Samsung gives its app store a makeover with a focus on Galaxy devices

John Ribeiro / PC World:

Samsung Electronics has updated and rebranded its app store, in an apparent bid to cut into Google’s revenue from its Play store for apps running on Android devices.

The new Samsung Galaxy Apps store has “hundreds of apps” exclusively available to users of Samsung Galaxy mobile devices, the company said Friday in a blog post. The redesigned app store will offer higher customization of mobile devices and a variety of promotions and discounts to users of Samsung Galaxy mobile devices, it added. The earlier store was called Samsung Apps.

                                                                                                                                     

Jon Russell / The Next Web: Samsung revamps its app store, touting ‘hundreds of exclusive apps’ for Galaxy devices
Karissa Bell / Mashable: Samsung Steps Up Its App Game With ‘Galaxy Apps’ Rebrand
Stephanie Mlot / PC Magazine: Samsung App Store Now ‘Galaxy Apps’

On Saturday, July 12, 2014

Continue Reading

Google breaks down how much email is encrypted during transit, launches End-to-End encryption tool

Jordan Kahn / 9to5Google:

Google wants you to know exactly how much email you send and receive is encrypted during transit, so today it launched a new section in its Transparency Report that does exactly that:

When you mail a letter to your friend, you hope she’ll be the only person who reads it. But a lot could happen to that letter on its way from you to her, and prying eyes might try to take a look. That’s why we send important messages in sealed envelopes, rather than on postcards… Email works in a similar way. Emails that are encrypted as they’re routed from sender to receiver are like sealed envelopes, and less vulnerable to snooping—whether by bad actors or through government surveillance—than postcards.

                                                                                                                                     

Seth Rosenblatt / CNET News: New Chrome extension hopes to demystify encryption
Shaun Nichols / The Register: Google unveils End-to-End Chrome plugin for webmail encryption
Jonathan Vanian / Gigaom: Google ups the ante on email encryption
Emil Protalinski / The Next Web: Google launches Chrome extension End-to-End for sending and receiving encrypted emails in the browser
Frederic Lardinois / TechCrunch: Google Plans To Launch An Easy-To-Use Chrome Plug-In For Email Encryption Soon
Jon Fingas / Engadget: Google's new Chrome add-on secures your email every step of the way

On Tuesday, June 03, 2014

Continue Reading

Instagram 6.0 Seduces Pro Photographers With Adjustable Filters And 9 New Effects

Josh Constine / TechCrunch:

“People come to Instagram today to post their photos but haven’t come back to edit their photos” Instagram CEO Kevin Systrom tells me. So today Instagram is adding sliders to control 9 new photo effects and the intensity of its existing filters. These give everyone the power of desktop editing suites and photo apps like Camera+ and Photoshop Express for free, which Systrom says “creates a nice level playing field for the Instagram community.”

The Instagram 6.0 update is rolling out today to iOS and Android (Ice Cream Sandwich and above).

                                                                                                                                     

Instagram Blog: Introducing New Creative Tools on Instagram
Kara Swisher / Re/code: Instagram 6.0: Tweak It and They Will Saturate?
Ellis Hamburger / The Verge: Instagram's new editing features could make it your only photo app
Cliff Kuang / Wired: Instagram Finally Unveils New and Improved Photo Filters
James Trew / Engadget: Instagram adds nine new editing tools, makes filters adjustable

On Tuesday, June 03, 2014

Continue Reading

Google launches 64-bit version of Chrome, starting with Dev and Canary channels for Windows 7 and Windows 8

Emil Protalinski / The Next Web:

Google today announced the debut of a 64-bit version of Chrome for Windows, starting with the introduction of 64-bit Dev and Canary channels for Windows 7 and Windows 8 users. You can download both now from their respective pages: Dev and Canary.

It’s worth noting that in both cases the 64-bit version is offered by default if you are running a 64-bit flavor of Windows, though the 32-bit version is still available. This would suggest Google eventually plans to serve up the 64-bit version of Chrome as the default version for 64-bit Windows users.

                                                                                                                                     

Ron Amadeo / Ars Technica: 64-bit Chrome is faster, more stable, and more secure
Mark Hearn / 9to5Google: Google adds 64-bit Chrome support to its Windows Canary channel
Nate Swanner / SlashGear: Chrome gets 64-bit Canary and Dev Channels for Windows

On Tuesday, June 03, 2014

Continue Reading

Google Glass Gets Fancy New Frames and Shades

Stan Schroeder / Mashable: 

Google has announced a new collection of frames and shades for Google Glass. Called the DVF | Made for Glass collection, they were created in a collaboration with American fashion designer Diane von Furstenberg.

