Jordan Kahn

Samsung’s Galaxy Note 4 leaks in photos ahead of unveiling?

Jordan Kahn Aug 11 2014 - 6:20 am PT

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GSMArena has posted images of what it claims could be the upcoming Galaxy Note 4 that Samsung is expected to unveil next month.

We’ll have to wait until next month to find out for sure if the tweaked design in the images above is the real deal (the images were sent to the site anonymously), but it doesn’t appear to be much of a departure from the last generation device’s design. It looks like Samsung also might have plans for a heart rate sensor or some other type of sensor on the backside of the device near its camera.

The device is expected to get an official unveiling, as usual, during the IFA press conference early next month in Berlin. Samsung has already scheduled its September 3 event during IFA, which we’ll of course be on hand for to bring you updates live as they happen.

• Android
• Apps and Updates

Spotify starts sending invites for users to try service in Canada

Jordan Kahn Aug 8 2014 - 11:37 am PT

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After revealing plans to finally bring Spotify to Canada last month, users in the country have now started receiving invites to try the streaming music service. A reader sent in the image above and others have received their invite over the last 24 hours,.

Congratulations — you’re in!

You’ve been chosen to try Spotify in Canada before everyone else!

Millions of songs are now waiting for you. The artists you love, the latest hits and new discoveries— all for free on mobile, tablet and desktop. Happy listening!

The company initially announced last month that the service would launch in the coming months, but now seems to be launching a test of the service with select users that signed-up here. Spotify is currently available in a long list of countries around the world, but it doesn’t yet list Canada on its website.

The company appears to be offering the service in trial mode for free but doesn’t mention pricing for a premium service for Canadians. Users that receive a code can access the service here.

(Thanks Josh!)

• Android
• Apps and Updates
• Sony
• kitkat
• android 4.4

Sony rolling out Android 4.4 update for Xperia E1 & E1 Dual

Jordan Kahn Aug 8 2014 - 8:04 am PT

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Sony just announced that users of its Xperia E1 and Xperia E1 Dual smartphones will soon get access to Android 4.4 KitKat as the update begins rolling out today. As it has already done with some of its other devices, the update to KitKat also comes with other Sony specific features including new Status Bar and Quick Settings features, animations and live wallpapers similar to the PlayStation 4, and much more:

• Google’s Android 4.4; KitKat as standard – bringing performance & UI optimisation…
• We’ve added our tweaked Status Bar and Quick Settings… now more intuitive and customisable (and pretty easy on the eye)… cleaned up to ensure you only get the notifications you really need
• If you’ve got a Sony PlayStation 4, you might recognize our new user interface – we’ve added the same sleek launch animation and livewallpaper across the lock and home screens
• Better storage choice – you now have the option to easily move applications from internal memory to SD card – we recognised the need to have more control over your content… as something particularly useful for devices with slightly less space
• We’re also uplifting Sony’s entire native app portfolio to the latest versions – bringing tweaked / improved / current experiences for (to name but a few): Messaging, Smart Connect, TrackID, Sony Select, and Battery STAMINA Mode, Sony’s Media apps: WALKMAN, Album and Movies
• And proving pretty popular, now totaling over 2 million downloads (!) – our unique custom interface experience: “Xperia Themes”, with downloadable UI packs from Sony Select – skin up to 280 assets across your Xperia smartphone with a variety of styles…

Sony notes that its next device to get the update will be the Xperia M2 & M2 Dual. As always, the update will hit users at different times depending on your carrier and market.

Google adds new bulk mail filter to Gmail for Apps customers

Jordan Kahn Aug 7 2014 - 9:29 am PT

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Google today announced that it has added a new spam filtering feature to Gmail for Google Apps customers. Originally available in Postini, the new setting will let users setup a bulk mail filter with a single click:

With this new option in Gmail Spam settings, admins can turn on more stringent filtering of bulk mail using a single checkbox. This is a feature that was available in Postini, and will now be available to Google Apps customers.

Google notes that for users that came from Postini the new feature will be enabled automatically. You can learn more about the feature and how to enable it here. 

• Google Maps
• Google Street View
• campus
• tour
• school

Google Maps adds Street View for 36 new university campuses in US & Canada

Jordan Kahn Aug 7 2014 - 8:21 am PT

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Google announced today that it’s added Street View imagery for a long list of new university campuses in Google Maps. The new schools, which include campuses across the U.S. and Canada, are available to explore starting today. 

