Posts tagged media
bitbop for Android
Aug 22nd
Whether the topic is watching content on your cell phone, getting social with your viewing habits, or possible integration between your mobile gadget and living room entertainment center, television has become a very popular topic on tech and mobile blogs. And while most of this recent news has been centered around the television screen, there’s also a rising tide of information about accessing television content via cell phone. I recently had the chance to try out a new app and premium service called bitbop that provides access to new and popular content. Though in the beta stage at this point, I think you would be hard pressed to find competition in the Android Market that can offer a comparable selection of programming and audio/visual quality. Check it out in the video below:
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audiogalaxy repurposed for dead simple streaming
Aug 20th
There are several options for streaming your desk/laptop music library over the Internet to your mobile Android. Gmote was one of my faves for a while there, not only because of its long list of features unrelated to music, but because it was friendly with Windows, Mac, and Linux, to varying degrees. However, as much as I love the app and excellent support, GMote might be a bit complicated for the average consumer. Other solutions can be had at the moment, each with their own strengths and weaknesses, but I don’t believe any make Internet streaming as easy as audiogalaxy – the P2P file sharing software turned personal radio station.
Now, I can’t say I’ve tried the new audiogalaxy because they aren’t accepting new registrations at the moment. But lifehacker has written up the process, and it definitely sounds good enough to sign up for notification when new accounts become available. What’s great is that the host program runs on Windows or Mac (I suspect Linux users will be able to pull it off as well, using Wine or some hack). What’s greater is that the system is virtually platform agnostic when it comes to the receiving end. That is, dedicated apps exist for Android and iOS, but music can be streamed to any (capable) browser.
So you have your application on the server where you keep your stash and it scans your DRM-free tracks for playback. Install the Android app, sign in, and boom! Internet streaming made simple. At least that’s how it’s supposed to work out and I’m itching to try it. What about you all? Any DroidDog readers out there have an existing audiogalaxy account they can test this with and report back?
Via lifehacker
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Vignette Video Review
Aug 19th
Introducing Vignette, a popular camera replacement application for Android. It can be found on the Android Market for UK£2.99. This application is rich with features from flash settings, to editing the pre-set effects that the application comes with.
Enjoy!
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Nook for Android
Jul 22nd
Earlier today, Barnes & Noble officially announced the release of their app, “NOOK for Android.” Right on the heels of the Kindle app from Amazon, the NOOK app boasts all of the features you would normally get from the already android based NOOK device; You can shop the book store (including new releases, free classic titles, and best sellers), utilize 14 day digital lending, and more:
Read your way: Customize the eReading experience by choosing from eight font types and five sizes, read in landscape or portrait modes and lock the screen orientation.
Enjoy the read: The fun and immersive experience offers animated or sliding page turns, a navigation scroll bar, bookmarks and more.
Easy access to your content: Using the Library List view, see the cover art, sort and filter your eBooks by author, title or recent reads. Access rich product details for the selected eBook, including the synopsis and more books from that author.
Read across multiple devices: Android users can now complement their eReading experiences with Barnes & Noble’s other eReader experiences such as NOOK eBook Readers, previously announced eBook readers powered by the Barnes & Noble eBookstore, and a variety of other computing and mobile devices, including iPad, iPhone, iPod touch, BlackBerry® and HTC HD2™ smartphones, HP computers, PC and Mac®.
Pick up where you left off: Sync the last page read of the last eBook opened on an Android device with BN eReader (soon to be renamed NOOK) software-enabled devices including PC and iPad. Coming soon, both will sync with NOOK for iPhone and more devices to follow.
Follows the standard: Read eBooks formatted in ePub, quickly becoming the industry standard
The B&N NOOK for Android app is available in the Android Market for any device on 1.6 or higher now. What do you guys think? Will eReaders be able to compete in the mobile market when devices like your phone can do everything eReaders can and more? With the release of devices like the EVO and DROID X and their 4″ plus screens becoming standard, it’s starting to look glum. Amazon and B&N have definitely taken a step in the right direction by releasing apps to utilize these services right from your Android device. As far as the future of stand alone eReaders is concerned, only time will tell.
Via Android Guys
Press release below.
*****PRESS RELEASE*****
Barnes & Noble Introduces NOOK™ for Android™ –An Easy-to-Use Free eReader Application for Android Devices
Announcement Marks Shift to Consistent NOOK Branding Across Barnes & Noble eReading OfferingNew App Gives Android Users Access to the Barnes & Noble eBookstore with More than One Million Digital Titles and Personal B&N Digital Library
Only Android eReader Application to Offer eBook Lending
New York, New York – July 22, 2010 – Barnes & Noble, Inc. (NYSE: BKS), the world’s largest bookseller, today introduced NOOK for Android, a fun and easy-to-use Barnes & Noble eReading experience for those with Android-based smartphones and devices. The new application is the latest addition to Barnes & Noble’s slate of free, popular eReader software and the only Android eReader application offering the ability to share eBooks with friends.
