Put some Nokia on your Android with the Z Launcher, beta now available

Nokia is trending hard right now after the announcement that it is getting into the Android tablet space as well as news that it has created a launcher. Good news is it looks like we don't have to wait until the Nokia N1 tablet ships in order to get a taste of the Z launcher since it is available today as a bete on the Google Play Store

Nokia’s Z Launcher will work on Nexus 5, Galaxy S5, S4, S3, Moto X, Moto G, HTC One and Sony Xperia Z1 devices running Android. OS 4.1-4.4 

Source: Nokia

Apple opens Apple Watch app development starting today

Apple just opened up the WatchKit development platform to allow developers to get on board with creating apps for Apple Watch starting today. Apple Watch is expected to come in Spring of 2015 but Apple wants a robust app ecosystem for the wearable from day one.

The iOS 8.2 SDK beta including WatchKit is available immediately for iOS Developer Program members at developer.apple.com/watchkit. The WatchKit site includes programming guides, human interface guidelines, templates and more. Starting later next year, developers will be able to create fully native apps for Apple Watch. 

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WhatsApp gives Android users encrypted messaging

WhatsApp has just rolled out encrypted messaging to its Android users, which means only the account user will gain access to the messages and neither WhatsApp or law enforcement agencies can see what you’ve been saying on the messaging app. End-to-end encryption on WhatsApp is brought by Open Whisper System’s TextSecure code. If you haven’t noticed any changes, well, this has been happening in the backend for the past week or so already. So far this encryption feature is available for Android only. There is no word yet on an iOS rollout.

Speaking of the iOS app, it gets iPhone 6 and iPhone 6 Plus support already and has squashed a few bugs in the system. Hopefully, WhatsApp gets to rolling out encryption to the Apple counterpart as well.

Source: The Verge | Via: SlashGear | Download: Google Play Store (Free)

Microsoft tipped to sell off Nokia MixRadio

Part of Microsoft’s acquisition of Nokia’s devices and services business is the Finnish brand’s music streaming service MixRadio. It works similarly to Pandora and is also alike Microsoft’s own Xbox Music service. It doesn’t come as a surprise then that the Redmond-based company is reportedly planning on spinning off and selling MixRadio as separate entity. Microsoft is supposedly looking into investors interested in buying MixRadio on its own. And process is said to be making “good progress” but there is no word on who Microsoft is talking to about the possible sale.

Source: TechCrunch | Via: Ubergizmo