BlackBerry's BBM comes to Windows Phone in beta form ahead of widespread launch

In response to "an incredible number of requests," Blackberry will soon bring its BBM messaging app to Windows Phone.
For now, the app is in a filled-up closed beta, though you can register to join the waiting list. Blackberry says it will open the app to everyone in "the coming weeks."
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It appears that Blackberry is embracing the modern-style design of Windows devices. Users will be able to swipe through each section of the app, and can pin any contact directly to the Start screen for faster access.
The BBM app will have three main sections. Contacts will let users find friends, create groups, and start multi-person chats. The Chats section will list all ongoing conversations in reverse-chronological order, and the Feeds section includes recent contact activity such as status changes, broadcast messages, and new profile photos.
The initial release will focus on basic functionality, including conversations, broadcast messages, shared calendars, shared lists, and group photo albums. Blackberry says it'll eventually add other features such as stickers, voice chat, BBM Channels, and location sharing.
BBM was once an exclusive feature for Blackberry phones. The company released iOS and Android versions last fall as its own smartphone market share spiraled downward, and as cross-platform messaging apps such as WhatsApp and Line became popular. Blackberry now sees cross-platform messaging as a potential revenue stream, both through advertising and the sale of stickers.

iPhone 6 Reportedly Launching Sooner Than Expected

When it comes to Apple, Cantor Fitzgerald analyst Brian White has a mixed track record. He was the first Apple watcher to reveal that the company planned to launch an iPad mini, though details were scarce at the time, and he also was the first with sources who pointed to an iPhone being made available in several new colors last year. White has also had some big misses though, and he famously suggested that Apple was working on an iTV controlled by an “iRing,” that would be worn on the user’s finger — which seems… unlikely.
As Rumors of iPhone 6 reportedly launching sooner than expected are Coming its creating A Buzz in Tech Industry.
With White’s recent hits and misses in mind, his latest note could go either way. According to the analyst, Apple’s larger 5.5-inch iPhone will launch sooner than expected this year.

“Our research at Computex highlights that the majority of the accessory makers we interacted with today have already begun production in support of the 4.7-inch iPhone 6,” White wrote in a note to clients on Wednesday morning. “During our China/Taiwan Tech Tour in April, we met with a small number of accessory makers that had started initial production of accessories for the 4.7-inch iPhone 6 but not the 5.5-inch version, but today’s research highlights a much broader ramp of the 4.7-inch version.”
He continued, “Also at Computex, we noticed that a few vendors had already started work on accessories for the 5.5-inch iPhone 6 and the pieces were available at the show. Given the lack of data points in recent months around progress with the 5.5-inch iPhone 6 and growing skepticism in the media around a 2014 launch, we view this as a positive development. Based on today’s research, we believe the timing of the 5.5-inch iPhone 6 launch appears to be in sync with our expectation around the unveiling (i.e., September) of the 4.7-inch iPhone 6.”

According to reports, Apple will release its 4.7-inch iPhone 6 in or around September, and then the bigger 5.5-inch iPhone phablet will launch closer to the holidays.

Latest iPhone 6 renders show new details

In the past couple of months we have been exposed to multiple mockups, physical component leaks, schematics and just about everything else related to the iPhone 6. We know a lot about the unannounced iPhone, including the new curved design language and thinner profile. However, a new set of renders might give us the first clear picture of what the next generation iPhone would really look like.
So far, the mockups we have seen have been unable to replicate the antenna line breaks that have become an integral part of iPhone design. Now designer Mark Pelin has designed some new renders that provide a cleaner and prettier view of how Apple might implement the antenna in the iPhone 6.
Mind you, these are just renders and there’s nothing official about it. Check out the source link for more photos.

Technology Students Compete with the Latest Tech Ideas in Evansville

The latest in Naval Warfare could be being pitched in Evansville.

16 business and engineering students at USI will be pitching some high tech ideas this morning for the 3rd annual Technology Commercialization Academy.

4 teams of four students have been hard at work developing ideas and business strategies for commercialization of several Naval Surface Warfare Center, Crane Division patents.

The teams with the highest potential will continue in the academy for another 5 weeks.

At that time, students will have the opportunity to further develop their ideas and reach out to potential customers and investors. 

Android L vs. iOS 8: Can Apple take on Android’s biggest update ever?

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We all thought Android 4.4 KitKat was a major change when it came out late last year, but the still unnamed L release of Android puts that to shame. Despite not telling us the codename (Lollipop?) or the version number (5.0?), Google demoed an updated UI called Material Design and a plethora of new features. You won’t be able to get your hands on the final version of L until this fall, but Apple is going to have its work cut out for it competing with the new Android, even after its lauded iOS 8 announcement. Here’s how Android is evolving and what that means for the iOS vs. Android matchup coming later this year.