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Surface Duo may let you 'peek' at notifications
When it comes to the next generation of folding phones, Microsoft was right to choose dual displays over folding screens. But one thing some other foldable phones have that Microsoft lacks is a screen on the outside of the device. To make up for that, Microsoft appears to have a software feature that will let you preview calls and notifications by opening the Surface Duo just a crack.
Instagram brings '3D Touch'-like functionality to Android
When Apple rolled out its latest handsets, the iPhone 6s and 6s Plus, the company took great pains to highlight a snazzy feature called "3D Touch". With the help of a pressure sensitive screen, users can more efficiently access the phone's various menus and options. Turns out, Instagram is working on a very similar feature for its Android app, no pressure sensitive screen required.
Evernote says goodbye to Hello and Peek
Evernote has announced it will be ending support for its contacts management app Hello on February 7. The company suggests migrate their data to Evernote before then. Here's the email Evernote sent out announcing the closer. As of February 7, 2015, Evernote will discontinue its support for Evernote Hello and we won't be making any further updates to the app. What will happen after February 7, 2015? Future attempts to sign in to Evernote Hello will no longer work. For this reason, we recommend you save your contacts to Evernote or your phone before February 7. Suggested Alternative If you like Hello, Evernote is an even more powerful way to manage your contacts. Like Hello, it instantly captures information from business cards, adds details from LinkedIn, and lets you search and recall contacts with any of your devices. The company is also ending support for its flashcards app Peek on February 7. Now users will be directed to download the company's partner app Study Blue.
SOE teases picture of mystery sandbox MMO
Behold, ex-Star Wars Galaxies players: This is the first glimpse of the home that SOE is building for you. SOE President John Smedley sent out a pair of pictures on Twitter on January 29th showing screenshots from the unannounced MMO that the studio is creating. The pictures are both of the back of a church or chapel with a fenced-in graveyard next to it. In the second picture, snow is falling. The pictures seem to suggest that the game will take place in a contemporary setting. One of SOE's CMs indicated that these tweets were of the new sandbox MMO described as "dedicated" to SWG players.
Peek app brings eye exams to the developing world, no attachment required
Traffic apps and email clients are all well and good, but there are few things that really highlight the world-changing potential of the smartphone as well as medical applications. People delivering access to affordable care in developing nations always serve as friendly reminder that our devices can be so much more than distracting casual gaming platforms. Eye examinations are one of the clearest applications on that front -- around three years ago, MIT's Media Lab introduced us to a $2 box that could transform handsets into a mobile eye clinic. Peek offers much of the same, albeit without the need for a (relatively) bulky add-on. Developed by members of the International Center for Eye Health, the app can conduct visual acuity, color vision tests, among several others. It also keeps a record of patients examined along with geotagged info. You can check out a nice piece on Peek in the via link below, and for more info on the app and the people behind it, peep the source link.
Nokia adds Peek hover function to Lumias running latest Amber OS update
It doesn't come close to the suite of air gestures Samsung's included in the Galaxy S 4, but Nokia's pushing out an update to give Lumia owners a limited taste of that hands-free functionality. Bundled into a new version 1.6 bump for display + touch settings released today is a new Peek feature, which gives Lumia owners the ability to wake their phones and glance at notifications with a mere hand wave. Sadly, it's only compatible with Lumia devices running the latest Amber update -- currently set for a vague "summer" rollout -- which makes this hover-to-wake function a 925-only affair for the time being.
Geeksphone Peak hands-on: a midrange Firefox OS phone from Spain (video)
Never heard of Geeksphone before? We can't quite blame you, but it's getting a fair share of attention at Mobile World Congress. While the company has cranked out an Android handset or two over the past few years, it's now dipping a second hand into the Firefox OS pot. Of the two models unveiled at this week's show, the Peak is the higher-end: it boasts a 4.3-inch qHD display, 8MP rear camera and 2MP front-facing cam, a 1.2GHz dual-core Snapdragon S4 Play chipset (MSM8225), 512MB RAM, 4GB storage with microSD expansion and a 1,800mAh battery. As you can see, the specs on the Peak aren't anything to email home about, but for a Firefox OS device, it's certainly above-average. The materials are rather on the plasticky side and don't necessarily exude a large sense of elegance, but we're not going to say that the build quality isn't out of the norm for a device in this price range. We didn't have any problem holding it in our hand, and while we weren't given exact dimensions, it appeared to be roughly 10mm thick. The back of the Peak sports the camera, LED flash and the branding of a Firefox OS developer device. In terms of radio frequencies, the Peak is compatible with HSPA 900/1900/2100 and quad-band GSM / EDGE. It's expected to arrive in Geeksphone's retail store in the coming weeks and the estimated price will be around 200 euros. Check out our full gallery and video of the device and OS below.
