Foxtel Presto added to Chromecast lineup

Foxtel's movie streaming app Presto is finally available on Chromecast, making Google's dongle more attractive.

When Chromecast launched in May in Australia, Foxtel announced that Presto would become available for Chromecast in July.

However, EzyFlix beat Presto with the launch of its EzyFlix.tv video-on-demand and video-to-buy streaming service on Chromecast in June.

Attractive 'casting

Available for monthly $19.95 subscriptions, as a launch partner, Foxtel is offering a month's subscription for Presto for free if you purchase and use Presto with Chromecast.

Foxtel also announced that News Corp Digital subscribers are being offered Presto for free for two months.

Presto is now available on select Android 4.1 devices as well from today, including Samsung Galaxy Note and Tab tablets, as well as the Nexus 7 and 10.

• For more info, you should check out our Chromecast review, as well as our Foxtel Presto review.

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BLIP: Community back for sixth season as Yahoo makes first big original TV splash

Cancelled cult U.S. comedy series Community will be back for sixth season after all after Yahoo acquired the rights to keep the show alive.

A new 13-episode series will air on Yahoo Screen this autumn, under the direction of creator Dan Harmon. The popular show, which had been under constant threat of cancellation throughout its run, was finally canned by NBC following the fifth season.

For Yahoo, the coup represents the first real salvo in its bit to rival Netflix and Amazon as a destination for original programming online. For fans, it's another step towards realising the #SixSeasonsAndAMovie in joke.

"I look forward to bringing our beloved NBC sitcom to a larger audience by moving it online. I vow to dominate our new competition. Rest easy, Big Bang Theory. Look out, Bang Bus!" Harmon joked.

More blips!

Don't worry, fans. We won't cancel these blips on you...

• Other than Virtual Boy flashbacks, what did Miyamoto see in the Oculus Rift?


• Forget self-driving cars, Toyota wants us to fly


• Ballmer's ballin' as Big Steve reportedly wins battle to buy LA Clippers

Via TIME

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The Windows 9 preview may drop in a few months

Last May we learned the Windows 9 preview could come by 2015. Now word on the internet street says the preview version of Microsoft's operating system could launch much earlier than anticipated.

Microsoft sources told ZDNet that the next version of Windows OS, codenamed "Threshold," will arrive with a preview build in a few months time. While the preview date has been moved up from a previously rumored February release, Windows 9 is still expected to drop in the first half of 2015.

The same sources also say Windows 9 will have more features designed for desktop-oriented users than Windows 8.1. The new version will rely more on a mouse and keyboard, and touch will become an optional input, rather than a focus.

One of the most notable additions, or reintroductions, that reflects this is Threshold's inclusion of the Mini-Start menu.

Originally demoed at Microsoft Build 2014, this revamped menu bar will include the usual list of applications. Plus, users will supposedly be able to pin Metro-styled live tiles to the start menu.

Transform and log out

On top of being more desktop focused, Windows 9 is said to transform itself based on the hardware it's installed on.

PC and laptops will receive a SKU version of Windows that brings the desktop to the forefront of the interface. Transforming laptops, such as the Lenovo Yoga 2 11 and the Surface Pro 3, will start with the Metro splash screen and switch to Windowed mode when the keyboard is in use.

Other tablet and phone platforms won't have a desktop at all. Devices might be able to run apps side-by-side similar to the Samsung Galaxy S5.

Oh right, Windows 8.1

Along with the new Windows 9 details, Microsoft is rumored to be delivering the next Windows 8.1 update this August.

Reportedly, this second and final update will come will just a few UI adjustments and tweaks, but nothing majorly game changing. It seems Windows 8.1 is destined to fade away into obsolescence much like Vista.

• Seems like the Xbox One is being left out of all this Windows update news

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Can a Netflix-style subscription model rescue the Ouya games console?

The company behind the Android-based Ouya games console is testing out a new all-you-can-eat subscription model.

A leaked internal email obtained by the Gamasutra site, revealed the firm is offering a "very limited" pilot scheme, allowing gamers to snap-up a 12-month subscription with access to all games in the library.

The $59.99 "All Access Pass" promises a $2,000 value and brings full access to over 800 Android games, although in-app purchases will be extra.

Passes can be purchased from the Ouya website now, although the firm is telling developers the tariff won't be permanent

Insight

"To reiterate, this is just a test that will help us understand our gamers better and provide valuable insight on whether some sort of an OUYA subscription, in this form or another, makes sense in the future," the company wrote an email to the developer community.

The subscription package will not negatively impact developers fee who will still get their 70 per cent purchase fee, every time a game is downloaded.

The Kickstarter-funded microconsole garnered a great deal of hype in the run up to launch, but has since struggled to capture the capture the imagine of gamers.

