Monday, 8 October 2012

Bing Just Launched A New iPhone App Called Edibly


Bing Just Launched A New iPhone App Called Edibly 
Bing announced today that it is launching a new iPhone app called Edibly in the U.S., though technically, you have to be in Seattle to use it (at least for now).
It’s a shopping app upon which Microsoft has collaborated with The Pike Place Market Preservation And Development Authority. It’s piloting the offering in Seattle, but perhaps it will be expanded throughout the country and with other markets.
“Created by the Bing team, Edibly lets you see what’s new at the market via the ‘What’s New Page’, search and browse through products, create a shopping list to prepare for your outing and navigate through the market using the digital map,” says Christian Marc Schmidt, Senior UX Designer on Bing’s Information, Platform and Experiences Team.
The app will let you preview what is available at the store and view and compare products. You can see where vendors and products you want are on a map, in addition to just looking at what’s new.
This could be an interesting app if expanded to include other stores and obviously other locations. I guess that will depend on how the pilot goes, and if Microsoft is able to get other partners on board.
About Chris Crum
Chris Crum has been a part of the WebProNews team and the iEntry Network of B2B Publications since 2003. Follow Chris on Twitter, on StumbleUpon, on Pinterest and/or on Google: +Chris Crum.

 
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iPhone 5 Production Leads To Strike At Foxconn

Last month, a riot broke out at Foxconn’s Tiayuan facility over the alleged beating of a worker. The riot ended with 40 injuries and several arrests. At a different factory, the workers have went on strike to protest the unfair working conditions put on them by Foxconn and Apple.
According to China Labor Watch, up to four thousand workers at Foxconn’s Zhengzhou factory have gone on strike. The workers are protesting the “overly strict demands on product quality without worker training” that has led to fights between general workers and the quality control team. Even worse, supervisors ignored the complaints from both workers and quality control.
The catalyst for the strike appears to be the strict new quality guidelines that Apple has put into place. The company now expects workers to turn out devices with indentations of 0.2mm and that not a single scratch be present on frames and back covers. The workers were already having a tough time meeting Apple’s demands, but they soon found that they would not receive a vacation during the holiday.
The quality control workers have gone on strike to protest the harsh treatment they have received from workers. A fight broke out between the workers and the quality control team that led to injuries and some hospitalizations. Their strike has prevented the general workers from being able to contine with assembly, and multiple production lines have been stopped as a result.
The iPhone 5 is a truly marvelous device. That being said, people must remember the actual human effort that went into making the device. The consumer may appreciate Apple’s high standards, but those same high standards are causing undue stress on the Chinese workers that assemble and inspect the devices.
Apple has repeatedly said that they are committed to improving the working conditions at Foxconn’s factories, but it’s looking like their efforts aren’t doing much to stem the tide of riots and protests.

About Zach Walton
Zach Walton is a Writer for WebProNews. He specializes in gaming and technology. Follow him on Twitter, StumbleUpon, Pinterest, and Google+ +Zach Walton
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Microsoft Updating Built-In Apps Ahead Of Windows 8 Release



Microsoft Updating Built-In Apps Ahead Of Windows 8 Release
After years of waiting, Windows 8 will finally launch later this month on October 26. Microsoft is going to party like its 1995, and show the world that Windows 8 is the company’s most substantial release since Windows 95. To help get started, the company is updating all the built-in apps that Windows 8 users will be greeted with when they first turn the machine on.
Microsoft announced yesterday that they will be slowly rolling out updates through the Windows Store up through the launch of Windows 8. The updates can be downloaded by anybody who has the RTM version of Windows 8 that was released in August. Microsoft says that the Windows Store tile will notify users of any current updates available for all currently installed apps.
The first updated app out of the gate today is the Bing app. Beyond that, pretty much every included app in Windows 8 will be getting substantial updates as head towards the official launch of the new operating system. Here’s some of the highlights:
SkyDrive

  • Search within SkyDrive
  • Rename and move folders and files
  • New first-run experience
  • Custom sort order
    • Photos

  • Crop and rotate photos
  • New auto-curated collage slideshows
  • View photos and videos on network locations in your Pictures Library such as Windows Home Server, network shares, and HomeGroups
  • Move through photos in your Pictures Library even when you open them from the desktop
    • Maps

  • Bird’s eye view
  • 3,000+ indoor venue maps
  • Driving directions hints
  • Improved navigation and layout
  • Improved customization, including custom pushpins and roaming options
  • Integration with Bing and Travel apps
    • Bing

  • Richer search results for local content and images
  • Bing rewards integration
  • Use zoom on your search results to see related queries
  • Use the file picker to select an image from Bing to use on your lock screen or in your other apps
    • Music

  • Expanded music services
  • Rich “Now Playing” experience
  • Discover more music with SmartDJ
    • Games

  • Exciting new games
  • In-game purchasing
  • Invites and turn notifications
    • You can check out the rest of the updates over at Microsoft’s original blog post. There’s some good stuff on the way for the Windows 8 faithful. It appears that most of these updates will go into effect before Windows 8 launches for everyone. It looks like the proud tradition of downloading updates on the day of release will be continued with Windows 8.

    About Zach Walton
    Zach Walton is a Writer for WebProNews. He specializes in gaming and technology. Follow him on Twitter, StumbleUpon, Pinterest, and Google+ +Zach Walton

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