Apps

Google Now for iOS maybe shown off in leaked video

It's only March, yet Google's already having a pretty bad year when it comes to leaked videos.

First it was the Chromebook Pixel, and now comes one for Google Now on Apple's iOS. That's the always-on service for mobile devices that automatically pulls up all sorts of relevant information depending on where you are, and that continues to be an Android- and Chrome-only feature.

A purported promotional video for the iOS app went up on YouTube, though it was promptly pulled down. It may or may not have been the real deal. Engadget managed to save … Read more

SXSW shocker: For LevelUp, business strategy trumps buzz

AUSTIN, Texas--If the fastest way to a man's heart is through his stomach, perhaps the optimal way to engineer real affection for your startup is to cook up a similar approach.

That seems to be the logic behind mobile pay service LevelUp's presence at South by Southwest, a show where brands are drowning out startups in search of their breakout moment.

LevelUp, a 2-year-old mobile pay service operated by Boston startup SCVNGR, skipped dog-and-pony-show antics for a far more practical strategy that is drumming up dollars instead of buzz. The company is powering mobile pay at every food … Read more

Create your own Harlem Shake videos

My guess is the whole Harlem Shake craze is just about winding down its 15 minutes of fame.

14:51...14:52...14:53...

But wait! While there's still a shred of interest left, you've got time to make your own videos. Free Android app Harlem Shake Creator Lite and iOS app Harlem Shake Creator HD (both from the same developer) make it ridiculously easy.

In case you've been off-planet for the past month or so, a Harlem Shake vid starts out with a single person, usually masked for no particular reason, doing a little jig to … Read more

DoubleTwist for Android adds MagicRadio

DoubleTwist, one of our favorite music players for Android, today gets a new feature that could help the app lure users away from competitors like Pandora or Spotify.

Called MagicRadio, DoubleTwist's new feature is meant to be a "holistic" music discovery service that can take into account your overall musical tastes as it programs stations for you to enjoy. The company hopes this add-on can attract users who are looking for more-nuanced stations than a Pandora search box and a simple artist name can produce.

While MagicRadio can certainly create stations based on simple parameters like artists, … Read more

A new dimension: Samsung Galaxy S4 may have 3D camera

3D hasn't really taken off in TVs, but Samsung may be inclined to give it a try in the Galaxy S4.

The Korean electronics giant has filed for a trademark for "2D 3D Movie & Still," and it also filed for a patent related to a panoramic imaging lens and panoramic imaging system.

Samsung noted in its trademark filing that the application covers software for smartphones, software for tablets, digital cameras, USB flash drives, mobile telephones, portable media players, portable computers, rechargeable batteries, smartphones, tablets, wireless headsets, and lenses for cameras. That's a pretty extensive list.… Read more

Apple launches two iPhone ads to flaunt new features

Apple released a set of snazzy new iPhone commercials today dubbed "Brilliant" and "Discover" to show off various features and apps on the smartphone.

Choreographed to upbeat music -- the same as its recent iPad ads -- the commercials display the phone in a pair of hands that click, tap, and swipe through various games, apps, and videos.

"Brilliant" highlights how people can use the smartphone to pay for a Starbucks coffee with the Passbook app, use the scientific MyScript math calculator, and control the dimming of a lamp with the new Hue Lighting … Read more

Google refreshes mobile Web app to resemble iOS version

Google's Gmail mobile Web app is getting a refresh, the company said.

Google noted on its Google+ page today that Gmail for mobile Web and Gmail Offline now include many new features it added to its iPhone and iPad apps in December. Those changes include improved calendar integration that allows users to see RSVPs inline, and improved search that includes autosuggestions.

Another change is a complete visual refresh, including changes to color, spacing, layout, and avatars (which is a person's Google profile picture or a first initial if he or she doesn't have a profile picture).

The … Read more

Use Easy Uninstaller to quickly remove downloaded apps

When looking for an app that does something in particular, you may find yourself installing a handful or two for a bit of trial and error. While space on your device may not be an issue, you won't want to keep all of the apps that fail to perform the way you need them to. At this point, you're faced with the fun task of either going to the Google Play Store, or opening the Applications menu in the Settings area, to remove the apps you don't want. How fun! OK, not really.

If this is a … Read more

Mozilla says no plans to return to iOS

AUSTIN, Texas -- Mozilla's Firefox browser will have no place on Apple devices so long as Apple continues its unfriendly attitude toward third-party browsers, Jay Sullivan, vice president of product at Mozilla, said today.

The nonprofit Mozilla, which pulled Mozilla Firefox Home from Apple's App Store in September 2012, is not currently building a version of its Firefox browser for iOS, nor does the company plan to, said Sullivan, speaking on a mobile browser wars panel at South by Southwest Interactive moderated by CNET Senior Reporter Seth Rosenblatt.

The sticking point for Mozilla is not being able to … Read more