LittleBits’ Arduino module puts the focus on programming, not wiring
Getting your feet wet with programmable hardware can be tricky; even if you’re comfortable with coding, you may not want to break out the soldering iron just to build a usable device. LittleBits is aware of just how intimidating these make-it-yourself gadgets can be, so it has just launched its first software-programmable module, the Arduino at Heart. As the name implies, it’s an Arduino core (the same as the Leonardo) designed to fit into LittleBits’ simple, building block approach to circuit boards. If you want to attach a light, motor or sensor to the Arduino board, you just snap it on — you can spend more of your time coding rather than dealing with wiring and other hardware hassles.
The programmable part gives you much more control over LittleBits’ existing modules, such as the oscillators in the Synth Kit. People have been asking for this flexibility since the “beginning of the company,” product head Paul Rothman tells us. However, it also opens the door to interaction with your computer. Since the Arduino module has USB support built-in, you can create Etch-A-Sketches, Pong games and other programs that have LittleBits and your PC working in harmony. Rothman adds that many existing Arduino projects should work with only a few slight tweaks to pin assignments.
The code-friendly kit is available online today, and you should also find it at the Maker Faire in San Mateo on May 17th and 18th. You can buy the Arduino module by itself for $36, although beginners may be best off with the $89 Starter Bundle; the pack includes both the programmable core as well as eight additional parts you may want early on, such as controllers and a battery. It may still be a while before you’re cooking up completely new ways to use LittleBits’ gear, but you won’t need electrical engineering skills just to reach that point.
Filed under: Household, Peripherals
Source: LittleBits
Square Register for iOS now works even without an internet connection
Jack Dorsey’s little credit card machine that could only really had one major flaw: it only worked with an internet connection. That’s not an issue any more, thanks to an update to the Square Register iOS app which now lets you accept payments offline, as long as you upload them within 72 hours. You can set a limit on the value of each transaction, automatically set yo $100, since you’ll lose out on any declined sales that weren’t verified at the time. Still, if you trust your customers and have spotty WiFi, then it’s probably worth checking out.
Filed under: Peripherals, Tablets, Internet
Via: TUAW
Source: Square (App Store)
Nintendo being sued over motion patents in the Wii and Wii U
Nintendo’s not having a great 2014. Between lackluster financial results, an accidental controversy, and now a lawsuit from Philips, life could be better. The Dutch electronics company Koninklijke Philips (better known as just Philips, for obvious reasons) is suing Nintendo over motion patents that span the entire Wii line: “Wii video gaming systems and related software and accessories including, for example, the Wii console, Wii Remote Plus Controller, Wii Remote Controller, Wii U console, Wii U GamePad, and Wii Mini,” the lawsuit filing reads. Worse for Nintendo, Philips is looking to halt the sales of those products while the court case proceeds, which could turn the Wii U’s poor sales into an even more dire situation.
For its part, Nintendo isn’t issuing a formal statement. Philips’ formal statement is written all over the legal documents. The electronics company alleges that Nintendo intentionally infringed on patents owned by Philips, that Nintendo was warned about said infringing patents in late 2011, and that Nintendo continued to voluntarily violate said patents. Beyond the creation of devices, Nintendo allegedly infringed Philips’ patents, “by making, using, selling, offering for sale, andimporting interactive virtual modeling products within the United States.” As such, Philips is suing Nintendo in the United States district court (specifically in Delaware, where many companies register for tax reasons).
Should the case go to trial, Philips is requesting one by jury. Also, Nintendo will have to stop selling its Wii and Wii U game consoles in the US during the trial. All that said, it’s very likely this will be settled out of court so Nintendo can avoid that situation.
Filed under: Gaming, Peripherals, Software, HD, Nintendo
Via: Game Informer
Source: Scribd
The HTC One Mini 2 is now official, a mid-range smartphone for the selfie Lover
We’ve been seeing the rumours for some time and now the HTC One Mini 2 has been official announced. The specs are pretty much as we expected for a mini version of the HTC One M8; a quad-core Snapdragon 400 processor clocked at 1.2GHz, 1GB RAM, 16GB storage, a 4.5-inch 720p display, and a 2,100mAh battery. One of the more intriguing characteristics of the One Mini 2 is the fact that it actually possesses a microSD slot, something that has always been a major criticism of HTC flagship smartphones.
As we also expected, the One Mini 2 will have Sense 6.0 themed Android 4.4, though it’s definitely the cameras that deserve an additional look. While the HTC One M8 had the HTC Duo Camera configuration, the One Mini 2 is ditching that and the UltraPixel technology to simply have a 13MP camera on the rear and a 5MP wide-angle camera on the front. While it’s definitely interesting that HTC actually left its beloved UltraPixel camera out of the One Mini 2, this makes it a genuinely viable device for people who want decent camera and selfie performance. The HTC One Mini 2 is going to be available in three colours to start with including Gunmetal Gray, Glacial Silver and Amber Gold, and is expected to be released in EMEA regions and Asia sometime in June; availability in other regions has not yet been specified and prices have not been divulged.
What do you think about the HTC One Mini 2 now that it has been fully revealed? How do you think it shapes up to the Motorola Moto G? Let us know what you think in the comments below.
