| Google Flights search launches in UK, France, Spain, Italy and the Netherlands Posted: 18 Mar 2013 03:58 PM PDT 
Google Flight search hasn’t been the most accessible service for those looking to travel around the world, but a few more countries have been added to the list of support. Folks in the United Kingdom, France, Spain, Italy, and the Netherlands will be able to search for flights to and from their local airports, giving users the ability to view prices in their own currencies and execute searches in the native tongue of those respective countries. Flight allows you to search for the cheapest flight by airline or even by date/time. Easy-to-read charts and graphs will give you a quick glimpse at when the cheapest time to fly would be, and you can plan your trip accordingly if price is the most important factor. It’s not going to get you booked in two clicks, but it’s a good starting point if you just want a clean and easy interface for searching up flights. Give it a try at Google.com/flights via your desktop or mobile browsers, or use the country-specific URLs below. - google.co.uk/flights/
- google.fr/flights/
- google.it/flights/
- google.es/flights/
- google.nl/flights/
[via Google] |
| Amazon Appstore celebrates birthday with app sales Posted: 18 Mar 2013 02:29 PM PDT Amazon is celebrating a birthday this week, folks — it’s been almost a year since the Amazon Appstore has launched (March 22nd, 2012) and that’s good reason for Amazon to celebrate. The digital retailer is hosting a birthday sale where select apps and games will be offered for at least 50% off, if not more. 
Top hits from the likes of EA, Gameloft, and more are all up for grabs, including Scrabble, Need for Speed Most Wanted, The Game of Life, The Amazing Spider-Man, the Dark Knight Rises, Modern Combat 4 and more. You’ll also be able to get apps like OfficeSuite Pro 7, Splashtop Remote, and PicSay Pro at discounted prices. And, as always, Amazon has a free paid app or game on tap every day if you don’t feel like spending any money. These deals will last through the weekend so take your time to go through their selection and see if there’s anything you wouldn’t mind buying. |
| Rumor: Google to unify chat services under “Babble” name Posted: 18 Mar 2013 01:56 PM PDT 
It’s long been rumored that Google would be merging all its chat-driven platforms under one big banner. The idea is to make Google Talk, Google+ Messenger, Google+ Hangouts, Google Voice calling, and more all exist as one big service, and with that Google would need a nice name for it all. We obviously have fallen in love with the simple and clean “Google Talk” name that’s been in use since the beginning of time, but new rumors suggest Google could be thinking about going with a different name. Geek.com has heard that Google has been toying with the name “Babble.” Yup, Google Babble. I must say, it doesn’t exactly roll off the tongue, nor is it any more flattering than all these other cute web 2.0 names that have taken the internet by storm. Still, it’s a name, and should Google end up using it — it’s possible this is just a codename being used to identify the project internally — we’re all going to have to learn to love it just as we have every quirky name out there. |
| AT&T adds new data allowances for big spenders Posted: 18 Mar 2013 01:28 PM PDT 
Those who are missing their unlimited data and finding it hard to stay under the various data caps AT&T has imposed before overages might want to listen up. AT&T has some new Mobile Share data tiers for you… except you probably have to be freaking rich to even want to take advantage of them. Users can now get allowances of 30GB, 40GB, and 50Gb of data per month for $300, $400, and $500, respectively. Ouch, right? Tack on the added $30 per smartphone cost and you could find yourselves putting up a month’s worth of car payments + insurance just to consume mobile data. This will be more attractive to small business owners looking to provide a fleet of employees with data-equipped smartphones and tablets, I imagine, but if you’re crazy enough to jump on one of these plans as an individual you can take