the-end – Page 42

Uber launches UberPlus in LA for ‘balling on a budget’

In an appearance-obsessed city like Los Angeles , image, dahling , is everything. That’s why you can’t simply take a taxi between auditions, the juice bar and hanging out at your agent’s office. Your ride should be stylish , but thrifty, since an UberBlack would empty your bank account in the better part of a week. That’s why Uber is launching UberPlus, a service that slots in between Uber X and UberBlack and offers “balling on a budget.” Rather than rolling up in a Prius, you’ll have a pick of lower-level executive rides like a BMW 3 Series, C-Class Benz or an Audi A4. Even better, is that UberPlus’ minimum fee is just $5, $3 less than UberBlack, which is good, since the only thing standing between you and moving back home is the residuals from that vitamin infomercial. Filed under: Cellphones , Transportation Comments Via: Uber LA (Twitter) , Gizmodo Source: Uber

Apple Pay launches Monday with support from Starbucks, Macy’s and others

Apple has just kicked off the iPad extravaganza with a big piece of news about its Apple Pay initiative. It’ll launch this Monday, and now has the support of 500 US banks along with major retailers like Starbucks, Macy’s, McDonald’s, Disney, Walgreens and Target. To remind you, Pay will make it possible to use your iPhone 6 and 6 Plus at the till (or online) instead of pulling out a credit card, since they’re the first Apple handsets with contactless NFC. It’ll work in conjunction with the Touch ID fingerprint scanner, and let you use any credit cards you’ve stored in Passbook . Meanwhile, the new iPhones’ Secure Element chip encryption is fenced off from iOS and iCloud, so that even Apple itself can’t see confidential purchase information. If you’re good with all that, you can give it a crack starting October 20th — a partial list of retailers is available here . Filed under: Cellphones , Tablets , Wireless , Apple Comments

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Apple Pay launches Monday with support from Starbucks, Macy’s and others

Apple reveals the 27-inch iMac with Retina Display starting at $2,499

A stable of new iPads wasn’t all Apple had up its sleeve today . The folks in Cupertino have also been hard at work on a desktop update, and the iMac is the beneficiary. If you’ll recall, Apple quietly trotted out a more affordable version of the machine back in June, but this fall’s release packs a much bigger punch. With the latest model, the company’s all-in-one option gets a boost in the screen department with the addition of a Retina panel. That 27-inch oxide TFT display is what Apple’s calling “Retina 5K, ” touting a 5, 120 x 2, 880 resolution with 67 percent more pixels than 4K. The added real estate means that you’ll be able to do things like edit 4K video in Final Cut Pro X while still having plenty of room for all the tools you’ll need. Even with all of that new screen power, the new iMac is said to be 30 percent more energy efficient. The outer edge is also 5mm thick, keeping the trim frame all the way around. As far as the internals go, there’s an quad-core 3.5GHz Intel Core i5 processor that can be upgraded to a 4GHz i7. There’s AMD Radeon R9 M290X graphics by default, 8GB RAM, 1TB Fusion Drive and Thunderbolt 2 ports that offer 20 Gbps transfers. For those who need more power, the new desktops can be equipped with your choice of up to 32GB of RAM, AMD Radeon R9 M295X graphics, a 3TB Fusion Drive and 1TB of PCIe flash storage. And of course, it’ll come with OS X Yosemite. The best part? You can hand over your funds for the iMac with Retina display starting today, and the base model is priced at $2, 499. If you’re not convinced that you need to splurge for that newfangled display tech, the existing 27-inch option is now $1, 799 and the 21.5-inch is $1, 099. Filed under: Desktops , Apple Comments Source: http://www.apple.com/imac-with-retina/

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Apple reveals the 27-inch iMac with Retina Display starting at $2,499

