The AQ SmartSpeaker carries AQ Audio’s banner across the pond

AQ Audio has chosen to use its wireless AQ SmartSpeaker to break into a crowded American marketplace. It's most unique feature is the ability to offer Apple AirPlay functionality outside of a wireless network. A single speaker runs $180, but a stereo pair will cost consumers $350.

First impressions are always important, so its says a lot that U.K.-based AQ Audio selected the AQ SmartSpeaker for its freshman effort in the states. As we’ve noted in previous posts, the wireless speaker ring has plenty of hats in it, so lets take a look at how the AQ SmartSpeaker plans to distinguish itself on this side of the pond.

First off, AQ Audio is lauding its AQ Direct technology, a currently exclusive offering which allows you to take AirPlay outside and liberate it from the network. Expect to see more of this functionality from familiar US brands in the near future.

The speaker is also cross-platform compatible, working with both Windows and Android. Toss in a $180 price-point and you’ve got what looks like a pretty attractive package deal – but not so fast. That’s the price for a single speaker, which the company claims can deliver sufficient sound. Still, they’re marketing the right/left channel separation potential provided by having two speakers, that way – says AQ Audio – you can get “true hi-fi sound.”

Unfortunately it will also cost you. Doubling your fun will run you $350. The AQ SmartSpeaker is available now through aquadio.com or through Amazon.

Source : digitaltrends[dot]com

Windows 8 Marketplace won’t sell games like Grand Theft Auto in the UK, but what about the US?

Microsoft bars games with the PEGI 18+ rating like Grand Theft Auto IV from the Windows 8 Marketplace in the UK. What will happen in the US?

Windows 8 is not earning Microsoft many fans in the video game development community. Marcus “Notch” Pearson, the creator of Minecraft, said that Microsoft is “ruining the PC as an open platform” with its new operating system that apes the contained, curated style of Apple’s iOS and OS X operating systems. His sentiments echoed those of Valve’s Gabe Newell and Blizzard’s Rob Pardo.

It would seem that Microsoft’s policies for selling games through the Windows 8 Marketplace are going to further incense those developers. Microsoft’s closed policy will see video games intended for adults only, meaning those games that could potentially receive an Adults Only rating from the ESRB in the US, will not be allowed on the platform.

GamesIndustry International reported on Thursday that Microsoft will indeed ban games rated for ages 18 and older, at least in the UK. Citing an article written by Casey Muratori which outlines Microsoft’s guidelines for apps sold on the Marketplace—apps cannot contain depictions that “glamorizes illegal activity,” “irresponsible use of alcohol or tobacco products,” or “excessive or gratuitous profanity”—this means that many games rated PEGI 18 cannot be sold through Microsoft’s store at all. Grand Theft Auto IV, the original version of Heavy Rain, and many other PEGI 18+ rated games would be blocked from the market.

Kotaku confirmed these rules were official and that no game can be sold through the Marketplace without meeting them. “No, you cannot distribute Windows Store apps without going through the Windows Store. The exception to this is for enterprise apps. Developers can, however, create and offer desktop apps the same way they always have—through their own site or distribution point.”

The question though is how these policies will affect the Windows 8 Marketplace globally. The UK’s PEGI rating system is different from the ESRB’s, designating some games that receive an M for Mature rating in the US PEGI 16+ and others PEGI 18+.

A representative of Microsoft’s PR agency handling the promotion of Windows 8 told Digital Trends, “We have nothing more to share beyond what is public on the Windows Dev Center (section 6.2 of the app certification requirements discusses ratings) and information on Rating boards for Windows apps.” Section 6.2 only restricts games with an “over ESRB Mature” rating, the same guideline that tickets what is and is not allowed on the Xbox Live marketplace.

Source : digitaltrends[dot]com

Interested in Windows Phone 8? Here’s a complete roundup of upcoming devices

We give a quick and comprehensive overview of the devices set to launch alongside Microsoft's Windows Phone 8.

Windows Phone has struggled to establish a foothold in the crowded smartphone marketplace, and the distance between Microsoft and its competitors is only growing. Microsoft hopes this will all change with the release of Windows Phone 8 and device manufacturers like Nokia, HTC, Samsung, and Huawei ready to back it up on the hardware front. 

We surfed the web for hours (seriously, it was hard) to put together a list of all the WP8 devices set to launch alongside the new OS at the end of October. And if we may be so bold, each company has put out some of its best work under the Microsoft name. Below are the first Windows Phone 8 devices.

(*Note: All devices below run on Qualcomm Snapdragon S4 processors.)

