Microsoft talks about readying Metro style apps for the launch of Windows 8

Andrew Edney
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0
Microsoft talks about readying Metro style apps for the launch of Windows 8

In the next of their Building Windows 8 series, Microsoft talks about readying Metro style apps for the launch.

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This is how the new article begins:

We know many folks are looking forward to RTM. Developers currently working on apps in the Store are especially excited. We have hundreds of apps in the Windows Store now and many more on the way. There’s a broad set of developers around the world that we have been working closely with since the first Developer Preview. The WinRT platform is evolving rapidly during development based on feedback, and we have the dual task of keeping the Store up and running so we can supply apps to the millions of Preview users, while also getting ready for the next build. It means that if we change or add APIs or improve the tools, the apps will change and require an updated OS to test and verify the app. That’s why we have been providing updated builds to developers who have or are committed to having apps in the Store through strong partnerships.

This post explains the work we’ve been doing since September to keep developers updated with APIs and tools so that apps can stay up to date. We’re doing this even after the Release Preview, just to make sure new apps are ready to go once we get to broad availability.

To continue reading, click here.

Verizon Release Date for Samsung Galaxy S III is July 10th

Jim McCarthy
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Verizon Release Date for Samsung Galaxy S III is July 10th

Verizon announced today that they would have the Galaxy S III for sale on July 10th.  Read on for details!

GALAXY SIII 4

We told you about Samsung’s latest high-end Android Ice Cream Sandwich phone here.  Today, Verizon announced the availability of this phone starting July 10th.  Here is some of what they said:

BASKING RIDGE, NJ and DALLAS — Verizon Wireless and Samsung Telecommunications America (Samsung Mobile) today announced that the 4G LTE-powered Samsung Galaxy S® III will be available in Verizon Wireless Communications Stores and online at www.verizonwireless.com/galaxys3 starting July 10. Galaxy S III customers will have access to the Verizon Wireless 4G LTE network which is available in 304 markets across the United States. Verizon Wireless 4G LTE will be in 400 markets covering 260 million people by the end of this year.

Customers can take advantage of 4G LTE-optimized apps like Color to share live video broadcasts of life’s special moments with their Facebook® friends. Sharing live video with audio is an exclusive feature of the Color app on Verizon Wireless’ 4G LTE network. Customers can broadcast real-time footage of a newborn’s first step with family members who are miles away or share a beautiful view of a vacation spot to make friends at home jealous. Combining America’s largest 4G LTE network with the Galaxy S III’s 4.8-inch HD Super AMOLED™ display creates the perfect duo to watch movies, television shows and other video content with apps like viewdini. Viewdini brings the power of Verizon Wireless’ 4G LTE network to the screen by streamlining access to videos from a wide range of content providers, including cable operators, websites and other popular video sources. The viewdini app can be downloaded from Verizon Apps and Google Play.

Additional features:

  • Android™ 4.0 Ice Cream Sandwich
  • Mobile Hotspot – Share a 4G LTE connection with up to 10 Wi-Fi-enabled devices
  • 1.5 GHz dual-core processor and 2 GB RAM
  • Share Shot – Create a temporary photo sharing network with a group of friends who are nearby at the same party or event; photos can be taken by any member of the group and shared with the entire group
  • S Beam – Share pictures, videos, documents and more by simply touching two Galaxy S III devices’ backs together
  • S Voice™ – Featuring natural language recognition, you can control the apps and services used most with words instead of touch
  • Pop Up Play – Videos can be played in a small window while customers use the rest of the display to complete other tasks such as typing emails, organizing calendars and updating their social networks
  • Evolved camera capabilities – Burst Shot mode instantly captures 20 continuous shots and Best Photo feature selects the best shot to display
  • Enhanced camera – 8-megapixel rear camera with zero-lag shutter speed and a 1.9-megapixel front camera so customers can capture pictures and videos of themselves or video chat with family and friends
  • microSD™ card slot for expandable memory

The Samsung Galaxy S III is available in 16 GB and 32 GB models for $199.99 and $249.99 respectively with a new two-year customer agreement. The 16 GB model will be available in stores and online starting July 10 and the 32 GB model will be available online starting July 10 and will be in stores in the coming weeks. Customers will also have the choice of the Galaxy S III in two colors: Marble White or Pebble Blue. Customers can visit www.verizonwireless.com/galaxys3 for more information on the Samsung Galaxy S III for Verizon Wireless.

