Popcorn Time Android App Now Supports Streaming To Chromecast

Last week the people behind the popular streaming program and service called Popcorn Time announced that they were adding in Chromecast support for their Windows based version of the app, and that Android support would be soon to follow. Today is the day that any and all Android based Popcorn Time users will get their chance to cast their favorite content via the Popcorn Time Android application so they watch whatever they were streaming on the big screen. The addition of the Chromecast support for the Android app makes using Popcorn Time with the Chromecast that much easier, especially since you can now simply sit back on the couch and just cast things from your device, as opposed to having to get up and manage it from the Windows based alpha version of the app that they updated for use with the Chromecast last week.

If you are unfamiliar with Popcorn Time, it basically works like Netflix or Hulu Plus, or many other versions of streaming applications that give you access to video content, but without any sub fees or anything like that. Think of it like a streaming version of the torrent downloader programs that many people use to download their favorite TV shows or Movies either before they’re released or just without having to buy the DVDs.

If you’re worried about copyright laws the good news is that after this update of the 2.0 version of the Android app, the time4popcorn team says that the 2.1 update of the Android app will be supporting VPN streaming to Chromecast for free. That feature is unfortunately not ready for prime time, but it is coming and it’s something to look forward to if you have doubts about using this application and service otherwise. If you already have Popcorn Time or even if you’re a new user to the app, you can grab the download of version 2.0 from the Popcorn Time blog link down below, where you’ll find the download button for the Popcorn Time apk file. If you’re a TV and film buff and are eager to start streaming the content that Popcorn Time offers, now’s your chance to view things on a screen size that movies and TV were meant to played on, although it’s a good idea that you be aware of the copyright laws in your area before doing so.

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Verizon’s LG G3 has a removable battery

Verizon mistakenly listed their LG G3 as having a non-removable battery, but it looks like that’s not actually the case. Thanks to a picture on Twitter, we know the battery and back cover are completely removable. Since every other version of the G3 has a removable battery, this really shouldn’t be surprising, but it’s good to see Big Red not purposely butchering out any functionality from the device.

Are you planning on picking up a G3 on Verizon soon?

source: VZW Albert

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Microsoft planning on launching ultra-cheap laptops to compete with Chromebooks

One of Microsoft’s biggest threats has been Google’s Chromebook line. Chromebooks have been relatively cheap and functional, primarily using the Chrome web browser for “apps.” Since Google doesn’t charge high licensing fees for Chrome OS, and they’ve marketed the simplicity and virus-immunity heavily against traditional Windows laptops, Chromebooks have been steadily eating Microsoft’s laptop market share from the bottom up.

It looks like competition is going to get a bit tougher on Google, however. Microsoft has announced a slew of cheap Windows 8 laptops will be coming from their partners in time for the holidays, primarily to compete against budget Chromebooks. HP has a $199 laptop in the works, as well as smaller 7 and 8 inch versions of these “Stream” computers for just $99. At that price range, that’s going below even Chromebooks and competing against cheap tablets that have also taken a slice of the market.

Aside from HP, Acer and Toshiba have some laptops coming out running Windows 8.1 and using Intel’s low-end Celeron processors. These laptops are hitting the $249 price point, and for the most part, the specs seem pretty decent. A good bit of this price drop is coming from Microsoft lowering Windows license fees for OEMs, allowing them to push out cheaper devices.

Time will tell if Microsoft can stand up against Google’s extremely budget pricing and simple interface.

source: The Verge

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Sony’s X-Reality engine comes to lower-end Xperia devices

Sony’s advantage is in the technology and optimizations behind their raw components. Their experience in other fields makes their devices very unique, as they tend to adopt other technologies in their mobile department. An example is their screen optimizations, which include Bravia’s Triluminous and X-Reality improvements.

These optimizations tend to be exclusive to Sony’s high-end smartphones, though. As of now, only devices like the Sony Xperia Z1, Z1s, Z1 Ultra and Z2 have the privilege of touting these optimizations. At the end of the day these features are mostly software optimizations. This means our handy developers can make porting them possible!

XDA forums member taichiswag has creaded a MOD to enable the X-Reality engine in other Sony devices. It will work on most Xperia smartphones with Android 4.3 or higher. It also works with both locked and unlocked bootloaders, but you do have to have a rooted device.

This is no easy task for most, as some of the steps may be a bit confusing. If you choose to go ahead and flash this mod, you should follow steps carefully and do your research. Remember tinkering your smartphone may harm your device or void your warranty. That is never good news.

Taichiswag’s forum post seems to have been removed, but it turns out the topic was already alive before and the mod files are updated in the older thread. You can go ahead and download the files straight from XDA Developers.

Those who don’t know what X-Reality does can check out our in depth explanation on the subject. In short: it analyzes images and tries to improve their detail, contrast, color and more. I have seen it in person and works like a charm!

