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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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)
Comixology now offers DRM-free comic backups, but only from select publishers
When Amazon purchased Comixology, it was a herald of change: iOS users lost the ability to purchase comics in-app, Android users were gifted with a new purchasing system and, now,the digital book seller is going DRM-free. Sort of. Comixology CEO David Steinberger announced today that DRM-free backups of select comics are now available to download in PDF and CBZ format, giving readers the ability to enjoy their content outside of the Comixology ecosystem for the first time. That said, it’s somewhat limited: backup downloads are only available to book published by Image Comics, Dynamite Entertainment, Zenoscope Entertainment, Thrillbent, Top Shelf Productions and MonkeyBrain Comics — in other words, publishers that have already dabbled with DRM-free comic distribution.
There’s no word if publishing juggernauts like DC or Marvel will make their books available for download (don’t count on it), but the option seems to be available for both big and small publishers. Even so, there’s quite a few title available (this editor’s list of downloadable backups tallied over 300 comics), all of which can be accessed under the “My Backups” tab of the user’s library. Sounds like a winner to us — though, Comixology does caution that fans of its “guided view” reading mode won’t be able to access it in their downloaded backups.
Filed under: Software, Mobile, Amazon
Source: Comixology
Here’s the first look at Ridley Scott’s live-action ‘Halo’ project
Back at this year’s E3 we learned that Halo: Nightfall would tell the origin story for a new character in Halo‘s sci-fi universe, and we’re finally getting to see some of the show in motion. And, well, there are a couple of instances where it looks pretty similar to the Alien not-a-prequel, Prometheus. That almost assuredly isn’t a coincidence given the fact that Prometheus‘ director Ridley Scott is serving as executive producer for the show. It’s hard to tell exactly how the episodic series is going to turn out based on a teaser trailer (embedded after the break), but we can tell you that in its 74 seconds there’s a distinct lack of Master Chief and a whole lot of talk about an element that “selectively kills humans.” How’s that for mystery? You’ll be able to check out the exploits of Agent Locke and his crew after Halo: The Master Chief Collection releases this November.
Filed under: Gaming, Home Entertainment, HD, Microsoft
Google Maps gains new exploration features in latest update
Google wants to make it even easier to discover the world around you so they are updating the Google Maps app. A new “Explore” feature is being integrated into the Android and iOS apps and is designed to help users explore nearby places. Rather than deliver a generic list of places within the vicinity, Explore will consider… Read more »
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Accessory of the Day: Arkon Travel Tablet Stand
If you’re like us then you like to take your tablet with you from place to place. Sometimes we keep our tablet on the desk, sometimes we take it to the nightstand. Occasionally, it finds its way to the kitchen while other times it comes with us on a road trip. If you’re like us then… Read more »
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