The Facebook takeover of WhatsApp was only finalized recently, but already we can see Mark Zuckerberg's ubiquitous social network having an influence over the popular messaging app: WhatsApp now shows when messages have been read, courtesy of the magical WhatsApp blue tick!

In an over-the-air update which is already available to everyone, WhatsApp received additional functionality to display when sent messages have been read, making its differences between Facebook Messenger ever smaller. When a message has been read, the two ticks seen in your WhatsApp conversation window will now turn blue. In group chats, checks will only turn blue when ALL recipients have read the message. 

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Blackberry is trying to reinvent itself to stay relevant in the smartphone markets across the world. An important part of Blackberry ecosystem is the software it makes. The ever popular Blackberry Messenger application now offers self destructing messages (a la Snapchat) and also offers message retraction. The updated version of BBM has been made available across all the platforms. Blackberry OS, Android and iOS. 
The feature, called 'Timed Messages' allow you to send self destructing messages. It allows the sender to define how long will the receiver will have access to the pictures or text you've sent via BBM. As soon as the set time for the message expires, the message is deleted from the recipient's application. If the receiver takes a screenshot of the message, the sender is alerted about the same as well. Blackberry believes that this feature will give the users of blackberry more control over their own privacy.

The second addition to the latest BBM, called Retractable Messages will allow the sender to retract the message before it's read by the receiver. The receiver will not know about the message that has been retracted. Both the features are being offered as 'premium features' but will be free for the first three months.

The latest update also lets the users send and receive full versions of the pictures (without any compression). You should be able to get access to all these new features over the next few days/weeks via an update.

Microsoft to Cut Xbox One Prices for Holidays

Microsoft has announced that it will offer a $50 price reduction to its entire family of a Xbox One next-generation gaming consoles.  Microsoft newest price points have a little something for most gamers as their Xbox One model that comes with the Kinect motion camera will retail for $449 – a $50 reduction from its list price of $499.  The standalone Xbox One without the Kinect camera will sell for $349 (down from $399).  This $50 price drop will also be seen in various Xbox gaming bundles as well.  This reduction is clearly a shot at Sony’s PlayStation 4 that has outsold the Xbox One this year.

Google's awesome new email experiment, Inbox by Gmail, started out as an exclusive invite-only affair. But a few days after it was released to the few, it was released to many more, with a lot of invite requests being sent out to those that were quickest to request them. Then, a few days after that, three golden tickets appeared for the early birds to gift to their friends. Update: While the golden tickets evaporated within minutes of appearing, now they have been replenished, making those with Inbox by Gmail invitations to share suddenly popular again. We've shared how to get an Inbox by Gmail invite below.

It's still unclear if Google is replenishing golden tickets on a regular basis (with new invites appearing every Monday), periodically depending on when you gave away the last of your invites, or just randomnly, but myself and a few others at jonesarena found our stock of three invites magically renewed this morning as we settled in at our desks. For us that's been a week since we first had golden tickets to share.

If you haven't yet requested an invitation to Inbox by Gmail and don't have any friends with spare invites, you can still send an email to inbox@google.com to request one. A few days after you get invited you should have three golden tickets to share with friends, and a week after that it looks like your stocks will be refreshed. So you'll be popular at least once a week for the foreseeable future!

How to get an invitation for Inbox by Gmail

If your firiend has Inbox by Gmail, the golden tickets are located above the compose button (the little red floating bubble). Just tap the golden ticket and enter a personal Gmail address (corporate accounts don't work yet). You only get three invites to start with, so choose wisely. Just don't go trying to sell an Inbox by Gmail invite to anyone.

If you receive the invitation email and don't want it, you can forward it on to a friend who will then be able to use Inbox as long as that invitation email is in their Gmail inbox. There's some ''pay it forward'' type threads on Reddit for getting and giving Inbox invites too.

