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The White House's Spanish-language website is gone, for now
Under both George W. Bush and Barack Obama, the White House maintained a Spanish-language version of its official website, while the Obama administration also updated its companion Twitter account, @LaCasaBlanca. Since noon on Friday, just after President Donald Trump took the oath of office, the White House's Spanish-language website has been down and the associated Twitter account empty.
Mylingo offers real-time Spanish translation in movie theaters
A new app called Mylingo lets Spanish-speaking moviegoers listen to audio dubs in real time, using their own smartphone and headphones. According to the developer, users can download the studio-recorded Spanish tracks directly to their device, where they'll be able to sync them perfectly with the action from the screen. The application, which is only available for iOS right now, uses the microphone on your phone to capture the data once the movie starts, and then deletes the audio file for good after it's over.
Sling adds Spanish TV to its multi-stream beta
Sling TV's service is great for cord-cutters, but not ideal for families who like to watch different stuff at the same time. It recently launched a multi-stream option (in beta) that allows viewing on up to three Sling-TV supported devices at once, but so far content has been limited to Fox and a few other channels. However, Spanish viewers now have a bunch of new options thanks to the company's Best of Spanish TV-Beta that brings multi-stream viewing of channels like Azteca, beIN SPORTS, beIN SPORTS en Español, Cinelatino, CineSony, De Pelicula, Pasiones, Teleromántica, UniMás and Univision.
Uber will give you a driver who speaks Spanish
Would you rather say "¡hola!" to your Uber driver instead of "hello?" You've got it. The ridesharing firm has formally launched UberEspañol in six US areas (Chicago, Los Angeles, Orange County, Phoenix, San Diego and Tucson), giving you the choice of a Spanish-speaking UberX driver when you need a lift. This sadly leaves out posher ride options, but it's a big deal if you're more comfortable with the language or have a passenger whose English isn't that great. [Image credit: Getty Images]
DirecTV launches internet TV for $8 per month, but it's all in Spanish
Our world isn't quite ready for internet TV providers that compete with traditional cable and satellite packages, but what about markets that aren't as well served? DirecTV is diving right into internet TV, beating Dish Network and Sony's PlayStation Vue to the punch with its new Yaveo streaming service that exclusively features Spanish-language programming for customers in the US. Currently it's available on PCs, Macs and Android, with clients for iOS, xbox 360 and other platforms soon. So what can you watch? It sources content from beIN sports, MTV and its Spanish-language network Tr3s, Univision and several others, all for $7.99 per month. There's even live TV feeds from beIN Sports en Español, Cine Sony Television and ¡Hola! TV. The only thing stopping us from breaking out Rosetta Stone and opening an account is it current lack of the Breaking Bad remake Metástasis. But if you do speak the language, then the future of TV is here, and there's evne a free trial month to start.
You can watch the Spanish-language version of Breaking Bad on Hulu Plus right now
Sure, via Netflix (in 4K, soon) or on Blu-ray is a good way to watch the entire Breaking Bad series, but what if we told you there was a way to experience the show all over again for the first time? There's a Latin American version of the show called Metástasis, and while the meth adventures of Walter Blanco are airing nightly in the US on Univision networks, it's also available on streaming via Hulu -- but there's a catch. On broadcast TV and internet, there's no option for English subtitles, so while native speakers and telenovela fans may breeze right through, if your last "Que?" was during a high-school elective you're out of luck. To find out what you're missing (Colombia instead of Albuquerque, schoolbus instead of RV), check out an English-subtitled trailer for Metástasis after the break.
T-Mobile launching Spanish-language mobile network with Univision
Move over Jennifer Lopez and Verizon, as Univision has just partnered with T-Mobile to create a new Spanish-language cellphone service called Univision Mobile. Underpinned by T-Mo's network, the new partnership will target the 56 million strong Hispanic American market with "custom-built" plans. Like its parent carrier, those will be contract-free starting at $30 for unlimited texts and calls and $45 for a 2.5GB web plan. Both will get unlimited international texting and 100 minutes of free calls to mobile phones or landlines in Mexico and seven other Latin American countries. The new company may not have J-Lo fronting it like Viva Movil, but users will no doubt be able to catch her on their phones -- Univision will offer "insights and programming content" for the new venture.
Pocket's read-it-later service adds international flavor with six new languages
Despite how far the internet has come, it hasn't quite conquered the language barrier. The devs behind Pocket know this and have added new languages to hopefully make the delayed-reading app a bit easier to use if English isn't your native tongue. To wit, the application is now available in French, German, Italian, Japanese, Russian and Spanish. Those languages account for some 22 percent of what its users speak and, according to the company, this is just the beginning of its expansion to a broader audience. Only time will tell if that'll include Klingons, though.
