CyanogenMod Founder Leaves Gig at Samsung

CyanogenMod founder Steve Kondik recently decided to leave Samsung after just a few years at the South Korean company. The modding community was generally happy when Kondik left to work for the firm since it seemed like his input would add a lot of value to the phone maker’s software. Kondik didn’t say exactly why he decided to leave the company.

“Samsung was great,” he told AndroidPolice. “Just decided to do something new.”

Kondik also added that he’s a huge fan of Samsung’s Galaxy S III and that he’s “quite pleased with the S4.” As a man with software expertise, we were compelled to hear his thoughts on Samsung’s TouchWiz UI.

“TouchWiz has become a bit more consistent with the latest upgrade,” he noted on his Google+ page. “There are no more jarring mismatches in different parts of the OS, and it’s been lightened up a bit and has a clean “flat” feel. Unfortunately, it feels like it has been sent a few years back in time to the Froyo days. Say goodbye to all of the nice touch-friendly ViewPagers and say hello again to a fully tabbed UI. You’ll also enjoy the seemingly endless onslaught of popup windows and modal “Loading…” dialogs.”

We’re excited to hear where Kondik’s next gig lands him.

[Source: TechnoBuffalo]

Google starts a TV white space trial in South Africa to wirelessly link schools

Google has been a strong advocate of white space wireless as democratizing broadband access: its long-range nature can bring people online when the local internet framework isn't always reliable, if it exists at all. The company is about to illustrate that potential through a new trial in South Africa. A trio of base stations at Stellenbosch University in Cape Town will supply ten nearby primary and secondary schools with internet access to prove that white space access can work without affecting TV signals. To make sure it won't, Google is picking the safest frequencies from a database and is measuring the results for the sake of both nervous broadcasters and the Independent Communications Authority of South Africa. If all goes well, it (and similar efforts from Microsoft) should make a case for full approval of white space use across the country and deliver internet access to remote areas that risk being left by the technological wayside.

[Source: Engadget]

Blockbuster U.K. Acquired by Gordon Brothers

Blockbuster Video in the U.K. has been saved from bankruptcy thanks to acquisition by Gordon Brothers.

It was announced in Jan. that the U.K. version of Blockbuster Video had filed for administration, the country’s version of chapter 11 bankruptcy. The day to day operations of the 528 stores and nearly 4,200 employees were taken over by Deloitte, which has cut some of the retail locations since that time.

Gordon Brothers announced today that it is acquiring the company and will keep the doors open. It plans to keep the remaining 264 stores in operation as well as retain the remaining 2,000 employees.

Frank Morton, CEO of Gordon Brothers Europe said of the acquisition, “We acknowledge the industry is in transition; we know that we have a challenge ahead but there is still a market to be served.” He went on to add, “Blockbuster has a strong brand affinity and we believe that with the right mix of newproduct offering, new technologies, strategic management and marketing, we can bring new life to this high street staple. We look forward to working with employees, suppliers, landlords and other stakeholders to make this happen.”

The U.K. branch of Blockbuster operates separately from the U.S. arm which is also currently going through its own financial turmoil. Dish Network, which bought Blockbuster in 2011, announced earlier this year that it would be closing 300 more stores on top of the 500 it had already shuttered.

[Source: TechnoBuffalo]

UK ISPs start blocking torrent sites after court order

If you're looking for some naughty torrent action this weekend then hard cheese, my friend -- BT, O2, Virgin Media and BE Broadband have started blocking such sites following an order from the High Court.

But not all. Kickass Torrents, H33T and Fenopy are the only torrent sites you won't be able to access using the above ISPs, thanks to a High Court order earlier this year, The Inquirer reports. The ban started yesterday, but will it really stop nogoodniks?

The three blocked torrent sites are pretty huge: Kickass Torrents is one of the 50 most-visited websites in the UK, while H33T and Fenopy have hundreds of thousands of visitors a day. They join The Pirate Bay, which was also blocked by ISPs last year. Though those wily pirates have found plenty of ways to get around that. And it hasn't meant fewer people are file sharingeither.

