Best Google Chrome Themes

best chrome themes

Check out our picks for the best Google Chrome themes and skins so you can add some style to one of the fastest browsers out there.

Chrome currently holds the title of most-used browser. Since we’ve got a ton of Chrome users here in the office, we know we’re not the only ones using the browser. So, we decided to put together a list of what we consider the best Google Chrome themes. There are heaps of them available in the Chrome theme gallery, but Google doesn’t put them in categories, which makes browsing a tedious process. To save you from spending countless hours scrolling through thousands of themes at random, we hand picked 50 of our favorites and organized them into groups. Enjoy!

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Source : digitaltrends[dot]com

Christmas Day 2012 saw record-breaking number of iOS and Android activations

How to choose an e-reader or tablet for the holidays

On Christmas Day, an unprecedented number of Android and iOS devices were activated, statistics have shown.

When it comes to mobile industry sales, it’s no surprise that smartphones, tablets, and other gadgets see a surge in purchases around the holiday season. Earlier this week on Christmas Day 2012, however, both Apple and Android have beaten their own records.

According to data from Flurry Analytics, which examined a database of more than 260,00 apps, more Android, and iOS devices were activated on Christmas Day this year than any other day in history. To be exact, there were more than 17.4 million activations recorded on December 25. This is 332 percent over the baseline for the month of December, Flurry’s data indicated.

These activations have come from a variety of devices including iPhones, iPads, Galaxy devices, Kindle Fires, and more. The number of new activated devices this year more than doubles that of Christmas 2011, which saw 6.8 million activations. This was the previous single-day record, but this year’s holiday activations completely shattered that achievement.

This, of course, means that there has also been an unprecedented number of app downloads as well. Using its percentage penetration per platform, Flurry estimated the total number of market apps downloaded on Christmas Day. The company checked these numbers against publicly released figures from Apple and Google, just as it did with the information on device activations.

Christmas Day 2012 saw 328 million downloads from both Apple and Android’s app stores. Compared to the baseline for app downloads established in the first 20 days of December, this is an increase of 128 percent. Yet again, this breaks the record for the most apps downloaded in a single day in history.

It’s worth noting that tablets saw a massive jump in activations this holiday. According to Flurry, the ratio of smartphone to tablet activations is usually 4:1, with phones accounting for 80 percent of activations and slates comprising 20 percent. On Christmas Day 2012, however, smartphone activations only hit 49 percent and tablets accounted for a whopping 51 percent.

This doesn’t come as too much of a surprise, considering tablets don’t come with the two-year contracts that smartphones are usually tethered to. Unless users purchase a 3G-enabled tablet that requires a data plan, it’s easier to surprise someone with a tablet without the complication of contracts.


Source : digitaltrends[dot]com

How to use Facebook

How to use Facebook social networking

With more than one billion users, there’s no doubt that Facebook is the premiere social networking site of choice. Follow our Facebook breakdown to get you up and running in no time.

We won’t believe you if you say you haven’t heard of Facebook. We may believe you if you say you have yet to use the popular social networking site. The year is 2012 and it’s about time everyone hitches a ride on the social networking bandwagon and joins Facebook. Joining Facebook is free, simple and worthwhile — it’s a great way to keep in touch with friends and family, meet new people, and express yourself. Our Facebook guide is by no means complete, but the following are some of the basics for the less than savvy social networker.

Sign Up

Go to www.facebook.com to sign up. Sign up by entering the appropriate information as requested i.e. first name, last name, email, birthday and gender. We suggest using your primary email to join Facebook so you receive notifications through it. Also, all of these options are customizable — you don’t use your real name if you don’t want to, but it helps when trying to connect with friends and family.

Set Your Privacy Settings

Now set your privacy settings so you can control who has access to your information and profile. You can set up your account so that other Facebook users have full or limited access to your profile.

There are four main options when it comes to your privacy settings: Everyone, Friends, Friends of Friends, and custom. We recommend that you avoid leaving your information open to everyone. Remember, what happens on Facebook doesn’t always stay on Facebook.

Everyone: Grants access to anyone on the Internet.

Friends: Grants access to only those who are your friend on Facebook.

Friends of Friends: Grants access to those who are your friend on Facebook as well as their friends.

Custom: Grants access to a selective audience of your choice including specific people and networks.

  • How You Connect is just the basics about who can look you up using the contact information you provided, send you friend requests, and send you private messages.
  • Timeline and Tagging gives you a slew of options pertaining to who can post on your timeline, who can see posts you’ve been tagged in on your timeline, and gives you the option to review tags and posts before they appear on your page.
  • Ads, Apps and Websites lets you manage your settings for ads, apps, games, and websites.
  • Limit the Audience for Past Post restricts access for all past posts to strictly friends.
  • Blocked People and Apps allows you to block app and event invites as well as individual users from interacting with you on Facebook.

Think carefully about public photos and information. Consider what your employer or your grandmother would think of your profile.

Make it your own

Facebook is often an expression of the individual, so why not have some fun with it?

  • Profile picture. Upload, snap a picture from your webcam or choose a photo from an album to be your default profile photo. Don’t worry too much about size (cropping is always available), but remember that higher quality photos will take longer to upload to the website. Also, keep in mind that your profile picture will always be displayed, regardless of your privacy setting.
  • Cover photo. Upload, take or choose a photo from an album to be the default banner photo that extends across the top of your profile. Again, whatever image you use can be cropped, repositioned, or changed entirely down the line.
  • Update your info. Enter information about everything from your work history and education to your favorite quotes and where you live. This is also where you throw in basics such as your contact information, age, gender, religion, and relationship status among other things. Maybe even write a brief bio about yourself if you really want to get into it.
  • Likes. Search for your favorite bands, sports teams, books, businesses, and anything else you can think of in the tiny search bar at the top of the page. Make sure to click the “Like” button once you’ve found what you’re looking for. If it exists, then there is a good chance there’s a page for it.
  • Subscriptions. Keep up with all your favorite people, from celebrities to politicians, without having to add them as a friend. Once you subscribe to someone, any public update they share will appear in your News Feed. Just click the “Subscribe” button in the upper, right-hand corner of timeline when available. You can even have subscribers of your own if you check the box for “Allow Subscribers” in the general account settings.

Find Your Friends

Facebook can be lonely without friends, so fire off those friend requests. Once you’ve collected a few virtual friends, Facebook makes it easy by suggesting other people to be your friend based on common friends and interests.

  • Search. The search bar at the top of the page is the quickest and easiest way to find your friends on Facebook. Just type the name of your friends, family, and coworkers in the search bar and filter the results by location, education and workplace to better find who you’re looking for.
  • Import. Facebook gives you the option to import contacts from another location, such as your email address or Skype account, before sending off a friend request. Just type the name of the account you want to use on the Find Friends page, enter your login information, and click “Find Friends.”
  • Invite. You can also invite friends individually from the Invite Your Friends page by entering an email, adding a personal message, and clicking “Invite Your Friends.”

Photos and Video

Some of the best features Facebook has to offer. Period.

  • Uploading photos and creating an album: Click the “Add Photo/Video” button at the top of your home page. Next, choose whether you want to upload a photo individually or create an entire album before picking the photos to upload. Keep in mind that high-resolution photos will look better, but increase the time it takes to upload. You can also add album titles, descriptions, captions, tags, and locations while you wait so downtime is kept to a minimum.
  • Uploading a video. Click the “Add Photo/Video” button at the top of your home page. Then choose the video. Like photos, the higher the quality of the video you’re uploading, the longer it will take to upload.

