Saturday, March 8, 2014

Software : Pebble watch app store finally opens up to Android

Software : Pebble watch app store finally opens up to Android

Pebble watch app store finally opens up to Android

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Pebble watch app store finally opens up to Android

The Pebble Android app has been updated to version 2.0, which adds several important features, including access to the Pebble smartwatch's watchapp directory.

Now users on Android can browse apps with ease and install them on their Pebble watches with a single tap.

In TechRadar's Pebble review we suggested that the inexpensive and highly customizable wearable is "the Linux of smartwatches," and having access to the app directory on your phone makes it even easier to make it your own.

Available apps include Foursquare, Yelp, eBay, Plex and Runtastic Pro, among others. Users can browse categories like essential apps and popular watch faces.

Better late than iOS-exclusive

These improvements were added to the iOS app in February, and Android users have had to wait almost a month to enjoy them fully.

But the smartwatch's app directory isn't the only improvement in the Pebble 2.0 app.

Android users' Pebble notifications are now stored on their phones as well so they can scroll back through prior alerts, and they can also now browse their downloaded and installed Pebble apps in the watchapp locker.

In addition the UI design has been "completely revamped and improved."

Pebble's Android app store beta got off to a rocky start, but it sounds like the latest update might be exactly what it needed.

Got the feels? Google Glass app can recognize emotions

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Got the feels? Google Glass app can recognize emotions

A new prototype Google Glass app looks set to reignite the privacy debate thanks to its purported abilities to recognise human facial emotions and facial expressions.

San Diego start-up Emotient has announced its sentient Sentiment Analysis application, which it claims can identify positive, negative and neutral emotions of anyone who happens to step into Glass' field of vision.

It can also identify deeper emotions such as surprise, joy and disgust (that's when the person realises they're being ogled by Google Glass).

The software can also tell if you're elated, confused or frustrated, according to Emotient, which claims none of the data will be stored, only used by the wearer in real time.

Getting Glassed

The app comes amid a flurry of controversy surrounding facial recognition on Google Glass. The company itself has banned them for the time being.

Google wants strong privacy measures in place before the Glass camera can be utilised to pick out individuals, but that's likely to be a while in coming.

Emotient claimed retailers looking to improve customer service may be among those finding its app more useful. Because that's all we need isn't it? A bunch of snooty Abercrombie and Fitch lackeys judging reactions to every overpriced item.

We wonder whether if the Sentiment Analysis app can recognise our, 'You're about to get a slap, mate!' face?

Samsung pours a tall glass of ad-free streaming with Milk Music app

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Samsung pours a tall glass of ad-free streaming with Milk Music app

Samsung is taking another crack at the streaming music business with its new release, the Milk Music app.

The app is situated in for free the Google Play Store and exclusively for Galaxy Devices, like the Galaxy S5 and Galaxy Note 3. The Korean device maker claimed users can jump into any genre within a few seconds.

Samsung said there are no ads whatsoever to interrupt users from listening to the curated music library of over 13 million songs. However, an asterisk in the app description reveals Milk's ad-free-ness is only for a limited time. There's no word on when ads will start to appear.

From a large porthole-shaped control users can tune into over 200 genre stations. Along with the nifty interface, the dial lets users to switch between stations without having to wait for the music to buffer.

Milk Music can pull this trick off because it downloads the first eight seconds of every song from the nine selectable genres shown on the interface. From the basic genres users can drill down into sub-genres, such as post modern and grunge from "rock."

Rock it out

Samsung, Samsung Galaxy devices, Milk Music app, apps, streaming music, NewstrackWhile Milk Music doesn't currently have any ads, users are given a limited number of skips. Six to be exact, putting it right in line with other services including Pandora, Last.fm and iTunes Radio.

There's also an option to bookmark songs. Like Spotify and Pandroa, users can fine tune radio stations based on popularity, novelty and song favorites.

It'll be intriguing to see whether Milk flies off the shelves or spoils given the over-flooding streaming music market.

Samsung's app may face an extra challenge as it's particularly closed off, running exclusively the company's Galaxy devices and having availability only in the United States for now.
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