FYI: You can create Google Now reminders from Google.com
Just a short and sweet post to let you guys know that you don’t have to open you Android device to create reminders for Google Now. No sir, you can actually do it from a desktop client by simply navigating to google.com in the Chrome browser. Instead of searching for something type something with one of the following phrases
- remind me to…
- create a reminder to…
- add reminder…
These reminders, when saved, will prompt you on your Android smartphone or tablet as well as in the Chrome OS. Feel free to play around with the reminder feature for things such as calling contacts, stopping at places, events to check out, and more. Have fun putting together reminders based on time of day, date, and location!
The post FYI: You can create Google Now reminders from Google.com appeared first on AndroidGuys.
Apple Releases iOS 8 Beta 4 to Developers
Apple today released the fourth beta of iOS 8 to developers, two weeks after releasing the third beta update and more than a month and a half since unveiling the new operating system at the Worldwide Developers Conference.
The update, build number 12A4331d, is available through Apple’s over-the-air updating system on iOS devices and can also be downloaded via the iOS Developer Center.
iOS 8 introduces a range of new features, including improved integration with OS X through Continuity, a Health app, Family Sharing features, interactive notifications, a new QuickType Keyboard and improvements to several apps like Safari, Mail, and Messages.
iOS 8 beta 4′s Monday, July 21 release date was accurately predicted by BGR earlier in July.
Currently, iOS 8 is only available to registered developers, but the operating system is expected to be released to the public this fall after several beta iterations. Based on past history, iOS 8 will likely be launched alongside new iPhones, and possibly the much-rumored iWatch.
Apple Releases OS X Yosemite Developer Preview 4, Public Beta Coming Later This Month
Alongside iOS 8 beta 4, Apple today released a new version of OS X Yosemite to developers, two weeks after releasing the third Developer Preview and over a month and a half after introducing the new operating system at its annual Worldwide Developers Conference.
The update can be downloaded from the Mac App Store or through the Mac Developer Center. Apple has also released iTunes 12.0.
OS X Yosemite brings a flatter, more modern look to OS X, with an emphasis on translucency and redesigned dock, windows, and more. It also includes a multitude of new features, such as improved integration with iOS 8 through Continuity, a new “Today” view in Notification Center that offers integration with third-party apps, a retooled Spotlight search with new data sources, and several new features for apps like Mail, Safari, and Messages.
Yosemite is currently only available to developers, but Apple plans to offer a beta version of the software to Mac users at some point during the summer, possibly as early as this month. A source that spoke to 9to5Mac suggests the beta is coming in late July, though it could be pushed back until early August if Yosemite is not ready in time.
Watch a dome full of cameras capture 3D motion in extreme detail
Conventional 3D motion capture is awkward; even if you don’t mind people covered with dots or ping pong balls, you often get just a handful of data points that miss out on subtle movements. Researchers at Carnegie Mellon University might just have a more elegant solution in store, though. They’ve built a geodesic dome whose 480 cameras work in concert to track a whopping 100,000 points without the need for markers. The system uses its abundance of video footage to estimate trajectories based on changes in light, motion and shape, rather than looking for arbitrary cues or interpolating image frames. As you can see in the clips below, the resulting data is both vividly detailed and natural-looking — you can see individual confetti flakes falling to the ground, and it’s easy to follow every nuance of a batter’s swing.
The Carnegie Mellon technology is using off-the-shelf cameras to achieve its effect, so it wouldn’t be hard to expand the dome or number of cameras to accommodate specific tasks. A movie or video game studio could use it to record whole scenes with people dressed in appropriate costumes, rather than specialized suits. It may also come in handy for sports — an arena lined with cameras could help referees confirm fouls and goals using the exact positions of the players. It could be a while before a large-scale mocap environment like this becomes a practical reality, but the concept is no longer far-fetched.
