NYC Taxis are going head-to with Uber using Arro!

The competition between NYC Yellow and Green taxis vs. Uber is about to go-up fast!

A new app called Arro is creating an app just-like Uber’s for you to be able to orders standard taxis with your phone. Currently Arro is being beta tested along 6,000 Yellow and green taxis and in just a few weeks with support to all 20,000 yellow and green taxis!

Arro

As we already said, Arro is really identical to Uber. You order a nearby taxi with the app (simple!) and when the request is accepted the app will provide you with the driver’s name and taxi ID, so you find the right car. It’s not clear if you can track the car with the app or not but, something that is very clear is that there are no surge pricing.

Surge Pricing is when Uber rises the prices of their rides for as much as 15% during rush hours, With Arro there is none of that!

There have already been plenty of  other apps that have tried to do this but, have failed. Arro claims that it has a better chance because it is partnered with Creative Mobile Technologies, which controls the payment in the screens on the some of taxis.

This new technology has already been implemented into the car so, drivers don’t have to worry about carrying a phone to do their work, like uber drivers have to.

Expect Arro to come to other large cities like, San Francisco, Chicago, Boston, and Washington D.C. in the near future.

Source:  Arro, Crains New York, TechCrunch

You no longer have to upload square photos to Instagram!

Instagram just updated it’s Android and iOS apps to allow an option to upload full landscape and portrait photos… No longer do you have to use another app to fit landscape or portrait photos into a square fame to be upload to Instagram.

The new change is surprising considering Instagram is the one that started the whole square photos and videos things considering this “created” some very interested new companies like Twitter’s 6-second very popular video app, Vine!

The update just released add a new button to allow you to choose whether you want full photo upload or the standard square photo to be upload. This button doesn’t re-size to photos to a square frame but, it changes the canvas size so u don’t have to worry about blank write space above and below your photos.

The new change also applies to videos.

Google adds night mode for Google Maps!

An update to Google Maps just released added night mode which allows for better viewing in the dark..

The mode gets auto enabled by the current time on the your device.

The new modes are a much better for driving in the dark using Google Maps since it’s not going to be blinding you anymore!
You can get the new look by just updating your Google Maps app from your app store.

Before Dark Mode
Before Dark Mode

After Dark Mode
After Dark Mode

Moto G 2015, 3rd Generation – Price, Specs, Features

This morning Motorola had an event where they announced their new flagship lineup of smartphone.. Including a new Moto G.

This is the 3rd Moto G since it’s launch 3 years ago and there are minor but, very interesting and useful features that have been added to this “new” phone.

Specs:

Software

Operating System AndroidTM Lollipop 5.1.1

Hardware

CPU Qualcomm® SnapdragonTM 410 quad-core

CPU Clock Speed

1.4 Ghz
GPU Adreno 306

GPU Clock Speed

400 MHz
RAM 1GB (8GB Variant) 2GB (16GB Variant)
Screen 5″

Screen Resolution

1280×720
Glass Corning® Gorilla® Glass
Water Proof Rating IPX7 Water Resistant up-to 1 meter, 30 minutes.
Battery 2470 mAh

Battery Life

*”All Day” – Motorola Claimed*

Camera

Rear – Photos 13 MP

Other Specs.

f/2.0
Auto focus
4X digital zoom
Slow motion video
Burst mode
Auto HDR
Panorama
Video iHDR
Manual focus and exposure controls
Timer
Active viewfinder
Rear – Video  1080p HD video, 30 fps (MPEG4, H.264)
Front 5MP

Other Specs.

f/2.2
Field of view (FOV) 72 degrees
Display flash
Fixed focus
4X digital zoom
Slow motion video
Burst mode
Auto HDR
Front – Video *Unknown*
Audio Speakers, 3.5mm Headphone Jack
Microphone 2-mics
Bluetooth 4.0 Low Energy
Wi-Fi 802.11 b/g/n (2.4 GHz)
NFC
Location Services GPS, AGPS, GLONASS, BeiDou
Additional Sensors Accelerometer (2), Ambient Light Sensor, Proximity, Sensor Hub

Variants

8GB $179
16GB $219
Base Color Black, White
Back Color Customizable
Accent Color Customizable