Google notes that these new additions add to the hundreds of school campuses you can already explore in Google Maps. It highlighted a few of the new campuses rolling out today in its announcement including Georgetown University, University of Miami, and the University of Regina in Canada.

To see if a Street View tour of your dream school is available, search for a particular university on Google Maps and click on Pegman to enter the Street View imagery. Visit our Street View gallery for global highlights and other popular universities around the world.

• Android
• Smartphone
• Sony
• IFA
• Berlin

Sony sends invites for IFA 2014 press event w/ hints at new devices

Jordan Kahn Aug 7 2014 - 7:15 am PT

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We already heard that Sony would be hosting its usual press event during IFA early next month, but today we get official confirmation with screenshots of press invites making their way online (ePrice via XperiaBlog).

As previously reported, the event is scheduled for September 3rd (the week of IFA conference in Berlin) and the invite seems to hint at device announcements for a new smartphone. There are also hints at other devices on the invite, including what looks like the QX lens-camera smartphone attachment that the company first launched at IFA last year. Samsung has also scheduled its IFA press conference for September 3 this year.

As always, we’ll be on hand at the event this year to bring you updates as they happen.

• Android
• Google
• Apps and Updates
• Gmail
• update

Gmail adds easy to find unsubscribe button next to sender’s address

Jordan Kahn Aug 6 2014 - 9:33 am PT

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Google announced today that it’s adding a new “unsubscribe” link at the top of emails in Gmail making it easy to unsubscribe from mailing lists. Most of us have hunted for the unsubscribe button in an email that marketers often bury at the bottom and make hard to find. Some users might have noticed the feature rolling out in recent weeks, but it appears Google has now made it live for all. 

Making the unsubscribe option easy to find is a win for everyone. For email senders, their mail is less likely to be marked as spam and for you, you can now say goodbye to sifting through an entire message for that one pesky link.

This new Gmail feature will get rid of that problem by detecting emails that include an unsubscribe link and putting an easy to access button right next to the sender’s email address. You’ll notice the option in Gmail’s Promotions, Social, and Forums inboxes.

• Android
• Apps and Updates
• Sony
• PlayStation
• support

Sony ends support for PlayStation Mobile on Android 4.4.3 & up

Jordan Kahn Aug 6 2014 - 6:26 am PT

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Sony announced rather unexpectedly today that it will be ending PlayStation Mobile for Android devices, its mobile gaming service integrated with PlayStation that currently comes with its “PlayStation Certified” Android devices.

The service will still exist on its PS Vita handheld and PS Vita TV, but the company will no longer guarantee support on devices running Android 4.4.3 and up, meaning users planning to upgrade to the upcoming Android L release this fall are out of luck.

It’s unclear what the motivation behind the move is, or whether or not Sony has other plans to somehow bring the long list of indie and classic PlayStation games offered through the service to Android gamers. Sony has an FAQ here about the change. 

• Android
• Apps and Updates
• Google Play
• update
• app

Amazon Seller app for merchants arrives for Android

Jordan Kahn Aug 1 2014 - 11:12 am PT

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Following a quiet launch for its Amazon Seller app for iOS devices back in March, today Amazon appears to have done the same for Android users. The Amazon Seller app is available on Google Play now allowing merchants selling goods through Amazon to manage their listings and interact with customers.

Use the Amazon Seller app for Android to help grow and manage your selling business on Amazon. The app’s mobile features make it easier than ever for you to quickly identify new selling opportunities on Amazon.com, list your items for sale, and respond to customer questions.

The Amazon Seller app is available for free on Google Play. A full list of features included in the initial release below:

Manage Inventory
Search, sort and filter your inventory items. Update prices and quantities on the go.

Search for new items to sell on Amazon
Check current prices, sales rank, and customer reviews of items on Amazon by using text search or scanning barcodes.

Estimate the profitability of your items before you sell
Add product cost information to see the estimated profitability of your items after primary Selling on Amazon and Fulfillment by Amazon (FBA) fees.

List your items for sale
Create listings on Amazon.com quickly and easily.

Respond to customer messages
Provide great customer service by responding to customer questions quickly with the app.

Support from Amazon
Have a question about selling on Amazon? Use the app to contact Seller Support.

Secure access to your Amazon Seller account
All activity is routed through Amazon’s servers.

• Android
• Samsung
• Galaxy Note 4
• event
• IFA

As expected, report says Samsung plans Sept. 3 IFA event for Galaxy Note 4 unveiling

Jordan Kahn Aug 1 2014 - 7:59 am PT

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With IFA in earlier September each year being the usual venue of a new Galaxy Note unveiling, it’s not much of a surprise that a new report claims Samsung is planning a Sept. 3 event for the upcoming Galaxy Note 4. The report comes from The Korea Times (via SamMobile), which notes that the company is planning to send out invites for the event any day now.

