Spotify comes to (a few) Vizio smart TVs
Despite the popularity of its music service, Spotify’s presence on connected TV platforms is still spotty. It’s on Apple TV via AirPlay, Roku, LG and Samsung, but not Xbox, PlayStation or Chromecast (officially). We can add on one more today, as Vizio says it’s coming to their VIA Plus enabled TVs. The only bad news? That list is currently limited to just a few models consisting of the 2014 E- and M-series TVs, and you’ll need Spotify Premium to tune in. If you don’t have Spotify Premium you can try it free for 48 hours — check out some favorites from our editors if you need musical suggestions.
Filed under: Displays, Home Entertainment, HD
Source: Vizio Blog
Sense sleep sensor monitors your zzz’s and wakes you up at the best time
You’re lucky if you can sleep easily and wake up feeling refreshed all the time — some people need a bit help to get a good night’s rest from apps and gizmos, like this new device called Sense. The gadget, which looks like a crystal ball with rubber bands, acts as some sort of a bedside sleep guardian that monitors not only your sleeping habits, but also environmental conditions. It comes with a “Sleep Pill” that clips to your pillow, which tracks your tosses and turns, automatically transmitting data to Sense via Bluetooth Low Energy and ANT. The gadget then relays all the info you need, including a sleep number to let you know how well (or how bad) you’ve slept, through the system’s iPhone or Android app.
Sense has other things to offer other than this core feature, such as the ability to record sudden loud sounds that might disrupt your sleep through its built-in microphone. (If you’re wondering, creator James Proud told The Verge that it’s not always recording, and it only ever saves sudden sound spikes.) The device can also detect pollen or dust in the air that might trigger allergies or determine whether you need heavier drapes to block out the light. Even better, the device can wake you up at the end of an REM cycle, so you don’t feel sluggish when you get out of bed.
Sense’s developers, Hello Inc., launched a KickStarter campaign recently to raise $100,000, which the project has now surpassed, as it’s already received $420,000 in pledges, thus far. A SEC filing spotted by StrictlyVC, however, proves that the company already has serious VC backing to the tune of $10.5 million, indicating that its KickStarter campaign is but a PR move. You can use the campaign to your advantage, though, since you can get the device and a Sleep Pill by pledging $99, whereas pre-ordering the system later on will cost you $129. By the way, in case Sense still ends up falling short of your expectations, you can always pair it up with a smart bed when one does hit the market.
Via: The Verge
Source: Kickstarter
More dinosaurs had feathers than we thought
Realistically, we’ll probably never successfully clone a dinosaur — but if we ever do, we may be surprised by how the beast turns out. A fossil found in Siberia threatens to change our perception of what history’s giant lizards may have looked like. We already know that not all dinosaurs were scales and teeth — fossils from the 1990s show that some carnivorous theropods may have worn feathery coats — but the new fossil suggests that far more dinos were covered in birdlike feathers than previously suspected. The Siberian discovery suggests that plant-eating dinos may have had feathers too.
The new fossil, identified as Kulindadromeus zabaikalicus, is the first non-theropod dinosaur discovered to exhibit evidence of feathers. It’s an outlier, but it suggests that non-carnivore may have evolved with feathers as well. According to head researcher Pascal Godefroit, it could even mean that many of the well-known species we see as all-scales today were feathered, too. “Probably more of them had feathers but those feathers were not fossilized,” the paleontologist told The Verge. “Potentially, all dinosaurs could have been covered in feathers.”
Godefroit says this information will change how scientists think about how the creatures evolved, but admits the research is only just starting. “There are too many questions left.” Still, our grandkids could be looking at museum exhibits very different from the ones we enjoyed as children.
[Image credit: D. Hurst / Alamy]
Filed under: Science
Gamer discovers deceased father’s ghost car, gets to race him again
YouTube comments typically fill one with shame and disappointment in the human race, but here’s one that just might make you cry. Below a video from PBS about video games as spiritual experiences, a user going by the online handle 00WARTHERAPY00 has written a touching story about the time they spent gaming with their dad. ‘THERAPY00 says that when he or she was four years old, they’d play Xbox with his or her father and had tons of fun up until a few years later when their dad passed away. It was ten years before the commenter could bring him/herself to boot Microsoft’s first game console and when they did, there was a surprise waiting for them. Rally racer Rallisport Challenge features a function that records the best lap-time for a given circuit with an apparition-like version of the car used. Meaning that, quite literally, there was a ghost of 00WARTHERAPY00′s father waiting to compete against him or her.
“and so i played and played, and played, untill [sic] i was almost able to beat the ghost. until one day i got ahead of it, i surpassed it, and…
i stopped right in front of the finish line, just to ensure i wouldnt [sic] delete it.
Bliss.”
The story has since gone viral, and we couldn’t help but be reminded of this one about a gamer that discovered a stack of mail and presents from their departed mom in Animal Crossing. That’s it; no snark here. Now, if you don’t mind, we’re going to grab a Kleenex or two.