care of that right now at AT&T’s website. Read on for full press details. New AT&T Mobile Share and Pooled Data Plans Help Businesses Go Mobile, Cut Costs and Boost Productivity Larger Shared Data Plans and Data-Only Plans Offer. Added Flexibility and Affordability for Businesses and Consumers Dallas, Texas, March 18, 2013 AT&T* is helping businesses "raise the productivity bar" with expanded choices of shared data plans. Starting March 22, AT&T will offer larger Mobile Share plans, new Mobile Share – Data (only) plans, and new Business Pooled Nation for Data plans. The new plans make it even easier and more affordable to work or play on the go, whether that be taking mobile payments, controlling inventory, downloading videos, managing fleets, or navigating unfamiliar streets. The new plans are ideal for businesses, as well as consumers who need more data, and build on AT&T's existing Mobile Share plans with expanded options of 30 GB, 40 GB and 50 GB, including unlimited calls and texts. In addition, AT&T is offering new Mobile Share – Data plans for businesses and consumers and new Business Pooled Nation for Data plans for business customers. "Our expanded Mobile Share plans make it even easier for business customers to choose a data option that's right for them," said Joe Lueckenhoff, AT&T Senior Vice President, Business Product Management, "whether it's a large business wanting to better connect with employees, or a small business owner needing a data-only plan. Details on Expanded Options Mobile Share: With AT&T Mobile Share plans, customers start by choosing the amount of data they want each month, and then select the devices to be included in their shared plan (at least one device must be a smartphone). Each plan includes unlimited domestic talk and texts for smartphones and quick messaging phones, and each plan includes tethering. Existing Mobile Share plans offer from
1 GB to 20 GB of data per month. The new larger Mobile Share data plans include: | First, choose your monthly data amount. | Per Month** | | Mobile Share with Unlimited Talk & Text | 30 GB $300 + $30 | 40 GB $400 + $30 | 50 GB $500 + $30 | | Each Smartphone** | | Additional data: $15 per GB | In addition, more devices can be added to each of these plans, including: - Basic and quick messaging phones – $30 per month per device
- Laptops, LaptopConnect cards, and netbooks – $20 per month per device
- Tablets and gaming devices – $10 per month per device
Businesses can add up to 10 devices for plans up to 20 GB; 15 devices for 30 GB plans; 20 devices for 40 GB plans; and 25 devices for 50 GB plans. Consumers can add up to 10 devices per plan. Mobile Share – Data: Also, effective March 22, Mobile Share – Data plans (i.e., no talk and text) are available for businesses and consumers with shared data buckets ranging from 4 GB to 50 GB and prices ranging from $30 to $335 per month. Mobile Share – Data plans are only available for tablets, laptops and other connected devices. Business Pooled Nation for Data: In addition, businesses who need data sharing for more than 25 devices can choose from new AT&T Business Pooled Nation for Data plans, with buckets ranging from 300 MB to 10 GB and monthly prices from $20 to $80 for eligible devices. For more information about Mobile Share and Business Pooled Nation for Data plans, please see thisplan and pricing sheet. Choosing an AT&T Mobile Share Plan Customers can select one of the new Mobile Share plans or choose one of AT&T's existing Mobile Share plans. Current customers are not required to switch to the new plans, but can choose to do so without a contract extension. There are no changes to AT&T's device upgrade policy,which means customers eligible to upgrade to AT&T's best device price are not required to switch plans To help customers track their data usage, AT&T keeps them informed with courtesy alerts as they near their data allowance for the month. Customers can check their usage at anytime online, through the myAT&T mobile app, or by calling *DATA# from their mobile phone. Each data plan includes access to more than 32,000 AT&T Wi-Fi Hot Spots at no additional charge.
