Game Publishers 2K Games today announced that they would be releasing the original BioShock game in the iOS App Store before the end of this summer. The franchise has gained worldwide acclaim on its console version ever since video game developers Irrational Games released it for the PlayStation and Xbox platforms way back in 2007.
Bioshock will be available on select iOS devices
Irrational and 2K confirmed that this mobile version will feature all of the first-person shooter action found in the original title. Gamers will play through the game in the underwater city of Rapture, and the story will be the same as the original. BioShock’s mobile implementation will sport an iOS-tuned control scheme, and the graphics have been tweaked to run smoothly on iOS devices, according to Polygon.
BioShock isn’t the first video game franchise that is porting their game to mobile devices. The likes of EA Sports, Rockstar Games and other famed developers have also released mobile version of their popular titles like FIFA, Madden, GTA and others.
As with other recent console ports, the shooter will ship with support for iOS-connected game controllers that support Apple’s “Made for iPhone” scheme.
BioShock will be available in Apple’s App Store this summer. 2K Games did not give an exact price for the title but said it will be a “premium priced mobile game.” It will be compatible with the iPad Air, iPad Mini with Retina Display, iPad 4th generation, iPhone 5C, iPhone 5S, and iPhone 5. The game will not work on earlier Apple devices.
Apple today released the iOS 8 Beta 5 to developers, two weeks after releasing the fourth beta update and two months since introducing the new mobile operating system at the Worldwide Developers Conference. The update, build 12A4345d, is available through Apple’s over-the-air updating mechanism on iOS devices and can also be downloaded via the iOS Developer Center. Apple has also released a new Apple TV software beta update.
iOS 8 introduces a range of new features, including improved integration with OS X through Continuity, a Health app, Family Sharing features, interactive notifications, a new QuickType Keyboard and improvements to several apps like Safari, Mail, and Messages. Each beta update thus far has brought refinements and additional features to iOS 8, with beta 4, for example, bringing a new Tips app and a redesigned Control Center, among other improvements.
Currently, iOS 8 is only available to registered developers, but the operating system is expected to be released to the public this fall after several beta iterations. We may be getting close to the end of the beta testing period, however, as one rumor has suggested iOS 8 beta 5 may be the final beta version while another indicates it’s the second-to-last beta before a golden master.
The 269 MB download, which can be accessed via the iOS Developer Center, is just the latest in a string of developer updates for iOS 8 since it was first released a couple of months ago.
What are you looking forward to most in the final Beta version of iOS 8?
Snooping by government agencies is one of the major concerns of people using technology today. Even the people in the highest echelons of power and security have been a victim of this act of unwarranted infringement of privacy. It has been reported recently that the analysts at NSA would frequently trade around personal images, mostly in compromising situations around their workplace. This kind of revelation encourages people to look for encryption services which can help keep their content absolutely safe. In comes SIGNAL for the rescue.
Signal is an iPhone app created by Open Whisper Systems. The nonprofit had previously brought encryption apps for Android called Redphone to secure phone conversations and TextSecure for encrypted messages. Now they bring their encryption might to iOS.
The app is fairly simple to install. You need to punch in a one-time activation code. Like other communication apps the app saves the contacts that have been entered once and shows the contacts which can be contacted using the app.
To ensure that the encryption has taken place and the communication is secure; both sides have a word on their screens. The users have to exchange this on screen word to verify the encryption. If the connection is not secure the words will not match.
The organization intends to provide encrypted communication medium to all. They will soon add text messaging capability to Signal thereby making a unified app for private conversation.
One of the major concern that is not being addressed is what if the app is misused by criminal and Anti social elements. We still remember how the London riots were fueled in through BBM messengers. So the company which is doing a good work for the citizens has to come out with a transparent document as to how they will prevent harm to the said citizens from themselves. Sometimes a good tool can become a monstrous weapon.
Overall this is a fantastic tool for folks who want to prevent eavesdroppers from dropping on their communication, may it be from governments or unscrupulous elements. Its potential for harm needs to be understood and addressed as soon as possible.
Remember watching the Predator and thinking how cool it would be to see the world around you in thermal imaging? Though the technology has been around for quite a while and has been proactively used by militaries around the world. And we know consumer versions have been out for the benefit of campers and hikers, but nothing can come close to what FLIR ONE claims to offer.
