Facebook is testing Material Design on its Android app

Facebook is constantly testing small design changes on its platform, and today some Android users are getting a taste of Lollipop’s Material Design UI.

They update Material Design’s Floating action button on the bottom right corner of the app.

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Street View and Photo Spheres now can be embedded into sites

Until today, only maps could be embedded into a site from Google Maps. Doing so provides visitors of a site with way to view a map and the surrounding area without having to open Google Maps in its entirety. Imagery from Street View and Photo Spheres can now be embedded into a site. This takes what was once an outside view to a hands on experience right from the ground level. It is so unbelievably simple to just take imagery for a link to be embedded elsewhere.

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Xiaomi Introduces MIUI 6 More Flatter And Colorful

Xiaomi introduces MIUI 6, the latest version of their Android-based smartphone UI, which features a major design refresh, better security, and more. The overall look of the UI is flattened, and color plays a more prominent role. While the update is in beta at the moment, it is expected to make its way to Xiaomi's devices soon.

Xiaomi says that MIUI 6 as designed to be intuitive, and that you should be able to just pick up your device and use it without any instruction. Everything in the new design is meant to be clear. There is a heavier use of color in MIUI 6, with white prominent in many of Xiaomi's own apps.

The phone and contacts apps have seen some updates. You can now identify unknown numbers when they call you. You can also identify service numbers, like banks, and you can also be shown a visual menu of your carrier's service line, instead of having to wait for an audio prompt to advance in the menu.

Check out a video of MIUI 6 in action.

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HTC One M8 getting Android 4.4.3 update, Support for 4G/LTE in India

HTC India has started rolling out a new software update for the One (M8) smartphone in India (As promised), which bright 4G LTE support for the smartphone.

The HTC One M8's Android 4.4.3 update includes all the security fixes found in 4.4.4, as well as Wifi, Bluetooth and cellular network performance improvements. HTC's also bundled some updated Sense apps into the update, including a tweaked Camera app, an updated Gallery app with the ability to match similar images, new power usage history views in the Settings app, and a new version of the HTC Sync Manager. The update to the new firmware version 2.10.720.1 weighs in at a hefty 659MB.

You can also manually look for the update by going to Settings > About Phone > Software update. 

Source: androidcentral, androidos.in

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Microsoft to deliver Windows 'Threshold' tech preview around late September

Microsoft is aiming to deliver a "technology preview" of its Windows "Threshold" operating system by late September or early October, according to multiple sources of mine who asked not to be named.

And in a move that signals where Microsoft is heading on the "servicability" front, those who install the tech preview will need to agree to have subsequent monthly updates to it pushed to them automatically, sources added.


Threshold is the next major version of Windows that is expected to be christened "Windows 9" when it is made available in the spring of 2015. Threshold is expected to include a number of new features that are aimed at continuing to improve Windows' usability on non-touch devices and by those using mice and keyboards alongside touch.

Among those features — according to previous leaks — are a new "mini" Start Menu; windowed Metro-Style applications that can run on the Desktop; virtual desktops; and the elimination of the Charms bar that debuted as part of Windows 8. Cortana integration with Windows Threshold is looking like it could make it into the OS, as well....

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Video: Apple Bans 2 Chemicals Used In iPhone, iPad Assembly

Thursday Apple announced it's banning the use of two chemicals in its factories after petitions from labor activist groups.

The groups, Green America and China Labor Watch, urged Apple to stop using benzene, a known carcinogen, and n-hexane, which can cause nerve damage.

Apple launched its own investigation on its 22 factories and only found the chemical at four of its facilities. The investigation found the chemicals were being used at normal safety levels.

But Apple decided to ban them in certain stages of its production line anyway. It will allow them in early production stages at a reduced level.

The company announced its decision Thursday saying: "We're committed to removing toxins from our products and processes. Because everyone has the right to a safe product and a safe working environment."

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Vint launches iOS and Android apps for its on-demand fitness trainer platform

If you’ve always wanted a personal trainer but found the expense a little off-putting and lack the motivation to keep working out on your own, then help may be at hand in the form of Vint’s new mobile apps for iOS and Android, which promise to make finding a local training session a doddle.

Currently only available in San Francisco and building on an open beta of its Web platform announced last year, the peer-to-peer platform allows users to take part in nearby one-on-one or group workouts at a price set by each individual trainer.

The company says that the average personal trainer costs around $120 per hour, but that trainers on Vint cost an average of around $20 for an hour session, although, it can actually range from free to more than $35 per hour depending on the trainer’s expertise and area of specialty.

For launch, there are more than 50 “hand-qualified, passionate athletes and instructors” available to give guidance and lead workouts across 15 different activities, including running (trail and distance), yoga, weightlifting, tennis, Tai Chi and more.

Keeping the personal in personal training

The company says all its trainers are vetted and rated through a “rigorous qualification process based on their knowledge, understanding of safety, teaching ability, social skills and passion”.

It’s this personal attention to detail which means that for now it has no plans to move into the digitally-delivered workout space, a spokesperson confirmed.

[There are] no plans currently for offering digitally-delivered workouts — there are other services which do offer this, and we believe the motivation and relationship-building that comes with an in-person experience is key to building a long-term fitness habit. Vint, much like Lyft or Uber, is dependent on having an amazing offline community (fitness trainers in our case), and so we have to launch each city as the supply side of trainers grow.

For now, it’s only available to people in San Francisco, but the spokesperson also told TNW that it will move quickly to launch in new cities based on demand. So if you want to see it in your city, start shouting.

Vint | Android | iOS

Featured Image Credit – Shutterstock

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