Wi-Fi*** usage at public hotspots, home or office does not count toward the monthly wireless data plan usage. Customers can learn more about the new Mobile Share plans and determine which plan is best for them at www.att.com/mobileshare. Businesses can learn more about the new Business Pooled Nation for Data plans and determine which plan is best at www.wireless.att.com/businesscenter/plans/. *AT&T products and services are provided or offered by subsidiaries and affiliates of AT&T Inc. under the AT&T brand and not by AT&T Inc. ** Access to corporate email and intranet available for additional $15/mo. per device. *** Access includes AT&T Wi-Fi Basic. A Wi-Fi enabled device required. Other restrictions apply. Seewww.attwifi.com for details and locations. Mobile Share: Smartphone required. Available for 3G, HSPA+, LTE devices only. For businesses, up to 15 devices for 30GB plan, 20 for 40GB plan, and 25 devices for 50GB plan. For consumers and families, up to 10 devices per plan. Additional monthly charge per device. Unlimited talk and text for phones only. If you are using a shared data plan without a Smartphone(s) on the account or you do not have all required elements of the plan, AT&T reserves the right to place the non-complying device(s) on an appropriate plan(s). If you exceed the amount of data in your plan during your billing period, an additional 1GB is automatically provided as specified in your rate plan. Overage charges are billed to the primary line. All data allowances, including overages, must be used in the billing period. in which the allowance is provided or they will be forfeited. Authorized users on the account may temporarily suspend data access for each device using the Mobile Share Plan. Data access will be restored at the beginning of the next billing cycle. Monthly charges, however, will continue to apply. Tethering and mobile hot spot use is permitted with up to five (5) simultaneous devices. Access to corporate email, intranet and apps available for $15/ mo. per device. Additional monthly charge per device not eligible for discounts. Domestic use only. Activation fee may apply. Additional deposits and other restrictions may apply. See rate plan brochure for complete details. Mobile Share – Data: Smartphones, basic and quick messaging phones are prohibited. Up to ten (10), fifteen (15), twenty (20) or twenty-five (25) devices depending on the plan. For consumers and families, up to 10 devices per plan. Additional monthly charge per device. Tethering and mobile hotspot use are permitted with up to five (5) simultaneous devices. If you are using a Mobile Share – Data Plan with a smartphone, with a device that is not a Designated Data Device, for tethering or as a mobile hotspot with more than five (5) simultaneous users, or otherwise use the plan in any way that is inconsistent with its terms, AT&T reserves the right to suspend or terminate service to your account, place any non-complying device on an appropriate Mobile Share Plan, and/or add any other required element of the plan. If you exceed the amount of data in your plan during your billing period, an additional 1GB is automatically provided as specified in your rate plan. Overage charges are billed to the primary line. All data allowances, including overages, must be used in the billing period in which the allowance is provided or they will be forfeited. Authorized users on the account may temporarily suspend data access for each device using the Mobile Share – Data Plan. Data access will be restored at the beginning of the next billing cycle. Monthly charges, however, will continue to apply. Designated Data Devices that are capable of accessing corporate email, intranet sites and/or other business applications may do so for no additional monthly access charge. Additional monthly charge per device not eligible for discounts. Domestic use only. Activation fee may apply. Additional deposits and other restrictions may apply. See rate plan brochure for complete details. Business Pooled Nation for Data: Available only to customers with a qualified AT&T business agreement for wireless services ("Business Agreement") and their respective Corporate Responsibility Users ("CRUs"). Within a single Billing Account Number ("BAN"), CRUs activated on separate Business Pooled Nation for Data Plans are combined to create a "Data Pool." Every billing cycle, each CRU first uses his or her plan's included domestic data usage ("Included Usage"). If a CRU does not use all his or her Included Usage, it creates an underage in the amount of the unused KB of data usage ("Under Usage"). If a CRU uses more than his or her Included Usage, it creates an overage in the amount of the excess KB of data usage ("Over Usage"). The Data Pool's Under Usage amounts for each CRU and Over Usage amounts for each CRU are then aggregated respectively and the totals are compared. If the aggregate Under Usage amount exceeds the aggregate Over Usage amount, then the difference is allocated among each CRU in the Data Pool with Over Usage, resulting in a credit on the invoice equal to the amount of each such CRU's additional data usage charges. Any excess Under Usage will be forfeited. If the aggregate Over Usage amount exceeds the aggregate Under Usage amount, then the ratio of Under Usage to Over Usage is applied equally to the data usage of each CRU in the Data Pool with Over Usage, resulting in a credit on the invoice against each such CRU's corresponding additional data usage charges to partially offset such charges. For example, if a Data Pool has 900 Under Usage KB and 1000 Over Usage KB (which means a ratio of 90%), then each CRU with Over Usage will receive a bill credit equal to 90% of his or her additional data usage charges. CRUs changing