Apps & Smartphones news

• Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Timeline

  24-09-2015 23:32 via technewsworld.com
  That trip down memory lane may never be the same. Those who feel their Facebook Timeline leaves out any important moments in their lives can call up Google Maps' Timeline to fill in the blanks. With tech tools like these, who needs enemies? There may be some things you'd rather not remember -- and there probably definitely are things in your past that you'd rather others didn't know. The existence of tech tracking tools means that whether users choose to take advantage of them for personal reaso
  
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• The BlackBerry Passport was released one year ago today - how would you change it?

  24-09-2015 23:25 via feedproxy.google.com
  
  September 24 marks the one-year anniversary of the launch of the BlackBerry Passport. Since then, the BlackBerry Passport has been released in several different colors including black, red, white as well as a special limited edition gold and black version. If that's not enough, AT&T went ahead and released their own variation of the device and BlackBerry has since released their own improved version by way of the BlackBerry Passport Silver Edition, which arguably is the best version of the
  
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• Twitter is experimenting with a feature that changes the platform significantly

  24-09-2015 23:09 via thenextweb.com
  
  Is there anything Twitter is not experimenting with? Today a new polling feature has hit the feeds of Twitter users on both desktop and mobile, and it looks different from what we’re used to. Twitter usually deploys features through Cards — lines of HTML designed to integrate rich media and other features into the platform. Usually, cards leave behind a URL built into the tweet, signaling the source of the Card. But look at this sample Tweet, from New York Times reporter Mike I
  
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• Facebook renames Internet.org mobile and Web app as Free Basics, platform now supports HTTPS

  24-09-2015 23:01 via thenextweb.com
  
  After a barrage of criticism targeted at the Facebook-led Internet.org initiative, the company announced today that it will now allow the use of encrypted services without charging data fees. Facebook has also today changed the name of its Internet.org app and mobile website to Free Basics by Facebook. Starting now, users of the app or mobile Web version can navigate to a menu to select free services to add to their list or search for a service by name or desc
  
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• Everything we know about the BlackBerry Priv Android Slider

  24-09-2015 22:06 via feedproxy.google.com
  
  For a while there, it seemed as though BlackBerry had a good handle on keeping their upcoming slider under wraps but over the past few weeks, the device has been popping up seemingly everywhere. As expected, there was some sketchy rumors, then came some pretty spot on leaks of renders of the device and software, then came the typical blurry cam images, then some higher quality images and most recently a somewhat decent hands-on video. Although it might seem as though everything possible has bee
  
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• Microsoft’s new Invite app for iOS want to take the hassle out of group meetings

  24-09-2015 21:08 via thenextweb.com
  
  Microsoft wants to make it easy to set up meetings and calendar appointments on  the go with its new Invite app for iOS. Once you’ve connected your email account, you can suggest various times that work for you and invite attendees. They’ll receive an email – or app notification, if they have Invite installed – and they can specify which of those times work for them as well, and see what options work for other attendees too. After everyone sets their preference
  
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• The "Best Smartphone Camera" Isn't What You Think | Pocketnow Weekly 167

  24-09-2015 20:58 via youtube.com
  
  
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• Peloton’s on-demand spin bike now lets you bookmark and filter search results

  24-09-2015 20:25 via thenextweb.com
  
  Peloton, a new indoor cycling bike system with on-demand lessons from a live studio, today received an update that now allows users to bookmark rides they like, whether it’s one they’ve taken before that they enjoyed or from an instructor they prefer. With its New York-based studio offering themed rides such as ’80’s rock’ and ‘Justin Timberlake vs N’SYNC,’ bookmarking allows you to save a class to attend belatedly if you can’t make it
  
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• The Rich Get Internet-Richer While the Poor Get None

  24-09-2015 20:22 via technewsworld.com
  Efforts to increase Internet access worldwide are falling short of targeted goals, according to a United Nations Broadband Commission report released earlier this week.
  More than half the world's population is still offline, according to the report, and growth in the number of people with access to the Internet is slowing. The digital divide has become a chasm. Internet access in rich economies is reaching saturation levels, while about 90 percent of the people in the 48 poorest countries have n
  
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• Oculus unveils $99 Gear VR with Netflix, Facebook and Twitch Support

  24-09-2015 20:05 via thenextweb.com
  
  In what is perhaps a long time coming for VR enthusiasts who have expressed faith in Oculus CEO Palmer Luckey’s vision for mainstream consumer hardware, the Facebook-acquired brand is finally putting it all together. Today at the keynote for Oculus Connect 2 in Hollywood, Samsung VP of Mobile Peter Koo announced a $99 Gear VR headset that will make use of Oculus technology and be ready in time for holiday shopping. The hardware will be compatible with all of Samsung’s
  