Filed under: Gaming, Home Entertainment, HD
Via: Yahoo! Autos
Source: YouTube
The OnePlus One can be updated to Android 4.4.4 courtesy of AOSP ROM
Good news for the few people that have access to the new OnePlus One smartphone. OnePlus has announced on their forum that the OnePlus One can be updated to Android 4.4.4 thanks to OnePlus’ own AOSP ROM. This is probably one of the first times a manufacturer has updated their device which shipped with a custom ROM, so it’s interesting to see what OnePlus had to say about the device’s warranty in this instance. On the forum post, OnePlus notes:
“Warranty info: Doing this does not void your warranty. If you brick your phone, however, you’re on your own. We will repair it, but that’s not covered by warranty.”
It’s kind of unintuitive for OnePlus to say that the upgrade process won’t void their warranty, but for the warranty not to cover the potential consequences of that upgrade process, but this is definitely a unique case that doesn’t have too many precedents. There are also still issues with the ROM, including the gyroscope, encryption and VPN not working, and that’s just the documented issues. All the same, it’s good to see that OnePlus is committed to keeping its users updated with the latest version of Android.
If you do have a OnePlus One and you want to try out the new Android 4.4.4 ROM, head over to the OnePlus forum post here where there are instructions for downloading the ROM and installing it.
What do you think about OnePlus’ committment to updating its devices so far? Let us know what your opinion is in the comments.
Source: OnePlus via Phone Arena
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The post The OnePlus One can be updated to Android 4.4.4 courtesy of AOSP ROM appeared first on AndroidSPIN.
Data Cuisine creates meals based on cultural statistics
We’ve seen IBM’s Watson computer serve up unlikely food pairings, but Data Cuisine takes culinary experimentation to a whole new level. Developed by data-visualization specialist Mortiz Stefaner and curator Susanne Jaschko, it’s an initiative to create recipes that reflect a particular set of statistics. In the case of a workshop in Helsinki, that meant translating local fishing data, ethnic population stats and crime rates into a variety of dishes, from different types of fish stacked to represent various kinds of crime to a map of the country’s alcoholic consumption made with various amounts of wine and regional dishes. (See the photo above for the latter.)
What makes these edible visualizations so compelling is how different ingredients are used to represent the statistics in question — there’s a reason behind every culinary decision. In Barcelona, for example, a cake based on the amount of national science funding for 2013 contained 34 percent less sugar than a cake representing the funding for 2005. Even if the results are not always delicious, it certainly changes the way we consume facts and figures. The Data Cuisine will likely expand to more cities around the globe, translating more information into food in the process.
Filed under: Misc
Via: Wired
Source: Data Cuisine
Google wants to define a healthy human with its new baseline genetic study
Google’s got a big new project and it’s you. Well, not just you, but a genetic and molecular study of humanity that aims to grasp at what a healthy human should be. It’s in its early days, collecting anonymous data from 175 people, but it plans to expand to thousands later. The project is headed up by molecular biologist Andrew Conrad, who pioneered cheap HIV tests for blood-plasma donations. According to the WSJ, the team at Google X current numbers between 70 and 100, encompassing experts in physiology, biochemistry, optics, imaging and molecular biology.
The Baseline project will apparently take in hundreds of different samples, with Google using its information processing talents to expose biomarkers and other patterns – the optimistic result hopefully being faster ways of diagnosing diseases. Biomarkers has typically been used with late-stage diseases, as these studies have typically used already-sick patients. “He gets that this is not a software project that will be done in one or two years,” said Dr. Sam Gambhir, who is working with Dr. Conrad on the project. “We used to talk about curing cancer and doing this in a few years. We’ve learned to not say those things anymore.”
Information from the project will remain anonymous: Google said that data won’t be shared with insurance companies, but the shadow of privacy issues hang over pretty much anything the company touches. Baseline started this summer, initially collecting fluids such as urine, blood, saliva and tears from the anonymous guinea pigs. Tissue samples will be taken later. “With any complex system, the notion has always been there to proactively address problems,” Dr. Conrad said. “That’s not revolutionary. We are just asking the question: If we really wanted to be proactive, what would we need to know? You need to know what the fixed, well-running thing should look like.”
Filed under: Science, Alt, Google
Source: WSJ
Engadget Daily: the Oppo Find 7, shoes that vibrate in the right direction and more!
Today, we review the Oppo Find 7, learn where not to fly drones, contemplate Apple’s rumored 12-inch Retina Display MacBook and take a look at smart shoes that vibrate in the right direction. Read on for Engadget’s news highlights from the last 24 hours.
Oppo Find 7 review: A solid phone that faces stiff competition
What you’re looking at is the Oppo Find 7. This Android-powered handset has a gorgeous Quad HD display and plenty of horsepower under the hood, but can it compete with the Galaxy S5 or LG G3? Read our review and find out.
Apple reportedly releasing OS X Yosemite in October alongside 4K desktop and 12-inch Retina MacBook
The OS X Yosemite public beta just went live today, and now… more rumors. According to 9to5Mac’s Mark Gurman, the final version of the OS will be released in October, accompanied by a 12-inch Retina MacBook and 4K monitor.
These smart shoes vibrate to point you in the right direction
Tired of being a distracted walker? Lechal’s interactive haptic footwear can help. These shoes pair with your smartphone and guide you around town with vibrations, no screen required.
