Hasta La Gadget!

Now with a brand-new streaming music service under its belt, Android player doubleTwist is undergoing a makeover. The app’s latest incarnation has just landed on Google Play and features a Holo-inspired refresh that still keeps the character and dark looks of its predecessor. As you’d expect, the application now uses the system action bar on all screens and incorporates the “Up” button. The fresh release also includes cleaner alert and dialog prompts, refined typography and pages that work in both portrait and landscape views, with the occasional optimized layout for the latter. Despite the big tweaks, the outfit says this is just phase one of its Holo facelift, and that more drastic changes and optimizations for devices toting larger screens are coming down the pike. Click the neighboring source links to download the app and catch a grand tour of the revamp.

Filed under: Software

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Source: doubleTwist, Google Play

The Google+ app was updated for Android users a short while back and as of today, it looks like that same update has arrived for iOS users. The update is already available and those looking to update will be grabbing version 4.4.0. Perhaps more important though, this is the update that brings the new Photos experience with features to include Auto Enhance.

Google is touting this update as being one that will allow you to keep your photos organized and also looking best. One of those looking best related features is the previously mentioned Auto Enhance. This makes instant adjustments to include the brightness and saturation. In our testing, the Auto Enhance seems to be working nicely, however for those worried, Google does allow you to choose between the original and the edited image. One bit worth mentioning, the Auto Enhance (and the Auto Awesome) feature is turned on by default.

This update also brings support for the related hashtags, which were originally mentioned during the Google I/O keynote. This is basically nothing more than how Google now automatically includes some hashtags on your posts. While your posts will be tagged automatically, these will also help you when browsing for content. Otherwise, a few other items you will see include the ability to edit some additional profile fields and also upload a cover photo.

Once you have updated Google+ you will begin seeing Google Offer posts in your stream and you will also be able to adjust how often the What’s Hot posts appear in your stream. Some additional (and smaller) changes include the ability to use strikethrough text, copy the post permalink and also edit comments.

The final change here deals with Hangouts. We suspect plenty of iOS users may have already installed the Hangouts app, however if you have yet to do that, clicking the Hangouts link in the Google+ app menu will instruct you to do so. Basically, despite the link being in the menu, these are still two different apps. Of course, once Hangouts is installed a click of that link will simply launch the app.

Google+ iOS app update brings new Photos experience is written by Robert Nelson & originally posted on SlashGear.
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Blockbuster started the month by launching an On Demand app for iOS and embracing the streaming video era. For the end of the month, it’s going retro: following a quiet App Store launch earlier in May, the company has formally announced a free Blockbuster 2.0 iOS app that covers everything but streaming. The release is built almost exclusively for traditionalists, letting them manage their Blockbuster By Mail rental queues, scan membership cards and check the stock at those stores that remain open. About the only concessions to modernity are the built-in movie trailers. While the app does give some needed love to disc-based viewers, it’s an acute reminder that much of Blockbuster’s original audience has moved on.

Filed under: Cellphones, Home Entertainment, HD

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Source: App Store

It wasn’t too long ago that we saw the Evernote app get a pretty major refresh on Windows Phone, but today the note-taking service is back with some underlying improvements and a couple of new features. The main highlight in version 3.1 is that the WP application now allows various tools to be pinned to your handset’s Live Tiles — you know, things like notes, recordings and snapshots. To close things out, Evernote added the option for users to be able to display Snippet View notes in a horizontal list, a minor tweak that’s bound to be appreciated by those who have a thing for landscape mode. All in all, we’d say this isn’t too bad for being in the category of a “dot-one” update.

Filed under: Cellphones, Software, Mobile, Microsoft

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Via: AAWP

Source: Windows Phone

Remember when you were a kid and you had this secret diary that your little brother would always try to sneak a peek at? Well, probably only the girls can relate, and while I had no brother, I did have a sister who constantly snooped around my stuff.

So if you have a little girl in the house and want to save her the trouble of having to fight for her privacy, you might want to get her the iHeart Locket. That’s if she already has an iPad.

The iHeart works in conjunction with the iHeart Locket Diary app for iOS. The app is essentially a digital diary that lets your little girl write her deepest thoughts and secrets. The app also lets her insert images and scribble down notes and doodles when she feels like it.

The locket functions as the diary’s key. It transmits a unique code that keeps the diary private, so only its wearer can read the diary. In addition, if anyone comes along, a button on the locket can be pressed and anything written on the screen will be kept hidden away from prying eyes.

The iHeart Locket is being sold for $24.95(USD), while the app can be downloaded for free from the iTunes App Store.

[via C|NET]