Amazon Original Movies out to revolutionize movie industry next

After making a dent in the television industry with their Amazon original series, specifically with the Golden Globe-winning Transparent, the world's leading distributor is further expanding their content creation. Now they're taking on full-length movies with Amazon Original Movies, planning to release them both in the theaters and through their Prime streaming service.

But unlike the longer time that it gets regular movies from their theatrical release to digital video or streaming services, Amazon plans to shorten it to four to eight weeks when it comes to their original content. This will probably be the shortest turnaround time for the industry and might be a precedent for the big studios to hurry up in bringing the movies to viewers homes on-demand. While having the movie stay in the theaters would earn big bucks for some movies, particularly the big blockbuster ones, having them digitally available as soon as possible would in the long run be more financially viable for movie studios and distributors.

Amazon Original Movies will aim to produce "close to twelve movies a year", which means releasing one movie per month. They also plan to tap filmmakers that normally wouldn't be able to get a chance with the big studios but have the ability to create movies that will "amaze, excite, and move our fans," says their head of production, Ted Hope. And having these films available "wherever customers watch" would be a distinct advantage for Amazon's original content.

Video on demand services have already affected the television industry with Netflix, Hulu, Amazon, etc starting not just to distribute content but to produce original series as well. Let's see if Amazon Original Movies, slated to start production later this year, will be able to do so for movies as well.

VIA: SlashGear

Google to pull out Chrome to Mobile extension starting February

Bad news for those who frequently use the "Print to my Phone" feature on Chrome web browser: Google is pulling out the Chrome to Mobile browser extension from Google Cloud Print starting next month. By early February, you will not be able to "print" directly to the phone or send web content from a computer to a mobile device. Instead of the Chrome extension, you are requested to use the tab sync now.

There are similar apps and services so there's really no need for the browser extension. Google must think it's redundant so it's pulling the feature out. Syncing tabs are easier these days with the likes of Pushbullet and other related apps.

Google Cloud Print includes the 'Print to My Phone" as a special feature. It may seem the same but it's just actually one part. This development means Android devices will no longer be considered as print targets by web browsers or desktops. Google has officially advised to use Chrome tab sync to view files and websites from desktop Chrome on Android, as well as, iOS devices.

The Chrome to Mobile extension has been very useful but some good things need to end. For those who like this feature, sorry but there are still other ways to replicate viewing from your desktop to a mobile device.

VIA: Android Police

Story Timeline

• Chrome OS update improves window management, adds onscreen keyboard


• First Android apps for Chrome OS are now available

HP introduces 3 new Android tablets geared for work

Today Hewlett-Packard has introduced 3 new Android tablets that they’ve been working on; each tablet engineered and designed with a different goal in mind. HP has focused on the various work fields that could benefit from the use of mobile devices and has catered to those jobs in a sense of reliability, durability and performance. Whether the field of work is from the office, to manufacturing floor, clinical healthcare, or in school, the new tablets are ready to help users make work more efficient.

The HP Pro Slate 8 and HP Pro Slate 12 are both considered high-definition commercial-grade Android tablets operating on Android 4.4 KitKat. Both tablets are powered by Qualcomm’s Snapdragon 800 series 2.3GHz processor. The Slate 8-inch display rocks in at 2048 x 1536 resolution with Corning Gorilla Glass 4 protective top- glass, while the Slate 12-inch display illuminates a 1600 x 1200 HD resolution screen on Corning's Concore Glass technology.

The HP Pro Slate 8 measures in at 136.95 x 7.99 x 206.99 mm and weighs in just at 350g. The Pro Slate 12 measures in at 300.3 x 7.99 x 221.95 mm and weighs in at 850g. The two new tablets are now available for purchase. The Slate 8 starts off at $449 while the Slate 12 has you dish out $569.

Pairing alongside with both HP Pro Slate tablets is the HP Duet Pen, impressively using Qualcomm Snapdragon digital pen technology. The pen can write on tablet and regular paper. Content written with the smart pen can be digitized and made shareable amongst others using HP's Paper Folio technology.

