Retro game-inspired short film Pixels to become Adam Sandler feature
The brilliant short film Pixels kinda blew up on the web when it was released in 2010. Four years later, Sony is planning to breathe new life into the homage to old-school gaming by turning it into a feature length Adam Sandler vehicle. The short featured classic game villains like Donkey Kong and Space Invaders wreaking havoc in New York City, eventually turning it and the entire globe into the titular elements of computerized graphics. The feature film will take the basic premise and add what passes for a plot — aliens that resemble said video game characters see the virtual violence committed against them as an act of war. From there it falls to the stars of I Now Pronounce You Chuck & Larry to defeat the invading hordes. There’s still plenty of time for this potential abomination to get shelved since filming doesn’t even start ’til next month. There is one mystery left to solve, however — with Chris Columbus at the helm, how exactly will Christmas figure into the plot?
Filed under: Internet
Source: Re/code
‘Towerfall,’ OUYA’s most popular game, only sold 7,000 copies
If you’re looking for a metric for the OUYA’s (lack of) success, then the developer behind one of the platform’s best selling games can help you out. Towerfall creator Matt Thorson has revealed that despite being the number-one title on the Android platform, the game has sold a measly 7,000 copies. In a conversation with Eurogamer, the developer said that the title was a smash hit on PS4, with PC sales coming in a close second, but added that “being the best game on OUYA isn’t a huge deal, but it is nice” — ouch. In response, OUYA’s CEO Julie Uhrman has said that her company “helped put Towerfall and Matt on the map,” adding that the company is “finding the next great developers and making them household names.” That said, we suspect that since PS4 and PC sales account for nearly 80 percent of Thorson’s $500,000 in revenue, we imagine the next great developer might just choose to bypass OUYA entirely.
Filed under: Gaming
Via: GamesIndustry
Source: Eurogamer
What you need to know to keep the Feds out of your phone
If you’re arrested for overdue speeding tickets, is it acceptable for the police to search the phone on your person? How about if you’re arrested for drug trafficking? In the eyes of the law, there is no difference: If you’re arrested, you’re arrested, whatever the crime. Isn’t that an invasion of privacy? That depends on your interpretation of the US Constitution’s Fourth Amendment, which states:
“The right of the people to be secure in their persons, houses, papers and effects, against unreasonable searches and seizures, shall not be violated, and no warrants shall issue, but upon probable cause, supported by oath or affirmation, and particularly describing the place to be searched, and the persons or things to be seized.”
That’s why two cases being heard at the United States Supreme Court today are of such importance. Both cases hinge on whether police are legally allowed to search the contents of mobile phones confiscated from arrestees, and the decisions leveled by the Supreme Court will impact every citizen in the United States.
WHAT IS IT?
Across two hours this morning, the Supreme Court will hear the cases of David Riley and Brima Wurie. In the case of Riley (Riley v. California), a smartphone is at the heart of the battle. Wurie’s case, United States v. Brima Wurie, involves a flip phone (or “dumb” phone, if you’d prefer).
Currently, police are able to search the person of an arrested individual: pockets, socks, etc. The frisking you’ve see on TV? Yeah, those. It’s called the “search incident to lawful arrest” doctrine. “The area into which he might reach,” is the specific phrase used to allow this warrantless search, with the intention of preventing suspects from either reaching a weapon or destroying/hiding evidence. Pretty simple! “Make sure the arrested person doesn’t have a secret weapon and/or doesn’t destroy the evidence” is a solid argument for police to enact said search.
In today’s hearings, information obtained from the cellphones of arrested individuals is at the heart of the matter. To search a cellphone, the law states that authorities must first obtain a search warrant. In both of today’s cases, the US government is arguing in favor of authorities being allowed to search arrestees phones without a warrant.
The rulings of the two cases — however they’re decided — will be comprehensive in the context of available phone technology. The rulings will not cover wearables, watches, or any other form of personal electronics that’s used for communication.