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• Google Keep finally arrives on iOS for all your note-taking needs

  24-09-2015 20:00 via thenextweb.com
  
  Keep – Google’s simple note-taking app – is finally arriving on iOS. It’s the same set of features you’ve come to expect from the Android and Web versions. You can create colored notes and to-do lists, search for information by photo, audio, or text, or add labels to help keep things organized. You can also set reminders based on a time or location so you don’t forget an item from your next shopping list. Of course, it’s connected to the cloud
  
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• Ledge uses Venmo to make borrowing money and paying it back dead simple

  24-09-2015 19:44 via thenextweb.com
  
  We’ve all been there – sometimes you simply need to borrow money. Whether it’s for a big investment, moving to a new place or life just getting a little rough, Ledge aims to make it dead simple to borrow money from friends, family and others – and actually pay them back. It essentially works like a crowdfunding platform, but with a few twists. After borrowers create a campaign explaining how much cash they need, they give the loan interest rate (which
  
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• Twitter app ads now support autoplay video

  24-09-2015 18:45 via thenextweb.com
  
  App ads are about on Twitter are about to get a bit more lively; brands can now promote their products with video. Previously, companies had to use regular old promoted text or image tweets as their best bet to advertise apps to their audiences. Twitter says video leads to higher user engagement and nearly triple the app installs, given nearly 90 percent of its video views are on mobile devices. WATCH: Bring your app to life with the Video App Card https://t.co/OEhtqHUy7r — Twit
  
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• Facebook is down, go do something more fun while it recovers [Update: It’s back!]

  24-09-2015 18:42 via thenextweb.com
  
  Facebook is down for many users around the world, according to DownDetector.co.uk and reports on Twitter. It’s the second outage within a week for the social network, and many people are unable to log in and view those critical status messages, Pages and other updates. These problems don’t tend to last too long, but we’ve asked Facebook for a statement on the situation and will update here when normal service resumes. Until then, go fly a kite or something. Update: A
  
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• Facebook is down, go do something more fun while it recovers

  24-09-2015 18:42 via thenextweb.com
  
  Facebook is down for many users around the world, according to DownDetector.co.uk and reports on Twitter. It’s the second outage within a week for the social network, and many people are unable to log in and view those critical status messages, Pages and other updates. These problems don’t tend to last too long, but we’ve asked Facebook for a statement on the situation and will update here when normal service resumes. Until then, go fly a kite or something. Update: A
  
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• It's official: 4/5 people can't stand the name Priv for BlackBerry's upcoming Android slider phone

  24-09-2015 18:08 via feedproxy.google.com
  
  And here I thought BlackBerry couldn't come up with a name worse for a phone than Leap. Turns out I was wrong. Enter the BlackBerry Priv. With word surfacing and multiple sources (including our own) confirming that BlackBerry's upcoming Android slider will be called the BlackBerry Priv, the CrackBerry and broader smartphone community has been providing its feedback on how this is a horrible, stupid, lame, dumb — ​insert your adjective​ — name for what looks to be an othe
  
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• The iPhone 6s outperforms the 2015 MacBook in some tests, which says a lot about the iPad Pro

  24-09-2015 17:41 via thenextweb.com
  
  Although the iPhone’s ‘s’ models aren’t normally as hype-worthy as the full version upgrades, one thing you can always expect out of them is top notch performance. This year’s iPhone 6s, however, has the special honor of being as powerful as one of Apple’s newest laptops, the 2015 MacBook. John Gruber from Daring Fireball benchmarked the iPhone 6S using Geerkbench 3, a multi-platform testing tool designed to measure overall computer performance
  
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• Metal Pixels for BlackBerry 10

  24-09-2015 17:23 via youtube.com
  
  
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• Tom's Guide reviews US carriers, finds T-Mobile to be the best all-around

  24-09-2015 16:47 via feedproxy.google.com
  
  Our pals at Tom's Guide have spent countless hours researching and testing to see how the US carriers compare to each other. The findings reveal that T-Mobile is the best all-around carrier, with Verizon coming in a close second.Our pals at Tom's Guide have spent countless hours researching and testing to see how the US carriers compare to each other. The findings reveal that T-Mobile is the best all-around carrier, with Verizon coming in a close second. When searching for a carrier, many people
  
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• This guy made his million selling his last name. Now he wants to sell you his future