Want to fly a drone? Don’t do it here
You’ve probably never tried to pilot your drone through a nuclear power plant, but that’s not the only sort of no-fly zone that should be avoided. Check out this map of locations where you should never fly your UAV.
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OS X Yosemite Beta: First Impressions, Installation Tips, Known Issues, and Bug Fixes
Today marked the first day of Apple’s public beta testing program for OS X Yosemite, letting thousands of non-developers download the software for the first time. With so many new users, new issues and bugs in the beta are coming to light and being catalogued in our Yosemite forum.
We’ve pulled out some user reactions from the forums to share, along with some tips on troubleshooting possible issues. For users having problems with the beta, the Yosemite forums can be an invaluable resource, and for users still debating whether or not to install the beta software, make sure to check out this post and our forums before taking the plunge as Yosemite is still somewhat unstable.
First Impressions
A lot of new Yosemite users think that the operating system looks great. According to one user, it makes Windows and Mavericks look antiquated in comparison with its new focus on translucency and clean lines. A “Yosemite is Beautiful” thread is full of praise, with users calling it “stunning” and “the best OS X has ever looked.”
While there are a lot of Yosemite users who like the changes Apple’s brought with Yosemite, there’s a much longer complaint thread entitled “Yosemite Looks Terrible” that includes complaints about Dark Mode, “crappy” fonts, and the bland look of the translucency. Users also say Yosemite looks far less appealing on a non-Retina display.
Yosemite’s Dark Mode, screenshot from Yosemite forum thread
Thus far, most users have not noticed significant performance improvements going from Yosemite to Mavericks, but that could change as Yosemite is still very much in a beta form.
Bugs and Issues
A lot of users have received an error message suggesting their Yosemite codes had already been redeemed after requesting a code. According to Apple, simply refreshing the beta page will provide an entirely new code.
One new Yosemite user who installed the operating system on a partition discovered that Yosemite may cause problems with partitions. Other users have also reported issues with partitions after installing Yosemite, while some have had no problems at all. The linked thread contains some Terminal fixes for users experiencing issues.
There’s a lengthy bug thread on OS X Yosemite that has been added to throughout the beta testing period. Some remaining bugs include poor management of dual iTunes accounts, crashes in Activity Monitor, making and receiving calls with the FaceTime app, and unreliable WiFi connections. Problems with specific apps are listed in a separate thread, but some issues include frequent crashes with apps like Spotify and Microsoft Office. Apps like Final Cut Pro X, Aperture, iMovie, and Pixelmator also do not appear to be fully functional.
Handoff and Continuity
For users who have the iOS 8 beta installed on their iOS devices, MacRumors forum member Armen has put together a detailed walkthrough on how to set up Continuity and Handoff, new integration features introduced with the two new operating systems. Continuity appears to be largely functional for users with compatible machines, which have a Bluetooth LMP version of 0×6. Handoff does not appear to be working with 2011 MacBooks, but those machines do appear able to access SMS texts and phone calls.
New Features
New Yosemite users and those who are thinking about installing the beta should also check out the OS X 10.10: All The Little Things forum thread that details all of the lesser-known changes made to Yosemite throughout the beta testing period thus far to get familiarized with the operating system. For example, the latest developer preview introduced an entirely new version of iTunes, a new calculator app, and more.
Installation
Users who signed up for the public beta program can access promo codes to install Yosemite through the beta program website. Apple has also been sending out emails to those who have been selected to beta test Yosemite.
Apple recommends Yosemite be installed on a secondary machine as it is beta software, but users who do not have a secondary machine may want to install the operating system on an external drive or on a separate partition. OS X Daily has a set of instructions that walk users through both scenarios, explaining how to install on a partition or external hard drive. A MacRumors forum member has also explained how to create a bootable USB installer.
OS X Yosemite is expected to remain in beta testing until October, with new versions being seeded to both Appleseed participants and developers. Public beta test members will not, however, get as many updates to the software as developers.
The ‘Destiny’ beta is now open to everyone
Let’s say you wanted to give Bungie’s latest shooter, Destiny, a go before the game comes out in September, but the idea of pre-ordering video games goes against the very core of your being. Well, Bungie’s just announced that it’s opening the floodgates on the test-phase for the game and is letting everyone get in on the fun. At 7 p.m. Eastern / 4 p.m. Pacific, you’ll be able to head to the digital marketplace on your gaming platform of choice (PlayStation 3, PlayStation 4, Xbox 360 and Xbox One) and grab the multi-gigabyte file for yourself and see what everyone’s been raving about. And remember, on Saturday at 5 p.m. Eastern, 2 p.m. Pacific, Bungie is promising a special reward for whoever is playing, and that it’ll carry over to the game’s final version come September.
If you've wanted to play Destiny, but didn't have a code, you're invited to the party now. http://t.co/z8CbAGU47K pic.twitter.com/z4UQDj4T0e
– Bungie (@Bungie) July 24, 2014
Filed under: Gaming, Home Entertainment, HD
Source: Bungie (1), (2)
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