This week, the coffee giant started dispensing gift cards good for the free apps in stores, according to various reports. Starbucks has been offering free songs from iTunes since 2007, but the apps appear to be something new. Reps from Starbucks could not be reached for comment.
The first app to be offered under the plan is Shazam Encore, a music-identifying app that sells for $5.99 on iTunes.
Image courtesy of Flickr,
The mobile app, which is now available in the Android Marketplace and iOS App Store, is the direct result of its March acquisition of group messaging app Beluga. Facebook Messenger is the first mobile application the company has developed and released outside of its official Facebook app.
“It’s a mobile app about real-time communication,” Beluga co-founder and Facebook engineer Ben Davenport told Mashable. All messages are sent and received in real time — no refreshing required.
The app, much like Beluga, is simple and straightforward. Once users log into Messenger with their Facebook credentials, they’re taken to a screen with all of their recent Facebook chats and messages. Users can jump into any of their past conversations or create a new one. Messages can either be sent via Facebook Messenger or via SMS.
Users can also send photos to their friends with the app. It also lets you give message threads a name, for easier organization.
One of the key elements of Messenger is its alert system. Users can choose to receive alerts for new messages, or they can turn them off. They can also delay alerts for an hour or until 8:00 a.m. the next day. The alert settings can be tailored for individual message threads or for all messages through Messenger.
Facebook admits its official mobile app will eventually have all of Messenger’s functionality, but the company believes that having an app dedicated to quick messaging on the Facebook platform is something that will benefit its millions of mobile users. And it could give other group messaging apps like GroupMe a run for their money.
Check out the screenshots of the iOS and Android apps below, and let us know what you think of Messenger.
This is the Messenger login screen for the iPhone App.
This is the Messenger login screen for the Android App.
The Facebook Messenger app finds your friends as you type.
It's much like tagging friends on Facebook.
The interface is much like the texting interface on the iPhone.
Even the Android app sports the iOS-like interface.
Users can send photos in their messages. They will appear threaded within the conversation.
They will appear threaded within the conversation.
The Map View lets you see where everybody in a message is located.
You can choose not to attach a location to your messages if you wish, though.
If you go to a user's single message, you can see exactly where he or she is located.
Both the iOS and Android version integrate with Google Maps.
Since the app is integrated with Facebook, all of your messages will appear in this view, regardless of where the messages originated.
The blue dot indicates that you have an unread message.
Late last week, iOS 5 Beta 5 was seeded to eager Apple developers. As always, many are asked the million-dollar question: can it be jailbroken? As with all previous builds, the answer is yes, with the latest version of Redsn0w which was just released, as long as you don’t mind plugging your device into your computer every time you power it on.
From iPhone-Dev Team Blog:
redsn0w has been updated to 0.9.8b5, adding support for Apple’s new iOS5 beta5 (point it directly at the beta5 IPSW). Please use this only if you’re a jailbreak app developer with a legit Apple dev account, and remember it’s a tethered jailbreak for now!
Redsn0w is able to apply a standard tethered jailbreak on almost any iOS device, except for the iPad 2. Since this is an experimental build of iOS 5, iOS jailbreakers will likely be reluctant to disclose vulnerabilities for it yet, making an untethered jailbreak highly unlikely at this point, meaning that the jailbroken device will have to be plugged into a computer running Redsn0w every time it’s powered on, or else it won’t boot into a jailbroken state and won’t be able to run unofficial apps or tweaks.
Redsn0w is incredibly easy to use considering that all the instructions are presented in a relatively well-built user interface. In order to jailbreak your device using Redsn0w, all you’ll need is a copy of the iOS 5 Beta 5 firmware file and iTunes 10.5 Beta 5, which can be both obtained from Apple’s developer website. Some addition iOS skills are recommended, such as switching your device into DFU mode and restoring it with iTunes in case the process somehow fails. You can read our full guide on how to perform this jailbreak here.