Jagged Alliance Online starts Spanish open beta
Jagged Alliance Online's community has expanded to include our Spanish-speaking gaming brethren, as the open beta has started today for Spanish and Latin American markets. The Spanish beta has been tailored to provide localized translation, community management, and customer service. IDC/Games will be publishing the Spanish version of Jagged Alliance Online. The company reported that 300,000 players "showed interest" in the two-week closed beta period. If this is of interest to you, you can sign up for the open beta on IDC/Games' website. [Source: IDC/Games press release]
ESPN Deportes and ESPNews now streaming on WatchESPN
If you've ever wished that WatchESPN would offer more Spanish-language sports and non-stop news, today's your lucky day. The streaming service now includes access to ESPN Deportes and ESPNews, both of which are available to TV subscribers through Apple TV boxes, mobile apps and the web. Xbox Live viewers will get the channels soon, the broadcaster says. Only some will appreciate the new WatchESPN content, but it's hard to disagree with getting some extra fútbol coverage at no extra charge.
Daily iPad App: Learn Spanish with JamTok! adds a dash of music to your foreign language lessons
Learning a new language can be tedious, but you can liven up your lessons with Learn Spanish with JamTok! from TicTokLabs. The app focuses on vocabulary and uses music as the cornerstone of each lesson. Learn Spanish with JamTok! features popular music from artists like Carlos Santana, Bruno Mars, Nickelback, Madonna and more. The JamTok! Spanish app allows you to pick a song and learn its lyrics in Spanish. A handy slider lets you swing the lyrics in favor of Spanish or English, so you can adjust the difficulty based on your skill level. Vocabulary words are highlighted in yellow along with an image of the word. After working your way through a song, the app prompts you to practice the words that you learned while singing the song. These mini-games follow along with the song and require you to tap on vocabulary words to identify their meaning. It's a fast-paced lesson that keeps you on your toes, especially on your first time through a song. As you play the mini-games, you are rewarded with coins for your accuracy in identifying words and phrases in the song. These coins are then used to buy new songs that'll teach you even more Spanish vocabulary. You can earn free coins just by opening the app each day, liking JamTok on Facebook and by signing up for third-party offers from Tapjoy. If you want to spend less time earning coins and more time learning Spanish, then you can buy coins using an in-app purchase. You can buy 220 coins for US$1.99, which will buy you a single song. You can also buy coins in bulk and pick up a song pack of five songs for 892 coins. The app includes one full free song and free samples that allow you to listen to 25 seconds of a song. Learn Spanish with JamTok! is a fun way to brush up on your Spanish vocabulary, but be prepared to drop some cash on coins if you want the full experience. Learn Spanish with JamTok! is available for free from the iOS App Store.
Roku 2, LT and new HD boxes upgraded for more languages, future remote apps
Over on the Roku blog the company just announced it's delivering a software 4.8 upgrade starting today. First up there's a few new features included right away like support for Spanish and German in the UI, performance optimizations and playback improvement for channels like MLB.tv and GBTV. More interesting however is the prospect of what's to come, as it also note "under the hood" preparations for new channels and features, promising upgrades for the iOS and Android remote apps soon. Like the last upgrade, the new version is getting pushed to Roku 2 and LT boxes now, while new HD boxes should see it next week.
Amazon launches Kindle eBook store en Español, over 33,000 libros to choose from
Buenas noticias para todos los amantes de los libros que viven en Estados Unidos. Amazon acaba de anunciar una nueva tienda llamada eBooks Kindle en Español. El nuevo servicio dará acceso a más de 33,000 libros que se podrán leer en los diferentes dispositivos Kindle. Esta biblioteca virtual incluirá una lista con los títulos más vendidos de Nielsen, autores mexicanos como José Emilio Pacheco y Sergio Pitol, libros para niños como Dora la Exploradora y Go Diego Go, mientras que también habrá traducciones de Hunger Games, The Help y la biografía de Steve Jobs. Todos aquellos autores independientes que también estén interesados podrán publicar sus libros usando el sitio KDP de Amazon. Si quieres conocer más detalles, puedes echar un vistazo a la nota de prensa o incluso hacer clic en la fuente para realizar el tour completo por la tienda. Psst... head on past the break for a translation.
