Hasta La Gadget!

Well, looky here. Engadget’s very own parent company AOL has released its Play music player app for Kindle Fire, and the interface here is actually considerably different from what you’d get on the straight Android version, available in Google Play. The product people behind the application say they re-tooled the design to match the Fire’s 7-inch, 1,024 x 600 screen (and also, the tablet’s heavily skinned UI, based on Android). Other than the facelift, there seems to be a good deal of overlap in functionality between this and the Google Play version: access to more than 55,000 Shoutcast radio stations and the ability to share favorite songs over Twitter and Facebook. Also like the main Android version, there’s a so-called CD Listening Party feature that opens up free, complete albums, with selections changing weekly. (Naturally, you can also use the app to listen to your own MP3s stored locally on the device, but you probably gathered that.) Play will be available as a free, ad-supported app, though you can also get an advert-free version for 99 cents. Download tomorrow, though (that would be Wednesday, Eastern Standard Time), and you can get the premium one gratis.

Filed under: Tablet PCs, Software

AOL redesigns its Play music player app for the Kindle Fire, premium version is free tomorrow originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 24 Jul 2012 11:00:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Following all the Office news from Redmond in the last 24 hours, Microsoft’s managed to take a quick breath before revealing some new dev tools and a cloud-based app model for its online iteration, Office 365. Apps made inside the model can be inserted directly into spreadsheets, as task panes, and even automatically activated when needed. Devs can also choose to wheel out their software to both the new Office Store or the existing extension system. So if you’re looking to upgrade that PC work suite, it might be worth taking a closer look at what’s going down at the source links below.

Filed under: Software

Microsoft intros new cloud app model for Office 365 originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 17 Jul 2012 11:43:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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The 2012 London Olympics Games are nearly upon us and the BBC just can’t hold back its excitement any longer. The Queen’s favorite broadcaster has released its Olympics app for both iOS (5.0 and above) and Android (2.2 and newer) devices, apps that for the most part look like wrappers for the company’s mobile Olympics pages. But, that’s not to say they don’t offer some excellent features, like guides to every competition, the ability to save stories to read offline later and, most importantly, up to 24 simultaneous live streams of video — once the Games actually get started in two weeks.

Update: We got a note from the Beeb indicating that there’s an international version as well — because those two dozen streams mentioned above certainly won’t work when you’re outside of the United Kingdom.

Continue reading BBC releases Olympics app, streams the glorious Games straight to your iOS or Android device

Filed under: Software

BBC releases Olympics app, streams the glorious Games straight to your iOS or Android device originally appeared on Engadget on Fri, 13 Jul 2012 06:34:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Whether the possibility of an Amazon smartphone is growing any stronger or the Wall Street Journal just wants to prove it has sources too, the paper is saying parts suppliers are gearing up to build just such a device. According to the always informative unnamed sources, testing of a phone is underway, and mass production could start late this year or early next year. There’s still no revelations on what the software might be like or how the device could be sold, but the report does expand on Bloomberg’s initial revelations from last week by narrowing the possible size down to between 4- and 5-inches. Of course, if the rumors are correct then we’ll probably see a new Kindle Fire hit the streets first anyway, if it has any updated software to bring along then maybe we’ll have a better idea of what an Amazon phone could look like.

Filed under: Cellphones

WSJ chimes in on Amazon smartphone rumors, says 4- to 5-inch device is in testing originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 11 Jul 2012 02:10:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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While most of the Amazon hardware rumors since the Kindle Fire launched have centered around a 10-inch version of the tablet, Bloomberg’s “people with knowledge of the matter” say a smartphone is in the works. The rumors center around a purported chase for wireless patents (presumably so Amazon can fight off the kinds of challenges currently faced by companies like Samsung and HTC) and partnership with Foxconn for manufacturing. There’s no details yet on what the device could be like or when it will arrive, but we’re not getting too excited right away — we’ve been down this road before with that Vizio Phone that never appeared. Amazon certainly has the infrastructure to enter the cellphone market with its appstore and media delivery services, but is anyone ready to jump into a two-year contract on a (presumably) reskinned-Android device?

Bloomberg: Amazon is planning a smartphone originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 05 Jul 2012 22:57:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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