Twonky Mobile app for iOS updated to version 2.2

Andrew Edney
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0
Twonky Mobile app for iOS updated to version 2.2

Twonky have just released an update to its Twonky Mobile app for iOS taking it to version 2.2.

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Twonky Mobile lets your iPhone become the ultimate remote control.

Find media on your network, such as the music, photos and videos stored on your computer, and play them on your phone or beam them to your TV or other network-connected media player (e.g. DLNA, Airplay device). Select your media library and player, and then queue your media for instant playback.

You can also access photos, videos and music stored on your iPhone from most networked-connected screens, or beam them to supported devices.

What’s New in Version 2.2

– New TwonkyServer version 7.0
– Reduced memory usage
– Improved support for Music purchased from iTunes
– Improved local Video discovery
– Thumbnails and Titles improved for local and remote libraries
– Fixed mixed queue support
– Added HLS Support
– Known Issue: Pause while playing locally does not work.

Download from the Apple App Store

Sky Go App for iPhone and iPad Updated to Version 2.2

Andrew Edney
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1
Sky Go App for iPhone and iPad Updated to Version 2.2

The Sky Go app for the iPhone and the iPad has been updated with some performance and stability fixes.

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Here is the description for the Sky Go app:

Enjoy live TV from Sky wherever you have a 3G or WiFi connection in the UK or Ireland on your iPad, iPhone 3GS or above or iPod touch 4th gen.

Take the magic of Sky Movies with you this winter.

Customers with Sky Movies 1 & 2 can now watch all 11 live channels including Sky Movies Premiere and Sky Movies Christmas. Plus, hundreds of movies on demand to watch whenever you fancy over a WiFi connection.

Watching live Sky Movies on your iPad, iPhone or iPod touch through a 3G connection will use data and contribute to the monthly allowance set by your mobile network operator. Exceeding this could result in significant charges.

Stay up to date with the latest Sky Sports action.

Sky Sports pack customers can watch all five dedicated live Sky Sports channels including Sky Sports News.

Sky News is also available to all Sky TV customers.

What’s New in Version 2.2

You can now enjoy some of your favourite shows from Sky1, Sky Living, Sky Atlantic and Sky Arts on demand at no extra cost with our new Anytime+ Entertainment section.

Download the Sky Go app from the Apple App Store

Halo 4 Forward Unto Dawn teaser trailer released

Andrew Edney
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0
Halo 4 Forward Unto Dawn teaser trailer released

A teaser trailer for the live-action digital series Halo 4: Forward Unto Dawn has just been released.

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Premiering this October on the new Machinima Prime channel on YouTube, and on Halo Waypoint, “Halo 4: Forward Unto Dawn” is a live-action digital series that takes fans back to the terrifying beginning of the Human/Covenant war,  when the Master Chief inspired a young cadet who would eventually become a leader aboard the UNSC’s greatest vessel: the UNSC Infinity. “Halo 4: Forward Unto Dawn” tells a story leading into the events of “Halo 4,” the biggest entertainment event of 2012.

Check out the short teaser below:

Created in partnership with top Hollywood talent from film, television and new media, “Halo 4: Forward Unto Dawn” brings a brand new “Halo” story to life on a scale never before seen in the “Halo” Universe.   The series will debut this October on Machinima Prime and on Halo Waypoint as a five episode series.  The “Halo 4” Limited Edition game will include access to the “Halo 4: Forward Unto Dawn” Special Edition via Halo Waypoint, with never-before-seen bonus footage, as well as exclusive fiction and behind-the-scenes content.

