Samsung’s tablet for schools carries a tougher shell and extra smarts
We don’t envy schools that have to go tablet shopping; many slates can’t survive roughhousing by playful kids, let alone impart some wisdom. Teachers will be glad to hear, then, that Samsung has fulfilled its promise of a classroom-ready tablet by releasing the Galaxy Tab 4 Education in the US. Hardware-wise, it boils down to a Galaxy Tab 4 10.1 with a rugged case — nothing truly special, but enough to survive a fall from a desk. The real highlight may be the software, which includes educational apps, books and videos alongside easy access to Google Play for Education. Samsung’s smarter Galaxy Tab carries just a slight premium at $370, although schools will want to tack on another $30 if they want Google Play’s help with their lessons.
Via: AnandTech
Source: Samsung (1), (2)
Adidas is taking sneaker customization to a whole nother level
Adidas is in the process of revamping mi Adidas, its feature that lets people customize shoes with various elements — you can mix and match colors and even have your name embroidered on them. To make things better (or worse, depending on who you ask), Adidas will soon also allow you to create sneakers using any image you want as your print — because why not, right? Unfortunately, you won’t be able to do this with all Adidas Originals, as the sporting gear company is limiting the customization feature to the ZX Flux model. Adidas says the ZX Flux is the perfect shoe for this, citing the recent success of the Photo Print Prism model as evidence and as a driving force behind the idea. You can customize your own pair starting in August, which is when the iOS and Android apps are due to launch.
It’s worth noting that the concept of customizing shoes, or other gear, isn’t particularly novel for manufacturers; Nike, as an example, has its NikeiD program and, of course, there’s the one we’ve been talking about: mi Adidas. Still, there’s something more exciting about the idea of letting buyers upload a picture of their choosing — we can only imagine what folks will be sporting on their feet soon enough.
Filed under: Misc
Source: Adidas
Apple and Google/Motorola Agree to Settle Patent Litigation, Work Together on Patent Reform
Apple and Google/Motorola Mobility have agreed to a settlement and will dismiss pending patent litigation between the two companies, according to a court filing referenced by Reuters.
As part of the settlement, Apple and Google have agreed to work together “in some areas of patent reform”. Apple and Google have been in patent disputes for years. This particular settlement does not include a patent cross-licensing agreement, which is sometimes included in patent settlements.
In a joint statement, the companies said the settlement does not include a cross license to their respective patents. “Apple and Google have also agreed to work together in some areas of patent reform,” the statement said.
Apple still has numerous patent lawsuits in the works against a vast array of companies, most notably Samsung. Earlier this year, Google announced it was selling Motorola Mobility to Lenovo for $2.91 billion.
Why we love (and hate) our smartphones [EDITORIAL]
In the world of mobile devices, specifically mobile phones, we all have our favorite device as well as our favorite manufacturer that we constantly rely on and steadily buy from. At the same time we also have things that we don’t like about certain manufacturers, such as the way they make devices, their UI/UX, the lack of battery life, too many “features” gimmicks as they tend to call them and many other things.
Today, I’m going to give you my own personal opinions about the devices that I have used over the past 3 years, which ones I liked, why I liked them, as well as the manufacturers that I prefer to use the devices from, and those that just turn my head away completely.
NOTE THAT THIS ARTICLE IS SPREAD OVER FIVE PAGES
Devices I’ve Owned
I started in the world of Android back in late June of 2011 and my first device was the HTC MyTouch 4G through T-Mobile. I kept the device stock from the day I got until the day I got rid of it about 8 months later when I made the switch to Verizon to get the ever impressive and loved Samsung Galaxy Nexus. I ended up rooting the Nexus after about a month, because I wanted something different.
After keeping the Galaxy Nexus for a bit of time, I moved up the the Samsung Galaxy S4. Again, I rooted this device after a short period of time and I’ll explain why a bit later. After the S4 came the LG G2 which I managed to keep for a whopping 6 months via AT&T and then as usual, it was time to change devices again.