  24-09-2015 16:40 via thenextweb.com
  
  Jason Zook (née Sadler) makes a living writing books, designing Web products and attending speaking engagements, but you might know him best as the man who sold his last name as a billboard. Owner of IWearYourShirt.com, Zook originally began his project by getting companies to pay him to wear their T-shirts while he records UStream or YouTube videos, or engage with his thousands of social media followers. Eventually, big brands like Nissan and Starbucks got Zook and groups of p
  
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• Lending a hand: Even more ways tech is delivering hope for humanity

  24-09-2015 16:20 via thenextweb.com
  
  Philanthropy isn’t only for the big guys. While tech giants Google and Apple announced their donation efforts last week, there is plenty of room for others. From multiple “Airbnb for refugees” popping up around the world to simply volunteering to be a human wifi hotspot, technology is being used as a vital tool for aid. With the latest numbers from the International Organization for Migration as a record-breaking 473,887 refugees and migrants from the Mediterranean to Europe j
  
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• Share contacts quickly by text with 100 copies of Contacts Share

  24-09-2015 16:08 via feedproxy.google.com
  
  Whether for business or personal reasons there comes a time when you need to share contact information. While the BlackBerry operating system has always allowed for contact sharing via various methods there is nothing wrong with being presented with alternatives. You never know if you have to share information at a moment's notice or not. HugSoft, a native BlackBerry developer has taken it upon himself to create a simple application for sharing contact information obviating the need to download
  
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• Bring your design dreams to life with the ultimate design and animation bundle – 98% off

  24-09-2015 16:05 via thenextweb.com
  
  It’s time to stop fantasizing about a career in design, computer animation or game development while you toil away elsewhere. Take the leap you’ve been dreaming about with the Ultimate Design and Animation Bundle, on sale for just $29 at TNW Deals. Inside the Ultimate Design and Animation Bundle, you’ll find lifetime access to the 60+ courses and over 200 hours of expert instruction covering every topic imaginable relating to the world of design. Everything you could want to l
  
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• Android customization monthly: Best new launchers, widgets, icon packs, and wallpapers (August)

  24-09-2015 16:02 via phonearena.com
  
  Ever gotten tired of the way your Android device's interface looks and functions? If yes, the good news is that you couldn't have picked up a better platform to customize to your heart's content, and, thankfully, there's quite a market for apps that will help you on the way there. Better yet, we've been consistently rounding up the best in categories such as wallpapers, launchers, icon packs and widgets for months now, so that anyone willing to experiment a bit can get a flying start. Best of a
  
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• Save 50% today on this hard case and holster combo for BlackBerry Z30

  24-09-2015 15:48 via feedproxy.google.com
  
  Get the best of both worlds of protection with this durable Amzer Shellster Combo for BlackBerry Z30. Included is a durable hard case for casual protection along with a matching swivel clip holster to keep at your side for quick and easy access. Available today for only $8.95!
  
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• 5 awesome offline apps for Android and iPhone

  24-09-2015 15:43 via phonearena.com
  
  With mobile data getting faster and more ubiquitous in most urban areas in the developed world, you may wonder: why even bother saving things for offline viewing? The question is indeed valid, but unfortunately, mobile data has not become truly international - it has not crossed the borders of countries, as roaming fees are still hefty and costs can go up quickly if you choose to pay for roaming data.Offline apps could be a lifesaverIn those cases, apps with offline functionality are an absolut
  
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• UK telecom spectrum prices have tripled, and you’ll likely end up paying for it

  24-09-2015 15:39 via thenextweb.com
  
  Ofcom, the UK’s telecom regulator, is increasing the cost of mobile spectrum for operators like O2, Vodafone, EE and Three. Mobile spectrum in the 900Mhz and 1800Mhz bands, used to deliver voice and data services using 2G, 3G and 4G technologies is nearly tripling in cost overall – rising from a total of £64.4 million to £199.6 million. For most operators, this represents around three times (or more) the current fee. So, the cost of delivering services will ris
  
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• Huawei Watch Review

  24-09-2015 15:35 via youtube.com
  
  
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• Asus ZenPad S 8.0 Z580CA Review

  24-09-2015 15:26 via youtube.com
  
  
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• Watch the clouds move! Best time-lapsing apps for Android

  24-09-2015 15:25 via phonearena.com
  
  Ever wondered how they make those super fast-motion clips, where you can watch the sun rise and set, the stars and clouds move, or the city being super-lively, just like an ant farm? Well, the technique is called time-lapse and is achieved by capturing film frames (or taking photos) at a very low frequency – for example, one frame per 6 seconds. A normal video plays 30 frames per second, so if we put our 6-second shots in a clip, this means that each second of the clip will show us 3 minu
  
