Hasta La Gadget!

This year’s IFA has been rather eventful for Sony: the company unveiled a new handset, some interesting cameras and even a recorder that can turn you into the next Justin Bieber. But lost in the shuffle was an announcement that the Japanese outfit’s also releasing its Camera Remote API, albeit in beta. Sony says the idea here is to provide developers with the ability to turn WiFi-ready devices, such as smartphones and tablets, into a companion for many of its shooters — i.e. act as a second display or be able to shoot images / video remotely.

The Camera Remote API will be friendly with novel products including the Action Cam HDR-AS30, HDR-MV1 Music Video Recorder and both DSC-QX lens cameras, as well as older models like the NEX-6, NEX-5R and NEX-5T. This is definitely good news for current and future owners of any of the aforementioned, since the new API can certainly add much more value to Sony’s cameras via the third-party app creations that are born from it.

Filed under: Cameras, Software, Sony

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Via: Pocket-lint

Source: Sony

Waiting to see when BBM will actually launch on other mobile platforms? According to a tweet from BlackBerry Senior Strategic Account Manager Alex Kinsella, the timing may be in Apple’s hands. Stating “BBM for iPhone was submitted for review 2 wks ago #waiting”, this might shift blame for any perceived delay — summer ends September 21st in the northern hemisphere — from Waterloo to Cupertino. It’s a reminder of rumors that surfaced before Google launched its standalone Maps app on iOS, but unfortunately doesn’t give us a firm date on when to expect the app. Still, with recent accidental leaks and video previews of the Android version, it shouldn’t be much longer.

Filed under: Cellphones, Software, Mobile, Apple, Blackberry

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Via: Pocket-Lint, CrackBerry

Source: Alex Kinsella (Twitter)

Those who were hoping Apple would release OS X Mavericks this month are in for some disappointment, according to sources who claim the next iteration of Apple’s operating system will arrive late next month. Such sources are said to be familiar with Apple’s launch plans, and though they didn’t provide any hard release date, it […]

With the new Xbox this November, Microsoft’s bringing a new iteration of SmartGlass to iOS, Android, and Windows Phone devices. And with said new iteration comes promised SmartGlass ubiquity. Microsoft GM and SmartGlass team lead Ron Pessner told Engadget as much in an interview this week on all things SmartGlass for Xbox One. You’ll need to download a new (still free) SmartGlass app to your Smart device of choice come launch day (the new app won’t function with Xbox 360, just the One).

Up to 15 of your best friends can bring their Smart devices over and…well, nothing just yet, but the Xbox One will support 16 Smart devices connected at one time (double the connected controller cap). Just imagine the possibilities for virtual canasta! Okay, not so thrilling, but the potential for games like Monopoly or Dungeons & Dragons is evident. Or maybe something more like Spaceteam?

Pessner also promised that the connectivity between Smart device and console is “three-and-a-half times faster” on Xbox One than with 360 (depending on your home wireless setup), and the first time “only takes about four seconds.” And while on the go, the SmartGlass app can be used for mobile shopping, allowing a game or other piece of content to be purchased and made available when you get home. Pessner wouldn’t go into specifics, but he told us, “We definitely want to make sure it’s a seamless process for customers and they’re able to find a piece of content regardless of where they are — the web or the SmartGlass app — and being able to have that content ready for them to play when they return to their Xbox One.” The remotely queued content will show up as pinned to your Dashboard when you get back to the console, available to play immediately.

Filed under: Cellphones, Gaming, Handhelds, Peripherals, Tablets, Software, HD, Microsoft

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Though Maxthon launched its Android browser three years ago, it might not be the go-to app most users have when they get their brand new smartphone. That might change soon however, thanks to a recently announced partnership between the software company and RollTech, the value-added services arm of MediaTek, one of the world’s largest mobile chipset suppliers. As a result of the collaboration, the Maxthon mobile browser will be pre-installed in more than 100 million MediaTek-based smartphones in 2014. Though we don’t know yet just which devices will have the software on board, a partially released list does include manufacturers like LG, ZTE and Lenovo. It appears that the phones will likely be targeted at emerging markets, with a focus on those in Brazil, Russia, China, India and Indonesia. Combine that with features like cloud syncing and LAN file transfer, and Maxthon might just gain marketshare over that other popular Android browser.

Filed under: Cellphones, Software, Mobile

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