Stay tuned for more updates as well as the full trailer to be revealed at the San Diego Comic-Con in the U.S., 12-15 July.

Set almost five years after the events of “Halo 3,” “Halo 4” takes the series in a bold new direction and sets the stage for an epic new sci-fi saga, in which the Master Chief returns to confront his destiny and face an ancient evil that threatens the fate of the entire universe. In addition to a rich story and campaign, “Halo 4” introduces a groundbreaking new multiplayer offering, called “Halo Infinity Multiplayer,” that builds off of the “Halo” franchise’s rich multiplayer history and promises to continue to innovate and redefine the way people think about storytelling and multiplayer experiences.

Download Issue 3 of The MagPi Digital Magazine for lovers of the Raspberry Pi

Andrew Edney
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0
Download Issue 3 of The MagPi Digital Magazine for lovers of the Raspberry Pi

If you have, or are interested in the Raspberry Pi, then you might want to download the new issue of The MagPi digital magazine.

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This is how the Raspberry Pi guys describe the magazine:

The MagPi, a free online magazine dedicated to the Raspberry Pi, whose first issue was released a few days ago, is a perfect example of that. It’s been put together entirely by volunteers, guided by Ash Stone, Jason “Jaseman” Davies, Meltwater and other names you may recognise from the forums and comments on this site. I was broadly aware they were up to something, but I was amazed at the scope of what they sent me to look at earlier in the week, and I’ve been really, really impressed by the first issue. There are Debian and Puppy guides, articles on computing history, ideas for robotics projects, tutorials in Scratch and Python (with code you can type in yourself, just like in the good old days), features about the Raspberry Pi itself, and other goodies to dig into. I really can’t recommend it enough, and if you haven’t been lucky enough to get to the head of the queue, you don’t need a Raspberry Pi to find it useful (you might actually find the magazine good preparation before yours arrives).

It is a really interesting read – so go download it today, and let us know what you think!

Download the new issue of The MagPi here

Amazon Kindle App for iOS Updated to version 3.1.1

Andrew Edney
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0
Amazon Kindle App for iOS Updated to version 3.1.1

I use the Amazon Kindle app on my iPad all the time, and it has just been updated to version 3.1.1.

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Description

The Kindle app is optimized for the iPad, iPhone, and iPod touch, giving users the ability to read Kindle books, newspapers, magazines and PDFs on a beautiful, easy-to-use interface.

You’ll have access to over 900,000 books in the Kindle Store. Amazon Whispersync automatically syncs your last page read, bookmarks, notes, and highlights across devices (including Kindle), so you can pick up your book where you left off on another device.

Get the best reading experience available on your iPad, iPhone, and iPod touch:
• Shop the Kindle Store by visiting Amazon for the largest selection of books people want to read: over a 900,000* books.
• *New*: Email PDFs & other documents to your new Send-to-Kindle e-mail address and we deliver them to your device. The documents are automatically archived in the Amazon Cloud and available for re-download on your iOS or supported Kindle devices. You can also read PDFs from Mail, Safari, or by transferring them from iTunes.
• Get free book samples – read the first chapter free before you decide to buy.
• Customize your reading experience by choosing the background color, font size, and either portrait or landscape format.
• Instant dictionary word lookup. Tap and hold a word to view the definition. Use the Google and Wikipedia links to get more information.
• Search inside the book to find a character, topic, or section you want to revisit.
• Simply tap on either side of the screen or flick to turn pages.
• You can also read your Kindle books on your Kindle, Kindle Fire, Kindle Touch, PC, Mac, Android-based device, and Windows Phone 7-based device. Our Whispersync technology syncs your last page read, notes, bookmarks, and highlights across devices, so you can pick up where you left off.

What’s New in Version 3.1.1

This update fixes issues with Kindle on iOS 6.