Update: If you sign into your device (assuming you have Inbox) with a friend's Google account, switch to their name in the app and then get them to launch the app on their phone, they should have access to the service, even if you delete their account from your phone afterwards. Enjoy the Inbox by Gmail.

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NFC stands for near-field-communication, essentially, a way for your phone to interact with something in close proximity. It operates within a radius of about 4 cm and provides a wireless connection between your device and another. This allows for two-way communication, with both devices involved being able to send and receive information. This NFC connection does not rely on Wi-Fi, 3G, LTE, or otherwise, and it does not cost to use.

NFC is something you may often hear about in regards to new smartphones, but something which few people have an understanding of, or even use. Yes, it’s an acronym, but not all acronyms have to be scary! Not only is NFC easy to understand (at least in principle), it can also be incredibly useful.

Just like Bluetooth

It is like Bluetooth! Both Bluetooth and NFC offer wireless 2-way transmission between devices and usually come as standard on modern smartphones.

However, they do differ in some areas. Bluetooth has a larger operational range (up to 30 feet, in some instances), but it usually consumes more battery (though this is quickly changing thanks to the latest Bluetooth low energy, or BLE, developments). Also, Bluetooth takes a little longer to set up and, because of its wide range, can be a little more difficult to navigate in crowded situations.

NFC vs Bluetooth

Because NFC needs to be in close proximity, it is easier to set up and pair with another device than Bluetooth. The connection is made within a fraction of a second, but the data transfer speed is slower. The NFC’s ease of use is its biggest strength and it can also be used in conjunction with Bluetooth for even better performance. Ultimately, both technologies have their benefits, NFC for simplicity and Bluetooth for larger range and more demanding file transfers.

What can we use NFC for?

One of the typical uses of NFC technology is listening to music through wireless speakers. In this case, the NFC relies on the data transfer via Bluetooth, but it’s the NFC which is responsible for the initial connection of smartphone to your speakers. This optimizes the connection without having to resort to the fiddly Bluetooth pairing of speaker and smartphones, as I discussed above.

Connecting NFC tags

The NFC tags are small physical “tags” or “stickers” containing NFC chips can be programmed to provide any kind of information to your smartphone. Typically, an NFC tag contains links to a web address, but it can also be set to perform certain actions with your smartphone, like turn on the Wi-Fi, or turn down the ringer.

In the future these tags could be embedded into just about anything. For example, an NFC tag could be used in a restaurant menu to make the most up-to-date version of it available immediately on your phone. All you would need to do is bring your smartphone into proximity of the physical menu, and you could potentially browse more detailed information of certain menu items, like nutritional value or ingredients. Where NFC presents an advantage over current QR technology is that there is no need for a “scanner app”, the information is available instantaneously.

Making payments with NFC

What will possibly become the biggest use for NFC in the near (field) future is Tap and Pay option it provides. NFC payments are already available in many stores across the US, and the UK for purchases of £15 or less, using an app like Softcard or Google Wallet: all it involves is tapping your phone against an enabled terminal. Now that Apple has included an NFC antenna in the iPhone 6 to work in conjuction with its new Apple Pay feature (and will include similar functionality in the Apple Watch), these type of cardless, wireless payments are going to become more and more prevalent.

Using NFC to transfer file on android

Through NFC connectivity you can also send certain files between devices using Android Beam. First you need to enable NFC and Android Beam on both devices, then all you need to do is go to the file you wish to send, say, a photo, and tap the devices together! That’s right, you don’t even need to select any “send via” options, just put the devices back to back, and when it asks to confirm the transfer hit "touch to beam".

Does your phone has NFC?

It will depend on your handset, but generally you can go to  "settings" > "wireless and networks" to see if NFC is listed. Most modern smartphones now come with NFC as standard.

There you have it. NFC provides the quickest way to set up connections between electronic devices and provides the fastest solution for file transfer between handsets in close proximity.

