| In Depth: 10 great GALAXY S4 and Note 8.0 apps for the theatre lover Sep 17th 2013, 14:01, by Your Mobile Life 
Thanks to the GALAXY S4 and Note 8.0, finding what's on at the theatre, reading the latest reviews or even writing plays on the go has never been easier.
As this month saw the launch of York Mystery Plays, we decided it was the ideal time to round up the best S4 and Note 8.0 apps that every theatre fan needs to know about.
Finding plays, reviews and theatres 
1. UK Theatre Web
Free - get it here
The UK Theatre Web (UKTW) has been offering listings, news and reviews on the latest theatre releases since 1995. The UKTW app lets you search for a play by venue, town or person.
Whether you're searching for something specific, or you just want to check the top performing arts listings (arranged by top 20 London and regional shows), UKTW really is the place to find, read about and buy tickets straight from your GALAXY S4 or Note 8.0. It also offers a price comparison service and occasional exclusive discounts for UKTW app users, so you can pick up a bargain.
2. StubHub
Free - get it here
If you like to plan your theatre visit down to the last detail, then the StubHub app is just what you need. With one of the world's largest ticket marketplaces (where you can buy and sell tickets) StubHub goes that little bit further and shows you venue plans plus pictures of the views of the stage, so you can be sure of the theatre experience you are buying before you spend a penny.
Anyone who has found a theatre ticket bargain online, only to discover later that the reason it was so cheap was because there was a large pillar obstructing the view, will find just the reassurance they need from StubHub.
3. London Official City Guide
Free - get it here Arguably the home of UK theatre life is in London, and the London Official Guide App (made by the people behind the popular VisitLondon.com website) offers you comprehensive listings for the capital.
The 'What's on' section lists highlights and free attractions, gives you directions and allows you to book tickets as well as read overviews and reviews, and you can even see video previews of the plays available. This really does offer you a succinct but informed view of the London performing arts scene.
Another great free app to check out if you want to find out what's on in the capital is the "Things to do: London" app from Time Out.
4. AroundMe
Free - get it here AroundMe is a business location device to help you find what you want when you are travelling. It's particularly useful for those with more than a passing interest in the arts.
Clicking on the Theatres category not only locates local theatres, showing them on Google Maps (with photos and descriptions of the venues pulled in from Foursquare), it also lists places where you can learn theatre crafts – including theatre schools and places offering music and singing lessons.
5. WordPress
Free - get it here Want to write your own reviews about the plays you've seen? There is no faster way to get your opinions up on the web than creating your own Wordpress site, and the WordPress app lets you update it straight from your GALAXY S4 or Note 8.0.
With a smooth and intuitive interface and a handy side menu that helps you get where you want straight away, it's so easy to get blogging you could post your review about the play you just saw from the theatre bar afterwards. Writing plays
6. Fade In Mobile
£3.11 - buy it here
Fancy not just reviewing plays, but writing your own? Then screenplay editor app Fade In Mobile may well be what you need. Specifically designed for touch interfaces, it lets you add standard script styles and has automatic script formatting as you type. It also helps out with character and location names.
If you have a Dropbox account you can back up your masterpiece to that so you can work across multiple devices. The one downside is that it will only save your work as .fadein files, so they can only be opened within the app or the Fade In desktop application.
There is also a free version which only lets you work on one project at a time, which is a good way to test whether it's worth splashing out for the full app.
7. MyScreenplays Pro
£1.94 - buy it here MyScreenplays is another screen-writing app which is slightly simpler (and cheaper) than Fade In Mobile, with the bonus that you can export your work into various file formats – PDF, HTML or Word document – and you can also back it up to Google Drive.
This is a non-linear writing app, allowing you to rearrange plot elements (dialogues, actions and sequences) by clicking on arrows to move them around. It also autoformats the text into screenplay format and auto-completes character names as you type.
There is a free version to try before you buy, too.
Working in theatre
8. The Stage Jobs & Auditions
£1.79 - buy it here Any aspiring theatre writer, director or performer should always be keeping an eye on what jobs are available within their sphere of interest. The Stage has been providing job listings for those keen to get involved with the arts since 1880, so if anyone can find you your dream theatre job, it's this title.
