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AfterDawn: News

'Game of Thrones' network signs up legendary children's show 'Sesame Street'

Written by Andre Yoskowitz @ 13 Aug 2015 11:02

'Game of Thrones' network signs up legendary children's show 'Sesame Street' HBO has signed a 5-year deal with Sesame Workshop that will bring 'Sesame Street' to the network as part of a core of new kids programming.

The network says Sesame Street will be available on HBO, its multiplex channels and its streaming Now and Go services. In addition, non-HBO subscribers will also be able to see the show, as they have for decades, on PBS, albeit nine months after they debut on HBO.

"Our new partnership with HBO represents a true winning public-private partnership model,"
said Sesame Workshop CEO, Jeffrey D. Dunn, in a statement, "It provides Sesame Workshop with the critical funding it needs to be able to continue production of 'Sesame Street' and secure its nonprofit mission of helping kids grow smarter, stronger and kinder."

Besides Sesame Street, Sesame Workshop will also license out episodes of "Pinky Dinky Doo" and the new reboot of "Electric Company."

HBO has licensed 150 previously aired episodes and new episodes will begin later this year.

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AfterDawn: News

Samsung has brought back the physical keyboard for your smartphone

Written by Andre Yoskowitz @ 13 Aug 2015 6:24

Samsung has brought back the physical keyboard for your smartphone Even though the hardware keyboard mostly died when BlackBerry did, it appears that Samsung is feeling nostalgic.

Announced today alongside their new flagship Galaxy S6 Edge+ and Galaxy Note 5 smartphones is a new kind of smartphone hardware keyboard, one that might make Ryan Seacrest and his 'Typo' keyboard blush.

The keyboard does not require Bluetooth or a battery and does not extend to the bottom of your phone. Rather, the keyboard snaps on top of your display, effectively cutting off about 40 percent of the visible display and the phone will auto-recognize the device and adjust the phone's interface. The screen actually reads the keypresses, and the keyboard can be snapped onto the backside of the phone for storage.

There was no word on price or availability.

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AfterDawn: News

Don't like the Windows 10 start menu? Stardock has a solution for you

Written by Andre Yoskowitz @ 13 Aug 2015 6:09

Don't like the Windows 10 start menu? Stardock has a solution for you When Windows 8 came out sans Start Menu, there was general outrage from consumers but little fixes until Stardock released their Start8 software to bring back the Windows 7 menu you knew and loved.

However, when Windows 10 was released, Start8 still worked, kinda, although it killed some Windows 10 features including basic pinning to the taskbar.

This week, Stardock has released Start10, built specifically for Windows 10 and consumers that want the Windows 7 start menu back.

As with previous offerings, the software will not break the bank, but it does cost $4.99 for a lifetime license.

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AfterDawn: News

Twitter changes direct message character length to 10,000

Written by Andre Yoskowitz @ 13 Aug 2015 5:57

Twitter changes direct message character length to 10,000 If you were looking to communicate with friends or followers on Twitter, it just got a whole lot easier.

Twitter has removed the 140 character limit from its DM feature, expanding the limitation to 10,000, more than you would likely need for some chatting.

"Our users will now have the flexibility to write longer and express themselves in a more natural and comfortable way," said Sachin Agarwal, Twitter's product manager for direct messages.

Twitter continues to fight to keep its features in line with other social behemoths, namely Facebook, but the company has struggled to monetize its 315 million users. In addition, the company is looking for a new CEO after longtime executive Dick Costolo resigned last month following a sharp downturn in the company's shares.

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AfterDawn: News

Galaxy S6 Edge+ is Samsung's new top of the line smartphone

Written by Matti Robinson @ 13 Aug 2015 4:14

Galaxy S6 Edge+ is Samsung's new top of the line smartphone Samsung announced the new Galaxy S6 Edge+ for those who love the dual curved screen of Galaxy S6 Edge but want something in the size of Note series of smartphones.

If Galaxy Note 5 (left) is just a larger version of Galaxy S6 then Galaxy S6 Edge+ (right) is the larger version of Galaxy S6 Edge. The specifications are virtually identical to Galaxy Note 5, just switch the stylus to a curved display. There is not a lot new here – essentially it's a Note 5 sized Galaxy S6 Edge.

Like the Note, Galaxy S6 Edge+ features an octa-core Exynos chip, a 5,7 inch QHD Super AMOLED display, 4 GB of RAM, 16 and 5 megapixel cameras, and a 3000 mAh battery with wireless charging.

