Continue reading NCAA March Madness Live app comes to iOS, Android by tourney tip-off

NCAA March Madness Live app comes to iOS, Android by tourney tip-off originally appeared on Engadget on Fri, 09 Mar 2012 01:56:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Amazon on Wednesday began rolling out an update for its Kindle Fire tablet that is expected to address a number of user complaints. Software version 6.2.1 should “enhance fluidity and performanceâ€� and “improve touch navigation responsiveness.” The patch will also enable users to customize the order in which applications appear in the Kindle Fire UI carousel and enable additional security features, such as the ability to create a password lock for Wi-Fi access. Amazon says the free patch will be delivered over the air via Wi-Fi to the Kindle Fire, and the company advises that users make sure their devices are fully charged before initiating the update.

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Google on Thursday announced Google Currents, a news reading application that will compete with the likes of Flipboard, News360 and more. Currents allows users to customize their news feeds and browse through stories in a magazine-style interface. It is currently available for iOS and Android devices, including both tablets and smartphones. Google partnered with 150 different publishers and is offering content from more than 180 different publications. It also provides access to “Google trending editions,” which allows users to read the five most recent trending stories in a variety of topics, such as entertainment, sports or science. Users can add their favorite blogs and feeds and each edition is available offline as well. The application is free and is available in the iTunes App Store and the Android Market now.

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Google+ app update welcomes iPhone users to Hangouts originally appeared on Engadget on Mon, 26 Sep 2011 00:28:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Hard to believe that Microsoft's been offering consumers the ability to customize their Zune purchases for the better part of four years now, but as they say, all unbelievable things must one day face reality. Er, something to that effect. Without so much as a heads-up, the designers in Redmond have apparently decided to shutter the Zune Originals storefront. As of this weekend, no new orders for highly personalized Zunes are being taken, with interested Earthlings encouraged to throw creativity to the wind and opt for a mass produced alternative within Best Buy or Walmart. So, you're looking at two tidbits of import: if you placed your Originals order at 5PM PT on July 1st, you likely have quite the coveted device headed your way, and if you ever needed evidence that Microsoft was making WP7 its next Zune, well... you're welcome.

[Thanks to everyone who sent this in]

Zune Originals shut down, humans revert to being average and uncreative originally appeared on Engadget on Mon, 04 Jul 2011 07:47:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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On Tuesday, Mozilla released the latest version of Firefox 4 for Android and Maemo smartphones. Firefox 4 now includes support for Firefox Sync, which allows you to sync open tabs, history, bookmarks, passwords, and other data, between your computer and your smartphone. The new Firefox allows for tabbed browsing, add-on installation, and features a new, streamlined look. Mozilla says it will also automatically hide the browser controls when they aren’t in use, which should allow users to view more of the website you’re parked on. There’s also options to save PDFs, share pages, and customize the default search engine. Mozilla says that Firefox 4 is up to 3x faster than the stock Android browser. Firefox 4 for Android is available in the Market now, and the Maemo version can be downloaded here.

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When you jailbreak your iDevice you can change just about anything. One of the most notable adjustments comes from an often overlooked extension called Activator, which lets you set the functionality of your buttons and multitouch gestures to do whatever you like. Long-time jailbreaker David Graff thinks it's a must-have and explains how you can get it set up on your device. More »

We're going way out on a limb here and guessing that Creative's X-Fi 2 doesn't exactly have an insane amount of the PMP market share, but for those obsessed with its boyish good looks and world-beating user interface, we've got some thrilling news to share. The company has just made public its ADK (Application Development Kit), a Lua-based system where devs are able to "code their own interesting applications and customize the ZEN X-Fi 2." You're also able to "create and debug games and applications right from one's Windows PC," so any Mac loyalists in the house will have to fire up Boot Camp (or similar) in order to dive in. Hit the source to get your download on, and be sure to drop us a line when your riveting new title is ready for public consumption.

[Thanks, Gavin]

Creative rolls out X-Fi 2 SDK, developers now free to craft games and apps originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 10 Feb 2010 20:34:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Good news, laptop hunters! No, not those laptop hunters.... Anywho, two of Lenovo's CES-announced machines are now ready for you to customize and order, with the 14-inch G460 packing a 2.13GHz Core i3-330M processor, integrated Intel graphics, Windows 7 Home Premium (64-bit), 4GB of DDR3 RAM, a 1,366 x 768 resolution panel, 320GB hard drive, Bluetooth 2.1+EDR, dual-layer DVD writer and a 6-cell battery. The 15.6-inch G560 adds a marginally larger LCD and, well, that's it. Thankfully, both units get going at the same $799 price point, so choosing between the two really boils down to how awful your vision is. Got that, gramps?

Lenovo's G560 and G460 laptops now available to order originally appeared on Engadget on Sat, 30 Jan 2010 08:28:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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iLuv, iPhone and iPod accessory maker extraordinaire, has a clever alarm clock dock which uses your Apple gadget and a customizable app as its interface. I doubt it'll get me out of bed any faster, but it certainly looks great.

The App Station's corresponding (and free) iLuv app drives the clock, allowing you to adjust settings and appearances. The entire thing also rotates so that you can have your screen set to your preferred orientation. We'll see this $130 dock at CES, but you'll be able to purchase it in February 2010. [iLuv]

GelaSkins makes stylish, reusable skins for iPhones/iPods, Blackberries laptops and Kindles. But now, instead of choosing from their designs, you can upload your own art to customize your gear.

(Disregard the indescribable ugliness of the lead shot and reach out with your imaginations.)

While GelaSkins can't come out and make this point, their new design process is probably the best way to get your favorite niche, licensed art wrapped around your gadgets. (It's easier for me to just rip and upload what I want than GelaSkins cutting more deals with companies like Dark Horse.)

The most enticing piece, however, is that the customization process doesn't seem to run a price premium over standard GelaSkins. Phone skins still hover around $15 with laptop skins running $30. [GelaSkins]