Apps

Pokémon Go’s Halloween event gives out more candy

Published

October 26, 2016

Marvin Velasco

In an attempt to get back its fans, the developers behind Pokémon Go are holding their first major event: a Halloween special that guarantees more in-game candy for everyone who participates. Are you in?

The event is currently ongoing and will last until November 1, presumably till midnight. If you still have the app on your phone (like us), you might feel tempted to give the game another go.

The most obvious update is in the spawn rate of certain Pokémon. You’ll notice the more haunting creatures appear at a higher frequency, specifically Zubat, Golbat, Gastly, Haunter, Gengar, Drowzee, and Hypno.

The loading screen, candy gains, and spawn rates have been updated

What really catches attention, however, is the amount of collectable candy. Every Pokémon you catch or hatch rewards you with double the amount, making it six instead of the usual three; the same goes for transfers, wherein you receive two at a time from the Professor; and best of all, walking your buddy during the event nets you four times the number of candy.

It’s a pretty sweet deal, if you ask us. The question is: Will this be enough to reignite interest in Niantic’s cash cow?

Despite raking in tons of money since launch, the augmented reality game has been struggling to maintain mainstream interest. Common complaints center around the lack of gameplay diversity to enrich the experience, a very steep climb at the higher levels, and the developers’ failure to deliver the promised features from the initial trailers.

Still, the player pool currently sits at around 30 million, which is nothing to sneeze at. We wouldn’t be surprised to see that number rise in the next few days, and during the next expected special event. You can already see the snow falling in Niantic’s favor.

[irp posts=”3952″ name=”Fantastic Pokémon and Where to Find Them”]

Apps

UAAP Season 86 is FREE on Smart LiveStream App

Available on the App Store and Google Play

Published

October 2, 2023

GadgetMatch

Want to keep up with the UAAP Season 86 games? You can do so with the Smart LiveStream App.

Much like what SMART did with FIBA World Cup 2023, the telecommunication company is giving its subscribers free access to watch UAAP Season 86 games through the Smart LiveStream App. The games are available both live and on-demand.

Smart subscribers can stream all the UAAP Season 86 games on the Smart LiveStream App using their smartphones or tablets while connected to Smart mobile Internet or their PLDT Home WiFi. Smart subscribers are able to stream for free — no subscription needed.

The app is available on the Apple App Store and Google Play Store.

Stream on TV?

Yes, you can do so. The Smart LiveStream TV App is available on Google-certified Android TV Android 8.0 version. It’s downloadable from the Android TV Google Play Store and linking their Android TV to the app. To do this, subscribers simply need to open the Smart LiveStream Mobile App, go to Menu, click Link Device, and enable the camera to scan the QR code displayed on the Android TV.

Alternatively, Android TV users may go to www.smart.com.ph/livestream to sign into their account, then go to Menu, click Device Management to add their Android TV by entering the code displayed on the TV and activate their Smart LiveStream TV App.

Apps

Disney+ starts crackdown on password sharing

Starting in Canada

Published

September 29, 2023

Luigi Leonardo

Earlier this year, Netflix started implementing harsher restrictions against users sharing their passwords with others. Amid the controversial decision, Disney+ contemplated implementing the same restrictions on its own users. Now, the streaming platform’s move against password sharing is coming to light.

Today, Disney+ started emailing its subscribers in Canada (via MobileSyrup). The email states that, starting November 1, users are restricted from sharing their password to others outside of their household. Notably, the change does not explain how Disney plans to enforce the rule. However, it’s a definitive stance against the practice.

For its part, Netflix implemented a new pricing scheme for those who still want to share passwords with others. For a fee, users can onboard others outside of their household into their account. To enforce this, the platform restricts users if they detect log-ins outside of a specified household.

Disney has not announced if they will follow suit in this enforcement method. If anything, the changed policy reads that account termination is not off the table if any violations have been detected.

Besides the new policy, Disney is also experimenting with new pricing schemes across the board. For example, the platform is slowly introducing a cheaper tier which will be supported with ad breaks.

Apps

Apple launches a new workshop program for developers

Meet with Apple Experts

Published

September 29, 2023

Luigi Leonardo

Have you ever wanted to publish your own app on the App Store? If the intricacies of Apple’s ecosystem has been scaring you away, Apple has a new resource for budding developers. Today, the company has launched Meet with Apple Experts, a global resource platform for developers.

As the name implies, the program will allow developers to meet with fellow developers through more than fifty workshops and consultations. While it is not a strict step-by-step guide on how to build your own app, it can offer insight on how to work around the developments of iOS 17, iPadOS 17, watchOS 10, and visionOS. It will also teach developers to effectively market their app on the App Store.

Since the program is global, developers can pick out sessions and workshops tailored to their time zone and language. The list of available languages includes English, Spanish, Mandarin, Japanese, Korean, and Portuguese.

Besides workshops, the program will also offer software development kits, services, and APIs. Registered developers can access all these resources through Apple’s dedicated website for the program.

This isn’t Apple’s first time reaching out to developers and interested parties. Prior to today’s introduction, the company already offered similar programs like Ask Apple, Meet with App Store Experts, and Tech Talks. Most importantly, it holds a giant conference for software development every year called the WWDC.

SEE ALSO: iOS 17 is now available