Galaxy S5 Active appears on Twitter, posing once again
We’ve seen a few leaks of Samsung Galaxy S5 Active thus far, interestingly enough most of them happened within a week. First some pictures and videos leaked and not long after that some additional videos appeared.
This time around we have a press image of Galaxy S5 Active for AT&T, courtesy of @evleaks. We have a lot of info regarding this device thanks to numerous leaks in the last few days. Samsung Galaxy S5 Active is expected to feature a Qualcomm Snapdragon 801 chip along with 2GB of RAM, and a 16MP camera, basically a Galaxy S5 with some added ruggedness.
Is this device on your shopping list? Will you get it once it gets released?
SOURCE: @evleaks
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Gadget Rewind 2007: Aliph Jawbone
In the years before texting’s domination of smartphones, the mobile-toting masses relied heavily on headsets and earpieces to stay connected. These people would often be seen shouting crazily into the air just so they’d be heard over environmental noise. That’s about the time Aliph arrived with a solution with its first Jawbone earpiece. It sported military-tested noise cancellation and bone-conduction sound tech, as well as clean styling from designer Yves Béhar. The first wired iteration showed up in 2004, offering an alternative to the “business basics” style that was typical of mobile headsets at the time. It wouldn’t be until 2007′s Consumer Electronics Show, however, that Aliph would give consumers a redesigned and colorful wireless option with the release of the Bluetooth-enabled Jawbone.
The Jawbone’s marquee feature was its ability to reduce ambient noise and transmit clear speech through its use of bone conduction. This nub rested against the wearer’s cheek helping to detect speech and assist the device’s noise-cancellation tech in deciding which other sounds to squash. While it reportedly worked like a charm, eliminating traffic, crowd and weed whacker-like machinery noise, some claimed it still fell victim to heavy winds. Many users were also annoyed that the volume buttons served to control other settings, thus complicating the interface. But, overall, it proved to be a comfortable fit and definitely served to enable those who would wear it all day long — even at the dinner table.
Newer versions of the headset continued to be released over the years and in 2010, Aliph branched out from the Bluetooth-enabled earpiece market with the launch of a portable speaker called the Jambox. It was a move that then prompted the company to drop the “Aliph” name altogether and rebrand itself entirely as Jawbone. That shift toward a broader focus on audio was a curious turn of strategy for Jawbone. The company primarily known for its noise-cancellation technology was now in the business of making boomboxes — devices specifically engineered to pump out the stuff its earpieces canceled out.
Did you own an Aliph Jawbone? Add it to your Engadget profile as a device you had (or still have) and join the discussion to reminisce or share photos of your device with other like-minded gadget fans.
Filed under: Mobile
Inhabitat’s Week in Green: hybrid Batmobile, self-cleaning fish tank and an anatomical Barbie
Clean tech fans were thrilled this week when Germany proved it’s possible to power the world with greener energy by announcing that 74 percent of its energy was recently met with renewable sources. But if you still have doubts about the future of renewable energy, a new report from the International Energy Agency predicts that solar energy could become the biggest generator of electricity worldwide by 2050 if the right policies are put in place. Meanwhile in Baltimore, they are using solar energy to help tackle pollution. The new solar-powered Water Wheel Trash Interceptor is ready to pull a whopping 50,000 pounds out of the water, which the city hopes will make its harbor swimmable again. In developing countries that lack access to any kind of fossil fuels, this solar-powered pump is helping to produce clean, drinkable water.
In transportation news, Sweden recently proposed adding Water Buses to its residents’ public transportation options — wouldn’t that be an awesome way to commute? Indianapolis recently became home to the country’s largest electric car-sharing program, patterned after the very successful Autolib’ in Paris. Lucky residents of Brooklyn got a chance to test drive the world’s first electric wooden bicycle. Featuring sustainably harvested wood and a powerful electric motor, it’s the most beautiful way to avoid car traffic we’ve ever seen. Speaking of traffic, a city in Sweden recently announced plans to give residents free bikes as a way to help reduce the number of cars on the road. Some people still think electric motors and high performance remain mutually exclusive, but that stereotype won’t last for long with the Lightning LS-218 on the road. With a 200-horsepower electric motor and a top speed of 216 MPH, this superbike is not just the world’s fastest production electric motorcycle, but it also holds the world land speed record as the fastest production motorcycle period. The only thing that might beat it is a hybrid Batmobile.
