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Box adds Dolby's automated audio editing to its cloud-based collaboration tools
The tech can help creatives quickly reduce background noise and make speech clearer at low cost.
LivingPackets will trial its next-gen smart delivery parcels in France
LivingPackets is one step closer to making the traditional cardboard box redundant. Boulanger, a major electronics retailer in France, will adopt the packaging for orders that originate from one of its stores in Paris. LivingPackets says the pilot has three basic purposes.
Google introduces Gmail integrations for Dropbox, Box and more
Today, Google announced new Gmail integrations for G Suite, which is its enterprise offering for business. Now G Suite users will be able to perform actions for popular apps directly from Gmail.
Samsung Galaxy S9 box leak hints at variable aperture camera
Sometimes leaks are obviously legitimate, and sometimes people go out of their way to dupe us with an elaborate hoax. And sometimes, you just can't call it -- say, when an image pops up on Reddit allegedly showing the box a Galaxy S9 will eventually be tucked up in. The gloves, the clinically white work space, the layout and font; nothing seems too suspect. And given we know the S9 and S9+ will be announced next month, this is when you'd expect the leaks to start flowing. Assuming this is, in fact, final Galaxy S9 packaging, then what does it tell us about Samsung's next flagship? Well, that it's much like the S8, but with a few new features thrown in.
Box’s desktop app is fine for you, but better for businesses
When you think of cloud storage services, your mind probably drifts over Dropbox or Google Drive. You might not remember Box as well -- it was one of the earliest cloud providers out there and it's thriving today. Now, it's catching up with some of its biggest rivals in a notable way: it finally has a desktop app so you manage your entire Box archive sans web browser.
Virgin V6: how to get the most out of your set-top box
Researched and written by Nicholas Fearn In the home TV entertainment market, Sky and Virgin have been competing with each other for years. Then came the rise of streaming services such as Netflix and Amazon Prime, and suddenly everything changed. To stay ahead of the curve, Sky launched the Q set-top box, which offers on-demand shows and a multi-room viewing experience. For while, it was the only next-generation box available and easily beat the traditional TiVo box offered by Virgin Media. However, Virgin Media is now taking the fight to its biggest rival with the V6. The V6 is Virgin Media's smallest, smartest and fastest TV box yet. It's half the size of the company's previous TiVo box, it comes with 10 times more power, 4K support, HDR output, an intelligent multi-room system and other cool features. Whether you already own one or are looking to upgrade, here's how you can get the most out of the V6 box. Virgin TV Anywhere app The Virgin TV Anywhere app, which is available for Android and iOS devices, brings some cool features to the V6. For instance, you can watch live TV shows and on-demand boxsets anywhere in your home. You just have to have to ensure your box is connected to a WiFi connection. As is the case with the Sky Q, you can also watch selected recordings around your home and offline. What's also neat is that you can set, cancel and delete recordings using the app, which is useful when you're out and about. While the V6 does come with a remote, you have the ability to control the box with the app too. It adopts a gesture-controlled system, so you can go through shows and menus seamlessly. To enable this, you need to make sure the box's standby settings are set as Connected Low Power or Always On. Record six shows simultaneously It can be pretty annoying when you want to record several programmes, but they end up clashing. You can avoid this situation, to a point, with the V6 as the box is capable of recording six shows simultaneously. What's more, you can do this while watching a seventh recording, or you can stream a show through a service like Netflix or Amazon Prime. You don't have to worry about memory, either. The 1TB box supports 500 hours of SD recordings and 100 hours of HD recordings. A smarter remote Like Sky Q, the V6 comes with a beefed-up remote. It uses RF technology, so you don't have to constantly point it at the box in order for it to work. That means you can hide the box away in a cupboard, as opposed to having it on show. It's pretty easy to end up losing technology, so you'll be happy to know that the box comes with a 'find my remote' feature. All you have to do is press a special button on the box, and the remote will start beeping. Movie store and children's channel Sky has always been known for its large variety of shows, movies and rentals it offers, but Virgin is slowly catching up. With the V6, you can get direct access to the new Virgin Media Store. Here, you can purchase popular TV shows and movies. If you do end up downloading one, you'll be sent a copy of the DVD in the post as well. That's something Sky has offered for a while now, so it's great to see Virgin doing the same thing. There's also a kids' channel too, which blocks out adult-focused ads and shows. Ultra HD ready Unlike previous Virgin TV boxes, the V6 supports 4K television. That means you can watch and stream shows in Ultra HD. As well as Virgin content, the Netflix and YouTube apps also offer 4K support. To ensure that you get the best picture, all V6 boxes sport HDR. Multi-room Multi-room support means you can start watching a programme in one room, and continue it in another. That's pretty useful if you end up leaving your living room to, say, make a cup of coffee and happen to have a TV in your kitchen. Recordings can also be resumed on a mobile device through the Virgin TV Anywhere app. Intelligent search Looking for a specific TV show or movie can be a pain, but this is something you can avoid with the V6's smart search feature. You can access it by clicking a dedicated button on the remote. Then you'll be able to search for content across all of Virgin's apps. SeriesLink+ is another useful feature available on the V6. It lets you look for TV shows across a variety of apps and see which episodes are available to download. You can also find out shows you've already recorded or downloaded, helping you avoid duplicate content.
