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Twitter introduces Audio Cards in its Android and iOS app

Sharang Sharma

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October 18, 2014

Twitter has added another feature called Audio Cards on its app available on Android and iOS. Audio Cards allow users to discover and listen to audio directly in their timeline. The music will be streamed from from third party partners, the first of which is SoundCloud.

Audio Cards show up as regular Tweets in your feed. SImply tapping on the track starts playing it with album art and playback controls. The app allows you to dock an Audio Card and continue browsing in the app. The app doesn’t require to be updated and users should start seeing them in their news feed already.

There are a good number of artists who’re already onboard the new service. You can get the entire list at the source link below.

[Source]

Flipboard updated on Windows Phone, still no flip or 512MB RAM devices support

Sharang Sharma

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October 18, 2014

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Flipboard has pushed another update for the recently launched app on Windows Phone, taking it to version 2.4.2.0. Although the app still doesn’t support devices with 512MB RAM, the update does add a few neat features to it. Unfortunately, flip isn’t one of them so don’t expect the reviews to go any higher in the Windows Phone Store just yet.

Changelog for Flipboard 2.4.2.0:

Pin favorite sections and magazines to your Windows Phone start screen.
Like any article, photo gallery or video from the App Bar.
Improvements to video playback in articles.
More bug fixes and performance improvements.

So the update isn’t all that empty after all. You can now pin selected sections and magazines to your Start Screen, as well as, like any article, photo gallery or video from the App Bar.

Grab Flipboard for Windows Phone here.

Rdio gets updated on iOS to support high quality audio and interactive notifications

Sachin Sharma

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October 17, 2014

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Rdio has been updated on iOS and the updates utilizes the new features introduced in iOS8. The app now supports high quality streamed audio. You can choose bitrate from 64kbps, all the way up to 320kbps for your streamed music both over WiFi and cellular network. Although, you might wanna keep a check on all that high quality streaming if you’re on mobile data. The premium quality music will set users back by $9.99 a month.

That’s not all, since the app also gets CarPlay support allowing you to control playback and navigate playlists and favorites from the car’s built in display in supported vehicles. The app also makes use of the larger displays on the iPhone 6 and 6 Plus, downloading high resolution images and album artwork.

Then, Rdio now supports Interactive Notifications, supporting play music and following people directly from a push notification. Besides these updates, there are several under the hood changes and bug fixes as well.

Grab Rdio from the Apple App Store here.

Version 3.0.4 changelog:

New and updated for iOS 8:
– Interactive Notifications. Play music and follow people directly from an Rdio push notification.
– CarPlay Support. Control Rdio playback and navigate your favorites and playlists from the built-in display in CarPlay-enabled cars.
– Optimized Visuals. Support for iPhone 6 and iPhone 6 Plus with high-resolution images and album artwork.

Other updates:
– Higher Sound Quality. Adjust the sound quality of streaming music and downloads from data-efficient 64 kbps all the way up to pristine-quality 320 kbps.
– Various UI improvements and minor bug fixes.

The Lord of the Rings: Legends game lands on iOS, Android, bringing 100+ characters from Middle Earth

Games
News

Sharang Sharma

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October 17, 2014

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Being Tolkien fans ourselves, we understand if you can’t get enough of The Lord of the Rings. Of course, there’s the upcoming third movie in the Hobbit series and the newly released Shadow of Mordor on consoles, but there’s always room for more. It is only good news then that a new new LoTR game has landed on the mobile platforms. Developed by Kabam, the game is called The Lord of the Rings: Legends.

Features:

SUMMON LEGENDARY HEROES FROM THE LORD OF THE RINGS UNIVERSE
• Recruit over 100 characters from The Lord of Rings Universe with special abilities in your quest to vanquish evil.
• Amass the most powerful fellowship in Middle-earth by enhancing and evolving your favorite heroes from The Lord of the Rings trilogy.

EXPERIENCE THE WORLD OF THE LORD OF THE RINGS TRILOGY
• Explore the 3D world of Eriador with other regions such as Rohan, Gondor, and Mordor coming in later expansion packs.
• Control up to three teams of different heroes and wage epic battles against the forces of evil.

The Lord of the Rings: Legends is a turn-based role-playing game that features over 100 characters from the Tolkien universe. Of course, having so many characters takes its toll on the limited resources and the game shows images of these characters instead of 3D or even 2D models. Although, it’s not half as bad as you’d imagine. You get to explore different regions of Middle Earth and gain experience/treasures along the way. There are even online matches where you pit your fellowship against those of other players. It seems like a fun game that’s worth checking out.

What makes it even better is that it is free to download on Android and iOS (sorry folks, no Windows Phone version). Although, the game does contain in-app purchases that range from $4.99 to $99.99.

Check out the trailer below.

The Lord of the Rings: Legends – Play Store

The Lord of the Rings: Legends – Apple App Store

Upcoming WhatsApp features for Windows Phone get revealed

Promil Bhardwaj

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October 17, 2014

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WhatsApp doesn’t get updated on Windows Phone very often (the last update was back in June), but when it does, you can expect some pretty big changes along the way. As it turns out the Facebook owned team is just working on the next update for the messenger on Windows Phone.

If the beta version of the app is anything to take cues from, the next update will be a major one, adding dozens of new features. It will finally allow users to archive chat history for safe keeping. Holding on someone’s user name on the main menu will now present archive as an option. You will also be able to unarchive messages once they have been archived.

The update will also allow users to send custom locations to friends. Until now, you can only send your own location to someone, meaning the app doesn’t help much if you’re trying to meet someone at a common place. Then, you will be able to add captions to the images that you send through the app, as well as crop and rotate them.