price points or migrating Business Pooled Nation for Data plans during a bill cycle may result in one-time prorations or other minor impacts to the credit calculation. Customer may have more than one Data Pool within a Foundation Account Number; however, CRUs in one Data Pool cannot take advantage of another Data Pool's Under Usage, and each CRU can only participate in one Data Pool at a time. AT&T reserves the right to limit the number of CRUs in a Data Pool due to business needs and system limitations. CRUs on non-pooling AT&T plans may be included in the same BAN as CRUs on Business Pooled Nation for Data Plans; however, these non-pooling CRUs will not receive the pooling benefits or contribute Included Usage to other CRUs in a Data Pool. Additional monthly charge per device not eligible for discounts. Domestic use only. Activation fee may apply. Additional deposits and other restrictions may apply. See rate plan brochure for complete details. About AT&T AT&T Inc. (NYSE:T) is a premier communications holding company and one of the most honored companies in the world. Its subsidiaries and affiliates – AT&T operating companies – are the providers of AT&T services in the United States and internationally. With a powerful array of network resources that includes the nation's largest 4G network, AT&T is a leading provider of wireless, Wi-Fi, high speed Internet, voice and cloud-based services. A leader in mobile Internet, AT&T also offers the best wireless coverage worldwide of any U.S. carrier, offering the most wireless phones that work in the most countries. It also offers advanced TV services under the AT&T U-verse® and AT&T |DIRECTV brands. The company's suite of IP-based business communications services is one of the most advanced in the world. Additional information about AT&T Inc. and the products and services provided by AT&T subsidiaries and affiliates is available at http://www.att.com/aboutus or follow our news on @ATT, on Facebook athttp://www.facebook.com/att and YouTube at http://www.youtube.com/att. © 2013 AT&T Intellectual Property. All rights reserved. 4G not available everywhere. AT&T, the AT&T logo and all other marks contained herein are trademarks of AT&T Intellectual Property and/or AT&T affiliated companies. Cautionary Language Concerning Forward-Looking Statements
Information set forth in this press release contains financial estimates and other forward-looking statements that are subject to risks and uncertainties, and actual results might differ materially. A discussion of factors that may affect future results is contained in AT&T’s filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission. AT&T disclaims any obligation to update and revise statements contained in this news release based on new information or otherwise. |
| Gmail update brings archive, delete and reply features from notification in Android 4.1+ Posted: 18 Mar 2013 12:54 PM PDT 
A nice new update is headed for the Gmail for Android app today. The biggest change will be for those who are lucky enough to be on Android 4.1 Jelly Bean or higher. Expandable notifications coming from the app will now include the ability to reply to an email, delete an email, or archive an email straight from the notification without having to enter the app. If you’re on Ice Cream Sandwich or higher, you’ll get a faster search experience, and some typical bug fixes and performance improvements. Finally, those on Android 2.2 and higher can all expect enhanced performance and a new Labels API for third-party developers. There’s not much more to it than that, so you’ll probably want to go ahead and grab the upgrade as soon as possible. You can do just that in the Google Play Store. |
| Verizon approves Motorola DROID 4′s Jelly Bean update Posted: 18 Mar 2013 12:25 PM PDT It looks like the approval process for the Jelly Bean update on Motorola’s DROID 4 is zooming right along as the carrier has approved the upgrade for an impending nationwide rollout. We’re still not sure when, exactly, to expect the upgrade to rollout, but since this big hurdle has been cleared we imagine it won’t take long. 
Verizon typically issues OTA updates anywhere between a few days and a few weeks after they have been given the green light from QA, so we’ll be keeping our eyes peeled for that. In the meantime, you should know the drill by now: Jelly Bean brings goods like Google Now, a smoother experience thanks to Project Butter, expandable notifications, improved voice dictation, and more will augment the typical Android experience. You can also expect improved voice and data, improved calendar settings, improved reliability of Visual Voicemail and Backup Assistant, improvements to mobile hotspot, and the removal of both Sling and MOG. You’ll be looking for build 98.72.18, and it eat up about 350MB of bandwidth upon download. Keep an eye on your device over the next few days to see if Verizon gets a little antsy and decides to push it out quick. [via Verizon] |
| HTC removes tweet regarding Verizon-bound HTC One Posted: 18 Mar 2013 11:44 AM PDT This roller-coaster of a ride is quite interesting, folks. Ahead of the HTC One’s launch, we’d heard Verizon would be sitting the launch out while letting the other major carriers have all the fun. Indeed, HTC ushered the device in and Big Red’s name was nowhere to be found on any of it. The idea was that since Verizon already had the DROID DNA there was no need for the HTC One. Later, a rumor by AllThingsD suggested Verizon certainly would get the HTC One in due time, but that its version would launch a tad later than everyone else’s. We’re no stranger to this sort of behavior by the carrier — after all, Verizon Galaxy Note 2 users had to wait more than a month for it to reach their fingertips. 
