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Daily Update for January 16, 2014
It's the TUAW Daily Update, your source for Apple news in a convenient audio format. You'll get some the top Apple stories of the day in three to five minutes for a quick review of what's happening in the Apple world. You can listen to today's Apple stories by clicking the player at the top of the page. The Daily Update has been moved to a new podcast host in the past few days. Current listeners should delete the old podcast subscription and subscribe to the new feed in the iTunes Store here.
Box rebuilt its iOS app and is offering 50GB of free storage for downloading it
Box has released an updated version of its iOS app and is offering 50GB of free cloud storage to every user that downloads the app during the next month. Box's normal free storage limit is 10GB, so this special offer comes with a considerable boost in storage. The new app features a faster, redesigned user interface, commenting and text search and the ability to move multiple files at once. In addition, it includes support for viewing more than 100 different kinds of files. Photography-focused users will appreciate the new progressive low- to high-resolution photo loading that allows for faster previews. iOS users are the first to get the reworked version of Box, but Android and Windows Phone users can expect it later on. You can download the new Box, and claim your 50GB in free storage, over in the app store. We've included the app's launch video below.
Box redesigns its iOS app for simplicity, speed and real-time search (video)
Box is finally countering Dropbox's revamped iOS app with a redesign of its own. Its updated cloud storage software centers around a fresh, iOS 7-native interface that's both simpler and faster at drawing content. The app takes advantage of that newfound speed, too -- it now previews over 100 file types with accurate rendering, and grid views make it easier to find photos and presentations. Box has also slipped in real-time searching, a comments sidebar and the option to copy, delete or move multiple files at once. Even if these features don't justify an upgrade by themselves, the company is sweetening the pot by offering 50GB of free, lifetime space to anyone who downloads the new app within the first 30 days. If you're at all interested, we'd suggest hurrying to the App Store.
Plex Cloud Sync beta stores your media across multiple online services
As good as Plex Sync may be at keeping media libraries in harmony, it's not very helpful to mobile Plex users who can't always store or stream large files on their devices. After today, they won't have to worry. The company has just launched a beta version of Cloud Sync, which saves streaming-friendly content in third-party cloud storage services like Box, Dropbox and Google Drive. Any metadata carries over, and users can even spread their media across multiple providers; they can reserve one host for movies and another for photos, for instance. Cloud Sync is only available to PlexPass subscribers, but the required (and much faster) new Media Server release is available to everyone.
Bot & Dolly's Box takes CG into the real world (video)
Remember Bot & Dolly's awesome Kinetisphere from Google I/O 2012? Today the San Francisco-based design and engineering studio released Box, a film of the first ever synchronized live performance featuring projected 3D computer graphics, robots and actors. Imagine two Kuka industrial robots moving walls around and a projector displaying CG onto them in complete sync. Add a second projector aimed at the floor. Now introduce an actor and capture the entire scene with a 4K camera mounted on a third Kuka robot in sync with the other two. The result is a mind-blowing experience that takes CG into the real world. Flat walls transform in to 3D cubes, objects levitate and teleport -- it's magic. In fact, it's even more impressive in person. The company believes that "this methodology has tremendous potential to radically transform theatrical presentations". We briefly talked with Tarik Abdel-Gawad, Creative & Technical Director and Bradley G Munkowitz, Design Director (of Tron fame) about the technology behind the performance. The project uses two IRIS and one SCOUT robotic motion control platforms (based on Kuka robots) plus two powerful high-resolution projectors. Bot & Dolly's in-house software, which integrates with Autodesk's Maya, is used to synchronize and control the performance. As such, the work serves "as both an artistic statement and technical demonstration." See the video for yourself after the break.
Box Notes takes on Google Docs with collaborative editing, available in beta now (video)
Box users who have been using other services to compose notes and collaborate on documents can now do so from inside the app, thanks to a Box Notes. The Google Docs-esque feature set allows for real-time, collaborative document editing, with the ability to embed images and video clips. Through a simple (even sparse) UI, team members can edit a file simultaneously while adding notes to specific items, as well as comments via a side pane (similar to Word and Docs). Additionally, Box says these new features will make their way to mobile devices. Unfortunately, though, The Next Web reports that Box Notes won't see a full release until sometime in 2014, and there's no word on pricing yet either. Still, those looking to jump on the beta can sign up via the source link below.
Box gets more generous, gives users 10GB of personal cloud storage
Box may not be the first company you think of when it comes to cloud storage, as it's largely focused on serving business needs. Still, while Box's bread and butter is the enterprise, the company does dabble in personal storage, and today Box users had their lockers double in size to 10GB. That's twice the 5GB previously offered, which makes it a more spacious option than SkyDrive (7GB), Dropbox (2GB), Amazon Cloud Drive (5GB) and iCloud (5GB). The only big-name competitor with more free digital square footage, in fact, is Google Drive, which provides 15GB of space. There's also some good news for small businesses and folks who like to share their space in the cloud. Box has rolled out a new starter tier that delivers 100GB of storage and allows up to ten users for $5 a month. 100GB of web workspace for the price of a large latte? Even the smallest startups can afford that.
