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Apple’s iOS 8.4 beta includes a brand-new music player

Think that iOS’ music player is overdue for a remake? You’re going to get your wish. Apple has released the first iOS 8.4 beta to developers, and its centerpiece is a shiny, new Music app. The refresh includes at least a few long-sought changes, including some borrowed from iTunes: There’s a mini player that sticks around while you’re browsing, global search and an “Up Next” song queue. You’ll also see a sleeker iTunes Radio interface that helps you discover new tracks. There’s no sign of the Beats-based music service rumored to come alongside 8.4, but that’s not supposed to show up until Apple’s developer conference at the earliest — if it exists, it’s probably going to stay under wraps for a little while. [Image credit: 9to5Mac ] Filed under: Cellphones , Tablets , Mobile , Apple Comments Source: 9to5Mac

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Apple’s iOS 8.4 beta includes a brand-new music player

‘The Simpsons’ seasons won’t be available on disc from now on

If you’ve been diligently building a collection of Simpsons episodes on disc, you’re in for a rude surprise. Show runner Al Jean has revealed that Fox is discontinuing disc releases of the long-running cartoon. As sources confirmed to us and The Hollywood Reporter, the studio doesn’t believe there’s a point to hard copies at this stage — now that you can watch The Simpsons online , it “made more sense” to focus on internet services. With the show constantly airing around the world and in heavy rotation on FXX, it’s a bit more accessible than other series even though DVD and Blu-ray are still big business. . @thesimpsons #EverySimpsonsEver I personally am v sorry to see DVDs discontinued We did them purely for the love of hearing ourselves talk – Al Jean (@AlJean) April 8, 2015 . @thesimpsons #EverySimpsonsEver To critics of DVD dedication; I hear you. Literally. (I read tweets aloud). Will pass along your feelings! – Al Jean (@AlJean) April 11, 2015 The Simpsons’ long run and availability makes it a unique case, but the rise of apps and streaming services bidding for rights means other season-by-season TV boxed sets could follow. All in all, it’s bad news for completionists that value having an offline copy and so far there’s no good replacement for that. Now that Fox is trying it out, our only question is which series will leave the shelf for the cloud next? Filed under: Home Entertainment , Internet , HD Comments Via: SlashGear Source: Al Jean (Twitter) , Hollywood Reporter

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‘The Simpsons’ seasons won’t be available on disc from now on

DirecTV’s app is ready to stream 90 channels anywhere you go

We haven’t seen many updates for DirecTV’s streaming services in a while, but this week it added a slew of new channels for customers to watch live even when they’re away from home. The 22 additions include MTV, TNT, Nickelodeon, BET, Cartoon Network and more ready for viewing on computers, tablets or phones. DirecTV also has the Genie DVRs that can shift recordings to your mobile device, but as the competition with internet TV services heats up the satellite company is finally ready to push a few more updates. All of those features work through the DirecTV apps, but it’s worth noting that recently DirecTV has cut deals so its subscribers can use their logins to stream channels (on their own apps) that its app doesn’t support yet, like Disney and ABC. Filed under: Home Entertainment , HD Comments Source: DirecTV , FAQ

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DirecTV’s app is ready to stream 90 channels anywhere you go

Sprint rolls out free (and slow) international data and messaging

We’re not entirely sure how it’s already April, but Sprint’s clearly eager to make a name for itself before everyone starts popping off on holidays. To wit: The carrier just rolled out a new international roaming plan that’ll net your Sprint phone free unlimited texting and 2G data abroad… as long as you’re traipsing through a handful of supported countries , anyway. The service’ll work just peachy if you’re traveling through Argentina, Brazil, Chile, Costa Rica, El Salvador, Germany, Guatemala, Japan, Mexico, Nicaragua, Panama, Russia, South Korea, Spain, and the United Kingdom, though you’ll still have to shell out $0.20 a minute if you want to call from any of those countries. That’s not a bad list considering you’re paying nada , but it’s hard not to look at this move as a shot across T-Mobile’s bow . After all, the magenta-hued carrier offers basically the exact same service for free in over 120 countries and it supports all of the devices T-Mobile’s got on its shelves — two facts that John Legere really enjoyed rubbing into Sprint CEO Marcelo Claure’s face on Twitter. And the final caveat? While T-Mobile caps its international 2G data speeds to a paltry 128kbps, a quick look at Sprint’s International Value Roaming FAQ reveals a maximum speed of 64kbps — you’re basically tooting around on a mid-90s desktop connection at that point. You know what they say about gift horses and all. [Image credit: AFP/Getty Images] Filed under: Mobile Comments Source: Sprint

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Sprint rolls out free (and slow) international data and messaging