The games continued when HTC expressly tweeted that the device would not be headed to Verizon store shelves, and the OEM quickly reminded people that the DROID DNA was a fine alternative. Well, we’re headed right back into the other direction today: it seems HTC has removed its tweet. This isn’t a guaranteed sign of truth or confirmation of any kind, but removing the tweet doesn’t do anything to help HTC’s case. Perhaps the device really is coming out and HTC and Verizon are worried about accusations of false statements, or perhaps someone in HTC’s camp just wasn’t alright with such a firm stance and strong language on the manner. Or perhaps the Taiwanese manufacturer wanted to let Verizon share news regarding the state of affairs on its own network. Or perhaps… well, there are a lot of possibilities. What we do know is this, though: our eyes remain peeled for a Verizon version of the HTC One and we won’t be closing the door on this one until 2013 is well over. |
| Samsung Galaxy S4 compatible with Qi wireless charging Posted: 18 Mar 2013 11:23 AM PDT Ahead of Samsung’s official Galaxy S4 unveiling in New York City last week, rumors said the device would be coming with wireless charging capabilities. Samsung didn’t touch on that much at the time of its announcement, but Qi took it upon itself to inform the world that its wireless charging technology was supported in the Samsung Galaxy S4. 
Said functionality won’t be included in the box, unfortunately, but there will be compatible back plates users can buy in order to add it. There are no pricing details just yet, but we’ll be looking to get those details for you in due time. With Qi, users can choose between a myriad of different Qi-enabled charging pads from a a wide variety of manufacturers. It’ll be up to you to decide which specific combination you go with, and that’s the way it should be. We like it, and there’s no reason for you not to either. Read on for full press details. New Samsung Galaxy S4 Features Qi Wireless Charging Rapidly Expanding Qi Ecosystem Now Includes Compatible Phones from Samsung, Nokia, LG, HTC, Panasonic, Sony, Motorola, Sharp, Fujitsu, NEC, and Pantech NEW YORK–(BUSINESS WIRE)–The new Samsung Galaxy S4 uses the Qi wireless charging standard in its optional back battery cover and wireless charging pad accessories, as demonstrated at Samsung Unpacked 2013. The accessories are fully compatible with all Qi chargers and Qi-compatible phones. The announcement further solidifies Qi as the mobile industry's choice for fully compatible wireless charging. Qi is backed by more than 130 leading companies of the Wireless Power Consortium (WPC) like Blackberry, ConvenientPower, Delphi Automotive Systems, Energizer, Haier Group, Hitachi Maxell HTC, Huawei, LG, Motorola, Nokia, Panasonic, Philips Electronics, Samsung, Sony, TDK Corporation, Texas Instruments, Toshiba, and Verizon Wireless. Qi cuts the last remaining cord in consumer electronics – the charging cord. Any Qi-certified device wirelessly charges using any Qi-compatible charger, regardless of brand. It's easy, you just set your Qi-supported device on any Qi charging spot and it instantly starts charging. The Galaxy S4 is the latest addition to the rapidly expanding Qi ecosystem of mobile devices, charging accessories, charging locations, and consumer electronics with an installed base of more than 15 million units. Recently, McDonald's began testing wireless charging with Qi-embedded tables in some of its European locations. In addition, Toyota announced that the 2013 Toyota Avalon Limited includes integrated Qi charging in the center console. The universe of Qi products includes over 170 products and Qi is the only wireless power solution directly integrated into flagship smartphones and automobiles. Qi is an open, fully flexible standard capable of evolving its technology and features to offer the best user experience while maintaining compatibility products that have the Qi logo. It offers the widest range of features to optimize user convenience and product choices: support for both inductive and resonant charging, spatial freedom, and intelligent power management. For more information, visit: www.wirelesspowerconsortium.com About Qi and the Wireless Power Consortium Established in December 2008, the Wireless Power Consortium's mission is to establish Qi as the global standard for wirelessly charging electronic products. The more than 130 members of WPC include industry leaders in mobile phones, consumer electronics, batteries, semiconductors, components, wireless power technology and infrastructure such as wireless operators, furniture and automotive parts companies. Qi products are available in the United States, Asia Pacific, and Europe. |