That would line up the event with the IFA tech conference in Berlin that week and follows a number of leaks for the device pointing to some unique features like an ultraviolet sensor. Other specs rumoured for the device include a 5.7-inch QHD (2560×1440) display, an Exynos 5433/Snapdragon 805 processor,  a 16-megapixel with a Sony IMX240 sensor and optical image stabilization, and 3GB of RAM.

We’ll be on hand for full coverage of the Samsung event at IFA next month.

• Android
• Apps and Updates
• Nexus 5
• HTC One M8
• update

Google Now Launcher now available for all Android 4.1+ devices

Jordan Kahn Aug 1 2014 - 7:44 am PT

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Update: Google says Now Launcher is available for all Android 4.1+ devices:

[tweet https://twitter.com/Android/status/495293118036447233]

It looks like the Google Now Launcher might soon be available on a long list of new devices as a small update to the app brings reports of expanded compatibility for a number of notable Android phones. AndroidCentral points us to users seeing compatibility with devices including the LG G3, Verizon’s Galaxy S5, the HTC One M8, One E8, One Mini 2, Desire 816, and the Huawei Ascend P7.

The expanded compatibility isn’t officially included in the release notes nor has Google officially made an announcement, but we expect to hear more shortly. The Google Now launcher, which was previously only available for Nexus and Google Play Edition devices, adds Google Now to the home screen for a more integrated experience with the OS.

The Google Now Launcher is available on Google Play here.

• Android
• Apps and Updates

Amazon Android Appstore expands to 41 new countries and territories

Jordan Kahn Aug 1 2014 - 7:27 am PT

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Amazon has announced it’s expanding the Amazon Appstore for Android apps to a long list of new countries including some big markets like Egypt, Indonesia, Singapore, and Turkey. The expansion brings the total number of country and territories the Appstore is available in to 236:

Publishing your Android app on Amazon means you can reach customers from around the world, including those in countries that were previously inaccessible… This expansion represents an opportunity for Amazon developers to target new areas in Africa, the Middle East, and Southeast Asia, including some of the most populous and connected nations in the world. Singapore, Indonesia, Saudi Arabia, Nigeria, Bangladesh, Egypt, and Turkey are just a few examples.

Amazon reminds developers that “all apps will not be approved to be published in all countries, based on local restrictions,” while apps will automatically be distributed to new areas if developers have opted to sell in all available countries and meet local restrictions.

The company has more information for developers on getting apps ready for the new countries here.

• Apps & Updates
• Android
• Apps and Updates

Hulu Plus Android app update offers users more free content including Hulu Originals

Jordan Kahn Jul 31 2014 - 11:17 am PT

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Hulu announced today that it’s updating its Android users to offer both smartphone and tablet users the ability to sample new content for free. 

That update means that on top of the free selection of current and past episodes the Hulu app already offered, non-subscribers also now get new free content from Hulu Originals, Anime, Kids, Movies and Latino libraries. The update will put the free content available in the Android app on par with what users get on the free, ad-supported version of Hulu on the web. 

As always, the full Hulu library is available in the same app only to Hulu Plus subscribers that pay $8/month. Hulu notes that users can now upgrade to Hulu Plus directly from within the Android app for access to the full selection of movies and TV shows. The updated app is available on Google Play now.

• Apps & Updates
• Android
• Apps and Updates
• Google Play
• app
• mobile

Crowdfunding service Indiegogo has an Android app on the way

Jordan Kahn Jul 31 2014 - 8:21 am PT

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Crowdfunding service Indiegogo is finally going mobile alongside the launch of a new look for its main website and a recent $40 million Series B funding round in January. While noting the platform’s traffic has doubled international on mobile over the last year, the company today launched its first mobile app for iPhone and iPod touch. Android users don’t get to join in on the fun today, but the company did sneak in a mention that an Android app is indeed in the queue:

Android App Is In Flight!.. We know that many of our funders and campaigners are on Android – ourselves included! We’re excited to bring our platform to Android devices everywhere… Sign up below and we’ll let you know as soon as it’s ready for you.

Those interested in learning more when the Android app is available can sign up here. We imagine the app will have many of the same features of the iOS version launched today, which includes the ability to both discover and support projects and manage campaigns you’ve launched.