RIM puts BlackBerry 10 on display: new alarm, Peek gesture and more
At today's RIM event, the BlackBerry maker gave us a closer look at BB10, with CEO Thorsten Heins talking up the operating system as "all about getting things done" and coining the interface "BlackBerry Flow." He demoed a new Peek feature that lets users access the message notifications screen with a right angle gesture. The function can be used in any app: performing the swipe takes users to the BlackBerry Hub where they can view Tweets, messages and other notifications. There's also a new clock and alarm system, which works by the user holding their fingertip on the bezel and sliding it to the appropriate time to set an alarm. There's also the business-friendly Balance feature we already knew about, which will let users' IT departments access corporate email and perform remote wipe without affecting the rest of the phone. With Balance, BlackBerry phones essentially have two profiles, one secured for the work environment and one for personal use. It just so happens that we already got a hands-on look at the software running on a Dev Alpha B handset: take a look here.
Peek killing off US email and Twitter devices after 'lifelong service'
There's an old saying that eternal love lasts for two years. Apparently, that also applies to Peek's bare bones email and Twitter devices, which launched in 2008 and 2009 respectively. We've received emails from users anxious that their handsets -- all running on T-Mo's network -- stopped working on January 30th, despite them having paid up to $299 for "lifelong service." Although at least some users received emails about this, we've just had confirmation from Peek's CEO, Amol Sarva, that the products really are being abandoned. By way of justification, he told us that they're "seriously old" and have reached their end of life, with only a "handful of users" left in the US. He adds that anyone who bought the $299 one-off bundle still eked out 28 months of service, whereas paying the monthly $19.95 subscription plus extra for the device would have added up to much more. As to why the service is being killed, perhaps we should have taken the hint back in July, because now the company is all about software-only cloud services rather than handsets. Here's some more detail from Sarva himself: "Unfortunately we cannot maintain the network forever for a few users, so that end time has come. The networks are changing standards, protocols etc and the old units are now end of life. We have lots going with rapid adoption of our software by phone brands around the world, so Peek is flat out building for a number of platforms that our OEM customers are deploying like Android and Mediatek. We are not offering a Peek-made device to replace these old ones." [Thanks to everyone who sent this in]
Peek calls own internet-only devices 'collector's items,' heads to India with the cloud
Nokia? Samsung? LG? Those jokers are all 'old world' has-beens. The future -- according to Peek's latest email campaign -- is Indian featurephones. Well, at least MicroMax's latest, the Q80 EZPAD. Peek says its 'Genius Cloud' gifts the Q80 with smartphone-like features via cloud-based software. The firm's site claims that the service will run on any hardware, from not-phone to smartphone, providing push mail, instant messaging, video chat, social networking, software GPS, web browsing, and other smartphone features. Writing on Business Insider, Peekster-in-Cheif Amol Sarva asserts that low-end devices have pushed Nokia out of the asian market, and suggests that with the help of the Genius Cloud, featurephones can do the same to RIM. If that doesn't work out, at least the firm still has a corner on the dedicated tweeting handheld market.
Does Peek's future lay in low-powered feature phones, emerging markets?
The overriding philosophy at Peek is "keep it simple," and we have to agree that as these things go, this is a pretty sound principle (even if we don't necessarily have much use for dedicated Twitter hardware). If the big payoff for the company isn't in the gadget-addicted states, it's been a good start: the company has sold some 50,000 units in two years while developing the back-end technology that CEO Amol Sarva believes can supply cheap, low-powered feature phones and other devices for emerging markets -- devices that could retail for as little as $50. "This is a huge opportunity for us," Sarva told GigaOm. "We've built technology that no one cared about but now we're suddenly being approached by guys who have the hardware that want to make it smart." And if that doesn't pan out, we have a suggestion: FourPeek, the dedicated Foursquare device.
Peek experiences permanent outage for older devices, vows to replace with free Peek 9
Thinking of upgrading your Peek or Peek Pronto to a shiny new Peek 9? You may no longer have a choice -- following an epic fail when migrating to a new network provider, loads of older devices were reportedly fried. Normally consumer outrage would run rampant at this news, but Peek CEO Amol Sarva has a plan -- he's offering brand-new Peek 9s to existing customers, free of charge. It's not clear what will happen to the older units at this point, but a Peek customer service rep says that while fried QWERTY candybars are no more, the unscathed Peeks might possibly be turned back on. "We are currently waiting on T-Mobile to decide our fate," the rep wrote, "There is still a CHANCE that the sky is not falling and older devices will continue to work." In the meantime, Sarva has an amusing instruction for affected customers looking to get in on the deal: "Just check your email." [Thanks, standingup]
Peek 9 is nine times faster than Pronto, adds PeekMaps, weather, Twitter, and Facebook
It's official. The latest Peek -- dubbed the Peek 9 -- is up and dancing with a full list of features. The hubbub boils down to speed improvements thanks to revamped software that claims to reduce lag and sluggishness experienced when connecting to newly enhanced Peek servers. While the hardware appears unchanged, it's still said to offer better reception and be 9 times faster (hence the name) than the Peek Pronto. The 9 comes pre-loaded with native Twitter and Facebook apps with ActiveSync support tossed in for Exchange. They've also added PeekMaps and weather apps to give you an idea of where you are in Google Maps and what the weather forecast is for that location. Rounding things out is the Streams RSS reader; the ability to view Word, PDF, and spreadsheet attachments; and a new Peektop Apps feature that lets you transform Peek into a "tailor-made mobile productivity machine," whatever that means. Peak 9 is priced at $69.99 or $99.99 plus two months of contract-free service (sorry, no lifetime service offering at the moment). After that, the Peek service will cost you $19.95/mth or as little as $9.95/mth for 24 months. Of course, with the 9's broader communications focus beyond just Twitter or eMail, we really have to wonder why anyone would buy this instead of a much smarter featurephone -- a Nokia C3, for example, can be had in the US unlocked for just $129.%Gallery-102788%
Peek 9 confirmed to be real, announcement coming tomorrow
Hold onto your Peeks, people. A listing for a brand new Peek 9 has turned up on a few retailers' websites, and we've just confirmed with Peek CEO Amol Sarva that the device is indeed the real deal -- there had been a bit of confusion given it was listed under the two-way radio category on one site. Unfortunately, any details beyond the price you see above will have to wait until tomorrow, which means we can only speculate for the time being. Perhaps a FaceBook-only device to complement the TwitterPeek? A FacePeek, if you will.
