BGR Daily Breaking Stories

Daily Headlines MONDAY, DECEMBER 29, 2014

Google lists 127 of the best Android apps in the world, and you need to try them all If you were gifted a new Android device last week for Christmas and you’re having trouble figuring out where to begin, today is your lucky day. In fact, even if you’re a seasoned Android veteran, today is still your lucky day because Google has gone through the hundreds of thousands of apps in its Google Play app store and cherry picked the cream of the crop. The result is a list of 127 Android apps that Google has deemed to be “must-have” apps, and old and new Android users alike should check them all out. The best part, by the way, is that they’re almost all completely free.  MORE → Leak claims one of 2015’s most anticipated Android phones might be unveiled at CES After obtaining a leaked picture allegedly showing the front panel of one of 2015’s most anticipated Android handsets of the year a few weeks ago, Nowhereelse’s Steve Hemmerstoffer posted an image on Twitter that reportedly shows the press render of the same device, suggesting a launch may be closer than initially believed.  MORE → Hackers turned ‘The Interview’ into Sony’s biggest online release of all time Hackers hit Sony Pictures in late November, looking to disable the company’s daily operations and convince the movie studio to stop its planned release of The Interview, a movie that has been strongly criticized by North Korea ever since being announced. Sony initially agreed to their demands, pulling the film from theaters a few days before its Christmas Day launch. But the company changed its mind after receiving harsh criticism from President Obama and several big names in the movie industry, releasing the movie in select cinemas and online with help from Microsoft and Google.  MORE → It took Sony three days to restore PSN after crippling attack Sony and Microsoft were both hit by hackers on Christmas Eve, with a group calling themselves Lizard Squad claiming responsibility for the DDoS attacks that took down both the PlayStation Network (PSN) and Xbox Live services. The companies confirmed the attacks and eventually restored service to their online portals after being hit, but PSN remained offline for nearly three days.  MORE → Apple finally decides to stand up to Sony hackers, releases ‘The Interview’ on iTunes Sony Pictures released The Interview last week, after initially caving to threats received from the hackers who hit the studio in one of the biggest data heists to date and canceling the planned Christmas Day launch. The company soon changed its mind, offering interested movie fans the chance of seeing it in select theaters, or streaming it online from either Microsoft or Google. Interestingly, Apple was not willing to make the movie available via iTunes at first, for reasons unknown, but now the controversial comedy can be purchased or rented on iTunes, Re/code reports.  MORE → How to fix the 8 most annoying problems with iOS 8 Apple has pushed out one major software update and several minor updates since it first released iOS 8 to the public this past September. The latest version of Apple’s mobile platform, iOS 8.1.2, is far more stable and refined than Apple’s early iOS 8 releases, one of which was so bad that it temporarily bricked tens of thousands of iPhones, leaving them completely unusable for a period of time. But while iOS 8.1.2 is indeed far more stable, there are still some very annoying bugs and other issues buried within the software.  MORE → Video: Watch Neil deGrasse Tyson explain the ending of one of the best movies of the year One of the best movies this year for many people, Christopher Nolan’s Interstellar, certainly proposes an interesting sci-fi scenario for the human race, raising various questions and offering some answers in the process. But do they make sense, from a scientific point of view? That’s what Business Insider tried to find out in a short video interview with popular astrophysicist Neil deGrasse Tyson about the movie, and specifically about its ending, which may have left many moviegoers puzzled.  MORE → The 10 most aggravating things about Samsung’s Galaxy Note 4 Samsung’s Galaxy Note 4 is the best phablet in the world. Period. Apple finally tossed its hat in the ring in 2014 and debuted its largest iPhone ever, but the giant screen on the iPhone 6 Plus was just a box that Apple wanted to check. The handset’s larger size is merely a response to shifting demand in the smartphone market, and Apple made almost no effort whatsoever to add unique new features to the phone that might take advantage of its huge 5.5-inch display. But just because the Galaxy Note 4 is a terrific phablet, doesn’t mean that it’s perfect.  MORE → ‘The Interview’ has quickly become a top illegal download After being made available online just before Christmas, with Microsoft and Google both listing it in their digital content stores, Sony’s controversial comedy The Interview has become a top hit movie on illegal file-sharing sites, Torrent Freak reports.  MORE → Get fit in 2015 with the Striiv Fusion Smartwatch Every new year, countless people make resolutions to lose weight and get fit.  Most give up on those resolutions within a few weeks, most likely because they don’t have the correct equipment to assist them.  The Striiv Fusion smartwatch, available at BGR Deals, is the economical way to track your fitness so you stay on target all year long.  MORE →

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