The camera has the same image stabilization and live broadcasting features as Note 5. And like the Note 5 it will be available on August 21st, and preorders starting today.

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AfterDawn: News

Samsung unveils the Galaxy Note 5

Written by Matti Robinson @ 13 Aug 2015 3:41

Samsung unveils the Galaxy Note 5 Samsung has today unveiled the fifth generation of Galaxy Note at its Unpacked event in New York. The company's hugely successful phablet line of smartphones continues with the Galaxy Note 5.

Galaxy Note 5 is a direct competitor to Apple's iPhone 6 Plus and the company didn't try to hide it – quite the opposite. Even with a larger screen than on iPhone 6 Plus Galaxy Note 5 has a smaller footprint than Apple's offering.

The new Note borrows a lot from Galaxy S6 in terms of looks. With metal frames and Gorilla glass in the back and the front it is essentially a bigger Galaxy S6. What makes it Note, in addition to the size, is the improved S Pen stylus.

The Galaxy Note 5 features the octa-core Exynos chip you know from S6, a 5,7 inch QHD Super AMOLED display, 16 and 5 megapixel cameras, and a 3000 mAh battery. The camera features a new image stabilization that combines both optical and digital methods for better video stabilization. Also one of the hyped features of the camera is live broadcasting to YouTube.

The phone is waterproof and wireless charging speed has been improved (requires a new charging station). However, there is no microSD card slot and the battery is no longer removable.

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AfterDawn: News

Original Popcorn Time team backs official variant

Written by Andre Yoskowitz @ 13 Aug 2015 3:36

Original Popcorn Time team backs official variant Even though the original Popcorn Time team shut down a year ago, most of the founding members have now come out to support one of the variants of the software.

The original site previously had a "goodbye" message, but now links to popcorntime.io.

Now infamous for being "the Netflix of piracy," Popcorn Time has millions of users streaming thousands of unauthorized films and TV shows through software that has a Netflix-esque interface and is powered by BitTorrent.

Popcorntime.io has always been the most popular of the "forks," but now the open-source software can be considered the "official" Popcorn Time client.

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AfterDawn: News

R.I.P Microsoft Lumia 830

Written by Andre Yoskowitz @ 13 Aug 2015 12:23

R.I.P Microsoft Lumia 830 After less than a year of availability, the Lumia 830 has reached the end of its life.

The device still bears the Nokia logo, and was released in September 2014, just after the company's acquisition of Nokia's handset division was completed.

Unsurprisingly, the Lumia 830 is now being phased out as it was first touted as an "affordable flagship" but its specs were lacking and its price was higher than other "affordable" devices.

Retailers are being told this is "end of life" for the device, and to begin taking down any marketing. Microsoft's own recently launched Lumia 640 and Lumia 640 XL have similar specs and will remain available although without Nokia's patented PureView camera.

Check the leaked Microsoft doc here:

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AfterDawn: News

The HTC One Max has a fingerprint storing scandal

Written by Andre Yoskowitz @ 11 Aug 2015 8:31

The HTC One Max has a fingerprint storing scandal According to a report from security firm FireEye, the HTC One Max left your fingerprints exposed to any and all apps.

The firm says the phone kept all scanned fingerprints as unencrypted files that any app could read if it knew where to look.

HTC has fixed the bug, "in all regions," following the report. The One Max had been storing the fingerprint data as a specialized bitmap image file, but FireEye was able to easily reconstruct the images to have full scans of the print.

There were worries that other phones may have been affected, but FireEye only named the One Max. Samsung, for their part, says they have spoken with FireEye and reviewed their devices with fingerprint readers, which have all been cleared.

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AfterDawn: News

Internal docs show Samsung could go back to Qualcomm for Galaxy S7

Written by Andre Yoskowitz @ 10 Aug 2015 8:37

Internal docs show Samsung could go back to Qualcomm for Galaxy S7 Thanks to a new leak of internal documents, it appears that Samsung is at least testing going back to Qualcomm for its next flagship, next year's Galaxy S7.

The company used its own Exynos chipset for the Galaxy S6, following overheating issues with Qualcomm's Snapdragon 810 chipset. According to the leaked docs, Samsung is testing the Snapdragon 820 for its upcoming phones.

