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Microsoft will make Opera Mini the default browser on its low-end phones

Aug21
by on August 21, 2014 at 7:07 am
Posted In: Around the Web

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Browser-maker Opera has inked a licensing agreement with Microsoft that will see its browser become the default for all phones on Microsoft’s (Nokia) Series 30+, Series 40 and Asha software platforms. Windows Phone may be struggling to rival iOS and Android on market share — despite a number of quality devices — but the Nokia brand, which Microsoft now owns, remains strong in the emerging world. We noted that when Microsoft launched the $25 Nokia 130 earlier this month, a move that signaled its intention to remain in the entry-level market because “Microsoft doesn’t have any other project that can reach these consumers.” The…

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Google Street View now lets you peek at Indonesia’s biggest cities and stunning underwater reefs

Aug21
by on August 21, 2014 at 6:44 am
Posted In: Around the Web, Asia, Google, Indonesia, maps, Product Updates, street view

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Google dispatched its distinctive cars to bring Street View to Indonesia back in 2012, and now the first fruits of that labor are finally showing. Today, nearly two years later, Google launched its first Street View imagery of the massive country on Google Maps, starting with four of the largest cities. Google partnered with Indonesia’s Ministry of Tourism and Creative Economy to embark on what was termed as its biggest project in Asia, since Indonesia has a population of more than 240 million and is a large country that consists of many islands. The panoramic photos of Jakarta, Bogor, Denpasar and Surabaya…

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LG targets first-time smartphone owners with two new quad-core, 3G devices

Aug21
by on August 21, 2014 at 6:24 am
Posted In: Around the Web, Mobile

LG is increasing its focus on first-time smartphone buyers after it announced two new 3G devices: the L Fino and L Bello. The 4.5-inch L Fino runs on a 1.2 GHz quadcore processor, while the L Bello is five inches and is powered by a superior 1.3 GHz quadcore chip. Both include 1 GB of memory, and eight-megapixel rear-facing cameras. The L Bello has slightly more impressive specs, which includes a one-megapixel front-facing camera, versus the L Fino’s more basic VGA snapper. LG says the phones are ideal for teenagers or first-time smartphone owners who want the benefits of 3G and multimedia without a hefty price…

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SoundHound now lets you add music discoveries into an Rdio playlist in-app

Aug21
by on August 21, 2014 at 5:38 am
Posted In: Apps, Around the Web, music discovery, music streaming, Product Updates

Music search company SoundHound is now letting you add your discoveries to streaming service Rdio in-app. The new feature called “Connect to Rdio” automatically places songs that you have tagged in SoundHound into a playlist accessed from inside the Rdio app. Existing SoundHound users will see a plus sign in their search results page if they haven’t connected to Rdio. When the Plus (+) is tapped, users will be directed to the set-up page for “Connect to Rdio.”   SoundHound first teamed up with streaming service Rdio in December 2012 to release a new music mapping feature, and the partnership has…

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Hands-on with Swing Copters, the follow-up to Flappy Bird

Aug21
by on August 21, 2014 at 5:32 am
Posted In: Apps, Around the Web

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Dong Nguyen, the man best known for creating the hatefully-addictive Flappy Bird game, teased details of his new game earlier this week, and now Swing Copters has landed on iOS and Android. Dong’s latest bid for your sanity is much like Flappy Bird. Rather than navigating a bird sideways, you are tasked with guiding a cute little helicopter’s upward flight while avoiding pairs of hammers that swing from each gate. Like Flappy Bird, you get a point for every gate that you pass through. The copter flies from side-to-side automatically, but you can change its direction with a tap. That means…

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