The High Court order came about because of a request from nine major record labels, led by the BPI (British Phonographic Industry). They cited Section 97A of the Copyright, Design and Patents Act, and asked BT, EE, O2, Sky, Talktalk and Virgin Media to stop letting users access the sites. It's not known whether Sky, EE and Talktalk will follow suit and block torrent sites in future.

The four ISPs who have blocked the sites didn't do so voluntarily, but they didn't dispute the BPI's demands either.

I can see why music labels and film studios are so protective of their copyright, but is blocking sites really the answer? It won't stop someone googling and finding another site hosting torrents. And while three of the biggest might be out of action -- only on some ISPs, remember -- it'll just drive traffic to the others, helping them grow, until they're big enough to be the target of a court order, and the whole process starts again. I've said it before, but it's true -- it's like playing whack-a-mole.

[Source: CNET]

BBC vows to make six iPlayer-only films in next two years

The BBC has vowed to make six online-only short films over the next two years, that will live online service rather than being broadcast on TV.

The films themselves will be drama-based, and will be streamed exclusively over the Beeb's popular iPlayer catch-up service, viewable on all manner of gadgets from tablets, smart phones, smart tellies and laptops.

"Audiences will be able to discover, share and enjoy these dramas whenever and wherever they chose," the BBC's Hilary Salmon stated. It's not clear when the short films will air, but as they've just been commissioned we could be waiting a little while.

The move is a joint venture between BBC Three and BBC Drama, so I wouldn't be surprised if the films themselves are focused on those perennially pesky young people that the Beeb's third channel is aimed at.

The BBC's decision to produce streaming-only video follows subscriber service Netflix's release of House of Cards, a high-profile TV show that's only available online via the red-hued service.

It's less unusual for the BBC to make streaming-only TV of course, as it's already in the business of producing programmes. The Beeb's plot to "showcase more exclusive content" on iPlayer is more evidence however that television is increasingly moving online.

Unlike Netflix, the BBC allows iPlayer programmes to be downloaded, so if you have a compatible device like a laptop or iPhone, you could store these upcoming mini-movies to watch offline. Android devices are yet to get offline downloads, sadly.

[Source: CNET]

BBC Twitter accounts hijacked by 'Syrian Electronic Army'

Several BBC Twitter accounts were hacked today, seemingly taken over by a group calling itself the 'Syrian Electronic Army'.

Control of the Weather, Radio Ulster and Arabic Twitter feeds was wrestled away from the Beeb, with the hackers posting a string of bizarre weather reports for the Middle East.

Every dodgy tweet has since been deleted, though Digital Spy has used Storify to preserve the tweets posted on BBC Weather, if you're curious.

"Saudi weather station down due to head-on collision with camel," one tweet reads. The final tweet sent from the hijacked meteorological account read, "Syrian Electronic Army was here," with a link to the group's own Twitter page.

BBC Weather has apologised, tweeting, "Sorry about that, we were hacked. Normal service resumes."

To hack a Twitter account, you need the account holder's Twitter name and password. One way to make the microblogging service more secure would be to offer two-step authentication.

Using this process, when you sign in from a new location you have to enter your password as well as a one-use code that is texted to your phone. Facebook and Gmail both already offer this security option, which is extra secure as any would-be hacker would require access to the account holder's phone as well as their password.

[Source: CNET]

Evernote Food Updated to Include OpenTable Reservations and Foursquare Ratings

Evernote Food, Evernote's app dedicated to documenting cooking and dining experiences, was today updated to version 2.1. The release brings OpenTable reservations and Foursquare ratings to the universal app, allowing users to book seatings at restaurants within the app. 

In addition, users are now able to share recipes via Facebook, Twitter, or email, and new tag-based syncing capabilities have been implemented in the standard Evernote app. Recipes that are saved to Evernote can be synced with Evernote Food.

Evernote Food has a few other minor updates including improved search results and faster image uploads.

