- Google Maps updated for Android with sponsored hotel details, better navigation
Now that Google has finished updating its Map app’s UI, the company can focus on the finer details: navigation, documentation and monetization. The Android app’s latest update tweaks hotel search results by adding sponsored rate and booking links, which places a tiny “ad” icon next to services that paid for exposure. Navigation has been also been improved, with better traffic and route information, and the side menu now has a “tips and tricks” option that inelegantly opens a maps help page in your device’s web browser. Check out the official update notes at the Google Play link below.
Filed under: Cellphones, Mobile, Google
Source: Google Play
- Twitter #Music charts now playing on Rdio
Twitter #Music might’ve released a Spotify app first, but that doesn’t mean it’s forgotten you folks on Rdio: you can now listen to all the tracks that rank on the social network’s charts from within the internet radio’s website or app. The songs are segregated into genre playlists — just head over to the Twitter #Music station linked below to access and subscribe to them if you’re inclined to keep abreast of what’s trending. If what’s hot with Twitter users don’t exactly suit your ears, however, you can always discover new music via Autoplay or take advantage its Station Tuning feature instead.
Filed under: Misc
Source: Twitter Music, Rdio
- Windows Phone Store passes 9 million daily transactions; targeted ads incoming
The Windows Phone Store might not be as big as Apple’s App Store or Google Play, but Redmond claims it’s showing decent growth. According to WP Store General Manager Todd Brix, the platform has surpassed 9 million transactions of combined app and in-app purchases per day. That’s a total of 270 million per month, or 70 million more than what was reported in June. Ballmer and Co. want those numbers to grow even more, of course, so they’ve streamlined payments from carriers, making sure they’re eligible for payout after 30 days. While that might entice more devs to dip their toes in the platform, you’ll first be seeing more ads than new apps — the company will start issuing unique device IDs to new advertising partners. It claims the UDIDs aren’t linked to particular devices and won’t give out identifiable information, but if you still feel unsafe or don’t want to be served targeted ads, you can always opt out.
Filed under: Cellphones, Mobile, Microsoft
Via: The Next Web
Source: Windows Phone Developer Blog
- Japan's Epsilon rocket with onboard AI successfully launches
Affordable is a relative term, but in the world of rocket science Japan’s recently launched Epsilon qualifies as such. Costing just $37-million (albeit not directly comparable, NASA claims a typical launch costs around $450-million) to send off, Jaxa — Japan’s space agency — rightly considers it a steal. Epsilon launched from the south-west of the country at 2pm local time. Its mission? To deploy a telescope that Jaxa advises will observe our neighboring planets from its position in Earth’s orbit. The cost efficiency is being put down to the rocket’s artificial intelligence, something that slashes the man-power needed from 150 to 8. Let’s just hope the thriftiness wasn’t just to fund that other recent launch.
Filed under: Science
Via: BBC
Source: Jaxa
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