Filed under: Science
Source: Carnegie Mellon University
Libratone’s wool-wrapped speakers gain Spotify Connect streaming abilities
If you fancy picking up a track where you left off on the commute upon entering your flat, and you’ve splurged for a Libratone speaker, you’re in luck. The company’s offerings (like the Loop and Zipp) are now Spotify Connect compatible, making connecting with your mobile device a breeze. As part of the streaming service’s paid subscription, the option allows direct streaming with a speaker and smartphone or tablet on the same WiFi network. Libratone’s audio gadgets already packed AirPlay and other wireless options, and this one can be nabbed thanks to an update to the speaker’s firmware — accessed through the companion app. This also means another audio choice joins the likes of B&O, Sony, Samsung and others who already offer Spotify’s enhanced connectivity.
Filed under: Portable Audio/Video
Source: Spotify
4.7-Inch iPhone 6 Rear Shell with Embedded Apple Logo Shown in New Photos
Earlier this month, we shared some high-quality photos and a video of what has been claimed to be the rear shell of the 4.7-inch iPhone 6 in rough form. uSwitch has now obtained a pair of photos showing the part in its completed state, revealing a polished finish and the removal of several interior physical features that had been part of the manufacturing process.
While the part shows a much cleaner look now that it has been polished and cleaned up, the antenna breaks at the top and bottom, previously reported to be made of a non-conductive polymer, remain quite prominent.
uSwitch primarily focuses on the shell’s Apple logo, which as seen in previous leaks will change to an embedded version similar to that found on iPads rather than the printed version used in previous iPhones. The report suggests the embedded logo shown in the photos is indicative of a lighted Apple logo as has been speculated ever since the first leaks showing a cutout for the logo surfaced nearly two months ago.
We do not, however, see any significant evidence that the logo on the iPhone 6 will be lighted. It seems more likely to us that the embedded logo is for aesthetic and/or radio transparency reasons.
Unlike the in-progress shells seen earlier this month, the finished shell also shows the full set of camera holes, including the main one for the camera itself and smaller ones for the flash and rear microphone. Consistent with previous leaks, the flash hole is round, which some have considered suspect as Apple moved to a pill-shaped flash in the iPhone 5s to accommodate the new “TrueTone” dual-LED system. It is possible, however, that Apple and its partners have developed a new round version of the TrueTone flash.
Forensic Expert Questions Covert ‘Backdoor’ Services Included in iOS by Apple
As part of a recent Hackers On Planet Earth (HOPE/X) conference presentation, forensic scientist and iPhone jailbreak expert Jonathan Zdziarski detailed several backdoor security mechanisms that are secretly included in iOS by Apple. These mechanisms make covert data collection easier for Apple and governmental authorities, reports Zdziarski via ZDNet.
Zdziarski confirms that iOS is reasonably secure from attack by a malicious hacker, but notes that the mobile OS includes several forensic services and noticeable design omissions that make the OS vulnerable to snooping by forensic tools.
These services, such as “lockdownd,” “pcapd” and “mobile.file_relay,” can bypass encrypted backups to obtain data and can be utilized via USB, Wi-Fi and possibly cellular. They also are not documented by Apple and are not developer or carrier tools as they access personal data that would be not used for network testing or app debugging purposes.
While detailing these backdoors, Zdziarski makes it clear he is not a conspiracy theorist, but does want to know why Apple appears to be deliberately compromising the security of the iPhone and opening the door to professional, covert data access.
I am not suggesting some grand conspiracy; there are, however, some services running in iOS that shouldn’t be there, that were intentionally added by Apple as part of the firmware, and that bypass backup encryption while copying more of your personal data than ever should come off the phone for the average consumer. I think at the very least, this warrants an explanation and disclosure to the some 600 million customers out there running iOS devices. At the same time, this is NOT a zero day and NOT some widespread security emergency. My paranoia level is tweaked, but not going crazy. My hope is that Apple will correct the problem. Nothing less, nothing more. I want these services off my phone. They don’t belong there.
Zdziarski also notes that he isn’t the only one aware of these backdoors. Several existing forensic software companies, such as Cellebrite and Elcomsoft, are already exploiting them as part of the forensic services they provide to law enforcement.
