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VLC finally hits Windows 8 for x64 and x86 machines

Sharang Sharma

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March 14, 2014

VLC finally hits Windows 8 for x64 and x86 machines

After taking what seemed like forever in development, VLC has finally hit the Windows Store. The app which raised a success Kickstarter campaign all the way back in November 2012, is now available for x86 and x64 machines. Although you could already run VLC on Windows 8 machines, the new app has been made available in the Windows Store and has been designed with Modern UI in mind.

The catch however is that the app is still in beta and as such brings things like crashes, lack of hardware acceleration, subtitle and audio issues, lack of playlists and stream support to the table. Still, that’s better than nothing and we expect the updates to be more frequent in the future.

VLC also promised a Windows RT and Windows Phone version of the app, which should be released in the future. The company although, hasn’t given a time frame. You can grab VLC from the Windows Store here.

The Amazing Spider-Man 2 game from Gameloft coming this April

Sharang Sharma

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March 12, 2014

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The Amazing Spider-Man 2 game from Gameloft coming this April

Gameloft will be bringing the sequel to last year’s The Amazing Spider-Man game in the form of The Amazing Spider-Man 2 this April. The game will be launched on iOS, Android, Windows Phone and even feature phones in collaboration with Marvel. There’s no mention of a Windows 8 port though. The game will be released alongside the movie of the same name being released by Marvel Entertainment. The game is expected to closely follow the movie’s story line.

The original cost $6.99 on iOS, so we’re expecting a similar pricing for the second one as well. The Amazing Spider-Man 2 is expected to bring more web slinging in a bigger and better looking Manhattan. Like the movie, the game will also have new villains to deal with. Check out the official trailer of the game below.

Flappy Bird developer ‘considering’ bringing back the game

Sharang Sharma

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March 12, 2014

0

Flappy Bird developer ‘considering’ bringing back the game

Flappy Bird is one of those examples, where something rose to limelight out of the blue and then landed back on the ground as quickly. Well, after developer Dong Nguyen took down the app from the Apple App Store and Google Play Store due to it complicating his simple life, he’s considering bringing it back.

Speaking with Rolling Stones, on being asked if Flappy Bird would ever make a comeback, Nguyen said, “I’m considering it.” And why wouldn’t he? After all, the game was bringing him close to $50,000 a day from in-app advertising.

Although, that doesn’t guarantee a return for sure, we’re hoping the addictive game does make a comeback for those who missed it the first time. Given there are still plenty of clones, users still looking for the original deal, can download the Android APK of the game.

[Source]

Instagram for Android updated, becomes faster and sleeker

Sharang Sharma

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March 12, 2014

0

Instagram for Android updated, becomes faster and sleeker

Instagram on Android has been given a major update that brings in some cosmetic changes along with a few optimizations. The update takes the version to 5.1 on Android.

The optimization have been done mainly to make the app load up faster, even on low end devices with weaker hardware. The visuals on the app have also been revamped to make them look simpler, that will especially help in using all the real estate available on the screen, especially on smaller phones.

The update is live and users can pick the updated app on Play Store from here.

Marvel Unlimited update for iOS brings ‘adaptive audio’ soundtracks to comics

iOS

Shivendra Pal

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March 11, 2014

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Marvel Unlimited update for iOS brings ‘adaptive audio’ soundtracks to comics

Marvel Unlimited has just received another update on iOS. Previously, Marvel Unlimited was redesigned for iOS 7 and updated with several improvements. This time, the app has been enhanced with a ‘completely reinvented, reimagined’ reading experience.

In a major upgrade, Marvel has added an adaptive audio feature. It allows you can pick up comics with an accompanying soundtrack that changes in style and mood as you switch from panel to panel.

Starting with five issues of Captain America: The Winter Solder, the company is adding cover-to-cover soundtracks with the hope of upping the drama and improving the reading experience for fans. The adaptive part comes through gauging how fast readers progress through the panels. If a user spend a long time on a particular panel, the music will loop. Skip forward, and it will seamlessly segue to the next part of the score.

The upgraded app is not yet available on Android; Marvel told CNet that it’s “so, so close.” The wait may be a bit longer here, though, as the new app was coded in native iOS rather than HTML5. You can get the iOS version of the app here.

UC Browser on Windows Phone updated, brings Bluetooth file sharing and SD card support

Sharang Sharma

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March 10, 2014

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UC Browser on Windows Phone updated, brings Bluetooth file sharing and SD card support

UC Browser has emerged as one of the stronger alternative to Internet Explorer for Windows Phone users. It offers a lot of features absent on the default browser on the OS. The team behind the browser has updated it to version 3.4.0.374, adding in some welcome features.

