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BetaNews.Com (6 non lus)

Nope, Microsoft isn't getting into Android with a Cyanogen investment

Publié: mars 14, 2015, 7:18pm CET par Mark Wilson

A little while back rumors surfaced suggesting that Microsoft was on the verge of investing in Android. Not directly, you understand, but via Cyanogen Inc. In August, Cyanogen Inc met with Satya Nadella but it seems that the talks amounted to nothing.

The company is on the verge of raising $110 million of financing, but Microsoft will not be involved. According to a report by Bloomberg, Microsoft will not be contributing to the funding, but could still be interested in perusing commercial ventures with Cyanogen Inc to help push Microsoft apps onto more Android devices.

Bloomberg says that Microsoft is not interested in investing in Cyanogen, and this is likely because the company does not want to shift its focus to far away from Windows 10 and Windows 10 for Phones. While Microsoft has been criticized for not bringing its own apps to Windows Phone fast enough -- it is quite common for iPhones and Android handsets to get new apps faster -- it seems the draw of the larger market of iOS and Android users is too much to resist.

At the moment, as is the norm, no one from either Microsoft or Cyanogen Inc is talking about what is happening, or what may be to come. That said, Bloomberg quotes sources close to the talks as saying that Microsoft is still keen to come to an arrangement that would help to get its software included in Cyanogen's Android builds.

Photo credit: drserg / Shutterstock
Windows Repair 3.0 debuts Pro version, new PC fixes

Publié: mars 14, 2015, 4:13pm CET par Mike Williams

Tweaking.com has announced the release of Windows Repair v3.0.0 and Windows Repair Portable v3.0.0, the latest editions of its one-stop troubleshooting toolkit.

The package now comes in both Free and Pro editions. This doesn't affect the free version much -- nothing has been taken away, there are no nag screens -- but the $19.95 Pro build includes extras like performance tweaks, better disk cleanup and custom scripting support.

Both editions now open with an optional Pre-Repair Scan which checks your PC for damaged Windows Packages, invalid or missing reparse points, orphaned environment variables and more.

A separate Repair Environment Variables tool can restore missing defaults and remove duplicate or invalid paths.

The interface has been reorganized, making it easier to find what you need.

The official release announcement also says there are many new repairs, improvements to the existing fixes and a "huge amount of code changes".

Windows Repair v3.0.0 and Windows Repair Portable v3.0.0 are available now for Windows XP and later.
Buy an Xbox One now at Sam's Club, save $100

Publié: mars 14, 2015, 2:14pm CET par Alan Buckingham

The Xbox One has been on the market for a little over a year and, despite a slight sales lag behind Sony's console offering, it seems to be a success. Microsoft is attempting to do all in its power to get you to buy its gaming system / home entertainment box, the company is desperate to invade the living room because it senses that real money lurks there.

The software giant has even gone so far as to release a non-Kinect version, which it prices at $399, a full hundred bucks beneath the original product. However, if that's not enough to satisfy your needs then Sam's Club, the discount warehouse, can do one better.

Yes, you can get the latest Microsoft console for $299, knocking off $100 from the regular price. You can always add a Kinect later if you choose to -- it does add to the functionality of the box. And, it's for much more than games, working with entertainment as well.

You'll get one controller along with the console and the price can't be beat. But you may want to hurry, as the deal ends May 2nd and the stores we checked listed a mix of "out of stock" and "low stock". If you can't grab one there then Microsoft Store online is offering $50 off, bringing the price to $349.
Source: Music streaming app MixRadio releasing on Android and iOS 'soon' -- Android beta in testing

Publié: mars 14, 2015, 9:42am CET par Manish Singh

Source tells BetaNews that MixRadio -- currently exclusively available on Microsoft’s Windows Phone -- will "soon" make its way to Google’s Android and Apple’s iOS mobile platforms. An executive at the music platform -- who asked not to be identified -- didn’t wish to confirm the development at this stage, but noted that the company recently quietly released an Android beta to select testers.

MixRadio offers free music streaming curated in a radio-like way. Available in 31 countries including US, China, and India, the service is estimated to have millions of users -- though the exact numbers have never been disclosed. The on-demand music streaming has been rebranded and restructured a couple of times since its launch in 2007 by Nokia. It was formerly known as OVI Music Store, Nokia Music Store, and also Nokia Music.

MixRadio was bought by Microsoft last year as part of its multi-billion deal to acquire Nokia’s Devices and Services divisions. The Redmond-based company, however, later sold the streaming app to Line -- a company best known for its instant messenger client by the same name -- for an undisclosed amount.

We tested MixRadio’s Android beta and were rather pleased with the offerings. The app, much like its Windows Phone counterpart, is ad-supported, but there are several noticeable visual changes in the user interface. The app supports gesture commands, letting you easily navigate through lists of playlists. MixRadio lets you add your favorite artists to your "My Mix" playlist, and based on your taste in music will suggest several relevant artists. While the app ran quite seamlessly for the most part, being in the beta stage, it didn't shy from throwing random errors every once in a while.

MixRadio is likely to gain huge traction when it launches on Microsoft’s rival platforms. After parting its way with Microsoft, Nokia (the divisions of the Finland-based company which weren’t sold to Microsoft) released its mapping and navigation service HERE on Android. In less than six months since launch on Google’s mobile operating system, the app has been downloaded more than 4 million times. Nokia relaunched the app on iOS as beta earlier this week.

