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Samsung unveils ‘Black Edition’ Galaxy S4 and S4 Mini with faux-leather backs, just like the Note 3

Feb07
by on February 7, 2014 at 10:27 am
Posted In: Around the Web, Gadgets

It was spotted on Samsung’s Russian website last week, but now it’s official. Samsung is launching a ‘Black Edition’ Galaxy S4 and Galaxy S4 Mini later this month, sporting a faux leather back panel similar to the Galaxy Note 3.

On the specs side, it looks like Samsung hasn’t changed anything for either device. They will, however, come with a series of exclusive wallpapers and ringtones – which we doubt many people will care about – as well as a ‘Black Edition’ power adapter, data cable and headphones.

note3group Samsung unveils Black Edition Galaxy S4 and S4 Mini with faux leather backs, just like the Note 3
Samsung refrained from offering any details about the price or international availability of the handset, however.

The release is timely given that Samsung is expected to announce the successor to the Galaxy S4, likely called the Galaxy S5, later this month at Mobile World Congress. Will Samsung ditch the glossy plastic back entirely for its next flagship Android smartphone? It seems increasingly likely.

➤ Press Release

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Google-backed Code Club Pro scheme will train teachers for new UK computing curriculum

Feb07
by on February 7, 2014 at 9:58 am
Posted In: Around the Web, Google, UK

161615811 520x245 Google backed Code Club Pro scheme will train teachers for new UK computing curriculum

In September, the UK government will introduce a new computing curriculum to ensure that the next generation is equipped with basic programming and coding skills.

It’s a massive shift for teachers, who until now have been instructing their students predominantly in applications such as Microsoft Office. Code Club, a network of volunteer-led after-school coding clubs for children aged 9 to 11 in the UK, wants to bring primary school teachers up to speed with a new training program supported by Google and Computing at Schools.

“To date, there has been a lack of focus on how to equip the primary school teachers to actually teach this new subject,” Clare Sutcliffe, the co-founder and CEO of Code Club said. “We know first hand that teachers are feeling daunted by the prospect of having to teach a syllabus they don’t fully understand themselves. As a result, we decided to create a training programme.”

Code Club Pro will offer Continuing Professional Development (CPD) training as optional, paid-for sessions held after-school or on INSET days. They’ll be delivered by programming experts, who Code Club is now training to be volunteer teachers for the scheme.

Google has invested £120,000 (roughly $196,000 USD) into the initiative to try to keep costs low for both teachers and schools. Code Club says it hopes to train at least 20,000 primary school teachers by 2016, and even more through programmes and resources that it’ll be hosting on the web.

Read Next: Coding, killjoys and the science of education / ARM backs 1,000 after-school clubs to help children learn to code in the UK

➤ Code Club Pro (Blog Post)

Image Credit: DANIEL MIHAILESCU/AFP/Getty Images

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Tesla teams up with Rdio to bring music streaming to its European cars

Feb07
by on February 7, 2014 at 9:00 am
Posted In: Around the Web, Cars, music streaming, Product Updates

It’s been a while since Tesla integrated Slacker Radio in its US cars for users to stream music easily via a voice command. Unfortunately Slacker didn’t have the licensing rights for music in Europe, which meant that Tesla’s cars in the region didn’t have such a feature — though that’s set to change now. Tesla is teaming up with Rdio to use it as its dashboard audio service in Europe, Tesla’s founder and CEO Elon Musk announced at a town-hall meeting in Amsterdam (hat/tip GigaOm).

This means that music streaming in Tesla’s European cars should arrive very soon. When asked about popular music streaming service Spotify as an option instead, Musk says: “Spotify’s a good option, you could play it through the Bluetooth… Initially Spotify wouldn’t work with us to integrate it into the car. In the long term, that might change.”

Thumbnail image via Justin Sullivan/Getty Images

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Asian chat app Line now has its own ‘theme park,’ and it’s going global

Feb07
by on February 7, 2014 at 7:37 am
Posted In: Around the Web, Asia, Shareables, Taiwan

771404a0 520x245 Asian chat app Line now has its own theme park, and its going global

Line wants to be more than just a messaging app.

No, we’re not talking about games — which accounted for an impressive 60 percent of the $120 million it made in the last quarter of 2013 — Line now has its first ‘theme park’. The temporary show opened in Taiwan last month and will run until April 27.

Don’t expect roller coasters and big dippers though, this is more like an exhibition — it includes statues of characters, a model town, artwork and other photogenic props that get smartphone cameras flashing. Essentially, it’s a large scale version of Line’s Pop Up stores which have opened in a few countries in Asia.

An idea like this might be ridiculous in Europe or the US, but in Asia it isn’t exactly uncommon. Line is focused on building a household brand as Rovio has done with Angry Birds, and its physical store and exhibition efforts show how ambitious it is.

Line says it is planning similar initiatives “all over the world” — we know it is already big in Asia and is targeting Latin America, but let’s see if the theme park plans include Europe and the US.

Related: Fast-growing chat app Line leaves the US until last, as it passes 300 million registered users

All images via Line

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