It should be noted however that if you jailbreak your device on iOS 5, you wont get future OTA updates from Apple, until and unless you restore your iOS to stock state.
iOS 5 is the upcoming major release of operating system that runs on iPhones, iPod touches and iPads. First unveiled at this year’s WWDC, after months of rumors and speculation, iOS 5 includes several new features that had long been wished for by iOS fans. Among those, there’s a new notification system known as Notification Center which unobtrusively queues up all the notifications issued by apps and services; enhancements to Mobile Safari, especially the iPad version; Newsstand, a special folder on the iOS Home Screen that organizes all magazine apps; and system-wide Twitter integration.
It’s important to stress once again that it’s currently impossible to jailbreak iPad 2(s) on anything above iOS 4.3.3. Redsn0w only works with any iPod touch, iPhone and the first-generation iPad.
Download Redsn0w 0.9.8b5 for Windows
Download Redsn0w 0.9.8b5 for Mac
At the time, it was considered a bold step by both Sony and Microsoft to enter the HD era. The system was announced as being equipped with Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, 6 USB ports, a detachable hard drive, and featured backwards compatibility with PlayStation 1 and PlayStation 2 games -- a feature that would later be removed.
Besides the impressive possibility for 54GB of storage on a single Blu-ray disc, there were a number of games announced: a new Killzone, Warhawk, Devil May Cry 4, Heavenly Sword, and MotorStorm were among those shown during the media briefing.
Now that some PlayStation Network and Qriocity services have been restored and you’re once again enjoying online gaming and entertainment, we’re happy to provide details about the “Welcome Back” appreciation program for customers in North America. We developed the program as an expression of our gratitude for your patience, support and continued loyalty during the service outage. From all of us at PlayStation, thank you and welcome back!
This package will be made available to all existing registered PlayStation Network and Qriocity users in North America (US and Canada), and will be made available shortly after we have fully restored the service. More specific details about these offers and eligibility requirements will be posted as the services go live.
All PlayStation Network customers can select two PS3 games from the following list. The games will be available for 30 days shortly after PlayStation Store is restored and can be kept forever.
For PSP owners, you will be eligible to download two PSP games from the following list. The games will be available for 30 days shortly after PlayStation Store is restored and can be kept forever.
We’d like to thank all of our publishing and development partners who’ve contributed to the Welcome Back program, including Bigbig Studios, Codeglue, Digital Leisure, Guerilla Games, Heavy Water, Housemarque, Lockwood, Loot, Mass Media, Media Molecule, SCE Cambridge Studios, SCE Studio Liverpool, SCE San Diego Studios, and Sucker Punch Productions. We couldn’t have created such a compelling package without them!
As a reminder, you will be able to access the above content shortly after services are fully restored. We are doing everything we can to make that happen as soon as possible. Please visit the following sites for more information about the Welcome Back program in Europe and Latin America.
Thank you again for your support!
Hirai notes in his letter, addressed to both the chairman and ranking member of the Subcommittee on Commerce, Manufacturing, and Trade, that the move to take PSN offline came at a "substantial cost" but it was made to ensure "all changes to strengthen security are completed." It waited to inform the public only until its "information was sufficiently confirmed" about the breach, a process that took time as it "is a highly complex process that takes time to carry out effectively. At the same time that the experienced attackers were carrying out their attack, they also attempted to destroy the evidence that would reveal their steps."
He said Sony has taken responsibility for the attack by offering customers free PlayStation Plus time in addition to the other aspects outlined in the "welcome back" program that was briefly detailed over the weekend.
The number of times loose lips get people into trouble, you’d think people would learn wouldn’t you? The culprit this time is one Craig Fairbrass, a voice actor for the two current Modern Warfare games. In an interview with UK radio station talkSPORT, the voice of Ghost and Gaz let slip that he’s currently working on a big game that’s reportedly costing $200m to make. That narrows it down then!
During the interview, Fairbrass said:
"I did Call of Duty: Modern Warfare as Gaz and then I did Ghost in Modern Warfare 2, which has become one of the most iconic figures in the history of computer games, which is great.
"And I’ve just been out in LA doing something that’s going to be announced in May… I’ve just been out there doing some bits and pieces and one of it’s to do with… I can’t say too much."
It seems Fairbrass is quite a fan of working on the games too.
"You do like five, six, seven sessions and they record it in this great big studio in Los Angeles, which is absolutely mental,"
"It’s incredible. This place was like the size of 10 factories, there was all these people working."