Don't want to pay? The GALAXY S4 and Note 8.0's generous screen sizes makes browsing The Stage's website a pleasure, and it gives you access to the same job information the app has for free. Reading or listening to plays 
9. BBC iPlayer Radio
Free - get it here
Of course, you don't need to go to the theatre to experience a play. The regular play slots on BBC Radio 3 and Radio 4 provide a wide variety of free performances, and the dedicated BBC Radio iPlayer makes finding them and listening to them on the move a breeze.
Just click on the "Drama" category to see a list of all the plays available for you to stream to your GALAXY device. If you are worried about the data costs of streaming radio to your phone or tablet on the move, some shows are included in downloadable podcasts, which you can keep stored on the GALAXY S4 or Note 8.0 to listen to later. 
10. Shakespeare Complete Works
Free - get it here
If you're not in the mood for watching or listening, how about just reading a play? And what better place to start than with William Shakespeare? As all the plays are out of copyright, there are numerous places where you can download the complete works of Shakespeare onto your GALAXY S4 or Note 8.0 to read at your leisure.
One of these is the Shakespeare Complete Works app, which lets you access (almost) all of his plays and sonnets for free. It includes Hamlet, Romeo and Juliet, Macbeth, King Lear, Othello, A Midsummer Night's Dream, The Merry Wives of Windsor, The Merchant of Venice, Henry IV, Henry V, Henry VI, Richard II and Richard III.
You can also read 40 of Shakespeare's plays and all 154 sonnets for free on this Shakespeare (Beta) app. Google Play Books also has a lot of older out-of-copyright plays from the likes of Shakespeare, Francis Bacon and Molière – all for free.        |  | Updated: Nokia Lumia 1520 reveal looks set for October 22 Sep 17th 2013, 14:00, by Hugh Langley 
Update: Nokia has just tweeted a teaser for the event, outing the date as October 22. There's also a picture of what looks like some Abu Dhabi sand dunes. Could be an interesting location for a Nokia event to take place. Original story below... Until now we were expecting to be treated to Nokia's rumoured phablet handset, the Lumia 1520, on September 26. Sorry folks, but it looks like that's just changed. The suspected 6-inch device is now scheduled for around mid-October, according to sources speaking to The Verge. The event was originally set to take place in New York but apparently the location may have also changed, though we're not told where to. Illuminating informationOf course this may well have something to do with Microsoft's recent massive buyout of Nokia's handset business. We've told that the Lumia device will be the first Windows Phone device with a full HD display, and expected to arrive in red, yellow, black and white. It might not be the only device on the Nokia horizon either, with its first tablet - codenamed Sirius - said to be about to break cover.        | | BlackBerry Z30 set for Asian unveil next week Sep 17th 2013, 11:25, by James Rogerson 
BlackBerry's much leaked new flagship, the BlackBerry Z30, is set to be unveiled at an event in Malaysia on the September 18. According to a source speaking to Pocket Lint, the new flagship handset will go on sale in Asian stores soon after. Simultaneous events are being held in France and India, so it's likely that the BlackBerry Z30 will make an appearance at those too, but it's the Malaysian event and an Asian launch which have specifically been mentioned. Following its launch in Asia, the BlackBerry Z30 is supposedly going to launch in the US two to three weeks later, though as yet BlackBerry hasn't confirmed any of this and so far there's no word on exactly when it will hit the UK. All change for the ZThe BlackBerry Z30 (previously known as the A10) aims to replace the BlackBerry Z10 as BlackBerry's premier non-QWERTY smartphone. Numerous leaks have sprung up, suggesting that the handset will be substantially larger than its predecessor, with a 5 inch 1280 x 768 Super AMOLED display. That extra size supposedly allows it to have an extra row of icons on the