‘Anki Drive’ AI-Based Slot Car Racing Game Gains New Cars and Tracks [iOS Blog]
Anki today announced the debut of two new cars and two new tracks for its iPhone-compatible Anki Drive slot car racing game. Joining the existing four cars are Hadion and Corax, new characters that focus on speed and weaponry, respectively.
Designed by Anki and Hollywood legend Harald Belker, Corax and Hadion are the newest characters available for Anki DRIVE. Hadion is built for speed and is the only car that can access Turbo Boost, which enables you to fly incredibly fast down the track. Corax is the ultimate warrior, with the option to mount multiple weapons. Watch out, he’s an aggressive one!
First introduced in 2013 during Apple’s Worldwide Developers Conference, Anki Drive is a unique racing game that Anki describes as a “video game in the real world.” Similar to slot car racing, Anki Drive incorporates artificial intelligence, machine learning, and smartphone-based controls, allowing two players to shoot at one another while their cars autonomously race down a vinyl track.
Each of Anki’s cars have their own unique name, personality, look, and statistics. While some of them offer greater acceleration speeds, others have more energy or better weaponry. The two released today expand on the abilities of the existing cars, offering Turbo Boost (Hadrion) and multiple mounted weapons (Corax).
Along with the new cars, Anki is also introducing two new tracks: Crossroads and Bottleneck. Crossroads offers hard corners and a challenging intersection that requires solid timing and maneuvering skills, while Bottleneck introduces a bottleneck shape that must be overcome.
There’s also a brand new Race Mode in the Anki Drive app, which joins the existing Battle Mode. Weaponry is still available and the goal is to make it to the finish line first, beating out other players or AI-controlled cars.
Anki’s new cars can both be purchased today from the Anki website for $69.99 each, and the new tracks will be available on May 6 for $99. The original Anki starter kit can also be purchased from the Anki website for $199.
The accompanying Anki Drive app can be downloaded from the App Store for free. [Direct Link]
Fleksy 2.1 update adds another 6 languages and configurable layouts for all Languages
There are a lot of keyboards out there and it’s always hard to find one you really like, especially if you’re someone who likes to configure your keyboard to some other layout like Dvorak or otherwise. Fleksy is one of the keyboards that allows you to do that and is a personal favourite of our resident Mandroid, David Pena. In today’s Fleksy 2.1 update, Fleksy is adding a few more languages to the mix as well as allowing you to configure the keyboard to your preferred keyboard layout no matter what language you have chosen.
The Fleksy app today adds Swedish, Hungarian, Danish, Slovak, Malay and Czech to their list of supported languages which brings the total up to a pretty impressive 16; it must be noted though that these new languages are technically in Beta, but having the languages there at all may be a godsend for the users that need it. You will also be able to configure your keyboard’s layout for whatever language you are using including popular layouts like AZERTY, Dvorak, Colemak and of course, QWERTY.
The full list of changes in today’s update:
- 6 new languages in Beta!
- Multiple layouts including QWERTZ, Dvorak and Colemak!
- Added 200+ Emoji
- Improved Badge shortcuts
- ImprovedSimultaneous language downloads
- Improved New Enter icon
- Updated fonts in Settings to Roboto
- Persian in upcoming Language list
- Fixed Green Theme brightness
- Fixed Multiple bug and force close fixes
You should be seeing the update already as the update is live on the Play Store now, but if you haven’t already tried Fleksy out, you can give the free version a whirl; Play Store links are below.
Application: Fleksy Keyboard Free
Price: Free
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Lenovo Yoga 10 Review
Lenovo‘s Yoga series has made a name for themselves in the industry pushing the boundaries of shape, form factor and all around physical features in mobile computing. The Lenovo Yoga tablet stays true to its name in pioneering something completely new in an Android tablet.
Hardware
Probably the most notable hardware of any Android powered tablet I’ve seen to date, when held in portrait mode one side on the device is slim as a razor, and the other side has a 3/4 inch thick round “handle” of sorts the length of the device. This serves the multiple purposes of giving you something substantial to grasp while using the tablet one-handed, and housing the tablet’s kick-stand.
At the top of the thick edge is a large, circular power button, balancing the 3.5 mm headphone jack on the bottom. The kickstand takes up almost the entire edge starting an inch from the top and bottom. To extend the kickstand you must grasp the edge tightly and begin to twist toward the screen. Beneath the kickstand on the back is the micro SD slot toward the bottom and the factory information sticker at the top.