While it’s no great surprise that Activision is working on another Modern Warfare game seeing as they’re basically a license to print money, we’re sure the company would want to announce it with a little more fanfare than someone accidentally leaking it on a UK radio station!
{Source: CVG}
Yesterday, we were pret-ty bummed to hear that Anchorman 2 isn't happening.
While that's def disappointing news, Will Ferrell is moving on and he seems excited about the possibility of a sequel for his underrated comedy Step Brothers.
Here's what he had to say about it:
"We just had a great meeting with John C. Reilly about maybe another Step Brothers. Because Anchorman is a brick wall right now."
"We’re maybe playing around with the idea of that."
And here's Will on whether or not director Adam McKay would return for Step Bros 2:
"Oh yeah. We would have to all three do it. Totally."
Sounds good to us! And maybe Ferrell will get the OK for Anchorman 2, when/if Step Brothers 2 is a success!
…We can always dream…
Would U like to see a Step Brothers sequel?
The breach has been posited a number of times by Sony as being "malicious" and a "criminal act." It's clearly not the only one who believes so, given the two government agencies' involvement. The FBI confirmed to Kotaku yesterday that it's been in contact with Sony and is looking into the matter. "The FBI is aware of the reports concerning the alleged intrusion into the Sony on line game server and we have been in contact with Sony concerning this matter," said FBI special agent Darrell Foxworth. "We are presently reviewing the available information in an effort to determine the facts and circumstances concerning this alleged criminal activity."
"The Department of Homeland Security is aware of the recent cyber intrusion to Sony's PlayStation Network and Qriocity music service," DHS spokesman Chris Ortman told NextGov (via Gamasutra). "DHS' U. S. Computer Emergency Readiness Team is working with law enforcement, international partners and Sony to assess the situation."
One of the most common questions asked of people in the iOS jailbreak community is a simple one: why should I jailbreak my device? It’s a hard one to answer – some like the powerful tools, others just want to customize their home screen. Head of all things Geek Robert Scoble decided to ask this very same question of the guy behind the jailbreak App Store Cydia, Jay Freeman and filmed the answers.
What it boils down to is customization and tools. Freeman shows off a couple of tweaks such as a Twitter app that is activated by swiping down from the iPhone’s status bar (qTweeter) and a way to quickly access settings using a similar gesture (SBSettings).
Whether these kinds of additions to the iOS world are enough to warrant any possible instabilities as well as the inevitable wait for a new jailbreak every time a new version of iOS comes out very much depends on the user, but the act of jailbreaking is as easy as ever these days and a restore is just a click away should you not like the experience.
Why not try jailbreaking today?
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On Tuesday, Sony issued an update explaining the recent PlayStation Network and Qriocity outages. The company said it has discovered that between April 17th and April 19th, someone broke into its network and stole user information. In an effort to stop the security breach, Sony temporarily killed access to its PlayStation Network and Qriocity services, hired a security firm to investigate, and started beefing up its security measures. However, the leaked information may be alarming to PlayStation network users. Here’s part of Sony’s statement:
We believe that an unauthorized person has obtained the following information that you provided: name, address (city, state, zip), country, email address, birthdate, PlayStation Network/Qriocity password and login, and handle/PSN online ID. It is also possible that your profile data, including purchase history and billing address (city, state, zip), and your PlayStation Network/Qriocity password security answers may have been obtained.
Sony said that it doesn’t think credit card data was taken, but that it will not rule out the possibility, and says that it’s possible credit card numbers – excluding the security codes – may have been obtained by the intruders. The firm advises that its customers “remain vigilant” by closely monitoring credit statements. Sony says the services will be reactivated as soon as possible and that customers can dial 1-800-345-7669 with any questions. Hit the jump for Sony’s official statement.
Valued PlayStation Network/Qriocity Customer:
We have discovered that between April 17 and April 19, 2011, certain PlayStation Network and Qriocity service user account information was compromised in connection with an illegal and unauthorized intrusion into our network. In response to this intrusion, we have:
- Temporarily turned off PlayStation Network and Qriocity services;
- Engaged an outside, recognized security firm to conduct a full and complete investigation into what happened; and
- Quickly taken steps to enhance security and strengthen our network infrastructure by re-building our system to provide you with greater protection of your personal information.