'Brunchstorming' is Spanish for 'work,' if you're Pendulo Studios
Every Friday, the team at Pendulo Studios gathers in "Sala 2," a conference room covered floor-to-ceiling in posters, cut-outs and screenshots from the games it's created over the past 18 years as one of Spain's first independent game studios. For two hours or so, everyone in Sala 2 discusses ideas for new games, ways to fund ongoing development, fixes for current titles and what games they're playing on their own; they call this process "brunchstorming," and it's a vital part of Pendulo's operations.Last Friday, March 16, Pendulo's brunchstorming meeting also served as a celebration: Yesterday, its seventh graphic-adventure title, had just gone gold, and after working on it for a year, the team took that time to celebrate and reminisce about its development with a handful of questions from Joystiq, all in true Spanish style."Pendulo is not your usual game developer," Josué, Pendulo's writer, said. "Maybe because we're Spanish and we put some fiesta in everything we do, or maybe because we're more than workmates and we've become friends along the years. Or maybe it's because everyone has a say."Around a table piled high with "jamón, chorizo, a Madrid specialty called 'callos,' cheese, chips, empanada gallega (a sort of tuna-and-pepper pie), and something to drink," as Josué described it, the following Pendulo team members sat down to relax and candidly answer our questions about indie living in Spain.%Gallery-151879%
Mobile Miscellany: week of March 5th, 2012
Not all mobile news is destined for the front page, but if you're like us and really want to know what's going on, then you've come to the right place. This past week, one clever individual has repackaged HTC's Beats equalizer for use on any Android smartphone, and we've also come across news of additional language support for Siri that's set to arrive later this year. These stories and more await after the break. So buy the ticket and take the ride as we explore the "best of the rest" for this week of March 5th, 2012.
Guild Wars 2 to implement Spanish localization
In less controversial Guild Wars 2 news for today, a post on ArenaNet's blog confirms that the game will have Spanish localization on launch. While German and French were already a part of the game, Spanish-speaking fans have been hoping for localization for quite some time. The ArenaNet developers listened to those hopes, and apparently having decided that they can make this happen at the high standard they hold themselves to, have taken this project on. Because of the variation of spoken Spanish across the world, the game won't be receiving Spanish voicing; instead, voiced content will have Spanish subtitles. With that in mind, ArenaNet is now looking for Spanish QA and a localization editor to join its team in Bellevue, WA and a Spanish-speaking community manager for its Brighton, England offices. If that's your wheelhouse, polish up your résumé and head over to NCsoft's jobs page for more information.
Hiriko: The MIT-backed, Spanish 'folding' EV that wants to make cities bigger
Meet Hiriko, an EV that's the fruit of a collaboration between MIT, Basque businesses and the Spanish government. It might look like the rest of those sci-fi Jetson-style concepts, but it has a few tricks up its wheel-arches. Rather than a regular configuration, the bubble-esque ride has four independent in-wheel motors. Also, when you're ready to park this thing, the back section slides forward, "folding" the cabin up vertically -- a feat the makers claim will see it occupy only two-thirds of the space taken by a Smart ForTwo. Other neat features include a single front-opening door and joystick controls (rather than a plain old steering wheel). There's no details on range, mph and charge speed, but 20 test vehicles are being built at a reported cost of $16,253 each. There's no hint at what this will translate to in sticker price when it goes into production next year, but with the initial trials taking place imminently, it looks like Hiriko (meaning "of the city") could be a feature in your city quite soon.
Sinde Law brings SOPA-like restrictions to Spain
The Spanish government has passed legislation aimed at cracking down on websites illegally sharing digital content. Called the Sinde Law, it will create a new government commission that Spanish right holders can engage when they feel that a site is illegally distributing their content. After an alleged infraction, the commission examines the complaint and determines if, under the new statute, legal action is necessary. Should a site be found in violation, the case is passed to a judge and the decision is made either to shutter the offending website, take action against the site's service provider or dismiss the complaint altogether. The BBC reports that the entire process, from first report to final decision, should take no more than ten days. Open internet activists have voiced concerns about the breadth and implications of the law. United States residents will recognize many of the arguments for and against the Sinde Law in light of the SOPA Act (Stop Online Piracy Act) debate that's been raging here in the United States for several months.
Google Translate app update adds handwriting recognition, breaks barriers
The Google Translate app for Android received a pretty significant update yesterday, bringing handwriting recognition to its bullpen of functionalities. The app, which added voice recognition back in October, can now recognize handwriting in seven different languages, including English, French, Italian, German, and Spanish. It's probably most important, however, for Chinese- and Japanese-speaking contingents, who can now use their handsets to translate characters that aren't typically featured on English keypads. The update to version 2.3 is available now, at the source link below.
Runes of Magic to receive Turkish and Latin American localization from Aeria Games
Aeria Games seems to be making a niche for itself localizing games into neglected regions. Earlier this year, it was announced that the company would take on the localization for Perfect World International for Latin America. Now it's doing the same thing for another game, taking the responsibility of localizing Runes of Magic for both the Latin American market and the Turkish market. That means all of the current live features of Runes of Magic in your native language, assuming your native language is Spanish, Portuguese, or Turkish. No details have been disclosed about the timeframe for the launch of these new localizations. According to Len Hoang, CEO of Aeria Games, the release is part of the company's overall ongoing strategy -- "We believe emerging markets will continue to rise in importance for Aeria Games as we commit to growing our global community of power players." Keep your eyes peeled for more news about the release. [Source: Aeria Games press release]
