Hasta La Gadget!

Netflix pushed out a pretty significant update, which brings the streaming app up to an even version 3.0. The update includes an improved player user interface, where you can just tap to display the video titles if you’re using the app on the iPad. Netflix also brought the zoom control back, which allows you to watch shows in full screen.

The app also has a slightly rearranged player as well, including better placement of the play/pause button, as well as the 10-second rewind button, both of which are on the left side at the bottom. We also want to say that the volume slider and playback slider are a little bigger, but that could just be our imagination playing mean tricks on us.

The zoom control being brought back is certainly an interesting change that Netflix decided to change its mind on. They got rid of the feature in past updates, but brought it back this time around. While personally I never use the zoom button, some viewers enjoy switching between fullscreen mode and widescreen mode.

Netflix is a free download and the update is available now in the iTunes App Store. Of course, though, you’ll need a Netflix subscription to enjoy the app, which is $7.99 per month. Back in December, the PlayStation 3 was considered the number one device that Netflix users used, but it’s nice to see the streaming service give attention to other platforms as well with updates.

Netflix for iOS updates with improved UI and zoom controls is written by Craig Lloyd & originally posted on SlashGear.
© 2005 – 2012, SlashGear. All right reserved.

KDDI released in Japan Remote TV, a Slingbox like compact box that will for just 19,800 Yen let you not only stream (480p) any recorded media stored on your personal DVR to any Smartphones, PCs, Macs, and other WiFi capable mobile devices but also let you remotely access your contents on the go and even let you control and record TV Shows! Interested? Well just make sure to visit your nearest Yodobashi Camera this Saturday in order to get one!

Mountain View has just made it easier to peek the contents of Google Drive files on the web with a brand-new preview feature. Now, users will be able to quickly view up to 30 file types (photos, videos, PDFs and more) in a lightbox overlay, and thumb through by clicking right and left arrows within the window. When it comes to documents, folks can zoom in and out, scroll through pages, and even select and copy text. If the update hasn’t made it to your account already, Page and Co. say you can expect it to roll out over the next few days. As for the Drive’s Android app, it’s been updated to let devices wielding Honeycomb or higher stream video saved on the service. According to the changelogs, the application has also been upgraded with performance enhancements, pinch-to-zoom in the presentation viewer and a grab bag of bug fixes and assorted tweaks.

Filed under: Cellphones, Software, Mobile, Google

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Via: Phone Arena

Source: Google Drive (Google+), Google Drive Blog, Google Play

Spotify, the ever-popular music streaming service, is apparently in talks with major music labels to negotiate reductions in royalty fees in order to offer free access to the service’s mobile offerings. Currently, users have to pay $9.99 per month in order to access Spotify on their smartphones or tablets.

The Verge reports that “several music industry sources” are saying that Spotify is already in negotiations with Warner Music about lowering fees and changing rights to its music, and Spotify is said to begin similar negotiations with Sony and Universal soon. If such negotiations are successful, Spotify would see a growth in profits, as well as the ability to give more users access to free content.

Spotify’s free offering only gives users access to the desktop app with advertisements, but paying the monthly $9.99 fee will get rid of ads and allow users to access their Spotify library on their mobile devices. Even though, Spotify boasts 20 million users, 5 million of which are paying subscribers, the company is currently breaking even financially.

While free access to Spotify’s mobile offerings would certainly be fantastic, it’s hard to say if the negotiations with the music labels will go well. Streaming music services have a tense relationship with music labels and even individual artists. Several major artists, including Coldplay and Adele, have refused to allow their music to be streamed by Spotify because of extremely low royalty fees and rights to the music.

[via The Verge]

Spotify reportedly aiming at free access for mobile users is written by Craig Lloyd & originally posted on SlashGear.
© 2005 – 2012, SlashGear. All right reserved.

SoftBank is releasing SmartTV, it’s highly anticipated service that will be directly taking on Apple TV in the Japanese market. It allows you to watch high-quality video contents just by connecting the dedicated stick to your TV’s HDMI terminal.
And you are not restricted to using a limited remote control – you can install a remote control app (free) to your smartphone or tablet to start watching the contents and use your smartphone/tablet as a remote control through a wi-fi …