WHY SHOULD I CARE?
You’ve probably put it together already, but you should care because modern phones are more than just phones. They contain banking and medical information, location tracking, access to email, and tons of other info otherwise physically incapable of being kept on your person.
In so many words: we’ve got little computers in our pockets and most of us allow those computers access to a mess of personal information. If authorities want to access your computer, it requires a warrant. Should the US government’s stance be upheld in these cases, the computer in your pocket could be searched without such a warrant.
WHAT’S AT STAKE?
There are big picture questions of personal freedoms at play here, as well as the rights of the arrested:
- Are smart phones considered phones or computers by the US legal system? Aren’t they both?
- If you’re arrested and your phone is password-locked, are you obligated to release the password?
- Doesn’t the fourth amendment specifically protect the kind of information that US citizens keep on smart phones?
WHAT’S THE ARGUMENT?
In Riley’s case, he was convicted in California — based on evidence obtained from his smart phone — and the decision was upheld based on the aforementioned “search incident to lawful arrest” doctrine. In Wurie’s case, his case was overturned by the US First District Court of Appeals, which argued police aren’t legally allowed to search an arrestee’s phone without a warrant.
That disparity in interpretation is the focal point of today’s two cases.
WANT EVEN MORE?
We sure hope you do, because this one’s dense and there’s plenty of legal minutia to dig through (if you’re into that kinda thing). First up, the SCOTUS Blog has a great, lengthy recap of both trials and an argument preview right here. The New York Times also has a piece breaking down more of the case, such as the impact of signal-blocking Faraday bags on the technical arguments.
Should the police be able to search a person’s phone without a warrant?
Filed under: Cellphones, Software, Mobile
Source: United Stats v Wurie, Riley v California
Sprint announces new HTC One M8 Harman Kardon edition Device
Sprint has finally made the rumored Harman Kardon edition HTC One M8 a reality in a press release this morning. You get the same 5-inch 1080p HD screen, 2.3GHz quad-core processor, Duo-camera and the rest that the HTC One M8 is known for but also gain some new technology called Clarifi. Clarifi is supposed to help bring the sound quality up a notch on those compressed low-resolution audio streams. The new HTC One M8 HK will be black backed with champagne highlights on the front. As part of the purchase you will also pick up a set of Harman Kardon earbuds inside the box that have a retail value of $140.
As for pricing and availability, Sprint will have the device ready for purchase on May 2nd online and through telesales. it will land in stores on May 9th. Pricing depends on your purchase choice. You can do $0 down and $28.34 a month for 24 months or pick it up for $229.99 with a new contract. Additionally, your purchase of the HTC One M8 Harman Kardon will also give you a bonus offer to pick up the Harman Kardon Onyx Studio for $99.99. The regular retail for the Harman Kardon Onyx Studio Bluetooth speaker is just shy of $400.
Not to terrible of a deal really. With the free earbuds and the discount Onyx Studio you save almost $440 out of pocket. Anyone fiending for the HK edition HTC One M8?
img via CNET
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New ‘Sprint Sound Sessions’ and Spotify Premium offers for Sprint Customers start May 2nd
Along with the press release for the HTC One M8 Harman Kardon edition, Sprint also announced a few other little things that are pretty post worthy. One of which is the new Sprint Sound Sessions. Sound Sessions is a premium music package that will be extended to Sprint customers only. No, it isn’t limited to just the HTC One M8 HK device. The Sound Session package includes:
- Spotify – Not the free version everyone gets, but the premium version with ad-free listening.
- Sprint music Plus – That is Sprints official music store and player for music.
- Music Live – an immersive and interactive experience that is continuously updated with the latest music news, current hits, new music and featured services. The “always-on” live experience enables customers to discover and engage with services that include Spotify, Music News Feed, Top Songs, NextRadio (FM Radio) – Music Downloads, Ringback Tones, Ringtones and ID-a-Song services.