The new Android app is also the first eReader software to feature Barnes & Noble’s new NOOK-centric branding, leveraging the strength of the company’s NOOK brand across its entire eReading offering. NOOK for Android will soon be followed by an updated NOOK for iPhone®, NOOK for iPad™, and others in the coming months. The new eReader software branding aligns with the company’s current NOOK offering – NOOK 3G and NOOK Wi-Fi® eBook Readers, and the recently announced NOOKstudy™ online study platform and software solution for higher education.
NOOK for Android offers those with devices using Android OS 1.6 and higher the ability to shop Barnes & Noble’s expansive eBookstore of more than one million eBooks, including new releases, bestsellers and free classics, and download titles in seconds. Any customer’s personal Barnes & Noble eBook library – purchased on a NOOK eBook Reader, online at BN.com or on another BN eReader-enabled device – will easily sync to their device in seconds so their library goes wherever they go.
NOOK for Android offers a fun and immersive eReading experience with the ability to customize text with many font styles and sizes, an easy-to-use navigation bar, reading in landscape and portrait modes, and graphical page turns. It is also the first Android eReader application to offer digital lending. Using Barnes & Noble’s unique LendMe™ technology, customers can easily share eligible eBooks for up to 14 days with friends, who can enjoy these digital titles on a NOOK eBook Reader, iPad, iPhone, iPod touch® and PC enabled with free BN eReader software.
“NOOK for Android is customizable, fun and easy to use and we’re excited to deliver the most-requested version of our free eReading software to the growing number of mobile customers using Android-based devices,” said Douglas Gottlieb, Vice President, Digital Products for Barnes & Noble.com. “Android customers can enjoy the great NOOK eReading experience on their mobile device, including access to our vast digital catalog and their personal B&N digital library at their finger tips. And, of course, Android users can now enjoy Barnes & Noble’s unique eBook lending feature to share their favorite eBooks with friends.”
Added Gottlieb, “With NOOK for Android, and the other renamed software to follow, customers can also easily recognize and have confidence in Barnes & Noble’s NOOK brand to provide them with a fun and easy-to-use eReading experience on any device of their choosing.”
Key features available in NOOK for Android include:
· Shop Barnes & Noble’s vast eBookstore: Search, explore and browse through more than one million digital titles at www.bn.com/ebooks directly by touching Shop Books from the Library. There are more than a half-million free eBooks available and free samples are offered for all eBooks. Learn more about titles from thousands of editorial and customer reviews. Pick a current bestseller, a classic or anything in between and download it wirelessly in seconds.
· Access your personal B&N digital library: All eBooks purchased through the Barnes & Noble eBookstore sync in seconds and are ready to read in your Library.
· Lend to friends: NOOK for Android is the only Android eReading app that offers eBook sharing with friends.
· Read your way: Customize the eReading experience by choosing from eight font types and five sizes, read in landscape or portrait modes and lock the screen orientation.
· Enjoy the read: The fun and immersive experience offers animated or sliding page turns, a navigation scroll bar, bookmarks and more.
· Easy access to your content: Using the Library List view, see the cover art, sort and filter your eBooks by author, title or recent reads. Access rich product details for the selected eBook, including the synopsis and more books from that author.
· Read across multiple devices: Android users can now complement their eReading experiences with Barnes & Noble’s other eReader experiences such as NOOK eBook Readers, previously announced eBook readers powered by the Barnes & Noble eBookstore, and a variety of other computing and mobile devices, including iPad, iPhone, iPod touch, BlackBerry® and HTC HD2™ smartphones, HP computers, PC and Mac®.
· Pick up where you left off: Sync the last page read of the last eBook opened on an Android device with BN eReader (soon to be renamed NOOK) software-enabled devices including PC and iPad. Coming soon, both will sync with NOOK for iPhone and more devices to follow.
· Follows the standard: Read eBooks formatted in ePub, quickly becoming the industry standard.
Those signing up for a new BN.com account when downloading the new application, will also find three Barnes & Noble Classics Series eBooks – Dracula, Little Women and Pride & Prejudice – in their libraries, along with samples of two current bestselling eBooks.
NOOK for Android is now available at www.bn.com/nookforandroid. Barnes & Noble continually enhances its eReader software and will add new features to its Android offering this summer including highlights and notes, a search library and look-up feature, library grid-view and more. For more information on free BN eReader (soon to be renamed NOOK) software and apps, please visit www.bn.com/ebooks/download-reader.asp.
