South Korea makes it easier to get refunds for Android and iOS apps

If you've ever been burned by downloading a mobile app that you don't want or doesn't work, relief may be in sight... so long as you're in South Korea, at least. The country's Fair Trade Commission has ordered both Apple and Google to make their app refund policies more consumer-friendly. To start, Apple must make it easier to claim refunds on in-app purchases; if your kid goes wild buying in-game items, you should have an easier time getting your money back. Google, meanwhile, has to let developers set their own refund terms.

There are a handful of smaller tweaks in store. Apple will have to notify shoppers whenever it alters the App Store's terms of service, and Google must stop apps from automatically charging you the moment a trial period ends. All the new rules are limited to South Korea for now, but Apple says it might change its terms on a global level. Google isn't considering a similar approach at this stage, but the Fair Trade Commission is hoping that it created a "ripple effect" which leads to similar policies elsewhere. If the rules do spread worldwide, that would undoubtedly be good news -- you could try paid apps without the risk of being left high and dry.

[Image credit: Jung Yeon-Je/AFP/Getty Images]

Source:

www.engadget.com

Posted by Editorial Team on 10:19 PM in Android, App Store's, burned, buying, developers, downloading, easier, handful, iOS apps, South Korea

How to take a screenshot on Android Wear

Taking a screenshot of your Android Wear watchface is a convenient way to show off your new gadget. Unfortunately, taking a screenshot on an Android Wear device isn't all that convenient. In fact, you can't take a screenshot on your watch without connecting it to a computer and using a the command line to capture and export the screenshot.

If you're at all familiar with using an Android device and ADB commands, you likely already know how this will all play out. But for those who aren't familiar, you will need to download and install the SDK tools and proper drivers for your device. You can get started by visiting the Android Developer site, where you'll find the Android SDK and developer tools.

Screenshot by Jason Cipriani/CNET

After installing the Android SDK, but before attempting to take a screenshot of your Android Wear device, you'll need to enable Developer Mode on your watch. You can do this by going into Settings, followed by About, and tapping on the Build Number a total of seven times or until you see a prompt letting you know you're a developer. A new "Developer options" will then show up just below the About listing in Settings (as seen above).

From here, connect your watch to your computer via USB and enter a few ADB commands. Remember Mac users, you'll need to add "./" (without the quotes) before a command.

To take a screenshot:

adb shell screencap -p /sdcard/screenshot.png

Then to transfer the screenshot to your computer:

adb pull /sdcard/screenshot.png

The entire ADB process can be intimidating and confusing, but don't feel bad. Everyone has to start somewhere. Personally, I started with this guide on Android Central to get up and running. If you run into issues getting it setup, be sure to read through the page I just linked to. It's thorough yet easy to read, which helps to get newbies started without feeling like you're being talked down to.

Source;

www.cnet.com

Posted by Editorial Team on 1:17 PM in ADB commands, Android, Android Developer site, Android SDK, Android Wear, capture, export, new gadget, screenshot, watchface

Facebook buys fitness tracking app Moves for undisclosed amount

If its recent purchases tell us anything, it’s that Facebook is looking to move beyond Walls and Likes. Just after it’s puzzling acquisition of virtual reality gaming company Oculus VR, the company has now acquired ProtoGeo, the developers behind the fitness tracking app Moves. The Swedish company confirmed the acquisition in a blog post. Neither company has disclosed how much Facebook paid for ProtoGeo.

The Moves app uses smartphone sensors to track the daily movements of its users for data such as calories burned and activity. The app is available for both iPhone and Android, and according to ProtoGeo has amassed over four million downloads.

Current Moves users can rest assured that, for now, there won’t be any immediate changes to the Moves app. According to ProtoGeo, Moves won’t be sharing your calories burned or activities with Facebook. In a statement released by ProtoGeo, “For those of you that use the Moves app – the Moves experience will continue to operate as a stand-alone app, and there are no plans to change that or co-mingle data with Facebook.”

So why would Facebook want to move into the fitness and health arena? First, because they can. Facebook certainly has the cash to purchase it. According to Facebook, “The Moves team has built an incredible tool for the millions of people who want to better understand their daily fitness activity, and we’re looking forward to the app continuing to gain momentum.”