Share

Now it’s time to speak your mind to your friends and the world. Sharing is where the heart of the social networking giant thrives so you best get used to it if you want to get anywhere in the social media age. The majority of the time that you share something on Facebook, you will have an option to choose an audience before you post. Simply click who you want the post viewable to (everyone, friends, etc.) from the dropdown menu next to the “Post” button.

  • Status updates. What’s on your mind? Status updates will appear as posts on your timeline and news feed. Here you can easily share your text, photos, videos, and links with the people of your choice by inserting your content and hitting the “Post” button.
  • Check-ins. Want to show off that you got tickets for the big game or concert? Check-ins give you the option of choosing a specific location and time when you post. Just click on the “Place” button in the share menu to find nearby locations from a dropdown list or type in a specific spot all your own.
  • Life events. If you choose so, Facebook does a great job of sharing those big, life-changing moments like graduating from college or having a kid. All you have to do is click the “Life Event” button in the share menu, choose the type of event and enter all the specifics.
  • Tagging. The tagging function allows you to tag your friends and share a post with a number of their timelines simultaneously. Just type the “@” symbol in the share box and choose one or more friends you want to tag from the dropdown menu. Also, you can always type in a name if the person you wish to tag doesn’t have a Facebook account.
  • Sharing on other timelines. Sometimes you may just want to share things with a specific someone instead of broadcasting it to everyone you know. Luckily, it essentially works the same way as using the share box on your own profile page. Insert the content, the tags or place in the share box at the of your friend’s timeline and hit the “Post” button.

Facebook also gives you the option to like, comment on or share pretty much any post that you can view on the site. All you have to do is choose one of the options below the post.

Send a Message

It’s not quite as personal or fancy as your email, but it’s incredibly handy when it comes to privately getting in contact with acquaintances or people you don’t know all that well. Or maybe you just want to forego Yahoo Messenger, AIM or Skype in favor of something a bit more all-encompassing. Facebook has got you covered either way.

  • Messages. There a couple ways to send private message to people on Facebook, and you don’t need to be friends with someone in order to do so. One way is to click the messages tab on the left hand side of your homepage, choose the “New Message” option and then select a name (or names) from the dropdown menu after you begin typing. Type out your message and click “Send.” You can also send a message in the same manner by choosing the “Message” button at the top of someone’s timeline.
  • Chat. Forget the days of AIM and Yahoo Messenger, Facebook has a built-in chat so you can talk with your friends online without ever leaving your News Feed. Just click the “Chat” tab in the bottom, right-hand corner of the page and turn on the chat to see who is available. The options section even lets you toggle chat sounds and block specific users from contacting you. Keep in mind, Facebook chat only allows you communicate with those you have friended on the site.
  • Video calling. Facebook makes video calling a breeze. Just click video camera icon in any chat dialogue box to begin a video call with one of your friends using your default webcam. Although you cannot video chat with multiple people at once, you can continue using the Facebook chat while engaged in a video call.

Other Features

Facebook is continually rolling out new features and expanding the limitations of what a social networking site can do. From groups to games, the site is continually pushing the borders and turning out all sorts of goodies. We aren’t going to dive too in-depth into each one, but just know they exist.

  • Gifts. Yes, Facebook makes it even easier to give gifts to your friends. You choose the friend, the gift, the card, and personal message. Then your friend inputs his or her street address and Facebook essentially takes care of the rest.
  • Pokes. Whoever you poke will receive a notification saying you poked them. We don’t fully understand the point of it, but you can do it all the same.
  • Groups. A great way to create or join a private space for people who share common interests. Want to break a Guinness record or punch people who walk slowly in the back of the head? There is a Facebook group for both in case you were worried.
  • Apps. Facebook offers a variety of free apps — from productive to fun — completely free. Be sure to check out some of our favorites so you never have to leave your home again.
  • Timeline. It’s basically the profile of your entire life in a virtual nutshell. Feel free to scroll through your past to check out old photos, posts and anything else you may have wanted to forget about. Timeline wasn’t always required, but now it is. Get used to it.
  • Notifications: Your go-to spot for any and all Facebook activity. Set it up to email you updates or just click the little globe near the search bar to see any recent activity.
  • Mobile version: Now you can access Facebook right from your smart phone, tablet, or other mobile device. It works in the same vein as the website, but with some slight modifications and restrictions. The app is available for both Android and Apple devices.

Go Forth

That was a whirlwind of a Facebook breakdown, but now it’s time to put all the tips into action! The best way to really learn how to use Facebook is by using Facebook. Who would have thought? Check out the Facebook Help Center for more information.

Do you need a little clarification or are you particularly perplexed about how use certain Facebook features? Let us know in the comments below.


Source : digitaltrends[dot]com

Apple reportedly working on smart watch that syncs to your iOS devices

apple store logo samsung lawsuit

A recent report from China has indicated that Apple could be developing a smart watch of its own.

Apple may be famous for its premium smartphones, tablets and computers, but the Silicon Valley-based design company may expand its horizons come 2013. Whispers from China have indicated that Apple could be developing its very own smart watch, according to Chinese gadget news source Tech.163.

This device would connect to all of your iOS devices via Bluetooth, and Intel is rumored to be working with Apple on this wearable tech project. Little is known about the purported device’s specs or features, but the report did say that it could come with a 1.5-inch AMOLED display manufactured by RiTDisplay with ITO-coated glass.

Apple appears to be aspiring to attack a budding sector of the mobile market. Wristwatch devices are beginning to gain popularity among users, with products such as Sony’s SmartWatch and the Pebble Kickstarter project that blew up on the crowd sourced Web platform earlier this year. The Pebble smart watch, which hit more than $10 million on Kickstarter, connects to your Android or iPhone device. Users can customize the watch’s interface and download apps directly to the device. Sony’s offering is an Android watch that “keeps you discreetly updated & your hands free.” It comes in various colors such as blue, pink, teal and lets you check messages, calendars, and Facebook updates.

Apple isn’t the only company reportedly dipping into the wearable technology market. In September, Microsoft patented what looks to be a wearable video game controller for its Xbox gaming console. Samsung has also been working on bendable, unbreakable displays for quite some time that could pave the way for wearable devices.

This also isn’t the first time tech enthusiasts have mused at the proposition of a hypothetical iWatch, and Thursday’s findings have further fueled these suspicions. However, it’s important to take this news with a grain of salt. Apple, of course, has not confirmed any plans to enter the smart watch race. Even if it did, there’s no guarantee that we would see it any time soon. Apple geeks shouldn’t count on playing with wearable iOS watches at CES next month, but it certainly is interesting to think about.

If this rumor does turn out to be true, it wouldn’t be the most revolutionary move for Apple but it could do more to popularize the smart watch genre. Tablets existed before Apple introduced the iPad, but no one really wanted them until Apple came out with its own. Even when the first generation iPad was released in 2010, critics and tech aficionados scoffed at the device that was initially perceived as an oversized iPhone.

According to Tech.163’s source, Apple plans to launch this rumored smart watch sometime next year.


Source : digitaltrends[dot]com

Go East, young man: American McGee and the Manifest Destiny of Chinese gaming

In 2005, American McGee left behind a burgeoning career in Western game development to move to China. At the time it was seen as a risky move. Upon reflection it may have been a stroke of genius.

In 2005, when American McGee told his friends that was moving to China, the reaction was mixed between bewilderment and disbelief. McGee was among the best known game developers of the day, one of his games had been optioned as a Hollywood movie with McGee attached as a producer, and the Chinese market was lagging far, far behind that of Japan and the West. Eight years later as the Chinese gaming market is on the cusp of a global boom, that decision is beginning to look more and more like a stroke of genius.

The Chinese gaming market is one of the fastest growing hi-tech markets in the world. In 2011 it was reported to be worth $7.1 billion, a 34-percent increase over the previous year, and more than 120 million users in China were involved in online gaming. That number is expected to increase significantly this year.