FLIR ONE lets you use your iPhone as a thermal imaging camera. All you need to do is get the FLIR ONE case and the companion app and you are good to go do some predating. The FLIR ONE case itself comes with a thermal imaging camera which slides on behind the iPhone. The case is good to look at and bulks up your phone by just 110 grams and also makes the phone look good.
The case brings thermal imaging right on your phone
The technology can come handy in day to day use too and is not just limited for the outdoorsy folks. It can help people living in cold areas to find thermal leaks and make their heating more efficient. It will make it a lot easier to find your lost pet at night; it might make you feel a predator looking for its prey. It can also be used for driving on a foggy or rainy day.
FLIR ONE also has options for time lapse capture, paint and panorama functions. Apple might bring the time lapse feature with the iOS 8 update which might challenge the developers of this app to compete with Apple’s official offerings.
FLIR ONE will be available on Apple Stores and online retail portal in August. The pre-orders on the website will begin tomorrow. The case comes in Space Gray and will come with silver or gold versions later. It costs $349.99 and at this price only the serious enthusiasts will give it a try. Android users may have to wait for a while before they have an thermal imaging case, but maybe soon the technology might arrive pre-built into the future mobile phones.
Apple released its third quarterly results and it looks good for the company. The Cupertino based tech giant saw quarterly revenue of $37.4 billion and quarterly net profit of $7.7 billion, or $1.28 per diluted share. This growth was mostly powered by iPads, Mac sales and services. The Earning Per Share (EPS) has increased grown by 20 percent. The company saw an increase of about $2 billion in revenue over last year’s $35.3 billion with net profit of $6.9 billion.
The Gross margin also increased to 39.4 percent compared to 36.9 percent from last year. International sales accounted for 59% of this quarter’s revenue.
These favorable figures lead the board of directors to declare a cash dividend of $0.47 per share of Apple’s common stock.
With Yosemite and iOS 8, the future looks good for Apple
Apple’s CEO Tim Cook sounded rather elated when he said “Our record June quarter revenue was fueled by strong sales of iPhone and Mac and the continued growth of revenue from the Apple ecosystem, driving our highest EPS growth rate in seven quarters. We are incredibly excited about the upcoming releases of iOS 8 and OS X Yosemite, as well as other new products and services that we can’t wait to introduce.”
Apple’s target for the fiscal fourth quarter of 2014 are:
• revenue between $37 billion and $40 billion
• gross margin between 37 percent and 38 percent
• operating expenses between $4.75 billion and $4.85 billion
• other income/(expense) of $250 million
• tax rate of 26.1 percent
Considering the hype generated by Apple’s phenomenal show this year at the WWDC and the regular product leaks, these targets are definitely realizable. With the release of the new generation OSX and iOS 8 later this year and Apple’s enterprise tie-up with IBM, it seems like this will be the year of the Apple.
An app analyst at App Annie have compiled their data for Q2 2014 and have come out with the results. For the months of April, May and June, the Android Play Store has again surpassed the iOS App Store in terms of app downloads. In raw numbers, the Android Play Store registered about 150 million app downloads as opposed to 100 million app downloads against its iOS counterpart. This means a 60% increase from the previous quarter for Android, and a 45% increase for iOS.
App revenue, however, is a completely different story. iOS has a huge lead in this department with $100 million in app revenue as compared to $60 million for Android. Again, that is an increase of 45% for iOS from the previous quarter as against a 30% increase for Android. Now there can be a number of reasons for this, but the primary reasons being ‘free-medium’ apps on Android, which actually cost a few dollars on Apple’s iOS platform.
However, it is predicted by analysts that the Android Play Store will actually surpass the iOS App Store even in revenue by 2018. Android already dominates about 80% of the smartphone market, and app revenues are expected to reflect that soon.
In terms of app downloads by categories, both platforms are dominated by Games, Tools, Communication, Entertainment and Social applications. This is not news as these categories were dominant in the previous quarter as well.
The role of low-priced Android phones in emerging markets also makes a mark on these rankings. India jumped up two spots to claim the third overall spot in total app downloads on Android, behind the United States and Brazil. On the iOS platform, Japan, United States, South Korea, Germany and Taiwan continue to dominate the top five nations in terms of downloads.