Sharing 
- Share recipes via Facebook, Twitter and email 

Restaurants 
- OpenTable integration lets you make restaurant reservations from the app 
- See venue ratings from Foursquare 

Images 
- Upload images from other albums 
- Meal images load more quickly 

Search 
- Improved search results for recipes and meals 

General 
- Various other bug fixes and performance improvements

[Source: MacRumors]

 

Using your Smartphone with a Projector

There are many who would love to host a backyard movie night with their friends or family members. Nowadays it is very common to store dozens of videos and movies in a smartphone or a tablet. However, this may those who would like to share their collection with others, mostly because of the limits of a small screen. There are currently many smartphone projectors that are small sized, but able to deliver great picture quality that will guarantee excellent results.

For those who don’t know where to start, remember that a blank screen is needed before you even think about investing in a projector. There's nothing quite as useful or cheap as a simple white sheet, and it is able to work great even with expensive setups. If you don’t want to invest in a blank screen specially designed for projectors, you can use just about any blank wall for a similar effect.

There are many apps to use along with your projectors. Most notably there is the Epson iProjection app. This app is a great option for those that are looking for an easy way to project their images on the go. The app is very simple thanks to its intuitive menu options that help bring all the content from your smartphones to the big screen. It is compatible with iOS and Android devices. Epson also makes many great projectors that are fully compatible with smartphones and tablet devices. With a simple search you will find more information about Epson projectors.

For those that own an iPhone device, one of the most versatile options out there is Brookstone's Pocket Projector. This innovative projector is very simple to use, since it was designed specifically with the iPhone in mind. It is very easy to slide onto the device and project a high quality image. If you don’t have any external speakers, this device has your bases covered too. This pocket projector has a built in rechargeable battery, so even if your Apple device is low on power, it is possible to use the Pocket Projector’s own energy as a back-up. You’ve got to be realistic though, a projector this small is not going to deliver the same picture quality as the bigger, more expensive models.

If you don’t own an iPhone, there are still many great options, such as the Optoma Pico Pocket Projector. This is another pocket device that is able to project hi-def images. This device is affordable, extremely light and portable, making it ideal for those that want to project their videos and movies anywhere they want. This mini device also comes with a remote that allows simple pausing.

Spotify - Transforming the way we listen to music on the move

Nowadays, we can live our life to a constant soundtrack as music is easier than ever to listen to on the go. Most people now have smartphones with access to the internet and downloadable apps, so will have a huge library of music at their fingertips. As well as fm and digital radio being a feature of many phones, Spotify is also available to make choosing and listening to music easy. Spotify began as a service accessible through your computer and in 2009 became available to mobile phone users too.

Don’t miss out on this revolution in mobile music, and upgrade your phone to a Spotify-compatible version. The app is free to download and you can also save money when purchasing your new smartphone. Rather than chucking your old model, why not sell it online and put the money raised towards a newer, better version. It’s simple to sell blackberry curve and a whole range of other mobiles using specialist websites. You can pop in the name and model of your phone and receive a quote, so you know how much you can expect from your sale. Then post your blackberry or other mobile device and receive a cheque in the post or direct to your account.

The launch of Spotify for mobile phones in 2009 heralded a new era of music on the go. At the time the app gave users access to around 4 million tracks, making it easy to search and pick music to suit your mood wherever internet access was available. Even when not in an internet hotspot, the launch meant that music was still accessible, as Spotify allowed users to save more than 3,000 tracks on their mobile to play offline.

You can personalise Spotify on your mobile phone by creating a playlist. Simply type in the name of the track you want and add this to your playlist – perhaps you could group tunes by band, year, genre or for a certain occasion so however you’re feeling and wherever you are, you’ll have a musical accompaniment! You can even share your playlist with your friends, by uploading it onto your Spotify public profile, or through Facebook.

If you’re looking to save money and aren’t sure about whether to pay Spotify’s subscription free, you can try out the service on your mobile with the Premium free trial. One of the service’s top features is its enhanced sound quality. Not only can you enjoy your music through headphones, but the great sound quality means you can switch your mobile to speaker and share your favourite tunes with your friends too. This version is free of ads, allows unlimited music and even lets you take tracks abroad with you.

