Google Play Fitness is going to be announced at Google I/O, Android’s answer to HealthKit
Every year, every Android enthusiast waits with bated breath for Google I/O to arrive and wow us with what to look forward to in the immediate future of the operating system. Google I/O 2014 is shaping up to be a particularly exciting one with new Android hardware and software a possibility as well as the addition of Android Wear related technology which is expected to also make an appearance. One other frontrunner to headline the event has been uncovered recently, as Google is rumoured to be launching a new fitness tracking service called Google Play Fitness, or Google Fit.
As Android Police explains in its exclusive report, Google Play Fitness is expected to be similar in theoretical functionality to Google Play Games, wherein it would collect, organize and spit out fitness information for users to peruse. It’s expected to be a separate entity within Android, much like Play Games, Play Fitness is expected to also use Google Play Services as its conduit to providing its services. This would inevitably mean Play Services will be seeing some kind of an update come Google I/O time. It’s also alleged that with the launch of Play Fitness, Google may be announcing partnerships with fitness manufacturers who will have wearable devices to show off at the event.
Fitness is clearly increasingly important to the mobile community and Google introducing Google Play Fitness and its associated API would be huge for making it far more mainstream in the Android ecosystem. What do you think about Google Play Fitness? Are you looking forward to what the new services will provide? Let us know your opinion in the comments.
Source: Android Police
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Newest MacBook Airs on Sale for Father’s Day [Mac Blog]
BestBuy is offering free shipping and $100 off all the newest MacBook Air models. This brings the base MacBook Air model down to $799 — the lowest we’ve seen for the latest generation models. The discount kicks off today, but appears to extend all week.
– 11.6″ MacBook Air, 4GB, 128GB SSD: $899 -> $799
– 11.6″ MacBook Air, 4GB, 256GB SSD: $1099 -> $999
– 13.3″ MacBook Air, 4GB, 128GB SSD: $999 -> $899
– 13.3″ MacBook Air, 4GB, 256GB SSD: $1199 -> $1099
The MacBook Air was recently updated in April by Apple, so is considered safe to buy according to our Buyer’s Guide. It’s unusual for Apple’s latest generation models to be discounted so quickly after their launch.
MacRumors is an affiliate partner of Best Buy.
New Profile on Apple CEO Tim Cook Details Influence on Product Development, iWatch Plans
A new profile on Tim Cook done by the New York Times has shared a variety of details discussing the Apple CEO’s leadership style over his nearly three year tenure as the head of the company, including his influence on product development, brand expansion, and “quiet” approach to design. The profile also sheds new light on the development of Apple’s highly-rumored “iWatch” smartwatch.
The report notes Cook’s differences in management compared to Apple’s late co-founder Steve Jobs, sharing how the CEO has made key decisions to release unique new products and acquire new talent over the past few years. Moreover, his attempts to broaden Apple’s brand by expressing support for initiatives such as environmentalism and charitable giving were also highlighted.
A number of Cook’s peers spoke on Apple’s pressure to deliver another breakthrough product, with Apple design chief Jony Ive saying that Cook has “not neglected” the company’s central mission of “innovation,” noting that it has been “hard” for the company and its CEO to “be patient.”
Honestly, I don’t think anything’s changed,” he said. And that includes the clamor for some exciting new thing. “People felt exactly the same way when we were working on the iPhone,” Mr. Ive added.
New details were also shared on Cook’s influence on the iWatch, with the report noting Cook has been “less involved” in the direct engineering of the device, delegating the hands-on roles to other executives such as Ive. Cook is said to be interested in the smartwatch’s “broader implications”, taking an interest as to how the device could help people monitor their health more efficiently. Sources said that the iWatch is expected to launch in the fourth quarter of this year, which is in line with previous reports.