This purchase actually makes more sense than its Oculus acquisition. The very nature of “getting healthy” oftentimes is a social affair. Think about the last time you made a healthy lifestyle change: started a diet, trained for a 5K, or quit smoking. You likely told friends and family about your decision, and announced your achievements and milestones along the way. More importantly, you likely did this on Facebook. I recently decided to quit smoking after 15 years and have used Facebook to announce my personal achievements, and see plenty of posts from others announcing theirs as well.

Facebook purchasing an app in a sector that every other major technology company isn’t so puzzling after all. The only question perhaps is how long until height and weight are a part of your Facebook profile?

Source:

mindofthegeek.com

Posted by Editorial Team on 8:08 AM in Android, continuing, Facebook buys, fitness tracking, iPhone, major technology, Oculus VR, ProtoGeo, Swedish company, undisclosed

Android reigns in US smartphone market

WASHINGTON: The Google Android platform grabbed the majority of mobile phones in the US market in early 2014, as consumers all but abandoned non-smartphone handsets, a survey showed Friday. 

The poll by Consumer Intelligence Research Partners found 53% of new mobile phones activated by US customers were Android devices in the January-March period. 

Apple's iOS, the platform used by the iPhone, accounted for 42%, the survey found. 

Windows and BlackBerry devices each accounted for one per cent, while non-smartphones were just three per cent, the research firm said. Late last year 20% bought a "basic" mobile phone. 

Research firm co-founder Mike Levin said Apple's iPhone user base "grew a little faster than Android, from a smaller base, even though in absolute terms Android — used in Samsung phones — had a larger share. 

He added: "The long-term issue is where Android and iOS growth will come from when there are no more basic phones being retired. First-time smartphone buyers are key to that equation." 

The report was based on a survey of 500 US adults, from April 1 to 6, who activated a new or used phone in the first three months of the year. 

Recent surveys of global phone users show Android has a nearly 80% share of smartphone sales.


Source:
timesofindia.indiatimes.com

Posted by Editorial Team on 2:53 AM in Android, Android platform, BlackBerry, Buyers, Google, Intelligence, non-smartphone, Samsung, smartphone

Motorola Mobility names Rick Osterloh as COO ahead of Lenovo buy

Rick Osterloh, senior vice president of product management for Motorola Mobility, describes the size of Motorola's new Moto X phone at a launch event for the phone in New York, August 1, 2013.

(Reuters) - Motorola Mobility has named Rick Osterloh as its chief operating officer, reporting to the Motorola Operating Board at Google Inc until its acquisition by Lenovo Group Ltd is completed.

The appointment was made public on Wednesday on Motorola's official blog by Jonathan Rosenberg, who will continue in his role as Google liaison and adviser to Motorola through the transition period. (r.reuters.com/buj48v)

Lenovo agreed to buy Google's Motorola handset division for $2.91 billion in January, in what was China's largest-ever tech deal.

"We're confident in his (Osterloh's) ability to not only manage a smooth transition at Motorola from Google to Lenovo but, also to lead the business forward for continued growth," said Liu Jun, EVP, Mobile Business Group, Lenovo.

Osterloh, who was responsible for the delivery of software and operation of the Android platform at Motorola, joined the company seven years ago and left for a 2-year stint in between at Skype.

(Reporting by Arnab Sen in Bangalore; Editing by Gopakumar Warrier)

Source:
www.reuters.com

Posted by Editorial Team on 1:14 AM in Android, COO, Jonathan, Lenovo buy, Mobile Business, Motorola Mobility, Rick Osterloh, software, tech deal

Apple reportedly working on a Spotify rival and iTunes for Android

Even with iTunes the digital media juggernaut that it is, Apple apparently doesn’t want to sit on its laurels — the company is rumored to be working on both a streaming music service and an Android-compatible version of iTunes to catch those people jumping ship to alternative platforms.

While Apple already has its iTunes Radio discovery service in play, the new product would be a Spotify-style music-on-demand app that gives users access to millions of tracks instantly. According to Billboard, Apple has “opened exploratory talks with senior label executives” about putting together its own streaming service to fend off competition from Spotify, Rdio, Google Music and others.