Nokia Lumia 920

Screen: 4.5 inches, 1280×768 pixels, 332ppi, IPS LCD
Specs: 1.5GHz dual-core, 1GB RAM, 32GB storage
OS: Windows Phone 8
Camera: 8.7MP rear (1080p video), 1.2MP front (720p video)
Connection: 4G LTE, 3G HSPA+ 
Price: TBA

Description: The Lumia 920 is posed to be Microsoft’s savior for Windows Phone 8, a White Knight on horseback ready to cut a swath through all the iPhones and Androids out there. Nokia claims the big draw for consumers comes from its superior camera technology and software innovations. Its latest line up comes with wireless charging and elements of its PureView camera. On the software front, it has its own maps and a music streaming app. Not to mention it looks gorgeous with a polycarbonate, high-gloss, unibody design.  

Nokia Lumia 820

Screen: 4.3 inches, 800×480 pixels, 217ppi, AMOLED
Specs: 1.5GHz dual-core, 1GB RAM, 8GB storage
OS: Windows Phone 8
Camera: 8MP rear (1080p video), 0.3MP front (VGA video)
Connection: 4G LTE, 3G HSPA+
Price: TBA

Description: The Lumia 820 may be aimed at more budget-minded consumers, but it still holds onto the wireless charging (with the right accessory) and software present in its older brother (but a lesser camera). Like the 920, the 820 comes in a bunch of bright colors but in this case, the colored backplates are interchangeable. Since it doesn’t follow a unibody design, the 820 also has a removable battery and supports microSD so you can jack up the storage up to 32GB.

 
HTC Windows Phone 8X

Screen: 4.3 inches, 1280×720 pixels, 341ppi, Super LCD 2
Specs: 1.5GHz dual-core, 1GB RAM, 16GB storage
OS: Windows Phone 8
Camera: 8MP rear (1080p video), 2.1MP front (1080p video)
Connection: 4G LTE, 3G HSPA+
Price: $200 with a 2-year contract 

Description: At first glance, the HTC Windows Phone 8X looks like it may just be a cheap knock-off of Nokia’s Lumias. However, once you get past the familiar form factor and dizzying color options, the 8X does hold its own. It’s crafted from the same polycarbonate that gives the Lumia its signature swagger. HTC has also included Beats Audio here, much like in its One-branded smartphones. The non-expandable 16GB storage may be a drawback, but that wholly depends on your storage needs.

 

 HTC Windows Phone 8S

Screen: 4 inches, 800×480 pixels, 233ppi, Super LCD
Specs: 1GHz dual-core, 512MB RAM, 4GB storage (32GB)
OS: Windows Phone 8
Camera: 5MP rear (720p video)
Connection: 4G LTE, 3G HSPA+
Price: TBA

Description: HTC’s Windows Phone 8S is the cheaper option in the company’s WP8 offerings, and it’s a fairly large step down spec-wise from its more luxurious counterpart. The two-toned coloring is pretty flattering, but the cheaper, plastic build can’t compete with the polycarbonate body of the 8X; the saving grace is that HTC opted for a matte finish. Like the Lumia 820, the 8S supports microSD for added storage. The 8S also doesn’t have a front-facing camera, a rather weird move considering Microsoft’s acquisition of Skype and it’s RAM, screen resolution, and storage are lacking. 

Samsung ATIV S

Screen: 4.8 inches, 1280×720 pixels, 306ppi, HD Super AMOLED
Specs: 1.5GHz dual-core, 1GB RAM, 16 or 32GB storage
OS: Windows Phone 8
Camera: 8MP rear, 1.9MP front
Connection: 4G LTE, 3G HSPA+
Price: TBA

Description: Judging by the looks of the ATIV S, Samsung wasn’t invited to Microsoft’s neon-centric design meeting. In stark contrast to its fellow WP8 devices, the ATIV S is rocking a brushed metallic finish and only comes in a single color option. However, it’s certainly nice to see Samsung can make a device that isn’t made of plastic. The ATIV S wins in terms of storage space, supporting up to 32GB of added storage through an appropriately sized microSD. But all in all, the ATIV S isn’t as unique as what Nokia and HTC are presenting. Samsung may, literally, be phoning it in.

Huawei Ascend W1 and Ascend W2

Not a lot is known about Huawei’s rumored pair of Windows Phone 8 devices. We’re still waiting for the official unveiling, but we do know the W1 will be its flagship device and the W2 will most likely be a mid-range device.

However, if the Ascend is anything like the Android-powered P1 then the smartphone will pack a 4.3-inch screen, Super AMOLED display, and 4GB of storage. Due to Microsoft’s restrictions on Windows Phone 8 devices, we can expect the Ascend will also come with a 1.5GHz Qualcomm Snapdragon S4 and 1GB of RAM. It will also probably look a lot like the device pictured at left. 