Five new fames and eight new shades will be available through the Google Glass website and Net-a-Porter starting June 23.

The sunglasses from the collection, which include a grey, rainbow-hued and a brown option, will sport a DVF logo in the corner, akin to sunglasses from brands such as Ray-Ban.

                                                                                                                                     

Google Glass / Google+: Today we're announcing the DVF | Made for Glass collection …
Rich McCormick / The Verge: Google Glass now available in ‘chic’ new designs
Jon Phillips / PC World: Google Glass goes high fashion because nothing says ‘not weird’ like Diane Von Furstenberg
Kif Leswing / Gigaom: Google Glass gets a makeover from fashion royalty
Matt Burns / TechCrunch: Google Glass Goes Chic With New Designer Frames

On Tuesday, June 03, 2014

Continue Reading

Apple Unveils iOS 8, the Biggest Release Since the Launch of the App Store

Apple:

Introduces iCloud Photo Library, New Messages Features & New Health App

SAN FRANCISCO―June 2, 2014―Apple® today unveiled iOS 8, the biggest release since the launch of the App Store℠, giving users incredible new features and developers the tools to create amazing new apps. iOS 8 delivers a simpler, faster and more intuitive user experience, including iCloud® Photo Library, allowing you to enjoy your photos and videos more easily across your devices; new Messages features to easily share voice, video or photos with just a swipe; and an entirely new Health app that gives you a clear overview of your health and fitness data all in one place. iOS 8 also includes predictive typing for Apple’s QuickType™ keyboard; Family Sharing, the easiest way to share purchases, photos and calendars within the same household; and iCloud Drive™, so you can store files and access them from anywhere. 

                                                                                                                                     

Frederic Lardinois / TechCrunch: Apple iOS 8 SDK Gives Developers Access To Faster 3D Graphics, Touch ID And More
Rik Myslewski / The Register: iOS 8 to eye your guts, control your home
Kif Leswing / Gigaom: iOS 8 is a major under-the-hood update, Apple provides no hint of a bigger iPhone
Vlad Savov / The Verge: Apple announces iOS 8 with OS X continuity and widgets
Chris Velazco / Engadget: Apple reveals iOS 8 at WWDC, available for free this fall
Jackie Dove / The Next Web: Apple is overhauling its Photos offering across iOS and Mac

On Monday, June 02, 2014

Continue Reading

No Microsoft Start Menu for Windows 8 until 2015: Sources

Mary Jo Foley / ZDNet:

Summary: It's looking like Microsoft's new 'mini' Start Menu for Windows 8.x won't be part of Windows 8.1 Update 2 as rumored. Instead, it's sounding like a 2015 deliverable now.

Microsoft won't be delivering a new Start Menu for Windows 8 with its coming Windows 8.1 Update 2, after all.

That recent change in plans comes courtesy of a couple of my sources who've had good track records on Windows information.

                                                                                                                                     

Sebastian Anthony / ExtremeTech: Windows 8 Start menu resurrection delayed until next version of Windows in 2015
Gavin Clarke / The Register: Microsoft's NEW OS now runs on HALF of ALL desktop PCs
Nate Swanner / SlashGear: Windows Start Menu may not come back until 2015

On Monday, June 02, 2014

Continue Reading

Apple Announces OS X Yosemite

Apple:

Introduces Refined New Design, Powerful Apps & Amazing New Continuity Features

SAN FRANCISCO―June 2, 2014―Apple® today announced OS X® Yosemite, a powerful new version of OS X redesigned and refined with a fresh, modern look, powerful new apps and amazing new continuity features that make working across your Mac® and iOS devices more fluid than ever. The new Today view in Notification Center gives you a quick look at everything you need to know, all in one place; iCloud Drive™ is located within the Finder and can store files of any type; and Safari® has a new streamlined design that puts the most important controls at your fingertips. Mail makes editing and sending attachments easier than ever; Handoff lets you start an activity on one device and pass it to the other; and Instant Hotspot makes using your iPhone’s hotspot as easy as connecting to a Wi-Fi network. Yosemite even gives you the ability to make iPhone® calls on your Mac.

                                                                                                                                     

Charles Arthur / Guardian: Apple unveils move towards health and home in new iPhone software
The Verge: The 22 most important things Apple announced today
Jordan Kahn / 9to5Mac: Apple replaces Google with Bing search in OS X Yosemite's redesigned Spotlight?
Frederic Lardinois / TechCrunch: Apple Announces OS X Yosemite With Translucent, Flatter Design, Updated Notification Center And More
Donna Tam / CNET News: Apple unveils OS X Yosemite

On Monday, June 02, 2014

Continue Reading