You Can Now Use Shazam, Instacart, And Other Android Apps With “Okay Google” Commands

 You’ve been able to use your voice (“Ok Google”) to do all sorts of stuff on Android for a while now. But said stuff has all been built-in by Google itself; third party developers haven’t really been able to tap into that functionality. Today, that changes. Read More

Ekko Player for iPhone will read the latest news headlines & stories to you

Ekko Player for iOS is a neat app that will read news headlines and stories to you. In addition to reading the headlines and articles to you, the app also allows you to use you voice to navigate between stories, making it an excellent way to digest news while on-the-go.

Ekko aggregates news from a variety of sources, including CNN, ABC, BBC, Time, and more. To change the source, simply tap the icon in the lower right corner, then choose the ‘+/-” option, which will then allow you to view categories. Tapping on the headline of an article will prompt the app to begin reading the full story. The speed and accent of the voice used in the app are both adjustable to your liking, as well.

As far as voice commands go, the app allows you to say things such as “headlines” to have all of the titles read to you and “next” to move on to the next headline.

Ekko Player is free on the App Store and it’s an excellent way to consume news on-the-go. There are some bugs, though they are expected in the launch version of an app.

From the description of the app in the App Store:

ekko™ lets you use spoken commands to access news and web content on the go. It offers you the ability to take your eyes off the screen and listen to news and other web content spoken to you. This is voicecasting.

Once you’ve chosen the news you want, you won’t need the Internet to control and listen to voicecasts with spoken commands. You’ll enjoy listening to web content of your choice while doing activities without needing your eyes on a screen and your hands for control.

ekko offers more opportunities in more places for you to listen to the news you choose on the go.

Filed under: Apps, iOS Tagged: app, ekko, ekko player, iOS, release

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App Recap: notable discounts, updates and releases for April 30

he App Recap is iDB’s daily roundup of notable news from the wonderful world of iOS software. Below you’ll find a list of discounts, updates and new releases we think are worth checking out. We have awesome picks today which include some great app deals and a few new games.... Read the rest of this post here

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"App Recap: notable discounts, updates and releases for April 30" is an article by iDownloadBlog.com.
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Poll: should Apple allow third-party Watch faces?

Apple touts rich personalization through custom faces as one of the cornerstones of its wearable device, but not everyone agrees. Skimming through your comments paints quite a different picture as tinkerers and jailbreakers alike are clearly big on the idea of third-party faces for the Apple Watch.

As much as built-in ones are customizable with tint colors and complications, surely official Twitter or Facebook faces that showed current status, photos and what not would have been much appreciated, am I right?

As third-party faces development is a highly polarizing issue among the Apple faithful, we’re curious to hear your position on the matter.

So, should Apple deliver?... Read the rest of this post here

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T-Mobile again offering free MLB At Bat Premium subscription to customers

Football season has long been over and basketball is getting there, but baseball season is just getting started. And for fans of the sport who are either on T-Mobile, or thinking about it, you’ll be interested to know that the carrier is once again offering MLB At Bat Premium to customers.

As noted by Droid-Life, the promotion is season-long, beginning May 1 and running through the end of September. To qualify, customers must download the MLB At Bat app on Android or iOS while on T-Mobile’s network—you will not get the discount if you are on Wi-Fi or roaming.... Read the rest of this post here

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Apple Store app on iOS updated with support for Apple Watch

As we reported would happen earlier this week, Apple this evening has updated its Apple Store app with support for Watch. From the app, users can get real-time order status updates, initiate the process of picking up an order, make and search for Genius Bar appointments, and discover events and workshops taking place in nearby Apple Stores.

The update is available on the App Store now. We reported earlier this week on the update and noted that since the Apple Watch does not have a keyboard, more detailed processes will have to be completed on the user’s accompanying iPhone. Apple’s full description regarding Apple Watch support for its retail app can be read below:

The convenience of the Apple Store App on your Apple Watch. Get real-time order status updates, quickly get your pick up order started, check in for Genius Bar reservations and discover nearby in-store events and workshops.

Filed under: AAPL Company

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Apple Store app updated with support for Apple Watch

Apple updated its Apple Store app on Thursday with support for Apple Watch. Now, owners can use the wearable to get real-time order status updates, quickly begin their pick up orders, check in for Genius Bar reservations and discover nearby in-store events and workshops.

You can find the Apple Store app in the App Store for free.