Apple is presently preparing for the launch iPhone 6 which is said to be more expensive than the iPhone 5s, while on the other hand Google has recently announced the Android One, a cheap mobile platform for budget phone in India . It will be interesting to see how both companies with different marketing strategy compete with each other in this volatile technology market.
Celebrities get to live a good life. Once in public view, they get loads of cool stuff or in words of Ricky Gervais, “Once you get rich, people start giving you stuff for free.” Now Facebook is coming out with an exclusive app called “Facebook Mentions” that is accessible only to public figures.
Users can follow others and keep a track of trending topics easily
Twitter has become a medium for prominent personalities to connect with their admirers. From Movie Stars, Musicians, Politicians to even Scientists and Astronauts have used the website to connect to their followers. With this exclusive app, Facebook will try to make itself more attractive to the celebrity clientele.
To get access to this app one needs to have a verified page on Facebook. Currently, the app runs only on iOS 7 or higher versions (well that’s going a bit too exclusive.) The app lets users host Q&A with their followers, discover and join conversations relating to them. It also makes the users follow others and shows them what is trending on Facebook so they can share their thoughts on the matter.
Facebook Mentions makes it easier for these personalities to share multimedia content with their followers. It is speculated that the Beats-Apple deal celebration video will be posted through this application.
This app makes life a lot easier for social media managers of celebrities to keep in touch with the perception of their bosses in the public. Ever since social media came into existence, celebrities have had a direct communication channels with their fans and followers. Facebook Mentions hopes to be the exclusive medium for this interaction.
Everyone is certain we’re going to see the new iPhone in 2014. It’s also looking pretty certain that Apple might follow its own footsteps by releasing two iPhone handset, instead of just one. Rumours suggest there will be two versions available with two different sized screens: 4.7-inch and 5.5-inch. And the rumors are, it’s likely to be called the iPhone Air. Though we have to wait till it releases to see what Apple planning to do with next instalment of iPhone. Until then, we are listing 5 things about iPhone 6 that you should expect from the next iPhone:
1. Improved Camera
Its the feature everyone looks for the most, and Apple’s always put huge resources behind improving its cameras. More importantly, Apple’s filed a patent for a particular kind of image stabilization in a smart phone; it will reportedly increase the size of the pixels in its 8-megapixel sensor; and apparently there’s a “Super Resolution Mode” in the next version of the camera app. We have something something remarkable heading our way.
2. Online Payments Using TouchID
Apple has almost 800 million iTunes accounts and hundreds of millions of credit cards on file, and all working towards larger option for users to buy things on their phone. It would take on PayPal and Google Wallet, and could launch alongside the new iPhone. TouchID would be Apple’s ultimate weapon, paying for everything online with your fingerprint is both secure and simple, and a “Pay with iTunes” of sorts could be a huge revenue magnet for Apple.
3. Lightning Port Headphone Jack
There is a possibility of Apple killing classic 3.5mm headphone jack in favor of the company’s propriety Lightning Port. The company has introduced a new design for manufacturers in its made-for-iPhone (MFi) program that will let them to produce headphones with Lightning connectors. The new type of headphones will be able to make the change between analogue to digital audio with an elevated lossless stereo 48 kHz digital output, it would in addition convert the traditional headphones into a smart device.
4. Placement of Buttons
With the flood of iPhone 6 mockups there is a good idea of what the 4.7-inch iPhone 6 might look like. Expect a thinner iPhone between 6-7mm and more metal with curved edges that make it look more like an iPad Air or mini. The new volume buttons are slimmer to fit on this new edge and the power button is now on the right side. This new power button placement is crucial as it allows users to reach the button more easily.
5. Hiked Price
There’s one thing we can be sure about when it comes to the iPhone 6 – it won’t be cheap. Apple’s legacy is a long line of premium devices sporting premium price tags and you can expect that trend to continue with the iPhone 6. One analyst even goes as far as predicting that Apple will hike up the price of the iPhone 6, possibly by as much as $100. With a larger screen, new glass covering the front and possibly even a new, more impressive, material used in construction, we can already foresee the price being hiked.
