Spotify partners with Sprint for new customer deal
As the streaming music business continues to heat up, Spotify is taking another step to stay ahead of the competition. The service is one of the more popular, but staying at the top is not as easy as it seems.
Now Spotify is teaming with mobile provider Sprint to bring a new deal to potential customers -- of course, you'll have to be on the mobile network in order to take advantage of this new offering. "Starting from May 2nd, all existing and new postpaid Sprint customers can get a 3 and 6 month free trial for Spotify Premium. This offer will launch in all channels on all compatible Sprint postpaid devices", says Spotify's Candice Katz.
Acer Aspire Switch 10 impressions -- Surface competitor?
Today, Acer unveiled many nice products, but only one of them stood out as the best of show. Surprisingly, the device does not run Android or Chrome OS -- it runs Windows 8.1. Yes, a multi-mode 10.1-inch laptop/tablet hybrid running Microsoft's operating system was the stand-out.
As a Surface 2 owner, I have much respect for Windows 8.x as a tablet operating system. However, outside of the Surface line, 10-inch tablets have been disappointing to say the least. The Acer Aspire Switch 10 is the first Windows device that truly competes with the Surface. Hell, it may even be a Surface killer!
Apple's ad campaign really is 'powerful'
I can't seem to escape Apple's "Powerful" commercial, which during some primetime programs airs two, or even three, times. The TV spot is aspirational marketing done right, with booming tagline: "You're more powerful than you think".
Apple's response to new smartphones like HTC One M8 or Samsung Galaxy S5 isn't something new but more aggressive advertising highlighting iPhone 5s benefits. The campaign, particularly the main commercial, is emotive and empowering. The message is simple: You can achieve your dreams when using the Apple handset. While Android competitors focus on features, like larger displays and quad-core processors, Apple singles out benefits -- what you tangibly get by using iPhone 5s and a dozen different apps the ad campaign highlights.
Microsoft's Office for iPad now lets you print documents
Microsoft’s new Office for iPad apps are very good, and hugely popular. A month after release and Word is still the number one free app in the App Store, with Excel sitting at number 8, and PowerPoint at number 16. If you own an iPad, and are an Office 365 subscriber, they’re pretty much essential downloads.
At launch we were promised additional features were on their way, and today Microsoft introduces the most requested one –- the ability to print Word documents, Excel spreadsheets, and PowerPoint presentations.
Apple makes MacBook Air less appealing
The significance of today's MacBook Air refresh: What is and what isn't. I focus specifically on the smaller model. What is: Slight processor refresh, but lower entry price -- $899 for the masses and $849 for education, both 100 bucks less than yesterday. What isn't: Retina Display screen resolution.
From the perspective of physical size, screen dimension (11.6-inches), resolution (1366 x 768), Intel processor, and core benefits, the lower pricing brings MacBook Air closer to Chromebook, particularly for school purchasers. Both computers compete for educational buyers, and Dell, HP, Lenovo, and Samsung all target the market with compelling Chromebooks. As differences diminish and price gaps lessen, the Apple becomes less appealing by comparison. Stated another way: New pricing shines fresh spotlight on MBA, which similarities to lower-cost Chromebooks are greater for school year 2014-15.
Exclusive -- Hands on with the new Core i3 Acer C720 Chromebook
As you may be aware, I am currently at the Acer event in New York City. As a Chromebook fan, I was most excited by the new model that features an Intel Core i3 processor. After all, this should be a very powerful Chrome OS machine.
However, I was not satisfied with seeing it from afar. So, I did what any tech journalist would do, went hands on and snapped some exclusive pictures.
Mobile app platform helps enterprises embrace mobility
Developing for in-house mobile platforms can sometimes be a bit of a poor relation in the allocation of resources, as it may be important to front-line departments like sales but is less so for IT.
A solution could be at hand from Irish tech company FeedHenry which has launched the latest version of its cloud platform, allowing companies to simplify the building of mobile apps for their employees.
Apache OpenOffice allows users to comment on selected blocks of text
Just over six weeks after entering beta, the Apache Software Foundation has released final version of Apache OpenOffice 4.1. The update is relatively minor, building on the major changes introduced in version 4 last year.
One notable new feature making its bow in version 4.1 is support for annotating and commenting on selected text ranges. Meanwhile Mac users should be aware that from version 4.1, OpenOffice becomes 64-bit only.
New platform aims to get business apps working in Harmony
Thanks to mobile devices, the cloud and the internet of things Cisco reckons that by 2020 there will be 50 billion digital endpoints.
This volume of connected devices offers huge potential for business. But as 85 percent of enterprise data still sits on in-house systems like ERP packages and secure databases its potential is hard to release.
Amazon launches new Wearable Technology store
Wearable technology has yet to really make an impact, but its time is coming. There are more and more products being released by many of the world's top tech firms, and shows focusing on wearables are popping up across the globe.
Amazon today joins in the wearables craze by launching a one-stop shop where customers can find and buy the latest in wearable technology, including activity trackers, smart watches, and wearable cameras. There are products on offer from the likes of Samsung, Jawbone, GoPro, Basis, and Misfit.
We are live at the Acer 'A Touch More Connected' event
Today Acer is holding a large event, which is uncharacteristic of the company. Rumors are flying all over the place as to why. Will there be new Chromebooks? A Chrome tablet? New Android Devices? A wearable?
We will know soon enough. The event is called "A Touch More Connected" and will kick off at 10AM ET. I will be live-blogging from the front row. Stay tuned!
Warner Music Group moves into China with new acquisition
Warner Music Group (WMG) is looking to expand its horizons and markets, continuing to look into new areas for business opportunities. The latest step is a move into China with the announcement of an acquisition of Gold Typhoon's music catalog and artist roster.
In a press release, WMG refers to Gold Typhoon as "one of the most successful independent music companies operating in the Greater China Region". The label operates in China, Hong Kong and Taiwan and hosts some of the most popular pop and rock artists in the region.
Tidemark launches new analytics tools for enterprises
Much reporting of business metrics is still rooted in the era of static graphs and infrequent use. It's cumbersome and the information gets out of date fast.
Business planning and performance management specialist Tidemark is looking to bring reporting into the mobile and cloud era with the launch of its new Playbooks product.
Quickly erase text or images from your PDFs with PDF Eraser
You have a PDF document you’d like to share with others -- but there’s a problem. It has one or two objects which really should be removed: a logo, a phone number, a line of text, whatever it might be.
You could solve this by opening the document in a full-strength PDF editor, carefully editing it to suit your needs.
Spybot -- Search & Destroy adds notifications, improves scanner and startup tools
Irish security developer Safer Networking has released Spybot -- Search & Destroy 2.3, a minor -- but significant -- update to its Windows anti-malware tool.
The update debuts a brand new Notifications feature that allows users to receive scan results remotely, plus implements a number of improvements to scan performance as well as usability.
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