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Posts tagged ‘ui’

22
Nov

Revamped Xbox 360 dashboard to launch on December 6th, Microsoft confirms

Earlier this month, Microsoft announced that its Xbox 360 dashboard would be getting an upgrade “in the coming days.” Today, the company has clarified that statement, declaring that the revamped interface will launch on December 6th. As we’ve previously noted, the update promises to bring deeper Kinect integration (including sharper voice recognition capabilities), Facebook sharing mechanisms, and a cleaner interface. Redmond also says that the fall cleanup will introduce “a wealth of new content,” including live TV, music and movies, available for streaming. For now, the dashboard is still in beta, though it certainly won’t be long before the masses get their hands on it.

Update: Read Microsoft’s e-mailed announcement in full, after the break.

Continue reading Revamped Xbox 360 dashboard to launch on December 6th, Microsoft confirms

Revamped Xbox 360 dashboard to launch on December 6th, Microsoft confirms originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 22 Nov 2011 03:24:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink Kotaku  |   | Email this | Comments

15
Nov

Netflix reveals new user interface experience for Android tablets, iPad counterpart coming soon

You’ve already had a peek at it in the Kindle Fire and Nook Tablet, but it seems that redesigned user interface is going to be hitting more than just the holiday’s most-talked about duo. Netflix has made official a newly redesigned user interface experience for Android tablets — one that “makes browsing and instantly watching unlimited TV shows and movies streaming from Netflix better than ever.” The new look provides multiple rows of titles with larger artwork to scroll through, with Neil Hunt, chief product officer at Netflix, noting that the company has seen a “threefold increase in how long Netflix members are watching on their tablets.” As of today, interested consumers can simply update their Netflix app in the Android Market, while iPad users are being asked to wait “a few weeks,” after which the new tablet experience will be dubbed Tabster and led on Twitter by a 17-year old methamphetamine addict.

Continue reading Netflix reveals new user interface experience for Android tablets, iPad counterpart coming soon

Netflix reveals new user interface experience for Android tablets, iPad counterpart coming soon originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 15 Nov 2011 08:25:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink   |  sourceNetflix, Android Market  | Email this | Comments

11
Nov

Toys R Us’ Nabi Android tablet lets junior play while mommy drinks

True, mommy may not have to drink, but as long as Toys R Us’ Nabi tablet is in the house, that cabinet door will always be open. Designed to distract kids aged six years and up, this tot-sized Android slate boasts a seven-inch, 800 x 480 capacitive touchscreen display, 4GB of onboard storage, and a 533MHz dual-core Cortex-A9 CPU. These certainly aren’t the most scintillating specs we’ve ever come across (even by kiddo tablet standards), but keep in mind that we’re talking about six-year-olds, here. They don’t know anything. Plus, they’ll probably be distracted by the Nabi’s customized UI, tailored for so-called “kiddified” browsing, reading and TV watching. If you ever get a hankering to get in on the action yourself, you can always send the beast to time out and play with the tablet yourself, thanks to a built-in “Mommy Mode” that provides a more mature Android experience. No word yet on whether Toys R Us plans to introduce a “Daddy Mode” (or, for that matter, a “Postman Mode”), but that’s probably a conversation for another day. Hands-off parents can pre-order the Nabi for $200, at the source link below.

Toys R Us’ Nabi Android tablet lets junior play while mommy drinks originally appeared on Engadget on Fri, 11 Nov 2011 07:35:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink The Verge  |  sourceToys R Us  | Email this | Comments