Models

XT1540, XT1548

Network

XT1540 LTE (2, 4, 5, 7, 12, 17)
UMTS/HSPA+ (850, 1700/AWS, 1900, 2100 MHz)
GSM/GPRS/EDGE (850, 900, 1800, 1900 MHz)
XT1548 LTE (2, 4, 5, 12, 17, 25, 26)
UMTS/HSPA+ (850, 1700, 1900 MHz)
CDMA (800, 850, 1900 MHz)
TD-LTE (41 TD2500)
GSM/GPRS/EDGE (850, 900, 1800, 1900 MHz)
SIM CARD Micro

That has gotten a much better deign with a wide verity of removable backs and accent strips. Which can be customized when you buy the phone using Moto maker or get them later.

There are two models of the new Moto G. The XT1540 version which is the one you get if you buy it from a GSM carrier or from the Motorola website. The XT1540 version only supports GSM carriers but, the XT1548 model can support both CDMA and GSM carriers. This model of the phone is only sold through Sprint Prepaid, US Cellular and Virgin Mobile. As far as the LTE network go – The Moto G will support Tri-Band LTE for most of the giant US Carriers.

The new Moto G also comes pre-loaded with Android 5.1.1. This is also one of the big features of the Moto G because unlike other budget phone where is OS is filled with bloatware which intend slows it down a lot but, with the Moto G line the android OS had always been really clean giving it speed boost and longer battery life – Motorola claims a full day of normal usage.

The Moto G 2015 is the way to go if you are in the market for a budget smartphone with it’s average specs to a very clean UI. It’s only $179 for the 8GB (1GB RAM) and $216 for the 16GB (2GB RAM) version.

Snapchat has now found a way to delivers news and ads with Discover!

Discover has been a long time in the working and now it’s ready! Now snapchat is not just a messaging service – It’s now also a media destination. Once you have updated to 9.0.0 version of Snapchat – The discover feature is just a swipe away from the Story.

Discover has photos, videos and text from some big brand news services live CNN… Most of the coverage in Discover is powered by ads. So far snapchat not been making much money so, Discover is snapchat ‘big money maker’!

Here is what is in the official Snapchat blog post:

Snapchat has always celebrated the way that you and your friends see the world. It’s fun to experience different perspectives through Snaps, Stories and Our Story.

Today we’re introducing Discover.

Snapchat Discover is a new way to explore Stories from different editorial teams. It’s the result of collaboration with world-class leaders in media to build a storytelling format that puts the narrative first. This is not social media.

Social media companies tell us what to read based on what’s most recent or most popular. We see it differently. We count on editors and artists, not clicks and shares, to determine what’s important.

Discover is different because it has been built for creatives. All too often, artists are forced to accommodate new technologies in order to distribute their work. This time we built the technology to serve the art: each edition includes full screen photos and videos, awesome long form layouts, and gorgeous advertising.

Discover is new, but familiar. That’s because Stories are at the core – there’s a beginning, middle, and end so that editors can put everything in order. Every edition is refreshed after 24 hours – because what’s news today is history tomorrow.

Discover is fun and easy to use. Tap to open an edition, swipe left to browse Snaps, or swipe up on a Snap for more. Each channel brings you something unique – a wonderful daily surprise!

Happy Discovering!

Love,

Team Snapchat

– Snapchat Blog

You have heard of the Xbox and now the Obox and it’s Razer’s Forge!

Yesterday we taked about the Obox a handheld gaming console run by Android. The Ouya didn’t get really big. The Ouya was also a $99 dollar Android running gaming console. The Razer Forge is also a $99 Android running console that connects to the TV. The Razer Forge is which is really small at 4×4 inches!

Alongside the Forge, Razer also unveiling a line of other products – a couple of Bluetooth-based peripherals. The Serval gaming controller and the Turret keyboard and magnetised mouse; the Nabu X, a “basic alternative” to its Nabu smartband – They will sell for as cheap as $20 to registered Razer Insiders and it will be $50 to others. A new VR headset was also there in conjunction with other hardware manufacturers.

Keyboard

They also have this wireless keyboard with a a flipable and magnetic mouse pad – This can hold the mouse included.

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Mouse

The mouse is about the same – almost same as all the other console controllers. The layout is also the same! There is also a clip on top of the controller that can hold your mobile device.

