Google updates its Drive for Android app with new look and features

On Wednesday, Internet search giant Google updated its Drive for Android app, enhancing it with a new look and noteworthy new features that will chiefly facilitate the users in storing and accessing their files on the go.

The updated Drive for Android app - which is available for download from Google Play - now boasts a revamped user interface, with the Drive files displayed in a "simple card-style." Users who want to see bigger previews, so that they can easily find and review the specific files, can now swipe between photos and other files.

Basho co-founder Antony Falco raises $3m for database API Orchestrate.io

In an initial funding round led by True Ventures, an amount of $3 million has been raised by Basho co-founder Antony Falco for launching Orchestrate. io database API, which is similar to Twilio in the sense that it is capable of easing the complexity related to the addition of features to mobile and web applications.

The $3 million funds raised by Basho in the funding round - in which Frontline Ventures and Resonant Venture Partners also participated - will essentially go towards getting Orchestrate's existing solution into production as well as hiring more engineers.

Lundberg Survey: US gas prices increase amid refinery outages

According to the Lundberg Survey of fuel prices released on Sunday, the last two weeks witnessed a sharp increase in the price of one gallon of gasoline in the US. The rise in the gasoline prices comes amid outages at the refineries in the Midwest and the West Coast.

Going by the figures released by the Lundberg Survey, the average price of one gallon of regular gasoline in the US on Sunday was $3.66; while the average cost of midgrade and premium was $3.84 per gallon and $3.98 per gallon respectively.

SEA hackers target The Financial Times; take over its Twitter accounts

In what apparently is the latest cyberattack launched by the Syrian Electronic Army (SEA) hacktivist group, the hawkers targeted The Financial Times on Friday, breaking into a number of the company's Twitter accounts and blog headlines.

As a part of their cyberattack on The Financial Times, the SEA hackers managed to change the headlines of posts on the company's blog posts to "Hacked by the Syrian Electronic Army." Moreover, on one of The Financial Times' Twitter accounts, the hackers posted a link to a video execution on YouTube.

IDC: iOS and Android accounted for 17.3% and 75% smartphone shipments respectively in 2013 Q1

According to the most recent market data released by IDC on Thursday, the contribution of Apple iOS in the 2013 first-quarter shipments of smartphones was 17.3 percent; a figure which marks a fall from the 23 percent share which iOS had in smartphone shipments in the same quarter last year.

However, going by the statistics released by Apple last month, the January-March quarter of 2013 was the company's strongest ever first quarter so far as shipments volume is concerned. Apple revealed that its first quarter shipments had touched a record high of 37.4 million iPhones.

Special edition, stock Android version of Samsung Galaxy S4 unveiled by Google

At the start of its annual Google I/O conference on Wednesday, Google unveiled a `pure' Android Galaxy S4 smartphone, which will be a special edition, stock Android version of Samsung's flagship handset.

According to the details shared by Google, the Samsung Galaxy S4 - like other Galaxy models sold in the US - will run the Android OS 4.2 version. However, the S4 will differ from the other Galaxy handsets in the sense that it will run a `pure' version of Android, sans either Samsung's custom software like the TouchWiz interface or the software included from different carriers.

Microsoft officials share some expected ‘GDR2’ features

In a Tuesday blog post, Microsoft officials shared information about some of the expected features of the company's next edition of its Windows Phone 8 operating system, which is being referred to as the General Distribution Release 2, or `GDR2.'

Although the next Windows Phone 8 OS update has not formally been called the GRD2 update, the Microsoft officials have nonetheless hinted in the recent blog post that the update will likely be released to existing Windows Phone 8 users "later this summer."

Amazon announces acquisition of “electrowetting” display maker Liquavista

Online retail giant Amazon disclosed in a Monday statement that it has worked out a deal for the acquisition of Liquavista, the company which manufactures "electrowetting" display panels. The financial terms of the deal have, however, not been officially disclosed.

With the "electrowetting" technology used by Liquavista basically aimed at developing color displays for e-readers as well as portable media players, the Digital Reader has reported that the first commercially available "electrowetting" display panels will likely hit the markets some time this year.

Google reportedly set to introduce centralized gaming hub for Android

With Google's annual I/O event just round the corner, an AndroidPolice report has revealed that Google is apparently set to challenge Apple's Game Center with its own gaming hub, which - due to absence of any official disclosure - is being tentatively referred to as `Google Play Games.'

The AndroidPolice report is based on a tear down of newly-released Android application package (APK) files for `Play Services,' the surreptitious grunt app which deals with app updates and other similar things.

WSJ: Amazon working on two smartphones, media streaming devices

In an indication that online retail giant Amazon is apparently planning to expand its hardware portfolio beyond its existing lineup of Kindle devices, a Wall Street Journal (WSJ) report has revealed that Amazon is working on two smartphones.

Disclosing that the Amazon Lab 126 Cupertino campus is currently working on two handsets, WSJ report, citing unidentified sources "familiar with the company's plans," said that one of the handsets being developed by Amazon is the 4.7-inch Amazon Kindle Phone.

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