The update for UC Browser allows users to share downloaded files via Bluetooth or QR Code. It also allows for exporting downloaded files to SD Card or a public folder that can be accessed using a computer. The app has also been given some cosmetic changes including a new menu that provides quicker access to Speed Mode. Then there are other general improvements and bug fixes as well. Here’s the full changelog:

SD Card Support

Export your downloaded files to SD Card or Public Folder for better file management.

Bluetooth File Sharing

You can now conveniently share downloaded files to others through Bluetooth or QR Code.

Menu Optimization

A brand new Menu that’s easier to use and gives a better browsing experience. Speed Mode is now on main menu.

General Improvements

Font size adjustment available by long pressing page in Speed Mode; Optimization for more fonts on WP 8; Improved bookmarks; Bing search bug fixed.

You can download UC Browser for Windows Phone over here, or can simply scan the QR code below.

Next Angry birds installment to be set in medieval times

Games

Sharang Sharma

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March 10, 2014

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Next Angry birds installment to be set in medieval times

After some deep space exploration, our favorite birds will be returning to planet Earth, although in a different timeline. Rovio has released the trailer for the next game in the Angry Birds series. If we aren’t wrong, the knighted bird in the trailer points to a medieval setting for the game.

Rovio has managed to keep the franchise popular due to its ability to keep each game different from the previous one and using medieval setting after a lot of space themed games in the past seems like a logical move.

We’re hoping to see a lot of trebuchets and ballistae in the game. Icing on the cake would be if Rovio could tie up with some other franchisee based on a similar time frame (we’re not ruling out Game of Thrones). The game will first be launched in New Zealand, Australia and Canada, followed by other parts of the world. You can check out the trailer for the game below.

Arrival Control becomes the first app on iOS and Android to use HERE SDK

Sharang Sharma

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March 9, 2014

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Arrival Control becomes the first app on iOS and Android to use HERE SDK

Recently, HERE opened up its SDK for businesses on Android and iOS and we already have the first app to make full use of that here. The app created by Deutsche Telekom is christened as Arrival Control and allows users to share their location with family and friends. It can also tell how long will it take to reach a particular destination. The app can be particularly useful in case you’re in a group and need to rendezvous at some location, as it can tell the exact position and ETA of other members in that group, updated in real time.

The app is available for people not on the Deutsche Telekom network as well and can also be accessed as a web app for PC or any other smartphone with a modern browser. Find the links for both iOS and Android versions of the app below.

iOS | Android

Instagram users will soon be seeing ads worth $100 million in their feed

Imaging
News

Sharang Sharma

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March 8, 2014

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Instagram users will soon be seeing ads worth $100 million in their feed

Instagram had remained ad free before it was sold to Facebook for a billion dollars. Now, Facebook would definitely want some returns on that huge investment and what better way than to show up some ads to that user base of 150 million.

According to a recent report, ad publisher Omnicom Media will shell out $100 million on Instagram ads on behalf of its clients. The deal will see ads from the company appear on Instagram for an year.

“This doesn’t change our advertising strategy moving forward — people will continue to see a limited number of beautiful, high-quality photos and videos from select brands who already have a strong presence on Instagram,” said Jim Squires, director of market operations for Instagram, in a statement. “Our teams are going to work hand in hand to develop and execute campaigns that provide people with amazing imagery. This is an exciting new chapter and we’re looking forward to the great creative content that comes out of this partnership.”

Although the ads should be such that they blend with the content already seen on Instagram. So we’re hoping you won’t see images with a lot of texts in them. Currently, Instagram has an active community of 150 million users, with 60 percent of them outside the States. In all, close to 55 million images are posted on the service in a day.

[Source]

Samsung Galaxy S5 gets a Kids’ Store with apps for children

Android
News

Sharang Sharma

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March 8, 2014

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Samsung Galaxy S5 gets a Kids’ Store with apps for children

Samsung Galaxy S5 is one of the hottest Android phone in the market right now and Samsung has made it even more attractive by launching Kids’ Store on the phone. The store will make sure that your little ones only get to see and download apps that are appropriate for their age. The app store will have games, as well as learning apps.

There’s a lot of content on the Google Play Store that can be harmful for children and having a Kids’ Store allows parents to keep control of what their children have access to on their phones. Of course, it’s a smart move.

[Source]