Getting its information from “people familiar with the talks”, Billboard said that iTunes support for Android and a dedicated iTunes app for Google’s mobile operating system were also being discussed. Android now accounts for around 80 percent of all the smartphones in use around the globe, so Apple executives may well consider the move worth the extra revenue. It took five years for iTunes to make the leap to Windows from Mac.

Both moves would make sense for Apple, but the Billboard report emphasizes that talks are at “a very early stage.” So far in 2014, digital album sales are down 13 percent and digital track sales are down 11 percent from the same period last year, while revenue from streaming music services is on the rise. In total, iTunes still accounts for more than 40 percent of U.S. recorded music revenue.

Would you like the ability to sync your iTunes library to your Nexus device? Could Apple build a service that’s better than Spotify? Let us know your thoughts in the comments.

Source:

www.digitaltrends.com

Posted by Editorial Team on 9:43 AM in 80 percent, Android, Apple reportedly, Billboard, discussed, emphasizes, iTunes, platforms, Spotify rival, U.S. recorded

Why Microsoft’s zero Windows Phone license fee for Indian co’s is a strategy to curb Android

Last month, reports suggested that Microsoft was looking to slash its license fee toget more manufacturers on board, especially local manufacturers in growth markets such as India. And now it looks like the company is going to do one better.

A report in the Times of India quotes sources from Indian phone companies saying Microsoft has agreed to give them the OS without any licence fee. This after companies such as Lava, Karbonn and Micromax have been known to be in discussions with Microsoft to launch low-cost devices. Last month, Lava and Karbonn announced plans to produce Windows Phone devices. Xolo too is looking at Windows Phone and has already released plans for a Windows tablet. So obviously Microsoft has been making headway with companies here and the Indian connection with Satya Nadella now being the CEO must surely have helped in discussions, but as the report says, “the agreements were clinched only when Microsoft agreed to remove the licence fee.”

Microsoft has been known to charge between $20 and $35 per unit produced from companies which make Windows Phone devices. But in India even a low fee was not acceptable to manufacturers given Windows Phone’s low market share. Popular belief is that Android is free, but manufacturers still have to pay a fee to get access to Play Services and the Play Store. While Indian companies do not pay this fee directly (they are passed on to Google by the Chinese ODMs these companies use), they still have to absorb the cost. In the case of Android, they are more than happy to do this, given the demand and the market share of the OS, but that’s not the case with Windows Phone. Which is why Microsoft had to sweeten the deal.

“Free Windows Phone is part of a strategic partnership. For both Microsoft and us, it is an experiment. Windows Phone still doesn’t have lot of appeal in the market but now that it doesn’t have any licence fee, it becomes easier for us to experiment with it,” one executive with an Indian phone company was quoted as saying by the paper.

But the deal is essentially a two-pronged attack on the growth of Android. For Indian companies, having Windows Phone products gives them another front to chip away at the market share of biggies like Samsung, LG and Sony, who are fully focussed on Android. That’s one way to curb Android growth and it’s a win-win for both parties.

Secondly, having more device options in the market will lead to competitive pricing, which will also boost adoption rate. Indian companies are known for their aggressive pricing models and if there’s a repeat of anything like the Android smartphone explosion, you could soon have a huge number of Windows Phone devices in the market, at very attractive prices.

Things are not all bright though; there’s still the app hurdle, which will only go away gradually, but at least this is a bold move. And having more devices will convince more developers about the chances of the OS. With much of India still an untapped market for smartphones, Microsoft is finally making some shrewd business calls that could end up boosting its market share.

News Source: tech.firstpost.com

Posted by Editorial Team on 12:21 AM in Android, Android in India, developers, Microsoft Windows Phone licence fee, Windows Phone, Windows Phone 8, Windows Phone devices, Windows Phone fee, Windows Phone in India, Windows tablet

Jawbone UP24 Fitness Tracker Now on Android

Jawbone today released an Android version of its UP app, which pairs with the recently released UP24 wristband.

The bracelet connects seamlessly with any Android device to help users understand how they sleep, move, and eat.