Cook has also managed to acquire new personnel throughout the past few years, hiring personnel such as former Burberry chief Angela Ahrendts to head Apple’s retail efforts and former Yves Saint Laurent CEO Paul Deneve to lead “special projects.” U2 lead singer Bono, who worked closely with Apple through the (Product) RED initiative, says that Cook is amassing a “creative brain trust,” adding that Apple’s acquisition of Beats Electronics was done to expand the company’s creative perspective in the absence of Jobs.
Disney CEO and Apple board member Bob Iger also shared perspective on Cook’s decision making towards new products:
Since he took over, the company has released a number of upgrades, including a smaller tablet, the iPad Mini. Mr. Cook “thought the world would love a smaller and less expensive tablet,” said Robert A. Iger, the chief executive of Disney and a member of Apple’s board. It was a product that Mr. Jobs thought did not have a market, he said.
The profile finally speaks on Cook’s approachability as told by developers and employees at the company, highlighting the CEO’s ability to hold conversation and express his activism and perspectives. Overall, while Apple has experienced criticism amid slowing revenue growth and the lack of drastic product expansion, the profile notes that Cook has gained a considerable amount of influence throughout his tenure as CEO.
Apple is expected to launch a variety of new products this year, including bigger iPhones, a new Apple TV, and refined iPads, as well as new MacBooks and an upgraded iMac in addition to the aforementioned iWatch.
Nexus 5 and Nexus 4 owners are experiencing issues with Android 4.4.3 update
The Android 4.4.3 update started going live earlier this month, hoping to fix the issues that have plagued the devices since Android 4.4.2, from which the Nexus 5 appears to have suffered the worst. While it’s expected that not all bugs will be fixed in any given update, we’re already hearing reports that Nexus 5 and Nexus 4 owners have issues with Android 4.4.3 after updating their devices. Some of the issues include Wi-Fi connection issues, lag in the dialer app and random reboots that were supposedly fixed in Android 4.4.3 have resurfaced on the Nexus 4. Other users have reported 3G issues, problems with battery life and notifications, and to top it off, some of these issues have also been spotted on the Nexus 7 and Nexus 10.
This isn’t particularly good for Google seeing as this update was supposed to fix all the issues that owners have been living with for some time now, though with Google I/O just around the corner and the possibility of Android 5.0 having been teased, it’s possible Google’s full development efforts were diverted elsewhere. Whether Google will fix these issues before moving all the way up to 5.0 remains to be seen, but you may just have to make do until then.
Have you updated to Android 4.4.3 and also experienced some of these issues? Let us know if you have down below in the comments.
Source: Android Origin via Phones Review
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IMAX shows why its 4K camera could get you watching 3D movies again
Is 3D video on the decline, destined to return to the realm of novelty? Not if you ask IMAX. The company has just detailed a large-format 4K camera that could give 3D movies a (frankly needed) visual boost. The trick, the company says, is that the camera is fully integrated; since it doesn’t need a beam splitter and separate lenses, it can stay compact while maintaining IMAX’s dramatic 1.9:1 aspect ratio. That portability (less than half the weight of rivals) allows for fast-action shots that would otherwise be off-limits. The camera also saves video from just before the operator hits the record button, so documentary makers shouldn’t miss unexpected moments.
If you’re curious to see whether these grand-scale visuals are worth watching, you won’t have to wait long. Explosion-loving director Michael Bay has already used IMAX’s rig to shoot Transformers: Age of Extinction, and the nature doc Island of Lemurs: Madagascar also makes use of the technology. The new hardware won’t make up for any lackluster storylines, but it might get you to splurge on a 3D viewing when you’re otherwise on the fence.
Filed under: Cameras, Home Entertainment, HD
Via: Slashfilm, Gizmodo Australia
Source: IMAX
Someone is making a handheld Steam game system
Every Steam Machine shown so far has amounted to a small desktop PC. But what if you want to take that gaming experience on the road? Well, you might get your wish — meet Steamboy, a handheld take on Valve’s platform. On the outside, it’s pretty much what you’d expect; it looks like an Steam Controller prototype (including the signature touchpads) with a 5-inch display slotted in between. Its creator (Steamboy Machine) isn’t giving out many other details right now, but it tells The Escapist that the device’s quad-core processor (likely either an Intel Atom or AMD A4) and 4GB of RAM “won’t be as powerful” as other Steam Machines. That’s not surprising given the size, however, and it should play the “majority” of titles. There are also promises of 3G mobile data and 32GB of built-in storage.
