Tango brings video calling to desktop PCs — giant baby head not included

Back when we first laid eyes on Tango, the startup was sticking strictly to mobile, serving up free video calls over 3G, 4G, and WiFi to both iOS and Android devices (with front-facing cameras, of course). Now the company’s thinking big — quite literally — with the announcement that it plans to bring its video calling service to PCs sometime later this summer. As of now, it looks as if this will be a Windows-only affair, and will remain free of charge — as before, you won’t need to register to get your videophone on. We’ve yet to see Tango at work on the big screen, but from what we gather from the press stills, the desktop edition will bring a bit of the old Apple to your PC. Full PR after the break.

Continue reading Tango brings video calling to desktop PCs — giant baby head not included

Tango brings video calling to desktop PCs — giant baby head not included originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 20 Jul 2011 11:30:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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HP Movie Store arrives on the TouchPad, cup-holder accessory to follow?

HP had us slightly worried at the crude-looking beta release of the Play music platform, but its new Movie Store app for TouchPad owners looks reassuringly polished and gleaming. The Roxio-powered service offers movie purchases from $9.95 and rentals from $2.99, as well as a fair selection of TV shows for $1.99 per episode. Meanwhile, Amazon’s beta Kindle app for the TouchPad also launched earlier this week, so things are certainly ticking along. We just hope HP hasn’t forgotten about that promised document-editing function — some people want to create as well as consume.

HP Movie Store arrives on the TouchPad, cup-holder accessory to follow? originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 20 Jul 2011 10:35:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Viber’s free, no-registration 3G VoIP app officially launches on Android

Hey there, friends. Do you have the voice-calling blues, wishing for a better way to talk to your friends — without using your minutes? Consider Viber, a free VoIP app that launched for the iPhone last year. Usable over 3G or WiFi, with built-in SMS, it requires no registration, using your existing phone number and contact list. Our only quibble? A disheartening lack of Android support. But our spirits are lifted today, with the app making its way to the everyone’s favorite olive-green market. It has all the compelling features of the iOS version, plus a few extras we saw in the limited beta, like pop-up text message notification, in-app call logs, and the option to use Viber as your default dialer. The company must be doing something right, as it claims 12 million active users just seven months after launch. Interested in being one of them? Check the full PR — with video! — after the break.

Continue reading Viber’s free, no-registration 3G VoIP app officially launches on Android

Viber’s free, no-registration 3G VoIP app officially launches on Android originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 20 Jul 2011 03:00:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Contour brings viewfinder app to Android, goes with you where we won’t

What do extreme sports, helmet cams, and little green robots have in common? Not much before today, but Contour’s gone and changed all that by releasing an Android version of its iOS app — you know, the one we first got our grubby paws on back at CES. Just like its Cupertino-blessed counterpart, the El Goog variant allows future X Games wannabees to use their phones as a viewfinder for those who possess a Contour+ or ContourGPS. We assume the ability to peep at the camera’s battery life and how much memory remains also helps as you shred some epic, radical mountain, bro. If you’ve got either cam handy and a slab of Android in your pocket, tap the source link and take your cinematic skills to new, gnarly heights.

Contour brings viewfinder app to Android, goes with you where we won’t originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 20 Jul 2011 02:16:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Hands-on with the Star Wars Blu-ray: Early Access iOS app

We know, we know. You’re fit to be tied waiting for the complete Star Wars collection to be released on Blu-ray in September, but there’s good news for impatient iPad owners here in the US. You see, some of the collection’s bonus materials can be had for free a bit early — as in tomorrow — courtesy of the Star Wars Blu-ray: Early Access App. Even better, we’ve got video of the app in action plus a gallery of pics for you to drool over until you can download it yourself. And for folks abroad or those with an iPhone or iPod touch, the same sneak peek will be available in August.

The app itself is a ported version of what you’ll see on the Blu-ray discs, but there’s some added touchscreen functionality — pinch-to-zoom on the concept art and users can spin props and models with the flick of a finger in the “Collection” section. The app also lets you selectively download the content, so all that artwork and video won’t eat up an undue portion of your iPad’s memory. After getting handsy with it in person, we found the app easy to use and the content compelling (where else can you examine the Death Star up close?), but we were left wishing that there was a bit… more. Of course, the lion’s share of extras are reserved for the paying customers come September 16th — though we were disappointed to discover that, currently, there are no plans to make it all available on the app even if you buy the Blu-rays. Regardless, you get what you pay for, and that makes this gratis addition to the Star Wars universe a darn good deal.