- NextRadio – a local FM broadcasting app.
Sound Session also brings in premium access to streaming music services, premium and discounted access to live music events, exclusive performance recordings and advanced access to new artist releases. The kicker comes from the plans to get the access. All new and existing Sprint customers can activate Sprint Sound Session starting May 2nd. On a single line, or non-family plan accounts, you get 3 months Spotify premium and then pay $9.99 a month. On family plans you get 6 months Spotify premium followed by a few price changes.
- Family plans with 6 – 10 lines: 6 months free and then $4.99 a month for 18 months. After 18 months the price goes up to the full $9.99 a month.
- Family plans with 1 – 5 lines: 6 months free and then $7.99 a month for 18 months. After 18 months the price goes up to the full $9.99 a month.
The way it is written makes me think that it will be an account level charge. So I am not 100% sure how they will grant each line premium access unless they plan to make it a single login. Of course that would confuse the crap out of the wife’s music, daughters music and dad’s music choices, playlists and other conflicts. Hopefully they have it sorted for multiple logins.
Sprint Sound Session will go live on all channels starting May 2nd for all compatible Sprint postpaid devices. Sorry pre-paid users, you will have to sit this one out.
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Acer announces new Chromebook with Intel i3 inside
During today’s press event in New York City, Acer announced a variation to their Chromebook (C720) lineup. This new model will sport an Intel i3 processor within, dubbing it the “most powerful Chromebook on the market”. This is a marked shift from the traditional Celeron/Haswell processors the current crop of Chromebooks contain. A base 11/12″ model is expected this summer, with potentially larger screen models coming later.
Source: Slash Gear
The post Acer announces new Chromebook with Intel i3 inside appeared first on AndroidGuys.
Google’s precious Nexus line may soon be replaced by Android Silver
Could the Nexus line really be replaced?
A few months ago, Google was rumored to launch something called ‘Android Silver’. It’s basically a line of premium smartphones that could be closely controlled and monitored by Google, much like the Nexus line. These phones would be produced by the top Android manufacturers, and would receive timely updates, have a limit to bloatware, and would closely adhere to Google’s hardware specifications. Android Silver was also rumored to have a heavy retail presence – something that Google has been always lacking with the Nexus line.
In a report from The Information, Google is aiming to replace the Nexus line with Android Silver. Google are reportedly spending close to $1 billion on traditional advertising, whether that be in-store, online, or through run-of-the-mill media sources.
From a business standpoint, this is beginning to make a bit more sense. Retail sales make a huge profit, and bloatware on some devices is getting out of control. Since Android Silver aims to reduce carrier bloatware by a ton, this could really be a positive experience for everyone.
These next few months are going to be extremely interesting, given the rumors that are floating around. What do you think about Android Silver replacing the Nexus line? Let us know in the comments!
Via: The Verge, Source: The Information
The post Google’s precious Nexus line may soon be replaced by Android Silver appeared first on AndroidGuys.
Reddit seeks developers for official mobile app
Are you an app developer looking for work in the San Francisco area? Reddit may be the place for you!
Reddit is looking to go mobile, and would like to begin by hiring mobile application developers. Their aim is to develop a simple app for easier information consumption, and also work with third party developers to help build more successful apps.
The complete list of skills and requirements are:
- Love mobile apps. We’re excited about the potential of mobile and how it will change how we share our content with the world.
- Be fearless. No idea is too crazy and no problem is too hard. We’re big on experimentation, trying and trying again. And we love the idea of trying something new.
- Be curious. Help us figure out what is working, what isn’t working, and why. Be data-oriented and love the user.Have a sound appreciation for simplicity. The options are endless; our focus is on hiding the complexity from users and making our apps simple. The magic of the apps should be how simple it is for people to find great content and communities on reddit.
- Get things done. Our team is small, but our vision is large. We use Hall and IRC to share ideas and coordinate. We make decisions and move fast. Experience shipping apps on a quick release cycle is a plus.