Tech titans back transgender student's Supreme Court case
Apple has officially signed an amicus brief in support of Gavin Grimm's case that's hitting the Supreme Court later this month. In addition, Cupertino has successfully helped convince other tech titans to support the transgender student's fight for the right to use the bathroom that matches his gender identity. According to TechCrunch, the company worked with non-profit org Human Rights Campaign to reach out to potential signatories in the tech industry. Their crusade was so successful, tech corporations ended up dominating the list of 53 companies that signed the brief.
Apple, other tech giants will support transgender student's case
Several tech titans plan to sign an amicus (friend of the court) brief in support of a 17-year-old transgender student's fight in court, according to Axios. Apple, Microsoft, IBM, PayPal, eBay, Airbnb, Box, Yelp, GitHub, Salesforce, Slack and Tumblr are expected to back Gavin Grimm's legal battle against his school board for the right to use the bathroom that matches his gender identity. The amicus brief, created by LGBT organization Human Rights Campaign, will be filed in favor of Grimm for the Supreme Court hearing scheduled to take place on March 28th.
ICYMI: Rubik's phone, underwater bomb bot and more
#fivemin-widget-blogsmith-image-997807{display:none;} .cke_show_borders #fivemin-widget-blogsmith-image-997807, #postcontentcontainer #fivemin-widget-blogsmith-image-997807{width:570px;display:block;} try{document.getElementById("fivemin-widget-blogsmith-image-997807").style.display="none";}catch(e){}Today on In Case You Missed It: The University of Bristol's Interaction Group made a phone prototype out of small cubes that can be flipped around to form different shapes. Saab created an underwater robot to help detect explosives. And Colorado State University students made a real life Mario Kart game with carts that we are dying to experience for ourselves. In case you want to share it with friends, the video for the bottle opener that automatically messages your friends when you open a beer is here. As always, please share any great tech or science videos you find by using the #ICYMI hashtag on Twitter for @mskerryd.
Engadget giveaway: Win a trio of Nest products courtesy of Bitdefender!
With more internet-facing smart devices in homes than ever before, it's wise to consider securing that digital portal. The Bitdefender Box connects to your home router, providing an easy-to-setup shield for all the data flowing through it. It scans for malware and adds a layer of protection to help keep your data and IoT devices safe from prying eyes. That security can also extend to your Mac, PC and mobile devices (iOS and Android) when you're away from home by using Bitdefender's Private Line feature. For a limited time, Box is available for just $99, which is half off its regular price and includes one year of the company's subscription service. To help promote this deal, the company is providing one lucky reader with a Bitdefender Box and Nest's lineup of IoT products including the Protect, Thermostat and Cam. All you need to do is head to the Rafflecopter widget below for up to three chances at winning this smart and secure home combo! Winner: Congratulations to Charlie P. of Boise, ID!
'Minecraft' gets its own official monthly swag box
Monthly subscription boxes are a curious idea: subscribers pay a fee to receive things like t-shirts, toys, merchandise, makeup or food that they have no choice over. Companies like Loot Crate, Fancy, Graze and Dollar Shave Club all utilise the model, but there's a new entrant on the scene: Mojang. That's right, Minecraft now has its own swag box.
Engadget giveaway: win an iPhone 6 and BOX courtesy of Bitdefender!
There are more internet-facing devices scattered throughout our homes than ever before and that warrants some thought on security. Bitdefender's Box can help keep your data safe and network malware free when connected to your router and running local interference with its antivirus software. The umbrella of protection includes IoT devices like smart TVs and appliances, gaming consoles, smartphones and computers, helping to block threats and digital intruders. Box's mobile app lets you monitor the system for vulnerabilities, keep everything up to date and extends data protection with its Private Line service even when your handset is outside the home network. One lucky Engadget reader will get to try out that mobile safety and home protection this week with by winning their very own iPhone 6 and Bitdefender Box. All you need to do is head down to the Rafflecopter widget below for up to three chances at winning. Winner: congratulations to Jo G. of East Palo Alto, CA!
