2013年7月13日星期六

The week in Tech: 5 must-know things

  This week in Tech news was all about the mobile market, from the App Store's fifth anniversary to changes for e-books and tips for watching TV and movies on the go. Here's what you need to know about the week in Tech:
  1) Apple App Store turns 5
  A cellphone that lets you order food, share photos, grab a taxi, and log workout time all in one place would have been unthinkable 10 years ago. But Apple's App Store, which celebrated its fifth anniversary on Wednesday, has changed the cellphone market forever and revolutionized the way we go mobile.
  How did we get here? USA TODAY'S Jefferson Graham talked to the experts, and they had a pretty simple explanation: apps are fun and cheap (or free). Games have always been popular on PC and Mac, but the offer of Candy Crush Saga for 99 cents is too good to resist. Apple's iOS is also easy to work with for developers.
  What's in store for the future? USA TODAY's Ed Baig says the possibilities are endless: "Expect further advances in wearable computers, and the apps that communicate with them. Expect an evolution (consolidation?) in payment apps. And expect apps that will not only get faster and smarter but will do a better job of anticipating our needs and whims, whether we're at home, the office or the car."
  2) Video game roundup: 'Grand Theft Auto V,' 'NCAA Football 14'
  This week in video games, we got a first look at a highly anticipated franchise game and tested out the latest installment in the NCAA Football series.
  On Tuesday, Rockstar Games released a new trailer for Grand Theft Auto Vand a few details about the game. Grand Theft Auto V will follow Michael Trevor and Franklin as they work together in Los Santos (a fictionalized Los Angeles).
  USA TODAY's Brett Molina took a turn on NCAA Football 14 and said the game is "a major upgrade from its predecessor." New features include expanded offense options, changes to recruiting and "an overhaul of action on the gridiron."
  3) Judge: Apple conspired to raise e-book prices
  A federal judge ruled Wednesday that Apple worked with five major publishers to raise prices for e-books. The Justice Department claims Apple allowed publishers to raise prices for new releases and best sellers up to $12.99 and $14.99, compared to Amazon's usual price of $9.99
  What does this mean for you? Apple denies wrongdoing and plans on appealing the decision. The court may bar Apple from letting publishers set e-book prices for up to two years.
  4) TECH NOW: Cutting the cable cord
  A home without cable might sound like a scary prospect, but it can be done! Jennifer Jolly took a look at the best new streaming services and ways of finding TV shows, movies and sports without a cable box.
  Here's a few of her best tips for getting the most out of a cable-free life:
  — Aereo: Netflix, Amazon Prime and Hulu are the three most well-known streaming services out on the market right now. But you might want to check out a new service: Aereo. The site lets you watch regular TV on mobile devices for $8 to $12 a month (if you live on the East Coast).
  — Streaming Search Engine: The site "Can I Stream It?" tells you whether or not a certain TV show or movie is available for streaming. You can also see if certain networks have mobile apps.
  — RedBox Instant: The company that offers DVDs of new releases at little red kiosks outside 7-Elevens is now joining the streaming business. The streaming subscription costs $8 a month and includes four DVD rentals per month from Redbox kiosks.
  5) Talking Your Tech: Kris Jenner
  Unless you've been living under a rock for the past five years, you've probably heard of the Kardashian family. At the helm of this large, media-friendly family is Kris Jenner. USA TODAY's Jefferson Graham sat down with the future host of The Kris Show earlier this week to talk about Twitter and about her job as "momager" to Kim, Kourtney, Khloe and Rob.
  Jenner is a social media maven, with over 18.1 million Twitter followers and 1.7 Instagram followers. She shared a few tips for people trying to use social media to build a personal brand: use hashtags, engage people who post mean comments and strike a good balance between business Tweets and personal Tweets.

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