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Google Mocks Up Images Of Their Core Apps With The Material Design Look

Android L if anything has proven to be a very big change in the direction that Google is taking the design of the Android operating system. Material Design as it’s already known is the set of design guidelines that Google has put out for app developers to follow, and as always Google ends up putting together some great references for developers by updating the look and feel of their own core apps. With these new guidelines, Google has mocked up some images of what they envision Android’s future with Material Design should look like so others have something to work off of. We have already seen some of what the next version of Android will look like as many of us have already gotten our hands on the L preview, but since it is a preview essentially meant for developers that means there are a lot of unfinished details. Some of those being particular apps like YouTube, Gmail, Maps and others from the teams at Google.

Here you can see a large grouping of different screenshot mockups that play to the design of what Android L is expected to look like, and it gives a good idea of what we can expect to see when this version of the software build starts getting pushed out to users later in the year. Many of the applications represented in these images though could end up being modified by Google just a little bit once Android L is actually ready for release out to users, though we don’t expect things to change too much as Google is trying to give developers as we said above, a reference of what to work with.

There are images of the Play Store of the different categories like Movies, Music, Games, and Books, and some of YouTube, Gmail, the Contacts application and others. There’s quite a bit of images to work through but viewing them all is worth it, as you’ll get a nice idea of what each application will look like in the end. Again though, these are mockups and not necessarily how each and every application will look once they’re in a finished state. Still, looking through them you can see how Google’s new “material design” aims to unify the design across platforms, with splashes of color and big crisp images of generally everything. Material Design is going to be an interesting build and the most animated version of Android yet.

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Alleged Sony Xperia Z3 leaks again, shows off side profiles and size comparison with Galaxy Note

After getting a few good look at what could be the upcoming Sony Xperia Z3, the boys at the Xperia Blog are back again in a follow up to the originally leaked images we saw last week. This time we’re getting a view at the side profile of the phone, with much more rounded edges than its predecessor.

Seems Sony could be taking design cues from leaked images of the Apple iPhone 6, or possibly even the Nokia Lumia 925, 2 devices that look strikingly similar. In either case, the images seem to be causing an uproar with Xperia fans who aren’t taking to the Sony Xperia Z3′s possible new design.

Another oddity is the inclusion of a strange mystery hole along the left side of the device, which some are guessing could either be a microphone hole, or a speaker. Given last year’s Sony Xperia Z2 featured stereo front facing speakers, it seems like a step back to do away with them for the sequel.

But the leakage doesn’t stop there. For a quick size comparison, the phone’s owner pits the device against what appears to be the original Samsung Galaxy Note. Measuring in at 146.9 x 83 x 9.7mm, the alleged Sony Xperia Z3 features almost identical dimensions (although not nearly as wide).

This should help ease concerns this phone would end up being a larger Sony Xperia Z Ultra follow up, or even the recently leaked Sony Xperia Z3 Compact.

If this device is, in fact, the Xperia Z3 — and not another Xperia variant altogether — it’s entirely possible Sony could be waiting to unveil the device during this year’s IFA 2014 in Berlin. With the Xperia Z2 already trumping much of the competition in terms of raw hardware specs, we’re finding it difficult to think up ways Sony could possibly improve upon the device in such a short amount of time. Stay tuned for more.

[Digi-wo via Xperia Blog 1, 2]

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Yahoo Fantasy Soccer Is Now Available In The Playstore

If you thought fantasy football was going to be the only thing that plagued middle aged men in America, think again. After Germany taking the title this past Sunday at the World Cup, soccer fever is still running high in many of us. The solution to this madness? Make an app that lets people play fantasy soccer! Yahoo has done just that with their all new Sports Fantasy Soccer app. The new app by Yahoo lets people play socially with other people in real time, letting people who are still going ballistic over the World Cup winners another chance to triumph their victory.

So what all does the Sports Fantasy Soccer app do? Well with the app, you can create the ultimate, unstoppable soccer team of your dreams and play against your friends. That app has different tournaments to choose from such as EPL, La Liga, Bundesliga, Serie A or Ligue 1. You also get to manage your team seamlessly across the web and as well as have weekly transfers that test your soccer knowledge. Need to gain some soccer knowledge? Well don’t worry about hitting the Google search tab, you can research in-depth stats on every single player within the app. In addition, users can create, or join private leagues to prepare everyone for the next season. This app pretty much comes with everything a person would want in a fantasy soccer app, if not more. The app is simple, has an easy to use layout, and is the first real time social fantasy soccer game.

The World Cup may have ended but the game still continues to keep on kicking, no pun intended. If you’re a fan of Soccer — or what the world likes to call it “futbol,” than you can go here to download the app and begin building your incredible team of stars. The app is free so let your dreams and fantasies run wild with Yahoo’s fantasy soccer app. If you already have the app or plan on downloading it soon, let us know what it was like and if this will hold you over until the next FIFA season.

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