Hasta La Gadget!

You know how QR Codes still aren’t really a thing? Just imagine how popular Microsoft’s proprietary alternative to the format has been. In a letter to its users, Redmond has conceded that Microsoft Tag will pass the way of all things on August 19th, 2015. That said, if you can’t live without the system, QR Code company Scanbuy will be supporting certain Tag components from September of this year. We’ve included a suitably redacted version of the company’s letter after the break, but be warned — it contains toe-curling phrases like “digitally engage with brands in their everyday surroundings through smartphones.”

[Thanks, Carter]

Filed under: Software, Mobile, Microsoft

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Some say NFC is dead, but GEAK from Shanghai wants to prove them wrong. Announced alongside the GEAK Watch earlier today was this GEAK Ring, a tiny NFC-enabled wearable device that stores your identity. The ring’s pitched as an intuitive way to unlock your phone — just hold it with the hand that’s wearing the ring, and it’ll unlock without having to type in the password; plus it’ll stay awake as long as it’s held in the same hand. Another feature is that since the ring has your contact details stored (presumably rewritable), you can also use it to share your contact card with other NFC-enabled devices. But of course, given the risk of NFC cloning, you should treat GEAK’s solution as a convenience rather than a more secure method.

At launch, this ring will only be compatible with the GEAK Eye and GEAK Mars quad-core phones that were also announced today, but it’ll support other devices from the likes of Samsung, Xiaomi and Oppo starting in November. GEAK will be taking pre-orders from August 8th, and it’ll cost Chinese buyers ¥199 or about $30 each. It’ll sure go nicely alongside that Google ring.

Filed under: Wearables, Mobile

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Via: Engadget Chinese

Source: GEAK (Chinese)

It was just a matter of time, really. We’re well acquainted with Facebook letting us tag friends in our photos, so it’s no shock that a similar feature has just spread to the social network’s mobile darling, Instagram. The Android and iOS apps will both hit version 3.5 today, letting users tag others in a shot (whether or not they’re human). A new Photos of You section has also been added to members’ profiles, where you can see any photo linked to that account. As you might imagine, Instagram is already trying to head off potential privacy issues — account holders have until May 16th before their Photos of You sections become public, and settings will let them turn down connections to any revealing (or simply inaccurate) images. The update is already available through the iTunes App Store and should be landing soon in Google Play. Hit up the source links if you’ve ever wanted to see how other Instagrammers see you.

Filed under: Cellphones, Mobile, Facebook

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Via: Instagram

Source: App Store, Google Play

Microsoft has just announced that they will be expanding their Bing Tags feature, casting a wider net to capture a broader audience, namely, the public. This feature might still remain pretty much dependent on Facebook, but you are now able to extend tagging to your friends and you across blogs, Twitter profiles, or just about any other website out there, with the results showing up for all and sundry to see. Bing Tags, having rolled out in July last year, allowed one to tag one’s Facebook friends when sharing a search, hoping that they can drop their two cents’ worth or help you in your search.

It seems that this feature has gained enough traction among users for Microsoft to consider broadening its scope by a rather significant amount. Of course, it will require your permission to make your tags visible to the public, and Microsoft mentioned, “Whether it’s your Twitter profile, blog, or that art portfolio you’re proud of – Bing Tags lets you highlight the pages that best represent you.”

By Ubergizmo. Related articles: Microsoft Certified Professionals Will Apparently Help You “Downgrade” From Windows 8 To Windows 7 For A Fee, Intel To Ramp Down Production Of Its Motherboard Lineup,

A mobile phone is lost or stolen every 3.5 seconds, warns Kensington, handily quoting data from 2011. The company’s solution is simple: a low-power wireless fob that stays in your pocket and sounds the alarm if you move too far away from your iPhone 5 or 4S. The idea has been around for a while, of course, and it’s proving popular elsewhere at CES right now, but the $60 Proximo Starter Kit — now available for pre-order — adds a couple more components. As well as the fob, you also get a tag that can be attached to other valuables and an iOS app that allows the monitoring of up to four further tags (priced at $25 each) simultaneously. Each fob and tag lasts up to six months thanks to low-power Bluetooth 4.0, and the CR2032 battery should be easy enough to switch out. Calm your separation anxiety further with the press release after the break.

Continue reading Kensington wants you to be very afraid of losing your iPhone, buy its $60 Proximo system

Filed under: Cellphones, Wireless, Mobile

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Source: Kensington