Box's private security key helps keep spying eyes off your files
Box already encrypts the files you store in its cloud, but it also stores the necessary security key on its own servers. If a government wants to look at your data, it can theoretically order Box to hand over the key and expose all your sensitive info without your knowledge. The company just unveiled a clever way to fight these kinds of intrusions, though. It has a new paid option, Enterprise Key Management, that gives the corporate crowd a secondary key held on a separate, privately rented device. If you're using EKM, the only way to access your files is to have full use of both keys -- hackers and snoops can't look at your company's files without giving you a clue that something's up.
Final Fantasy XIV announces special Game of the Year edition
If you've been longing to try out Final Fantasy XIV but wanted a new boxed edition of the game, you're in luck. Square-Enix has announced today that a limited edition boxed version will be available starting November 14th. Dubbed the Game of the Year Edition, it comes in a special collector's box resembling the in-game Book of Diamonds weapon, albeit most likely without the glow effects. The box contains the game with all patches loaded (including 2.4, which is scheduled for later this month), a 60-day time card, and five art cards. If you already have the game, it's unlikely that you'll need another edition, but it can make for a fine gift for friends or family who haven't yet tried the game. The edition will only be available for the PC, though, so console players are out of luck, unless you just want the box and the time card.
World of Warcraft addresses upgrading to the Warlords of Draenor CE
Were you one of the people who pre-purchased Warlords of Draenor as soon as the digital option was open? Do you have a mighty need to pick up the physical collector's edition but no clear process for upgrading from the digital copy? The good news is that Blizzard Entertainment has World of Warcraft fans covered with a new post detailing how you can upgrade to a physical collector's edition. Just buy another copy, contact Blizzard's customer support, and then give a friend the code from the digital upgrade that you no longer need! Yes, that's what it says. Just buy another one. Which is a system that works out pretty well for your friend, at least. If you were hoping for a simpler way to use the level 90 character boost and still get the physical doodads, however, you are apparently out of luck. The Collector's Edition is priced at $89.99 and includes both digital items and physical bonuses.
Box's redesigned Android app opens almost any file you put in the cloud
Box overhauled its iOS cloud storage app early this year with a simpler, speedier interface; now, it's Android's turn. The just-launched Box 3.0 for Android shares much of its iOS cousin's look and feel, including minimalist controls and a high-speed previewer that opens over 100 file types right in the cloud. In other words, you won't have to fire up Office Mobile just to get a quick peek at that PowerPoint presentation. You can search text in any document, too, and it's easier to open content in Box-friendly apps through a built-in OneCloud gallery. The upgrade won't necessarily lure you away from the likes of Dropbox or Google Drive, but it may be welcome if you regularly deal with exotic file formats -- or if you just have to catch up on work while on the road.
BBC brings its revamped iPlayer to Sky+ HD boxes
Sky's in the middle of rolling out a big electronic programme guide (EPG) update to connected Sky+HD boxes. Part of that overhaul will see it present new ways to deliver online content, which has opened the door for the BBC to extend its latest iPlayer revamp beyond the desktop. The Beeb says it has worked closely with Sky to overhaul and update its aging iPlayer UI, making it easier for you to access programmes and navigate through listings, but also provide access to iPlayer exclusives and premieres (think Glastonbury or Radio 1's Big Weekend) for the very first time. If you haven't got it the new programme guide just yet, sit tight, Sky says it will have completed the rollout by the end of May.
Samsung Galaxy S5 comes with premium app subscriptions worth over $600 (updated)
After powering the world's most retweeted tweet, Samsung has also revealed a suite of app-based upgrades that future GS5 owners will receive, free, alongside their new smartphone. While Evernote and LinkedIn's premium services only extend to three months, we have no complaints about six free months of the Wall Street Journal and year-long access to Bloomberg's Businessweek. The Galaxy S5 will also include a year of Runkeeper Premium, as well as limited-time premium services for Map My Fitness and Skimple. There's no Dropbox this time, but there is 50GB of free cloud storage -- for six months -- from Box. Also, in case you forgot about the Galaxy S5's heart-rate sensor, you'll also pick up a year's subscription to Lark's personal wellness app, which will plug into (and monitor) all your health metrics... until you're ready to pay another 36 bucks to extend the service. But then, who can put a price on good health? Update: Samsung has provided us with more details about Gifts. Dropbox will be included after all, providing you with 50GB of free storage for two years. That alone bumps the package's total value up to $600. For a full list of Galaxy S5 upgrades, make sure to hit this link.