"We believe that helping people understand the context and meaning of their data is key in helping to make sustained behavior changes," Travis Bogard, Jawbone vice president of product management and strategy, said in a statement.

Those changes can be made through better knowledge of your everyday life, which is synced wirelessly via Bluetooth Smart between the band and the UP 3.0 app for Android. Users also receive continuous feedback and in-the-moment notifications to help achieve goals.

"Through our investment in data science we have been able to provide personalized insights to help nudge people to meet their sleep or activity goals," Bogard said. "Now with the launch of UP24 on Android, our entire community can enjoy the benefits of these insights in real-time, with continuous feedback and in-the-moment notifications to help them achieve their goals."

Built for 24/7 wear, the UP24 wristband is covered in hypoallergenic, medical-grade rubber, with a new textural design "that's comfortable enough to wear throughout each day and night," the company said. It also sports a USB power adapter, but with a battery that lasts seven days, you'll only need to charge it once a week.

The UP by Jawbone 3.0 application is now available in 12 languages as a free download in the Google Play store.

"Android users have been incredibly active in the UP community, and we're thrilled to bring UP24 to the Android platform," Bogard said.

The UP24 launched in November with a companion app for iOS for $149.99. It's on sale now in red or black. For more, check out PCMag's roundup of The 25 Best Fitness Apps.

News Source: www.pcmag.com

Posted by Editorial Team on 10:23 AM in Android, Bogard, Google, hypoallergenic, investment, Jawbone, Jawbone. UP24, tracker

Jawbone's UP24 fitness tracker adds Android compatibility

SAN FRANCISCO — Fans of Jawbone's Up bands who happen to be Android smartphone owners as of today can consider the company's most recent take on the fitness tracker, UP24.

Jawbone on Tuesday announced Android compatibility for the $149 UP24 band, which launched late last year as an iOS-only device.

The new hardware added Bluetooth connectivity, which the original Up band ($129) lacks. That means you don't have to plug it into your phone's headphone jack to sync data.

The Android app lets you wirelessly sync from the band to an Android device via Bluetooth Smart technology, so you can get feedback in real-time.

Everybody and their brother has a fitness tracker on the market, so the UP24's arrival on Android was a must to deliver.

Bands from competitors including Fitbit and Nike all offer a variety of ways to track overall fitness and health. The Up made its mark as a simple step tracker that added insight into sleep patterns in a sleek design. An early version was marred by some battery and syncing issues, which the company addressed for the most part in a subsequent model.

I've used the non-Bluetooth Up model for about a year and find syncing still finicky at times. Presumably, not having to stick the thing into your phone smooths out that issue. And there is no display on the band, so you must rely on the app to get the latest info about your progress.

But Up is simple to use and I've continued to rely on it to keep me honest and active during the day, even as I've added a Pebble smartwatch to my wrist-wear. Indeed, it will be interesting to see how Jawbone and others keep pace in the market as smartwatches make their move, many with functionality and apps that mimic what the first-generation of bands provide.

News Source: www.usatoday.com

Posted by Editorial Team on 7:48 AM in Android, battery, competitors, Jawbone's, non-Bluetooth, smartphone, smartwatches, tracker, UP24, wirelessly

Apple and Google Dominate the Mobile World According to ComScore

Apple and Google currently dominate the mobile phone world. (Photo : Wikimedia Commons)

Apple and Google dominate the mobile space, according to a new data report by ComScore.

ComScore is a leader in measuring the digital world, and today released data from its Mobilens and Mobile Metrix, reporting important trends in the U.S. smartphone industry for January 2014.

Apple lead as No.1 smartphone manufacturer, with its iPhones capturing 41.6% of the US market this year so far, and Samsung came second with 26.7%.

On the operating system side however, Apple was unable to compete with Google. Android led the market with 51.7% share while iOS had 41.6%. Trailing behind them was windows phone at 3.2% and Blackberry OS at 3.1%.

There is no surprise about the popularity that the iPhone and Android share. It's worth noting however that while Apple saw its manufacturer market share jump over the last 3 months, Samsung is also picking up momentum.

In addition to their report on smartphones supremacy and operating systems, ComScore also reported on the top destinations for mobile browsers. Google's sites were visited by almost 90% of the American mobile users, and Facebook took second place with 87 percent. Yahoo and amazon came next with 86.2% and 69%, respectively.