It sounds promising, even if the device is likely going to be limited to low-intensity games. However, that’s also assuming that this mini Steam Machine makes its 2015 release window. Right now, Steamboy exists as little more than a slick teaser video and a set of specifications — there’s no prototype to prove that this will be a real product. We’ve reached out to the team for more details, but you might not want to cancel that 3DS or PS Vita purchase until it’s clear that Steamboy will ship.
Filed under: Gaming, Handhelds
Via: The Escapist, Engadget Spanish (translated)
Source: Steamboy Machine
Draw A Box Review: Who knew drawing squares could be so Addictive?
I don’t typically consider myself to have an addictive personality, however some games just get me hooked. The innocuously named “Draw A Box” game is one of these, and it has occupied far too much of my own time already to divulge exactly how much time. However, I do want to share some of my thoughts and experiences with the game by InJoy Labs. 
The premise of Draw A Box is insanely simple: you must try to draw a perfect square around the monsters shown on your screen. The more times you are able to do this in a row, the higher your score will be. However, while the concept is simple, actually doing it is actually quite nerve racking. To be successful you must draw your square to within 97% accuracy of a perfect square. Of course, while explaining the game’s premise, the game gives you a few guided trial attempts to see exactly how accurate you’ll have to be to pass.
Actually doing this in the game is possibly the most intense thing I have done in a game for some time; whereas you have a guide during the training that lets you know when to stop, trying to figure out where to stop in the game is very hard. Thankfully, there is no time limit at all in this game, so really you’re at the mercy of your own compulsive and obsessive tendencies, and can potentially lead to some pretty excruciating gaming sessions which will inevitably lead you to this screen:
It’s not all in the name of self-flagellation however; your high scores are recorded on a leaderboard which includes all your Facebook friends playing the game, should you choose to log in. Furthermore, if you feel like sharing your new found high score, you can always do so at the “Game Over” page.
There is also an added incentive to get good at Draw A Box; there are ‘stages’ in Draw A Box, which come after a predetermined number of successful boxes, indicated in the top right of the game screen. Once this threshold is reached, a monster with a different design becomes available and can be viewed on the title page with eight in total to be unlocked.
Overall, I’m a big fan of Draw A Box. I really, really like the unique, cartoonish design of the game, and although it’s simple, it’s very well put together and fluid in every action and menu. I actually prefer Draw A Box far more to Flappy Bird in that it feels a lot more like failing at it has more to do with your skills rather than the infuriating strictures of the game mechanics. It’s a subtle difference, but this led me to have far more fun with Draw A Box, and I definitely recommend you try it out too.
Draw A Box is free on the Google Play Store, so if you’re looking for a simple game with which to burn some time, make sure to hit the Play Store links below.
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Weekends with Engadget: E3 2014, getting sweaty with Sony’s Project Morpheus and more!
This week, we stormed the floors of E3 2014, interviewed Shuhei Yoshida and Phil Spencer, took Sony’s Project Morpheus for a test-run and watched Amazon launch its Prime Music streaming service. Read on for Engadget’s news highlights from the last seven days. Oh, and be sure to subscribe to our Flipboard magazine!
Getting sweaty with the future of Sony’s virtual reality
Sony wants to be the one to take VR mainstream, but according to its senior director of R&D Richard Marks, that push won’t happen in 2014. Read on as our own Joseph Volpe investigates the company’s plans for Project Morpheus and, of course, takes the headset for a spin.