Apple yesterday released the third beta version of iOS 8 for developers. The iOS 8 beta 3 update with a build number 12A4318c is available over the air and can also be downloaded from the iOS Dev Centre.
The company has released updates for a beta version Find My iPhone. There is also a new version of Find My Friends, a new Apple TV beta, and updates to Swift, the programming language the company introduced at WWDC.
As showcased at WWDC this year, iOS 8 has some major upgrades over the last offerings. The one that is appreciated the most about the OS is its seamless interconnectivity with the OSX devices.
iOS 8 introduces an assortment of features such as improved integration with OS X through Continuity, interactive notifications, a new QuickType Keyboard and improvements to several apps like Safari, Mail, and Messages. Apart from it there is a Health app and some Family Sharing features.
This beta version has new options for iCloud Drive, a new Settings toggle for Handoff, and a new option to enable or disable QuickType.
iOS 8 beta 3 is currently accessible to the developers, and is expected to release for the public sometime around this fall. Considering previous releases, it can be said that the new iOS will release with the new iPhone and most probably the iWatch might show up too.
Rumor has it that we might witness the launch of two iPad variants this year. Following the iPhone 6, which regularly appears in pictures in mockup form, an iPad Air 2 mockup has also leaked in similar images.
The images reportedly show the final design of the iPad Air 2, with dimensions, design, ports, camera and button placements supposedly an exact replica of the device which is supposed to launch later this year.
Leaked Images of iPad Air 2 by GSMArena
The speculation started last week. According to the South Korean news agency, about 6.2 million LCD displays to be installed in the iPad Air 2 will enter initial production from June to September this year.
Not much is known about iPad Air 2, apart from rumors that it will come with the Touch ID fingerprint security feature that is going to be standard on all next-gen Apple mobile devices. This same technology will be available for the iPhone 6 and iPad Mini 3, both of which are also rumored to be under development.
Touch ID was one of the biggest innovation Apple brought to the iPhone 5S. Basically a fingerprint scanner used to lock your phone securely, or buy apps at the press of a button, its brilliance comes from how easy it is to use.
Leaked Image of iPad Air 2 by GSMArena
There are a number of rumors going around the internet that suggest the iPad Air 2 may not follow the path of the last two iPad releases. There are some reports of minor changes in the camera as well. It is said that it will be raised from 1.2 megapixels to 1.5 megapixels, while the rear-camera will be upgraded from 5 megapixels to 8 megapixels. Quite possibly the iPad Air 2 will come installed with Apple’s newest A8 processor, which the iPad Mini 3 will reportedly share.
Apple tends not to announce devices under development until shortly before release. Given the fact Apple has not given any new information regarding the iPad Air 2, it is difficult to confirm if such a device even exists. The same can be said of the iPad Mini 3, which is the fabled replacement of the current iPad Mini with Retina Display, more commonly dubbed as the ‘iPad Mini 2’.
So, its here, the moment you were all waiting for, the 25th edition of the Apple Developers conference. The WWDC 2014 brought out the Big Boy Mac OSX Yosemite. Now I should let you know I took incredible amount of pain to bring you this, battling through the laggy video on an Indian internet speed.
Lets see some of the most innovative new features of the new Yosemite.
The Looks:
Translucence is a dominating feature of the Yosemite
A lot of translucence added to the new OSX, it is especially noticeable in the drop down menus and the Dock. New toolbars and windows are giving it a fresh new look. The notification center brings it closer to a mobile device experience.
The new Today view in Notification Center gives you a quick look at everything you need to know now — upcoming events, reminders, stocks, weather, and more. You can also add widgets from the Mac App Store to customize what you see.
The entire cleaned up look is visually appealing.
Search Feature:
Spotlight has got the biggest Makeover
It seems like spotlight got an adrenaline shot. A Search bar is provided at the center of the screen. The search gathers information from the internet thereby giving you more in-depth results in terms of newsfeeds, Wikipedia and maps. It also adds better scrolling ability through the results.
Apple has gone out of its way to make Google obsolete for Mac users.
iCloud Drive-
iCloud Drive gives you more ease of access to the files on the cloud. It is now capable of 5 GB attachments and will work with any type of files. Now that’s some cloud storage we can get back on.