Google's sites ranked in the report as the top "web property," reaching 89.4% of the mobile media crowd. Included in this statistic was also web browsing and app usage.

Another cool number: Facebook was the most popular mobile app in the US last quarter, and was employed by 78% of its users.

ComScore, a digital measurement and analytics company, also reported Friday that 7 percent more people owned smartphones in January over last October, with a total of 159.8 million Americans possessing the tech. That's a 66.8 percent mobile market reach.

Mobile Metrix and Mobilens, the tools used to measure the information, are intelligent censuss-based measurement methods and online surveys on smartphones and tablets. 

News Source: www.designntrend.com

Posted by Editorial Team on 6:55 AM in Android, Apple, ComScore, Google, Google's sites, iPhone, Mobile, Mobile Metrix, smartphone, supremacy

Forget trivia night at the local bar, QuizUp's now on Android

Android users looking for something to fill the hole that Flappy Birds once occupied now have a less trivial time sink in the form of QuizUp. As you'd expect from a trivia app worth its salt, it comes loaded with tons of topics (over 400) to choose from, including lifestyle, TV and literature. And, since it's a social game, you can test your expertise in any of those subjects against friends and strangers. If the name QuizUp sounds familiar, it's because the app was released for iOS four months ago and became its creators' first smash hit -- it did for Icelandic studio Plain Vanilla what Angry Birds did for Rovio and Draw Something for Omgpop.

QuizUp has already been downloaded over 10 million times on iOS, but (while it's still getting 50,000 downloads a day) Recode says the number of new users has declined in the past month. Plain Vanilla CEO Thor Fridriksson believes, however, that an Android launch will reignite interest in the game. We've yet to see how the Android app will affect the iOS version, but it isn't doing too shabby thus far: it's been installed more than 10,000 times since it became available. So, don't be surprised if a friend would rather hole up this weekend rather than go out and play actual bar trivia.


News Source: www.engadget.com

Posted by Editorial Team on 11:50 PM in 10 million, Android, CEO, Flappy, Forget trivia, friend, local bar, QuizUp, Thor Fridriksson, TV

Samsung Galaxy S5 will ship with free Android app bundle worth $500

KOREAN PHONE MAKER Samsung's Galaxy S5 will be stuffed with premium apps and subscriptions worth over $500 when it's released in April. 

Samsung announced the premium app bundle on its website, boasting that those who buy a Galaxy S5 will receive over $500 worth of free stuff, taking a marketing approach similar to that of the Silent Circle Blackphone.

Samsung said, "Meaningful rewards from the world's top brands to make your Galaxy S5 experience even more enjoyable and productive. From fitness to news to productivity apps, the Samsung Galaxy S5 comes with free, long-term subscriptions and premium services."

The most valuable app is a six month subscription to the Wall Street Joural worth $160, closely followed by a free Linkedin Premium account for three months and 50GB of free Box storage for the first six months of owning the Galaxy S5. Other bundled apps and susbcriptions include a one-year subscription to Runkeeper, $10 in Cut The Rope game credits and free access to Evernote Premium for three months.

The firm offers a similar bundle with the Samsung Galaxy Note 12.2 tablet that is now available in the UK, suggesting that the free app bundles might also be available to punters outside the US.

Samsung has yet to announce whether the app bundle or something similar will ship with the Galaxy S5 in the UK, but has said that it is looking into it.

Perhaps we'll find out more before the Galaxy S5 goes on sale in the UK on 11 April. µ

News Source: www.theinquirer.net

Posted by Editorial Team on 4:32 AM in 50GB, Android, Blackphone, bundle, Korean, Premium account, punters, S5, Samsung Galaxy, worth $500

Google Hangouts for iOS Gets Complete Redesign

(Photo : Reuters)

Google Hangouts, Google's cross-platform messenger app, got a complete makeover as part of its update for iOS devices on Friday, The Verge reports.

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Google Hangouts iOS 2.0 includes a sleek new look that better blends in with iOS 7, easier navigation, as well as other major improvements. The app's new redesign, which now features video and photo messages, was announced by Google Engineer Frank Petterson on his Google Plus page Friday morning.