| New Motorola devices surface under “Yeti,” “Sasquatch,” and “Ghost” codenames Posted: 18 Mar 2013 10:53 AM PDT 
Call Matt Moneymaker, Bobo, and the rest of the Finding Bigfoot crew, there’s been another Sasquatch sighting. This time, however, it’s not the elusive creature of legend. No, it’s a new Motorola handset, one potentially falling under the X Phone brand. Also popping up are devices codenamed “Yeti” and “Ghost.” The codenames all show up via various benchmarks, and in all cases are tied to AT&T. The Yeti and Sasquatch are the two with the least amount of details to go along with their names. Both devices will run at least Android 4.2, the Sasquatch registering Android 4.2.2. In terms of hardware, there is little to go off of. The Ghost, however, seems to be the Motorola XT912A, a recently leaked smartphone that speculation says gives us our first look at Google’s influence on the handset maker. The Ghost/XT912A isn’t expected to be the actual flagship X Phone model. Its specs are more akin to last year’s top tier of devices, but it should provide a good mix of power and affordability. While the devices are all tied to AT&T’s network, this is likely just for testing purposes. Most rumors point to Motorola’s next generation of phones being targeted at all four major US carriers. And unlike the real thing, this Sasquatch has a much better chance of getting caught on camera soon enough, blurry or not. [via DroidLife] |
| Google Maps Street View now showing mountain tops Posted: 18 Mar 2013 10:40 AM PDT 
After Google opened everyone’s eyes up to some of the more interesting depths of the ocean, the company wants to take us to higher altitudes. Google has announced that Street View will now include views for some of the world’s most significant mountains, including all-important favorites like Mount Elbrus, Mount Kilimanjaro, the Everest Base Camp, Anconcagua, and more. Google took these images using a simple tripod and camera setup (with a fisheye lens on it to allow them to capture all the breath-taking scenery we can take in, of course). These views can be had on both desktop and mobile versions of Google Maps, so give it a try on your phone or here if you’re curious how the view is from some of these ridiculous mountains. [via Google] |
| Samsung Galaxy S3 and Note 2 will reportedly get Android 5.0 upgrade, others to see Android 4.2.2 Posted: 18 Mar 2013 10:22 AM PDT 
Key Lime Pie hasn’t had an official announcement, but an insider is already tipping us off to the select group of Samsung devices set to receive the new version of Android. As expected, the list currently includes only Samsung’s high-end devices from the past year, including the Galaxy S3 and Galaxy S4 as well as the Note 2, Note 8.0, and Note 10.1. All is not lost for owners of older or lower-specced Samsung devices. The Samsung Galaxy S2, Galaxy Note, and a plethora of other devices are set to receive Android 4.2.2, the latest version of Android currently available. Of course, the list comes with no expected delivery dates, so users might not see the updates until well after Google announces their new Android build. Google is expected to debut Android 5.0 at this year’s Google I/O, which takes place at the end of May. It is unlikely OEMs will start to deliver Key Lime Pie until later in the summer. [via SamMobile] |
| Pebble smart watch to get watchface SDK mid-April Posted: 18 Mar 2013 10:00 AM PDT The Pebble smart watch may have survived a successful round of crowd-sourced funding on Kickstarter and made its way to market in a timely fashion, but not all of the watch’s features were immediately available upon launch. One of the biggest features touted was the ability for developers to create their own custom watch faces, giving users many different choices to fit their styles, mood, and need. Pebble says it understands developers are frustrated that official support for custom watch faces is taking so long to come, but the company assures it’s still coming — in fact, it’ll be here quite soon. Pebble has announced that the watch face SDK will launch in the second week of April. The main reason it’s taking so long is because they wanted to make sure everything was proper and clean instead of leaving it up to developers to create their own solutions for custom watch faces. In the end, it should mean easier development for anyone who wants to create a custom watch face. Pebble also makes it a point to mention that even when the SDK launches, as much as 99% of the APIs may change, and wants to remind everyone that the “first pass SDK” will be considered a work-in-progress. A work-in-progress