a couple of laughzillas on a blue diamond background

Microsoft open sources .NET compiler platform “Roslyn” and announces open source .NET Foundation initiative

Apr03
by on April 3, 2014 at 4:49 pm
Posted In: Around the Web, Design & Dev

At its Build 2014 conference today, Microsoft announced it is open sourcing its .NET compiler platform “Roslyn” – and then did exactly that, live on stage. Microsoft’s Anders Hejlsberg hit the button to make the project public on Codeplex. For those who don’t know, Roslyn is a set of APIs for exposing the Microsoft C# and Visual Basic .NET compilers as services available at runtime. It includes versions of the C# and VB.NET compilers written in the languages themselves; in other words, the compilers are available via the traditional command-line programs, as well as APIs available natively from within .NET…

This story continues at The Next Web

└ Tags: ,
a couple of laughzillas on a blue diamond background

Twitch brings private group chat rooms to its video game-streaming platform

Apr03
by on April 3, 2014 at 4:36 pm
Posted In: Around the Web, Insider

Streaming platform Twitch is introducing a new group chat feature today, letting viewers engage in private bouts of verbal camaraderie around e-sports and video games. As things stand, users can already chat with broadcasters and fellow gamers, but with Group Chat they can create invite-only rooms separate to the main Channel Chats. The Group Chat feature will remain a beta affair for the time being, meaning only members of the Twitch Partner Program can create these conversation silos. However, any Twitch user can be invited to join in. More details can be found in the dedicated FAQ section. ➤ Announcing…

This story continues at The Next Web

└ Tags: , ,
a couple of laughzillas on a blue diamond background

Gig Sq. for iPhone helps Londoners find the best live music in their locale

Apr03
by on April 3, 2014 at 3:49 pm
Posted In: Apps, Around the Web, Insider, Product Reviews

For those seeking the thrills of live entertainment in their locale, there are many online services at their disposal. Songkick, for example, scans your music collection and delivers a list of live-shows based on music you actually listen to. Now Gig Sq. is throwing its hat into the live-music discovery ring with an iPhone app aimed squarely at London-dwellers. It’s pretty simple stuff. You can search for gigs by what’s nearby using an interactive map, or peruse a curated list of gigs in the UK capital – each day the team behind Gig Sq. select 10-15 of the best shows…

This story continues at The Next Web

└ Tags: ,
a couple of laughzillas on a blue diamond background

Hooking up the office projector shouldn’t be this hard

Apr03
by on April 3, 2014 at 3:33 pm
Posted In: Around the Web, Insider, Shareables, Videos

Watch this video from Vooza and tell me you’ve never felt like going to the lengths that they do. And if someone can create a projector that ‘just works’ with any device at any time, please make yourself known. Every week, Vooza – a video comic strip about the tech world – shares a new video with you lovely TNW readers. Sign up for Vooza’s email list to get exclusive access to more funny videos like this one.

└ Tags: 
a couple of laughzillas on a blue diamond background

ChoreMonster 2.0 lands for Web and iOS, bringing Amazon integration and new interactive monsters

Apr03
by on April 3, 2014 at 3:23 pm
Posted In: Apps, Around the Web, Insider, Product Updates

Chores
ChoreMonster, the platform that wants to encourage your kids to do their household tasks by rewarding them for achieving goals, has today released a major update for its Web and iOS apps that brings new features and makes the platform completely free for the first time. In brief, it allows children to earn points by completing chores to work towards goals set by parents, like an hour of gaming or TV time, or something larger like a family holiday. Based on feedback from parents, the company tweaked some of the features for the second iteration. For example, the previously subscriber-only…

This story continues at The Next Web

└ Tags: ,