- Front end experience. Strong Java skills (for Android) or Objective C (for iOS or Mac apps) are needed. A design background (Android/iOS/HTML design/styling/layout work) is helpful. Love users. We want to help users find great content and communities that are interesting to them. We protect and respect user privacy.
- Be able to work in San Francisco, CA. Our office is in San Francisco, we love it here, and you should, too.
If you think you have what they’re looking for, head here to the official job description.
The post Reddit seeks developers for official mobile app appeared first on AndroidGuys.
PhoneSoap UV Charging System hands-on
The PhoneSoap UV Charger claims to be the first charger on the market that charges your phone while cleaning it.
By and large, we’re all clean people, right? We’re used to cleaning everything from our hands and bodies to our windows and smartphone screens. Do you have bacteria on your mobile device? Of course; we all do. PhoneSoap’s UV-C System is here to save the day.
UV-C rays are completely safe and harmless to electronics according to PhoneSoap. In fact, here’s a quote from PhoneSoap explaining just a bit more:
“The two UV-C lamps in PhoneSoap Charger produce a very specific wavelength of light which encompass your phone and pass through the cell walls of bacteria and virus to impair their DNA. Once the DNA is compromised, the cells die and can no longer cause infections or disease. The best part, PhoneSoap Charger kills “SuperBugs” that have developed resistance to the chemicals and antibiotics that used to be effective. Let there be light!” – PhoneSoap.com
I’ve spent some time with this particular device and put together some of the advantages and disadvantages. Here’s a quick and dirty bullet-point list:
Pros:
- Included MicroUSB Cable and USB outlet
- Keeps your cell clean
- Uses no heat
- Uses no liquid
- Uses no chemicals
- Quick UV-C Light
- Cleaning process takes less than five minutes even when not charging
- Acoustic Audio Amplifier to ensure that you hear sounds from your device
Cons:
- Device is a bit bulky
- Some larger smartphones (mainly phablets) will have issues
Just plug in your device, close the lid, and charge the germs away. You can purchase the PhoneSoap charger for $59.99 from the PhoneSoap Store.
The post PhoneSoap UV Charging System hands-on appeared first on AndroidGuys.
Sprint Bundles Spotify Premium Into New ‘Framily’ Plans [iOS Blog]
Sprint today announced that it will start bundling Spotify Premium with its new Framily plans, offering a discount on the service for customers with multiple lines. The music streaming service is part of the company’s new Sprint Sound Sessions program and will be available starting May 9th.
Under the new program, all new and existing postpaid customers on a Framily plan are eligible for a free, six-month trial of Spotify Premium that is followed by an 18-month discount on the premium service when the free trial is over. Framily customers will pay $7.99 per month for the paid service or $4.99 monthly if the Framily plan has more than six members. After 24 months, customers will pay the standard price for Spotify Premium, which is currently $9.99 per month.
Subscribers outside the Framily plan will receive a 3-month free trial and incur charges of $9.99 monthly when the free trial ends. All charges for the service will be added to a customer’s monthly bill.
“With Spotify, people literally have all of the world’s music in their pockets,” said Daniel Ek, Spotify founder and CEO. “Spotify and Sprint share a passion for music and technology that makes this partnership a natural fit for both companies — and the best music deal ever for Sprint customers.”
Spotify’s Premium tier allows users to listen to Spotify’s entire 20 million song library with support for unlimited on-demand listening and custom playlists. The service recently extended its free tier to iPhone users, allowing them to listen to pre-compiled playlists and shuffled music based on a specific artist or song.
This new Sprint partnership is not the first carrier tie-up for the Swedish-based music service. Spotify also bundles its Premium service with cellular plans from Vodafone throughout Europe. As a result, Spotify’s growth has been accelerating, and the streaming service may soon eclipse Apple’s iTunes downloads as Europe’s biggest digital music service in terms of revenue.
AIVAnet 