SDK is better than no SDK at all, I’d say, so no developers should have many qualms with that. Alongside all of that, a new update will be headed to Pebble that will change up the user experience flow a bit. One of the biggest changes will be putting the watchface app at the end of the stack, so in order to get to your main watchface all you have to do is keep pressing the back button. The update will also let you cycle through watchfaces easily using the up and down buttons. It all sounds great to me, and it sounds like this particular smart watch is coming along quite nicely. Should things pan out in terms of developer support we imagine the “purchase” button at Pebble’s website will soon get a nice workout. Watch the video above for the full details. [via Kickstarter] |
| Samsung design chief uses Galaxy S4′s new software features to distract from plastic case Posted: 18 Mar 2013 09:02 AM PDT 
While the Samsung Galaxy S4 felt overall iterative, it was perhaps the design of the phone that seemed the most anchored in the past. Aside from not taking a drastic departure from the design of the Galaxy S3, the phone also sticks with similar materials. That is, the case is mostly comprised of glossy plastic. As with the GS3, the GS4′s build can distract from an otherwise high-quality presentation. So when the screws were put to design chief Dennis Miloseski, instead of providing any sort of real justification for the build Samsung chose to go with, he pointed to software features that will differentiate the device from the competition. The smokescreen allowed Miloseski to shift the conversation from build quality to a design based on “building a meaningful relationship with technology.” For the GS4, Samsung was focused on creating “a soul for the device” rather than focusing on what sort of materials to use when constructing the phone. Miloseski’s responses seem more like typical PR boilerplate rather than any genuine response to the initial concern over materials used in constructing the latest Samsung flagship. Sure, we agree with him to an extent. The main goal should always be to create a unique and meaningful experience between user and phone. But we also feel it doesn’t hurt to focus on the actual design of the device. Just look at HTC. For their One series of phones they have often developed novel ways to deploy new materials to create phones that look awesome without sacrificing any sort of functionality. For Samsung, there is no excuse not to place a similar focus on hardware design. [via AppleInsider] |
| [Update] It’s not you, it’s Drive — service experiencing intermittent outages Posted: 18 Mar 2013 08:15 AM PDT 
It’s not often a Google service experiences outages, so when it does happen we tend to make quite a big deal out of it. It looks like the Mountain View company is having some problems with Google Drive this morning as the service is experiencing intermittent outages. Some people might not notice it, some people will notice a general sense of sluggishness, while others might not be able to access the site at all sometimes. I’ve gotten hit with a couple of error pages just this morning, though the service seems to be fairly stable for me (albeit a bit slower than I’m used to). So no, you’re not crazy — Google Drive is having issues, and Google knows it. The status site says the problem is still being worked out and we’ll be afforded more information shortly, so hang in there. [Update]: Google has a tad bit more information for us (latest updates are at the bottom). We’re aware of a problem with Google Drive affecting a significant subset of users. The affected users are unable to access Google Drive. We will provide an update by 3/18/13 11:10 AM detailing when we expect to resolve the problem. Please note that this resolution time is an estimate and may change.
In the meantime, we’re also seeing some sluggishness with Google Reader, though Google doesn’t offer status reports for that particular service. Let us know if you’re seeing the same, and be sure to comment if you notice other Google services acting quite odd this morning. Google Drive service has already been restored for some users, and we expect a resolution for all users within the next 1 hours. Please note this time frame is an estimate and may change.
And we’re patched: The problem with Google Drive should be resolved. We apologize for the inconvenience and thank you for your patience and continued support. Please rest assured that system reliability is a top priority at Google, and we are making continuous improvements to make our systems better. If you are still experiencing an issue, please contact us via the Google Help Center.
