That ‘wood’ suck: Moto X catches fire, but is still operational Afterwards
When the wooden back covers for the Motorola Moto X were announced, a lot of people were adamant that one way or another, the wooden backs would somehow catch on fire. While the possibility of plastic or metal phones to catch fire or explode still exists, the fact that a wooden back can catch alight and stay alight is probably the most worrying eventuality. Unfortunately, that eventuality has actually happened to a camper who’s Moto X catches fire after managing to find its way into a campfire.
Perhaps predictably, the phone was still on fire when it was fished out, although thankfully it appears the battery does not appear to have expanded. The above photo is the only evidence of the traumatic event, but the miracle of this story is that the phone actually still boots up and functions normally. While this might just be because only a small part of the phone caught fire, it’s still pretty impressive it survived considering it was basically fuel for the fire. Not bad, Motorola; not bad at all.
What do you think about the wooden back covers for the Moto X? Has this happened to you? Let us know your stories in the comments below.
Source: Google+ via Phone Arena
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Google’s trippy Cube experiment lets you play DJ with six videos at once
If you’re bored with regular music videos, there’s now something a little more interactive from Google called The Cube. It sprang from the Creative Labs division, which has done similar music video experiments in the past. As you can see in the embed below, you can manipulate the box by grabbing it with a mouse or finger and revealing different videos on each face. As you move from one side to another, the music also mixes in rhythmic sync, playing two or three tracks at once. Google cooked up the idea at a conference earlier, and hopes to demo more projects on it in the future. It works on a computer or recent Android handset with the latest version of Chrome. After trying it ourselves on a Nexus 5 with Chromecast, we’d recommend sitting down first, though.
Via: Techcrunch
Source: The Presets
Snapchat tests stickers that only unlock when you’re in popular locations
Snapchat’s ephemeral messaging service is enjoying huge growth, but as it stands the company is not making any money (at least from its users). But that isn’t to say it isn’t testing potential new revenue sources, one of which involves fusing two popular messaging features: stickers and location. As discovered by Mail Online, Snapchat has begun offering some users the opportunity to add special stickers to their photos based on their where they are. Some Snapchatters have gained access to filters that shower them with dollar bills when they are in New York’s financial district, while others have shared stickers that can only be unlocked inside popular US airports. We know that Snapchat has been working with brands to add their logo to images or videos for specific events, but these new stickers could provide an easy way to share a user’s location visually, instead of checking in. Whether you’ll soon be able to share a McDonald’s sticker when you grab a Big Mac remains to be seen, but Snapchat appears to be open to the idea.
Filed under: Internet, Software, Mobile
Source: Mail Online, @DebzShin (Twitter), @TaylorLorenz (Twitter)
Microsoft asks gamers to help shape future Xbox One updates
With the amount of updates that Microsoft is pushing out for the Xbox One (and its controller), it makes sense that Redmond would want to give those in the preview program a better way of testing new features before the general public. The update, as spotted by NeoGAF‘s unblinking eyes, allows for different ways of providing feedback for each new bit of functionality, be it a survey, a star rating or a single-question poll — all without putting down your controller. Perhaps most interesting is the quest system, which at the moment gamifies test-driving tweaks to the console’s live-TV viewing setup and achievement snapping. Apparently, the feedback you give will serve some greater purpose in the future — all of your stats are tracked, naturally — but it’s anyone’s guess what that means in the present. There’s an option to invite friends too, so should you be one of the select few in this program, maybe spread the love a little so you and your Titanfall crew can solve this quandry together?
Filed under: Gaming, Home Entertainment, HD, Microsoft
Source: NeoGAF
2K Launches ‘Civilization Revolution 2’ for iOS Devices [iOS Blog]
Civilization Revolution 2, the newest iteration of the popular strategy game franchise for mobile devices, has launched on the App Store. Like the first title, Civilization Revolution 2 puts the player in the role of a popular ruler, challenging other factions as they attempt to advance their civilizations throughout the course of history in a turned-based format.
Key Features:
– New Units – strengthen your military might with brand new combat units including Aircraft Carriers, Jet Fighters and Special Forces.
– New Technology – race to science supremacy with new technology such as: Lasers, Modern Medicine and Information Technology
– New Buildings & Wonders – grow and expand your civilization like never before with new buildings and wonders including Nuclear Power Plant, The Red Cross and Silicon Valley
– Enhanced 3D Graphics – updated 3D graphics taking full advantage of iOS devices graphical capability
– Scenario Challenges – reenact historic events and battles in the Scenario Mode
According to 2K, Civilization Revolution 2 is the first game in the series to be developed exclusively for mobile devices, as the original Civilization Revolution title came out on gaming consoles alongside iOS devices. 2K will also be releasing Civilization: Beyond Earth this fall on the Mac, which is a follow up to the popular Civilization V and Civilization IV.