Box announces 10GB of free storage and $5 starter plan
Almost everything is getting more expensive it seems, with one glorious exception; online storage. In the digital storage arms race, consumers are the winners thanks to a host of generous gigs of free storage offered by companies who want you to use their service. The latest move in the (online) storage wars comes from Box, who have launched a new, free personal storage and starter storage plan for budget-minded users. Box's free personal storage accounts have been upgraded from 5 GB of free storage to 10 GB. These plans only allow for one user, but a free extra 5 GB is a free extra 5 GB. The company has also introduced a brand-new Starter plan for small businesses looking to enter cloud storage. The plan offers 100 GB of storage and up to 10 different user accounts. Box's Aaron Levie has published an interesting post about their new and upgraded storage options which featured one particularly interesting tidbit of information about how much digital data usage is growing. For reference, Box started in 2005. Individuals are now accessing, editing, sharing, presenting and manipulating more data than ever before, across more devices than anyone could have ever predicted. It's estimated that there will be nearly 40,000 exabytes of digital data created by 2020 (enough data to fill up 671,088,640,000 64GB gold iPhones). For perspective, the year we started Box, there were only 130 exabytes of data in existence. If software is eating the world, then information is eating the enterprise, and we want Box to be the simple and obvious choice for sharing and accessing that information securely. Box has an iOS app that allows users to share files with coworkers, view presentations, comment on documents and instantly view updates to spreadsheets. You can download it from the App Store here, and if you were already an existing Box "personal user" enjoy that extra 5 GB of storage space.
Box for Android update brings navigation drawer, retooled widget, account switching and more (video)
If you're one of the Box faithful who also happens to wield an Android device, you're about to snatch up a number of new features in the latest app update. The outfit has taken advantage of the navigation drawer that Google officially announced back at I/O -- the one that we've seen in a number of recent software updates (Gmail comes to mind). You'll also encounter a reconfigured updates feed with document previews for keeping track of file changes between you and your fellow collaborators. The Box app's home screen widget has been redesigned to allow resizing and scrolling within its confines. Other tweaks include revamped folder sorting / viewing, prompts to download updated files after a period of offline use and the ability to switch between user accounts. A quick look at the new features awaits in the video clip that lies just beyond the break.
The Daily Grind: Do you still like buying retail copies?
We live in a world where most games can be downloaded directly to our computers or consoles without a need for physical copies. Free-to-play games don't need game disks, and buy-to-play games like Guild Wars 2 and The Secret World mostly use them as novelties once the games are installed. Even some subscription games aren't going to ask you to hunt down a boxed copy -- you can install, buy, and play EVE Online all from your desktop. On the one hand, this means fewer packages cluttering up the house, which is pretty universally a good thing. On the other hand, some of us have a certain affection for the old boxed game, even if that model is looking increasingly out of date. So, do you still like buying boxed copies of games? Or are you happy to move on to just downloading things directly instead of dealing with the hassle of packaging? Every morning, the Massively bloggers probe the minds of their readers with deep, thought-provoking questions about that most serious of topics: massively online gaming. We crave your opinions, so grab your caffeinated beverage of choice and chime in on today's Daily Grind!
Box launches revenue-sharing scheme for app devs, iOS and Android SDKs
As great as free server space is for us regular folk, businesses use cloud storage too (and they actually pay for it). In an effort to attract the attention of mobile app developers, and ultimately keep enterprise clients happy, Box has launched a revenue-sharing program called $rev for those who create business-focused software integrated with its cloud storage platform. It's pretty simple, really. Step one: get your app to play nice with Box; step two: people use the app; step three: make it rain. By getting an app into Box's OneCloud club and enrolling in the $rev program, devs can net up to 15 percent of the "per seat price" in rewards. Although its API is already available, Box has launched iOS and Android SDKs in tandem with $rev to make the integration step a bit easier; more SDKs are expected in the "coming weeks." The $rev scheme is currently in a closed beta phase, but it'll open up in the near future. Interested app crafters can learn more about getting paid by Box, download the SDKs and sign up to $rev at the source links below.
Box acquires Folders technology with its next-gen iOS app in mind
Box just recently snapped up Crocodoc to improve the web component of its cloud storage, but what about tuning the native apps? It's addressing that side of the equation by acquiring the technology behind Folders, a third-party cloud storage app for iOS. Box loves Folders' code and design enough to want both of them inside the next generation of its iOS client. Folders creator Martin Destagnol (pictured here at center) has already been working on this for weeks, Box says. While there's no word on a similar treatment for Android, we should see the iOS partnership bear fruit in updates spread throughout the year.
