Microsoft trumpets Windows Phone 7 numbers on first birthday

windows phone 7
Happy first birthday, Windows Phone 7! One year on, and the fledgling mobile operating system has 36,000 active developers in its AppHub community, 1.5 million downloads of its Developer Tools, and 11,500 apps in its Marketplace.

Microsoft is quick to take a couple shots at competitors' app stores, beating its chest about not re-counting tanslations of an app or "lite" apps, "increasing tonnage" by supporting apps from other mobile platforms, and not listing wallpapers as a category.

That's all fine and dandy, but we spend a lot of time sifting through WP7 app feeds -- and we're still not seeing a lot of awesome apps on the platform. We think a few marquee apps would've made a pretty nice first birthday present -- along with a much smoother update process for WP7 users.

Microsoft trumpets Windows Phone 7 numbers on first birthday originally appeared on Download Squad on Fri, 01 Apr 2011 11:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Source: http://downloadsquad.switched.com/2011/04/01/microsoft-trumpets-windows-phone-7-numbers-on-first-birthday/

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Adobe to begin blocking new installs of Flash tomorrow

Adobe Flash

Tomorrow, Adobe will flip the switch in the Google Play Store and start blocking new installs of Adobe Flash on Android. After that, the sky will begin to fall and peoples devices will stop working. OK, not really. But Adobe will indeed be blocking new installs and only those who have it installed currently will be able to get updates and security fixes. This isn't a surprise considering back in November Adobe announced they'd no longer be supporting the mobile Flash player but it is a reminder that if you're running a device that supports Flash and you want to keep it that way, get it installed.

Source: http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/androidcentral/~3/WIMMm3ByXwo/story01.htm

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Torus is an impressive 3D Tetris game powered by HTML5

torus
As far as Tetris goes, most variations look quite similar. You're usually looking at a "wall" of bricks directly from the front. Torus takes that notion and throws it away; as you might have guessed from the name (or screenshot), this Tetris clone is played on a ring-like 3D surface.

You rotate the ring itself with the arrow keys, while a Tetris-like piece slowly (excruciatingly slowly, in fact) descends from the top. As soon as you make a solid line, it disappears.

Not all pieces are Tetris-like; some of them wouldn't really work with a regular Tetris game but are a good fit for Torus' 3D format.

Torus is ideal for playing at the office, because it has absolutely no soundtrack. The game is dead-quiet. It's also very very slow (slow enough for me to mention it twice in one post) so you can safely look away for a moment and then keep playing. Also, as soon as the game loses focus, it automatically pauses.

Bottom line: It's an impressive demo of the power of HTML5; if it were a bit faster, it would have some serious addictive potential.

Torus is an impressive 3D Tetris game powered by HTML5 originally appeared on Download Squad on Thu, 17 Feb 2011 17:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Source: http://downloadsquad.switched.com/2011/02/17/torus-is-an-impressive-3d-tetris-game-powered-by-html5/

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Samsung Slammed Over Alleged Child Labor in China

HEG Electronics, a Chinese company that assembles devices for Samsung Electronics, has been accused of hiring children and forcing employees to work excessive hours, according to China Labor Watch. The China Labor Watch report alleges that seven children under the age of 16 were found to be working at the HEG factory, which makes Samsung phones and DVD players. The child workers were reportedly only paid 70 percent as much as adult workers. The report also said that HEG employees working the 11-hour night shift were only granted 40 minutes of break time.

Source: http://ectnews.com.feedsportal.com/c/34520/f/632000/s/222ed6a9/l/0L0Stechnewsworld0N0Crsstory0C758510Bhtml/story01.htm

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Official SkyDrive for Android app announced, coming in a few weeks

SkyDrive for Android

Although there is a few apps on the Google Play Store right now that have some SkyDrive integration, there isn't a Microsoft delivered solution available. At least not yet. Microsoft took the time to go ahead and update folks on their SkyDrive happenings and mobile applications were a part of those announcements with an Android version officially announced as coming:

Today, as part of making sure SkyDrive is available to all Windows customers, we’re excited to announce that an official SkyDrive app for Android phones will be available in just a few weeks. The Android app is similar to our mobile apps for Windows Phone and iOS and allows you to browse your SkyDrive, upload files to SkyDrive, as well as share SkyDrive files with “Send a link.” You'll also be able to open SkyDrive files from other apps, as well as upload, save, and share to SkyDrive from other apps.

If you're invested into the Microsoft way, it'll be great to finally have an official app for Android. We'll let you all know when it pops up for availability. Other news from Microsoft today may help some developers out there, they've gone ahead and changed some of the API's available. If you're looking to make your own SkyDrive app, something to look into.

Source: Inside SkyDrive

Source: http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/androidcentral/~3/QYDNmp2CPS0/story01.htm

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Google Latitude check-in deals now available across the US

Recently, Google has been busy beefing up Latitude to make it more competitive with other location apps -- and more fun to use. Location history was added recently, iOS users can post check-ins via Latitude, and now Google has begun rolling out location-based deals which are tied to the service.