The front of the device is a black slate aside from the rounded silver handle at the top and bottom of which the Dolby speakers are located. The MicroUSB charging port is at the top to the right of the power/sleep button opposite of the volume rocker which resides beside the headphone jack.
Software
The device’s launcher does not have an app-drawer, which can become an issue if you install upwards of 100 apps as it can start to look rather messy. But that’s what launcher replacements are for. Lenovo has implemented a “smart side bar” which offers quick access to apps like books, gallery and some of the recently used applications, however it is only accessible from the home-screen, so if you utilize the device’s stock launcher, all of those things would be immediately available anyway.
The performance is sub-par, but if you’re interested in purchasing one to use as an ebook reader, I would encourage that. The screen has good brightness and visibility even in direct light, and the software offers several options to accommodate using the device in “tilt, stand, and hold” modes. However any usage much more taxing on the processor than that would be out of the question. Even playing Words With Friends at times proved to be too much for this little guy.
Probably the best feature of this tablet is the bragged 18 hour battery life. With somewhat light use, I pushed the battery over 2 weeks without charging it. If battery life is more important to you than hardcore performance or high-end specs, at an MSRP of $299, this tablet is definitely worth considering.
The post Lenovo Yoga 10 Review appeared first on AndroidGuys.
Google expecting $50 Project Ara phones for January 2015
Google yesterday revealed that the Project Ara modular smartphone should arrive in January 2015. Known as the “Gray Phone”, it’s deliberately designed to be a generic unit that begs for customization. Pricing is expected to be around $50 for the base device.
As a refresher, Project Ara is the code name for Google’s initiative that lets users swap out components of a smartphone as needed or desired. Want a better camera? Prefer a more powerful experience? Maybe you want a physical keyboard in addition to the touch display. Ara makes this as easy to do as installing an app. Done right, hardware makers will compete for your attention and money with pieces and parts that appeal directly to your needs.
The devices will be powered by Android; drivers should be ready by December. Externally, customers will be able to decide on the finish, color, and materials of the smartphones.
The first Project Ara Developers Conference takes place this week with additional events planned for July and September.
The post Google expecting $50 Project Ara phones for January 2015 appeared first on AndroidGuys.
Fleksy Keyboard version 2.1 rolling out with 6 new languages, bug fixes, and more!
For those of you who use the quick-typing giant Fleksy Keyboard, you should be receiving a pretty notable update today. The update mainly brings support for 6 new languages, altered keyboard layouts (depending on what language you’re using), and a bunch of bug fixes.
Here is the entire changelog for Fleksy 2.1:
- Added Swedish, Danish, Malay, Hungarian, Czech, and Slovakian to their already long list of supported languages
- With the languages come altered keyboard layouts (QWERTZ, Dvorak, and Colemak)
- Added 200+ Emoji
- New Enter icon
- Updated settings menu
- Green theme brightness
- Simultaneous language downloads
- Badge shortcuts
- Multiple force closes and bug fixes
- Added Persian to the upcoming language support list
Fleksy continues to receive updates relatively quickly, and that’s good to see. When there are keyboards like the Google Keyboard or Swiftkey, a lot of the time we’ll see developers get a bit discouraged from the competition. If you’ve never used Fleksy, you may want to download the free trial. It focuses on gestures (what keyboard doesn’t, right?), and making the typing experience fun and quick.
It offers some really nice themes, badges for typing mastery, and a complete tutorial mode to teach you about the many gestures it brings. If you’re interested, download Fleksy from the Play Store toady!
The post Fleksy Keyboard version 2.1 rolling out with 6 new languages, bug fixes, and more! appeared first on AndroidGuys.
Starwood’s app for Google Glass will let you search and book hotels
Imagine walking into a hotel lobby and telling the wearable on your face to pull up your reservation details. Starwood, the company behind properties from the Aloft to the W to the St. Regis, is hoping to up its hospitality game with an app tailor-made for Google Glass. Currently in beta, the upcoming SPG app for Glass will let guests search Starwood properties around the world, get turn-by-turn directions to a particular hotel and explore room photos, amenities, dining options and more. It looks like you’ll also be able to book a reservation directly from the Glass app and — importantly — call a hotel if you get lost.