With a host of competitors like the Mad Catz Android console, Sony PlayStation TV, Amazon Fire TV and the new Google-built Android TV platform it's not going to get any easier for Ouya.

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Mirror your iPhone or iPad to your PC

Splashtop's new Mirroring360 turns your PC or Mac into an AirPlay receiver for displaying your iDevice screen. And it's on sale.

















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The Windows 9 preview may drop this autumn

Last May we learned the Windows 9 preview could come by early Spring 2015. Now word on the internet street says the preview version of Microsoft's operating system could launch much earlier than anticipated.

Microsoft sources told ZDNet that the next version of Windows OS, codenamed "Threshold," will arrive with a preview build this fall. While the preview date has been moved up from a previously rumored February release, Windows 9 is still expected to drop Spring 2015.

The same sources also say Windows 9 will have more features designed for desktop-oriented users than Windows 8.1. The new version will rely more on a mouse and keyboard, and touch will become an optional input, rather than a focus.

One of the most notable additions, or reintroductions, that reflects this is Threshold's inclusion of the Mini-Start menu.

Originally demoed at Microsoft Build 2014, this revamped menu bar will include the usual list of applications. Plus, users will supposedly be able to pin Metro-styled live tiles to the start menu.

Transform and log out

On top of being more desktop focused, Windows 9 is said to transform itself based on the hardware it's installed on.

PC and laptops will receive a SKU version of Windows that brings the desktop to the forefront of the interface. Transforming laptops, such as the Lenovo Yoga 2 11 and the Surface Pro 3, will start with the Metro splash screen and switch to Windowed mode when the keyboard is in use.

Other tablet and phone platforms won't have a desktop at all. Devices might be able to run apps side-by-side similar to the Samsung Galaxy S5.

Oh right, Windows 8.1

Along with the new Windows 9 details, Microsoft is rumored to be delivering the next Windows 8.1 update this August.

Reportedly, this second and final update will come will just a few UI adjustments and tweaks, but nothing majorly game changing. It seems Windows 8.1 is destined to fade away into obsolescence much like Vista.

• Seems like the Xbox One is being left out of all this Windows update news

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IBM and Bon Appétit magazine cook up an app for home chefs

IBM and Bon Appétit magazine have launched a cooking app that can automatically recommend recipes and ingredient combinations based on user-defined parameters. The technology that powers the app is built on IBM Watson, the supercomputer that won Jeopardy! in 2011.

The app, Chef Watson with Bon Appétit, was built by feeding roughly 9,000 Bon Appétit recipes into the IBM supercomputer. Watson processed the articles and developed insights about ingredient pairings, cooking styles, and dishes, which the computer then combined with scientific information about food chemistry, popular opinions and tastes, and regional and ethnic cooking, according to a Bon Appétit blog post.

Users will be able to generate recipes by inputting parameters, such as ingredients, allergy and dietary restrictions, and portions. Watson will use the parameters to determine millions of possible combinations, ingredient amounts and preparation instructions.

How to get the app

Bon Appétit readers can apply to become a beta tester for the app. Testing will be conducted over the following “weeks and months” before the app is generally released, the blog post said.

In February, IBM embarked on a 10-year project to bring Watson technology to Africa. As part of the initiative, IBM will be investing $100 million (£61 million, AU$111 million) to stimulate business opportunities and growth in Africa.

• What are the best foodie apps?

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Twitter officially rolls out mobile app install ads

Get ready to see a lot more advertisements on Twitter promoting apps.

The social media company announced it is rolling out mobile app promotions. These ads will appear as normal tweets and include a link escorting users directly to the Google Play or iTunes App store.

This will make it easy for app developers, as Twitter illustrated, like Real Racing to promote its apps by including a link that automatically redirects user to buy the app. Users will still get the final say on whether or not they chose to buy the app, but any resulting downloads will put a little money into Twitter's pocket.

Alternatively, if the user already has the app installed it will launch the piece of software instead, which could be useful for any games with new updates bringing more levels.

While Android and iOS users will both see the ads, they won't be coming to either Windows Phone or BlackBerry devices. Twitter says it has no plans to add this functionality to either platform.

The "in" crowd

Although the promotional downloads just launched globally, they've been a part of Twitter since April starting off as beta test.

Twitter also joins the group of other sites that have employed mobile app promotions including YouTube and Facebook. The later company has enjoyed a swelling mobile ad business and now Twitter is looking to cash in on the same deal.

On top of app install ads, app publishers will get an expanded set of reporting and analytical tools to follow how well their promotions are doing. What's more, companies can target their ads to users based on interest, keyword, gender, geographic location, language, and mobile devices.

There's no way to escape advertisements even on Twitter, but on the bright side at least I will be easy to download that app if interests you.

• Ads also could make their way to everyday items

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