11
Nov

Toys R Us’ Nabi Android tablet lets junior play while mommy drinks

True, mommy may not have to drink, but as long as Toys R Us’ Nabi tablet is in the house, that cabinet door will always be open. Designed to distract kids aged six years and up, this tot-sized Android slate boasts a seven-inch, 800 x 480 capacitive touchscreen display, 4GB of onboard storage, and a 533MHz dual-core Cortex-A9 CPU. These certainly aren’t the most scintillating specs we’ve ever come across (even by kiddo tablet standards), but keep in mind that we’re talking about six-year-olds, here. They don’t know anything. Plus, they’ll probably be distracted by the Nabi’s customized UI, tailored for so-called “kiddified” browsing, reading and TV watching. If you ever get a hankering to get in on the action yourself, you can always send the beast to time out and play with the tablet yourself, thanks to a built-in “Mommy Mode” that provides a more mature Android experience. No word yet on whether Toys R Us plans to introduce a “Daddy Mode” (or, for that matter, a “Postman Mode”), but that’s probably a conversation for another day. Hands-off parents can pre-order the Nabi for $200, at the source link below.

Toys R Us’ Nabi Android tablet lets junior play while mommy drinks originally appeared on Engadget on Fri, 11 Nov 2011 07:35:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink The Verge  |  sourceToys R Us  | Email this | Comments

10
Nov

Amazon Appstore for Android gets a Kindle Fire-inspired facelift

The Kindle Fire itself may still be a week away from release, but users of other Android tablets and phones can now get a small taste of what’s in store courtesy of version 2.0 of the Amazon Appstore. That update began rolling out late last night and, as you can see above, it brings with it a refreshed UI that moves the app more in line with the Kindle Fire’s steely gray interface. The update also adds support for in-app purchases and parental controls, as well as a number of other tweaks and performance improvements. Still no sign of those big-name apps that are promised for the Kindle Fire, though.

Amazon Appstore for Android gets a Kindle Fire-inspired facelift originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 10 Nov 2011 15:30:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink Droid LIfe  |  sourceAndroid Police  | Email this | Comments

22
Oct

DirecTV shows off its new HD UI with a website and trailer, still no release date

That slick, speedy new interface DirecTV recently pushed out to beta testers is officially getting hyped with a new landing page and (unfortunately not embeddable) video trailer. It advertises all the features we’d heard about, including the facelifted HD graphics, “lightning fast” scrolling, visual browsing experience and personalized recommendations. The HD UI is still without a release date however, and while we’d probably put it it ahead of the DirecTiVo on the company’s current priority list, let’s not forget who we’re dealing with here. Hit the source link for the orientation materials, there will be a quiz later.

Update: You can now view the video here, embedded after the break, thanks to our friend Dave Zatz!

[Thanks, Stuart & cypherstream]

Continue reading DirecTV shows off its new HD UI with a website and trailer, still no release date

DirecTV shows off its new HD UI with a website and trailer, still no release date originally appeared on Engadget on Sat, 22 Oct 2011 16:06:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink   |  sourceDirecTV, YouTube  | Email this | Comments

17
Oct

Kinect hack lets you manage your bank account with gestures, will occupy your living room (video)

You know all those convoluted gestures and hate-infused fist pumps you make every time you look at your bank account? Well, you can now put them to good use, thanks to a new Kinect hack from Lithuania-based Etronika. The company’s software, which made its debut at last week’s CTIA E&A event, effectively brings motion-controlled banking directly to your living room. All you have to do is stand in front of your display, clap your hands to choose an icon, or wave your hand back and forth to navigate across the app’s carousel menu. This means you can pay your bills, check your balance and return to fetal position without even touching a sharp object. “A lot of banking software apps are filled with boring crap,” Etronika CEO Kestutis Gardziulis explained with refreshing candor. “With our software, you could be on the couch at home, having a beer, all while dealing with your bank account and kicking back.” Beer, banking and body language — sounds scandalous! Head past the break to watch a demo video, starring Pam Beesly’s doppelgänger.