PS4 2.0: MP3s, themes and better dashboard organization

We’re creeping up to the PlayStation 4’s one year anniversary and the system is finally getting its 2.0 firmware update . Even better, there are a bunch of surprises; let’s dive in. First up we have the expected: SharePlay which lets you virtually pass the controller for help, YouTube exports and themes . A post PlayStation Blog notes that in addition to those, a USB music player, the ability to change colors of the PS4 dashboard (if custom themes aren’t your thing), as well as improvements to streaming are en route. There’s content organization, voice commands and, last but not least, a new backup feature that lets you archive all your settings, media and data to a USB device coming too. Like the Xbox One patch that hit this week , this adds a whole slew of features that ideally would have been available when the system launched last year. Join us after the jump for a breakdown, yeah? PS4 System Software 2.00 new features: http://t.co/sjlyHsde67 USB Music Player, broadcasting enhancements, more pic.twitter.com/ZwFbiJRKlN – PlayStation (@PlayStation) October 16, 2014 Sony came under some fire from fans when it was announced that the only way to listen to music on the PS4 was with a Music Unlimited subscription . That changes with this patch, though, and soon you’ll be able to plug in a USB device full of MP3, MP4, MP4A and 3GP files and listen to your heart’s content. The PS Blog says that music can’t be copied to the system’s hard drive, nor can it be used in conjunction with Music Unlimited. When we’ll see CD support is anyone’s guess, however. We’re betting that custom playlists won’t be available in-game either. Not happy with the theme pictured below? Well, you can opt for a handful of solid colors for the system UI like those at the bottom of this post. The patch also addresses a major gripe many have had with the system since launch: decluttering the system dashboard. Now the dashboard will only show the 15 most-used games and apps, with the rest going into the Library, which also is getting some new sorting options. What’s more, lets say you’ve been stocking up on the pretty great, free releases each month that are a part of your PS Plus subscription but you’re running out of storage on your console. Well, from the PlayStation Store you’ll be able to add them to your Library without downloading — perfect for grabbing stuff before it’s no longer free and saving for later, or once you install a bigger hard drive. Speaking of which, the 2.0 patch also adds the ability to back your system data, media and settings to a USB device. This should make transferring all the stuff you’ve accumulated over the past year to a roomier HDD a while lot faster and much more convenient if you’re living under a data cap. There’s a ton more than that, though! For the rest of the patch notes be sure to hit the PS Blog — sadly, however, it’s missing a release date. Filed under: Gaming , Home Entertainment , HD , Sony Comments Via: PlayStation (Twitter) Source: PlayStation Blog

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PS4 2.0: MP3s, themes and better dashboard organization

A visual history of OS X

After a lengthy beta, OS X 10.10 Yosemite is finally ready for prime time. It’s the 11th version of Apple’s OS X, and represents the biggest overhaul of the operating system’s visuals since its introduction in 2001. While you’re waiting for the update to download , let’s take the opportunity to see exactly what’s changed over the past 13 years. Filed under: Desktops , Laptops , Software , Apple Comments

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A visual history of OS X

iPad Air 2 vs. the competition: Is it the tablet to beat?

There was a time when it was hard to find someone who would argue with Apple’s claim that the iPad was heavyweight tablet champ. But now Android slates like the Galaxy Tab Pro 10.1 , the Xperia Tablet Z2 and the recently-announced Nexus 9 are making a run at the title. Sure, the iPad still has some great apps, but how does the latest iPad Air compare to the competition under the hood? Check out the tale of the tape below, and decide for yourself if the iPad Air 2 has what it takes to stay on top. iPad Air 2 Nexus 9 Galaxy Tab Pro 10.1 Xperia Tablet Z2 Price $499 and up (WiFi), $629 and up (Cellular) $399 and up $499 $499 or $549 Thickness 6.1mm (0.24 inches) 7.95mm (0.31 inches) 7.37mm (0.29 inches) 6.4mm (0.25 inches) Weight 437g or 444g (0.96 or 0.98 pounds) 425g or 436g (0.93 or 0.96 pounds) 469g (1.03 pounds) 439g (0.96 pounds) OS iOS 8 Android 5.0 Android 4.4 Android 4.4 Display 9.7-inch IPS LCD Retina display 8.9-inch IPS LCD 10.1-inch WQXGA scLCD 10.1 inch TFT LCD Resolution 2, 048 x 1, 536 (264 ppi) 2, 048 x 1, 536 (288 ppi) 2, 560 x 1, 600 (299 ppi) 1, 920 x 1, 200 (224 ppi) Processor 64-bit Apple A8X 64-bit, 2.3 GHz NVIDIA Tegra K1 32-bit Exynos 5 Octa (1.9GHz + 1.3 GHz quad-core) 32-bit, 2.3 GHz Qualcomm Snapdragon 801 (MSM8974AB quad-core) Memory NA 2GB 2GB 3GB Storage 16 / 64 / 128GB 16 / 32GB 16GB 16 / 32GB Ports Lightning micro USB 2.0 microSD, HDMI microSD, MHL 3.0 Front camera 1.2MP FaceTime, f/2.2 1.6MP, f/2.4 2MP 2.2MP, 1080p Rear camera 8MP iSight, f/2.4, 1.5µm pixel size, 1080p 8MP, f/2.4 8MP 8.1MP Cellular radio Optional GSM/EDGE CDMA UMTS/HSPA/ HSPA+/DC‑HSDPA LTE Optional GSM/CDMA/ HSPA/LTE Optional LTE Optional HSPA+/GPRS/ EDGE/LTE WiFi Dual-band 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac Dual band 802.11 a/c/g/n/ac Dual-band 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac Dual-band 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac Bluetooth v4.0 v4.1 v4.0 LE v4.0 Accelerometer Yes Yes Yes Yes Gyroscope Yes Yes Yes Yes Battery 10 hours 6, 700mAh 8, 220mAh Li-ion 6, 000mAh Li-ion Filed under: Tablets , Apple Comments