Peek gets a Facebook app, sort of
Peek devices are usually quite resolute in their single-purpose ways, but it looks like things are starting to change -- the company is beta testing Facebook integration called PeekSocial. Once you install the app on your Facebook account, you'll be able to update your status easily, and you'll also receive periodic emails that pull content from your newsfeed. Yeah, it's a little hacky -- how about enabling support for a real Facebook app, Peek? [Thanks, Devon]
Peek teams up with FON to liberate Europe... from roaming charges
Although the bright and cheerful Peek (and its somewhat ill-advised Twitter-centric brother) has long been a source of fascination for us, we realize that for most Americans a dedicated email device doesn't make too much sense. Now, in the same way that Hendrix had to go to London to find critical acceptance, it looks like FON CEO Martin Varsavsky thinks the device might be a winner overseas -- nothing less than a heroic "pan-European email machine that avoids [data] roaming charges." According to the man's blog, the PeekFon will cost €99 (roughly $145), including six months unlimited service, courtesy of a new MVNO called Spotnik. After that, you'll need to pay as you go to the tune of €12.90 (roughly $19) a month. Sick of those insane roaming charges? Curious? European? Varsavsky shares his feelings on the subject after the break.
Cyber Wednesday brings half price Peek service, discounted Wii
Ever heard of Cyber Wednesday? Yeah, same here. But seriously -- when's the last time you heard us kvetch over a deal? Effective today only, Peek's email-only handhelds are being offered up with lifetime service for half of the normal price. Buy any Peek handheld and you'll get service for just $9.99 per month for as long as you keep the device, which is certainly a bargain compared to the $19.99 that's typically charged. In other news, Wally World has announced that from December 5th through the 12th (while supplies last, obviously), a $50 gift card will be handed over when you purchase a Wii console in-store. Just think -- Walmart is actually incenting you to buy a Wii. Man, how the times have changed.
TwitterPeek review
Peek is a company with ideas -- but they like to tackle them one at a time. Last year, amid snickering and cries of uselessness from the gadget world, the tiny company launched an email-only handheld that's attempted to bring the idea of email on the go to the smartphone fearing crowd... and we do know at least one avid user. Now the company has turned around and tried it again, this time with a seemingly even less essential device, the TwitterPeek. The TwitterPeek works in conjunction with Twitter, and only with Twitter. It's that simple. There's nothing else to figure out or set up, so presumably, the idea is that the device, like the original Peek, is intended for the dumbphone lover who just can't go without a constant stream of Tweets. So, fair enough -- those of us who are more than a little tech savvy may find reason to smile at this, but supposedly this will be attractive to someone. Right? So how did the TwitterPeek fare when we got our mitts on it? Read on to find out.
The TwitterPeek is... a Peek for Twitter?
Peek's never been one to shy away from the wacky and opportunistic marketing schemes but launching a whole product just for Twitter? That's courage, drive, and possibly a mental health issue. Yet here's the TwitterPeek -- what looks to be the same old Peek you know, love, and probably haven't purchased, stripped of its email and SMS functionality and re-oriented towards telling the entire world too much about your body and what you're doing to it every waking moment of the day. Now, to be fair, we're getting a distinctly strange feeling of phoniness about this whole thing, but there's already an Amazon listing and a picture of the box has already surfaced on -- where else? -- Twitter, so this could really be happening. Just think about that for a second. And then tweet about it, of course. [Via LiveDigitally] Read - Amazon TwitterPeek listing Read - Peter Ha's TwitPic of the box
Peek offers disgruntled Sidekick owners a free Pronto, internet high-five
As Microsoft and Apple have so precisely demonstrated, there's nothing like a face full of egg to make the competition fire up the sucker punch machine. Take Peek, for example, who is now offering angered Sidekick users (you know, the ones that probably lost all of their data recently) a gratis Pronto for their trouble. All that's required is an image of you, a frowny face, your wiped Sidekick and a T-Mobile bill -- once that's sent over to Peek's dedicated inbox, you'll soon receive your Pronto in the mail. 'Course, it's up to you to foot the $20 monthly bill for keeping the thing active, but hey, free's free. Kind of.