This isn’t the first time Starwood’s demonstrated an interest in bringing tech to its properties. This year it announced plans to swap out room keys for a mobile app, so its interest in Mountain View’s wearable is no surprise. Google has long touted how useful Glass can be when it comes to travel with apps such as Field Trip, so bringing those geolocation and search capabilities to your hotel stay is a logical next step. And Google Glass may not be the only wearable device SPG has its sights on; in a statement it explained, “[Our] goal with Glass and other wearable technologies is to explore what kinds of new features and services are possible, and to learn from guests.”
Filed under: Wearables, Google
Source: SPG for Glass
West Ham United and Selfridges lead scramble for the first .london domains
After it was decreed that London was next in line to get its own domain name, lots of UK brands and businesses have fallen over themselves to bid for their own piece of the city’s virtual real estate. Today, Dot London confirmed some of the companies wanting to show their hometown love, as well as giving Londoners a firm date as to when they can begin registering their own domains. Premiership football club West Ham United and high-end department stores Selfridges and Fortnum and Mason are amongst 40 businesses signed up to roll out new .london websites in the coming weeks, with city dwellers able to follow suit from April 29th. It’s still not known how much the new domain will cost regular folk, but Dot London says prices will be set by registrars — hopefully that means they won’t mirror the city’s house prices.
Filed under: Internet
Source: .London
Better’s mobile app lets you call a Doctor as if they were tech support
Technology problem? Easy, just hit the Mayday button (if you have one) or sign up for Google Helpouts and within a few minutes, you’ll instantly connect to an expert. Compare that with selecting a healthcare plan, or making trips to the clinic, and medicine can seem a little old-fashioned. Better is looking to change that with an iOS app that offers both a concierge to help you navigate your HMO’s bureaucracy, but also to offer instant access to the physicians at the Mayo Clinic when you’re feeling unwell. The app is launching from today, setting you back $49 a month, and while it’s currently not covered by any insurance plans, there are some incentives to help soften the blow.
Filed under: Cellphones, Software, Mobile, Apple
Via: Re/code
Source: Better (App Store), Better
Hyundai Bringing CarPlay to 2015 Sonata Models Later This Year
Hyundai today announced that it will bring Apple’s CarPlay technology to its Sonata automobile lineup starting next year. This introduction makes Hyundai the first volume automobile manufacturer to bring CarPlay to the market.
The first Hyundai automobiles to offer the voice-driven system will be the company’s popular Sonata line. Models that are equipped with the CarPlay-compatible navigation systems will debut later in the 2015 model year.
Hyundai’s latest Audio Video Navigation (AVN) systems are already recognized for their beautiful, yet intuitive interface and advanced feature set. Our engineers took advantage of the vivid eight-inch touchscreen to integrate CarPlay for an experience that iPhone users will instantly recognize.
CarPlay allows an iPhone to integrate into the car’s infotainment system, providing Siri voice-controlled access to messaging, voice calls, Maps and music. The technology initially debuted as a factory-installed option in new 2014 luxury models from Ferrari, Mercedes-Benz and Volvo and will be added to existing 2014 Pioneer receivers as an aftermarket add-on.
The Amazon smartphone lives, leaked photos show multiple cameras on the front Face
Rumours surrounding a possible Amazon smartphone have until recently just been a pipe dream. Fortunately though, Amazon looks like its almost ready to take on the smartphone market with rumours starting to hot up again, this week culminating in a set of leaked photos of a device that is said to be Amazon’s new smartphone. You’ll notice that there are multiple cameras around the edge of the camera, which are said to be used to track eye and head movement to create a dynamic, 3D user interface on the device.
This is definitely a big gamble for Amazon seeing as nobody else on the market currently has a 3D display, though that may also work in its favour as a niche product. Other rumoured specifications for the device include a 4.7-inch 720p display, a unspecified Qualcomm Snapdragon processor, 2GB RAM and a 13MP rear camera. The device pictured here is said to be announced in June and released in July, which will then be followed by a smartphone with lower hardware specifications and like Amazon’s other devices, both these smartphones will likely run a heavily skinned and forked version of Android.
With all the heavy casing around the device, it’s hard to make out exactly what the Amazon smartphone might actually look like, but it does remind me of a Nokia Lumia. What do you think about the leaked pictures of the Amazon smartphone? Would you considering getting one if, or when, it is released? Let us know your thoughts in the comments.
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