homescreen, giving it five rows rather than four. Previous leaks suggest that the BlackBerry Z30 will have a 1.7 GHz dual-core processor, 2GB of RAM and a 2,880 mAh battery. It's also said to have 16GB of built in storage along with a micro SD card slot, while an 8MP camera looks likely, backed up by a 2MP front-facing one. The BlackBerry Z30 will ship with BlackBerry 10.2, a brand new build of BlackBerry 10, while it's also rumoured that it will support Qi wireless charging and NFC. The new handset is likely to push the BlackBerry Z10 and the BlackBerry Q10 down to mid range positions and leave the BlackBerry Q5 as an entry level handset, giving consumers access to BlackBerry 10 at more price points. The BlackBerry Z30 is arriving at a dire time for BlackBerry, as the company is actively looking to sell itself, having failed to generate much consumer interest in its latest range of smartphones. It might be optimistic to think that the BlackBerry Z30 will turn things around for the struggling company, but it certainly looks like a decent successor to the Z10.        | | Nexus 4 sells out but Google reportedly has no plans to restock it Sep 17th 2013, 05:24, by Michelle Fitzsimmons 
While the Nexus 5 was busy partying, the 16GB Nexus 4 was busy selling out at the US Google Play Store. And it's reportedly never coming back. According to a "trusted source" for The Verge, Google has no plans to restock the Nexus 4 back in any storage configuration in the U.S. It already sold out of the 8GB Nexus 4 after a price cut, and while "a few" devices remain in stock in other countries, once those devices are sold out, Google supposedly won't replace them. A check of the Google Play Store has this message for the 8GB and 16GB phones: "We are out of inventory. Please check back soon." Not that checking back will do any good. Nexus 5 release date nearing?It seems we are inching ever close to the debut of the Nexus 5. The phone has been popping up left and right, including in a bar, just like it's predecessor was outed before it's official release. The phone we've seen so far could be far from the final product, but it looks like we can expect a device similar to the LG G2. Rumored specs include Bluetooth 4.0, NFC, dual-band 802.11 b/g/n/ac and 7-band LTE support. Chances are we'll see it with Android 4.3, but Google could be calculating a release timed with Android 4.4 KitKat. Nothing is official until Google gives the word, but all signs are pointing to an incoming Nexus 5.        | | Nexus 5 caught making merry in a bar Sep 16th 2013, 23:53, by Michelle Fitzsimmons 
Stop us if you've heard this one before: An unannounced phone is spotted in a bar... No, this isn't a retelling of the iPhone 4 prototype saga. It's a new tale being spun about the Nexus 5, which was apparently recently found charging at a watering hole. According to 9to5Google, which obtained photos and video of the possible new Nexus out on the town, a Google employee left it plugged in unsupervised. A bar employee took the opportunity to take some photos and shoot some vid. The hardware matches with previous leaks (such as the Android KitKat commercial) and FCC filings (see here and here). 9to5Google theorized it may be running Android 4.4 KitKat, though the bootup screen has the markings of Google Play Edition handsets. YouTube : http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QPYVbaF1JmgNexus 5 found?There is one key difference between today's lush phone and previous leaks. The "Not For Sale" stamp is along the back and bottom, a different placement than the handset spotted in last week's FCC filing. The phone in the Android 4.4 commercial has no discernible warning, but the disparities are likely a matter of different pre-production models. We can't glean much more from the pics and video, but previous leaks have us preparing for a handset based on the LG G2. The Nexus 5 will undoubtedly run a stripped down version of Android, just like the Nexus 4. Wait, we're starting to recall that the Nexus 4 had a similar found-in-a-bar yarn of its own. Maybe keep unreleased phones at home, Google-ites? - You haven't seen a phone until you've checked out the Moto X.