Continue reading Hands-on with the Star Wars Blu-ray: Early Access iOS app

Hands-on with the Star Wars Blu-ray: Early Access iOS app originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 19 Jul 2011 21:32:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Google+ app for iPhone now available

Google promised that iPhone users would soon be getting a Google+ app of their own, and it’s now here. Not surprisingly, it looks a lot like the Android app, including views of your main stream and nearby users, sharing via Circles, and support for the Huddle group messaging feature. It’s not a universal app, though, so iPad users are still left out for the time being, as are those with an iPod touch, for yet reasons unknown.

Update: Google’s Punit Soni notes that there was a small issue that initially caused a test version of the app to to be served from the App Store. If you grabbed the app as soon as it was available (within the first hour and 40 minutes, specifically), you’ll likely have to re-download it to get the current version (1.0.1.1809).

Google+ app for iPhone now available originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 19 Jul 2011 11:59:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink +Vic Gundotra (Google+)  |  sourceiTunes  | Email this | Comments

Star Wars Blu-ray extras revealed early by iOS app launching at Comic-Con

We’re still a few months away from the Star Wars movies release on Blu-ray, but dedicated fans can get a preview of the set this week in the Early Access app for iOS. Set to debut in time for Comic-Con on July 20th, the free app promises some of the 40+ hours of bonus materials planned for the discs, including concept art, models and interviews with cast and crew. We’ve already seen iPad apps pulling in extras to go along with movies like Tron: Legacy, but this is the first one we’ve seen launch ahead of the Blu-ray release. Check out a couple more screenshots and detailed description after the break, then come back tomorrow for our hands-on look at the Star Wars app.

Continue reading Star Wars Blu-ray extras revealed early by iOS app launching at Comic-Con

Star Wars Blu-ray extras revealed early by iOS app launching at Comic-Con originally appeared on Engadget on Mon, 18 Jul 2011 22:05:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Make’s Redpark Breakout Pack lets you build iOS apps with Arduino assistance

In the mood for some homebrew iOS app-building fun? Well, Make’s got a kit just for you that bundles the Redpark Serial Cable for iOS with an RS232-to-TTL board and the 60 plus component Minitronics Survival pack for $80. Hailing it as “the first general-purpose serial cable that Apple has approved,” this limited supply pack will let you get your Arduino-tinkering hands all sorts of iPhone dirty — jailbreak not required. And if you’re the uninitiated type, the DIY magazine’s also put together a helpful, hand-holding guide to walk you through some basic first-timer projects. Hit the source to order your own Jobs-certified cable.

[Thanks, Marc]

Make’s Redpark Breakout Pack lets you build iOS apps with Arduino assistance originally appeared on Engadget on Mon, 18 Jul 2011 17:32:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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CNN starts streaming 24 hours of ‘news’ online and on your iPhone

CNN Stream

Still trying to scratch that itch left by the slow fade out of the Casey Anthony drama? Well, good news kiddies, CNN is pointing its 24-hour news hose straight at your face over a little thing we like to call the internet. The OG cable news network is finally returning to the streaming fray (die-hard Blitz-heads may remember a little service called CNN Pipeline) and offering live feeds of CNN and HLN, online and through its iOS apps. Unfortunately, just like HBO Go, you’ll need to have a pay TV subscription through AT&T, Comcast, Cox, DISH Network, Suddenlink or Verizon to access the streams. For the moment Android users are left out in the cold but, that’s ok, fans of dessert-themed OS names can pull in Al Jazeera English free of charge.

Continue reading CNN starts streaming 24 hours of ‘news’ online and on your iPhone

CNN starts streaming 24 hours of ‘news’ online and on your iPhone originally appeared on Engadget on Mon, 18 Jul 2011 12:23:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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KDDI’s mind-reading Android app monitors your brainstorms, or lack thereof… (video)

Ready for an epic brainwave dance-off between Jobs’ Jets and Rubin’s Sharks? Well, put down your shivs and get back to that alpha state because it’s gonna take a little while. Developed by KDDI’s R&D labs, this prototype mind-monitoring, sensor-laden headband connects wirelessly to your Android device to let you know just how stressed out you are. All it takes is a simple 30-second game of “mash mash mash the little green robot” (amongst others) to translate your focused and relaxed states into an easily readable brain pattern chart. The tech’s nothing we haven’t already seen the ominously named NeuroSky do for the iOS platform, but it should help to get those fanboy flames a-blazing. Of course, if mobile OS turf wars don’t get your neurons in a tizzy, you could always spend half a minute thinking of your honey — or actual honey. Whatever floats your neural boat. Video demonstration after the break.

Continue reading KDDI’s mind-reading Android app monitors your brainstorms, or lack thereof… (video)

KDDI’s mind-reading Android app monitors your brainstorms, or lack thereof… (video) originally appeared on Engadget on Mon, 18 Jul 2011 08:08:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink Mashable  |  sourceJapan Trends  | Email this | Comments