500px for iOS now looks like Instagram for pros

500px was built around the idea of being a service for “serious photographers.” Not wanting to be left behind, they updated their iOS app to revamp the experience on it. It has a new home feed that shows what your fellow photographers have been up to. It also has a Discover tab to check out shots you might not find on your own. There are also Adobe editing tools integrated to help you tweak your shots as well as a simpler way to upload photos and find other users.

The iOS update is already available. Meanwhile, Android users will be getting access to this redesign soon, too.

Source: 500px | Via: Engadget | Download: Apple App Store (Free)

Update lets you replace Google Now on Android with Microsoft’s Cortana

While the “Hey Cortana” prompt still isn’t available in the beta version of the app on Android, Microsoft Cortana can be your main digital assistant on Android now. You now have the ability to replace the Google Now shortcut, which has you pressing and holding down the home button, with Cortana. We’re not sure yet if they “Hey Cortana” prompt will be making its way too Android, possibly because of hardware limitations, but we’ll take what we can get now. If you’re interested in being a beta tester for Cortana on Android, you can check the sign-up process here.

Source: The Verge

Opera buys Bemobi, a Netflix-like smartphone app subscription service

You might know Opera more for its data-saving browser but the company wants to create a name for itself in the app industry as well. They just bought Bemobi, a mobile app discovery and subscription service. Much like Netflix, you pay a weekly fee on your phone bill to access as many “premium” apps as you like. It’s a move that’ll help Opera expand in Latin America but there are global plans for the service as well. It’ll still operate under its own name but its English-language marketing site goes by the name Apps Club.

Source: Opera | Via: Engadget

Video: Dash is the hotel amenity delivery robot of your dreams

Crowne Plaza hotels are testing Dash, a smart amenity delivery robot which might soon replace bellhops, pages or porters. Dash can be programmed to deliver various amenities to specific hotel room guests. It can navigate the hotel, dash to the hotel room door, call the guests and when the door is opened- it completes the delivery. No need to tip Dash but you can rate timeliness or level of service and if Dash receives a good rating, it will break out into an R2-D2 type happy dance. The robot is being tested and has so far delighted various guests, Crowne Plaza is looking to deploy Dash in various hotels around the world.