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Pandora offers ad-free music for a day for $0.99

Written by Andre Yoskowitz @ 08 Mar 2015 9:31

Pandora offers ad-free music for a day for $0.99 Pandora has announced today that it will offer a 'one-day pass' for non-subscribers, giving them 24 hours of ad-free music for just $0.99.

Chief Product Officer Chris Phillips says the new offering will make Pandora ideal for parties where hosts don't want their guests to hear ad breaks that come quite often in the free version of the software.

Despite the revealed $0.99 price point, Phillips says the 24-hour duration and the price are still up for review: "Pandora is committed to delivering an effortless, personalized experience and we recognize some consumers may want an ad-free experience but don't necessarily want to commit to a subscription. This offering will allow consumers to choose and explore what is right for them or suits a particular event or experience. Pricing and exact timing are yet to be determined but we expect it to be available later this year."

If you are a Pandora fan, the company does offer a monthly ad-free experience called Pandora One for $4.99 per month. The premium subscription allows for more skips and ups the quality to 192kbps, as well.

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AfterDawn: News

New Bradley Cooper, Jennifer Lawrence film available to legally stream 3 weeks before theatrical debut

Written by Andre Yoskowitz @ 08 Mar 2015 8:58

New Bradley Cooper, Jennifer Lawrence film available to legally stream 3 weeks before theatrical debut 'Serena,' the new film starring Bradley Cooper and Jennifer Lawrence, is available now via legal streaming services, a full three weeks before its theatrical debut in the U.S.

The move is just the latest in a series of strange events related to the film. Despite the star power of its two leads, the film wrapped in 2012 and had no distributors until 2014, when it was released internationally. The film will debut in a limited theater run starting on March 27th, but the movie has been almost universally panned by critics.

If you are daring, rentals are available now on Google Play, iTunes and Amazon Instant Video at $10.99 for HD and $9.99 for SD. This is far above the average $2.99-$5.99 that digital rentals for new films cost, but it comes with the territory of being a pre-release.

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AfterDawn: News

Microsoft sues Kyocera for patent infringement over mobile phones

Written by Andre Yoskowitz @ 08 Mar 2015 6:48

Microsoft sues Kyocera for patent infringement over mobile phones Microsoft has sued Japanese phone maker Kyocera over patent infringement this week, claiming that the company's Duraforce, Hydro and Brigadier line of phones violate up to seven of the Redmond giant's patents.

Filed in the U.S., the suit is demanding a U.S. sales injunction against the products, which would be most of Kyocera's Android devices sold in the country.

"We respect Kyocera but we believe they need to license the patented technology they are using. We're hopeful this case can be resolved amicably," said Microsoft deputy general counsel David Howard in a statement.

A few of the patented technologies include location services and text messaging and plenty more of other crucial cell phone features.

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AfterDawn: News

WhatsApp blocks third-party clients and any user using them until they switch, clarifies recent reports

Written by Andre Yoskowitz @ 08 Mar 2015 5:45

WhatsApp blocks third-party clients and any user using them until they switch, clarifies recent reports WhatsApp has taken the next step in tightening their policies, basically banning the use of third-party clients or even their installation.

Earlier this year, the popular messaging service told users and developers that because they could not guarantee third-party apps are safe and secure, they would begin to crack down on them.

Third-party devs have been receiving cease and desist notices and users also saw their accounts temporarily banned but there was widespread panic this week when a WhatsApp developer posted on Google+ that the company would be begin to use a "Permanent Account Disable" for anyone using a third-party app.

For now, the company has clarified the reports, explaining that the bans are still placed on the accounts for only as long as the user continues to use non-official applications. Previously, users received 24-hour bans as warnings. There will be no permanent bans although the ban will essentially be permanent if you do not remove the third-party apps from your device.

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AfterDawn: News

Japan Display opens new plant for Apple products

Written by Andre Yoskowitz @ 08 Mar 2015 5:08

Japan Display opens new plant for Apple products According to sources, Japan Display is building a new plant that would supply millions of smartphone displays for Apple iPhones.

The new $1.4 billion LCD manufacturing plant would help the company become a primary supplier to Apple, which sells upwards of 150 million iPhones per year.