The Barnes & Noble Digital Library Advantage
Barnes & Noble’s Lifetime Library™ helps ensure that Barnes & Noble customers will always be able to access their digital libraries on a variety of devices as well as on BN.com. In addition, Barnes & Noble’s use of ePub format and Adobe technology allows customers to read all of their digital content across a growing universe of devices.
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Audible for Android open beta
Jul 21st
For those of you who don’t know what Audible is, let’s take a quick second to go over that. Actually, let’s let Audible.com take a quick second to go over that:
“What Is Audible?
We’re active listeners who enjoy stories well told.And we’re your destination for the widest selection of digital audiobooks available for download.
Come join the millions of listeners who’ve discovered a new way to receive the entertainment, information, and knowledge they seek. In addition to audiobooks, we’re home to magazines, radio shows, podcasts, stand-up comedy, and speeches from icons who shape our culture, politics, and business world. We feature the best narrators interpreting books by top authors.
How can vocal inflection—a pause, a breath, a smile you can feel through your headphones—add to your experience of the latest best sellers and timeless classics?
Find out by downloading an audio program now.
And listen for yourself.”
Heh, a smile you can feel through your headphones… Essentially, Audible hooks you up with digital books-on-tape, and gives you multiple options on how you choose to listen to them. You may remember Audible for Android coming up a few months ago when Breon got an invite to the private beta. Well the Audible app for Android is officially in the market yet, but open beta has started. You can jump on over to a Google groups for the beta now, and if you’re signed up, download away. For more information on Audible, visit Audible.com. That’s where you’ll find pricing info as well as how to start an account. Is anyone out there going to try this? Let us know how it works out in the comments.
Via Audible
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MKB Reviews: Fox News
Jul 19th
Good morning! Today we’ll be taking a look at the new Fox News Channel release to the Android Market, their Fox News Application. There has been plenty of chat about whether or not the Fox News articles really are ‘fair and balanced,’ as the splash screen says, but that’s not the main focus of this review. We’ll be taking a look at the user interface of an application that has come straight from the developers, through the beta stage, and into the marketplace.
First of all the application has a nice clean, professional look to it. It’ll look good on just about any phone, however performance is a completely different issue that will be covered later. Similar to the USA Today App, which hasn’t been reviewed yet by DroidDog, the Fox News App features a tabbed news interface at the top, sorting your news into Articles | Videos | Slideshows | Shows | Favorites. Furthermore, beneath these 5 tabs you can continue to filter news into a ton of categories using a scrolling slider bar. Some of thse sub-categories include ‘Top Stores,’ ‘Entertainment,’ ‘Sci/Tech,’ ‘Sports,’ and more. This is, in my opinion, one of the most efficient and unobtrusive ways to sort through news and read it on a daily basis. You can check out my NewsRob App Review for an example of another news-reading application that actually aggregates news from a variety of sources. (cont.)
There is unfortunately no widget to go with this application, but the app still allows you to stay on top of breaking news by visiting the applications and either turning on or off background notifications. Some news aggregating apps have been notorious for hogging and draining Android phones’ batteries because of their need to constantly check for new stores in the background. The Fox news application hasn’t degraded my battery life at all, but it may help to look into a process manager application to help you kill unnecessary tasks from chomping into your battery life when you’re not using your phone. (cont.)
Like I mentioned earlier, the one issue I’d say is something to work on by the Fox App developing team is performance. Any news app has to pull in a large amount of data and images in the background and it can be difficult to streamline this process. The Fox app runs fairly smoothly on the Motorola Droid and is extremely snappy on the Motorola Droid X I’m testing. I’m unsure, however, how this device would perform on some lower end phones like the Droid Eris or the HTC Desire. Keep that in mind when ’shopping around’ for a news reader application for your Android device. Be sure to check out the accompanying YouTube video for more information on this.
Speaking of shopping, this application is [thankfully] completely free in the app store, and can be found by either searching ‘Fox News’ in the Android market or by scanning the QR code below this article.
If you want to see more of the videos I make on a weekly basis you can check out my Youtube Channel
Thanks!
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TiPb talking iPhone 4 press conference on ABC15 Phoenix
Jul 16th
I had the pleasure earlier this morning to speak briefly about Apple’s upcoming iPhone 4 press conference with Kirk Yuhnke of ABC15 news in Phoenix, AZ. Will Steve Jobs be there? What action will Apple take?
Check out the video after the jump and join us for the live meta-blog starting soon.
TiPb talking iPhone 4 press conference on ABC15 Phoenix is a story by TiPb. This feed is sponsored by The iPhone Blog Store.
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