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Hands-on: Alcatel’s Watch is a cheap and cross-platform wearable alternative

Jan08
by on January 8, 2015 at 5:47 pm
Posted In: Around the Web, Insider

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It was just a few days ago that Alcatel announced its own budget entry into the smartwatch game, looking to undercut several comptetitors, while being able to work on both Android and iOS. We were able to get some hands on time with it at CES. Alcatel’s Watch (that’s not a typo, it’s just called the Watch) feels better built than you might expect from a $150 device. You’d be forgiven if you mistake it for a Moto360 at first glance; it’s a mostly circular display (it even has a similar cut out at the bottom, like the 360) rimmed with aluminum.…

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Bing adds New York Times best-sellers search to reveal great books

Jan08
by on January 8, 2015 at 5:33 pm
Posted In: Around the Web, bing, Insider, New York Times best-sellers

Microsoft’s added a new feature to the Bing search engine: a best-sellers carousel. Searching for books in categories including fiction, non-fiction and manga, will now reveal the appropriate New York Times best-sellers. Do a search and you’ll see a virtual shelf displaying the book covers. Clicking on a title brings up more information about the book you’re interested in. Books are ranked by The New York Times on weekly or monthly sales data and Bing’s carousel will update as it lists change. Last month, Bing updated its iPhone and iPad apps. ➤ Finding great books just got easier with Bing best-sellers search…

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PSA: Apple App Store prices go up in Europe and Canada tomorrow

Jan08
by on January 8, 2015 at 5:30 pm
Posted In: Around the Web, Design & Dev

Apple’s new pricing structure will come into effect for apps downloaded by people in Canada, Europe, Norway and Russia from tomorrow. Apple sent out a reminder email to developers to say that “prices on the App Store will increase for all territories in the European Union as well as in Canada and Norway”. However, if you’re in Iceland, the prices will be going down. Less helpfully, it just said they will “change” in Russia. Apple said the changes were being made in response to the new VAT laws in the EU and changes in foreign exchange rates.  Unfortunately, this means that the…

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Duolingo for Schools brings the language learning platform into the classroom

Jan08
by on January 8, 2015 at 5:00 pm
Posted In: Apps, Around the Web, Insider, Product Launches

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Duolingo has unveiled a new platform designed specifically for use in schools that promises to make it easier for teachers to keep up with students’ language learning progress. Although Duolingo for Schools is the company’s first formal steps to shift into the classroom, it follows the groundwork laid down by the introduction of the Duolingo Test Center in April last year. Duolingo said that the launch will consolidate the existing ad-hoc use of its consumer offering that already goes on in classrooms and provide a centralized platform for teachers to track progress. It’s also intended to aid the teacher in the job of teaching by helping to…

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Apple’s App Store took half a billion dollars in revenue in the first week of 2015

Jan08
by on January 8, 2015 at 4:24 pm
Posted In: app store, Apps, Around the Web, iTunes, records, sales

Apple has announced that the App Store set a weekly record in the first week of 2015, bringing in nearly half a billion dollars in spending on apps and in-app purchases. New Year’s Day 2015 was the biggest day of sales in the service’s history. That headline record follows what was, in itself, a record-breaking year for the App Store. Apple also announced today that billings from the App Store rose 50 percent over the year with apps generating $10 billion in revenue for developers. ➤ App Store Rings in 2015 with New Records [Apple] Read next: 65 of the Best…

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