What you need to know about commercial drones
Drones have the potential to fundamentally change certain businesses and industries, so why aren’t the skies filled with commercialized UAVs? Well, mostly because they’re illegal. Read on as our own Steve Dent discusses the ABCs of drone flight in the US.
Xbox at E3 2014: an interview with the head of Xbox, Phil Spencer
This week’s Xbox press conference was 90 minutes of games and more games, but that’s not to say Microsoft doesn’t have other irons in the fire. Watch our interview with Xbox head Phil Spencer as we discuss VR, Xbox 360 gaming on the One and more.
Open-world ‘Zelda’ game heading to Wii U in 2015
This week at E3, Eiji Aonuma announced that Nintendo’s reviving the exploratory essence of the original Legend of Zelda with a new, open-world title. This time, Link has new duds, better weapons and can go wherever he pleases.
Honeywell’s Lyric thermostat has the looks and smarts to take on Nest
Honeywell, the original thermostat manufacturer, announced this week that it’s taking on Nest with a brand new model called Lyric. The cylindrical device packs a proximity sensor and full connectivity via its own Android and iOS apps. What’s more, it will be available at the start of August for $279.
What you need to know about the Electronic Entertainment Expo (E3)
Earlier this week, we joined thousands of developers, publishers and video game fanatics in Los Angeles, California for one of the biggest industry trade shows in the world: the Electronic Entertainment Expo. Read on for everything you need to know about this gigantic three-day event.
PlayStation at E3 2014: an interview with Worldwide Studios head Shuhei Yoshida
This week at E3, our own Ben Gilbert sat down with Sony’s Shuhei Yoshida to discuss PlayStation Now. Launching as an open beta later this summer, the game-streaming service is just the beginning of Sony’s initiative to bring PlayStation games to many devices.
What you need to know about Amazon Prime Music
It looks like the glut of rumors were true: Earlier this week, Amazon launched its very own music streaming service. Exclusive to Prime members, Prime Music brings adless access to over a million tunes via the Amazon Music app.
How I got stabbed in the chest at E3 2014 (an Oculus Rift tale)
Demos are a thing of the past: Oculus Rift’s second development kit was running full-on games at E3 2014, and Ben Gilbert was there to take part in the action. He also got (virtually) stabbed in the chest by an alien.
Powerbeats2 are Beats by Dre’s first wireless earbuds
Beats by Dre is now in the wireless headset business. Dubbed the Powerbeats2, these cord-cutting $199 buds feature an adjustable hook-over-the-ear design and boast six hours of battery life. What’s more, you don’t have to worry about getting overly sweaty at the gym thanks to its IPX4 water resistance.
Toyota’s LED-lit concept car lets your kids customize the hood
If you complained about your family’s drab-looking car when you were a kid, you’re going to love the latest incarnation of Toyota’s Camatte concept. The vehicle lets children (and creative adults) customize the look by translating their drawings to nearly 7,000 LED lights on the hood; you could change styles at a moment’s notice without having to swap panels (as with the 2012 Camatte) or break out some paint. There’s no word on the possibility of this technology reaching production models, although we wouldn’t count on it in the near future — even if higher energy consumption isn’t a factor, a light-up hood could get quite expensive. Still, Camatte raises hope that cars will one day be as unique as their drivers.
Filed under: Transportation
Source: Toyota
Watch Jiro dream of sushi with Hulu’s latest movie additions
Hulu is building up its fledgling collection of art house movies this weekend with a deal to offer Magnolia Pictures’ catalog. The team-up lets both regular and Hulu Plus viewers watch a slew of full-length features that might have slipped under the radar, such as Game of Thrones director Neil Marshall’s swords-and-sandals flick Centurion. The near future should bring a host of well-known (if not always popular) titles like Jiro Dreams of Sushi, 13 Assassins and Freakonomics. This isn’t a huge expansion of Hulu’s library, but it may be just the ticket if you’re eager to catch up on more than just TV this weekend.
Filed under: Home Entertainment, Internet, HD
Source: Hulu Blog
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