in the browser will be using WebGL, which is either awesome or scary depending on how it gets implemented.

Anyone else looking forward to Google Maps on iPad? If you haven't tried the iPhone version yet, try it now:

Free - Download now

Source: Android Central

Monday Brief: The Nokia Lumia 928, a Galaxy S4 vs HTC One camera shootout, BlackBerry Live, and more!

Ashley Esqueda — Mon, 13 May 2013 14:21:42 +0000

Jon Rubinstein returns: Former Palm CEO joins Qualcomm's board

The Great webOS Nation Giveaway: Who won a Verizon Pre3?

Derek Kessler — Sun, 12 May 2013 23:53:29 +0000

Maybe it took us a while to get this one judged. But we got it done! There were a lot of really really great entries for our 60 seconds for a Verizon HP Pre3 contest, which made judging who deserved to win one of these rare brand-new webOS smartphones more difficult than we'd anticipated. After sleeping on it for a while, it's time to announce the winners! You can check out the winning video entries after the break…

Phoenix ACL for TouchPad passes $35,000 Kickstarter goal with 10 days to spare

Derek Kessler — Sun, 12 May 2013 20:23:38 +0000

If you've been waiting to get Android apps running on your webOS-powered HP TouchPad (without having to actually install Android, that is), then you might just be one step closer to your desired future. Two weeks ago, webOS upstarts Phoenix International Communications partnered with OpenMobile to launch a Kickstarter campaign to finance the completion and release of the Android Compatibility Layer for TouchPad. The ACL's purpose is straightforward: to enable the running of Android apps on the TouchPad. The Kickstarter goal was $35,000 - not ambitious by Kickstarter standards.

Two weeks later, that $35,000 funding goal has been met and surpassed, with more than 575 contributors offering an average of $62.39 towards the project. 74 have pledged what amounts to a donation - less than $30 (though some pledge levels do promise swag like a Phoenix-branded LED keychain flashlight), while the rest pledged at least the $30 needed to secure a copy of the ACL on release. Sixteen others have pledged a backing of at least $90, securing access to the ACL one week earlier than lower pledges, 5 offered the $150 required for two weeks of early access, four are putting up $250 for the privilege of being a beta tester (paying to help sort bugs, really?).

Beyond that, a single donation of $500 secured a copy of ACL on a CD with a pack of swag, $600 for the swag pack and a new TouchPad with ACL, and one very dedicated soul pledged a whopping $7500 for a flight to New York, dinner with the Phoenix team, and a rare white 64GB TouchPad along with the requisite ACL and swag pack.

Now that the funding goal has been met, the pressure is really on for the Phoenix team. They've committed to an estimated delivery date of July 2013 for the ACL, and though the funding release for the Kickstarter campaign is still ten days away, we hope they're already hard at work on getting the ACL ready for release. Of course, Kickstarter in no way guarantees the success if any project financed on their platform, so it's going to be up to the webOS Nation community to hold Phoenix to their commitments. After all - it's your money.

Having met that funding goal, Phoenix has laid out their plans for the future of the ACL. Funding in excess of the $35,000 goal is intended to go to developing the ACL's next versions, including an update to replace the current Android 2.3 back-end with something based on Android 4.x instead and plans to release the ACL for the HP Pre3. We also hope they're planning on an Open webOS-compatible version of the ACL - as much as we love our old webOS hardware, the future lies with new hardware powered by the open source version of webOS, not in squeezing more life out of our beloved but aged webOS tablets and smartphones.

Jon Rubinstein returns: Former Palm CEO joins Qualcomm's board

Derek Kessler — Tue, 07 May 2013 01:35:04 +0000

When Jon Rubinstein came out of retirement from Apple to join Palm way back in 2007, little did he know the odyssey upon which he and Palm were about to embark. From launching the Palm Pre less than two years later, becoming Palm CEO, guiding Palm into HP's money-filled arms, launching the HP TouchPad tablet, and then watching as all the work he'd overseen got flushed down the toilet, Rubinstein's tenure at the lead of webOS was one of ups and downs, successes and utter chaos. So it was little surprise when, after watching webOS get a thin leash on life as an open source project, Rubinstein left HP in early 2012 for his second retirement.

Rubinstein returned to his Mexican beach villa and resumed the sipping of margaritas while browsing the web on his tiny HP Veer. While he left the door open to returning someday to tech, if anybody needed some time off after the webOS debacle, it was Jon Rubinstein. His schedule of siestas and cervezas is about to be interrupted, though we can't imagine it'll be on an all to frequent basis: Rubinstein was today elected to the board of directors of chip manufacturer Qualcomm.