Codenamed "Jungfrau," the Galaxy S7 will run on Android M (with Samsung's own bloat, of course), and notably the phone could launch a month or two faster than expected thanks to Samsung's "Agile" process which promised to improve their internal management process.

If accurate, Jungfrau could launch well before next year's Mobile World Congress, and even in time for the holidays this year.

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AfterDawn: News

Google has spun off Google, and Sundar Pichai is the new CEO

Written by Andre Yoskowitz @ 10 Aug 2015 5:46

Google has spun off Google, and Sundar Pichai is the new CEO In a massive restructuring, Google has spun off its core Google businesses and created a new holding company for everything else.

The new company, Alphabet, will allow Google founders Sergey Brin and Larry Page to separate the incredibly profitable search and ad businesses from the more world-changing (but not profitable) ones such as self-driving cars and Internet-carrying balloons.

Current Android and Chrome boss Sundar Pichai will become the new CEO of Google, while Page will become CEO of Alphabet. Brin is the president of Alphabet, and former Google CEO and chairman Eric Schmidt will become the executive chairman of Alphabet.

Breaking down the new structure, Google will include search, ads, maps, apps, YouTube and Android while Alphabet will hold Calico, Nest, Fiber, Google Ventures, Google X and Google Capital as "managed separately from the Google business."

"We've long believed that over time companies tend to get comfortable doing the same thing, just making incremental changes. But in the technology industry, where revolutionary ideas drive the next big growth areas, you need to be a bit uncomfortable to stay relevant. Our company is operating well today, but we think we can make it cleaner and more accountable,"
added Page.




AfterDawn: News

Google revamps Hangouts for Material Design

Written by Andre Yoskowitz @ 10 Aug 2015 5:12

Google revamps Hangouts for Material Design Google has updated their Hangouts application for Material Design and included speed and performance updates.

Now in version 4.0 for Android, you should be able to chat with improved speed and simpler menus.

Full list of what's new:

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AfterDawn: News

Microsoft is updating its discontinued Windows RT operating system

Written by Andre Yoskowitz @ 10 Aug 2015 3:33

Microsoft is updating its discontinued Windows RT operating system Microsoft has updated their Windows 10 FAQ page to reveal info on the upcoming update for Windows RT.

Windows RT launched in 2012 for ARM-based tablets but support was quickly dropped after consumer outrage on how little apps actually worked for the platform. Despite killing off the operating system (which hasn't been updated since 2013), it appears there is one more update in the works, the oft-rumored Windows 8.1 RT Update 3.

The update will hit your OS in September and will be unremarkable. Microsoft says the lock screen is being updated, and the Start Menu is being updated, as well.

Microsoft says to expect the update in September and that it is the end of the line for the OS. If you still have a Surface RT, it might be time to upgrade.

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AfterDawn: News

Ubuntu Touch-powered BQ Aquaris now available in the U.S.

Written by Andre Yoskowitz @ 10 Aug 2015 3:10

Ubuntu Touch-powered BQ Aquaris now available in the U.S. Smartphone OEM BQ has announced this week that their Ubuntu Touch-powered Aquaris phone will now be available "wherever you live" meaning the company is expanding outside of Europe to the Americas, Australia, Africa and Asia.

Unfortunately for U.S. would-be buyers, the Aquaris does not have the proper band support for 4G in the U.S., and on some carriers you may not even get 3G. For those interested, please check the bands for the device and then what your carrier offer.

Currently, the Aquaris sells for under 200 euro, depending on the model.

The only other Ubuntu phone to be launched so far this year is the Meizu MX4, which sells in Europe and China and also does not support LTE in the States.

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AfterDawn: News

Cyanogen claims more users than Windows and BlackBerry combined using slick wording

Written by Andre Yoskowitz @ 10 Aug 2015 2:40

Cyanogen claims more users than Windows and BlackBerry combined using slick wording Speaking at Seattle Code Rush, mobile operating system startup Cyanogen has made some bold claims.

The company said its operating system now has "more users than Windows Mobile and Blackberry combined," a nice subtle slight of hand since Windows Mobile died in 2010 and was replaced by Windows Phone.

Cyanogen now claims over 50 million users, compared to under 40 million for BlackBerry and Windows Mobile. Windows Phone on the other hand, has near 80 million users and is the third largest mobile OS on the planet.

Regardless, the milestone is huge for Cyanogen as the company looks to disrupt the Apple/Google monopoly that has become the smartphone industry.

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