Apprtize

eBay app updated on Android and iOS

Sharang Sharma

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April 25, 2014

Turns out eBay wasn’t just updated on Windows Phone, but on Android and iOS as well. Besides the cosmetic changes that are all around, the update also introduces a new section called “My Feed”. The new section shows you images of items that you want. The update also adds support for new languages. We’ll just post the changelog for both versions below.
Android – Version 2.6

A fresh look and added functionality in Messages
Attach up to 5 photos to a message
Actionable notifications with high quality images (Jelly Bean & above)
Search improvements and refinement locking (rolling out slowly worldwide)
Option to automatically relist items that do not sell
Language support for Polish, Dutch, Flemish and Latin American Spanish
Bug fixes

iOS – Version 3.3

Updated Home page includes Watched items, Feed and eBay Deals!
Larger photos on search and item pages
Product reviews now included for many items in the eBay catalog
You can now attach photos to messages
Selling support added for Austria and Netherlands
Save your in-store pick up order details to iPhone’s Passbook
Brazilian Portuguese language support
Speed improvements and Bug fixes

eBay Android | eBay iOS

eBay, Wikipedia and Xbox One SmartGlass pick updates on Windows Phone

Sharang Sharma

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April 24, 2014

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Windows Phone is seeing some new updates for its apps. The list of app that have received an update today include eBay, Wikipedia and Xbox One SmartGlass.

eBay

eBay has just been updated to version 1.5.0.12 and it’s not just a minor bug fix update. The update brings a fresh new design that’s more inline with the iOS and Android versions of the app. The company hasn’t provided a changelog, but there are definitely big improvements under the hood, as well as on the surface.

Wikipedia

It’s not the official Wikipedia app, but offers nothing short on features. Rudy Hyun’s Wikipedia has been bumped to version 2.3. There’s only one change, but we’re sure you’ll love it.

Cortana support

Yes, try saying, “Wikipedia, tell me more about Cortana.” Great, isn’t it?

Xbox One SmartGlass

Lastly, Microsoft’s own Xbox One SmartGlass app has been bumped to 1.0.3.3. There’s no changelog, so we’re assuming general bug fixes.

You can find the Store links for these apps below.

eBay

Wikipedia

Xbox One SmartGlass

Sony launches Backgroud defocus in the Play Store

Sharang Sharma

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April 24, 2014

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It seems like ever since Nokia launched Nokia Refocus for its Lumia handsets, the idea has caught up the fancy of other manufacturers too. While manufacturers like HTC have gone to extreme lengths by placing a second camera on the back of the HTC One, others have followed Nokia’s approach by using software to do the job. The latest such app has been launched by Sony. Background Defocus will help users achieve that professional looking Brokeh effect using the tiny camera on their phone’s back.

The trick is simple. Background defocus captures two images simultaneously with different objects in focus. It then combines them together to form a single image, the focal point of which can be changed after the image has been clicked. Sony advises to use the app on an object 15-45cm away with the background at least 5m away from focus target.

You can grab the app on the Play Store for free here.

XCOM: Enemy Unknown lands on Play Store, Amazon version next

Sharang Sharma

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April 24, 2014

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Critically acclaimed Firaxis made XCOM: Enemy Unknown has landed on the Play Store. The game was previously available on PC, Xbox 360, PS3, OS X and iOS. It’s a turn based tactical role playing game set in near future when an alien invasion kicks in and the role of saving the planet and the entire human race falls on your shoulders. You play as the commander of XCOM, an organization entitled with the task to save the interests of the nations. In terms of features and gameplay, here’s what the game offers:

– Recruit and level-up soldiers
– Discover new weapons and technology
– Play randomly generated missions
– Engage in strategic combat
– Use enhanced touch controls designed for mobile

The game has received several accolades on other platforms and has often been called a genre define game. The good news is that instead of a $20 price tag that the iOS version commands, the Android version of the game will be available for $10 only. It’s live in the Store and can be picked here. 2K has also promised an Amazon version of the game in the near future.