       | | iOS 7-inspired changes may be coming to the Twitter iOS app Sep 16th 2013, 21:24, by Lily Prasuethsut 
Amid all the hubbub over Twitter's recent IPO filing, word on the 'net is that the not-so-little birdie may be releasing a series of mobile updates. A new app rollout isn't too far off though, especially since Twitter recently asked users to sign up for its Android beta program to squash out bugs. Twitter will release a small app update following Apple's September 18 iOS 7 release, sources for AllThingsD claimed, and a larger update will hit the airwaves sometime later. With the Facebook interface always morphing, Yahoo's recent logo switch and Google's own purportedly impending logo change, it's not surprising Twitter feels the need for a refresh to stay current. Pictures, pictures, pictures According the The New York Times, the Twitter app will update the tweet stream to be more visually appealing. Pictures and videos in your Twitter stream will be displayed automatically without the need to click and expand, much like the Discover tab, for an image-heavy experience. Additionally, the Times says Twitter will take cues from iOS 7 and aim for a crisper and cleaner look to "feel more alive." The mobile update will also include the ability to swipe from stream to stream, and do away with the four buttons on the bottom, for seamlessness that allows for more content and less interface. Finally, Twitter is said to be experimenting with a stream for TV-related tweets and conversations only. While such a feature would help viewers connect in real time while watching their favorite shows, the main purpose of the TV-dedicated stream would be to help first-time users jump into the fray after seeing "#" and "@" during commercials, according to ATD.        | | Samsung reportedly already planning Galaxy Gear 2 with GPS Sep 16th 2013, 19:31, by Michael Rougeau 
Samsung just announced its Galaxy Gear smartwatch, but a second-gen successor is reportedly already in the works. The Galaxy Gear 2 will feature improvements like greater device compatibility and GPS capabilities, Korean site media.daum.net (via Tech Kiddy) reported today. Rumor (and logic) has it that the Galaxy Gear 2 could launch next year at CES or MWC, two of the biggest tech conferences out there. But besides the much-appreciated addition of a GPS chip, other possible improvements in the Galaxy Gear 2 are the stuff of speculation. To-do listThe current Galaxy Gear will only be compatible with the Galaxy Note 3 at launch, though future Android updates like the Android 4.3 release for the Galaxy S4 will add more devices to that list. To improve on that the Galaxy Gear 2 will need to launch with full Android device compatibility, which seems perfectly reasonable to us. In addition, the first-gen Gear reportedly comes with a battery life of about 25 hours, so users who wear it all day will probably need to charge it overnight. In comparison Sony's Smartwatch 2 can supposedly go three to four days between charges, so an improvement in battery life for the Gear 2 would help catch it up to its competition. Beyond that we're just guessing, but from where we're standing it seems Samsung would do well to take that $299/£299 (about AU$320) price point down a few notches as well. Pre-orders for the Galaxy Gear kick off tonight at midnight on AT&T.        | | Samsung Galaxy S5 may touch down in Android and Tizen versions Sep 16th 2013, 19:05, by Hugh Langley 
The Samsung Galaxy S5 is one of life's inevitabilities, and it seems like the wheels are well in motion. First we heard that it will most likely come packing a 64-bit processor chip and now it sounds like the phone may offer up both Android and Tizen variations. Samsung is clearly keen to push Tizen OS but will be keeping a grip on the popular Android interface for the time being, with Android 4.4 KitKat expected to go live October. Co-CEO of Samsung, Boo-Keun Yoon, said that the plan is to use Tizen on future phones and tablets, with the S5 likely to come in both a Tizen and Android version. Eye of the TizenOther rumoured features of the phone include an optical image stabilisation camera and a body built from aluminium and magnesium. We even saw some patent images surface recently, pointing to what might be a less nature-inspired look found on the Samsung Galaxy S4. Right now we're expecting Samsung to stick to its cycles and release the Galaxy S5 in March 2014.        | | Sailfish OS now compatible with Android, Jolla hopes for a coattail ride Sep 16th 2013, 17:46, by Michael Rougeau 
Finnish start-up Jolla announced today that its Sailfish OS is now compatible with Android software and hardware, an achievement it hopes will help Sailfish speed into the global market. In a press release Jolla said that Sailfish users will now be able to "take full advantage of the Android application ecosystem," naming specific Android apps, like Instagram, WhatsApp, Spotify and popular Chinese messaging app WeChat, that are compatible with Sailfish. Sailfish users can download Android apps directly from "various app stores globally," the release said, though which ones exactly is unclear (GigaOM says the Google Play Store is not in the cards - we reached out to Jolla to find out for sure). In addition, the Sailfish OS is now compatible with common Android hardware, "particularly smartphones and tablets." Break on throughThis makes it easier for existing Android hardware manufacturers to develop Sailfish-based devices, since they can put the OS on the same hardware they're already using for Android - but will it be enough for the OS to make inroads into the global market? The mobile market is dominated by a disproportionately small number of operating systems, making it difficult for new options to make a dent. But Android