Civilization Revolution 2 is a $14.99 app and is available now on the App Store. [Direct Link]
The original Civilization Revolution for iOS can also be downloaded for $2.99. [Direct Link]
Facebook’s awkward mood experiment under investigation in the UK
Facebook may have brushed off the furor over a psychological experiment that influenced what users saw in their feeds, but UK regulators definitely haven’t. According to the Financial Times, Britain’s Information Commissioner and the Irish Data Protection office (Facebook’s EU base is in Ireland) are probing the social network’s activities to determine if it did anything illegal. Back in 2012, Facebook changed the number of negative or positive comments that a select group of users saw in their feeds, ostensibly to gauge the effect on their moods. Contrary to its expectations, people who saw the negative comments were more inclined to write positive posts, and vice versa. While it apologized, Facebook also tried to justify the experiment by saying it benefited users and didn’t compromise anyone’s privacy. Still, when a UK politician told the Guardian that “if there is not already legislation on this, then there should be,” it didn’t seem the matter would quietly go away.
[Image credit: Getty/AFP]
Filed under: Internet, Facebook
Via: Bloomberg
Source: The Financial Times
Apple Cuts Maximum iPhone Trade-In Value Down to $225 in U.S. and Canada [iOS Blog]
Last year, Apple launched its iPhone trade-in program at its retail stores across the United States, as customers could receive up to $250 for turning in an eligible device. Now, iPhone in Canada notes (via 9to5Mac) that Apple has reduced the value of iPhone trade-ins, with customers in the U.S. and Canada now only receiving up to $225. Before the change, the value of iPhone trade-ins had climbed to $275.
Before (left) and after (right) maximum iPhone trade-in values as listed by Apple
The adjustment comes as older iPhones typically lose their value over time, with Apple likely gearing up to launch the iPhone 6 this fall. Apple started the program before the release of the iPhone 5s and iPhone 5c last fall, with the company noting that it would discard of older iPhones in an environmentally conscious manner.
Since then, Apple has expanded the program to a number of countries, including the UK, France and Germany. Alternatively, Apple also offers a mail-in recycling program that allows customers to send in a device for store credit.
Google’s Smarty Pins challenges you to a game of geography trivia
Google must have heard the cries of people desperate for something to do on lonely after-work nights, because it just launched a new trivia game called Smart Pins. Unlike QuizUp or Jeopardy, Smarty Pins (yes, the name’s a pun) is a map-based game that tests your knowledge on geography across a number of categories. Think of it as sort of a reverse Google Maps search — the game asks you a question, and you drop the famous Maps pin on the right location. For instance, we chose Entertainment when we tested it the first time, and the game asked us where you can find 42 Wallaby Way, which you might remember as P. Sherman’s address in Finding Nemo.
Get the answer wrong, and the game won’t only insult you just a bit (“Well, at least you got the planet right.”), but also deduct miles from the 1,000 total you’re given at the beginning of the game. You can move on to the next question without penalty if you put the pin on the correct location, but don’t feel too bad if the game isn’t too impressed (“Wow. Did you Google that? :)”). Thankfully, you’ll at least start in the general region or country where the right answer’s located, so you can blindly drop the pin and hope luck’s on your side.
Via: TheNextWeb
Source: Smarty Pins
Oculus starts shipping latest Rift VR headset prototype this month
Were you one of the over 45,000 to pre-order the latest prototype VR headset from Oculus? Well, if so you could be seeing the $350 Rift Dev Kit 2 rather soon. The company recently announced that the first round of new hardware has left the production facility and should be hitting your doorstep the week of July 14th this year. The thing is, this initial run will only cover some 10,000 orders and there’s a “high chance” that the remaining 35,000+ units won’t ship until August. However, Luckey and co. promise that they’re working to ramp up production for the remaining orders — something that influx of Facebook cash likely makes easier. As TechCrunch points out, Oculus had 12,500 pre-orders within the first 36 hours of the DK2 going up for sale. Meaning, that unless you were an incredibly early bird, it’ll be a bit longer before you can zoom around EVE: Valkyrie in your own living room, sans pants.
Filed under: Gaming, Home Entertainment, Wearables, HD
Via: TechCrunch
Source: Oculus VR
Android L Preview Source Code Released! Moto X+1 Specs Leak Out! – ManDroid Quickie
It is Tuesday, time to get some Android news in a hurry. It is a short work week, and I am sure you guys are aching for it to be Thursday already. The Android L source code has been released, so hopefully the developers out there will start whipping up some tasty goodies. The GPE Galaxy S5 is rumored again, and apparently the Moto X+ 1 specs have leaked out. Enjoy the video.
Android News
Android L Preview source code
GPE Galaxy S5 still making the rounds
Moto X+1 supposed specs
Xperia Z3 spotted
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