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• Roblox’s community-made games are coming to Xbox One

  24-09-2015 15:00 via thenextweb.com
  
  Roblox, the platform that lets kids (and adults) create their own games to play across a range of different devices, is launching Roblox for Xbox in mid-November bringing user-created titles to the console. At launch, more than 20 of Roblox’s most popular games will be available for free via the Roblox for Xbox app but indie developers will be able to offer in-game purchases in order to generate some cash. Following the launch, Roblox says it will add new games to the Xbox app, though it
  
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• Glowforge 3D laser printer could make mini manufacturers of us all

  24-09-2015 15:00 via thenextweb.com
  
  It finally looks like 3D printing is about to take off in a big way. But not all 3D printers are alike. One clever new example is Glowforge, a desktop 3D laser printer that allows you to create a large variety of consumer items out of any material — from a leather handbag or wallet to hard wood jewelry boxes and household items to a child’s doll house or even office furnishings. Designs are derived from popular software such as Adobe Photoshop or Illustrator, Glo
  
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• Is your Android device too hot to handle? DU Battery Saver cools it down

  24-09-2015 14:58 via thenextweb.com
  
  This article is brought to you by Baidu's DU Battery Saver.
  We’ve already told you about the benefits of DU Battery Saver when it comes to squeezing more battery life out of your Android device, but there’s more – the app has recently added an intriguing phone cooling feature, too. In the app’s Saver menu you’ll find the Phone Cooler tool that will scan your smartphone for any apps that cause excess heat. Your phone’s temperature is mainly determine
  
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• Huawei Watch Unboxing and Initial Setup

  24-09-2015 14:10 via youtube.com
  
  
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• Private Internet Access VPN safeguards your online activity – 24% off

  24-09-2015 14:05 via thenextweb.com
  
  The internet is a wonderful, weird, and potentially scary place. Protecting yourself online can be a full-time job, but with private network services like Private Internet Access VPN, you can guard your online activity and identity easily. Right now, your confidence in online security is available for $59.95 – that’s 24 percent off, from TNW Deals. Private Internet Access makes it easy to surf the web privately and securely from anywhere in the world. It offers online security throu
  
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• QuizUp launches tools for creating your own trivia categories and questions

  24-09-2015 14:00 via thenextweb.com
  
  QuizUp has launched a new Web-based tool that allows players of the trivia game to create their own challenges to share with friends and the wider global QuizUp community. Announced today, the new ‘My QuizUp’ portal follows a social and community-focused revamp in May this year, which brought a new range of features to the platform. However, until now, players had to make do with categories and questions set by the company. To set up your own quiz using the new feature, yo
  
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• Vertu’s new handmade phone costs just $11,000

  24-09-2015 13:28 via thenextweb.com
  
  In the market for a new phone? Vertu’s latest handset, the New Signature Touch, pairs premium materials with flagship specs and costs a paltry $11,000. Entirely hand-assembled in England (save for the processor and related components), the Android 5.1-based device features a Snapdragon 810 octa-core processor with 4GB RAM, 64GB of internal storage and a 5.2-inch 1080p display protected by a solid sapphire crystal screen. The New Signature Touch is encased in fine leather and comes in eigh
  
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• Dying for a selfie? Technology can’t be blamed (for your own stupidity)

  24-09-2015 13:10 via thenextweb.com
  
  A few days ago, much was made of the fact that there have been more deaths from people misguidedly trying to take selfies in dangerous situations than there have been from shark attacks. Mashable reports that the figures this year are 12 selfie deaths and eight shark attacks, making both a pretty unlikely possibility in the scheme of things. You’re far more likely to be hit by a bus or involved in a car crash, if that makes you feel any better. However, while the stories on the subje
  
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• 5 apps to help you find a job (Android/iOS)

  24-09-2015 12:52 via phonearena.com
  
  Whether you're unemployed or just curious as to what else is out there, jobs listing websites are the place to be. Browsing through millions of job openings is easy with filters and advanced search parameters, and in many cases you can easily send out your resume through those platforms to as many employers as you wish. 
  Doing all of this over your phone's internet browser, however, is less than ideal, not least because you could end up killing off tabs absent-mindedly. There's also the iss
  
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• Voxelus launches code-free, user generated VR content creation platform

  24-09-2015 12:00 via thenextweb.com
  
  Voxelus, a new VR startup, has launched a content creation platform that lets anyone design their own 3D worlds and populate them with customizable shapes and animated characters. Designed as an easy, user-generated platform to create virtual reality games, experiences and virtual spaces, it caters to all ages and any kind of content. In addition to your own elements, you can draw from Voxelus’ library of 250 pre-built objects and animated 3D characters.  You can access Vox
  
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• Is bookmarking dead?