It’s a busy time of year for the world’s designers. Hundreds converged in New York recently to showcase their innovations, including interesting new developments in energy-efficient lighting, like these incredible pendant lamps and chandeliers made from OLEDs (Organic Light-Emitting Diodes). While some designers experiment with new materials, such as in this lamp grown entirely from mushrooms, others are looking for the perfect lighting technology. This mesmerizing moon lamp from Raw Studio shines a light on new LED technology that is just as warm as the phased-out incandescents. Nature and technology play well together in this self-cleaning fish tank that also grows delicious herbs, and these magnetic ruler blocks from student Carlos Ng are sure to unleash your inner architect. Sometimes it’s the purely conceptual designs that catch our attention — like this creepy, but fascinating, anatomical Barbie that shows what this oddly shaped doll’s anatomy would look like if she were real.
With summer right around the corner, SMS addicts will be excited to learn about the GroupMe app that lets you chat with a whole group of people at a time (for free) and these affordable SmileSolar watches from Q&Q that only need one hour in the sun to pump out three months of battery. Lots of people will be spending more time outdoors and exposing their skin to the sun. This drinkable sunscreen claims to protect your skin from the inside out and these solar-powered sunglasses will alert you if you try to leave them behind. Nice weather means more bike rides, too. Keep your two-wheel steed safe with this solar-powered bike lock of the future while you work on your abs at this free outdoor gym that popped up on the East River Waterfront Esplanade. These mouth-watering vegan BBQ dishes are sure to be a hit at any summer soiree, and California’s State Mascot can show you how to save energy when the weather gets hot. Can’t get outside? These gorgeous beach ball lamps bring summer fun to any space.
European HTC One M8 gets a stability update
The version of the HTC One M8 dedicated to Europe is starting to see its first major software update release which focuses on a number of stability fixes. The European HTC One M8 handsets are getting the 66MB update bringing it to version 1.54.401.10.
Here’s what that update brings:
- System improvements
- Radio stability improvement
- Application improvements
- Camera stability
- Video highlight stability
- FM Radio stability
- Weather app barometer update
Everything seems to be under-the-hood improvements as far as the 66MB gets you, but if you notice anything fundamentally different, drop us a comment below.
The post European HTC One M8 gets a stability update appeared first on AndroidGuys.
Turtle Beach Ear Force XO Seven Gaming Headset Review: Where Xbox One and mobile audio compatibility Meet
It’s currently a very lonely place to be a gaming headset for the Xbox One; Microsoft neglected to release any decent audio products with its next gen console, so that responsibility has fallen to third party manufacturers like Turtle Beach to sort out. The Turtle Beach Ear Force XO Seven gaming headset (along with its smaller brother, the XO Four) was one of the first audio devices released for the Xbox One, and as an added bonus, has been made to be compatible with mobile devices. Let’s see if the XO Seven has decent enough mobile credentials to warrant your time and money.
What’s in the box
As always, Turtle Beach again makes the case that opening your boxes should be a pantomine event and the XO Seven box does not disappoint. While the XO Seven has less gear in the box than the i60 (read the full review of the i60 here), there’s still a lot of substance to the contents which include the headset, a Xbox One controller adapter and an assortment of cables to suit your chosen mode of gaming, either Xbox One or mobile (or even just listening to music).
You’ll find your XO Seven headset nestled in the bosom of the moulded packaging and beneath it, you will find the various included cables and adapters. The XO Seven is a solid over-the-ear headphone affair that follows the design methodology of Turtle Beach’s other Seven series headsets, giving it quite a lot of size. To wear, I found the XO Seven extremely comfortable, probably the most comfortable headset I’ve had the pleasure of reviewing this year so far; more on that later.
With equal parts of black leather and black plastic, the XO Seven looks like a menacing piece of audio hardware, which is only accentuated by the lime green highlights used throughout the headset. This colour scheme extends to the braided cable, which is also extremely tough and well shielded. There’s a fair amount of memory foam both on the earcups and the headband that all add to the comfort of the XO Seven.
If the all black decor isn’t exactly to your liking, the XO Seven also allows you to remove the faceplates of the earcups and replace them with other ones supplied by Turtle Beach, and typically feature games that Turtle Beach is the official audio provider for, like Titanfall, or just movie deals, like the Avengers.
As for the accessories that you will get with the XO Seven, you’ll get one cable that you can use to connect to mobile devices, one cable to connect to the Xbox One controller adapter, a headset boom microphone that attaches to the headset, and inexplicably, a micro-USB cable, which I can only assume is for use with mobile devices (though only with Android). I’m a bit torn on Turtle Beach’s decision to include a removable mic; while it’s great that the microphone is removable so that it isn’t in the way when you’re using it with mobile devices, it’s a bit of a bother to be removing it and replacing it if you’re using it regularly.