Here’s hoping Huawei puts its best foot forward here and launches an incredible pair of smartphones. 

Any of these new devices stand out to you? Are you planning on upgrading to Windows Phone 8 when it launches? Let us know in the comments below.

Source : digitaltrends[dot]com

Windows Marketplace now called Windows Phone Store

Microsoft has rebranded Windows Marketplace as Windows Phone Store, with a refreshed design and improved algorithm.

Amid Wednesday’s Apple hoopla, Microsoft announced a new design and rebranding of Microsoft’s Windows Marketplace. As expected, Microsoft has deployed design and algorithm changes, and rebranded the place as Windows Phone Store.

The rebranding includes updates to core features, and a refreshing, minimalistic redesign that simplifies the store’s look to put it in line with its Windows Metro  Windows 8 design guidelines. You should find the site easy on the eyes.

The search box is one of the more significant updates, and now includes full Bing integration. Searches will allegedly provide “intelligent” results compared to the previous search functionality. For example, you’ll be able find the app you’re looking for even with typos, discover similar apps that won’t necessarily include the same key word as your search term, and find recommend apps in the same genre as your search.

Bing’s intelligence shines the more you conduct searches thanks to its machine learning algorithm. The Bing-integrated Store search engine will, over time, learn and output search results tailored specifically to what it believes you’d like to check out and download.

“We’ve been rolling out a much improved backend for both the Windows Phone Store and Windows Phone Dev Center. The welcome addition of Bing’s search engine is part of this infrastructure upgrade,” Director of Program Management at Microsoft, Mazhar Mohammad, wrote in Microsoft’s blog.

While the major updates revolve around app discovery, Microsoft has also put a focus on curation. Microsoft staffers are curating their favorite apps within the subpage “Spotilight,” under the Apps + Games category. But under the hood, updates to its categories like “New + Rising” will surface top apps based on tweaked metrics that take into consideration how quickly an app is being downloaded. The “Best Rated” category takes into account customer ratings and the frequency of an app’s use. Adding to this, you’ll notice a standalone News section that curates articles related Microsoft’s mobile products that are syndicated from other publishers.

Microsoft has also recognized that many of its users (read: parents) have requested that sexual content be taken off its app store. While Microsoft hasn’t outright banned sex-themed apps (that abide by its guidelines), the company will instead bury such apps, making it that much more difficult to surface those types of apps in the search results. Of course, if you’re searching for the term “sex” then Bing will suggest what you asked for.

Windows Phone Store rolled out first in Australia and New Zealand, and will launch in the rest of the world over the next few weeks.

Source : digitaltrends[dot]com

Windows Phone Store is the new name of the Marketplace

Microsoft has officially scrapped the Windows Phone Marketplace, folks. The new go-to place for the software giant’s mobile OS applications will be called Windows Phone Store from now on.

Along with the new name, Microsoft has introduced several improvements to the Windows Phone Store. They include better search functionality powered by Bing, as well as overhauled app lists. The latter include Top Free, Top Paid, as well as New + Rising categories. The new application lists will only be available at the Web Store for now. They are however, expected to hit upcoming Windows Phone devices.

The changes have already landed in Australia and New Zealand. The rest of the world is bound to follow in the coming weeks.

Source : blog[dot]gsmarena[dot]com

Instagram is officially coming to Windows Phone

Instagram has confirmed that it will make its Windows Phone debut in the Windows Marketplace later this year.

The number of apps available in Microsoft’s Windows Phone Marketplace dwarfs the number of apps available on the Apple App Store and Google Play. But soon, those of you who took a risk with a Windows phone won’t have to fret that the world’s favorite photo app isn’t available: Instagram is coming to Windows Phones.

The Verge was initially tipped off about the app’s existence when a reader thought he noticed Instagram featured in the Nokia promo video featuring its PureMotion technology. This wouldn’t be the first time Nokia inadvertently unveiled a big new app in a promo video; Nokia’s promo video demonstrating a Lumia charging on a wireless charging dock “accidentally” unveiled Skype’s Windows Phone app in action.

We re-watched the video and could make out what might be the Instagram app during the PureMotion demo, but we couldn’t be sure. The tile in question is displayed toward the end of the promo clip and displays the words “Walk Up,” and is accompanied by a comment and “Like” button that’s uncanny to the silhouette of the talk balloon and heart button that you would find on Instagram. But a secondary explanation could be that the app is actually Vimeo.

