The craziest thing about Apple switching out Google Maps for something so clearly subpar is that Maps is one of the apps people use the most on a smartphone. I mean other than checking e-mails and using a web browser, what other apps do you absolutely need more than Maps on a smartphone? More »
Plenty of Foursquare fans use the app primarily as a means to share their own location and see the locations of others around them, but Foursquare isn’t only about socially-acceptable stalking. At the GigaOm Mobilize conference today, company co-founder Dennis Crowley informed those of us in the room that thinking of Foursquare as merely a check-in app is misguided. According to him, the plan for Foursquare has always been for it to be a customized discovery and recommendation engine first, and a social tool second. You see, all your check-ins provide Foursquare with valuable information about you and your friend’s habits. Those check-ins, as far as Foursquare’s concerned, are merely an efficient means to get the data needed to build the individualized, location-aware search and recommendation engine that powers the explore tab in the app. Crowley said that he’s been hearing plenty of positive feedback from users about the accuracy and usefulness of Foursquare-powered search, and some folks have even begun using it instead of Google. Foursquare isn’t on Mountain View’s level just yet, but it seems that Crowley and his cohort have the reigning king of search squarely in their sights.
Dennis Crowley: Foursquare’s a discovery and recommendation engine first, social service second originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 20 Sep 2012 22:19:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
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Facebook has been rolling out a lot of updates for iOS recently, but it isn’t about to leave Android out in the cold. Facebook Messenger for Android is scheduled to be updated today, and it brings with it a few new features that users will undoubtedly find handy. As if that wasn’t enough, the regular Facebook app for Android is being updated too, so those who use Facebook apps regularly on their Android device are in for a slew of new features.
With this new update for Facebook Messenger, users can now swipe their finger to the left anywhere in the app to bring up a list of available contacts. This lets you see who is online quickly, and for even faster access to your close friends, you can now add contacts to the top of your favorites list. While these new features are definitely nice, perhaps the biggest added feature in this update is a tweaked UI, which makes it easier to see who said what while chatting.
Finally, the Messenger update adds the ability to text your Facebook friends directly, and it keeps all of your texts and Facebook messages in one clean list. This feature is only available on select Android phones, but Facebook hasn’t actually clarified which handsets support it. We’ll likely be finding out which Android phones are supported when the update hits later today, so we’ll be keeping an eye out for those details.
Now onto the Facebook app update. This update doesn’t bring too much in the way of extra features, but it give users a new button in the upper right hand corner of the news feed that can be used to see who’s available for chat. The new chat UI the Messenger app is receiving also appears to be present in this latest update, and now Facebook will tell you which of your friends are active, meaning that you’ll know if someone is using Facebook right when you send them a message. Of course, the update also includes a number of bug fixes that will improve stability, with Facebook saying that the update fixes “errors during multi-photo selections, device restarts, and push notifications.”
Both of these updates are expected to hit at some point today, but at the time of this writing, neither update appears to be live on the Google Play Store. They’ll be coming soon, however, so just sit tight. In the meantime, have a look at our story timeline below for more on Facebook Messenger and Facebook for Android!
[via Facebook Newsroom]
Facebook Messenger for Android update lands today is written by Eric Abent & originally posted on SlashGear.
© 2005 – 2012, SlashGear. All right reserved.
Facebook has already been making its mea culpas for the state of its main Android app, and it’s showing further atonement through an Android-first update to its Facebook Messenger companion release. The new app is imbued with a “more conversational” (if fairly familiar-looking) bubble-driven layout for chats. Likewise, it’s easier to see if a conversation is needed in the first place: a friend status list is always available with a swipe, while fresh support for texting directly from Messenger can keep the discussion flowing when SMS comes into play. Android users can get the Messenger upgrade today, with promise of an iOS equivalent soon. The regular Android app is getting an update as well, although we wouldn’t cry with joy just yet: it’s more of a parallel to the Messenger update than the speed-up that some of us crave.
Update: The company’s Christian Legnitto has posted a lengthy explanation that the Messenger rework and the core Facebook update (already available) are part of a new strategy that brings Android and iOS updates at regular intervals, rather than waiting solely for major features. If all goes well, the social network can provide speed upgrades and bug fixes at a much quicker pace.
Update 2: And the hits just keep on coming — although today is mostly about Android, Facebook has tweaked its main app’s iOS version (App Store) for iPhone 5 and iOS 6 support.
Filed under: Cellphones, Internet, Mobile
Facebook revamps Messenger for Android with friendlier chats, teases core app update soon (update 2: iOS refresh as well) originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 20 Sep 2012 15:39:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
Motorola and Microsoft are no strangers to the patent war tango, and today marks the third injunction against the Droid maker in the German court. Judge Dr. Guntz of the Munich I regional court ruled that Motorola infringes on a Microsoft patent for “soft input panel system and method,” granting Microsoft the ability to ban sales of some Motorola devices in the country. Essentially, the patent in question covers the software required to let applications flexibly receive input from different sources, such as the touchscreen keyboard and voice input.
As Florian Mueller of Foss Patents points out, the functionality covered by this patent is utilized by the vast majority of apps, and among Android device makers only Google-owned Motorola Mobility is not paying Microsoft a patent license for this feature. Microsoft Corporate Vice President David Howard issued a statement with a not-so-subtle dig at the company in question: “We will continue to enforce injunctions against Motorola products in Germany and hope Motorola will join other Android device makers by taking a license to Microsoft’s patented inventions.” Google can (and most certainly will) appeal the ruling, so the saga continues…
Filed under: Software
Microsoft wins injunction against Motorola in German court, aims to strike patent license deal originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 20 Sep 2012 11:01:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
App discoverability is a constant thorn in the side of developers. It’s also an obvious annoyance for consumers who have to spent time sifting through app store chaff to find the bits of software really worth downloading. Amazon looks to be considering both sides of this problem with a new feature — called Billboards — it’s just added to the Kindle Fire and Fire HD app store.