Microsoft Remote Desktop Preview now available in the Windows Phone Store

Sharang Sharma

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April 24, 2014

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Microsoft has released a remote desktop app for Windows Phone, just as promised. Microsoft Remote Desktop Preview is available on Windows Phone 8.1 (which itself is in preview mode for now). The app allows you to remotely control your Windows 8 PC with your Widnows Phone smartphone. It offer the same multi-touch experience offered by Windows 8, as well as allows users to stream high quality video and sound. Here’s the complete feature list:
– Rich multi-touch experience with remote desktop protocol (RDP) and RemoteFX supporting Windows gestures
– Secure connection to your data and applications with breakthrough Network Level Authentication (NLA) technology
– Simple management of all remote connections from the connection center
– High quality video and sound streaming with improved compression and bandwidth usage

The app can be picked for free from the Windows Phone Store here, but required you have Windows Phone 8.1 on your phone. It’s still in preview, so you can’t really blame Microsoft if the app has a few bugs or issues.

WhatsApp now has over 500 million active users

Sharang Sharma

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April 23, 2014

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The popularity of WhatsApp seems to have only grown after the $19 billion acquisition by Facebook. Today the company announced through its blog that its total ‘active’ user base had crossed 500 million. ‘Active’ here is significant, since unlike other IM companies that report the number of registered users, WhatsApp’s active users are those who actually use the app.

Take it this way. With $1 fee per year, WhatsApp is making half a billion dollars by doing nothing extra. The $19 billion deal doesn’t sound so stupid now, does it? WhatsApp is seeing 700 million photos and 100 million videos being sent every single day. A majority of its growth is coming from emerging markets such as India, Russia and Brazil.

With rumors about the developers adding calling facility to the app, somewhat similar to what Skype offers, we might see it becoming an even more significant player in the IM market than it currently is.

[Source]

Viber gets a major revamp on iOS

Shivendra Pal

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April 23, 2014

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Viber has just received a major update on iOS. Version 4.2 of the app brings a major design overhaul that makes the app look more consistent with the overall design of iOS 7. The new app has more flatter and minimalist look than before.

That’s not all though, since the update adds a couple of more features too. Users can now send multiple photos and videos at the same time. Also, the attached videos can now be of longer duration. Then, the update introduces Block list that can block any contact or person. The app also gets several other bug fixes and under the hood improvements.

You can pick Viber on the App Store here.

Samsung and Nokia update their folder apps on Windows Phone

Sharang Sharma

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April 22, 2014

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Samsung and Nokia, both have updated their respective folder apps in the Windows Phone Store.

Talking about the Samsung’s folder app first, the update takes it to version v1.2.0.3. The changelog reports support for Windows Phone 8.1 and change in toggle app title default option. The app is exclusive to Samsung devices (which aren’t many to begin with) and can be picked for free here.

Nokia’s folder app has been pushed to version v1.2. The changelog states minor improvements in the app and nothing significant. You can pick the app here.

Sony updates its smartwatch app with new features

Android
News

Sharang Sharma

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April 22, 2014

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It would be apt to say that the apps on smartphones that control the smartwatches are the unsung heroes. If not for them, a smartwatch would be a just a simple watch with a terrible battery. Sony has pushed an update for its smartwatch app on the Play Store, bringing a host of new features on Sony Smartwatch 2.

The updated app brings a new Watchface Editor that allows you to customize the look of the home screen on your smartwatch. The editor can be used to changed the watch face, as well as widgets on the screen. Along with that Sony has introduced six new wallpapers with the update. Then there’s a new calculator, improved apps for Gmail and Facebook, ability to turn of vibration and a couple of more features mentioned in the changelog below:

Watchface Editor – Customize your watchface with clock styles and widgets
Widgets available for some native apps by Sony
Support for widgets and clocks from Sony and 3rd party developers
Support for Active Low Power Mode – app specific
Customized offline watchfaces and clock functionality
Calculator – Built-in
Low light – In watch mode, double tap for 30% light increase
Settings – Manage SmartWatch apps in SW2
Wallpapers – Pick one to suit your style

You can pick the app from the Play Store here.

Google Hangouts update condenses Hangouts and SMS conversations

Sharang Sharma

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April 22, 2014

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In a bid to make user’s lives more convenient, Google has updated Hangouts on Android. the update combines conversations on Hangouts an SMS with the same into one single thread. The update also adds the option to choose whether to send the message through the Instant Messenger or through SMS. That’s not all, if you prefer to have your Hangouts conversation in a different place from where your text messages are stored, you can even do that.

Hangouts also gets a new contacts list, split into “Hangout With” and “Phone Contacts”. Then there’s a new homescreen widget for accessing recent conversations without going into the app first. Other changes include improved video call quality, fixes to sending and receiving MMS and some other bug squashing here and there.

You can pick the update on the Play Store here.