  24-09-2015 11:51 via thenextweb.com
  
  Once a crazed digital hoarder, I hardly bookmark Web pages while browsing anymore. And while chatting about it with my colleagues yesterday, I found out that I’m not alone. Sure, that’s by no means enough evidence to validate the notion that bookmarking is on its way out. But our discussion got me thinking that perhaps our needs and usage habits have changed so much recently that the traditional bookmark needs to evolve to survive. For years, I used to meticulously bookmark pages an
  
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• IBM’s Watson gets smarter with upgraded speech, language and vision APIs for developers

  24-09-2015 11:40 via thenextweb.com
  
  IBM has announced that its cognitive intelligence platform Watson has been upgraded with speech, vision and language capabilities, allowing developers to to build smarter apps. On the language side of things, IBM says Watson can now understand ambiguous language in text through a few different modules. The IBM Watson Natural Language Classifier understands meaning, while IBM Watson Dialog makes for more natural app interactions by tailoring language to the style used by a person asking a questi
  
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• Minimal To Do is a fast and fresh to-do list app dressed in Material Design

  24-09-2015 11:25 via phonearena.com
  
  Minimal To Do is a new take on the daily to-do list struggles we all have, aiming to simplify the entry and disposal of tasks without a ton of unnecessary features you would rarely use.
  Just tap the Plus button, enter a quick task content, slide the Reminder switch, if needed, and you are golden. Dismissing the task as done is as simple as swiping it left or right, and you can undo this action for a short period of time afterwards. The Reminder switch pops up a large and easy to tap on calendar
  
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• Apple iOS 9 hidden features

  24-09-2015 11:06 via youtube.com
  
  
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• Meizu MX5 Review

  24-09-2015 10:52 via youtube.com
  
  
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• Best new icon packs (September 2015) #2

  24-09-2015 10:41 via phonearena.com
  
  Changing the icon pack of your Android device and giving the UI a fresh new look is as easy as 1-2-3. There are just a couple of prerequisites that need to be met - you need a launcher that supports such a cosmetic overhaul, be it a custom or a stock one, and, of course, an icon pack that grasps your attention. 
  If you've stuck around with us for the past nine months or so, you've certainly stumbled upon our bi-weekly column that intends to present to you fresh new icon packs for Android. T
  
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• Sundar Pichai welcomes Indian Prime Minister to Google HQ

  24-09-2015 07:58 via thenextweb.com
  
  Google CEO Sundar Pichai took to YouTube to welcome Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi to Silicon Valley, where he will address US-based Indians at SAP Center in San Jose and visit Google’s headquarters later this week. Modi’s visit marks the second time that an Indian Prime Minister will be making an appearance on the west coast, after after Jawaharlal Nehru in 1949. Pichai reiterated the company’s interest in bringing the next 1 billion people online and highlight
  
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• KeepKey is a $240 hardware wallet for your Bitcoin

  24-09-2015 06:26 via thenextweb.com
  
  While it’s getting easier to spend Bitcoin on the Web for physical and digital goods and services, keeping your cryptocurrency safe still remains a challenge — you either have to entrust your private key to an online wallet or store it on an offline computer in your home or office. KeepKey hopes to change that with its $239 hardware vault. The pocket-sized device generates and stores private Bitcoin keys and lets you make purchases online — negating the need to trust a third-p
  
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• Indoor Farm Platform Agrilyst takes TechCrunch Disrupt Cup

  24-09-2015 04:45 via thenextweb.com
  
  Dozens of startups participated in TechCrunch Disrupt 2015’s Startup Battlefield in San Francisco. Across two days, they pitched their companies to a rotating group of founders, VCs and other experts in the tech industry in the hopes of winning $50,000. The winner this round? Agrilyst, a smart indoor gardening platform designed to help farmers get the most out of their crops. “Indoor growers don’t have to worry about pesky deer, but they have to worry a lot about each and ever
  
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• What do you think of BlackBerry Priv as the name of the new Android slider phone?

  24-09-2015 03:32 via feedproxy.google.com
  
  Now that the news the device known as the BlackBerry Venice will be released as the BlackBerry Priv is out there, we figured we should toss up a poll asking everyone what they think of the name. At this point, it's not official from BlackBerry in the fact they've never put anything out saying BlackBerry Priv, so with that under consideration, there's likely still time for BlackBerry to change it if they see fit and the feedback on the name is bad enough. Honestly, I was more fond of the BlackBe
  
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