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'Among Us VR' delivers virtual backstabbing on November 10th (updated)
'Among Us VR' will let you betray your friends on November 10th.
Yelp's new iOS home feed makes it easier to discover local restaurants
Yelp is introducing a vertical home feed featuring images of dishes and more, designed to help people discover local restaurants.
Rode Connect app simplifies recording multi-host podcasts on one PC
Recording a podcast with multiple guests on one PC is surprisingly difficult. Rode Connect makes it ridiculously easy -- if you don't mind buying one of their microphones.
How to watch Facebook’s Connect keynote today
Facebook will likely show off its new Oculus Quest 2 VR headset at today's Connect event.
Uber revives product deliveries with person-to-person 'Connect' trial
Uber is returning to goods delivery as its profits have been hit by the coronavirus outbreak.
T-Mobile launches its $15 5G plan ahead of the Sprint merger
To help people stay connected during the coronavirus pandemic, T-Mobile is launching its new $15-per-month 5G plan ahead of schedule. Originally, T-Mobile said it would launch the plan, called T-Mobile Connect, after its merger with Sprint finalized. Last we heard, that deal could close on April 1st, but now, T-Mobile Connect will be available on Wednesday.
Apple is quietly killing off Apple Music's Connect social features
Apple Music Connect appears as though it's on its way out. Apple has started to notify artists that they will no longer have the ability to post content to the social network-style service build into Apple's streaming music platform, according to 9to5Mac. Previously shared posts are also being removed from the "For You" section and artists pages hosted in Apple Music. For the time being, posts will still appear in search results within the app, but those will be removed come May.
Nike’s NFC-powered NBA jerseys are a door to exclusive goods
When the National Basketball Association's 2017-2018 season tips off on October 17th, it will mark the beginning of a new era for the league. For the first time in more than a decade, all 30 teams are going to wear Nike uniforms on the court. The company is replacing Adidas as the NBA's main apparel sponsor, after its sportswear rival decided not to renew a deal that had been in place since 2006. Now, as part of Nike's plan to create novel experiences for fans through this partnership, it is launching jerseys from every NBA squad with a technology called "NikeConnect."
Apple Music's social features are reportedly taking a backseat
Earlier this week, reports surfaced that an Apple Music redesign is in the works and set to debut at the company's Worldwide Developer Conference in June. 9to5Mac is now reporting that the massive overhaul also includes less focus on Connect, the service's social feature that allows artists and fans to interact with each other. When Apple Music was first announced, the app's tools that would allow musicians to publish updates to listeners was a key part of the reveal. Connect was meant to be a place artists could share exclusive tracks, tour photos and more behind-the-scenes content. However, it doesn't look like the feature ever became popular among subscribers.
Twitter rolls out 'Connect' to help you follow more accounts
Connect, Twitter's newest feature, allows users on iOS or Android to browse a curated list of accounts to follow -- it's like having a personal stylist for your Twitter account. The recommendations will be refined over time, but they're based on who you follow, tweets you like, popular local accounts, world events and a few other parameters. Twitter will explain why it's showing you each recommendation, too.
Vodafone's home broadband service opens to all
After a three-year hiatus, Vodafone returned to the home broadband game this summer, starting out with a limited service available in just a few counties. A few months later, it expanded the launch to everywhere its underground infrastructure (licenced and owned) covered, but only offered the "Connect" broadband service to existing Vodafone mobile customers. Today, the company announced it's now available to everyone, not just those it has on its books already. Assuming Vodafone Connect is available in your area, you can get up to 17 Mbps ADSL for a tenner a month, up to 38 Mbps fibre for twice that, or up to 76 Mbps fibre for £25 per month.
Vodafone's home broadband service is now live across the UK
Two months ago, Vodafone started selling home broadband in the UK again. The service was only available to a small group of customers in Manchester, however, as well as parts of Surrey, Hampshire and Berkshire. Well, now the company is opening the floodgates. Any Vodafone customer can sign up for the service, which is separated into three tiers: Broadband ADSL (up to 17Mbps), Superfast Fibre Broadband (up to 38Mbps) and Superfast Fibre+ Broadband (up to 76Mbps). The provider is relying on BT's Openreach infrastructure to do the heavy lifting, as well as the Cable & Wireless backbone it acquired in 2012.
Vodafone returns to broadband with 'Connect'
More than three years after it left the market, Vodafone has made a return to broadband. After months of teasing, the carrier has unveiled 'Connect,' a new internet and home phone service that will initially only be available to existing customers. Like many of its rivals, including Sky and TalkTalk, Vodafone will piggyback on BT's Openreach infrastructure (although it is utilising the Cable & Wireless backbone it acquired in 2012), offering 17Mbps speeds as part of its basic package, or 76Mbps fibre in its top-tier plan.
Honda's in-car Connect system does Android its own way (hands-on)
We just checked out Honda's Connect solution for in-car entertainment and navigation, and while it's Android-based, it's not Android Auto -- just Android, period. Still, it's one of the first car companies to offer Google's OS in-dash, despite an odd implementation. For starters, if you're looking for the latest software, it's far from that. The system has stepped back in time to Ice Cream Sandwich 4.0.4, even though it uses NVIDIA's latest Tegra chip. But Android Auto was only just announced recently, which may not have matched Honda's timetable. In addition, the car company has its own suite of car apps that may not be compatible with the latest and greatest Android flavors. All things considered though, it has serious potential -- check our impressions below.