This expansion is in keeping with the overall growth of the People’s Republic of China, but it does also denote a shift in the culture itself. Like all forms of media and entertainment in the PRC, gaming is censored and regulated by the government. Gaming advertising is not allowed on state run television or radio, and all games must conform to the standards laid down by the Ministry of Information Industry.

Along with the censorship that gaming faces in China, video game consoles were banned in 2000, as the PRC declared that gaming could warp the minds of children. There were loopholes to this, and Sony eventually released the PS2 in 2004, but it was instantly deemed a massive failure thanks to a lack of advertising and a staggering level of piracy. But while consoles languished, the Chinese online community flourished.

As the number of internet users in China grew, so too did the number of online gamers. That in turn expanded the general gaming population in the PRC, and the gaming industry in China is only expected to increase. The ban on consoles also may be a thing of the past, as the PS3 was just granted a certification, which would allow Sony to sell its console in China. This certification is no guarantee that Sony will introduce the PS3 to the Chinese market, but with the ban seemingly rescinded, it will certainly make China an attractive market for the next generation of consoles. It may also present an opportunity for Chinese manufacturers to introduce their own device and further expand the potential of the gaming industry.

McGee, whose first name is not a nickname but the result of a creative mother, began his career 20 years ago. After dropping out of high school and working as a mechanic, he got to know a neighbor that was also a passionate gamer. The two struck up a friendship over a shared love of Nintendo. That neighbor was John Carmack, who at the time was working on a game that would become Doom.

“We began playing Nintendo together,” McGee recalled. “He eventually invited me to his office to help test their new game, which happened to be Doom… It was a just sort of right place at the right time in a very small world kind of experience.”

McGee was the ninth employee at id, and operating out of offices in Mesquite, TX, he spent the next five years working as a level designer, on music production, sound effects development, and programming for the games Doom II, Quake, and Quake II. In 1998 McGee and id parted ways.

McGee soon landed at Electronic Arts. In 2000 McGee and EA released American McGee’s Alice, a major success for the time, and an instant cult classic that thrust McGee into the spotlight thanks to the strange and imaginative arts design and clever reinterpretation of the classic Lewis Carroll books involving Alice in Wonderland.

The game was even optioned as a movie by Wes Craven that same year. That deal fell through, but the property refuses to die and rumors of a film adaptation continue to circle, with McGee attached as a producer.

McGee left EA soon after and formed his own company, Mauretania Import Export Company. He then followed up Alice with American McGee’s Scrapland, which was lauded for its originality and was deemed a modest hit. Then the 2004 Presidential election changed everything.

“I left the US partly because Bush was elected a second time,” McGee said, only partly joking. “I told all my friends that if he was re-elected I was going to leave. His re-election fortunately coincided with an offer to move to Hong Kong, which gave me an opportunity to make good on my promise.”

While the election itself wasn’t the main cause of McGee’s exodus, it was one more reason out of many to follow the example of many ex-pats and seek his fortune in the burgeoning Chinese market.

“I’d always wanted to move to Asia, I’d always had an affinity for the region ever since the first time I travelled to Japan, when EA would send me out to work on their projects in Tokyo,” McGee said. “So when the opportunity came up, I really was interested in the region and China specifically, really more so than the project. The project as it turned out was kind of a stinker, but it was a way for me to make the move.”

The project, American McGee presents Bad Day L.A., went on to be a flop, but it did allow McGee to remain in China – or more specifically, to remain in Hong Kong.

Despite the fact that Hong Kong is now under the jurisdiction of the PRC, the city has managed to retain its sense of individuality following the 1997 change from British authority to Chinese control. When the transition took place there was a palpable sense of fear and uncertainty as to what would happen to Hong Kong. The city was built on a free market philosophy, which at the time didn’t seem like it would mesh with the communist mentality of the PRC.

Fifteen years later, Hong Kong still retains its unique sense of individuality. Many have even made the argument that China didn’t change Hong Kong, but rather Hong Kong changed China.

“A lot of people wouldn’t count Hong Kong as China, they don’t consider it to be real China,” McGee noted. “If you’ve ever been out there, then you’ll understand that they really are two different worlds. But my move to China, my move to Shanghai happened as a result of being in Hong Kong.”

During his time in Hong Kong, McGee easily networked with other developers in the emergent Chinese gaming scene. Following work on the project that brought him to Hong Kong, McGee agreed to help a friend begin an art outsourcing company in Shanghai that existed to supply additional art for Western and Japanese publishers. It was during this time that McGee was approached by the French online video game service that was founded by Turner Broadcasting System, GameTap.

McGee had his own plans of opening his own development studio, and GameTap was more than happy to help out. It offered him the opportunity, and financial backing, to develop a new game, which he leapt at.

McGee saw an opportunity in the Chinese market. The local Chinese developers were talented, but limited in options: They could work for one of the few giant corporations, or work for an outsource studio. In either instance, the developer, whether they be artists, programmers, sound engineers, or any of the other numerous roles needed to develop a video game, had little to no control of the product they were working on, and no creative freedom to express themselves.

“My theory was if you opened up an independent studio in Shanghai, you would be able to attract the best and brightest from the local market, and give them the opportunity to work on unique and original properties,” McGee recalled. “And in fact, that was the case. The moment that we started the studio we were immediately able to hire the best animators and programmers and artists from Shanghai and China.”

In 2007 McGee officially opened his Spicy Horse in the Zhabei District of Shanghai. The studio’s first game was 2008’s American McGee’s Grimm, a 28 part episodic retelling of the Grimm fairy tales for the PC. The games met with mixed reviews, but decent success. In 2009, the studio opened an offshoot studio, Spicy Pony, a group specifically tailored to create iOS games. Spicy Pony has released three titles so far, with more on the way.

The biggest release coming out of Spicy Horse reteamed McGee with EA for a sequel to the 2000 game based on Alice in Wonderland. Released in 2011, Alice: Madness Returns, is the first AAA title developed entirely in China and exported to the West. The game received mostly positive reviews and has generated talk of a third game tentatively titled Alice in Otherland, which may be released episodically, although EA has yet to commit.

Spicy Horse has also been active in other platforms, including Facebook and browser-based gaming. Earlier this year the company released the free-to-play online multiplayer title Akaneiro: Demon Hunters, a new take on Little Red Riding Hood, with a feudal Japanese twist.

By most measures, Spicy Horse is a success story. McGee’s company is currently the biggest independent developer in China, employing more than 70 people. Even as the PRC watches on.

“Whenever you are in Europe, you’re going to read that a lot of places outside of Europe are scary and terrible. When you are in the US you are going to read that everywhere outside of the US is scary and terrible,” McGee opined. “When I talk to people in the US about life and work in China, a lot of them are surprised that we’re not in slave labor camps breaking rocks and having the government interfere all the time.

“If there is anything about being here [in China] and talking to people in the West [that I like], it’s being able to communicate to them that this is a very happy and vibrant, and optimistic place, and especially at this time. It’s an interesting time to be here, in the middle of multiple, concurrent booms across financing and culture, across creativity and industry.”

The PRC is always watching the emerging industries, and censorship is simply part of the context doing business in the country. That is the price you pay to live and work in China. But for most it is a concession many are willing to make to be part of the largest economic boom in a generation, and what may prove to be one of the most significant cultural revolutions in history.

“The government, for their part, plays a fairly active and aware role in all that, and for us in particular, in the district that we are, they’re aware of our being here,” McGee said. “They bring the mayor by from time to time to show off the fact that there’s a creative and interesting sort of digital industry that’s going on in their neighborhood. In general they are very kind to us and willing to listen to our questions and problems.”

