Spotify for Android update brings playback control to notifications menu, improved radio chops

Spotify for Android update brings playback control to notifications menu, improved radio chops

A simple swipe down to reveal your notifications menu is now all you’ll need to futz with in order to skip around that Spotify playlist on Android. Thanks to an update, the Google-flavored version of the app now allows playback maneuvering from that screen in addition to a pair of bug fixes and improved radio performance. There’s also a fabled feature that allows for navigating the kit using telepathy to boot (completely true, ’cause it’s totally in the change log). If your device hasn’t already pinged you to do so, you can beam the update from the source link that follows.

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Source: Google Play

Yahoo’s acquisition of Tumblr is now closed, Marissa Mayer rejoices

Yahoo's acquisition of Tumblr is now closed, Marissa Mayer rejoices

That whole Yahoo buying Tumblr thing? That’s a done deal. Yahoo CEO Marissa Mayer took to Yahoo’s Tumblr account — meta! — to announce her excitement at the deal’s close. “Today is an incredibly exciting day for Yahoo! and Tumblr,” Mayer said. She reconfirmed Yahoo’s commitment to running Tumblr as a separate entity, and announced a whole mess of new Tumblrs dedicated to various capacities of Yahoo (Search, Messenger, Mail, Sports, Answers and Flickr). There’s even a GIF containing the fairly amazing image seen above. Head below for the full letter of celebration from Mayer herself.

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Source: Yahoo

Rdio version 2.21 for iOS gets song stations, autoplay

DNP Rdio version 221 for iOS gets song stations, autoplay

Rdio, the streaming service that hates the letter a, has updated its iOS app to help users find new, yet similar, music. Song Stations will generate playlists from a single artist, which folds in related music as it goes. The feature will let you preview the next four tracks in the list, giving you the power to skip as many time as you like — just in case you find yourself trapped in a singer’s middle-period creative slump. Rdio has also added autoplay to the app, so when your current playlist has ended, it’ll find something similar to ensure you’re never plunged into an awkward silence.

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Source: Rdio (App Store)

Dolphin browser for Android adds redesigned UI, new store for web apps

Dolphin browser for Android adds redesigned UI, new store for web apps

Dolphin has done a pretty fine job when it comes to keeping its browser loaded with plenty of handy features, both on Android and iOS. Now, the Dolphin’s hit version 10 for Android, bringing along an array of things including a revamped user interface, drag-and-drop support for speed dials on the home screen, additional swipe-based gestures and a new store for web-based applications. In addition to all that, Dolphin brought back support for Adobe Flash, while also taking to this release to improve the built-in search options and allow users to dig through sites like Amazon, Twitter, Wikipedia and YouTube right from within the app. The overhauled Dolphin browser is now available on Google Play, so give the source below a quick click if you’re eager to check out these changes.

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Via: Droid Life

Source: Google Play

Hey, bounty hunters: Microsoft is paying $100k for Windows 8.1 Preview exploits

Calling all bounty hunters Microsoft paying up to $100k for Windows 81 Preview exploit techniques

Chalk up one more reason to check out Windows 8.1 Preview when it becomes available on June 26th. Today, Microsoft announced that it’ll pay up to $100,000 in cash to those who discover and report novel security exploits within its latest OS revision, along with up to $50,000 in bonus loot for defensive suggestions that relate to the attack. But wait… there’s more. Starting on June 26th and running through July 26th, the Redmond outfit will also pay up to $11,000 toward the discovery of critical vulnerabilities within Internet Explorer 11 Preview (Windows 8.1 Preview). Whether you’re motivated by your bank account or the good of humanity, you can start taking your best shots at Microsoft’s latest code just one week from now.

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Via: TechCrunch

Source: Microsoft

Xbox One DRM rollback cuts family sharing features, digital mirroring of retail games out

In the aftermath of Microsoft’s stunning reversal of its Xbox One game licensing plans, we talked to Xbox chief product officer Marc Whitten to find out exactly what will change about Redmond’s next game box this November. Whitten thankfully assuaged our primary concern right off the bat: the company’s (new) used game policy extends to third-party publishers as well as Microsoft first-party games.

Though gamers won’t have to put up with requirements for an internet check-in every 24 hours, some lauded features we’d heard about will not be available as a result — at least at launch. That includes the sharing between up to ten family members, and playing disc-based games without having the disc in the One. It also means new consoles will need a patch at launch to enable this future / past scenario of disc-based console gaming.

