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Kobo relaunches its e-reading app for Windows 8, and a Windows Phone version is on the way

Mar06
by on March 6, 2014 at 10:31 am
Posted In: Apps, Around the Web, Insider

KOBO 730x423 Kobo relaunches its e reading app for Windows 8, and a Windows Phone version is on the way

Kindle may be the preeminent e-reader brand, but for those seeking alternatives to the omnipresent Amazon, Kobo has been building out its product range in recent times.

Today sees Kobo relaunch its e-reading app for Windows 8 PCs and tablets, after the original incarnation was pulled from the Windows Store a few months back. Indeed, while Kobo was among the first companies to launch an app for Microsoft’s new ‘metro’-style platform way back in 2012, it seems it wasn’t quite up to scratch.

Kobo for Windows 8 not only lets you purchase and read books in-app, but it also lets you pin books as a live tile to the Start screen. And in related news, Kobo says it will also launch a Windows Phone version this spring.

Kobo, whose name is derived from an anagram of ‘book’, was acquired by Japanese ecommerce titan Rakuten back in 2011, and since then has steadily grown its presence in a number of markets.

➤ Kobo | Windows 8

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Opera for Android gets WebRTC support to help you make video and audio calls directly in the browser

Mar06
by on March 6, 2014 at 9:44 am
Posted In: Apps, Around the Web, Insider

operas 220x373 Opera for Android gets WebRTC support to help you make video and audio calls directly in the browserAfter almost a month in beta, Opera has given its Android browser the final stamp of approval. And this means it now officially supports WebRTC.

For the uninitiated, WebRTC is an open source project that lets Internet users communicate in real-time through voice and video on the Web – no plugins required . So rather than having to launch native apps such as Skype, websites with WebRTC video enabled, including Appear.in, will now work in Opera for Android.

Given that both Chrome and Firefox are WebRTC-enabled, this is a good move by Opera, and follows the arrival of WebRTC on its desktop incarnation last year.

➤ Opera | Google Play

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HTC launches Desire 310 entry-level smartphone with 1.3GHz quad-core processor and 4.5″ display

Mar06
by on March 6, 2014 at 9:33 am
Posted In: Around the Web, Gadgets, Mobile, Product Launches

HTCDesire310 730x576 HTC launches Desire 310 entry level smartphone with 1.3GHz quad core processor and 4.5 display

HTC has announced a new entry-level handset in the form of the HTC Desire 310, a device with a 4.5-inch display that runs Android 4.2.

It might not have the spec list of a flagship handset, and that 4.5-inch display does only offer an FWVGA (854 x 480 pixels) resolution, but the Desire 310 includes some of the features found on more expensive HTC devices, like BlinkFeed (including offline reading mode) and Video Highlights.

Other key hardware specs include a 1.3GHz quad-core processor, 4GB of storage, microSD support, and a 5-megapixel camera on the rear. The Desire 310 is set to go on sale in a range of colors from “the end of April” in the UK via O2, Vodafone and Carphone Warehouse. We’re still waiting for confirmation on when it might arrive in other markets, and will update when we find out.

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Yahoo scores Chelsea manager José Mourinho as its football ambassador and analyst

Mar06
by on March 6, 2014 at 9:08 am
Posted In: Around the Web, football, Insider, soccer, sports

Yahoo is making a strong commitment to its sports coverage by signing on Chelsea manager José Mourinho as its global football (soccer) ambassador for 2014. What’s more, Mourinho will also be working as an “exclusive analyst” for Yahoo’s worldwide football coverage including the FIFA World Cup 2014, something that will likely attract more sports fans to its site.

Mourinho Yahoo Yahoo scores Chelsea manager José Mourinho as its football ambassador and analyst

What does Mourinho intend to bring to the table by joining Yahoo?

I plan to bring my unique commentary and passionate point-of-view, some new insight into my own daily world through photos and video — and have a lot of fun at the same time! Football is a way of life for millions of fans across Yahoo and they’re always looking for something different. I want my editorial coverage and analysis to bring a new edge to football news and debates.

Well, just as there may be fans of Chelsea and Mourinho, some may express distaste at Yahoo’s choice. However, ultimately it seems like Yahoo is keen to capture more sports fans, and this is one move that is sure to garner attention from those interested in football.

Image via onEdition/José Mourinho for Yahoo!, thumbnail image via Ethan Miller/Getty Images

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