Now enter the time that I started up AndroidDissected which is now TechDissected and always having access to the latest and greatest devices for review purposes. Since these sites came into existence, I’ve owned devices such as the Samsung Galaxy Note 2, Note 3, Galaxy Mega, Galaxy S4 Activ. Then there’s devices such as the aforementioned LG G2, the LG G Flex, LG Nexus 4, and a couple of others. HTC had a couple of devices in there, such as the HTC One(M7) and HTC One(M8), the HTC Amaze and the HTC Sensation.
Also in that list is now my daily driver, the Motorola Moto X, and previously before that was my Motorola Moto G which I still own. There are of course other devices that I’m sure I’m forgetting to mention, but the point is, I’ve owned devices from all of the major manufacturers that most everyone reading this will have used at least one device from. This gives me solid ground to tell what I like about certain devices or manufacturers as well as the things I don’t particularly care for.
One thing to note is that no where in this article am I comparing battery life of years ago to the battery life we have today in some devices. I’m also not comparing Froyo or Ice Cream Sandwich to today’s Jelly Bean. I’m simply comparing devices to devices and things that I either liked or disliked about each device and/or manufacturer that produced them.
NOTE THAT THIS ARTICLE IS SPREAD OVER FIVE PAGES
The post Why we love (and hate) our smartphones [EDITORIAL] appeared first on AndroidGuys.
Apple and Motorola agree to drop lawsuits against each other, work on patent reform
And just like that, the longstanding legal battle between Apple and Motorola appears to be winding down. The two smartphone giants have reached an agreement that will see them drop patent lawsuits against each other. The truce doesn’t involve technology licenses, but Apple and Google (still Motorola’s owner at this point) say they’ll “work together in some areas of patent reform.” Neither side is revealing what this entails, although it won’t be surprising if it involves efforts to curb the patent trolls that they face.
The companies haven’t said what prompted the change of heart. However, it comes hot on the heels of an appeals court reviving patent claims from Apple and Motorola that had been dismissed in 2012. The phone makers faced the prospect of renewing a fight over some relatively old (and no longer very valuable) infringement allegations — peace may simply be the more pragmatic option. Whatever led to the decision, it’s good news for those who’d rather see phone makers compete in stores than in the courtroom.
Filed under: Cellphones, Mobile, Apple, Google, Lenovo
Source: Reuters
Google Buys Visual Translation App ‘Word Lens’, Makes It Free for Limited Time [iOS Blog]
Google has bought the popular iOS and Android visual translation app Word Lens to “incorporate [the] technology into Google Translate’s broad language coverage”, according to a statement on Quest Visual’s website.
The software uses a smartphone camera to translate signs in real time into the users native language. The technology is remarkable and used by many world travelers. Previously, translation packs were available as in-app purchases, but Quest Visual has made all the packs and the app itself free for a limited time.
The company did not say how long the app will be available for free, so interested users should download it while it is available. Translations are available between English and Russian, Portuguese, German, Italian, French and Spanish.
Word Lens is a free download from the App Store. [Direct Link]
Engadget Podcast 397 – 5.16.14
It’s been a long and busy week, leaving a newly nicotine-free Terrence a tad more irritable than usual. Ben’s been busy too, but that just means long hours of playing Mario Kart 8. Both of these factors seem to cancel each other out and the result is a pleasant stroll through the world of Xbox One, this time sporting a lower price tag and one less peripheral. Is it Microsoft’s way to boost sales, or are there more complex plans afoot? It depends on who you listen too, but the Redmond camp believes it’s doing gamers with tight budgets a big favor. We also dig into the issue of smart guns: how they work and what it could mean for the future of firearms. So plop on down in your comfiest chair and get ready for the smooth sounds of tech news, brought to you by the Engadget Podcast crew.
