Month: May 2013

Facebook launches verified accounts for pages and profiles

Facebook has launched verified pages and profiles, to make it easier to identify the authentic accounts of celebrities and companies on the social network. Verified accounts will get a small blue check mark next to their names, just like verified accounts on Twitter.

According to the announcement in the Facebook Newsroom, Verified accounts will be used for a small group of ‘prominent public figures’ and organizations with large audiences. So don’t expect to get a check next to your name unless you really are famous! Verified accounts apply to both profiles and pages.

Users can report fake accounts using the settings box that appears on a profile or page Timeline.

Verified accounts should help to stop some of the annoying spam that spreads through Facebook, pretending to be from famous people or groups. It’s not the first idea it has borrowed from Twitter, as you can already use ‘@’ tagging. There are rumors that Twitter’s iconic hashtag system could also be on its way. As that already works with Instagram, owned by Facebook, it would not be a huge surprise.

[Source: Facebook Newsroom]

Windows 8.1 will have a Start Button and boot to desktop mode

Windows 8.1 will have the Start Button, according to Paul Thurrot’s Supersite for Windows. The Start Button is one of the biggest requests from Windows 8 users, and as we reported earlier this month, Microsoft said it was listening to feedback for the first major update to the radical new operating system.

The option to boot directly to desktop is also present in Windows 8.1 (previously known as Windows Blue) , which means you will have the option to bypass the Windows 8 Modern User Interface and go straight to the classic Windows desktop.

Thurrot also claims you will be able to set your own wallpaper for the new start screen. These features were seen in the latest ‘Milestone’ preview of Windows 8.1. We’ll see Windows 8.1 at Microsoft’s developers conference in June, while it is expected to be released after the summer.

[Source and images: Paul Thurrot’s Supersite for Windows]

Ubisoft announces E3 lineup, with Assassin’s Creed IV Black Flag and more

At Ubisoft’s E3 conference on June 10th, it will show Assassin’s Creed IV Black Flag, Rayman Legends, South Park: The Stick of Truth, Tom Clancy’s Splinter Cell Blacklist, Watch Dogs and more.

We already know lots about Assassin’s Creed IV, but E3 will be the first time we get to try the game. Its pirate world looks really atmospheric and beautifully realized, and I can’t wait to see if the gameplay is up to the high standards of the trailers so far.


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Watch Dogs is an open world tech-thriller set in Chicago. A surprise announcement at E3 2012, it’s one of the most highly anticipated new titles on the horizon. First impressions draw comparisons to Grand Theft Auto, but Watch Dogs is clearly a more serious and darker game, with some really interesting gameplay ideas.


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South Park: The Stick of Truth is a role playing game based on the controversial cartoon series. It looks like a satire of fantasy role playing games, which could be hilarious, although other South Park games have definitely disappointed so far.

Check back for our full coverage of E3 2013 from June 10th.

Google Play Music for Android adds track removal and deletion

Google Play Music’s Android app update after Google I/O 2013 contained a big user interface change along with the US roll out of All Access. The app didn’t have many options that Google claimed it would have during the keynote, but today’s update has added some key features that users require.

The first is the ability to delete tracks from the app which wasn’t even available before All Access launched. Google Play Music also adds the ability to remove from ‘My Library” and sharing or adding songs to a playlist from the ‘Now Playing’ screen.

These updates add some really necessary features that have been missing from the Android app since it’s launch. Previously you always had to log into Google Play Music to manipulate tracks in your account.

Google Play Music’s update will be rolling out today for users.

[Source: Android Community, Google Play Store | Download: Google Play Music]

[Updated] Google Calendar for Android updates to highlight events with color

Google Calendar is a great alternative to the stock calendar app installed on Android devices. With the ability to display multiple calendars from different accounts as well as syncing with your web-based Google Calendar, the app is very easy to customize and manage events.

The new update that is rolling out to Android 4.1 (4.2.1) and higher allows you to customize events with different colors directly from the device. Another update is a redesigned date and time selection tool. Add in the redesigned timezone and improved repeating event tool, Google Calendar is becoming the calendar app that Android users should use.

The only problem is that the limited Android OS support means that many users will not be able to experience the newly updated app.

Updated : Android Official Blog originally stated the update was only available for Android 4.2.1 and higher.