Angry Birds is one of the more popular franchises around, and they haven’t slowed down much since they first came onto the scene. Earlier this month, they went back to the 80s with a new game, and today Angry Birds Transformers for Android finally arrived on Google Play to fulfill all your 80s gaming needs.

If you were born in the late 90s, you may not be aware of how awesome the old Transformers used to be. Angry Birds Transformers for Android will quickly remind you of that… or it will leave you scratching your head wondering what was wrong with the decade. That said, if you are familiar with the decade, you’ll appreciate the intro that’s complete with VHS tracking lines.

As for the game itself, Angry Birds Transformers is a little different than what you’re probably used to from an AB game. It’s more of a “run and gun” affair as you go through the stages on autopilot just like you would in an endless runner. You simply need to tap the screen to shoot a piggy or an object, and you’ll collect coins and other swag as you progress through the game. We’re not sure of the level count at this time, but there should be plenty of them as it is an Angry Birds game at heart.

Angry Birds Transformers for Android took a while to get here, but we’re glad it has finally arrived. It’s not going to be a game for everyone, but you will most definitely want to check it out if you were fond of the classic cartoon. You “should” also dig it if you’ve enjoyed the companies previous games or are just looking for a little run and gun fun. You can pick up Rovio’s Angry Birds Transformers for free on Google Play.

Television manufacturers are moving toward ultra high definition -- also known as "4K" -- which offers four times the resolution of HD. It also offers greater depth of color and faster frame rate. That means more information must travel through the cable-wire from the video source to the TV.

The current de facto cable, HDMI (high-definition multimedia interface), solves some of the old problems of multiple cables, incompatible interfaces and bandwidth issues, but it could it be approaching the end of the line.

"There are currently two schools of thought," Susan Schreiner, analyst at C4 Trends, told the media in an interview with our reporters. "Those that say that you don't need a new HDMI cable for Ultra HD 4K -- and those for whom it is a concern."

The Same Pipe Before

Cable technology -- as in the wired cables that deliver a signal to a TV -- have evolved, but that evolution has been slow. It wasn't really an issue until the arrival of the VCR and, later, video game consoles, which needed a connection to the TV. Remember when there were three cables that delivered the picture from the source to the TV?

That was the composite video era. Sound was sent on two analog stereo cables that were red and white, while video was sent over a yellow cable. Composite technology is still around, even in today's HD sets, as it allows for older devices to be connected.

"Composite video is basically the lowest common denominator for video cables," Michael Heiss, consumer industry consultant, explains. "It is a legacy cable that will still likely stick around, as people might need to watch an old VHS tape."

While composite never went away, it did start facing competition from S-Video, which separates the black-and-white and color signals, thus providing better image quality than composite video. It became a "step up" video cable in the late 1990s, offering an improvement in picture quality over composite.

S-Video does not carry an audio signal, and that has to be delivered separately -- either via an analog solution such as the red/white cables, or via a digital option such as optical. As a result, S-Video actually doesn't streamline the process much. Moreover, it is not able to carry an HD signal.

For HD, the industry adopted component video cables, which transmit video as three separate signals. Again, there were issues -- notably, that audio is not carried in these cables, but also the fact that component cables provide no copyright protection for HD content.

HDMI 2.0

The industry's solution to these problems came in the form of HDMI, which was adopted in 2003. It carries a digital video signal along with a digital audio signal over a single -- albeit it big -- cable. By its 10th anniversary, there were more than 3 billion HDMI devices in use worldwide, according to the HDMI Licensing Group. It had become the true industry standard.

With the arrival of 4K, are the days of HDMI already waning? Not exactly.

HDMI 2.0 -- also referred to as "HDMI UHD" -- which was released last year, allows for great throughput of data, which meant that it can carry 4K resolution at 60 frames per second (fps). It also includes the options of the Rec. 2020 color space, provides Dual View, 4:2:0 chroma subsampling, and supports 25 fps with 3D formats. It supports the 21:9 aspect ratio and offers improved 3D capability.

