Instagram tightens rein on third-party apps

Photo courtesy of TechCrunch

After a security issue with third-party app InstaAgent, Instagram looks to be cracking down on its third-party apps and limiting what they can offer Instagram users. The company revised its API policy and isn’t taking any new apps at the moment that want to integrate into its service. Applications will reopen next month but Instagram is limiting functions for third-party apps. These services can still pull from photos you’ve posted yourself but you can’t pull full Instagram feeds once the new restrictions are in place. Existing apps have until June 1^st to comply with the new policies and undergo the new review process.

Source: The Verge

Google still working on Glass, screen-free version might be in the works

The first iteration of Google Glass died down unceremoniously. But Google isn’t giving up on the idea as evidenced by the rebranded Project Aura and the company taking in some of the unlucky laid off Amazon engineers. There hasn’t been that much details about the rebranded Google Glass project but we do know it’s still headed by Ivy Ross and there are three versions of it. One is an Enterprise Edition, another is glass-less version, and last is a “sport” model.

The Enterprise Edition is rumoured to already be used in some industries, while the glass-less version is believed to the version Italian eyewear brand Luxottica is working on. And the sport version is said to rely on bone conduction and focuses more on audio instead of visuals. One of these have been dropped though supposedly but we have no clue which one. Also it seems the goal now is more of an unobtrusive virtual assistant that isn’t as bulky as its predecessor. We just have to wait and see what Google is cooking up with this one.

Source: Android Community

American Express customers can now enjoy Apple Pay in Canada

Jennifer Bailey, Apple’s vice president in charge of Apple Pay says that American Express cards are easiest to support at launch. Photo By Gadjo C. Sevilla/ Canadianreviewer.com

Canadians who are American Express customers and who own iPhones and Apple Watches, rejoice! Apple Pay is now available in Canada. Jennifer Bailey, Apple’s vice president in charge of Apple Pay says that American Express cards are easiest to support at launch because AmEx is both the payment network operator and the card issuer, whereas other payment networks like Visa and MasterCard work with financial institutions to issue cards that work on their network.

Click to read more ...

Engineered by HP program yields first crop of wearable devices

HP developed the hardware modules, software and user interface, and is providing HP cloud services for all of the brand smartwatches. HP also designed the app that allows users to configure and connect the watch to the cloud.

HP has always done its own thing when it came to wearables and smart watches. Last year, they collaborated with designer Michael Bastien for the Chronowing timepiece, which was more watch that received push notifications, than a full blown smartwatch. The Engineered by HP program now has new model, the Movado Bold Motion smartwatch ($889.99 from HP) features a sleeker take on the notification watch and promises a 7-day battery life. Ideal for fashion forward users who don't want apps on their watch and are happy with a more back-to-basics take on wearable functionality.