No camouflage can hide this weird Mercedes prototype

Spy photos from our sister site Autoblog have revealed a concept car from Mercedes that looks like it was beamed back from 20 years in the future. The silver-colored vehicle sports a wedge shape, cycle fenders, an extreme cab-forward design and narrow tires — calling to mind Volkswagen’s 260MPG XL1 hyrid . Our guess? The tires and aerodynamics suggest an extreme-mileage vehicle, likely a full-on EV, hybrid or other green-tech vehicle. As for when we might see it, we’d place a bet on January at Las Vegas. That’s when Mercedes-Benz CEO Dr. Dieter Zetsch will deliver his CES 2015 keynote speech, and yes, unveil an all-new concept car. For a full gallery, check the source. [Image credit: Autoblog ] Filed under: Transportation Comments Source: Autoblog

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No camouflage can hide this weird Mercedes prototype

Reddit snaps up Alien Blue, makes it the official iOS app

Despite being one of the biggest websites today, Reddit didn’t have an official app and used to rely on the many, many third-party options for its mobile users. We say “didn’t” and “used to, ” because that’s not the case anymore: the startup has just snapped up Alien Blue, its most popular app for iPhones and iPads. The company has been working closely with its sole developer, Jase Morrissey, for years, but they only just made things official after this latest funding round. Reddit’s head of partnership and strategic development Ellan Pao said in an interview: We want to be able to have new features from Reddit.com show up on mobile faster and better. With Alien Blue and Jase, it was getting to a point where it was too much work for one person. He was helping us, we were helping him and the fit was really strong. Want to see how the official version looks? You’ll need to redownload the app even if you’ve been using Alien Blue for a long time — it’s already out on iTunes alongside the official AMA app , but it might take a while before it shows up for you (we’ve had to open the direct link to get it). You can import your old settings by following Reddit’s instructions, though, and you can upgrade to Pro status for free for one week. Also, the iPhone and the iPad apps are two separate versions at the moment, but Reddit plans to eventually merge them to create one universal software. While Alien Blue’s exclusive to iOS users, that doesn’t mean Reddit’s ignoring folks on Android: the company’s currently hiring an Android engineer in San Francisco to develop an app for the platform. Filed under: Cellphones , Mobile Comments Source: Reddit Blog , The New York Times , iTunes

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Will.i.am’s Puls wristband has its own 3G, support from AT&T

Will.i.am has just revealed the Puls at Dreamforce 2014, a smartwatch that doesn’t need to be tethered to a phone to send texts, emails or make and take phone calls. In fact, Will kept saying it’s not a watch, because smartwatches don’t typically come with SIM cards, which the Puls does have, along with speakers and a screen that curves along with its body, making the device look more like a cuff than a traditional watch. The Puls has 16GB of storage onboard, 1GB of RAM, GPS, a battery that goes around the bracelet, pedometer and accelerometer, all powered by a Qualcomm Snapdragon processor. It connects to the internet not only via WiFi, but also via 3G, which means it has carrier partners: the Puls works with AT&T in the US and O2 in the UK. Developing… This is the puls. http://t.co/SS7dhOHrYE ‘s smart watch. pic.twitter.com/BfE4GbmLII – Roberto Baldwin (@strngwys) October 15, 2014 Filed under: Wearables Comments

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Will.i.am’s Puls wristband has its own 3G, support from AT&T

Apple leaks iPad Air 2, iPad mini 3 ahead of official announce

Well, this is a bit unlike Apple — the company appears to have accidentally spilled the beans about the iPad Air 2 and iPad mini 3, which are expected to be announced tomorrow . Representations of both devices showed up in a screenshot of the iPad User Guide for iOS 8.1, which we’re also expecting new details about tomorrow. We can’t tell much from the image, but it does confirm that Cupertino’s tablets will be getting Touch ID . A later screenshot also details burst shooting mode, which will be coming to the iPad Air 2, but not the mini 3, according to the document. However, downloading the book didn’t reveal any additional info. In fact, there’s no trace of the content leaked via the preview screenshots at all. While the leak may seem like a careless mistake, the more cynical out there will note that this happened just moments after Google announced its latest Nexus devices. It might be a coincidence, or the notoriously media savvy company might be trying to push the competition out of the news cycle as fast as possible. [Image via 9to5Mac ] Filed under: Tablets , Mobile , Apple Comments Via: 9to5Mac Source: iTunes

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Apple leaks iPad Air 2, iPad mini 3 ahead of official announce

Ken May

Tag: the-end