According to Petterson, Hangouts 2.0 includes animated stickers that allow users to "express your mood." Petterson says users should think of stickers "as emoji, but even more awesome."

Other new features include video messaging that lets users record and send short 10-second videos, as well as location sharing. The Verge reports that the app provides convenient shortcuts to users' contact list, favorite people to talk with, recent Hangouts and free voice calls over the Internet.

The update is also optimized for the iPad, allowing users to "enjoy big, beautiful video calls, and a two-paned conversation view," Petterson added. iPad users can take advantage of the video call option by dragging a video icon to the left in a current chat, according to The Verge.

The update comes on the heels of a fellow tech giant's own messaging upgrade. Last week, Facebook purchased WhatsApp for $19 billion. The five-year-old company is the most popular messaging app for smartphones, CNN Money reports.

It is also important to note that while Google has made changes to its Hangouts for iOS app, it has failed to bring an update for its own operating system; the Android. 

News Source: www.latinopost.com

Posted by Editorial Team on 5:58 AM in $19 billion, Android, CNN Money, Complete Redesign, Google Hangouts, Google Plus, Hangouts 2.0, iOS 7, iOS Gets, messaging

Moov to Next Generation Fitness Coaching Wearable

Anyone looking for a cost-effective physical trainer then a date with Moov needs to be set at the earliest. Moov, a wearable device that not only works like a fitness tracker but also imparts continuous coaching tips on what to do and how to do; taking the whole concept of fitness tracking wearables to the next level.

Moov is a sleek watch-like device with a 1.5 inch disc which can be strapped around the wrist, arm, ankle, or even a bicycle. With its 3D leap motion sensor technology it can read every movement of the wearer, and provides the user with real-time coaching tips when paired with an iPhone or an Android based device.

The activity being indulged could range from biking, running or boxing; and the device will continuously train the user to move better or faster while simultaneously correcting postures and improving techniques. The best part is that Moov also applauds and encourages the wearer when an activity is done correctly with a voice-over sounding similar to Siri.

During the launch of the device, Co-founder Meng Li explained that Moov was designed using real-time data that was collected from various athletes and trainers while they were working out. The algorithms were built using parameters like speed and pace at which they ran or pedaled. The angles at which their arms, legs and wrists moved were also taken into consideration during the research process to enable Moov with highly efficient feedback capability.

For instance, when the athlete is running, the app might suggest correcting the posture or adjusting the pace to avoid any stress on the knees, further avoiding possible injuries. Moov also monitors activities like the cycling speed whilst checking the target heart rate, instantly giving feedback to increase or decrease speed to an ideal level.

Moov, a next generation fitness wearable motivates and pushes it’s users to perform better and coaches them till they get it right. Above all, like any good personal trainer should do, it applauds the user on milestones being achieved which makes it gem of a feature to be added.

Li, also said that with the current version of Moov, five different activities can be tracked which includes cycling, swimming, weight training, running and boxing. An exclusive app has been designed to cater to each of these activities efficiently. The running and cycling app will give users instant feedback through an audio output while the weight training and boxing app includes videos put together by professional coaches to train with the right techniques and posture.

Personalisation of the app ensures that the users will be given an option of selecting a coach from the available group of coaches and their progress will be monitored by the device. With regular usage of Moov their activities will be compared with that of the professional trainers and an audio-visual feedback will be provided to correct the errors. With this device, users can also add their friends to the Moov’s network track their performances and compete with them to beat their accomplishments.

Moov is a start-up co-founded by three ex Microsoft employees. Nakola Hu, Yuan and Li worked together to develop sensor based gaming technologies a decade ago. The device is all set for its release this summer and its next generation features will cost customers approximately $120. Available in two colors, white and black, a promotion strategy by the company will let customer’s enjoy a 50 percent discount on pre-orders that starts today. With complete compatibility with iOS available immediately and the device is set to make its debut in Android as well within three months of its release.

News Source: guardianlv.com

Posted by Editorial Team on 12:43 AM in $120, 1.5 inch, 3D leap, 50 percent, Android, Coaching Wearable, Generation Fitness, Personalisation, tracker