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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

v2_Surface_Family1
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

Screen Shot 2013-06-26 at 1.55.23 PM
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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Crowdsourced school homework: How Brainly plans to teach the US after success in Europe

Mar17
by on March 17, 2014 at 1:55 pm
Posted In: Around the Web, Insider, Profiles and Interviews

Brainly
A great thing about education is that it’s not only a field ripe for disruption, but there are seemingly infinite ways to approach that disruption. While massive open online courses (MOOCs) are bringing education to literally anyone with the Internet (themselves being disrupted by mentor-driven training initiatives) some players take to “socialize” the learning process and essentially crowdsource homework. One of the startups of the latter type is Brainly, a 5-year-old Poland-based company, which also happened to win the The Next Web’s Polish Startup of the Year 2013 award. It has already reached more than 23 million unique users per month and recently launched 12 new…

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