Are you a big MixRadio user? Excited to see it arrive on Android? Share your thoughts in the comment section below.

LaCie unveils USB Type-C Porsche Design HDD for ChromeBook Pixel and MacBook

Publié: mars 14, 2015, 3:31am CET par Brian Fagioli

IA_Porsche Design PKG_Carrera

Apple seems to be getting a lot of credit for the USB Type-C frenzy, but this is very misplaced. You see, the Chromebook Pixel -- with two of the ports -- was in the hands of reviewers weeks before the new MacBook (with its one measly port) was announced. Before the Pixel, however, Type-C was already long in development. Hell, BetaNews covered an MSI motherboard with the connector in January; months before Apple announced its $1,300 OS X ~~netbook~~ laptop. No individual company -- not Google, Apple nor MSI -- should get sole credit. The USB consortium got it standardized and ultimately approved in August of 2014.

Expect to see a lot of USB Type-C products in 2015 as there is a scramble to capitalize on early-adopters. LaCie is one of the first companies to have an honest to goodness product with the connector. Besides having the new connector, it is sexy and well-designed (as are all products in the Porsche Design line). However, is it necessary?

"The LaCie Mobile Drive features a USB–C port -- the user–friendly connector of the future. This new technology makes the LaCie Mobile Drive incredibly easy to connect, since both ends of the cable are identical and the connector is reversible. As a result, there is no need to worry about which end goes to which device or about plugging it in upside down", says LaCie.

The company further explains, "the LaCie Mobile Drive blends form and function, resulting in a product that looks and works great. Its USB 3.0 interface delivers up to 100 MB/s, which lets users quickly back up or exchange photos and videos with friends. The LaCie Mobile Drive also features an enclosure made from 3 mm–thick solid aluminum. This gives users the confidence to slip the product into their laptop bag and hit the road".

IA_Porsche Design_Port

LaCie lists the following specs:

Interface :	USB-C (USB 3.0) USB 2.0 and USB 3.0 Type-A compatible using included adapter cable

Interface Transfer Rate :	USB 3.0: up to 5 Gb/s USB 2.0: up to 480 Mb/s

Dimensions :	500 GB: 79 x 128 x 11 mm / 3.1 x 5 x 0.4 in. 1 and 2 TB: 77 x 130 x 15 mm / 3 x 5.1 x 0.6 in.

Weight :	500 GB: 182 g / 6.4 oz. 1 and 2 TB: 240 g / 8.5 oz.

System Requirements :	Computer with USB-C or Type-A port Latest version of Mac OS X 10.5 and later (LaCie Private-Public software requires Mac Intel processor) / Windows Vista, Windows 7, Windows 8 Minimum free disk space: 600 MB recommended

Box Content :	LaCie Porsche Design Mobile Drive USB-C to USB-C cable USB-C to USB Type-A adapter cable Quick Install Guide Complete Software Suite: LaCie Private-Public, LaCie Backup Assistant, Eco Mode

Sounds good right? I am sure it is a very nice drive. The question becomes, why not just use an adapter cable with an existing hard drive? Think about it. If you do buy a machine such as the MacBook with only one USB Type-C connection, it doesn't matter what type of connector is on the drive, as long as the other end of the cable is Type-C, right? A mechanical hard drive doesn't need USB 3.1, so even though it is Type-C, it is still only USB 3.0. You will not see a speed benefit here.

Included in the box is an adapter cable to use on Type-A connectors. While that is appreciated, other than future-proofing, why buy this if you don't have a computer with Type-C?

Seen Above: The 500GB drive is more svelte than the 1TB and 2TB versions

If you absolutely need a new portable drive, it may make sense to buy this; however, pricing has not yet been announced and I expect LaCie will charge an "early adopter fee". In other words, this stylish drive will not likely be affordable. Quite frankly, if you already have a portable hard drive, it would be silly to buy this instead of an adapter; save your money.

With all of that said, the drive is extremely pretty; some people are willing to pay for aesthetics. Plus, there is a nerdy cool-factor of being the first person on your block to have a Type-C hard drive.

Hopefully price and availability will be revealed soon.

YouTube adds support for interactive 360-degree video uploads

Publié: mars 14, 2015, 1:19am CET par Mark Wilson

If you've splashed out on a fancy 360-degree camera, you can now use YouTube as a platform to show off your footage. It's something that Google promised back at the start of the year, and it has finally come to fruition. Rather than restricting viewers to watching the action that's happening in one direction, these immersive video allow you to look around in every direction as if you were there.

There are already a number of videos online to check out, and it’s a method of recording that lend itself perfectly to concerts, sporting events and the like. 360-degree videos are best enjoyed through virtual reality headset, but desktop and mobile users have not been forgotten.

For the majority of people who watch 360-degree videos without a headset, simple on-screens can be used to navigate around. Android users can pan around videos augmented-reality-style -- just hold up your phone or tablet running the YouTube app and move it around to change the viewing angle. There are already a number of cameras out there, or due soon, that can be used to shoot 360-degree footage including Bublcam, Giroptic’s 360cam, IC Real Tech’s Allie, Kodak’s SP360 and RICOH THETA.

Google is keen for uploaders to come up with interesting ways of using the technology.

You could let viewers see the stage and the crowd of your concert, the sky and the ground as you wingsuit glide, or you could even have a choose-your-own-adventure video where people see a different story depending on where they look. Only you know what’s possible.

You can test out the immersive 360-degree experience in the video below:

Photo credit: james weston / Shutterstock