ZipShare from WinZip lets you manage all your cloud storage from one place
WinZip's long been the go-to .zip file manager for many PC users, but no longer is it just a tool for freeing up some hard drive space. The desktop client embraced cloud storage around the same time it tiptoed into mobile, and now it has a new service based entirely on the web. ZipShare, currently in beta, is a portal for managing data you keep in the cloud on platforms like Dropbox, Google Drive, Box, OneDrive and others. Through the ZipShare site, files uploaded to cloud services are automatically compressed, and can be password protected. They can then be shared by means of an URL, which you can publish straight to social networks, and downloads of that file can subsequently be tracked. Being able to access all your files also means you can easily manage and move them between different storage providers. It's not the best it can be on mobile devices just yet, but should be when it drops the beta tag within the next few months. Go check it out for yourself before that happens, though: all advanced features are currently free, but could cost up to $10 per month when the service launches for real.
Adobe's Lightroom for iPad makes a brief appearance, Google acquires a Nest, and other news from Jan. 12-18
With so much news and so many stories flying around every day, we here at TUAW thought it might be good to offer a quick "executive summary" of some of the most important news events from the past week. How do we measure the criteria for this round-up? Well, it's a work in progress, but the basic formula goes like this: "No rumors, no speculation, just news. If someone had been cut off from the Internet all week and came back today, what would be the stories you'd want to make sure they knew about? Or, to put it another way: what are the news stories from this past week that I'm likely to still care about in another week?" Obviously there's a certain amount of subjectivity in picking any kind of list like this, so we'll leave the comments open for awhile, in case you would like to suggest some bit of news we left off. Adobe's Lightroom for iPad briefly surfaces It looks like Adobe's Lightroom is making the leap to the iPad. 9to5Mac briefly spotted a listing for the software, with a subscription price of $99 a year, briefly on Adobe's site. When they inquired about it, Adobe pulled the link. With the release on the horizon, maybe there's hope that Apple will eventually do the same thing with Aperture. Adobe demonstrated a prototype for it in 2013. 9to5Mac says the software will sync with the desktop version of Lightroom. Apple's Anti-Trust Ebookcase The saga of Apple's anti-trust ruling in the eBook case continues to make the news. Apple sought the removal of court-appointed antitrust monitor claiming a litany of unnecessary expenses and inconveniences, but this week the judge ordered Apple and antitrust monitor to play nice. The whole thing still smells funny to many of us. Salon described it as Amazon's bogus anti-Apple crusade which didn't have the negative consequences anti-trust suits are meant to avoid. Dropbox down, but not hacked Dropbox experienced a rare bit of out downtime this week. Some well-timed pranksters tried to claim they had hacked the site, but Dropbox explains they had brought it on themselves. They outlined the problems in a post-mortem. Your Dropbox data was never at risk, but if it had been, the fine folks at Agile remind you that your Master Password is your defense from Dropbox breaches, real and imagined. Google bought Nest to the disappointment of the entire Internet Google bought Nest this week, which seemingly disappointed the entire Internet, and flooded Twitter with thousands of variations of approximately three jokes about a future update requiring a Google+ account to change your temperature. The Verge explained Why is everyone disappointed by Google buying Nest? in case you need someone to explain it to you. But my favorite response of the week was Joy Of Tech showing how Google/Nest had finally "disrupted" the market. Software Updates of Note The OmniGroup released OmniOutliner for Mac version 4. It requires OS X 10.9, and can be purchased either from the Mac App Store or directly from OmniGroup. You can download a demo from OmniGroup's website. (As always, I recommend purchasing directly from developers unless you must have iCloud. Developers can give you upgrade pricing, which Apple seems not to want to offer.) The Pro version is $100 ($50 upgrade) and the standard version is $50 ($25 upgrade). They also offer educational pricing. If you have any interest in making eBooks, you should check out Vellum which tackles the difficult process of making eBooks which are compatible with the Kindle, Nook, and iBooks. You can download and try the app for free. You only pay when you want to generate the actual files. This week they announced unlimited eBooks can be made for $300, or you can make 10 for $150, or 1 for $50. The unlimited version includes all future updates to the app. Some deals you don't want to miss There are no shortages of deals around. You can find them at http://deals.tuaw.com/ or by following our daily deals, but I did want to make sure that I made special mention of two: Save 50% in Take Control's Post-Holiday Ebook Sale: "Through 25 January 2014, you can add any number of our ebooks to your Take Control library for 50 percent off. All books are DRM-free and available in PDF, EPUB, and Mobipocket (Kindle) formats, so you can read wherever, whenever, and on whatever device you like." Get the all new Box for iPhone and iPad + 50GB free (Active Jan 15 - Feb 15, 2014). See the support page for nuts and bolts.