The Zhabei District where Spicy Horse is located is an area that has seen a great deal of change recently. The once industrial neighborhood has transformed to encourage more hi-tech development, both nationally and internationally. Like any American city trying to lure new business to it through things like tax incentives, China is actively looking for new ways to bring in foreign investors and companies.

“Here we actually get a bit of special treatment, we don’t have any complaints,” McGee said before adding with a laugh, “Of course they are forcing me to say that.”

As China continues to grow, it is aware of the necessity to encourage hi-tech growth, and that includes gaming. In years past, the majority of gaming in China was financed by Western and Japanese companies, but that is changing. Chinese companies now make up for more than 60% of the gaming products played by Chinese gamers, and those companies are expanding globally.

Tencent, one of China’s largest holding companies, controls 30 percent of the Chinese online gaming market share thanks to its wildly popular QQ brand that has produced several successful MMOs in China. Forget about EA and Activision, Tencent is the world’s largest game publisher, and it is expanding into the West.

In 2011 Tencent purchased Riot Games, makers of League of Legends – one of the world’s most popular games – for $400 million dollars. Then in June of 2012 Tencent acquired a minority stake in Epic Games, makers of the iOS Infinity Blade series, as well as the Gears of War franchise.

American gamers should get used to seeing Chinese names in the gaming world in the years to come. Companies like The9, Kongzhong, Shanda, and many more that are household names in China all have their sights set on expanding their gaming presence globally. Some may try the direct approach and release games in the US, perhaps as mobile titles or even via services like Facebook, while others may quietly begin to purchase stakes in existing gaming companies. It will be a slow process, but an inevitable one.

“That’s the thing history will show us about China and the Chinese people,” McGee said, “there is an inevitability to what they do, and they work and operate on very different time scales than we’re used to on a Western scale. What we see as wasting time, they see as part of their strategy… it throws off the opposition.”

As for McGee, like many others he is encouraged by the growth in China, but also wary that it is unsustainable. He (and many others) predicts that eventually there is going to come a point where the expansion stops and the bubble bursts.

“I think China is potentially putting themselves in the same position that all major economies around the world have recently done – and that’s what we’ve seen unravel from the US to Europe and Japan,” he said. “Economies built on never ending growth eventually run into a brick wall. I think China is going to get there, and it is going to do it faster than any nation in the history of the world because it grew so fast.”

While the recent recession was felt around the world, in China it was primarily a secondary affect. The Chinese economy – although it wasn’t imune the impact – made it through without much of an issue. Companies that were tied to global industries felt it far more than local businesses. There may change though, and soon.

“We, as entrepreneurs here in China think that we have a good five years left before the shit hits the fan.” McGee said. “Most people I know are making plans to stabilize their business to withstand what’s coming, or to get their business to a place where they can get out before this thing happens. The next five years will be very interesting.”


Source : digitaltrends[dot]com

Clash of Clans creator passes EA as top iPhone and iPad game maker

supercell

Supercell, the Finnish game maker behind Clash of Clans and HayDay, has passed Electronic Arts as the highest-earning iOS game maker in November. What's most impressive though is that it did with just two games will EA sells nearly 1000 titles.

When a titan of the video game industry starts to fall, it’s never with a bang. Descent is preceded by the silence of sales charts. Electronic Arts isn’t about to implode any time soon since FIFA, Madden and others will keep it solvent for years to come, but the publisher’s dominance of the iPhone and iPad game market is coming to an end just five years after it’s born. As of December 2012, Electronic Arts is no longer the highest grossing iOS game maker. That distinction goes to Clash of Clans creator Supercell.

Melodramatic talk about big publishing versus small studios in the mobile market aside, Supercell did indeed make more money than Electronic Arts over the course of November according to Gamasutra. That victory over EA is impressive enough on its own since the publisher’s titles like Plants vs. Zombies, Tetris, and others consistently dominate the iOS bestsellers list, but it’s not the most impressive aspect of Supercell’s feat. It’s the fact that Supercell did it with just two games, Clash of Clans and HayDay, two titles that didn’t even break into the top ten bestsellers for the month. By comparison, Electronic Arts currently has 969 apps available in the iTunes App Store.

How is Supercell doing it? Electronic Arts’ mobile gaming business has been booming on smartphones and tablets growing 98 percent between 2011 and 2012. Blake Jorgensen, EA’s CFO, said reported in October that over the July to September quarter, EA pulled in $89 million from its mobile gaming division, $66 million of which came from smartphones and tablets. How can a company with just two games top that haul? By making $500,000 per day. According to an October report in The New York Times, Supercell’s two games pull in half a million each day, with $350,000 going to the developer after Apple takes its 30 percent cut of each sale.

No, Supercell isn’t taking down Electronic Arts. EA pulls down almost three times the quarterly revenue. Supercell is only starting to grow, though, and if the studio can expand beyond iOS and replicate its earning power on browsers and Android platforms, the Finnish studio can become its country’s next Rovio.


Source : digitaltrends[dot]com

DT Deals: iOS App Design Course makes all your app developing dreams come true

Need help making your apps not only function well but look good? Today's DT Deals brings you the design crash course to get you ready for the App Store.

So you’ve brainstormed your app ideas and figured out how you plan to develop the next big thing, thanks to the guide you got an awesome deal on several days ago. Good on ya! Now you just need to make it look as great as you envisioned. If you don’t plan on hiring expensive designers, consider this iOS App Design Course. For today’s DT Deals, $79 gets you a crash course on what makes apps beautiful on the Apple iPad’s retina screen. Of course, before you even get there, you’ll also need to make the app icon stand out in the App Store. With this course bundle, you’ll learn the design magic to both variables so you can get your app up and running in no time.

Again, a 30-day money back guarantee is in place if you aren’t satisfied, and we should warn you that you’ll want Adobe Photoshop CS3 and up to follow along the course. Don’t worry, you don’t need to be a design whiz; the course is made for the most beginners of designers and Photoshoppers. After the purchase, you’ll have one full year to refer to the video guide as often as you need to. Remember to share with us your design when it’s done!


Source : digitaltrends[dot]com

Final Fantasy XI: Seekers of Andoulin gives Square’s first MMO new life

final fantasy xi seekers of andoulin release  date

Square-Enix announced a Final Fantasy XI: Seekers of Andoulin release date on the day after Christmas, promising an English edition of the expansion for this spring.

Square-Enix is planning to rehabilitate its global MMO business this February when Final Fantasy XIV: A Realm Reborn enters beta testing on PCs and PlayStation 3. The company’s online role-playing business has been slow to evolve over the past half decade especially since its very first effort in the online multiplayer arena has proven so resilient. More than a decade after its first release, Final Fantasy XI is still going strong. The most recent expansion, Final Fantasy XI: Seekers of Andoulin, will be released in English in time for the game to celebrate its eleventh birthday.

Square announced on Wednesday that Seekers of Andoulin will make the jump to the US on March 26, 2013 and run $30, relatively cheap considering the high prices of other Square games like its burgeoning iOS library.

Most surprising of all is that the US version of Seekers of Andoulin will not just be available on PC. It will also be available for Xbox 360 in the US. Final Fantasy XI was actually one of the very first Xbox 360 games. Released in April 2006 it was also the very first cross-platform MMO for the console as well, mixing players on PC servers with those on Microsoft’s console. Seekers of Andoulin is also available on Sony’s enduring PlayStation 2 console, the machine that Final Fantasy XI originally released for, but that version won’t be available in the United States.

Anyone looking to try Final Fantasy XI for the first time will actually be able to purchase a $40 edition of the game called Final Fantasy XI: Ultimate Collection Seekers Edition that includes Andoulin as well as the four previous expansions to the game.