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Ford shares more details on CarPlay support, will offer close integration with SYNC

Ford was one of the first car manufacturers to announce its intentions to add support for Apple’s CarPlay to its in-dash systems. Questions concerning how Ford plans to integrate Apple’s solution, however, have remained since the initial announcement. In an interview with Re/code today, Ford CEO Mark Fields clarified some of the details regarding the company’s plans to offer CarPlay (and Android Auto) in its vehicles.

Fields first commented that Ford doesn’t want to end up as the handset business, meaning that the company doesn’t want to simply offer hardware with other operating systems. Ford has its own SYNC in-car solution and it will continue to offer it in all its vehicles. Fields feels that offering hardware without custom-built software is a recipe for being unprofitable.

Furthermore, Ford CTO Raj Nair noted that the company’s reasoning for offering CarPlay, Android Auto, and SYNC is to ensure that buyers have a choice. “We want to make sure you are not pushed into a decision on a $40,000 car based on your $200 smartphone,” the executive said. Nair also noted that the company’s SYNC system is a draw for buyers.

Regarding how Ford will manage offering three in-dash systems, Nair explained that SYNC will work very closely with Android Auto and CarPlay. For instance, if a user wants to use Apple Maps but listen to Sirius Radio through SYNC, their car will support that.

Finally, CEO Mark Fields noted that in-car cellular connectivity is an area of interest for the company. Fields expects the feature to be available in more cars gradually. In-car cellular connectivity will of course be instrumental in improving the experience of CarPlay.

CarPlay support will come to Ford vehicles alongside SYNC 3 later this year and will ship in new car models beginning at the end of this year. Read our review of CarPlay here.

Filed under: AAPL Company, iOS Tagged: Android Auto, Apple, CarPlay, Ford, sync, sync 3

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Apple TV shipping estimates slip to 1-2 weeks ahead of rumored WWDC refresh

Shipping estimates for the Apple TV slipped to 1-2 weeks on the US Apple Online Store today, further fueling rumors that Apple is getting ready to refresh the device. In March, BuzzFeed reported that the company is planning to unveil a new, slimmer set-top box at WWDC in June.

It’s worth noting that some users have reported that the device is showing “in stock” for them online today, but at Check Out many are still seeing later ship times. Regardless, the fluctuation in available stock is consistent with inventory behavior of past Apple products ahead of refreshes.... Read the rest of this post here

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‘Mighty Switch Force! Hose It Down!’ goes free as Apple’s App of the Week

Apple has just named WayForward’s “Might Switch Force! Hose it Down!” its App of the Week for this week. This means that from now through next Thursday, you’ll be able to download the award-winning pick-up-and-play puzzler for iPhone and iPad for free—a solid savings of $1.99.

For those unfamiliar with the game, you play as a member of Planet Land’s Fire Brigade that has to help put out fires around Tangent City and evacuate any trapped Hooligan Sisters. You accomplish this by strategically moving and rotating tiles to direct your water towards the flames.... Read the rest of this post here

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20 new Flyover locations added to Apple Maps

The Apple Maps service has expanded Flyover coverage to an additional twenty locations around the world. Following today’s update, owners of iPhone, iPod, iPad or Mac devices in the United States, Australia, France, Ireland, Italy, Mexico, New Zealand, Portugal, South Africa and Spain can being enjoying realistic three-dimensional virtual tours of select cities and landmarks, including the Arches National Park in Utah, Mont Saint-Michel in France and many more.... Read the rest of this post here

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The Apple Watch Home screen is a beautiful mess

With the Apple Watch Home screen, Apple introduced a new layout and design that is a departure from what we have all been accustomed to with iPhone and iPad. Instead of favoring rows and columns of square-ish icons, Apple had to rethink the user interface and introduced us to an infinite and honeycomb-like fluid grid of apps devoid of pages, folders, or dock.

One could argue this design paradigm modernizes the Home screen as we know it, but beyond the new and refreshing look, I’ve had a hard time getting used to it and actually find it useful. As a matter of fact, I don’t find it useful at all. It is beautiful, but it is also a terrible mess. Organizing apps, looking for apps, and being able to accurately tap on their icons is something that I have had a difficult time with.... Read the rest of this post here

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Google To Test Mobile-Optimized Web Pages In Indonesia

 Google announced today that it will begin running tests of a new way to deliver search results to mobile users with slow connections. The company’s pilot trials will initially take place in Indonesia, a country where the Internet is playing a greater role in people’s lives – especially among younger users – but is still plagued by slow mobile connection speeds,… Read More