Amazon.ca gives startups some love with new Launchpad section

While not the big news expected from Amazon.ca today, Amazon did announce a new section open to Canadians called Amazon Launchpad which features innovative products from startups or crowdsourced companies. Think of it as a curated Kickstarter or Indiegogo section within Amazon.ca.

"Amazon Launchpad has worked with more than 100 leading venture capital firms, startup accelerators, and crowd-funding platforms to bring innovative products to Amazon. Canadian customers can now search for and purchase hundreds of products backed by firms like Andreessen Horowitz, accelerators like Y Combinator, and crowdfunding sites like Kickstarter," Amazon explains.

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Spark email client comes to macOS

Spark on iOS was one of those transformative applications that really improved the way people worked and interacted with their mail. Offering a clean and intuitive design as well as great mail management tools made it a better option that the onboard Mail app. Spark is one of those free apps that users would be happy to pay good money for. 

The best news is that Spark is now available for macOS. Not only is this reimagined for use on notebooks and desktops, it is also compatible with the Touchbar on newer MacBook Pros. Check it out here. 

Moto Z might get Project Tango Moto Mod

Lenovo might be extending the Project Tango Augmented Reality functionality beyond the Lenovo Phab 2 Pro. The Lenovo Phab 2 Pro, which is the giant smartphone that demonstrated the ability to place 3-D constructs in real space using cameras and AR technology was a good starting point but since it is a niche product (and unavailable in Canada), it makes sense to leverage the Moto Z's accessory ecosystem.

Motorola Mobility's president Aymar de Lencquesaing, mentioned to reporters that the Moto Z, Moto Z Play are likely going ot get Moto Mods that can emulate the functions of the larger Phab 2 Pro. No guarantees, of course, but since Lenovo is aiming to differentiate its flagship line by offering a range of functionality we can expect to see something soon.

Source: Engadget

Rovio’s spinoff Hatch to bring streaming game service to Android

Hatch, a new company that spun off from Angry Birds’s creator Rovio, is hoping to become the Spotify for mobile gaming. The new company is looking to let Android users stream and play games without downloading games onto their phones and have added “unique social features.” It’ll give anyone with an Android device free access to games without any updates or in-app purchases. The service and developers will supposedly get revenue from “integrated, unobtrusive advertising and brand storytelling.” Hatch is also planning to offer a paid subscription option to give gamers additional features. These features haven’t been specified at the moment.

Hatch partnered with Huawei Technologies to use its cloud-based servers. The service will let players compete or even help while playing online games as well as broadcast gameplay footage. Hatch says that even single-player games can be changed to have you receive online assistance from other gamers. Some of the 100 games expected at the time of launch include Badland, Monument Valley, Pac-Man CE DX, and many more. There will also be Hatch-exclusive games like IslaBomba: Ready To Boom. The company plans to launch the service via an invite-only beta sometime in the first half of 2017.

Source: Android Authority