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This is how Twitch streaming will work on the Xbox One

Mar07

by Sindy Cator on March 7, 2014 at 3:56 pm

Microsoft has released a walkthrough video on YouTube detailing how the upcoming Twitch integration will work on the Xbox One.

Narrated by Larry ‘Major Nelson’ Hyrb, director of programming for Microsoft, it offers step-by-step instructions on how to launch the Twitch app and set up a stream. As promised, initiating a new session only requires the voice command “Xbox, broadcast”, which brings up the Twitch interface in Snap mode. Here you can see a preview of your stream, the name of your session, the title of your chosen game and a shortcut to the settings.

Under settings, you can toggle on the Kinect camera and choose where it’s situated on-screen – so if it’s covering a crucial UI element in the top right-hand corner, you can easily move it. You can also manually set the volume for your microphone, which can be useful when you’re playing a particularly grandiose or quietly atmospheric game.

The video also illustrates how notifications will work for new broadcasts set up by other people – they appear as a banner at the top of the screen and are activated with the Guide button. The Twitch tile on the home screen will also indicate how many of your friends are currently broadcasting live.

The new Twitch integration is due to arrive on March 11, just in time for Titanfall’s release in the US. Although the PlayStation 4 has supported Twitch streaming since its launch, the Xbox One integration is thought to be superior due to its video archiving feature and higher resolution.

➤ YouTube

Image Credit: Kevork Djansezian/Getty Images

└ Tags: microsoft, syndicated

comScore: Apple starts 2014 with 41.6% US smartphone share, Samsung at 26.7%; BlackBerry falls below Windows Phone

Mar07

by Sindy Cator on March 7, 2014 at 3:34 pm

Posted In: Around the Web, Gadgets, Google, Insider, Mobile

Apple’s dominance as the top smartphone OEM in the US has started off strong in the first month of this year: 41.6 percent share. Samsung is once again gaining share faster than its main competitor, however, hitting a new high at 26.7 percent. Rounding out the top five were LG, Motorola, and HTC.

In the platform wars, Google was still first with Android, and Apple took second with iOS. Yet Google’s mobile platform slipped at the start of the year, while Apple’s continued to plow forward. Rounding out the top five were Microsoft (which managed to sneak into third place), BlackBerry, and Symbian.

The latest data comes from comScore, which regularly surveys over 30,000 mobile subscribers in the US. The market research firm says 159.8 million Americans owned smartphones (66.8 percent mobile market penetration) in January, up 7 percent since October.

During the quarter, here is how the top five smartphones OEMs fared:

As you can see, Apple gained 1.0 percentage points in terms of smartphone subscribers (from 40.6 percent to 41.6 percent) while Samsung grabbed 1.3 percentage points (from 25.4 percent to 26.7 percent). LG gained 0.3 points (to 6.9 percent), Motorola slipped 0.6 points (to 6.4 percent), and HTC dropped 1.3 points (to 5.4 percent). As of late, this trio has been swapping places on the regulars as each tries to gain a foothold for third place.

Samsung outgained Apple in more months during 2013, and it looks like the South Korean company is off to a good start to do it again. With the Galaxy S5 on the way, it’s likely the iPhone 5s and iPhone 5c won’t be able to hold it back; we’ll have to wait for the iPhone 6.

HTC’s woes continue, and it’s doubtful the successor to its One smartphone can save the day. Motorola dropped into fourth place, as it tries hard to win consumers back with regular discounts. LG has managed to stop its own bleeding, but the Nexus 5 could be doing better.

On the software side, Google is still dominating, even with Apple’s steady gains. Android lost share most months in 2013, and 2014 isn’t off to a good start:

Google’s mobile operating system lost 0.5 percentage points (from 52.2 percent to 51.7 percent). Apple meanwhile increased its share by 1.0 percentage points (from 40.6 percent to 41.6 percent, just like for its smartphone share).

BlackBerry was down 0.5 points (from 3.6 percent to 3.1 percent), Microsoft stayed flat at 3.2 percent, and Symbian stayed at 0.2 percent. Windows Phone may have taken third away from BlackBerry OS, but not because the former gained share. The Android-iOS duopoly in the US stayed at the high it ended at in 2013 (93.3 percent market share).

Top Image Credit: Jung Yeon-Je/Getty Images

└ Tags: apple, syndicated

Moto X now $339 for students, Moto Maker gets college designs with logos and team names for 40 schools

Mar07

by Sindy Cator on March 7, 2014 at 2:51 pm

Posted In: Around the Web, Gadgets, Google, Mobile

Motorola today announced it is offering yet another discount for the Moto X: students can now grab an off-contract device for just $339 (compared to $399 off-contract or $49 with a new two year contract). Furthermore, the Moto Maker customization tool now has a College Collection design gallery, featuring pre-configured color combinations as well as logos and team names for 40 schools (and counting):

It’s worth noting that the logos are courtesy of clear cases by Uncommon and aren’t actually printed onto your phone (so if you’re getting one just for March Madness, you’ll be happy to know it’s removable). If you don’t see your favorite team, you can mix and match with the new color palette to create the combination you want. In fact, Motorola has added nine new back colors and three new accents to its Moto Maker palette just for the occasion.

➤ Motorola College (valid .edu address required for discount)

Image Credit: Remy Gabalda / Getty Images

└ Tags: syndicated

Moto X now $339 for students, Moto Maker gets college designs with logos and team names for 40 schools

Mar07

by Sindy Cator on March 7, 2014 at 2:51 pm

Posted In: Around the Web, Gadgets, Google, Mobile

It’s worth noting that the logos are courtesy of clear cases by Uncommon and aren’t actually printed onto your phone. If you don’t see your favorite team, you can mix and match with the new color palette to create the combination you want. In fact, Motorola has added nine new back colors and three new accents to its Moto Maker palette just for the occasion.

➤ Motorola College (valid .edu address required for discount)

Image Credit: Remy Gabalda / Getty Images

└ Tags: syndicated

BalconyTV, the online broadcaster of bands performing on balconies, has been acquired by The Orchard

Mar07

by Sindy Cator on March 7, 2014 at 2:47 pm

Posted In: Around the Web, Insider

Way back in 2011, we reported on how BalconyTV had become a global online broadcasting sensation thanks to bands and artists performing tunes on their, well, balcony.

Now, music, video and film distribution company The Orchard has acquired the Dublin-based startup and its arsenal of acoustic videos, and says it will look to “develop the talented acts that rise out of this global music community”.

Launched initially in 2006, BalconyTV has featured pre-fame performances from some well-known names, including Mumford and Sons, The Script, Edward Sharpe, Ed Sheeran, Jessie J and more. Each week, fifty new videos are added, and the platform has generated more than 50 million views in the past eight years.

➤ The Orchard Acquires BalconyTV [via Billboard]