Hosts: Ben Gilbert, Terrence O’Brien
Producer: Jon Turi
Hear the podcast:
03:46 – Microsoft lowers Xbox One price to $400 without Kinect
13:26 – Xbox One without Kinect is great for consumers, terrible for Kinect game developers
22:43 – The Xbox One price drop isn’t just to boost sales, says Microsoft
28:41 – What you need to know about smart guns
Subscribe to the podcast:
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Download the podcast:
Contact the podcast:
Connect with the hosts on Twitter: @terrenceobrien, @realbengilbert
Email us: podcast [at] engadget [dot] com
Filed under: Podcasts
Engadget Daily: Sony’s Alpha A7s, WP8 gets home automation app, and more!
You might say the day is never really done in consumer technology news. Your workday, however, hopefully draws to a close at some point. This is the Daily Roundup on Engadget, a quick peek back at the top headlines for the past 24 hours — all handpicked by the editors here at the site. Click on through the break, and enjoy.
‘Halo 5: Guardians’ and live-action Halo TV show set for fall 2015 launch
We knew a Halo 4 successor was coming, but today, Microsoft and 343 Industries announced that Halo 5: Guardians will arrive fall of 2015. What’s more, the live-action Halo TV series may debut around the same time. And now, we wait.
What you need to know about online advertisers tracking you
No one enjoys the thought of having their online routines tracked by advertisers, but is there really anything you can do about it? Read on as our own Jose Andrade dives into the Do Not Track (DNT) initiative and how it can protect you.
Microsoft brings home automation app and devices to the Windows Store
Windows Phone 8 users take note: Microsoft just announced its own Insteon home automation app is “coming soon.” In addition, Insteon will sell standalone devices in the Windows Store, including a leak sensor, LED bulb and WiFi camera for $30 – $80, with kits starting at $200.
Full-frame and 4K-ready: The Sony Alpha A7s can be yours in July for $2,500
Sony’s super successful Alpha A7 is getting a successor this year. Called the Alpha A7s, this full-frame mirrorless shooter will go on sale in July for $2,500 (body only). That’s a lot of dough to cough up without getting a lens, but the A7s has the features to deserve it.
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Filed under: Misc
3D scanner helps one artist remix Renaissance art
Some of the world’s oldest art is getting a bit of a facelift. Brooklyn artist Barry X Ball has developed a way to recreate Renaissance-era sculptures using 3D scanning. Rather than printing duplicates, Ball takes the statues “to the next level,” by adding on to them. In some cases that means finishing details in the way he thinks the original artist intended, and in others he’s looking to make something completely new. For instance, in one of his sculptures he replaced the roughed out head of Jesus in a famous Michelangelo sculpture with the original artist’s head, a tribute to him since he died a few days after carving it.
Each piece starts with a scan made up of 400 individual 3D pictures of a particular work. Ball tweaks the computer file, meticulously adds on to it and then has it printed out of stone or marble. That’s a lot of steps, however, his work is far from over. The intricate printing process for a sculpture could take up to a month to complete. Once it’s done, the team then carves smaller details into the final product by hand (no small task), completing the piece. The end result is a new 21st century masterpiece our ancestors might try to recreate in another 500 years.
Filed under: Peripherals, Software, Alt
Via: Gizmodo
Source: Barry X Ball
Copper Gold and Electric Blue Galaxy S5s Headed to Canada Soon
Color variations of the hot flagship devices is nothing new. Various OEMs have been doing for decades. While many like to stick with the more traditional black, white or silver options, there are plenty out there that like to have a little more color in their life without the need for a case to achieve it. A little birdy, Samsung Canada Twitter account, let loose an image simply stating that two new color options of the Samsung galaxy S5 are headed to our northern friends in Canada soon.
They keep the tweet short and sweet by offering up the rear images of both color options, as seen above, with a ‘coming soon’ bit of text. The two new color offerings will certainly add a little spice to the current Charcoal Black and Shimmery White options. As it sits right now, Rogers is the only confirmed Canadian carrier to be bringing the new color options ‘soon’. However, we expect others to offer them as well.
Source: Samsung Mobile CAN via MobileSyrup
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