thingCHARGER frees your outlets with built in charging dock

Smartphones and tablets are starting to show up everywhere in our house. You either have your own or a few that the family shares. Regardless of how many devices you have, eventually you have to charge it. It could be a mess with all the wires running around the house and would be much easier if the wires disappeared. thingCHARGER is a smarter and less messy way to charge all your devices. The charger is designed like an electrical outlet but with a charging dock located at the top of the outlet.

thingCHARGER is a charger that replicates the look of an electrical outlet. It comes with interchangeable charging tips that seems to support all devices regardless if it’s an iPad, Android device, Samsung smartphone or any devices in between. The tips are stored in the back of the charger making it easier to switch out when you need to change devices. The charger is designed to stack on top of one another to charge multiple devices simultaneously. Two USB ports are located at the bottom to charge other devices if needed. If my math is correct you can technically charge 5 different devices at once in a single outlet. Obviously the point of thingCHARGER is to keep the outlets free to use, but it’s cool to know I can charge that many at once.

Most of us use cases to protect our devices or just to make it look more fashionable, but that doesn't seem to pose a threat for the charger. There is an adjustment system so you can set the right height to charge your devices with or without a case and without it falling off or being too short to reach. It is stated that the stability of the charger is sturdy and your device won’t be solely carried by the charging tip. It is advised that if you have a larger device you should plug that closest to the wall and not on top of another charger. If you happen to lose the charging tips more are available for purchase.

thingCHARGER is on indiegogo seeking for more support. The charger has been under development since January 2014 and is currently in the process of making molds used for manufacturing. Dimensions for the charger are 3'' (l) x 0.8'' (w) x 4.8'' (h) and weighs in at 185 grams. For $29 you can get your own thingCHARGER. Note that the Apple lightning charger is sold separately ($12.99 for supporters). It’s also designed for other electrical outlets around the world so it is not just limited to what you see on video. You can expect delivery sometime before the second half of 2015.

SOURCE: thingCHARGER

Go around the virtual world in 80 Days game for Android

When you ask people what they would do if they had a million dollars, a lot would answer that they would travel around the world. Well, if you don't have a million dollars but would still like to do it, albeit digitally and virtually, maybe you'd like to try 80 Days on your Android devices.

Judged by TIME Magazine as their Top Video Game for 2014, 80 Days is more than just any simple adventure type of game. The magazine called it a " stylish, thoughtful immersion, employing a beloved genre", referring to interactive fiction. The game is based on Jules Verne's 80 Days Around the World and gives you the chance to go around a 3D world on any vehicle you choose to travel on, whether it's by airship, submarine, a robotic camel or a stream train.

The year is 1872 and you get to play Passepartout, the valet to Phineas Fogg, the main character from the book, and race against other players who are also exploring the 150 cities available in the game. The visuals are stunning and the story engrossing, with artwork by Jaume Illustration, script by Meg Jayanth and original music by Laurence Chapman. The in-game clock continually runs as you yourself never seem to stop running through mountains, rivers, jungles, etc. Your role is to accompany your master, balance his finances, watch out on his health, trade items you would need, carry your luggage, and all sorts of things you usually do when traveling, but heightened by the time limit and the extraordinary adventures waiting for you.

With a critically acclaimed game like 80 Days, you would expect it won't be free and may cost you a bit more than the other "more ordinary" games around. You can buy the game from the Google Play Store for $5. But based on the reviews and comments, it is something that is definitely worth it.

Samsung working out deal to compete with Apple Pay

The relatively warm acceptance of Apple Pay – Apple’s wireless payment system that allows owners of the latest iPhone models to wave their smartphone instead of swiping your card to pay – has probably forced Samsung to look for a competing system using its own line of smartphones. The South Korean gadget giant is reportedly in talks with US payments startup LoopPay to make this happen.

Nothing is final, and neither Samsung nor LoopPay executives would comment on the rumor, but the deal has to be hammered down pretty fast for the infrastructure and the system to be online by the time the Samsung Galaxy S6 comes out – rumored to be in March at the Mobile World Congress in Berlin. The Galaxy S6 – as with its predecessor the Galaxy S5 – will look to have fingerprint recognition in place to make the payments system work.

Apple Pay works pretty much as you imagine a wireless payment system to work – it lets iPhone owners pay for items in stores by placing their phone close to the Apple Pay checkout equipment. Users then complete the purchase by authenticating through the phone’s fingerprint identification sensor.

We imagine Samsung’s process would look about the same as this, only that LoopPay’s current system mimics a swipe with a card – so in theory, it might work in more locations than Apple Pay or even Google Wallet, as it utilizes the same equipment as a swipe terminal for a traditional credit card. Nothing is solid yet, and the deal may yet break down, but Samsung will feel that it is imperative for them to finalize this one in light of flagging smartphone sales.