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| Fujitsu develops cellphone camera tech for measuring your pulse Posted: 18 Mar 2013 08:09 AM PDT 
With smartphones plugged into nearly every aspect of our daily lives, the potential to use mobile devices as remote medical diagnostic tools has been growing. We have seen it with the introduction of Samsung’s S Health suite, but companies like Fujitsu are exploring even more intriguing possibilities. The Japanese company is showing off a new technology that uses a cellphone camera to measure a user’s pulse. The whole process takes all of five seconds, and uses the phone’s camera sensor to detect the flow of hemoglobin in blood. This is accomplished by measuring the absorption of green light, something hemoglobin does quite well. The advancement is not only a breakthrough for remote diagnostics, but could also find a home in exam rooms and hospitals as a quick and unobtrusive way to gauge an individuals heart rate. Fujitsu is currently demoing the tech at the General Conference of the Institute of Electronics, Information, and Communication Engineers in Gifu, Japan. Plans to bring the technology to consumer devices haven’t been fleshed out, but the company hopes it will reach consumers during the fiscal year 2013. [via Engadget] Fujitsu Laboratories Develops Real-Time Pulse Monitor Using Facial Imaging Measures pulse in as little as five seconds using built-in cameras in PCs or smartphones, enabling ongoing health tracking Kawasaki, Japan, March 18, 2013 – Fujitsu Laboratories Limited today announced that it has developed a technology to measure a person’s pulse in real time using a built-in camera or webcam in a PC, smartphone or tablet. Fujitsu Laboratories has developed a technology that detects a person’s pulse by measuring variations in the brightness of the person’s face thought to be caused by the flow of blood. It is based on the characteristic of hemoglobin in blood, which absorbs green light. It requires no special hardware and can measure pulse rate simply by pointing a camera at a person’s face for as little as five seconds. It also automatically chooses moments when the person’s body and face are relatively still to minimize the effects of irrelevant data on measurements. This technology has a wide range of potential uses, including health monitoring and maintenance as well as security applications. Details of this technology are being presented at the 2013 General Conference of the Institute of Electronics, Information, and Communication Engineers, opening March 19 in Gifu, Japan. Background In recent years, there has been increasing awareness about the need to maintain the health of employees and senior citizens, raising the demand for new, more convenient ways for individuals to monitor and manage their health, anytime and anywhere. As part of a health-support service that can be customized to each person’s needs, Fujitsu Laboratories is aiming to create a way for people to track their health and store the resulting data in the cloud for analysis, helping them better understand their health and how it changes over time. Fujitsu is committed to building the technological platforms needed to advance the Company’s vision of a Human Centric Intelligent Society, making it possible for people to use smartphones or tablets, or a computer at work or at home, to track their health, collect the resulting data, upload it to the cloud, and perform real-time analyses to provide individualized services for their personal needs. Technological Issues One fundamental indicator of human health condition is pulse. However, pulse monitoring typically requires specialized equipment that must be worn and operated with some care. These inconveniences make it more likely that users will fail or forget to have their pulse monitored. Accordingly, there has been a need for an automated way to measure pulse that minimizes the inconvenience of hooking up and operating the equipment as well as sitting still while it works. Newly Developed Technology Fujitsu Laboratories has developed a technology that automatically measures pulse in real time using facial images captured using the built-in camera on a smartphone, tablet, or PC. Key features of this technology are as follows. 1. Detects pulse by signal processing of extracted color components One characteristic of hemoglobin in blood is that it absorbs green light. Based on this fact, Fujitsu Laboratories has developed a technology that detects a person’s pulse by measuring changes in the brightness of the person’s face as blood flows through it. The technology starts to work by shooting video of a subject and calculating average values for the color components (red/green/blue) in a certain area of the face for each frame. Next it removes irrelevant signal data that is present in all three color components and extracts the brightness waveform from the green component. The pulse rate is then computed based on the peaks in that brightness waveform. This technique can measure pulse in as little as five seconds. 2. Automatically removes moving segments The acquired pulse data that is adversely affected by movements of the face or body is automatically removed. For example, moments when a person’s head turns sideways while talking on the phone or standing up from a chair are automatically detected and removed. This makes it possible to continually monitor pulse during the course of a day while minimizing the impact of irrelevant data. Results This technology relieves people from wearing or operating any specialized equipment or sitting still for long periods in order to have their pulse measured, and makes it possible to continually monitor pulse. For example, even at a busy workplace, or any time a person is sitting in front of a PC, whether for teleconferencing or writing e-mails, their pulse can be measured during brief moments of quiet. At home, a camera built into a TV can measure the pulse of people relaxing in front of it, or a mirror, for when people are getting ready in the morning. Pulse detectors built into gates at event sites or control points at airports could be a possible security application by detecting people in ill health and people acting suspiciously. Future Plans Fujitsu Laboratories seeks to put this technology into practical use in fiscal 2013 for a variety of application scenarios such as a security or health monitoring and maintenance solution, building it into smartphones, tablets, and PCs.
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