Publishers are fighting to keep abandoned games dead

The Electronic Frontier Foundation, a non-profit group that defends civil liberties in the digital world, is facing off against the Entertainment Software Association, the organization that represents most major video game publishers in the US. The EFF wants to allow players to put abandoned games back online and has asked the US Copyright Office for an exemption from the Digital Millennium Copyright Act. This would allow players to legally modify the code of online games that are no longer supported by publishers, in the hope of reconnecting these titles to new, third-party servers. This includes games like Battlefield 1942 , Star Wars: Battlefront , SOCOM 4 , Resistance: Fall of Man and Mario Kart Wii . Many modern games rely on servers to function; if Activision pulled the plug on Destiny , for example, even its single-player campaign would disappear, since the entire game needs an online connection. “This exemption would serve player communities that wish to continue using their purchased games, as well as archivists, historians, and other academic researchers who preserve and study videogames and are currently inhibited by legal uncertainty, ” the EFF writes . The ESA opposes the exemption, arguing that modifying game code is “hacking” and would encourage piracy. Plus, in order to make some of these games work on systems like the Xbox 360 or Wii, users would need to jailbreak these consoles. “Granting the proposed exemption would enable — and indeed encourage — the play of pirated games and the unlawful reproduction and distribution of infringing content, ” the ESA says . Note that it’s not up to the EFF or the ESA to decide this issue — that will be handled this year by the US Copyright Office, which examines exemption requests every three years. The EFF has since responded to the ESA’s arguments against its proposed exemption, noting that the gaming industry was built on “tinkering” and hobbyist-style hacking. As the EFF puts it: “Games abandoned by their producers are one area where Section 1201 is seriously interfering with important, lawful activities — like continuing to play the games you already own.” Filed under: Gaming , HD Comments Via: PC World Source: EFF , ESA

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Publishers are fighting to keep abandoned games dead

Dropbox and Microsoft just made it easier to edit files in the cloud

Look, it’s no secret that Microsoft and Dropbox have been getting cozy with each other . Why, just last November the two companies cooked up a way to launch the correct Office apps to edit documents lounging in your Dropbox locker. Now, thanks to a new update from that unlikely duo, you don’t even need to have Office installed to edit your Word, Powerpoint and Excel files — hitting that Open button while you’re previewing a document within a web browser gives you the ability to tweak everything from inside Microsoft’s Office Online. Naturally, the integration runs both ways too, so Office Online users can pull up files straight from their Dropbox accounts without so much as firing up a new tab. If you’ve been paying attention, today’s move won’t come as much of a surprise — the eventual intersection of Dropbox’s cloud storage and Microsoft’s strictly web-based Office suite was in the cards from the very beginning. With this update now in place, Dropbox has wrapped up all of the Microsoft-y initiatives it laid out last year (remember the Dropbox Windows Phone app?), and now we’re just left wondering if there’s any more mileage to squeeze out of a major partnership like this. Neither company has ever admitted how many people have taken advantage of these deep Office hooks, and it doesn’t seem likely that Microsoft will extend too many more niceties to users of a rival storage service, but hey — maybe the taste of a more unified experience tempted a few Dropbox customers to jump ship. Comments Source: Microsoft Office blog

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Dropbox and Microsoft just made it easier to edit files in the cloud

Mophie’s ‘Space’ battery cases bring more storage to iPhone 6, iPad Mini

Last year Mophie, a company best known for its mobile battery offerings, stepped into slightly new territory by releasing a battery-toting iPhone case with external storage dubbed the “Space Pack.” Now, as if on cue, Mophie is unveiling new entries in the Space Pack line for the iPhone 6, iPhone 6 Plus, and iPad Mini. And, not to be forgotten, there’s also a new standalone battery pack called the “Spacestation.” They all look very similar to Mophie’s existing battery solutions, but they include anywhere from 32GB to 128 GB of flash storage, which could be useful for anyone stuck with a paltry 16GB iPhone or iPad Mini. But, as is typical for Mophie, that convenience won’t come cheap. The iPhone Space Packs and the Spacestation start at $150 for 32GB of storage, and jump up to $200 for 64GB and $300 for 128GB. The iPad Mini pack, meanwhile, runs from $200 to $400. Just like before, all of the storage-toting cases work together with Mophie’s Space app, which lets you manage and play media. iOS doesn’t recognize external storage like Android, so you won’t have access to the files on Mophie’s cases from any other apps. The company has also updated the Space app for managing files already on your iPhone — you won’t even need to own a Mophie case to use it. That allows you to create playlists that include media on both your iOS device and the Space case. As for additional battery life, Mophie’s bread and butter, the iPhone 6 case will double your battery life, while the iPhone 6 Plus case will give you another 50 percent of juice. That’s pretty much what you’ll get from one of the company’s new Juice Pack cases . If you don’t need a case, the Spacestation might be the best overall deal since it can fully recharge an iPad Mini and plug into a variety of devices. If you’ve handled a Mophie product before, you know what to expect from the Space lineup. In my brief hands-on time, the new cases and battery pack all felt like like premium products. The Spacestation’s metal case, in particular, feels great in your hand. The iPad Mini Space Case also marks the first time the company has created a battery case for a tablet. It adds a bit of thickness to the Mini, but it doesn’t harm its portability much. Yes, they’re expensive, but if you’re a media addict on iOS, you don’t have many other choices for additional storage without jumping to wireless hard drives or the cloud. You can preorder all of Mophie’s new Space products now, and they’re expected to ship in May. Filed under: Mobile Comments