If listening to music whilst you’re out and about sounds appealing, but you’re not sure which genres or bands to choose, why not use online radio through your mobile instead? Apps like BBC iPlayer give access to a number of digital radio stations, and also feature ‘listen again’ options providing further choice if there’s nothing live you fancy hearing. Or, for a personalised service, Spotify Radio will learn what you like and select appropriate tracks. Whilst listening to songs through the Spotify app you can rate them with a thumbs up or a thumbs down, which is logged by Spotify and used to choose songs you’ll like.

Listening to music whilst out and about – and even when travelling abroad – is quick, easy and affordable. Just make sure you have a top mobile phone to allow for these great services!

Google Street View Explores the Seven Summits

Not everyone has the resources or stamina to hike any of our planet’s Seven Summits—the highest mountains on each of Earth’s seven continents—so Google is bringing that experience to the Internet. When famous landmarks and beautiful national parks aren’t enough, the search giant’s Street View technology is making it possible for any old Aunt Sue to explore places like Aconcagua in South America and Everest Base Camp in Asia.

Google managed to capture four of the Seven Summits through the use of lightweight tripods and an unnamed digital camera with a fisheye lens. If you’ve been bitten by the adventure bug but you’re stuck in an office, or you just want to escape for a minute, traveling to some of Earth’s most impressive natural wonders is a nice way to get away.

In addition to announcing the new Street View locations, Google also put up a behind-the-scenes look at how the company made the project happen. “We’re honored to share this amazing imagery with you on Google Maps and show the world what life is like from the its highest peaks!” said Sara Pelosi, People Programs Manager at Google.

If you’re a would-be adventurer or just genuinely curious about what the view is like from Killimanjaro, you can take a peek from your computer, or even your Android or iPhone device.

[Source: TechnoBuffalo]

Feedly sees 500,000 new users since Google Reader closure announced

The news that Google Reader is to be closed down for good later this year has hit a lot of us really hard. For many it's the go-to way of getting their daily news fix, and for others -- including everyone on staff here -- it's an integral tool to help us get through the working day. There will be alternatives, but we will miss Google Reader. 

One such alternative is Feedly, and the team has announced a huge influx of new users. In the first 48 hours since the announcement by Google, Feedly has seen 500,000 new Google Reader users join their ranks. Not bad numbers, considering the service is supposed to be in decline. Feedly also has clients for iOS, Chrome, Safari and Firefox, so it's got a big chunk of the bases covered. The reason behind the influx is most likely the fact that Feedly is developing their own system to transition Google Reader users over seamlessly when turn off day finally arrives. 

Feedly has also announced how they're coping with the increased user base, including massively increasing their bandwidth and adding new servers. And, if you're all about function and less about fashion, the Feedly team has also written up some sweet tips on how to make it less pretty and more functional. Great stuff.

[Source: AndroidCentral]

Sony's 2013 HDTVs start shipping, quantum dots are on the way

We got a peek at Sony's 2013 HDTV lineup during CES in January, and now the company has announced they're starting to roll out and confirmed official pricing. The new sets add features like NFC, MHL and Miracast support to certain models, while the top of the line W900A is its first to use Quantum Dot technology in combination with edge LED lighting. Sony's brought back its old Triluminos brand name for the technology, which it claims provides a wider color gamut while keeping prices quite a bit lower than its last TVs to rock the tag, the now-retiredXBR8 series.

There's no word on the XBR series, but in the lower W- and R- lines the KDL-W900A is the only one with Triluminos. It also brings an extra long internal speaker duct for improved sound and standard NFC remote, and the 55-inch model will carry an MSRP of $3,299. The step down W802A version keeps MHL standard, has the NFC remote as an option and comes in 55- and 47-inch versions that start at $1,799. The 32-inch W650A will ship for $799. The R-Series dodges some of the higher end features, but some still include 3D, WiFi, RVU and the Sony Entertainment Network suite of apps including Netflix, Hulu Plus and more. The R550A has all that and is available in 70-, 60- and 50-inch versions that start at $1,399. Hit the source link for info on more models, or just keep an eye out on (digital) store shelves as these leak into retail.

[Source: Engadget]