New film makes shatterproof phone screens a practical possibility

Sure, the screen on your smartphone is likely scratch-resistant, but it still won't survive a drop to the sidewalk. However, that could all change if University of Akron scientists get their shatterproof touchscreen film into shipping hardware. They've developed transparent electrodes that, when layered on polymer surfaces, are just as transparent as current technology (indium tin oxide) but much more durable. You can bend them over 1,000 times without breaking, and they also hold up against peeling.

More importantly, the technology is cheap. In fact, the university believes that it should be less expensive to make this film than the touchscreen tech in use today; you can simply mass-produce it in rolls. While there's no firm production timetable, scientists fully expect their technology to hit stores in the future. Eventually, you won't have to worry quite so much that your phone might slip out of your hands.

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Any.DO makes a serious push toward bigger screens with new web app

Task-managing applications like Any.DO are known for helping you stay on top of things, like reminding us to pick up that milk on the way home -- because we all know how important it is to do that. But while the service has made its presence be felt on mobile, a dedicated web app is something that Any.DO users have long been waiting for. And now it's here. As of today, you can start using Any.DO outside of iOS and Android and on any browser, not just via a Chrome extension. For the most part, it'll be the same on your web browser as it is on the smartphone app, but there are some new features that Any.DO has tailored specifically for bigger screens. Focus Mode, as seen above, lets you quickly glance at what to-do's you have coming up; Planning Mode, meanwhile, shows multiple folders and allows tasks to be moved across one another.

As part of this announcement, Any.DO also let it be known that it has now reached 10 million users worldwide, and it is hoping the newly minted web app will only help it grow further. "There's a world of people who haven't considered us because they need a full web experience, right on their computer screens. They're going to use Any.do for the first time and that's what I'm most excited about," said Any.DO CEO Omer Perchik.Any.DO web app

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All screens welcome: watching sports is now easier than it's ever been

Opening Week is upon us and Major League Baseball teams have already started their quest to win this season's World Series, while fans all over gear up for what will hopefully be a very exciting year. And for those who can't make it to the ballpark on a regular basis, keeping up with their favorite team has become a relatively easy feat. A few weeks ago, the MLB, NBA, NHL and others struck a partnership with Time Inc. to launch 120 Sports, with the idea being to provide an online hub that delivers sports video content in a timely manner and across different platforms. This announcement came shortly after the introduction of NFL Now, an all-new digital network that aims to immerse football fans in the ultimate viewing experience -- there will be full on-demand games, highlights, analysis and a lot more to watch.

Both initiatives signal how American sports leagues are adapting to the times by introducing viewing experiences that aren't necessarily tied to being at home. Not everyone will be satisfied with the way the content is delivered, but it's worth acknowledging that leagues like the NFL, NBA and MLB are going the extra mile to try to give people what they want.

Of course, these services often face limitations due to contracts with TV broadcasters, which make things like showing all live games, in the case of NFL Now, practically impossible in the US. But if catching your local team playing live doesn't matter that much, chances are you won't be disappointed. Not all services are limited in this way, though. MLB.TV, for example, does offer regular season games to watch live, with some blackout restrictions -- and the same is true for offerings from a number of other professional leagues. The blackouts might be considered a downside for some, but if you're a transplant, these services are all but made for you. So, if you're from California and (wisely) make the move to The Big Apple, you'll be able to catch, say, the Oakland A's live. As for you non-transplants, MLB does make in-market games available at least 90 minutes after each game is finished.

The limitations that come stock with these services are the result of broadcasting agreements that have been in place for years, and they will continue to be for many more to come. For instance, when questioned about the lack of live games, NFL Now General Manager Cory Mummery said to us, "The NFL is very happy with our long-standing relationships with our broadcast and cable partners, and NFL Now should serve as an additive experience to live television consumption." Now, we shouldn't be surprised to hear this, since the NFL's business with US network and cable/satellite providers is worth billions and billions of dollars. Until that changes, customers shouldn't expect drastic changes in the way the NFL, or anyone else, handles the way it delivers its games. "We are not planning to include live games at this time for our domestic users, but may consider offering some live game content to our international fans," Mummery told Engadget.

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