Another Android 4.4 KitKat tablet, the HP Pro Slate 10 EE, focuses on educational training with the aspect of 1:1 teacher student interaction. Powered by Intel Atom quad-core processor, the 10.1-inch tablet is equipped with a low 2 MP front camera and 5 MP rear camera. Onboard is a micro HDMI outlet which allows you to plug into an external displays. An optional keyboard and stylus can be attached to engage in a more full experience of teaching and learning.

The Slate 10 measures in at 280 x 182 x 14.4 mm and weighs in at 855g. The educational training tablet is available to purchase starting off at $279.

The new Android tablets were part of a larger group of tablets HP introduced today; head over to SlashGear for all the details on HP's entire new range.

SOURCE: Hewlett-Packard

Staytuned Smart Lock Screen lands on Google Play

A new app has landed on Google Play that promises to make your lock screen much more useful. The app is called Staytuned Smart Lock Screen and it gives you access to certain important apps on your device without having to unlock.

The Staytuned smart user interface gives access to apps based on your environment and previous behavior. Access to apps are offered on the lock screen and on a sidebar. The app also gives insight into how much you use your phone and what apps you use most.

Staytuned offers access to the right apps based on what you used before. It offers smart suggestions to suggest when to use apps that are already on your device. The app supports various security features include a pin code entry.

Users who aren’t fans of pin codes can also use a pattern entry lock. Staytuned offers customizable wallpapers and now comes with a tutorial video to show you how to use the app. Staytuned is 18MB in size and requires Android 3.2 or higher to operate. Check out the video for more details on Staytuned.

SOURCE: Google Play

Nexus 10 Android 5.0.2 OTA Link

Google released a factory image of Android 5.0.2 for Nexus 10 a while ago. Unfortunately it was wiping your data. If this was the reason keeping you away from flashing, don’t wait any longer and grab the latest OTA file to get rid of all those nasty bugs!

The post Nexus 10 Android 5.0.2 OTA Link appeared first on xda-developers.

Purple Sony Z3 smartphone images leak

It's nice to have more color options when you are shopping for a smartphone. If you are a fan of Sony smartphones, a new color of the Z3 device has leaked with some images turning up on a Chinese website. The pictures show a purple Sony Z3 smartphone.

This device is currently offered in black, white, green, and gold colors. The source of the leak claims that the purple version of the smartphone will launch in Taiwan at the end of January. Presumably, other than the purple color, the Z3 is the same under the hood.

It should have the same 5.2-inch screen and Snapdragon 801 processor. The GPU in the original Z3 is an Adreno 330 and power for the device comes from a 3100 mAh internal battery.

The original Z3 has 3GB of RAM and 16 or 32GB of internal storage. The internal storage can be expanded up to 128GB with microSD cards. Integrated WiFi, Bluetooth 4.0, and NFC are featured. The rear camera is a 20.7MP unit. One of the big features of the smartphone is that it is water resistant with an IP68 rating. There is no word on if the purple color will show up outside of Taiwan at this time.

SOURCE: ePrice

Xiaomi’s Mi Note gets teardown treatment

A lot of people are already drooling at Xiaomi’s new premium babies, the Mi Note and the Mi Note Pro. The Mi Note is not available for another week or so, but it already gets a full teardown treatment. The more robust sibling, the Mi Note Pro, is not expected until March this year.

So what’s under the hood? The good folks at it168.com have gotten their hands on a Xiaomi Mi Note very early in the game, and as you would have guessed – they tore down the covers off the premium phablet to reveal what’s inside. The Mi Note has a slim 6.95mm-thin form factor, so it would be interesting how they fit all the components in.

After the teardown, no surprises were revealed – that is, all the elements were placed as expected. The back cover of the Xiaomi Mi Note was easily removed with a plastic tool. Another thing to note for possible repairs – access to the built-in 3,000mAh battery will take a lot of work as you would have to go through the main camera and its LED flash unit, the speakers, and a whole lot of screws that need to be removed.

Of course, with patience, everything can be done in order -- as with this Mi Note teradown. Check out the source link for the more detailed teardown work. There are 34 teardown images all in all. Enjoy!

SOURCE: it168

Story Timeline

• Xiaomi launches Redmi 2, an improved entry-level smartphone


• Xiaomi Mi Note puts high-end flagships on notice