While I wasn’t able to give the XO Seven a proper run as a Xbox One headset, in large part due to the fact that I do not yet own a Xbox One, the controller adapter appears to be of solid construction with quite a few buttons mounted on the adapter itself to help make quick changes to both audio and chat volumes during your gaming sessions.
How does it sound
Apart from the game and chat options available to the Xbox One adapter, the XO Seven doesn’t have much else in the way of electronic audio smarts. What it does have, however, is passive noise cancellation courtesy of its “noise-isolating memory foam ear cushions” which do an amazing job of blocking out about 80% of the noise that is happening around you; the sound coming out of the 50mm audio drivers will easily take care of the remaining 20%. In fact, more than once, I’ve used the XO Seven to specifically block out extraneous sounds, making it a perfect headset for game immersion or just general audio immersion.
Despite the fact that the XO Seven’s are ‘only’ stereo, I found the sound to be extremely impressive. While not on the same level as the i60, the XO Seven still does an impressive job with the full range of sounds. Mids and highs are sharp and crisp, though as a gaming headset, the bass is of course accentuated, though not overwhelmingly so. Overall, I had no issues using the XO Seven to listen to a range of music genres on my mobile device including rock, pop and the occasional classic symphony. I thoroughly enjoyed the audio experience I got from the XO Seven; while there are definitely better headphones for specifically listening to music, the passive noise cancellation of the XO Seven’s makes sure that any disadvantage that they might have had due to noise leakage is minimized.
What I like about the Ear Force XO Seven
I mentioned earlier that the XO Seven is one of the most comfortable headphones I’ve tried this year, and that’s mostly thanks to the way the headband is designed. While most headphones are designed so that the headband comes straight out of the earcups, the XO Seven headband has a slight forward tilt relative to the earcup orientation. This means that the headband sits slightly further forward than usual, not on the top of your head but rather the front slope of your skull. I’m a huge fan of this layout and I was happy to use the XO Seven for hours at a time with no complaints whatsoever. The fit may have been on the tight side, but the leather cushioning on the earcups and headband stopped any stress points from eventuating.
The XO Seven looks like its built to last; every part of the headset looks like it is beefed up so it can take some serious pounding, whether that’s through travelling or angry gamers getting, well, angry. I’m a big fan of chunkier headsets and the XO Seven ticks all the boxes, including a super-wide headband to distribute some of those head stresses.
What I don’t like about the Ear Force XO Seven
Although it is advertised as mobile compatible, just about the only things additional that make the XO Seven “mobile” is the inclusion of the breakaway mobile cable. The connection that joins the cable to the headset contains two notable features, the answer call button and an in line microphone so you don’t have to lug around the boom mic. While that’s definitely better than some allegedly mobile compatible headsets out there, with such a large breakaway connection, I would have expected a few more gizmos and gadgets, like a volume wheel or something similar.
As I mentioned earlier, the boom mic isn’t the most convenient thing to have to remove and replace every time you want to use it. Naturally, if you’re using it exclusively for Xbox One play, this won’t be an issue at all. However, for those who want to use it interchangeably between Xbox One and mobile devices, it’s a bit of a hindrance.
Final Thoughts
I definitely have a soft spot for the Turtle Beach Ear Force XO Seven Gaming Headset; while it might not have the best quality sound of all the headsets available for the Xbox One and it’s not always the most practical headset, it’s incredibly comfortable and is built to survive some serious punishment. Marketed as Turtle Beach’s premium Xbox One option, the XO Seven is priced accordingly at $159.95 USD, compared to the $99.95 XO Four, where all the quality is in the details. If you’re in the market for something for your Xbox One that can be also used for your mobile device, the XO Seven is a hard choice to overlook.
If you’re interested in picking up the Turtle Beach Ear Force XO Seven Gaming Headset, be sure to visit its product page here, or to check out Turtle Beach’s range of other gaming products, you can visit their homepage here.