Continue reading Kinect hack lets you manage your bank account with gestures, will occupy your living room (video)

Kinect hack lets you manage your bank account with gestures, will occupy your living room (video) originally appeared on Engadget on Mon, 17 Oct 2011 12:04:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink Yahoo, Wired  |   | Email this | Comments

13
Oct

Microsoft responds to disgruntled users, unveils changes to Windows 8 UI

You can unpack your suitcase and drop that custody suit, because Microsoft has heard your Windows 8 complaints, and it’s willing to change its ways. Yesterday, in a lengthy post on its Building Windows 8 blog, the company acknowledged that it’s received plenty of feedback since unleashing a developer preview of the OS last month, and pledged to respond with a number changes. For starters, apps displayed within the Windows 8 App Screen can now be organized into groups, rather than alphabetical arrangements (see image above). Apps will also be displayed at a higher density, thereby cramming more content within the same space. Enterprise users, meanwhile, will be able to customize their companies’ Start screens and unify them across networks, though there’s still no word on whether administrators will be able to opt out of the software’s tiled interface in favor of the more Windows 7-esque Desktop app — one of the most highly requested features. These are just two of many, relatively granular changes that Microsoft is implementing to help users maximize the efficiency of its new Start screen, and they likely won’t be the last. To dig into the nitty gritty, check out the full post, at the source link below.

Microsoft responds to disgruntled users, unveils changes to Windows 8 UI originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 13 Oct 2011 06:31:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink   |  sourceBuilding Windows 8  | Email this | Comments

11
Oct

ITT unveils GhostRider encryption device capable of securing US Army smartphones

That may look like a Motorola Atrix, but it’s actually something known as the GhostRider — a new encryption device that could go a long way toward securing the Army’s smartphones. Developed by defense company ITT, this revamped handset would allow military personnel to transmit secure text messages and phone calls over the Army’s network, even if they’re out on the battlefield. All they’d have to do is place their personal phones next to the GhostRider, tap and hold its touchscreen to activate the security features and begin texting away. When another GhostRider user receives an SMS, he or she would have to enter a pass code before reading it. The phone’s security mechanisms, meanwhile, have been certified by the cryptographers at the NSA, which would certainly help justify its $1,500 price tag. The handset’s display, meanwhile, looks awfully similar to the Army’s Nett Warrior platform — an Android-based OS that features a host of mapping functions designed explicitly for war zones. Officials unveiled the latest incarnation of Nett Warrior at the recent Association of the US Army gala in DC, though the platform’s creators are still looking for the appropriate commercial device to host it — unless, of course, GhostRider’s software replaces it altogether. “We think Nett Warrior should be something like this,” ITT vice president Richard Takahashi told Wired. “This can be the smart device.” March past the break for more information, in ITT’s jargon-laced PR.

Continue reading ITT unveils GhostRider encryption device capable of securing US Army smartphones

ITT unveils GhostRider encryption device capable of securing US Army smartphones originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 11 Oct 2011 15:22:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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7
Oct

Amazon adds Kindle Fire-specific details to Developer Portal, A’s your FAQ

The Kindle Fire may not be hitting the market until November, but Amazon has already updated its Developer Portal FAQ page with an entire section devoted to its forthcoming Android tablet. On the new page, you’ll find largely standard information on things like the application process and how to set up an Android SDK emulator, though there are a few more salient tidbits, as well. For instance, Amazon says it will review every app in its Appstore for Fire compatibility, as part of an automated process. Rejected apps, Amazon informs us, will include those that rely on a gyroscope, camera, WAN module, Bluetooth, microphone, GPS, or micro SD. Apps are also forbidden from using Google’s Mobile Services (and in-app billing), which, if included, will have to be “gracefully” removed. In terms of actual content, Amazon has outlawed all apps that change the tablet’s UI in any way (including theme- or wallpaper-based tools), as well as any that demand root access (it remains to be seen how the company will treat the root-dependent apps already in its store). Interested devs can find more information at the source link, below.

Amazon adds Kindle Fire-specific details to Developer Portal, A’s your FAQ originally appeared on Engadget on Fri, 07 Oct 2011 11:22:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink Android Central  |  sourceAmazon  | Email this | Comments