Whatever the case may be, The Verge has confirmed that Instagram will be making its way onto Windows Phones.

ZDNet theorized that Facebook’s purchase of Instagram would result in the app coming to Windows Phones, and it looks like they were right. Facebook has a tight-knit relationship with Microsoft, which purchased a stake in Facebook back in 2007. Further, the Federal Trade Commission finally approved the Instagram and Facebook deal after conducting an investigation due to antitrust concerns. Had the deal been blocked by the FTC, Instagram would have walked away with $200 million from Facebook for its troubles.

A consumer’s decision on purchasing a smartphone these days has a lot to do with what the complimenting app store has to offer. Microsoft’s Marketplace has cracked the 100,000 app mark, while Apple has broken 700,000 apps. The Google Play store is hot on Apple’s tail with more than 500,000 apps. That said, the number of apps isn’t everything; a large number of apps go unused simply by getting lost in the mix. In other words, it’s a matter of quality over quantity — how many of the main app titles an app store can get from existing popular apps like Skype, Instagram, and Angry Birds. Of course getting apps like Skype, Instagram, and even Angry Birds onto the Marketplace came courtesy of existing Microsoft relationships. 

Windows Phone users — are you excited for Instagram? Let us know your thoughts in the comments.

Source : digitaltrends[dot]com

Firefox OS Marketplace screenshots reveal how Mozilla is approaching the mobile store

Screenshots of the Firefox OS Marketplace have leaked revealing for the first time how the app store looks like.

Previously known as Boot to Gecko, Firefox OS seems to be making significant progress towards its release in early 2013. Naturally, what you see here isn’t final, as the Marketplace will evolve as Firefox OS gets into a release stage.

Back to the marketplace at hand, it features a minimalist design focusing on app categories and quick app discovery by categories. The app details section is very neatly organized, too.

Just as the other popular app stores like the Play Store and the Apple App Store, the Firefox OS Marketplace allows you to view the apps installed on your device. Currently, there are only free apps available, so it’s going to be interesting to see how Mozilla will handle app purchases and refunds.

Firefox OS is expected to make its debut in early 2013 on devices manufactured by Alcatel and ZTE. Don’t forget to check out our hands-on of the Firefox OS running on the Samsung Galaxy S II.

Source : blog[dot]gsmarena[dot]com

LG opens Smart TV game platform Game World. How will the Smart TV gaming boom affect consoles?

LG ups its game with Game World, a digital video game marketplace and network for its line of Smart TVs. Will it help LG overtake Samsung?

When it became clear a couple of years ago that 3D television wasn’t going to pan out for Sony, Panasonic, and the other television manufacturers watching their businesses wither due to an indifferent consumer base, they started to switch focus from tech to content. Smart TVs, with access to streaming video like Netflix, social networking tools like Facebook, and other connected content built into the television without needing a set top box at all, would renew industry vigor. Video games have naturally been a part of this plan. Korea’s LG opened its own video game network, Game World, on its Smart TVs on Monday. LG’s hope is that the service will even get people buying those pesky 3D televisions it invested so heavily in developing.

“Game World is a wonderful source of games—especially 3D games—which are suitable for everyone,” LG president Havia Kwon told Venture Beat, “Many popular titles will be available along with games developed exclusively for LG Cinema 3D Smart TVs. By making the most of LG 3D TVs, Game Wolrd will allow us to push the boundaries of 3D gaming and expand the market.”

That market expansion is the real juice LG is looking to squeeze in introducing the Game World service to its consumers. It’s aggressively pursued the Smart TV market looking to maintain its second place standing in the world television market. LG trails Samsung with a 13 percent share of the global market. Partnerships with Google to develop early Google TV-equipped televisions and set top boxes failed to help LG grow.

Game World is promising but right now it doesn’t have much to distinguish itself from existing digital gaming retailers like Apple’s iTunes or Microsoft’s Xbox Live. Electronic Arts properties like Plants vs. Zombies and Chilingo’s Cut the Rope are front and center on Game World, but those games can be purchased on anything. Right now Game World is little more than added value for LG’s televisions, not a draw in and of itself.

Services like Game World are only going to proliferate. Rovio is already supporting the world’s leading television manufacturer, Samsung, with its games including a motion controlled version of Angry Birds. Since casual games will be ubiquitous in most televisions, the real question is how that will impact console makers reliant on televisions being game free. Why would anyone buy Plants vs. Zombies on their PlayStation 4 if it’s already in their Samsung TV. Why would people buy an Ouya when Android games are already built into Google TV-ready LG TVs? 

Source : digitaltrends[dot]com