While Rubinstein joined Palm's board as a very active and hands-on Executive Chairman with the goal of dragging Palm into the future of mobile computing, he's coming to San Diego-based Qualcomm while it's at the top of its game and firing on all cylinders. Rubinstein's addition to the board brings a new heft and decades of computing and mobile experience to the table. Besides webOS, Rubinstein is credited as being the man who made Apple's iPod possible from an engineering standpoint, and was a key player at Steve Jobs's NeXT.

It's not quite Silicon Valley, but it's definitely silicon. Welcome back, Ruby.

Disable Gesture Area LED when an app is active

Adam Marks — Mon, 06 May 2013 17:27:15 +0000

When the physical button on the original Palm Pre was replaced with a virtual capacitive button on the Pre Plus, there was more than just a change to the physical appearance of webOS phones. While both the physical button of the Pre and the capacitive button of Pre Plus performed the same functions to minimize cards or provide blink notifications since webOS 1.4, the LED light of the Pre Plus would also light up any time an app was open and active on the device. This may be a nice reminder that the LED light also doubles as a home button, but it can also be quite annoying. All webOS devices since the Pre Plus has continued this functionality, with no way to disable it if you would rather not have the LED light up whenever you are working in an app.

Not willing to take no for an answer, the webOS homebrew community stepped up and provided a homebrew patch to fix this issue. All you need to do is install the "Disable LightBar" patch from developer Herrie and that default behavior of the LED will now be disabled. It will still blink for any app notification, it just won't light up every time you are working in an app.

Monday Brief: The mysterious AT&T XFON, a cheeky Windows Phone commercial, and more!

Ashley Esqueda — Mon, 06 May 2013 13:21:52 +0000

Clear phone call history

Adam Marks — Sat, 04 May 2013 00:30:19 +0000

The Phone app in webOS maintains your complete history of every phone call that was ever placed, received or missed since you activated the device. If you are on a webOS 2.1 or higher, this data is also backed up to your Palm Profile so the call log will transfer over any time you activate a new webOS device. While the call log can be a helpful tool if you ever need to refer back to it, there are times where you may want to remove individual entries or wipe the entire log.

To clear the entire call log:

Open the Phone app
Tap on the icon to access the call history
Swipe-down from the top-left to access the Application Dropdown menu and select "Clear Call History"
Confirm that you want to clear the history in the pop-up dialog box
If you have a large call log, you may need close the Phone app and then reopen it

If you don't want to wipe the entire log but just remove a single entry, that is a simple act of performing a swipe-to-delete on the call log entry and then confirming the deletion.

App Giveaway: Othello StockWatch

Derek Kessler — Wed, 01 May 2013 01:00:21 +0000

If you're an investor in this day and age, keeping up on your stock portfolio can seem like a daunting task. There's not just the day-to-day progress of your positions, but there are technical indicators and charts and news out the wazoo that you've got to track. Your options for that are plenty to, but we've got one you might want to check out: Othello StockWatch for the HP TouchPad. With autocompleting search, customizable charts, and sortable technical indicators, this app could be your best friend as an investor. Othello StockWatch is normally $1.99 in the App Catalog, but we're pleased to say that we have 50 copies to give away to 50 of you.

Contest: We have 50 copies of Othello StockWatch to give away. Just leave a comment on this post to enter. Contest ends next Sunday at midnight US Eastern Time, after which time we will select 50 random entrants to win. Please only leave one comment, multiple entries won’t count. Promo codes are only valid in countries serviced by the App Catalog, and users must be running webOS 3.0.4 or higher with the latest version of the App Catalog.

Last call! Verizon Pre3 60-second video entries close tomorrow

Derek Kessler — Mon, 29 Apr 2013 22:01:22 +0000

Consider this your final reminder.

If you want to win one of five brand-new Verizon HP Pre3 smartphones and are totally cool with putting together a video that's no longer than sixty seconds, then you should totally head to the contest post linked below for the complete entry requirements and to submit your entry (don't post it here). The contest closes tomorrow, so you'll want to get cracking on convincing us that you deserve one of the rarer birds of webOS.

Contest: The Great webOS Nation Giveaway: 60 seconds for a Verizon Pre3

Monday Brief: WWDC sells out, BlackBerry Q10 review and the Samsung Galaxy S4 has arrived

Ashley Esqueda — Mon, 29 Apr 2013 19:01:13 +0000

BlackBerry Q10 Review
Download Skype for the BlackBerry Z10 ahead of official release
Selfridges sells out BlackBerry Q10 in 90 minutes