WhatsApp will also support smaller fonts for high resolution displays, like that of Lumia 1520. Last of the known change is that you’ll be able to assign background images to individual chats. The update could be only Windows Phone 8.1, but that’s not confirmed. It is expected to be released in the coming days, but there’s no confirmed date as of now.

WhatsApp – Windows Phone

[Source: WPCentral]

Truecaller for Windows Phone finally gets on par with Android and iOS counterparts

Sharang Sharma

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October 16, 2014

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Truecaller app on Windows Phone had been until now hobbled when compared to its Android and iOS counterparts. In fact, the sub par experience due to limitations with the OS, hardly made it feel like the same app on Windows Phone. But thanks to Microsoft easing some limitations with Windows Phone 8.1, Truecaller has pushed an update for the app for Windows Phone 8.1 users that allows them to see the identity of the caller on their caller ID in real time. That means no more of copying the number from the phone book and pasting it in the app to identify an unknown number.

Truecaller claims that it is the only app in the Windows Phone Store to offer real time caller ID features that’s been a result of close work with Microsoft. Users who update the app till October 30th will also get 30 days of free premium service.

To use the new feature, Truecaller will require Windows Phone 8.1 along with the recent Network+ update for Nokia phone users. Grab version 4.2 of Truecaller on the Windows Phone Store here.

Halo: Spartan Strike coming to Windows 8 and Windows Phone on December 14th

Sharang Sharma

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October 15, 2014

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It seems like the popularity of last year’s Halo: Spartan Assault gave Microsoft enough reasons to work on a sequel. Called Halo: Spartan Strike, the game will be a sequel to Halo: Spartan Assault and will strike on Windows 8, Windows Phone and Steam (no Android or iOS ports).

Halo: Spartan Strike is being developed by 343 Industries and will feature the same top down third person shooter as Spartan Assault. It will be released on December 14th and takes place sometime after the events of Halo 2. The developers have promised tons of improvements in the sequel, one of which is doing away with the microtransactions within the game.

Halo Spartan Strike will cost $5.99 upon release and unlike the previous game, will not be subsequently released on the consoles. You’ll be playing as some renowned Spartan of course, although not Master Chief himself most likely.

Excited? For us, December 14th couldn’t come any sooner.

[Source: IGN]

Skype updated on iOS to support larger screens of the new iPhones

Promil Bhardwaj

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October 15, 2014

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Microsoft has pushed an update for Skype on iOS taking it to version 5.6. The update makes Skype support new screen sizes of the iPhone 6 and iPhone 6 Plus. Skype doesn’t simply stretch on the larger size iPhone 6/6 Plus, but utilizes the extra real estate to show more messages and options on your phone. With this update, Skype now supports all screen sizes from iPhone 4 to iPhone 6 Plus.

This is Skype’s second update for iOS 8. Earlier update added support for interactive notifications. If you haven’t downloaded the update already, grab it at the link below.

Skype – Apple App Store

Changelog for version 5.6:

• Native resolution support for iPhone 6 and iPhone 6+
• Presence indicators are now displayed in the “recent” list
• Number of contacts and time zones are now shown on contact profiles
• Individual conversations can be marked as read/unread
• Notification sounds are disabled in “Do not disturb” mode
• General Improvements

Skype releases Qik – a new instant video messenger of sorts

Promil Bhardwaj

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October 15, 2014

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Sure, there are tons of options to chose from when it comes to instant messengers, but what about video messengers? You heard it right, a messenger that allows users to share short videos instead of text? Well, there is one now that we know of thanks to Skype. The company has launched a new app called Qik, which allows users to share short clips with friends or groups. Of course, this isn’t something totally fresh or out of the box, we’ve seen other messengers try this already. However, Qik has been tailored to only share videos, so it’s not anything like other services.

The app uses your phone book to find other friends who’re using the service and manages to look somewhat like Skype. You can either record videos from within the app, or send pre recorded ones. You can also pre-record up to 12 small videos of up to 5 seconds that get stored as gifs. These can later be used as a substitute for smileys within the app. Also, your messages that you wish to delete group get deleted on other user’s phones in the group as well and if not, they automatically expire after two weeks.

It remains to be seen how popular Qik actually becomes, we’ve seen the likes of Slingshot come and go and they didn’t make much of an impact. You can grab Qik for free at the links below.

Qik – WindowsPhone

Qik – Android

Qik – iOS

Random House releases Game of Thrones Dothraki Companion app

iOS
News

Sachin Sharma

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October 14, 2014

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If you care to look past the excellent TV series, Game of Thrones is based on a book series called A Song of Ice and Fire published by Random House. The publisher has released a companion app for Game of Thrones on the Apple App Store that helps you learn Dothraki (the language that dragon queen’s deceased husband and his race of horse lords spoke).

Features:

“The app includes interactive games, over 300 vocabulary flashcards, a comprehensive grammar summary, culture notes, and a conversational dialogue. The Living Language Dothraki Companion app can be used with the Living Language Dothraki book and audio course and the Living Language Dothraki Expanded Online Course for extra practice, or on its own for a comprehensive Dothraki learning experience on the go.”

The app has been written by none other than David J. Peterson, the same person who developed the language for the HBO series. The app can help you pick up enough Dothraki words using flashcads, mini games and notesto have a conversation.

The app can also be used with Living Language Dothraki book and audio course, another of Random House’s works.

At $3.99, it’s a little expensive, but of course, fans of Westeros and its kingdoms won’t mind shelling out for another collectible.

Dothraki Companion – App Store