Gallery of photos
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US considers blocking Chinese nationals from hacking conferences
Following its decision to charge five Chinese officials for allegedly stealing trade secrets, the US is apparently ready take further action. Reuters reports that the US government may impose visa restrictions on Chinese computer experts, stopping them from attending the high-profile Def Con and Black Hat hacking conferences in August. Black Hat currently has three Chinese speakers lined up to present, while Def Con has none on its roster. The move is said to be part of a “broader effort to curb Chinese cyber espionage,” after cybercriminals were said to have infiltrated six American private-sector companies to help give Chinese state-owned firms a competitive advantage. Organizers of both events, which include the founder of Def Con and Black Hat Jeff Moss, were unaware of the government’s plans, but Moss did note on Twitter that such actions would not help build a “positive community.” While an official block has yet to be imposed, stopping Chinese nationals already in the country from attending could prove difficult: Def Con’s privacy-conscious setup requires attendees to pay using only cash and they never have to share their name.
@scott_ainslie @_defcon_ First I have heard of it, boarding flight to D.C. now. I don't think it helps build positive community. More later.
– The Dark Tangent (@thedarktangent) May 24, 2014
If you are going to speak at or attend #DEFCON & you need a visa to enter U.S. please contact us for invite letter to help your app
– DEF CON (@_defcon_) May 24, 2014
[Image credit: Randomwire, Flickr]
Filed under: Internet
Via: Ars Technica
Source: Reuters
Instagram is the latest social network to hit Iran’s blacklist
Iran’s top officials may use social media, but the country’s general populace isn’t allowed to join them. The nation has already banned Facebook, Twitter and WhatsApp, and yesterday it reportedly added Instagram to the naughty list. According to the AP, a private lawsuit was brought against Iran’s Ministry of Communications, forcing the bureau to restrict access to the Zuckerberg-owned photo-sharing service. There’s no evidence that such filtering is in place right now, and users in Tehran were still able to take some selfies on Friday lunchtime. Still, given that social media is a threat to the country’s conservative establishment, we imagine that someone will keep bringing lawsuits until no-one can utter the phrase “lemme take a selfie.”
Filed under: Cellphones, Internet, Mobile, Facebook
Via: Reviewed
Source: ABC News
Google voice search adds car rentals and reminders that work like they should
Car rentals is typically an exercise in utter frustration. Now, even if a little, Google’s latest voice search update might help. “When is my rental car reservation?” are the magic words, pulling together your booking numbers, pick-up and drop-off dates in a card that’s been part of Google Now since last year. More broadly, the voice search can now program reminder alarms, too, completely hands-free. Oddly, the voice-based reminders prior to this update required a button-press to set the alarm, which pretty much defeated the point of the thing.
Source: Google (Twitter), TNW
PicsArt – Professional Editing for Amateur Snappers
PicsArt is not a new app – it launched back in November 2011, back in the days when high-end smartphone cameras were a rarity. Slowly but surely though, as taking mobile images became as common as texting, PicsArt began attracting an army of followers, an army that is now some 120 million strong across Android, iOS and Windows Phone. And it’s nothing more than the developers deserve, because this app really is as good as it gets.
PicsArt, more than any other app, has the power to turn amateur smartphone snappers into fully-fledged photography artists – a trait that has allowed it to develop into one of the fastest growing social networks, offering a platform for users to share, learn, and compete in contents.
The biggest thing to stand out about PicsArt is the vast array of editing options at your fingertips. There is so much to immerse yourself in here that you wonder how this is a free app and not a premium one.
Along with the standard options that you expect from rival apps, it lets you correct images, as well as giving you the option of adding clip art, text, and even drawing on images. You can also make collages of images – a great feature for pictures taken at a party or on holiday.
The simple to use interface makes editing an enjoyable experience, and custom and complicated edits are much easier to play around with than most other apps. To start editing, you can take a snap from within the app or import one from your camera roll. PicsArt also lets you import images from Facebook, Flickr, Dropbox, and Picasa accounts.
Photo discovery and sharing is solid and browsing images is very pleasing. This aspect of the app, however, is not what makes it so good. That comes from the control over editing images – something that, currently, no other app can match.
PicsArt is available free from Google Play, iTunes, Windows Phone Store and the Amazon App Store.
Apple Now Preventing Updates and Reinstallation of Refunded Apps [iOS Blog]
Michael Simmons of Flexibits noted earlier today that the App Store no longer allows customers to reinstall or update refunded App Store apps.
An error message now notifies users when they try:
Update Unavailable with This Apple ID
This update is not available for this Apple ID either because it was bought by a different user or the item was refunded and cancelled.
While Apple has never had an automatic way to get refunds for apps, Apple does allow users to “Report a Problem” on their purchases and options include ways to get a refund.
In the past, customers were allowed to continue updating and reinstalling apps even if they were given a refund on the price of the app. This new functionality has also been extended to the Mac App Store.
AIVAnet 