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Mophie’s ‘Space’ battery cases bring more storage to iPhone 6, iPad Mini

Vertical videos are here to stay thanks to apps like Snapchat

If you despise vertical or portrait video as much as some of us do, bad news: according to recent comments from ad agencies and media executives, you’ll be seeing a lot more of them. The awkward format has been in our crosshairs since the iPhone 4 came out in 2010 and we felt the need to explain how to fix it . It’s used by cellphone-wielders who are either too lazy to turn their phone 90 degrees or are just unaware that they should . The result is video that’s okay on smartphones but horrible on computer screens or TVs due to unsightly vertical bars. In addition, Snapchat and new livestreaming apps like Periscope and Meerkat will soon make the format seem normal for many users. For instance, Daily Mail North America ‘s CEO Jon Steinberg recently said that “we need to move even more aggressively to develop vertical content, (because) vertical video ads have up to 9x more completed views than horizontal video ads.” As to why that might be, he added that “the whole notion of turning your phone on its side to watch a video is awkward and a bit of a hassle.” As a result, the Daily Mail will create free vertical ads for companies with a “reasonable media buy” on its Snapchat Discover channel. Another kick to the head of horizontal video is from Periscope and Meerkat . The popular new livestream video feeds from the apps are only available in vertical mode to make them more convenient for one-handed viewing. Neither app supports horizontal (landscape) video at all, but Periscope’s CEO thinks most users would stick with portrait video even if it added the capability. Critics say the vertical format limits the artistic possibilities of video and doesn’t match how our vision works. However, ad agency creative director Tom Westerlin told Digiday that those people might as well get over it now. “Haters are gonna hate. People love to talk shit. That’s great, good for them. It basically just fuels the buzz around the future of (new video formats).” Filed under: Cellphones , HD Comments Source: Digiday , Medium

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Vertical videos are here to stay thanks to apps like Snapchat

Apple’s iOS 8.3 update brings wireless CarPlay to your iPhone

Apple’s busy today — on top of finally releasing Photos , it’s rolling out the long-expected iOS 8.3 update. It’s not as huge as 8.2 was , but you’ll likely appreciate it if you’re a tech-savvy driver. The upgrade brings wireless CarPlay in supporting vehicles, so you don’t have to plug in your iPhone just to get directions or music on your car’s center display. You’ll also find more diverse emoji (as in OS X), the option to download free apps without a password and a much easier way of signing into Google accounts when you use two-factor authentication. There’s a whole bunch of app performance and interface fixes on top of this, so you’ll definitely want to grab the 8.3 patch when you get the chance. Filed under: Cellphones , Mobile , Apple Comments Source: 9to5Mac

Tesla’s entry-level Model S delivers a lot more bang for a little extra buck

Electric cars are an important step on the road to saving the planet, but they’re sufficiently expensive that they’re still the province of ” yuppies .” The problem with Tesla’s entry-level Model S 60 is that its shorter range was sure to deter some who could just about make the switch, but couldn’t afford an 85D . The company clearly realized that it wasn’t doing enough to coax prospective customers, which is why it’s now revealed a new entry level Model S in the form of the 70D. If there’s a catch, it’s that the 70D is $5, 000 more expensive than the S 60 it was designed to replace, but that extra cash buys you a lot more car than it could a few days ago. The headline feature here, of course, is that the 70D comes with a range of around 240 miles, thanks to that 70kWh battery that’s replaced the 60kWh unit on its predecessor. Speed-wise, the dual motor all-wheel drive whip will go from 0-60 in just over five seconds and the car has a top speed of 140mph. If you’re considering colors other than black or hot-rod red, you can also pick up the 70D in Warm Silver or Ocean Blue. Previously, Model S customers would have been tempted to peruse the options menu looking at cheap-ish upgrades for their new ride. With the 70D, a lot of that technology has been absorbed into the price, specifically to banish customer worries about performance and range. Those looking to boast that their ride can drive itself can also let slip that the 70D comes with Autopilot , Tesla’s assisted steering hardware, pre-installed. A series of cameras and sensors around the car will keep you in a lane on the highway, maintaining a safe speed and distance from other cars. It may not be the tech that Google is promising, but it’s as close to a self-driving car you’re likely to find in 2015. Of course, someone should have really named it ” Cruise Control , ” but that name had already been taken. As previously mentioned, US customers will be asked to pay $75, 000 for the new Model S, although that’s before various state and federal EV incentives kick in. Meanwhile, drivers in the UK who are eligible for the £5, 000 plug-in grant will be asked to kick in £54, 500 of their own money when it launches there in the near future. Filed under: Transportation Comments

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Tesla’s entry-level Model S delivers a lot more bang for a little extra buck

Ken May

Tag: the-end