There’s been speculation since 2010 that Final Fantasy XI would finally close. First because of the release of Final Fantasy XIV that year, an MMO opening that was so widely panned that it actually reinforced Final Fantasy XI’s place in active development. More recently those closure rumors came when the game’s producer Hiromichi Tanaka resigned from Square-Enix.

Final Fantasy XI will stay open for the foreseeable future, though, bucking all expectations. As of this writing, it’s the most profitable game ever released in the Final Fantasy series so there’s no reason to end it just yet.

Square also needs a stable base for its MMO business. Final Fantasy XIV: A Realm Reborn has yet to prove itself in the market after the company has poured investment into its development and Dragon Quest X likely won’t leave Japanese Wiis and Wii Us anytime in the near future.


Source : digitaltrends[dot]com

OUYA ships developer consoles ahead of schedule

It’s a big day for fans of the Kickstarter-funded Ouya gaming console as we have learned that developer consoles are now shipping to early project backers. Those who laid down money for the console early on should expect to have the open-source Android machine in their hands no later than January 10, according to new posts on the official Ouya forums.

A confirmation email from an early backer reveals the user’s order was shipped via DHL Express Worldwide with an estimated delivery date between December 31, 2012 and January 10, 2013. The shipment included one sample dev kit which contains a console and two controllers.

At a time when a number of Kickstarter campaigns are failing to meet their shipping estimates, it’s good to see that Ouya was able to fulfill their obligation thus far. In fact, the gaming company actually shipped consoles a day early – kudos to them. The SDK is still expected to be released tomorrow which gives devs plenty of time to familiarize themselves with the platform.

Ouya was one of the most successful crowd sourced campaigns of 2012, raising over $8.5 million from more than 63,000 backers. Earlier this month, the firm behind the $100 Android console announced 10 new games would be coming to the console in time for a planned March release. New titles include Fist of Awesome, MechKnight Chronicles, Syder Arcade, KidElectro, Space Runner, Legend of Dungeon, iMech Online, DustyRevenge, HolyShield! and Starbound.


Source : techspot[dot]com

Roundup: The Xbox 720 games of 2013 from Kinect Sports 3 to Bungie

bungie destiny

Microsoft's Xbox 360 likely saw its last Christmas in 2012 and now it's time for the Xbox 720, or Durango if you prefer. The company's mum on the system's specs but there is actually a lot of information out there on the new games coming to the console.

With days to go in 2013 and reports of an overly sluggish holiday season for the video game console business, all eyes, ears and noses in the rumor mill are turned towards Microsoft, Sony, and their next-gen console plans. When will we hear about Orbis, the popular codename for Sony’s fourth generation PlayStation? When will Durango, Microsoft’s would be Xbox 720, pop its head above ground? A good bet is spring time after the 2013 fiscal year comes to a close and before the summer convention circuit starting with E3. Between now and then, though, loose lips inside the industry will continue to tease.

Bloomberg reported at the end of November that its sources are positive that Microsoft will deliver the next Xbox by Thanksgiving 2013 alongside the next generation of Kinect motion control devices and a possible stripped down console meant as a television set top box for downloadable games and streaming video. What will people be playing on that machine when it drops in time for next Christmas? Inside of all the rumor and speculation are actually solid hints as to what will debut alongside the next Xbox.

Kinect Sports 3 and Perfect Dark 3

Rare Ltd., creators of Killer Instinct, Banjo Kazooie, and Microsoft’s long lost Viva Pinata series, is hard at work on the Xbox 720. The company’s been hiring for next-gen projects throughout 2012. The most recent job postings point to a new sequel for Kinect Sports as the Microsof-owned studio is looking for a principal network services engineer who will “push the boundaries of the Kinect hardware with our exciting new project.” Motion-controlled family titles are just the beginning, though, as Rare is also hiring engineers with experience on more traditional games like the company’s Perfect Dark shooters. A May posting called for a software engineer who would be “joining at a time when the studio is looking to move into new area and develop new IPs for future platforms” and must have a “history of releasing exceptional AAA games and these will ideally be in the Action/Adventure or FPS genres.”

Destiny

One of the most reliable sources of Xbox 720 news has been accidentally leaked legal documents and company memos, like the 2010 Microsoft manifesto laying out the Xbox brand roadmap into the next decade. The juiciest leaks haven’t come from Microsoft, but its former partner Bungie Studios and Activision. The contract between the Call of Duty publisher and the Halo creators was accidentally released this past spring and it explicitly named Bungie’s new MMO shooter Destiny (pictured above) as an Xbox 720 title due in 2013. The sci-fi shooter set on a future earth, whose story was detailed in another leak, is actually the first in a trilogy of games for Xbox 720. The 2013 game will also be available for Xbox 360 according to Bungie’s contract.

* Unnamed Black Tusk title.

Destiny may not be the only game to bridge the generational gap between Xbox 360 and Xbox 720. Microsoft’s recently opened studio Black Tusk is also working on a new series for the company that will begin life on the 360. Black Tusk opened at the end of November, led by former EA developer Mike Crump who said the team is developing Microsoft’s next major core gaming series. “We are working on Microsoft’s next big entertainment franchise,” said Crump, “We’re not working on an existing franchise, we’re looking to build the next Halo here in Vancouver, which is really exciting. We are building something from the ground up.” New core franchises were foundational to Xbox 360s success, particularly Gears of War.


Source : digitaltrends[dot]com

Toshiba developing Lytro-like refocusing camera sensor

The small module contains 500,000 lenses, and it can be embedded into smartphones and tablets. Toshiba is planning to commercialize it by end of 2013.

Lytro made a splash with its light-field camera that lets you refocus images after they have been shot (a technology so impressive, it made it our camera of the year). It seems that Toshiba has been paying attention to this user-enriching feature, as the Asahi Shimbun newspaper (via The Verge) is reporting that the Japanese electronics company is working on an image sensor that lets smartphones and tablets perform that Lytro-like trick.

A sample image provided by Toshiba demonstrates the sensor’s refocusing effect post-capture.

Unlike Lytro’s palm-sized camera, Toshiba’s module is a smaller cube with an array of 500,000 lenses (each 0.03mm in diameter) in front of an image sensor measuring 5 x 7mm. Each lens takes a picture that’s slightly different from another. Proprietary Toshiba software is then used to combine the 500,000 images captured to create one large image that can be refocused far and near. The module can also capture video with the same refocusing effect. The lens design works similar to the compound eye structure of insects.

While smaller than Lytro’s technology, the module is still bigger than what today’s thin smartphones and tablets can accommodate. Still, Toshiba is hoping to start selling the sensor by end of fiscal 2013, and is already seeking device manufacturers to embed the sensor into smartphones and tablets.

(Images via Asahi Shimbun)


Source : digitaltrends[dot]com

Original Samsung Galaxy Note to get Android Jelly Bean

Original Samsung Galaxy Note to get Android Jelly Bean

Galaxy Note features will soon be on a par with its larger, newer sibling

Good news for owners of the original Samsung Galaxy Note: The Android 4.1 Jelly Bean update is coming your way soon.

Samsung announced the forthcoming software bump on its Galaxy Note microsite as part of a new Premium Suite upgrade.

The move to Android 4.1 will bring owners of the pioneering and surprisingly popular 5.3-inch phablet access to features like the Google Now personal assistant and Project butter.

However, the company is yet to reveal when the update will drop and, initially, it will only be available to unlocked devices.

Going Premium

Beyond Android Jelly Bean there's a host of new features, many of which featured on the Galaxy Note 2, are coming with Samsung's second Premium Suite update for the device.

