Google’s popular multi-player online game Ingress was finally released this weekend for iOS. The game began as a beta on November 15, 2012, and until now it had been limited to Android smartphones. Ingress is basically an electronic game of capture the flag (aka portals) between two sides (aka factions) – Enlightened (green) and Resistance (blue).
It’s tough to travel anywhere in public and not encounter someone using an OtterBox case on their portable device. These bulky yet sturdy cases pioneered the shock-proof and drop-proof genre of case design. I’ve found using an Otterbox is sometimes an acceptable substitute for insurance, since the protection afforded a device in an OtterBox seems to render it indestructible.
Here is super exciting news for lovers of the presumed defunct Chumby. If you’re not a Chumby chaser – it is a consumer electronics product formerly made by Chumby Industries, Inc. It is an embedded computer which provides Internet and LAN access via a Wi-Fi connection. Through this connection, the Chumby runs various software widgets.
On Wednesday June 18, Amazon announced their first ever smartphone – the Amazon Fire. While this Fire OS based device (an Android derivative) may be the only phone with Dynamic Perspective (a screen that shifts as you tilt the device) , Firefly technology (Google revamped for Amazon) and Mayday (live help at the push of a button) .
BlackBerry reported earnings this morning. Sales for the quarter were $996 million down 70% compared to the prior year’s quarter when sales were $ 3.1 billion. Sales of devices shrank to 2.6 million smartphones compared to the year earlier when they sold 6.8 million.
About five minutes ago, I shared a post from Fox News on Facebook which reported an incident in Houston TX describing a lawfully licensed handgun owner involved in a shootout with armed robbers. So far this is pretty normal type stuff. But upon clicking POST, Facebook presented me with the prompt: “Do you think anyone will report this post?”.
Phil Collins hasn’t been performing in public for the past three years. According to news reports Collins has been in a land of retirement since suffering some spinal issues in 2011. Collins shows up in this nearly 18 minute YouTube video giving a performance of “In The Air” and “Land of Confusion”. The video appears to have been filmed at a Miami Dade County middle school, where two of his children attend.
Father’s Day is Sunday June 15, which should give you just enough time to order and receive this 8 oz flask disguised as a tie. Dad is certain to enjoy his special day even more wearing his necktie flask; to drink just hold the rear portion and sip. Perfect for work, school plays, sporting events, funerals.
Online link and content saver Pocket (formerly Read It Later) today unveiled a paid version for $5/mo or $44.99 / year which could be of interest to anyone who frequently saves web content for later review. Unlike the unpaid app version, the paid edition will automatically download linked pages and create permanent versions of content of links you’ve saved.
Introducing the latest in the over-exposed stars of Duck Dynasty lineup – $2.49 hanging auto freshener. This is a PER character price and you can’t specify your favorite but the company says they’ll try to give a variety if you order more than one. Scents include country vanilla and woodland musk and each character’s body pivots and bounces.
I love Google Hangouts. I think Hangouts is the best free group messaging service I’ll never convince most of my family and friends to use. Until today I had one major problem with Google Hangouts when used inside Gmail; because I also use Google Voice, every incoming call would ring in my Gmail Hangouts. A new update has fixed that.
I noticed the Towlhub, a 3-in-one paper towel holder while browsing SkyMall on the flight back from the happiest place on earth. It features a 4-port USB power , paper towel dispenser, and a hidden wine stopper (which also holds the paper towels); this MacGyver-ish device will set you back $49 – add Bluetooth speakers for a total of $79.
I requested a Google Wallet card recently. As you may know, this is Google’s second major push to get you to adopt their payment service which now operates both through a card and your Android phone. The first attempt focused heavily on paying by phone (aka tap-to-pay). That failed due to not enough capable terminals and carriers blocking the feature.
Yesterday Facebook announced the conscious uncoupling of their messaging feature from its core app. Some exceptions exist – such as if you use Paper (both of you) or some third world variant of their app. However this announcement started me thinking. Disbanding Facebook Messenger from the Facebook app as a whole is a completely absolutely brilliant move. Here’s why.
The Microsoft Store is showing this contract-free AT&T Nokia Lumia 1020 for $499. Compare to AT&T with a $609 no-contract cost. The phone is lauded by most for its 41 megapixel camera and 4.5″ PureMotion display. Windows Phone is a mobile operating system in progress, but this is a great deal if your main concern is beautiful photos.
In yet another salvo of “Bring Your Own Device” price-matching Verizon customers who are on an Edge plan will now pay similar monthly amounts as if they were on a comparable AT&T plan (aka Next). Remember this only applies to Edge plan customers, which means you aren’t subject to a contract because you’ve paid full price for your phone .
Microsoft has today announced the launch of Office on iPad and Android tablets. Not only have they embraced a “mobile-first cloud-first” world, Microsoft has pushed tablet specific versions of their bread and butter Office apps to iPad and Android before their own Surface platform.
When we talk about a daily driver device, we’re referring to a smartphone that’s with us no matter where we go — our primary way of communicating with the world, our most favored device which, for now, just might come as close to the perfect device as possible.
Have you noticed almost every time you play Monopoly at a friend’s house, their “rules” are just a little different? Toy maker Hasbro noticed that as well, and they’re running a contest where through April 3, 2014 you can vote on some of the more popular house rules and urge that they become official.
This may be old news for some of you who were upgraded to the new Facebook interface. Mine just went live a few days ago, and there is a fresh appearance when I share a link. If there’s an image, Facebook expands it and creates an appealing “card-like” post. Google+ does this too – just not as consistently.
HTC today unveiled the HTC One (M8) – an upgrade ( 5.0 inch screen vs prior 4.7 inch screen) front facing 5 mp camera – to their premium line of Android smartphones. Touting the continued use of metal housing and breakthrough antenna technology HTC introduces a phone with 90% metal (up from 70% in the prior version).