New in 3.1 for iPad users:
– Improved reading experience on iPad: Smaller margins and a cleaner look help you focus on the author’s words.

New features in 3.1 for iPad, iPhone, and iPod touch:
– Search: Quickly locate your content by searching for a title or author.
– Google and Wikipedia: This update fixes an issue that prevented lookup of words on Google and Wikipedia.

Download from the Apple App Store

VLC Player beta for Android now available

Andrew Edney
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0
VLC Player beta for Android now available

You may have used VLC Player on your Mac or PC, and now there is a beta available for Android.

VLC Android

VLC is a free and open source cross-platform multimedia player that plays most multimedia files as well as discs, devices, and network streaming protocols.

This is a BETA version of the port to the Android platform. It is intended for power users and hackers. This version is NOT stable and is slower than the final version.

Download the beta of VLC Player now

Upgrade to Windows 8 Pro for $39.99

Jim McCarthy
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3
Upgrade to Windows 8 Pro for $39.99

Microsoft today confirmed pricing on Windows 8 Pro will be $39.99.  Read on for details.

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Microsoft today confirmed that upgrading to Windows 8 Pro will cost $39.99, and if you upgrade to Pro, you can choose Media Center for free.  Here is what they said:

We set out to make it as easy as possible for everyone to upgrade to Windows 8. Starting at general availability, if your PC is running Windows XP, Windows Vista, or Windows 7 you will qualify to download an upgrade to Windows 8 Pro for just $39.99 in 131 markets. And if you want, you can add Windows Media Center for free through the “add features” option within Windows 8 Pro after your upgrade.

When you use Windows.com to purchase an upgrade to Windows 8 Pro, the Windows 8 Upgrade Assistant makes upgrading simple by walking you through the upgrade process step-by-step from purchase to download and then of course installation.

We believe that your upgrade experience in Windows 8 will be a breeze by offering a faster experience, a single upgrade path, and compatibility from prior versions of Windows. We’ve continued to listen to our customers and have expanded the ability to download to over 100 countries and 37 languages. We have simplified the Windows upgrade experience with the Windows 8 Upgrade Assistant which supports you during your upgrade with everything from selecting your language to pausing your download to built-in compatibility checks – it’s seamless. And if you’re an enthusiast you will have the flexibility to download and control how you upgrade.

If you prefer to shop at a local store, a packaged DVD version of the upgrade to Windows 8 Pro will be available for $69.99 during this promotion.

This upgrade promotion for Windows 8 Pro both online and at retail runs through January 31st, 2013.

Head on over to the Windows Team blog here and check out the full story.  I may upgrade that netbook running XP just so I can boot it up in less than 10 minutes; how about you?

Windows Team Blog Post

StableBit DrivePool for Windows Home Server 2011 Beta 1.0.2.6298 released

Andrew Edney
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0
StableBit DrivePool for Windows Home Server 2011 Beta 1.0.2.6298 released

There has been another beta build from CoveCube! StableBit DrivePool development marches on – now its version 1.0.2.6298.

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Here is how CoveCube describes this application:

  • Combine all your hard drives into one big storage pool (except the system drive with the OS).
  • Add and remove drives from the pool at any time without re-partitioning or manually moving folders.
  • Create duplicated folders on the storage drive pool that are protected against single drive failure. If a drive fails on which a duplicated file was stored, the contents of that file will remain readable even without the drive.
  • All your data is stored in standard NTFS files. You can always access your files even if the Windows Home Server completely crashes or this add-in can’t be used.

This beta version’s change log:

1.0.2.6298

* Fixed disk enumeration, where disks would not come out of a missing state or newly added disks would not immediately show up as being part of the pool.

* [D] Do not fail when a file needs to be extended due to a file mapping object.

* [D] Changes made to dirty pages in a mapped view (section), should be visible to non-mapped reads. In particular, this was breaking the SQL installer.

Download the latest beta version from here
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