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Check out Valve’s latest VR headset prototype

Jun03
by on June 3, 2014 at 9:17 am
Posted In: Around the Web, Gadgets, Insider

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Although a number of Valve employees have jumped ship to Oculus VR, it seems the beloved video game developer and Steam overlord hasn’t given up on its own virtual reality ambitions just yet. A development prototype of Valve’s virtual reality headset was shown to budding developers at the recent ‘Boston VR Bender‘ gathering, and perhaps inevitably, a batch of photos have found their way to Reddit. The device looks vaguely familiar to the Development Kit 2 by Oculus VR, with a large, black plastic hood and a series of straps to keep it secure. The unit is also covered with white…

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Europe’s awash with cleaning startups as Rocket Internet’s Helpling expands to four new countries

Jun03
by on June 3, 2014 at 8:19 am
Posted In: Around the Web, Insider

There’s flurry of activity in the ‘book a professional cleaner’ startup space in Europe right now. Case in point: Rocket Internet’s Helpling is today expanding to four new markets; France, Sweden, Holland and Austria. Helpling first launched in Rocket’s native Germany in April using the same ‘book a cleaner for a fixed fee’ model as US-based Homejoy (itself active in the UK and Germany). Other European startups using the same approach include Hassle, Mopp and Housekeep, all of which have recently announced funding rounds. It’s early days though, and it remains to be seen which of these will actually, uh, clean up in terms…

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Google Offers pulled from App Store and Google Play, as Zavers coupon service winds down

Jun03
by on June 3, 2014 at 8:10 am
Posted In: Around the Web, Google

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Google has removed its Google Offers app from the App Store and Google Play as it begins to wind down its Zavers digital coupon service. Recode reported that Zavers by Google, a three-year-old service that lets shoppers collect online coupons for retail stores, is being closed down, and today’s withdrawal of the apps appears to be the first step to transitioning away from the service. TNW contacted Google for comment, and received the same response that the company gave Recode earlier this week: “We’re working closely with clients during the transition and remain focused on connecting shoppers with the brands they…

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Sony unveils the Xperia T3, touted as the world’s slimmest 5.3-inch smartphone

Jun03
by on June 3, 2014 at 8:02 am
Posted In: Around the Web, Gadgets, Product Launches

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Sony announced a new smartphone today, the Xperia T3, which it touts as the world’s slimmest 5.3-inch smartphone. The Xperia T3, which weighs 148g, is built with a stainless steel frame and comes in three colors — white, black and purple. Other than making sure the design of the super-slim phone feels more sturdy and durable, the steel used in the frame also doubles up as an antenna. The back cover, meanwhile, is designed with matte material.   The Xperia T3 also features a high-resolution 5.3 inch HD TriLuminos display, which Sony says offers “redder reds and bluer blues.” It…

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