“There are some things — the family sharing stuff is an example — where as we move to this system, that functionality goes away,” Whitten told us. Another such piece of functionality the console’s losing: digitally accessible versions of disc-based games. “You’re gonna see your online content but you won’t see your physical discs,” he said. Should you choose to purchase those games digitally, of course, they’ll show up as part of your online persona.

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SiriusXM internet radio coming to Ford’s SYNC AppLink, complete with in-dash controls

SiriusXM internet radio coming to Ford's SYNC AppLink, complete with indash controls

Ford said a while back that it wanted more applications with support for voice control inside its vehicles, and slowly but surely the company’s getting what it wished for. Just as Spotify did a few months ago, SiriusXM is now introducing its own app for the SYNC AppLink ecosystem, giving drivers access to the internet radio service right from their Ford’s in-dash system. This also includes features like voice commands and steering wheel controls, as well as access to SiriusXM On Demand and MySXM. As part of the deal with the Satellite Radio company, the American car maker announced that customers purchasing one of those SYNC AppLink-ready autos will get a six-month subscription to the All Access Package — which is usually $199 per year and has more than 160 channels to choose from.

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Source: SiriusXM

Twitter acquires Spindle, a ‘news feed for your neighborhood’

Twitter acquires Spindle, a social network with an emphasis on local updates

Good news for the folks at Spindle came today, as the provider of hyperlocal offers from businesses was acquired by Twitter. Described by the company as, “a tool for tuning into your surroundings,” the service pulls updates from Twitter and Facebook and categorizes offers around themes such as restaurants and shopping. Spindle also includes a social element, with the ability to share check-ins through Facebook and Twitter. The service is currently limited to 11 cities, which includes New York, Los Angeles, San Francisco and Chicago, but according to the company, “By joining forces with Twitter, we can do so much more to help you find interesting, timely, and useful information about what’s happening around you.” As sad news to current users of Spindle, however, the service will shut down effective today, as the team prepares for its transition to the Twitter team in San Francisco. At any rate, it looks like the folks at Lucky Sort won’t be the rookies of Twitter HQ anymore. For a peek at what Spindle entails, just hop the break.

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Via: All Things D

Source: Spindle

Microsoft reverses Xbox One DRM policy, kills required online check-in and used game complications (updated)

Microsoft’s next game console, the Xbox One, is perhaps best known for its complex used game system and once-per-24-hour online check-in requirement. Today, Microsoft is rolling back those policies, and the company took to its Xbox blog to explain. “I am announcing the following changes to Xbox One and how you can play, share, lend, and resell your games exactly as you do today on Xbox 360,” Xbox head Don Mattrick writes. He then states:

“An internet connection will not be required to play offline Xbox One games – After a one-time system set-up with a new Xbox One, you can play any disc based game without ever connecting online again. There is no 24 hour connection requirement and you can take your Xbox One anywhere you want and play your games, just like on Xbox 360.

Trade-in, lend, resell, gift, and rent disc based games just like you do today – There will be no limitations to using and sharing games, it will work just as it does today on Xbox 360.”

Mattrick further explains that this is a direct response to gamer outcry. “Since unveiling our plans for Xbox One, my team and I have heard directly from many of you, read your comments and listened to your feedback. I would like to take the opportunity today to thank you for your assistance in helping us to reshape the future of Xbox One,” he says. Further, he confirms that Xbox One games will be region-free, and that disc-based games will have to be kept in the disc tray rather than ripped to the console and played digitally (a previously touted Xbox One feature).

Though the One’s down a couple features — Mattrick specifically says, “These changes will impact some of the scenarios we previously announced for Xbox One” — it sounds like gamers won this round.

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Source: Xbox Wire

Microsoft demos real-time co-authoring for Office Web Apps

Microsoft demos real-time co-authoring for Office Web Apps

With Microsoft’s Build developer conference kicking off in just a week, we’re frankly surprised the company is choosing to release any news ahead of time. Today, though, the firm posted a video showing some changes to Office Web apps. In particular, the preview indicates that these various apps will now support real-time co-authoring, with multiple users making changes at once (yep, just like Google Docs). That’s a nice, long-awaited improvement over the current setup, in which multiple users can make changes, but not alongside one another. According to Microsoft, this set of features will roll out over “the next several months.” For now, we’ve got the video preview embedded after the break. And don’t be put off by the 14-minute length; the demo doesn’t actually begin until five and a half minutes in.

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Source: Microsoft