Those additions are undoubtedly headlined by the neat Multi Window feature, which will allow two open apps to be running on the screen at the same time.

The Popup window multi-tasking feature for Notes, Video and Browser is also coming to the device, while handwriting will also be enabled within the email app.


Source : techradar[dot]com

Final Fantasy XIV: A Realm Reborn rolls out in beta this February

The Final Fantasy XIV: A Realm Reborn beta will begin in February as Square-Enix embarks on a four phase testing process to try and avoid a similarly catastrophic launch as when the original MMO was released in 2010.

Square-Enix brass from CEO Yoichi Wada on down have pointed to 2010’s troubled MMO Final Fantasy XIV as the root of its Japanese development problems. The company’s famous Japanese studios responsible for the Final Fantasy series and other role-playing games have barely pumped out any HD games for Xbox 360, PlayStation 3, or PC besides Final Fantasy XIII sequels because it’s required the full efforts of the staff to rehabilitate Final Fantasy XIV into a product that people will actually play and make the company some money in the process. Final Fantasy XIV: A Realm Reborn may share a name with that 2010 bomb, but it’s very much its own beast and now the game is coming to the public.

Square-Enix released a broad roadmap of the extensive public beta testing for A Realm Reborn in time for Christmas this week, alerting fans that are eligible to participate that they will finally be able to play the new MMO in February.

The beta testing will be lengthy and well ordered based on Square’s plans, a measure that hopes to avoid an opening similarly catastrophic to what befell the company when Final Fantasy XIV first launched two years ago. As outlined, the beta test will be conducted in four phases before the game opens officially to the public.

Phase 1 will only include people playing the Windows PC edition of the game and will focus purely on balancing issues, looking to make sure that the game’s revamped mechanics work smoothly, though naturally balancing will be ongoing as with all MMORPGs. Phase 2 will then focus on controls with the goal of optimizing Final Fantasy XIV for a traditional 18-button video game controller rather than a mouse and keyboard. This naturally leads into Phase 3 which will begin testing the PlayStation 3 version alongside the PC edition. Phase 3 will also test how the game imports characters from the original Final Fantasy XIV. Phase 4 will be fully public beta testing open to all with a full launch of the game to follow.

The early phases will place a number of restrictions on play, capping the level to 35 and only making between 10 and 15 worlds (i.e. different servers) available, expanding as the beta phases move forward.

If you’re interested in participating in the Final Fantasy XIV beta before Phase 4, Final Fantasy XI players, also called Legacy Holders, and Final Fantasy XIV Service Account Holders can participate. You can also apply via a website that will open in January.

It’s impressive how Square-Enix is playing it slow and steady with the development and release of A Realm Reborn, but as The Secret World and Star Wars: The Old Republic have proven in 2012, it’s difficult for a major MMO to make an impact on the market these days. Will Square’s effort result in success or will this game be the straw that breaks the camel’s—or the Japanese development staff in this case—back.


Source : digitaltrends[dot]com

Toshiba's new mobile camera tech allows focus after-the-fact

Toshiba's new mobile camera tech allows focus after-the-fact

Tosh aiming to bring Lytro-like tech to mobiles

Toshiba is working on a new camera sensor module, which will allow smartphone and tablet users the opportunity to change the focus of photos and videos after they're shot.

Reports from Japan on Thursday revealed the tiny module, which measures up at about 1mm on each side and houses a 5mm x 7mm sensor and features 500,000 0.03mm lenses layered on top of the sensor.

Each of these lenses captures a slightly different image and, using Toshiba's homegrown software, will allow users to alter the focus of the image if the foreground proves more interesting than the background.

The sensor has the ability to accurately measure the distance between the objects (a la 3D cameras) and can focus on near and far elements of the image by combining the best results from the different lenses.

Blur-free photos

If a user so desires, they could use the tech to create an image that is perfectly focused and blur-free throughout the frame.

Toshiba also says the technology is capable of working with videos shot on a smartphone or camera.

The new technology is similar to the Lytro Light Field camera, introduced last year.

However, whereas the Lytro was housed in a four-inch box, the Toshiba module is small enough to fit into a smartphone or tablet.

The tech is still a work in progress, but according to Japanese site Asahi Shimbun, Toshbia plans to commercialise it in 2013 and is currently pitching it to smartphone and tablet manufacturers.


Source : techradar[dot]com

Windows Phone store boosted by 75,000 new apps in 2012

Windows Phone store boosted by 75,000 new apps in 2012

Are you any closer to going all in on Windows Phone?

Can we finally put to bed the old adage about Windows Phone not having enough apps? Microsoft thinks so, after adding 75,000 new apps to its store in 2012.

In a post on the Windows Phone developers' blog, the company said it had scrutinised and published enough apps to double the pre-existing catalogue during this calendar year.

Microsoft said that it had also published 300,000 updates to existing apps, pointing out that Windows Phone users can now rely on having the latest, safest versions of the software faster than before.

Microsoft revealed that, on average, Windows Phone customers are downloading 54 apps to their handsets, aided by the improved catalogue and new Windows Phone Store shopping experience.

Live Tiles apps preferable

"Over the last year we've made a lot of discovery enhancements including Bing-powered search and smart lists, as well as new collections and recommendations for Windows Phone 8 customers," wrote Todd Brix, senior director of the Windows Phone app team.

Brix also mentioned that 85 per cent of Windows Phone users preferred applications with functioning Live Tiles, which bring information directly to the Start Screen than those without.

This, or course, would make perfect sense as the presence of Live Tiles is perhaps Windows Phone's most convincing selling point.


Source : techradar[dot]com

Choosing an electronic ecosystem: Apple, Google, or Microsoft?

Google vs Microsoft vs Apple tablets windows 8 android nexus 7 ios ipad

Are you the type of person who owns an iPod, an Android phone, and a Windows PC? We take a look at Apple, Google, and Microsoft to see if there's an advantage to buying all of your gadgets within one electronic ecosystem.

There are many advantages to going with a single ecosystem for your desktop PC, laptop PC, mobile phone, and tablet. (Even game system and television, in some cases.) Devices within that ecosystem are designed to work well with each other. They sync easily so that preferences and media can be effortlessly copied or shared with multiple devices. Applications may be universal, meaning they require a single purchase to work on multiple devices at the same time. And the user interfaces are usually similar or identical across devices.

Though many users cross ecosystems and choose iOS, Android, and Windows devices based on need and not interoperability, we’re going to focus on what happens when a user decides to stay within a single ecosystem: what are the advantages and disadvantages, and what are the weak links are in that ecosystem?

Apple

Apple probably has the most tightly integrated ecosystem of any of the three. ITunes is just a better application on Apple products than on Microsoft’s products. And Apple has a television device, the AppleTV, that fits right into the ecosystem as well.

Benefits of the Apple ecosystem

In the Apple ecosystem, Apple devices back up to the same iCloud system that other Apple devices and PCs can use. You can stream music and video to other devices (like the Apple TV) using free AirPlay functionality. You can even mirror the device’s screen on another device. It makes a lot of sense to have multiple Apple devices in a home.

Operating system updates on iPhones and iPads are always free, updating an iPod Touch is usually free, and updating a Mac to the latest OS will run you $20. Note that there’s never a charge for incremental updates.

Once you purchase an app on any Apple device, you can sync it to any other Apple device free, or re-download it without restrictions. This is also the same for media purchased in iTunes.

Drawbacks of the Apple ecosystem

Old operating systems swiftly become unsupported by hardware and software, forcing you on an upgrade path that you may not necessarily wish to take. The flipside is also bad: newer Apple OSes can often not run legacy apps. Don’t even try to run an old PowerPC Mac app on a newer Intel Mac. It won’t work.