Apple will also reportedly invest in the plant, which will be built in Ishikawa, Japan.

If accurate, the agreement would be a massive deal for Japan Display; a company that was built off the floundering display units of Hitachi, Sony and Toshiba in 2012 and is currently supported by the Japanese government.

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AfterDawn: News

TWC brings it's TV app to Xbox One

Written by Matti Robinson @ 08 Mar 2015 7:09

TWC brings it's TV app to Xbox One Time Warner Cable has released their TV app to Microsoft latest and greatest gaming console – the Xbox One. The app as you might guess allows you to watch TV on your Xbox if you have the cable company's subscription.

Engadget notes that unfortunately unlike the Xbox 360 the Xbox One version is still limited to video-on-demand content but will eventually support live TV as well. There is however already support for both Kinect voice controls and Snap multitasking.

You'll find both free and paid content just like on other platforms that include iOS, Android, Roku and Samsung Smart TVs.




AfterDawn: News

New version of uTorrent bundled with secret bitcoin mining software?

Written by Matti Robinson @ 07 Mar 2015 8:05

New version of uTorrent bundled with secret bitcoin mining software? The users of the uTorrent have found that the new version of the popular BitTorrent client comes with an additional piece of software unseen before. What makes it even worse is that it is installed without consent.

The program is called EpicScale and is a bitcoin mining software. Mining cryptocurrencies uses a lot of your processing power and therefore is extremely power hungry.

BitTorrent has replied and assured that EpicScale is not installed without users consent. Several users seem to disagree and have found the mining software on their computer without agreeing on installing it.

Have you had problems with this program? If you have installed the new update and your CPU is running hot you may want to check your installed programs (via Control Panel) and remove the possible EpicShare.




AfterDawn: News

Softcard is officially dead at the end of the month

Written by Andre Yoskowitz @ 05 Mar 2015 11:22

Softcard is officially dead at the end of the month Mobile payment system Softcard is officially dead following its recent acquisition by Google.

The company has sent out emails to current users acknowledging that the app and all accounts will shut down on March 31st.

Softcard was created by Verizon, AT&T and T-Mobile but even hundreds of millions in investment could not buy any regular users for the service. Google acquired most of the tech that was powering Softcard last month, and has rolled it into their Wallet mobile payment app and used the tech for the upcoming Android Pay API.

Google is expected to pull the Softcard app from Google Play next week.

Check out a copy of the email here:

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AfterDawn: News

Google's MVNO could launch this month - for the Nexus 6 only

Written by Andre Yoskowitz @ 05 Mar 2015 10:55

Google's MVNO could launch this month - for the Nexus 6 only According to a new report, Google will begin their new experimental MVNO later this month, but with one massive caveat.

The search giant is preparing to get into the carrier business, with a network that can instantly switch between Wi-Fi, Sprint and T-Mobile depending on what network is strongest.

Given the fact that T-Mobile is GSM and Sprint is CDMA, Google needs specific hardware and software tweaks to make it all work and for the time being the only device that is completely open for them to toy with is their own Nexus 6.

With the Nexus 6 as the only phone available for the new network, the company is obviously shortening the list of potential consumers, as the device sells for $650 unlocked.

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AfterDawn: News

Report: Apple to announce 12-inch MacBook Air on Monday

Written by Andre Yoskowitz @ 05 Mar 2015 10:26

Report: Apple to announce 12-inch MacBook Air on Monday As part of a broader report on Apple today, the WSJ has suggested that Apple's rumored 12-inch MacBook Air could be launched as early as Monday.

Apple has scheduled a press event for Monday in which they are widely expected to reveal a firm launch date for the Apple Watch including pricing. However, Apple could have more than one announcement scheduled.

Says the report: "While suppliers are gearing up to ship the new 12-inch MacBook Air in large quantities in the second quarter, Apple's launch schedule remains unclear, the people said."

The new Air will be thinner and lighter, and the 12-inch display will take the same space as the current 11-inch Airs, suggesting smaller bezels. The new laptop will also have minimal ports, with some reports suggesting there will be a single USB C port.

