| Sony Motion Shot app goes up on Google Play Store, only for the Xperia Z1 Nov 7th 2013, 07:25, by Juan Carlos Torres Sony has just made available yet another of its fine apps on Google Play Store. Unfortunately, like the other recent apps from the company, availability is limited to a few devices, in this case, Sony’s Xperia Z1 flagship only. 
The effect that Sony’s Motion Shot aims for should probably be familiar to many by now. It basically collects a series of images, or in this case, frames from a short movie clip, and combines them into a single image showing the target multiple times at different places in various stages of movement. Motion Shot makes all these easier with three simple steps of taking a short video, with an 8-second maximum limit, editing the output and applying various effects, and then saving as well as sharing the image on social networking sites. Sadly, this convenient little app is, as mentioned, exclusive to the the Sony Xperia Z1, which boasts of a 20.7 megapixel camera that should be perfect for such shots and stylistic effects. One might wonder, then, why Sony would put up the software on Google Play Store anyway. One reason could be added convenience for Sony, who will only need to push out an update for the single app, instead of rolling out a patch to the system firmware if the app had been baked into the firmware. It also opens up the possibility of the app becoming compatible with more Sony devices. Of course, one could also hope that it will eventually be opened up to other brands as well. If you’re one of those who own an Xperia Z1, the Motion Shot app is free for download via the link below. There is also an Effect [Animation] option that can be purchased within the app for $1.99 in order to create an animated GIF. However, the effect is currently only available in the US, Canada, and Japan but more regions are expected to follow. Download: Motion Shot on Google Play Store
VIA: Xperia Blog    |  | HTC M8 leaked photo shows full metal body with blueish tinge Nov 7th 2013, 06:52, by Juan Carlos Torres Now that HTC has seemingly laid out all its big cards on the table, with the somewhat disappointing HTC One Max rounding up its roster, it’s almost time to slowly start the rumor mill on the company’s next flagship. This pair of leaked photos from VR-Zone’s Chinese site reveals what may be the HTC M8 sporting a rather different frame design. 
The HTC M7 was the codename used for this year’s HTC flagship, which was released as the HTC One. The HTC M8, then, is expected to be next year’s star. Very little is known about it so far, with most of people’s attention being diverted to the HTC One Mini and the HTC One Max, which came out late and came out weak. One thing we do know, however, is that like the HTC One Max, the HTC M8 will not be carrying Beats Audio due to the two companies’ recent falling out. These photos of what is supposedly the HTC M8 show that next HTC flagship will look radically compared to the HTC One and its siblings, at least from the sides. Instead of the signature “sandwiched” appearance on its current flagship, the HTC M8 will be fully enclosed by a metal body. The images also reveal a slight light blue tinge to the frame, though that is no indication that it will be the final color of the device. 
Another curiosity that can be found from the photos is a smaller hole right above the camera lens. It would be an awkward position for a fingerprint sensor so some theorize that it is another rear camera, for whatever purpose that might serve. Of course, even if the photos were the real deal, we can expect the design to still undergo a few iterations, or maybe even a complete revamp, until the phone gets ready for another round of pre-announcement leaks. | | Glassware Development Kit to make an appearance at San Francisco hackathon Nov 7th 2013, 06:18, by Juan Carlos Torres After a few months of relative silence, Google is once more kicking its Project Glass engines into gear, with a series of announcements that relate to new hardware and new accessories for the eyewear. This time, Google is shifting its eyes to developers who will soon be able to see what true Glassware development looks like via the Glassware Development Kit (GDK). 
In May this year, Google let it be known that it is working on a way for developers to create apps that can be installed and run right on Google Glass hardware. At the moment, the only official way to write Glass apps, also known as Glassware, is using the rather simplistic Mirror API. The API lets developers write apps as web-based services that interacts with Glass via the cloud, specifically through Google. Google is in charge of syncing the web-based Glassware with what gets displayed on Glass. No code actually runs on Glass. Unfortunately, it also practically translates to limited access to the hardware. The Glassware Development Kit brings the promise of a more native style of app development, using Java or C, similar to writing Android apps. Actually, it is really similar since, at least at the moment, Glass is running Android 4.0 and, therefore, supports the Android API level 15. Thus it has been already possible to develop and distribute APKs that would install and run on the device. In July, Google encouraged developers to start practicing writing Glassware using the Android SDK, which already gives developers high-level access to hardware and features that are also found on Glass. However, considering Google’s eyewear sports hardware and interaction methods different from a smartphone or a tablet, a specialized set of APIs and tools are still needed. As the expected mid-2014 public launch of Google Glass approaches, Google needs to ramp up its efforts in getting people to write software that will truly rock the hardware. Google has thus organized an exclusive two-day hackathon at its Basecamp in San Francisco next week. Those who are lucky enough to attend will be given a chance to test out a preview of the Glassware Development Kit. The invitation also mentions a video that will be shared after the event, so we’ll be able to grab more details later on. | | Polaroid Kids Tablet 2 launches for child-friendly content consumption and creation Nov 7th 2013, 05:30, by Juan Carlos Torres Polaroid, a brand one would normally associate with cameras rather than Android tablets, is making a second stab at the kids market with the ingeniously named Kids Tablet 2. Unlike similar tablets aimed at a younger demographic, however, Polaroid throws in some features that give a nod to what the company does best: making memories. 
Early this year at CES, the company released it’s first Kids Tablet with rather low-end specs. In comparison, this second generation tablet looks like an incremental upgrade only. It still has the same 7-inch display size but the resolution has been bumped up to 1024×600. Internal storage is still at the same 8 GB capacity, expandable with a microSD card. The biggest changes are in the processor, which is now a 1.6 GHz dual-core Cortex A9 coupled with 1 GB of DDR3 RAM, as well as a more up-to-date Android 4.2 OS. A front-facing camera has also been added to the tablet. Definitely not a high-end device, but surely more than enough for a child’s use.   The tablet is, indeed, loaded with features that, Polaroid claims, should keep a child occupied for hours, with over 70 popular books and apps, including 25 top-rated books from popular children’s brands such as Disney, Marvel, and Cartoon Network. Of course, there are also parental controls available as well as a custom web browser and a curated app store that should keep kids safe even while connected to the Internet. But what makes the Polaroid Kids Tablet 2 somewhat unique is the apps that turn kids from mere consumers into creative producers. The Kids Cam app can capture photos and videos with music, adding in some special effects using filters. There is also a DJ Studio app that contains a library of sounds clips that can help get kids started on a musical career.   The tablet is built to survive handling by children and so for added protection, it sports side and rear bumpers in a bright orange color, in contrast to the first generation’s blueish theme. The Polaroid Kids Tablet 2 is available at Toys “R” Us outlets and online store with a price tag of $149. SOURCE: Polaroid | |
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