[Source: Android Official Blog | Download: Google Calendar]

Google opens “early access line” in San Francisco for Google Shopping Express

Google hasn’t talked much about Google Shopping and it hasn’t been heavily promoted outside of the app and Google Offers.

Google is now opening invites for Google Shopping Express in the San Francisco Bay Area. The most interesting part of this beta is that it offers a free 6 month membership for same-day delivery.

There’s been a lot of talk about Amazon and same-day delivery in the San Francisco Bay Area with the construction of a local Amazon distribution center, but this is a sign that Google is taking shopping very seriously before Amazon’s construction is complete.

Not much is known about the service so far except that currently a select number of retailers are participating and Google is asking for more in the San Francisco area to take part of this beta test.

[Source: Google Shopping Express]

Twitter updates for better photo sharing, composing, and location

Twitter updated its iOS and Android apps today to make sending tweets easier and faster.

The updates across both platforms are:

Accounts

  • See a preview of your tweet with avatar and username to see how it appears before posting
  • Switch accounts in drafts by tapping on the avatar

Photos

  • Adds full preview of photo instead of cropped version
  • Share photos directly from app instead of opening gallery

Location

  • Add or remove location from tweets directly from drafts

Android gets an extra update with improved rich notifications showing more information from tweets in the Notification drawer. The interface of Twitter for Android also has a small update to look much more streamlined.

The update is available for Android and iOS devices now.

[Source: Twitter | Download: Android & iOS]

Verizon Samsung Galaxy SIII updates for Multi Window and other improvements

Samsung’s TouchWiz Nature UI is one of the most used Android skins. With the popularity of the SIII and Galaxy Note II, there are a lot of users who use Samsung’s skin.

Originally on the Galaxy Note II, Samsung revealed that Multi Window and Multi Screen support would be ported to the flagship device and it is now available through the software update.

Verizon has begun to push a new software update (JZO54K.I535VRBMD3) to the SIII to add a lot of improvements to the device.

Some of the more interesting parts of the update include:

  • Use two apps simultaneously with Multi Screen and Multi Window
  • ‘Bill to my Verizon Wireless Account when buying apps from Google Play
  • Pick the perfect picture from five burst shots with ‘Best Shot’

Other updates include:

  • Fixed an web browsing that caused the device to reset
  • All devices can now receive OTA software updates
  • Voice recognition performance is improved with S Voice
  • NFC is now easier to turn on
  • Flipboard is now a preloaded app

The update is 129 MB, but doesn’t include an update to Android 4.2.

You can read the whole list of updates here.

[Source: Verizon Samsung Galaxy SIII Support Page]

Google simplifying Gmail with category organization

Google’s Gmail hasn’t changed much over the years other than quietly increasing storage space up to 10 GB. Today, Google displayed a new interface to Gmail by allowing users to group mail into categories. You could already create filters to automatically sort your mail, but the new scheme prioritizes messages.

With mail tabs for primary, social, promotions, and updates, you can easily sort your Gmail inbox into specific categories. It’s not as automatic as you think because you will still have to customize it a bit by setting senders to specific tabs.

The new layout can also have an effect of Google Now, which has integration with your Gmail account, to find more information for package tracking and other relevant information that can be shown through Google Now’s cards.

Mobile apps will also be receiving the update and the Primary tab will be the first tab to view when opening the app. Google is integrating this new interface throughout all their apps from Google Play Music, Google+, and Hangouts.

Google isn’t requiring the switch to be mandatory because if you don’t like the new layout, you can switch back to the classic Gmail layout at any time. The update has a gradual release and it can be expected “within the next few weeks” for users.

[Source: Gmail Blog]

Spotify makes finding music personalized and social with Discover

Spotify has launched a new service called Discover, that aims to make finding new music easier and personalized. Discover was announced in December, and has been available in a limited beta since last month. The service includes personalized recommendations, which is a good thing as finding new music on Spotify has never been as easy as it should be.


Discover features a news feed that includes new releases by artists you follow and tour dates too. The music recommendations are endless, based on what you’re currently listening to. Spotify is also rolling out its Audio Preview feature, which allows you to check a new song without navigating away from what you’re listening to at the time.

Discover is available now on the Spotify web player, and it will be gradually rolled out to your desktop and mobile apps. Spotify will notify you when the update is ready.

[Source: Spotify Blog]