Source: Phone Arena
//<![CDATA[
ord = window.ord || Math.floor(Math.random()*1E16);
document.write('’);
//]]>
Sony’s $700 4K streaming box gets a much needed pre-order discount
4K TVs are still quite expensive and there’s still not a lot of stuff to watch on ‘em. If neither of those things deterred you from buying one, however, then Sony’s FMP-X10 Ultra HD Media Player is probably a good investment. The Roku-esque hardware lets you pull down 4K content like American Hustle and The Blacklist from Sony’s Video Unlimited store, as well as House of Cards and Breaking Bad from Netflix. Having already launched in Europe, it’ll arrive on these shores in July for $700 — unless, that is, you pre-order between today and July 15th, since Sony is offering a $200 discount for even earlier early adopters.
Filed under: Home Entertainment, HD, Sony
T-Mobile launching Spanish-language mobile network with Univision
Move over Jennifer Lopez and Verizon, as Univision has just partnered with T-Mobile to create a new Spanish-language cellphone service called Univision Mobile. Underpinned by T-Mo’s network, the new partnership will target the 56 million strong Hispanic American market with “custom-built” plans. Like its parent carrier, those will be contract-free starting at $30 for unlimited texts and calls and $45 for a 2.5GB web plan. Both will get unlimited international texting and 100 minutes of free calls to mobile phones or landlines in Mexico and seven other Latin American countries. The new company may not have J-Lo fronting it like Viva Movil, but users will no doubt be able to catch her on their phones — Univision will offer “insights and programming content” for the new venture.
Filed under: Wireless, Mobile, T-Mobile
Source: Univision
Nest strikes deal with npower to offer its smart thermostat for just £99
Now that the Nest learning thermostat on sale in the UK, the Google-owned company is pulling out all of the stops to make it your go-to smart heating controller. Today, it buddied up with its first European energy supplier to give Britons a more cost-effective solution (at least for now) to British Gas’ own Hive thermostat. npower, Nest’s partner in crime, is incentivising customers to switch over to its new dual-fuel tariffs (which fix energy prices until April 30th 2017) by offering a Nest for just £99 installed. That’s £100 less than the Hive and a third of the price of a standalone unit (with support) ordered from npower direct. You can, of course, still pick one up for £179 on Nest’s own website and Amazon, or online and in-store at Apple, John Lewis and B&Q, but it’ll be down to you to install it and make sure it works as it should.
Filed under: Household, Internet, Google
Source: nPower – Nest
Google Maps now offers ‘quick facts’ about the world’s biggest tourist destinations
Google Maps just got a new and pretty useful info card that takes data right out of the company’s Knowledge Graph. This expandable window called “Quick facts” lists, well, bite-sized factoids about some of most famous locations around the globe, including Angkor Wat, the Golden Gate Bridge and Taj Mahal, as you can see above. The feature’s only available on Google Maps for desktop (and it doesn’t work for every tourist spot out there), so it’ll be a while before you can use it to plan your yearly vacations.
Via: Search Engine Land
Source: Google Maps (Google+)
Google Play Services updated along with Google MyGlass
Google is always updating to bring the latest bug fixes and enhancements to our Android devices and today is exactly that.
Google Play Services has been updated from 4.4.49 to version 4.4.51. These are most likely minor bugfixes. However, no matter how small, Google thought we should have it so kudos to them!
MyGlass is also receiving an update, but this isn’t your standard bugfix. Googles is adding the ability to share places from Google Maps on Android to Google Glass! I haven’t had to pleasure of using Google Glass, but having this feature would be nice to share a particular restaurant or destination with your friends!
The updates are slowly making their way out to users and if you haven’t received it yet, XDA has mirrored them on their Dev-Host account below.
- Google MyGlass 3.0.0
- Google Play Services 4.4.51 (1168931-010)
- Google Play Services 4.4.51 (1168931-032) – 160 DPI
- Google Play Services 4.4.51 (1168931-034) – 240 DPI
- Google Play Services 4.4.51 (1168931-036) – 320 DPI
- Google Play Services 4.4.51 (1168931-038) – 480 DPI
- Google Play Services 4.4.51 (1168931-070)
Source: XDA
The post Google Play Services updated along with Google MyGlass appeared first on AndroidGuys.
Moto E Global GSM available on Amazon, US GSM for preorder
The all new and super affordable Android powered headset from Motorola is available on Amazon for $129. The all new Moto E is Motorola’s fight back against the feature phone and opening the doors to a new era of affordable smartphones. The Global GSM version is available right now from Amazon here, or you can pre-order the US GSM version here, which will be available on June 3rd.
Specs:
- Android 4.4, KitKat
- Qualcomm 8210 Snapdragon 200 with 1.2GHz dual-core A7 CPU
- 1GB RAM
- Adreno 302 400MHz
- 4GB Flash Storage
- MicroSD slot supports up to 32GB expandable memory
- Bluetooth 4.0 LE
- 5MP Rear Camera
- Built-in rechargeable lithium-ion, 1980mAh; Mixed usage up to 24 hours
- Network: UMTS 850/900/1900/2100 GSM 850 / 900 /1800 /1900
The device is a great deal for someone on a low budget. You can actually get a decent phone for the money, thought I’d never say that. This phone can always be good as a backup so in case your main phone goes down, just pop out your sim, put it into the Moto E and you’re good to go. Let us know if you’ll be picking up a Moto E soon!
Source: Amazon
The post Moto E Global GSM available on Amazon, US GSM for preorder appeared first on AndroidGuys.
AIVAnet 