On the audio front, it carries up to 32 channels of audio, up to 1536 kHz audio, and four audio streams. It offers dynamic auto lip-sync support. In other words, HDMI 2.0 should be more than enough for the next generation of displays -- but some aren't convinced.

1.4 or 2.0 - That Is the Question

The problem is that the industry has tried to stick with HDMI 1.4, which can't do all the magic of HDMI 2.0. The first 4K sets supported HDMI 1.4, and that has created problems.

"The current HDMI 1.4 spec works with the initial wave of 4K sets," noted C4's Schreiner. "It can pass the maximum resolution with the current generation of Ultra HD 4K TVs, which means it needs to pass 3840 x 2160 pixels at up to 30 frames per second, and 4096 x 2160 at 24 frames per second.

"That's the maximum sending and receiving ... available in this initial wave of 4K sets," she added.

"We're just at the beginning of a new product cycle, so we expect that this will become of greater concern in the next generation of TVs -- and newer 4K sets are already starting to sport HDMI 2.0 ports," Schreiner said.

"HDMI 1.4b, which is supported by systems now, provides UHD at 30 frames per second and 24 bits color," noted Craig Wiley, chair of the VESA (Video Electronics Standards Association) marketing task group.

"Released in September 2013, HDMI 2.0 extends this capability to 60 frames per second, but the difficulty has been in delivering HDMI 2.0, since it extends the data rate on a legacy signal format that is difficult to support," he told the press.

All Argument for Display-Port

Because the move to HDMI 2.0 could require a radical shift, interest has arisen in adopting DisplayPort 1.3 as the next-generation cable interface for TV displays.

"VESA published the DisplayPort v1.2 standard in January 2010, which provided support for 4K up to 60 frames per second and 30 bit color, and there have been systems available now for a few years," Wiley pointed out.

"DisplayPort uses the common high-speed signal technology shared by USB, PCI Express, and other high-speed interface standards," he said.

"DisplayPort 1.3, the latest version of the DisplayPort standard, delivers a higher data rate, which is sufficient to support 4K video at 120 Hz, multiple 4K video streams, or 5K video. [It] is used by the latest computer monitors in the marketplace," continued Wiley.

"The emergence of 4K video resolutions and beyond may spark a reassessment of video interconnect technologies," he suggested. "DisplayPort is based on a more modern packetized data structure that uses all four lanes for data transmission with an embedded clock, and it's easily implementable in today's submicron process technologies -- meaning the DP interface can be integrated."

Replacement

However, to move to DisplayPort would require a complete replacement of the existing HDMI cables. It is unlikely consumers or the industry are ready to unplug one cable for another. It also would mean that a new port would be required in future set-top boxes, Blu-ray players and game consoles. That would require a lot of updating of equipment.

"DisplayPort has its champions," said Schreiner.

"We are at a crossroads of sorts, moving towards terrific resolution with greater simplicity, and I'm not sure that the market could bear a transition to DisplayPort as yet another format," she added.

In general, there seems to be enough confusion by consumers -- and they are just getting their heads around 1080p," noted Schreiner. "TV manufacturers are also wary as profit margins are squeezed, and investments have been made in HDMI designs and manufacturing for the foreseeable future."

Further, there is the issue that perhaps more can be put through the next generation of HDMI to keep it plugged in for years to come.

"DisplayPort is a pipe, just like HDMI is a pipe," observed Heiss.

"You can put in what you want, up to the bandwidth limit. Yes, DisplayPort can handle all this stuff, but what isn't so visible is the copy protection -- and that is another issue that will have to be resolved," he said.

"Sure, some people like DisplayPort because it has greater bandwidth and it has higher resolution," acknowledged Heiss. "Apple and Panasonic use it -- but most TV sets don't have DisplayPort. That is not a knock on the technology. It is just that HDMI has billions and billions served."