VIA: ReCode

Story Timeline

• Galaxy S6 is in early development stages tips source


• Samsung Galaxy S6 may be released early, targeting MWC launch


• Galaxy S6 benchmarks show 5.5-inch QHD screen and 20MP camera

Google Drive, Docs, Sheets, and Slides apps for Android updated

The Android version of the Google Drive app recently received an important update. A lot of Android users have been giving feedback to Google and the Internet giant listened to demands. New features include support for important three major Open file formats like .odt (documents), .ods (spreadsheets), and .odp (presentations), search for files right from the app, and access and sharing of custom maps. These enhancements make the recent Google Drive app version a better and more efficient tool for work and productivity.

Open file formats can now be opened on Google Drive. This means you can easily access your odt, ods, and odp files. These file types can now be converted to Google documents, spreadsheet, or presentation so you can edit, work on, and share the file online. Just make sure the editing for Office files function is enabled.

Searching for files in Google Drive is now possible. Simply say “OK, Google — search for blah blah blah on Drive” and app will locate the file. No need to type words or open another app. Those who use Google My Maps all the time can now access and share custom maps on Google Drive. No need to get out of the Drive app because you can now share maps right from the app.

More improvements on Docs, Sheets, and Slides Android apps have rolled out as well. Docs now have spacing controls. You can choose single, double or fractional line spacing. On the Slides app, inserting, moving, resizing, and rotating shapes, lines, and text boxes are now possible. As for Sheets, scrollbars have been added for faster navigation.

SOURCE: Google 1, 2, 3

Story Timeline

• Google Drive, Docs for Android updated with better search, PDF viewer


• Open files from Google Drive on to your preferred program


• New Chromebook owners getting 1TB of Google Drive storage

Cell Phones : [ Wireless Charging Vehicle Dock (Qi) (w/ 2A CLA) ] Galaxy Universal Vehicle Navigation Mount

**Compatible with Samsung smartphones with screen sizes between 4.0 and 6.3 in. **







The Samsung Universal Vehicle Navigation Mount lets you take the brilliance of your Samsung smartphone along for the ride! The custom fitted cradle holds the handset securely during long rides. Attach it to a windshield or dashboard and adjust the multi-angle neck for perfect viewing. GPS capabilities are optimized with navigation applications but that’s just the beginning with the endless Android® apps available. With your hands safely on the steering wheel, experience the convenience of powerful, voice-activated Android applications like S Voice. Your Samsung smartphone and Vehicle Navigation Mount duo is truly brilliance on the go. (Fits handsets with 4.0" - 6.3" screens)

Micromax wins temporary injunction against Shenzhen OnePlus in India

A legal battle was fought recently in India with a Delhi high court granting Micromax Informatics Ltd a temporary injunction this week against Chinese smartphone maker Shenzhen OnePlus Technology Co Ltd. The court barred OnePlus from marketing, selling, and shipping OnePlus mobile phones in India that bear the Cyanogen mark.

Micromax filed the suit seeking to bar OnePlus devices that use Cyanogen due to exclusive rights Micromax has in the form of an "ambient services and application distributions agreement" in effect with the US firm that develops Cyanogen.

The judge did decide to allow OnePlus to clear stock of the OnePlus One smartphone in India. The device is being sold in the country via Amazon. Micromax told the court that it had "incurred major expenses for creation of a brand exclusivity for providing to Indian customers mobile phones with Cyanogen operating systems" and would face irreparable harm and loss if OnePlus continued to illegally sell devices with Cyanogen.

OnePlus says that it has a collaboration agreement and license for the Cyanogen trademark covering the entire world except China. Cyanogen says that the agreement with Micromax supersedes all prior agreements.

SOURCE: Livemint

Instagram adds five new filters, easier access and management

Have you grown tired of rotating your filters from Sierra to Willow to Earlybird and all the 14 existing filters of Instagram? Well you have an early Christmas gift from the photo sharing juggernaut as the latest update brings users five more artistic and creative filters to choose from, to enhance your selfies or food porn pics or artsily framed shots before sharing it with the whole world.

The new filters are actually based on what they have observed with the global Instagram community (meaning the millions of us who upload millions of photos everyday). Looking at the current art, design, fashion and photography trends, they have come up with five new pretty filters you can apply to your own photos, depending on your mood, inclination or what looks best with it: Slumber, Crema, Ludwig, Aden, and Perpetua.

The update also brings new ways of managing and choosing your filters. The filter icons at the bottom now displays a blurred preview of the photo that shows how it will look (albeit, vaguely) when the respective filters are applied. And since now there are 19 (20 if you include normal) filters to choose from, you now have the option to put the ones you usually use in front by clicking on the Manage button at the end of the tray where you can rearrange the order of filters and hide the ones that you very rarely use.

While there are many similar photo sharing apps that have come out the past years, Instagram still commands a huge portion of the market with over 150 million users. But that also means they have to continually keep up with all the features other apps are offering to make their users happy. Adding these nifty new filters is one way to go. Now maybe a native reposting feature next?

SOURCE: Instagram