We greatly appreciate your patience, understanding and goodwill as we do whatever it takes to resolve these issues as quickly and efficiently as practicable.
Although we are still investigating the details of this incident, we believe that an unauthorized person has obtained the following information that you provided: name, address (city, state, zip), country, email address, birthdate, PlayStation Network/Qriocity password and login, and handle/PSN online ID. It is also possible that your profile data, including purchase history and billing address (city, state, zip), and your PlayStation Network/Qriocity password security answers may have been obtained. If you have authorized a sub-account for your dependent, the same data with respect to your dependent may have been obtained. While there is no evidence at this time that credit card data was taken, we cannot rule out the possibility. If you have provided your credit card data through PlayStation Network or Qriocity, out of an abundance of caution we are advising you that your credit card number (excluding security code) and expiration date may have been obtained.
For your security, we encourage you to be especially aware of email, telephone, and postal mail scams that ask for personal or sensitive information. Sony will not contact you in any way, including by email, asking for your credit card number, social security number or other personally identifiable information. If you are asked for this information, you can be confident Sony is not the entity asking. When the PlayStation Network and Qriocity services are fully restored, we strongly recommend that you log on and change your password. Additionally, if you use your PlayStation Network or Qriocity user name or password for other unrelated services or accounts, we strongly recommend that you change them, as well.
To protect against possible identity theft or other financial loss, we encourage you to remain vigilant, to review your account statements and to monitor your credit reports. We are providing the following information for those who wish to consider it:
U.S. residents are entitled under U.S. law to one free credit report annually from each of the three major credit bureaus. To order your free credit report, visit www.annualcreditreport.com or call toll-free (877) 322-8228.
We have also provided names and contact information for the three major U.S. credit bureaus below. At no charge, U.S. residents can have these credit bureaus place a “fraud alert” on your file that alerts creditors to take additional steps to verify your identity prior to granting credit in your name. This service can make it more difficult for someone to get credit in your name. Note, however, that because it tells creditors to follow certain procedures to protect you, it also may delay your ability to obtain credit while the agency verifies your identity. As soon as one credit bureau confirms your fraud alert, the others are notified to place fraud alerts on your file. Should you wish to place a fraud alert, or should you have any questions regarding your credit report, please contact any one of the agencies listed below.
Experian: 888-397-3742; www.experian.com; P.O. Box 9532, Allen, TX 75013
Equifax: 800-525-6285; www.equifax.com; P.O. Box 740241, Atlanta, GA 30374-0241
TransUnion: 800-680-7289; www.transunion.com; Fraud Victim Assistance Division, P.O. Box 6790, Fullerton, CA 92834-6790You may wish to visit the web site of the U.S. Federal Trade Commission at www.consumer.gov/idtheft or reach the FTC at 1-877-382-4357 or 600 Pennsylvania Avenue, NW, Washington, DC 20580 for further information about how to protect yourself from identity theft. Your state Attorney General may also have advice on preventing identity theft, and you should report instances of known or suspected identity theft to law enforcement, your State Attorney General, and the FTC. For North Carolina residents, the Attorney General can be contacted at 9001 Mail Service Center, Raleigh, NC 27699-9001; telephone (877) 566-7226; or www.ncdoj.gov. For Maryland residents, the Attorney General can be contacted at 200 St. Paul Place, 16th Floor, Baltimore, MD 21202; telephone: (888) 743-0023; or www.oag.state.md.us.
We thank you for your patience as we complete our investigation of this incident, and we regret any inconvenience. Our teams are working around the clock on this, and services will be restored as soon as possible. Sony takes information protection very seriously and will continue to work to ensure that additional measures are taken to protect personally identifiable information. Providing quality and secure entertainment services to our customers is our utmost priority. Please contact us at 1-800-345-7669 should you have any additional questions.
Sincerely,
Sony Computer Entertainment and Sony Network Entertainment
[Via Tech Crunch]
Posted via email from STARFALL