is already in global use, and Jolla might just be able to ride its coattails to success. "We believe Sailfish with Android compatibility is a highly relevant mobile operating system option for major mobile companies in Europe and in Asia," Jolla CEO Tomi Pienimäki said in today's press release. He added that they are "already in discussions with several major Asian vendors." All aboardJolla was formed by ship jumpers from Nokia who left after the company ditched its Linux-based MeeGo OS in favor of Microsoft's Windows Phone platform. Sailfish was built from the ashes of MeeGo, and Jolla's been sailing that schooner ever since. Now that Microsoft has officially taken control of Nokia devices and services division, Jolla believes that "the strategic position of Jolla and Sailfish OS has strengthened significantly," according to its announcement. And in response to "positive feedback and increased demand" Jolla will offer a second batch of Sailfish phone pre-orders on its website this week aimed at "Finnish customers who want to express their passion for the Finnish mobile industry." We've asked Jolla to clarify some points, like what app stores and apps Sailfish is compatible with, and we'll update this story when we hear back.        | | In Depth: The five phones that EVERYBODY loved Sep 16th 2013, 14:27, by Gary Cutlack 
There was a time when phones used to be a bit different from each other. Buyers used to have choices that extended a little further than whether they'd like their featureless new rectangle to run iOS or Android, with the phones of old having quirkier appearances and more unpredictable features. Nokias were nothing like Panasonics, Sony had some bonkers ideas, Palm existed and LG pioneered with some weird touchscreen models way before Apple worked out how to make them feel nice and actually work properly. Many older handsets came with their own operating systems and therefore had different personalities. Some had games, some didn't, some had chunky little aerials to fiddle with, and it was always, always possible to work out which way up they were in your pocket by feel alone. We miss the days when phones weren't all homogenised into the same form factor by the one huge factory in China that makes everything, so here are the five finest phones that made us love them by being different and proud of it. Nokia 3210
- Year: 1999
- Launch Price: £400
The first phone of a generation. We loved it like we love a first car. It didn't matter what make it was, how fast it was or how cool it looked, the fact that it existed, worked and was ours* was enough. We were empowered with the ability to adjust meeting times and dates while on trains, we could send text messages when a full conversation would be needless or awkward, while T9 text input had us texting with ease on the keypad. It had three games and you could choose the sounds it made, plus you could purchase after-market covers to jazz up that staid exterior. Cutting-edge tech that changed lives. *Subject to contract, terms & conditions apply. Sony Ericsson K800i
- Year: 2006
- Launch Price: £400
Sony's been a bit shy about putting its Cyber-shot branding on mobiles of late, but it was this promise of decent portable imaging, teamed with a capable 3.15MP sensor with autofocus, flash, a dedicated shutter button and a cute little sliding lens cover that convinced people the K800i was the coolest phone to own in 2006. Its burst mode photo tool was innovative back then too, letting users capture nine shots and pull out the best of them to keep - a system most modern smartphone makers are still trying to pretend to have invented themselves today. And while we may laugh at its clunky candybar looks now, just seven years ago this was the phone used by gadget king James Bond to text his East European lady friends in product-placement motion picture bonanza Casino Royale. Nokia N95
- Year: 2007
- Launch Price: £450
As well as dominating the cheap candybar market for years, Nokia was also king of the newly emerging smartphone world for a bit. Phones weren't quite as smart in 2007 as they are now, but the S60/Symbian OS was the hackable Android equivalent of its day. A 5MP camera was a thrilling thing to have on a phone back then, which Nokia coupled with GPS, Wi-Fi, a decent web browser and HSDPA radio support. It was the nerd's phone of choice, thanks to Nokia managing to push it as a powerful computer inside a chunky little sliding case. It wasn't quite that, but it had all the elements of today's smartphones in place - just working a bit slower than they do now. BlackBerry Bold 
- Year: 2008
- Launch Price: £500
Released shortly after the iPhone began recalibrating everything, the BlackBerry Bold 9000 series model appeared to have the power and style to give Apple's newcomer a thorough kicking. It was slimmer than previous BB models, supported the full-speed HSDPA mobile data connections, and incorporated all of today's smartphone must-haves like GPS, Wi-Fi, a camera, SD card memory upgrades and more. The Bold was solid (with an erotic leatherette back), the keyboard a dream, the display large and clear. It was a winner. Shame about what came next for BlackBerry (nee RIM). HTC Desire 
- Year: 2010
- Launch Price: £500
The first genuinely Triple-A Android model, the original HTC Desire was also one of the last smartphones to really stand out from the crowd in design terms. It was brown for a start, had chunky silver buttons and even came with a glowing red Terminator eye inside its clickable track sensor, a feature that would soon disappear from the Android spec sheet. With a 1GHz processor inside, the old Desire still functions pretty well as a smartphone today, although HTC never took it past a DIY upgrade to Android 2.3.   | |
No comments:
Post a Comment