Announced on its blog today, Billboards aim to act like posters for apps by announcing their existence and enticing people to download them.
Billboards appear at the top of Amazon’s app store when Kindle Fire and Fire HD users view the store. Tapping on a Billboard will jump straight into the app info page, where there’s also an option to buy or download it.
Amazon’s blog post includes some guidance for the kind of imagery it deems suitable for Billboards — encouraging developers to create simple, bold, eye-catching imagery. It also warns them off from listing specifics such as price or advertising discounts on the Billboards.
When creating your image, we recommend that you strive for an engaging image that speaks to what your app is all about. Make your image colorful to catch the eye of customers, and choose imagery that promotes the essence of your app and brand. Text on your promotional image should be large, simple, and readable. Do not add the price to the image ($0.99) or any discount call outs (50% off).
We recommend developers use promotional images that visually communicate the essence of their app. The promotional image should speak to what your app is all about, your brand and should entice customers to simply check out your great app.
App developers wanting to add a Billboard image to accompany their app should submit a 1024 x 500 pixels graphic (PNG or JPG format) via Amazon’s Mobile App Distribution Portal.
Of course there are no guarantees your Billboard will appear atop Amazon’s store — since Amazon is the one doing the picking. “Promotional images will be curated from our selection of apps and highlighted in the billboards placement,” it notes.
As you may have noticed, the transition from Google Maps to Apple Maps in iOS 6 means that the navigation software is now without public transportation data, and that really sucks. Apple’s fix for the immediate future is to push you to third-party apps, but knowing where to start can be a daunting task. To get you started, here are a few of our favorites which deliver train info for multiple cities. More »
Every EV needs juice, but GE likes to dispense it in style, and it’s sticking to that mantra with its new, wall-mounted version of the WattStation. The weather-resistant charging point has been launched in
Continue reading GE launches eye-pleasing WattStation Wall EV charger in Europe
Filed under: Transportation
GE launches eye-pleasing WattStation Wall EV charger in Europe originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 19 Sep 2012 12:08:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
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If, one day, we really are all going to be carted around in driverless cars from the likes of Google and others, then we may as well have some apps on board to keep us occupied. Today, the Linux Foundation announced that it was throwing its hat into the car-apps ring, with the creation of the Automotive Grade Linux Workgroup. Early sign-ups among car companies include Jaguar Land Rover, Nissan and Toyota. Tech companies include Harman, Intel, NEC, NVIDIA, Samsung, and Texas Instruments, along with Tizen, the Linux-based platform backed by Samsung and Intel.
The Linux Foundation is not exactly an early mover here. We’ve already seen “car of the future” odes from the likes of Ford and Honda – not to mention Google — even some suggestions that Apple is working on concepts, too. The point with the Linux news, it seems, is to try to keep it relevant in that wider picture of development, and to try impart some standards in the process.
Members of the group will work together on Linux-based standards for devices and subsequent services to run on them, with some early emphasis on apps for in-vehicle infotainment and “instrumentation cluster” (the technical term for all the different gauges you use to monitor speed, distance, water levels and more; car diagnostics).
“Carmakers can use Linux and open source technologies to accelerate innovation,” the group notes it in its release, pointing out that some $10 billion has already been invested in the platform to date.
Interestingly, Tizen, the Linux-based OS spearheaded by Samsung and Intel about a year ago, is also making an appearance here. Tizen will be working with this new automotive workgroup to create a bridge for apps to work across the two. Samsung had been planning to launch a Tizen phone this year, but this has apparently now been pushed back to some time in 2013. It’s interesting to wonder whether relationships like this one will help push the Tizen agenda at a company still making the bulk of its smartphone revenues from Android — or whether this is actually a sign that Samsung is still sticking by Tizen after all.
The Linux Foundation says that it will also be opening the door for further collaboration “among the Linux kernel community, other open source software communities and the automotive industry.” It also notes that it is already supporting other efforts like the GENIVI Alliance and the W3C workshop on Web and Automotive.
As with mobile devices, achieving scale for automotive projects is an essential part of keeping costs down and making solutions usable as widely as possible. ”A community distribution for automotive Linux is essential,” said Ken-ichi Murata, project GM, Toyota Motor Corporation, in a statement. “There are a core set of requirements specific to the automotive industry, and collaborative development can help meet those needs faster and more efficiently.”
Photo via
Android users who enjoy saving their reading for later will be happy to know that Pocket’s been on the receiving end of a very pleasant update. The main addition in this new version is a text-to-speech feature which reads you any saved articles, and one that’s missing from its iOS counterpart. Additionally, the “Manage Site Subscription” within the app’s now fully functional on all flavors of Google’s OS, while an enhanced full-screen animation in Reader and other undisclosed UI tweaks have also been stuffed inside v4.2. The refreshed Pocket application can be downloaded now from the Play shop, and be sure to pay the more coverage link below a visit to dive into some deeper details.
Filed under: Cellphones, Tablets, Software
Pocket for Android gets updated with text-to-speech feature, minor UI improvements originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 18 Sep 2012 18:14:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
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