Business

Feedly is a service that's risen in popularity recently for the most part because the much-loved RSS service Google Reader is coming to close on July 1, but the company is definitely doing its best to make a space for itself as something more than just an alternative. Today, Feedly released the Feedly Cloud, which not only creates a standalone web-based RSS reader app, but also hooks all of your feeds into the cloud, which developers can then hook their own APIs into for various purposes. Just like Google Reader's API, the idea is to allow Feedly's work to power other readers, and in fact the service is connecting into IFTTT right away at launch, and opening up other options for future apps and tools. This also means that Feedly is available right inside your web browser (previously, the app required a plugin or extension in your browser to work correctly), and can be pulled up from anywhere. Personally, Feedly has become my reader of choice, partly because it works so similarly to Google's service, and partly because it's so easy to migrate from one service to the other. If you use Google Reader and haven't yet chosen a new service, you're running out of time, as Google is finally shutting everything down on July 1. Feedly is the best alternative I've seen so far, and this move to the cloud shows that the company is very interested in not only grabbing Google's refugees, but keeping their patronage for as long as possible.Feedly RSS reader launches cloud service originally appeared on TUAW - The Unofficial Apple Weblog on Wed, 19 Jun 2013 15:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.Source | Permalink | Email this | Comments

ProCollage (US$1.99) is a very nicely done app for creating photo collages on any iOS device. After you grant access to your camera roll, PhotoCollage lets you select multiple images and use pre-defined templates. Don't care for those templates? No problem, it lets you use a free form approach as well. Images can be moved within a frame, resized, or rotated. Frame colors are almost unlimited, and there is a selection of multiple backgrounds for your images. Happily, the app doesn't make you purchase anything else to make it all work. This latest version adds the ability to add text to a collage, and there are 14 different styles. Putting the app to a test today, I found it easy to create a variety of nice looking sets of images. There is help built in, but I really didn't need it. One thing lacking is that the app does not work in landscape view. If it did, some wide aspect ratio images would be larger on screen, allowing for more precise placement. ProCollage is not alone in the iOS world. I've also used, and praised Diptic, which is still excellent. I've also enjoyed using GoodTimes for Mac OS, which makes some very striking collages. ProCollage seemed well behaved under the iOS 7 beta, and currently requires iOS 5 or greater. It has been optimized for the iPhone 5. Gallery: ProCollageProCollage is an easy and powerful photo utility for iOS originally appeared on TUAW - The Unofficial Apple Weblog on Wed, 19 Jun 2013 19:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.Source | Permalink | Email this | Comments

Today's news brings a pleasant surprise for Lytro camera owners. It turns out the that each one of the small light field cameras has had a hidden Wi-Fi chip inside, waiting to be turned on. Well, the time for activation has come with the release of a new firmware update which activates the Wi-Fi. And just in time for the release of Lytro's new iOS app. The app, called Lytro Mobile, connects to your iPhone via the Wi-Fi transmitter and allows you to view camera images from your iOS device. Once you activate the app simply click the Camera feature and you will be told to select Wi-Fi from the Lytro's menu screen. Once you tap the Wi-Fi option on your Lytro screen you will be able to wirelessly upload images directly to Lytro.com. The mobile app has other tricks up its sleeve. You can use the app to refocus a picture via Perspective Shift, add captions and geotagging, and share your live pictures via your favorite social network, message service, or SMS. The app also allows you to use the Lytro to make a GIF images from pictures you've taken. The firmware update and app are available now from Lytro and the App Store respectively.Lytro announces iOS app, unlocks hidden Wi-Fi feature in camera originally appeared on TUAW - The Unofficial Apple Weblog on Wed, 19 Jun 2013 18:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.Source | Permalink | Email this | Comments

Fabrication powerhouse Stratasys and startup 3D printer manufacturer MakerBot have merged. Under the terms of the deal, the pair of companies are merging in a stock-for-stock transaction worth $604 million, with two-thirds payable immediately as stock, with the remaining third depending on MakerBot performance following the merger. The deal is expected to close in the fall....

Retailer Best Buy is recalling 5,100 third-party battery replacements for the black and white MacBooks, made by a company called ATG and sold through the retailer's Geek Squad service division or online between 2008 and mid-2012 due to the risk of overheating and fire. The US Product Safety Commission has collected 13 reports of incidents with the replacement batteries, including one where the buyer suffered a serious burn on their leg. The batteries are also sold through other retailers, but only Best Buy has initiated a recall at this point....

Following April's ruling that Microsoft need only pay several millions of dollars, rather than the billions that Motorola Mobility was seeking, Microsoft offered Motorola's council a $6.8 million dollar payment to pay off all outstanding licensing debts owed for H.264 standards essential patents used in Windows 8 and the Xbox 360. Motorola has refused this offer, and is retaining a bond paid by Microsoft, despite judicial orders not requiring a payment even close to the $100 million bond payment....

Apple has released a software update for Apple TV, bringing it to version 5.3. HBO GO and WatchESPN are now available directly on the service, as well as Sky News, Crunchyroll and Qello to increase Apple TV’s live news, sports and TV programming options. With HBO GO, subscribers will have unlimited access…Continue reading Apple TV gets HBO GO, WatchESPN and other new channelsRelated posts:AirPlay coming to Apps in 2011?Apple’s iOS 5.1 Beta rumor roundupApple releases v5.0.2 update for Apple TV

IDC has ranked Apple the fifth largest smartphone vendor in China, assigning it a 9 percent share of the 78 million smartphones sold in Q1. While the market grew by 117 percent, Apple's sales of the entry level iPhone 4 grew by 211 percent, the firm noted.

Looking to gain ground on Apple's iPhone and devices running Android, Microsoft was reportedly close to purchasing Finnish phone maker Nokia's device business, with discussions going on as recently as this month.

John Savill demonstrates Server Manager in Windows Server 2012. read more