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Facebook analyzes how users feel after DST change: More ‘tired’ and ‘sleepy’ but also ‘wonderful’ and ‘great’

Mar17
by on March 17, 2014 at 4:00 pm
Posted In: Around the Web, Social Media

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Following the recent Daylight Saving Time (DST) change in the US, the Facebook Data Science team decided to analyze how users of the social network reacted after losing an hour of sleep over the weekend and gaining more sunlight during the day. Expectedly, Americans seem unhappy with the former and happy with the latter, at least based on the feelings or actions they added to status updates in the Facebook post composer. Thanks to the hour of sleep lost, Facebook saw significantly increased usage of “tired” across the US in the days following the DST change: compared to the previous…

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Samsung releases Tizen SDK for wearables to attract new Gear 2 and Gear 2 Neo apps

Mar17
by on March 17, 2014 at 3:30 pm
Posted In: Apps, Around the Web, Gadgets, Mobile

As promised, Samsung has released a new software development kit (SDK) for its Tizen-based wearables, the Gear 2 and Gear 2 Neo. Available to download right now, it gives developers the ability to build apps for its upcoming pair of smartwatches. The release is notable because, as Engadget notes, Samsung didn’t release a public SDK for its original Android-based Galaxy Gear. Instead, it offered access to select partners which may have ensured a high standard of software, but ultimately limited the number of apps available for the device. With the new Tizen SDK for wearables, Samsung is making a stronger…

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Messaging app Line launches its cheap call service on Android in 8 countries, taking on Skype

Mar17
by on March 17, 2014 at 3:06 pm
Posted In: Apps, Around the Web, Asia, chat app, Product Updates

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Japanese messaging app Line revealed last month its plans for a call service designed to let users “make low-cost calls to landlines and mobile phones domestically and internationally,” letting Line users call people who don’t use the chat app, with prices lower than those offered on landlines and mobile carriers, thus essentially taking on Skype. Now the service, Line Call, is live on Android devices in Columbia, Japan, Mexico, Peru, the Philippines, Spain, Thailand, and the US.  Line users can choose between the existing free call service to other Line users, or make low-cost calls to any other number using Line Call. The company says an iPhone version…

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Microsoft announces 64GB Surface 2 with 4G LTE on AT&T, available for $679 at Microsoft Stores and Best Buy

Mar17
by on March 17, 2014 at 3:00 pm
Posted In: Around the Web, Gadgets, Mobile

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Microsoft today announced the Surface 2 with AT&T 4G LTE support, a 64GB version of the Surface 2 tablet that also features mobile broadband. The device is available now for $679; given that the Surface 2 without LTE retails for $549, you’re paying an extra $130 to ensure you’re (almost) always online. Curiously, Microsoft chose to announce the device after it already appeared in its retail stores and at Best Buy,last week on March 11. Nevertheless, all the details are now available, and we can see exactly what the company wants to share about its latest device. In addition to…

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Microsoft launches free OneNote for Mac, freemium OneNote for Windows, and OneNote cloud API for apps

Mar17
by on March 17, 2014 at 2:15 pm
Posted In: Apps, Around the Web, Mobile

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Microsoft today revealed three major announcements regarding its OneNote offering: a free version of OneNote for Mac, a freemium version of OneNote for Windows, and a new cloud API for first- and third-party apps to communicate directly with OneNote. With the launch of OneNote for Mac, Microsoft says OneNote is now available “on all the platforms you care about” and “they’re always in sync.” That includes the PC, Mac, Windows tablets, Windows Phone, iPad, iPhone, Android, and the Web. As for the free version for Windows, it has no ads nor any limit for how long you can use it…

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