Safari:
Functional Reconstruction of Safari
Safari has also got a visual renovation with a sleeker look. The browser now has a slimmer address bar to maximize browsing area. Safari is stated to give 2 hours longer battery life on streaming video from Netflix. Apart from this, it gives more efficient tabbed browsing performance. You also get the ability to browse through all your open tabs more efficiently.
Tabbed Browsing overview makes internet even simpler
They have also powered Safari with better search capabilities; it reaches wider and includes sourced information from Wikipedia, Bing, Maps and iTunes. It has added a tab which gives easy access to favorite links without looking too cluttered.
A drop down menu with your favorite sites
Handoff:
Handoff set a milestone in terms of inter-connectivity
Apple has recognized the value of “Continuity” amongst the many screeens we posses now. Yosemite and even iOS 8’s primary function is to provide greater inter-connectivity amongst the devices. So here is this cool new feature that lets you do just that. It allows you to work on the same file from the Mac as well as your iPad while on the move. You can also work on an email from multiple devices. This is definitely one of the feature that all hardware and software makers should take notice of.
It is also a part of this increased inter-connectivity that the Yosemite now allows you to receive SMS texts on you Mac and iPads. By connecting to iCloud all your devices act as extentions of each other. You can get phone calls on these devices too. Also your Macs can now recognize your iPhone and give you the option of making it a hotspot.
Phone call, SMS can now be answered from all Apple devicesPhone call, SMS can now be answered from all Apple devices
There is also an update thats gonna get a lot of people excited. Apple will let you be a part of the Public Beta program for the OS X Yosemite. For Free. Though there will be some glitches but it will give the fan-boy’s a feel of being an Apple developer.
Conclusion
At the 25th installment of the most awaited tech conferences of the year, Apple seems to have found its groove back. The clean OS coupled with multiple new ease of access features makes Yosemite a better upgrade over the last few outings.
Apple’s new iOS 8 comes with a brand new keyboard that will predict content and learns the phrases you use most and fills them in. The new Keyboard isn’t actually new, and Android users have been enjoying this with SwiftKey and many other forms of Android Keyboards.
However, for iOS users this is something people have been asking for a very long time. the keyboard studies your messages and conversation patterns and delivers options based on that. Its about time we say!
Update: Apple has also announced that 3rd Party keyboards will be allowed to be installed onto your iPhone/ iPad (Finally!). So you can now finally get the Swype keyboard you always wanted.
The LG Smart Bulb is the LG’s first smart light-bulb, which is compatible with Android and iOS devices. This is similar to the Bulb launched by Philips some time back.
It is not clear if this smart bulb will be available for other markets, but for now, it has been launched in Korea at a price which converts to roughly Rs. 2000. LG claims that the Smart Bulb can work with devices running a minimum of Android 4.3 and iOS 6.
On the inside, it has a 10W LED bulb and can run for more than 10 years if used five hours a day, Claims the company. The LG Smart Bulb can connect to smartphones via Bluetooth or Wi-Fi, and even flashes when its connected device receives a call, or if music is played within the same device.
Satya Nadella was recently appointed as the CEO of Microsoft, and he is now all set to host his first press event as a CEO. Microsoft has scheduled an event on March 27 2014, which will be a special cloud- and mobile-focused event.
According to reports, Microsoft is all set to launch the Office for iPad. Having said that, the Office app for iPad should not be any different than the Office for iPhone which was launched last year. The features and the user interface is expected to be the same as seen on the office app for iPhone.
This event will work as a warm up for the upcoming events, Microsoft has also scheduled the Build conference next month followed by another anticipated launch of a new version of Windows.
During WhatsApp’s recent Facebook acquisition, CEO Jan Koum hinted that WhatsApp may get voice call functionality by the summer. This new leaked screenshot of the App’s upcoming update for iOS shows off those supposed calling capabilities, designed to work along with iOS 7’s design layout.
The camera button on the top also hints at video call functionality. WhatApp will allow free voice calls and video calls with your friends on your WhatsApp list over Wifi and Cellular.
It is also rumored that this functionality comes via Skype or using Skype’s voip technology as Facebook currently integrates Skype calling within its chat windows.
With this feature WhatsApp may become the single point of social networking that everyone has been looking for. Now if only they could work out their battery drain.