Apple even stops offering support for older versions of its operating systems after only a year or two, a far narrower window than, say, Windows. Also, app developers often discontinue support for earlier versions of iOS, or earlier device generations, forcing you to upgrade to continue using the app. For example, many new high-profile apps don’t work on the first iPad at all.

The other big weakness is that Apple’s ecosystem will run you much more money than any of the others. You’re paying for the brand, and also an expectation of quality 

Mobile phone

iPhone 5Millions of people consider the iPhone the best smartphone ever, and with good reason: it pioneered the touchscreen and spawned dozens of imitators. The newest iPhone 5 offers 4G connectivity and a  larger screen, and the newest iPod Touch also offers a larger screen and a thin form factor.

Tablet

The newest iPads are more expensive than competing Android tablets. They offer a similar experience as the iPhone and iPod Touch, but on a larger scale and with many tablet-specific applications. Apple also introduced the iPad mini this year for those who want an iPad that’s closer in size to an iPhone.

Computer

The Mac itself is somewhat of the weakest link in the Apple ecosystem. Someone used to the touchscreen iOS interface of the iPhone and iPad is going to be confused that Apple doesn’t even offer a touchscreen option for the Mac. And though several of the icons look the same, Apple’s OS X is very different than iOS. That said, iTunes works very well on the Mac, and it’s much less of a headache to sync an iPhone or iPad with a Mac than a PC. If you can justify the expense, adding a Mac to complete the Apple ecosystem makes a lot of sense. Plus, when you get a look at the slim, 5-millimeter-thick iMacs, it’s going to be hard to say no. 

Other devices

Like a gaming system, AppleTV is a device that connects to your TV via HDMI. But it’s not a gaming system; instead, it streams movies and TV shows to your TV from your iTunes library in the cloud. You can also stream media from an Apple device using AirPlay. This little $99 device fits right in to the Apple family and is really useful.

But what about Google…?


Source : digitaltrends[dot]com

Samsung Galaxy Note Getting Jelly Bean and Multi-Window Support

Remember when Samsung first introduced the “Premium Suite” software upgrade for the Samsung Galaxy Note? Back in spring of 2012, the upgrade included a move to Android 4.0 ICS and introduced several new TouchWiz apps. Now Samsung has officially confirmed a second “Premium Suite” upgrade is on its way in the not-too distant future.

With the next update, OG Note users will get an upgrade to Android 4.1 Jelly Bean, bringing Google Now and many of the other great improvements found in Jelly Bean over to the Note.

There will also be Samsung-specific features like multi-window, pop-up video/browser/note apps, paper artist, new email and S Planner apps, and easy clip.

There have been rumors floating around about the existence of this massive upgrade for a while now, but it is good to finally have firm confirmation.

When is the update coming? Samsung hasn’t let that cat out of the bag yet, though hopefully we’ll know more at CES 2013.

As typical, international markets in Europe and elsewhere will likely be the first to get the upgrade, and North America will be one of the last.

Are you looking forward to getting your hands on Jelly Bean for your Note, or are you perfectly happy with ICS right now?



Source : mobilemag[dot]com

Best Android car apps

RollMeOver inclinometer screenshot

These apps will tell you what's around the next bend, and what's going on under your car's hood.

Software developers and users are trying to get the most out of nearly every aspect of life with apps, so why not driving? The field of car-related apps is getting as much attention as anywhere else, and there are plenty of apps for the Android user on the go. Here are the best ones for getting the most out of your car and your next road trip.

Free

Gasbuddy screenshotGasBuddy: Why waste gas driving around looking for the cheapest place to fill up (a most Sisyphean task) when you can compare local stations’ prices? GasBuddy lists the prices and locations of gas stations within a 15-mile radius. Map View displays the options in relation to your current location. The only downside is the crowd-sourced database, which means the number of stations can vary depending on your area.

Gas Mileage Calculator: Exactly what it sounds like. Just enter the cost of each fill-up and this app figures out the mpg. It eliminates a bit of mental arithmetic, although dedicated hypermilers will be disappointed to know that this calculator doesn’t save results for future analysis.

Parkopedia: Parkopedia’s developers set themselves the modest task of logging every parking spot in the world. So far, it claims to list 20 million spaces in 25 countries, thanks to crowd sourcing. The app searches based on your current location or the address you want to reach. Parkopedia can then direct you to the spot, check for availability, and display information on rates and payment methods. It can also filter results for street parking, etc.

PlugShare: Electric vehicle charging stations can be hard to come by, and with most EVs’ limited range, that can be a problem. PlugShare includes a list of 13,000 charging stations in North America (like many apps listed here, it relies on user generated information), so it could be the perfect resource for EV drivers. In addition to finding chargers, it also allows users to check availability and filter results according to outlet type, price, and whether they are occupied.

Trapster: Knowing where radar gun-toting police officers are hiding could help one avoid many speeding tickets. Trapster claims to know the locations of 5.5 million speed traps worldwide, thanks to a network of 16.5 million users across the globe. It also allows users to rate the credibility of each others’ reports, to refine the results. Other features include local speed limit alerts and a speed limit/vehicle speed paired display.

Paid

Auto Log ($0.99): It’s easy to get preoccupied with the cost of fuel, but the (somewhat soul-crushing) fact is that cars come with a lot of other expenses. Auto Log allows users to track gas mileage as well as service costs. It’s a good way to figure out if you need a wheel alignment, or if your mechanic is fishing for work, without digging through receipts.

iExit ($0.99): Long drives mean pulling over in an unfamiliar community for a break, but no one wants to become the plot of a horror movie. This app lists upcoming exits and rest areas, with colored icons for services like the ones you see on road signs. You can filter results by category, so it’ll be easy to find the nearest McDonald’s.iExit map screenshot

RollMeOver ($1.99): It’s fairly obvious when your car isn’t on the straight and level, but what if you want to know how much it’s tipping? RollMeOver is an inclinometer that helps secure ultimate off-road bragging rights. With settings for pitch and roll, you can see how far your vehicle is tilting in any direction. Eleven customizable icons include classic off-roaders like the Jeep Wrangler and Toyota FJ40.

Car Locator ($3.99): Why remember where you parked when tech can do it for you? Car Locator can save your car’s location, and even “beam” it to other users through SMS. You can also create a “favorites” list to find that perfect parking spot a second time, or use the history feature to retrace your steps if you find yourself in a Hangover situation. If you’re really lost, it can also provide directions.

Torque Pro ($4.95): Torque Pro is a pocket data center for your car. It can record everything from 0 to 60 mph acceleration to CO2 emissions, as well as horsepower and torque. It can also diagnose problems through the car’s onboard diagnostic computer (OBD-II, although this requires a separate connector) and shut off annoying “check engine lights.” If you find yourself in over your head, it can also send OBD-II data via e-mail or create an Open Office document to show your mechanic.


Source : digitaltrends[dot]com

Samsung may ship more than 500 million devices in 2013

A new report has revealed that Samsung aims to ship more than 500 million devices in 2013.

It’s fair to say that Samsung had a successful 2012. It ousted Nokia to become the number one cell phone manufacturer and it released two widely successful handsets: the Galaxy S3 and Galaxy Note 2. As 2013 steadily approaches, Samsung aims to uphold this pace.

The company plans to ship more than 500 million phones next year, according to the Korea Times. Samsung, which currently holds the title as the world’s largest cell phone maker, aims to ship 510 million handsets in 2013. This is a 20 percent increase from the estimated 420 million shipped in 2012, Korea Times reports. Samsung already shipped 288 million in the first nine months of this year, and expects a Christmas surge to account for the rest of the estimated figure.