 

OLYMPUS DIGITAL CAMERA

 

OLYMPUS DIGITAL CAMERA

There is also Cortex: Stream which uses Wi-Fi low-latency streaming from a source that is a lot more powerfull then a cheap Android console – like your PC.

Specs:

quad-core Snapdragon 805 CPU

Adreno 420 GPU

802.11ac WiFi

Bluetooth 4.1

2GB RAM

16GB of storage

Google Play Games & Cortex: Stream

We are trying to get our greddy hands on this as soon as possiable but, until then – Check out this video from LinusTechTips.

Product Photos:

OLYMPUS DIGITAL CAMERA OLYMPUS DIGITAL CAMERA

 

Most photos use in this update are from Engadget

Asus Zenfone 2 – What just happened?

Asus has showed off a couple of new phones and tablets. Here is one of them, The Zenfone 2…

Android Lollipop – Custom Zen UI

The Zen UI is not much change – It has custom animations and icons. A lot of Lollipop has been untouched though.

Capacitive buttons

Home, Back, Multitasking

Power button is on the top – not the best for a large screen phone. The Zenfone 2 takes alot of design ideas from the Moto X.

There is also a Zenfone Zoom which is a Lumia 920 like with a humped camera but, it was under glass so, more information is waiting…

UPDATE:
The Zenfone 2 SIM-LESS is only $200! This is the best thing ever!

LG G Flex 2 is here!

We have all wanted that phone that you can safely “bend” the phone. The LG G flex 2 is just that! It’s just like the LG G FLEX 1 and LG G3 but, you can step on it!
Just like the last one this one also as “self-healing” backing which makes light scratches on the phone disappear in seconds! The buttons are also still at the back. The phone is available in tow colors: the classic Platinum Silver, and the eye-catching Flamenco Red!

 

Here are the specs…

  • 2GHz Qualcomm Snapdragon 810, 64-bit, octa-core processor
  • Android 5.0 Lollipop OS
  • 5.5in full-HD (1920×1080, 403ppi) curved P-OLED screen
  • 16/32GB storage with microSD card slot
  • 2/3GB RAM
  • 13Mp rear camera with OIS+ and Laser Auto Focus
  • 2.1Mp front camera
  • 4G/LTE/HSPA+ 21/42Mb/s
  • 802.11a/b/g/n/ac Wi-Fi
  • Bluetooth 4.1 with apt-X
  • NFC
  • A-GPS
  • 3000mAh non-removable battery
  • 149.1×75.3×7.1-9.4mm
  • 152g

Check out this video from The Verge for the more info:

 

Wanna earn free gift cards? Legally? Here is how to do it!

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I have gotten a lot of questions from my family and friends on how they can get free gift cards without doing some sketchy hacking or doing something illegal – for the most part there was nothing like that.

That all changed when I found these two services and I just could wait to tell you guys about them – so here it is.

Both of these services have the same concept – download a free from their list and earn points then exchange those points for gift cards or other stuff like prepaid phone services cards or memberships. It’s not that hard either you can usually earn one dollar gift cards in less than five app downloads – this depends on what apps you download.
Both of these services are available on Android and iOS.

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FreeMyApps-Logo copy

The first service is called FreeMyApps – It’s awesome.

FreeMyApps offers a variety of apps to download from – most of the apps that give you a lot of points you just download and open and use the app for 30 seconds. Most of the apps that give you less points you just open them.
The most important part of these services is the rewards you get – there are a variety of them to choose from.

There is literally nothing bad about these services just Click Here and get started!

[button url=”/freemyapps” style=”orange” size=”large” type=”square” icon=”” target=”_blank”] FreeMyApps [/button]

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FeaturePoints logo

The second service is called FeaturePoints – It’s well good.

FeaturePoints also offers a variety of apps to download from but, most of the apps don’t give you a lot of points you also just download and open and use the app for 30 seconds. FeaturePoints also has a bunch of rewards to choose from but, the amount of points your earn are little to the amount of points you need to buy the rewards.

That is the only thing bad about this service but overall it’s still good – Click Here to get started!

[button url=”/featurepoints” style=”blue” size=”large” type=”square” icon=”” target=”_blank”] FeaturePoints [/button]