Consumers who want to limit access to these backdoor services are advised by Zdziarski to enable a complex passcode in iOS and use the enterprise Apple Configurator application to set Mobile Device Management (MDM) restrictions and enable Pair locking which will delete all pairing records. This solution will block third-party forensic software, but won’t protect the device contents if it is sent to Apple for analysis.
Note: Due to the potentially political nature of this topic, the discussion thread is located in our Politics, Religion, Social Issues forum. All forum members and site visitors are welcome to read and follow the thread, but posting is limited to forum members with at least 100 posts.
Galaxy Note 4 to sport a metal body, flexible screen and a 16MP OIS camera?
Samsung’s Galaxy Note series is the most popular phablet series of smarthones out there. Samsung is basically the one who created the first phablet as we know it today with the first-gen Note 1. Note devices became extremely popular over the years and it is no wonder many people are waiting for a Note 4 to launch in order to refresh their device for the year. We’ve seen many Note 4 leaks thus far and we’re sure they’re going to keep on coming.
We have yet another one for you. This report is coming from a Korean publication ET News and claims the Note 4 will sport a premium metal build, a flexible screen (which Samsung presented on CES 2013) and a 16MP camera with optical image stabilization (OIS). This would actually go hand in hand with the rumored Galaxy F premium smartphone and might mean that the Galaxy S5 and Note 3 are the last plastic premium device we’ll see Samsung make. In other words this might mean a whole different approach to smartphone design by Samsung.
We’re jumping the gun a bit though, these are just rumors after all. Would you like to see a metal Galaxy Note 4 or are you happy with the device’s build as it is now? Either way, Note 4 will probably lauch at this year’s IFA in September.
Source: ET News
Via: PhoneArena
The post Galaxy Note 4 to sport a metal body, flexible screen and a 16MP OIS camera? appeared first on AndroidGuys.
Pranksters can hijack your Chromecast to show whatever they want
It’s easy for someone in your home to interrupt your Chromecast stream and play something of their own, but you can always retake control… right? Well, don’t count on it. Analyst Dan Petro has built the Rickmote Controller, a proof-of-concept device that hijacks Google’s media stick to play everyone’s favorite Rick Astley video (and theoretically, any media) on loop. The Raspberry Pi-based box simply floods the Chromecast with WiFi disconnection requests, kicking the adapter into its setup mode; after that, it’s easy for the Rickmote to make its own connection and deliver non-stop ’80s pop.
You might not see a fix for this behavior any time soon. Part of the Chromecast’s appeal is its easy configuration, and altering the disconnection response might create more headaches than it solves. As it stands, you won’t have much reason to worry. Even if pranksters build gadgets like the Rickmote, they’d still have to get within range of your Chromecast’s WiFi at the same time that you’re using it — if someone tries to rickroll you through your TV, you’ll probably catch them in the act.
Filed under: Home Entertainment, Internet, HD, Google
Via: TechCrunch
Source: Bishop Fox
Tiny device aims to tell you if your drink has been spiked
The creators of a device designed to identify if your drink has been spiked have launched on Indiegogo with the aim of raising $100,000. Similar in size to a pack of gum, the pd.id can be dunked into a drink, blinking red after a few seconds if a contaminant is found. According to founder J. David Wilson, the hardware uses the same technology that the US DEA has employed for years, just shrunk down to a smaller size. Once dunked into your drink, the pd.id collects a small sample, analyzing its density, resistance and temperature to determine if a foreign agent, like rohypnol, has been introduced.
If the $100,000 is raised, the the team behind pd.id (short for Personal Drink ID) aims to have the gear on sale within six months, priced at $75. Thankfully, the hardware is reusable, so could be employed to keep you safe throughout a night on the tiles. Wilson and his colleagues haven’t talked about how easy it’ll be to shrink the technology down, or how accurate the unit will be when it launches. If those caveats won’t deter you from supporting what could be a very worthy cause, then you can contribute at the source link.
Filed under: Misc
Via: Sky News
Source: Indiegogo
AIVAnet 