Spotify's new Connect feature seems as good an excuse as any to throw a party
This is a sort of hardware / software announcement for Spotify, a hardware partnership with a number of big names in audio like Philips, Pioneer, Bang & Olufsen, Denon, Marantz and Yamaha that allows you to keep the party going on those Spotify playlists. Start playing one on your handset, click play on a compatible speaker system, and it will keep streaming on the speaker without interruption -- even when you take a call or leave the vicinity of your WiFi network. The audio system will actually start streaming music directly from the cloud. That means you can, say, turn on an iPad in another room and let your party guests skip songs -- though, granted, that might not be the greatest idea, depending on who you invite. Specific devices have yet to be named, though compatible systems will be branded with a Spotify Connect logo, so you'll know what you're getting yourself into. Those should be arriving in a late-October / early-November timeframe. Spotify will be holding up its end of the bargain by rolling out a software update for iOS ahead of those launches. Android and other operating systems will be receiving it at a later date.
SanDisk Connect is a new series of wireless storage and streaming devices starting at $50
Flash drives these days, no matter how fast, are a dime a dozen. A jump drive that does double duty as a wireless streaming dongle? Not so common. SanDisk's new Connect lineup can pull off the streaming trick whether it's the flash drives with 16 or 32GB sizes for $50 and $60, respectively, or the Media Drives that pack 32 or 64GB of storage for either $80 or $100. Both sets of devices can stream movies, music or other data to PCs, Macs, iOS and Android devices or even Kindle Fires. All you need to do is grab the SanDisk Connect app for your device, and transferring files is a drag-and-drop affair. Where the Flash and Media Drives differ, however, is that the latter can serve up to eight devices at a time with regular data, or send out five simultaneous streams of 720p video. Plus, it's got an SDHC/SDXC slot for further storage expansion, should 64 gigs be insufficient. Sound good? Folks in the US can pre-order either drive today from Amazon, and if you aren't a Bezos fan, Newegg and Micro Center are taking Flash Drive preorders, too. Save that, you can always go pick one up from Best Buy in August.
iTwin Connect updated with Mac support, offers inter-OS personal VPNs
Back in 2009, we might have been a little, well, acerbic in our reaction to the initial iTwin. Yet here we are in good ole 2013, and the plucky USB networking key is alive and well. In fact, it was CES when we saw its latest incarnation -- iTwin Connect -- arrive offering (somewhat more useful) private and public VPN services. At the time this was for Windows only, but that's now changed. Mac users can get the same remote desktop, file access and aforementioned VPN functionality, that will also work between machines of both creeds. If you're on the fence about that $199 price tag, remember that comes with access to iTwin's own public VPN servers, and no subscription fee.
Google lets users connect Drive-enabled Chrome apps alongside its own
There was a time when cloud storage was more or less just that. A digital locker for those files you need on the go. As more and more apps and services fold this functionality into their general operation, the cloud part needs to be increasingly transparent. Something Google is tackling with the latest change to its Drive service. Starting today, you will be able to connect Drive-enabled apps to the main interface. So, next time you want to create something with Pixlr Editor, or Ujam, or want to open a file in such an app, you can do that right from the comfort of your Google account page. Not only does this mean that your favorite Chrome tools can be brought right into your workflow, Google clearly hopes it might inspire more developers to "elevate" their apps with the same functionality. Apps already sporting the integration, however, should be available to connect immediately.
iTwin Connect turns a humble USB stick into your own VPN (video)
Passing files over the internet using iTwin's 256-bit AES encryption's all well and good, but wouldn't it be nice if you could use that connection for other things? Luckily for you, that's just what the iTwin Connect was designed to do. In addition to the usual file-sharing jiggery-pokery, the new hardware can let you surf via your domestic internet connection, control devices on your home network and play with your desktop from afar. Even better, the company is throwing in US, Asia and Europe-based VPN servers of its own, so you can still catch that episode of Duck Dynasty on Hulu if your primary machine's turned off. Despite the raft of new features on offer, the company isn't charging a regular subscription, so all of that will set you back a rather meager $130.
Best Buy Connect no longer accepting new activations, service to end June 1st (update: confirmed)
Remember Best Buy Connect? If so, you'll soon have a few more megabytes of humanized DDR3 freed up, as it appears that the retail giant is ready to put the kibosh on its own branded mobile broadband service nearly two years after it was first unveiled. According to the internal memo shown in the above screenshot, new activations are no longer allowed effective immediately, and the service for legacy customers will be cut off on the first of June. So why the change of heart? Apparently Connect is the victim of a reshuffling of priorities, and the company determined that it "can achieve greater growth by delivering mobile broadband support in ways other than an exclusive Best Buy-branded service." Of course, this is bound to upset more than a handful of folks who have been relying on Connect for their data needs, and the retailer isn't leaving them completely in the dark: to help smooth out the transition, all Early Termination Fees will be waived, and all customers will receive a $125 or $150 gift card via email to curb the cost of moving to a different carrier. WiMAX Connect users, additionally, will also be given the option to switch over to Clear service. We're still awaiting official confirmation from Best Buy -- as of this moment, the official website remains up and running as if it's none the wiser -- but we'll update as soon as we hear more. Update: Best Buy has now officially confirmed to us that the service will indeed be shut off on June 1st. [Thanks, Anonymous]