Box acquires Folders, in what sounds like the least exciting acquisition deal ever
File-sharing service Box has acquired the technology behind a French app called Folders, which was never released, but is also centered on browsing and sharing files on the iPhone. Terms of the acquisition weren't revealed, but Box said that Folders would be a big influence on the next few iterations of the file-sharing software. The company also noted that its iPhone and iPad apps will be "cleaner, faster and more beautiful throughout 2013." Folders was originally designed as a viewer for Box with an impressive user interface and file-viewing features, but now will be "folded" into future versions of the app itself. Box boasts more than 15 million users at 150,000 businesses, and those numbers are growing all the time. If the folks at Box can find a way to team up with Staples and the Paper app, they could have a whole office!
Daily Update for May 23, 2013
It's the TUAW Daily Update, your source for Apple news in a convenient audio format. You'll get all the top Apple stories of the day in three to five minutes for a quick review of what's happening in the Apple world. You can listen to today's Apple stories by clicking the inline player (requires Flash) or the non-Flash link below. To subscribe to the podcast for daily listening through iTunes, click here. No Flash? Click here to listen. Subscribe via RSS
Box buys Crocodoc, gains HTML5 document converter and viewer
It's time to re-imagine your documents, apparently. Cloud storage service Box just acquired document embedding startup Crocodoc, which specializes in taking Word, PowerPoint and PDF documents and rendering them as HTML5 content inside web browsers and mobile apps. Crocodoc's technology will allow Box to seamlessly integrate document conversion and viewing into its products. The companies also plan on rolling out more features over the next year, including secure viewing, mobile collaboration, form filling and real-time presentation -- sounds like a win-win for all.
Box for Android scores new sharing and media playback options
Box subscribers that are enjoying the cloud service on an Android handset or slate can't complain about lack of updates to the app, and the same goes for those on one of the other platforms. Today, however, it's Box for Android that's on the receiving end of some more practical and valuable features, with version 2.1.5 bringing additional options to the app's shared link permissions and the ability to (finally) preview media files. It's worth nothing, though, that while all users can sample audio recordings on the go, the video feature, on the other hand, will only be available to folks with a Box Enterprise account -- and mum's the word on whether or not we can expect that to change at some point in the future. Either way, we'll leave you with the vid after the break for now, which lets all interested (and curious) parties see the new bundle in action before they potentially get going with the download.
Draft cloud editor saves writing in stages, imports from just about anywhere
Although web-based editors like Google Docs are wonderful for writers who don't have a save shortcut hardwired in their muscle memory, they're lousy for anyone who's interested in seeing major revisions on the road to a final copy. Nathan Kontny's new Draft web app might be far more helpful for those creators who work step by step. It lets writers declare given document versions as mid-progress drafts, and offers editing side-by-side with older versions to see just what's new in the current session. The app also avoids some of the lock-in that comes with cloud services by allowing imports and syncing with Box, Dropbox, Evernote and Google Drive. There's no easy way to directly publish online as this stage, but if you're only concerned with producing a masterwork in the cloud from start to draft to finish, Kontny's web tool is waiting at the source link.
Box Windows Phone, Windows 8 apps get new features, including file previews and more
Box has done a pretty decent job at bringing novel features to its apps on the various platforms they are present in, and today it's turn for a couple of Microsoft's properties to get some fresh tidbits from the cloud storage service. For starters, both of Box's Windows Phone and Windows 8 applications will now have the ability to see easily preview files (Box says more than 75 types) -- a feature that's been available on Android since late last year, and one that'll surely come in handy to Redmond's user base. Additionally, Box also announced a few platform-specific goodies, with the Windows 8 app seeing the addition of a new navigation bar for quick access to docs, while the Windows Phone equivalent nabbed a revamped wide cycle tile which allows for updates to be viewed via its own Live Tile (so long as it's the largest size). These changes are live now, so check' em out and give 'em a whirl the next time you open your Box app.
Mozilla details apps for Firefox OS: Facebook, Cut the Rope, Nokia Here and Twitter confirmed
We've only just stepped into Mozilla's press arena but the Firefox creators handed a rich press kit as we did, detailing a fair chunk of what we're expecting to see over the next hour. One of the more noticeable announcements focused on Firefox Marketplace, detailing HTML5 apps you might have heard of before. Along the predictable likes of Facebook and Twitter, games like Cut The Rope will also make an appearance on the new mobile OS, as well as Where's My Water, Disney Mobile and EA game titles. There will be support for cloud file storage through Box too, as well as a mapping app from Nokia Here. Yes, the Finnish phone maker will be bringing its location clout to Firefox OS. SoundCloud, Pulse News, Time Out and Airbnb have also signed up for the new operating system. Want to know more? Check the PR after break.
Box offering 25 GB for free in promotion
Filesharing service Box is offering up 25 GB of free cloud storage in a new promotion (supposedly for "Gameday," but it seems to still be in effect anyway). To qualify, you must be a new customer on a free plan, or just sign up for a new account with a new email address. The deal is also for non-commercial use only, and because it's free, there's a file-size cap of 250 MB that you'll have to duck in under. But even with those catches, who couldn't use some extra storage, right? Box's deal is as up for as long as they leave it up, so definitely jump on it soon if you're interested. [via Engadget]