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AfterDawn: News

Nvidia's Titan X GPU is here to crush the competition

Written by Andre Yoskowitz @ 04 Mar 2015 10:18

Nvidia's Titan X GPU is here to crush the competition Nvidia has unveiled the new Titan X GPU - the most powerful video card ever created.

CEO Jen-Hsun Huang says the GPU has 8 billion transistors, uses the new Nvidia Maxwell architecture and has a ridiculous 12 gigabytes of VRAM.

More will be revealed on the spec side in the coming weeks, but Nvidia demoed the power of the Titan X by showing off 'Thief in the Shadows,' a VR experience that lets gamers "wade through acres of coins, pass between stacks of gold ingots and explore subterranean crevices all guarded by an enormous dragon that has no intention of giving up any of his hoard" (Smaug from The Hobbit). The game plays at 90fps.

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AfterDawn: News

Xiaomi's European Web store will not sell phones, either

Written by Andre Yoskowitz @ 04 Mar 2015 8:56

Xiaomi's European Web store will not sell phones, either Last month, Chinese smartphone giant announced that they were opening an online store for U.S. customers and the company has confirmed now that it will be doing the same for Europe.

Unfortunately, just like in the U.S., the European store will not include phone or tablet sales, just accessories and smaller devices like the Mi Band fitness tracker and Mi speakers and headphones.

"It's going to be a different Mi.com experience from what we have in our markets in Asia, because we're not selling phones," said Hugo Barra, former Android exec and now Xiaomi's global vice president. "We're only going to sell a small number of our hero accessories, things like the Mi Band, studio-grade headphones, in-ear headphones and the world's most popular power banks."

The lack of phone sales is notable as the company has quickly risen to the world's third largest smartphone maker in just 4 years of existence, thanks to brisk sales in Asia. The company has massive revenues but short profits as the margins are tight on all devices they sell in an effort to get their ecosystem into the hands of millions where they can sell software and services at nearly 100 percent margins.

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AfterDawn: News

Marvel rewards tweeters with new 'Age of Ultron' trailer including better look at Vision

Written by Andre Yoskowitz @ 04 Mar 2015 2:19

Marvel rewards tweeters with new 'Age of Ultron' trailer including better look at Vision First thing this morning, Marvel's The Avengers Twitter page tweeted out a simple request: Tweet #AvengersAssemble to 'unlock' a new trailer for the hotly anticipated film.

Thousands of fans quickly tweeted the message and Marvel rewarded them with a brand new trailer that includes new footage and a good luck at Vision.

Avengers: Age of Ultron is set for release on May 1st.

Check the tweet followed by the trailer:

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AfterDawn: News

Metal Gear Solid V confirmed for September 1st

Written by Andre Yoskowitz @ 04 Mar 2015 1:54

Metal Gear Solid V confirmed for September 1st Although the date was leaked last month, Konami has confirmed that Metal Gear Solid V: The Phantom Pain will be released on September 1st.

Notably, Metal Gear Online will also go live the same day, giving gamers the chance to get into the competitive multiplayer mode right out of the gate.

The game will sell for $60 for PS4 and Xbox One and $10 less for PS3 and Xbox 360. PC gamers will have to wait two weeks to get the title via Steam.

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AfterDawn: News

AMC, IFC now available as part of Sling TV subscription

Written by Andre Yoskowitz @ 04 Mar 2015 1:36

AMC, IFC  now available as part of Sling TV subscription Dish has confirmed today that Sling TV subscribers will now have access to AMC and IFC - without any increase to their subscription price.

The service will cost $20 per month and includes the following channels: TNT, TBS, CNN, Food Network, HGTV, Cartoon Network, Adult Swim, the Disney Channel, Galavision, El Rey Network, a Maker Studios channel and ESPN, ESPN2 and ESPN 3.

For $5 extra, there are add-on packages, the latest of which is called 'Hollwood Extra' and includes EPIX, EPIX 2, EPIX3, EPIX Drive In, and Sundance TV.

AMC is a big deal given the hit status of Better Call Saul, the last season of Mad Men and the ongoing Walking Dead series.





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