If you're in the U.S., you can now score local savings at participating merchants by checking in with Latitude. Google will also be offering "status deals," which users can unlock by visiting a particular merchant on a regular basis. Mashable notes three status levels: regular, VIP, and guru -- though partners can apparently customize those titles if they choose.

Right now deals are available from merchants like American Eagle Outfitters, Arby's, Finish Line, Macy's, Quiznos, and RadioShack.

Google Latitude check-in deals now available across the US originally appeared on Download Squad on Fri, 08 Apr 2011 08:18:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Source: http://downloadsquad.switched.com/2011/04/08/google-latitude-check-in-deals-now-available-across-the-us/

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PSA: Adobe halts new installs of Flash on Android as of tomorrow

PSA Adobe halts new installs of Flash on Android from tomorrowAdobe has been broadcasting as much as possible that Flash on Android is going away, although it's been offering a grace period for those addicted to the plugin. It's now time to wean yourself off. As Adobe warned earlier in the year, new installations from Google Play won't be an option from August 15th onwards. Any downloads after that point will be limited to updates for existing installations or to those willing to raid Adobe's archives -- assuming would-be users aren't already running Android 4.1, that is. While we'd still expect Flash to preserve some of its relevance in mobile as long as phones ship with it preinstalled, and alternatives like Skyfire persist, we'd strongly suggest getting comfortable with HTML5 and native apps from now on.

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PSA: Adobe halts new installs of Flash on Android as of tomorrow originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 14 Aug 2012 21:55:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Google's smartphone patent doesn't mind which end you talk into

Googles smartphone patent doesnt mind which end you talk into

The rectangular, predominantly symmetrical nature of most smartphones means if you're not looking, you might find you're holding the handset the wrong way around when a call comes in. Google's most recently awarded patent may seek to end your orientation confusion by adding a microphone and speaker at both ends of the device. That way, when you pick it up to answer a call, it'll determine which way you're holding it and select the microphone and speaker accordingly. Then again, this is a patent filing, so it's just as likely to wind up lining the bottom of a Mountain View engineer's drawer.

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Google's smartphone patent doesn't mind which end you talk into originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 14 Aug 2012 10:42:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Double Robotics teleconferencing robot gives wheels to your iPad

Double Robotics’ teleconferencing robot gives wheels to your iPadThere has always been an argument over whether the iPad was a truly mobile device; well the folks from Double Robotics have certainly put an end to that particular debate. Say hello to the Double teleconferencing robot, it aims to take teleconferencing to a whole new level. Its main feature is the fact that it is a mobile teleconferencing system that is controllable from one iPad while a second iPad sits on top and becomes the systems eyes and ears. It then portrays images and sound as if you are there in person. It could be used for virtual museum tours, advertising and even visiting the in-laws without actually having to be there.

Double is the simplest, most elegant way to be somewhere else in the world without flying there. The minimalist design and intuitive touchscreen controls allow you to freely move around without inconveniencing others. You can stay at eye level, whether sitting or standing, by adjusting your height remotely, which makes conversations fluid and real. Retractable kickstands will automatically deploy to conserve power when you are not moving around. Efficient motors and lightweight design give Double the ability to last all day without recharging the battery.

Modern teleconferencing would be perfect if every important conversation happened in the conference room. Double allows you to move around and join people in any location, so you can participate in the conversations that happen in the lunch room or at the water fountain. Because Double simply improves upon existing teleconferencing, you can use it in all the same places as those old systems too.

The Double will set you back around $2499 when it becomes available at the end of this year. If you are prepared to pre-order you can get a piece of the action for just $1999.00. When you consider what you are getting, the price really isn’t that bad. Batteries are included in this particular robot but what you do need to remember is that iPads aren’t.

Could you see a usage case for the Double? Can you see these types of robotic teleconferencing systems taking off in Schools, Museums etc?

Source: Double Robotics via The Verge

Double by Double Robotics - Pre-order Now from Double Robotics on Vimeo.

Source: http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/TheIphoneBlog/~3/FyE0gg8uY7E/story01.htm

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Pebble team posts UI preview, provides an early look at how you'll interact with the E-Paper Watch

Pebble team posts UI preview, provides an early look at how you'll interact with the EPaper Watch

Sadly, Pebble won't be making its way to backers by its original September estimate, but the design team wants you to know that it's hard at work, traveling the world to source components, running shipping tests and spending time refining the user interface in order to provide a top-notch experience once you do receive your device in the mail. To that end, Martijn, the UI designer, has dropped by Vimeo to provide us with a "sneak peek" at the device's operation, including some demos on iOS and a connected prototyping board, using a custom tool that sends designs to the Pebble screen from any graphics program in real-time (a feature that will reportedly also be available in the SDK). From what we've seen, there appears to be plenty of space on the screen to show incoming calls, read emails with eight lines of text at a time, view appointment details, select songs and control volume, and, of course, see the current time. Commenters seem to be quite pleased with the design so far, and we have to agree -- it's a pretty slick UI. Jump past the break to see it in action.

Continue reading Pebble team posts UI preview, provides an early look at how you'll interact with the E-Paper Watch

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Pebble team posts UI preview, provides an early look at how you'll interact with the E-Paper Watch originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 14 Aug 2012 12:33:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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