Although the company’s high-end devices are what put it at war with bitter rival Apple, it expects to sell a significant amount of lower-end devices next year.

“Of the 510 million handsets it plans to sell, 390 million are slated as smartphones and 120 million, feature and budget phones,” an executive from one of Samsung’s key suppliers told Korea Times.

Perhaps what’s even more interesting is that in addition to its popular line of Galaxy devices, Samsung plans to hinge some of this success on new Windows Phone 8 or Windows RT gadgets next year. The report said that Samsung may release a lineup of devices powered by Microsoft’s mobile operating systems, but did not specify any further information.

Samsung will allegedly manufacture 240 million of these upcoming electronics at its Vietnamese factory, 170 million in China and 20 million in India, Korea Times reported. This is in addition to the 40 million that will be produced in Samsung’s Korean factory. By 2020, Samsung will reportedly shell out $2.2 billion on its handset factories in Vietnamese towns Bac Ninh and Thai Nguyen to boost output and cut manufacturing costs.

“By offering better pricing to consumers in developing nations, we will find new growth,” a Samsung official said to the Korean newspaper. “This will also enable consumers in developed nations like North America and Europe to buy our LTE devices at more affordable prices.”

Until Samsung reveals any of its upcoming products, it’s tough to pinpoint exactly what to expect in 2013. However, from new phones in the Galaxy S and Galaxy Note lines to unbreakable, flexible displays, there are plenty of rumors to entertain our imaginations.


Source : digitaltrends[dot]com

Is Samsung working on a 7-inch Galaxy Note? Suspicious specs appear in benchmark results

Benchmark results and specifications for what could be another Galaxy Note device have surfaced online.

The tech community is still raving about Samsung’s Galaxy Note 2, but the Korea-based manufacturer may already be working on another device in the Galaxy Note line. This isn’t the first Galaxy Note “3” rumor to pop up in recent weeks, but what’s interesting about this new discovery is that it hints that a Galaxy Note “7” could be in the works.

If you thought 5.5-inches was a large leap for the Note series, Samsung may be developing a 7-inch version of its acclaimed device. Of course, it’s important to keep in mind that none of this information has been confirmed, but a recent result in GLBenchmark’s database has sparked suspicion.

The results that appeared this week are for a device labeled Samsung GT-N5100. Interestingly enough, the specs revealed in the benchmarks contain what appears to be a 1.6GHz Exynos 4412 processor, which is the quad-core Exynos processor found in the current generation Galaxy Note 2. Little is known about this unannounced device, but according to the benchmarks, its display will come with a resolution of 1,280 x 800 pixels.

We don’t know for sure that this is a new Galaxy Note tablet, but these specifications do seem to point in that direction. The screen resolution matches that of Samsung’s Galaxy Note 10.1, further indicating that this rumored tablet could be a welcome addition to the Galaxy Note family.

It’s also worth noting that the purported slate will ship with Android 4.1.2 Jelly Bean right out of the box. It also appears to have the codename kona3g, which hints that this mystery device could come with cellular service as well.

This isn’t the first time we’ve heard rumors about an upcoming Galaxy Note release. Korean news source the Korea Times reported earlier this month that a new 6.3-inch “phablet” would debut in 2013. It’s likely that this rumored device is separate from the other speculated 7-inch device mentioned above. Samsung could be following in the footsteps of Google’s Galaxy Nexus line by offering devices in different sizes within the same brand. This would provide Google lovers with yet another 7-inch alterative to rival the Nexus 7.

However, until Samsung or Google decides to make an official announcement, this information remains categorized as rumor. Who knows when we’ll see anything new in the Galaxy Note family, but it may be a bit too early to see a 6.3-inch or 7-inch device at CES in Las Vegas next month. 


Source : digitaltrends[dot]com

4.1.1Jelly Bean Arrives on HTC One S Global Models

image

If you own a HTC One S you might be in luck. If your One S also happens to be of the global model sorts, you are definitely in luck.

HTC, Google, and your wireless carriers granted their customers a late Christmas present when they started to push out the 4.1.1 Jelly Bean update. Jelly Bean brings numerous new features as well as upgrades. For example, you should notice a performance/speed boost with the update thanks to Project Butter.

To get the update, go to Settings > About Phone > System Updates. Due to the fact that the update will reach users at different times, feel free to push the check now button until your finger falls off.

If that and all else fails, feel free to visit XDA Developers for updates from other users and developers as well as a direct link from HTC.

Did you recently get a long awaited Jelly Bean update? Or are you still waiting as 2013 draws near? Let us know in the comments below.



Source : mobilemag[dot]com

Blackberry L-Series Z10 Handset Will Have 2GB of RAM

While RIM devices have a premium and “business-like” design to them, when it comes to modern features and operating systems, the Blackberry line has certainly fallen behind. It looks like Blackberry 10 is set to change the game, however.

We’ve already seen pictures of BB10 and even the upcoming Blackberry L-Series, which is now known as the Blackberry Z10. What we don’t fully know is what kind of specs we’ll find in upcoming hardware such as the Z10.

While much of the specs remain a mystery, we now have a screenshot indicating that the Z10 will have 2GB of RAM. For most high-end Android devices 2GB is starting to become standard, but it was originally believed that the BB10-running L-Series would have just 1GB.

Its hard to say what the processor will be with the Z10, but with 2GB of RAM onboard, here is to hoping that we get a quad-core processor to go with. Are you excited for Blackberry 10 and the next-generation RIM devices or not?



Source : mobilemag[dot]com

Apple set to move Mac mini production back to US, according to report

Apple Mac mini

Apple is set to move its Mac mini production lines back to the US from Asia in 2013, a new report claims. Foxconn will apparently be responsible for managing the operation.

When Apple CEO Tim Cook said in early December that a line of Mac computers would be manufactured in the US starting some time in 2013, there was a good deal of speculation about precisely which Mac computer he was talking about, with the Mac Pro emerging as the favorite.

Well, it seems we may have our answer – although coming from the not-always-on-the-mark Digitimes website, we should perhaps look at this particular piece of information with one eyebrow slightly raised.

Anyway, here goes – the Taiwan-based tech publication says that it’s the Mac mini, not the Mac Pro, which is being prepped for US-based Foxconn-run production lines. This news comes according to “sources from the upstream supply chain”

Digitimes’ report on Thursday says Foxconn already has “about 15” operating bases located in the US and that it’s gearing up to take on workers for new automated production lines.

Sales of the Mac mini – a computer sold without a keyboard, mouse or monitor – are forecast to hit 1.8 million units in 2013, up from an expected 1.4 million this year.

With the US economy in need of all the investment it can get, and a very wealthy Apple continuing to manufacture the majority of its products overseas, calls for it to bring some jobs home have been getting ever louder. Whether in direct response to these calls or a reaction to current market conditions, or simply because the move falls in line with the company’s long-term plans, Cook has been making a number of comments this year suggesting the Cupertino-based company would soon be firing up a number of production lines on US soil.

Earlier in the year, at an AllThingsD conference in May, the Apple boss spoke about his wish to see more US-made Apple products. “We will do as many of these things [in the US] as we can do,” he said, “and you can bet that we’ll use the whole of our influence to do this.”

More recently, in an interview with Bloomberg, Cook again talked about bringing some Apple production back to the US from Asia, saying plans to do so had been in the pipeline “for a long time.”

“It will happen in 2013,” he told Bloomberg. “We’re really proud of it. We could have quickly maybe done just assembly, but it’s broader because we wanted to do something more substantial. So we’ll literally invest over $100 million.“

Three new versions of the Mac mini were unveiled by Apple in October, costing between $600 and $1000. The product was first unveiled back in 2005.


Source : digitaltrends[dot]com

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