Google Now for Android shows alternate flights when yours gets delayed
These days, it’s all rush rush rush, isn’t it? Our tiny digital assistants are becoming more crucial in getting our days running smoothly, and thanks to a new update to the Google Search Android app, Google Now just got a little bit smarter… at least when it comes to transit and transport. There’s nothing like the sinking feeling that strikes when your flight gets delayed (and the existential dread that comes with sitting around an airport for a few more hours), which is why Google bolstered Now with cards that’ll highlight alternate flights in case the worst happens to yours. And if you’re the sort who prefers traveling on land? Now will also surface your train and bus reservations in card form so you no longer have an excuse for missing the 12:25 to El Paso.
Source: Google Play Store
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New super-fast USB cables won’t mind which way you plug them in
The reversible USB Type-C standard has now been finalized, which should save the world untold man-hours in mis-plugging. Roughly the size of a current micro-USB Type-B connector, it uses matching rows of contacts on the top and bottom so that you can shove it in either way around. Type-C is a version of the 10Gbps USB 3.1 standard (twice as fast as USB 3.0), but slimmed down for compact and mobile devices. It’ll also support the USB Power Delivery spec to carry up to 100 watts, easily enough to power a laptop. Unfortunately, the new connector isn’t compatible with the current USB standard, except via converters. While there are no devices with USB 3.1 yet, it’ll likely be standardized on most future laptops and mobile devices — unlike its pricey rival, Thunderbolt.
Filed under: Cellphones, Laptops, Tablets, Mobile
Source: USB 3.0 Promotor Group
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California hotel hires robot butlers to provide room service (video)
If you plan to stay in Cupertino’s high-tech Aloft Hotel in the near future, don’t be surprised if you open your door to a 3-foot-tall robot carrying extra towels or breakfast. See, it’s the Starwood property’s new butler (officially called A.L.O. Botlr, which is short for “robot butler,” of course) programmed to assist the hotel’s concierge in catering to your requests. The 100-pound machine comes loaded with a 7-inch tablet screen to interact with guests and staff, as well as 4G and WiFi connections so it can call elevators when it needs a ride. Let’s say you pinged front desk to ask for new toiletries — the staff then just loads the items (as long as they don’t exceed two pounds) in an empty compartment on top of the robot and inputs your floor and room number on the tablet interface. You’ll know Botlr’s lurking outside the door when it calls up the room’s phone, and instead of a crisp $20 bill, all it asks in return is a tweet with the #meetbotlr hashtag.
The A.L.O. Botlr is actually a repainted, bow-tie-wearing version of a robot called SaviOne developed by California startup Savioke. It’s a new company, but it’s backed by Google Ventures and led by Steve Cousins, the former CEO of Willow Garage, which you might recognize as the developer of the PR2 experimental robot. In fact, the PR2 looks similar to Botlr, but the latter (like Softbank’s Pepper) was designed to look a lot more approachable so as not to scare hotel guests. Also, the newer machine lacks the PR2′s limbs, which means: 1.) it’s incapable of doing tasks that requires the use of hands, and 2.) its a lot cheaper to make, seeing as those limbs are the PR2′s most expensive components.
Botlr will make its Aloft Hotel debut on August 20th for a pilot program: if successful, all 100+ Aloft Hotels could have one to two at their disposal. Aloft brand’s senior vice president Brian McGuinness swears, however, that these robots won’t be replacing human employees and will even free them up for other, more important tasks. Sadly, you won’t be seeing Botlr rolling along other hotel chains’ hallways anytime soon. Starwood has an exclusive deal with Savioke until the end of 2014, though the startup plans to open the pilot to other hotels next year.
Filed under: Robots
Source: Aloft Hotel
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iPhone 6 Reportedly Entering Final Quality Control Stage Ahead of Mass Production
New reports from Chinese media sources (Google Translate, via G for Games) claim that the iPhone 6 has entered a final product validation testing stage ahead of mass production before its launch this fall. Apple is reportedly working with Foxconn’s Zhengzhou factory to produce a small number of units to ensure quality control standards have been implemented, as the device will then be mass produced at Apple’s various supply partners.
Previously, a report last month claimed that Apple had already begun mass production for the iPhone 6, however it is possible that reported production issues may have led to delayed testing and output. It is also unknown whether this final testing stage is for both the 4.7-inch and 5.5-inch iPhone 6, as Apple has reportedly had issues in producing the latter’s sapphire display and battery life.
Apple’s iPhone 6 is expected to be announced at a launch event on Tuesday, September 9. In addition to a larger screen, the device will likely incorporate a thinner, rounded form factor and feature a faster and more efficient A8 chip, as well as an improved camera with stabilization.
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Amazon Launches iOS Compatible ‘Amazon Local Register’ Card Reader [iOS Blog]
Amazon today launched the Amazon Local Register, a new iOS compatible card reader made to compete with Square’s Square Reader and Paypal’s Here card reader. Feautring an anti-swivel design and integration with Amazon payments, the Local Register accepts Visa, MasterCard, American Express, and Discover as Amazon is offering a special flat rate of just 1.75% per swipe until January 2016.
Amazon Local Register’s companion app for iOS offers a number of features to manage payments, allowing users to add items and discounts as well as the ability to track cash transactions, add staff accounts, change tax rates, and more. The app and the card reader can also connect with a number of cases, stands, receipt printers, cash drawers, and more.
The Amazon Local Register Secure Card Reader is avaliable now for $10 through Amazon’s website. The card reader’s companion app can be downloaded through the App Store today. [Direct Link]
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Shift’s debit card lets you pay with both real and virtual money
Part of the challenge of Bitcoin and other virtual currencies has simply been the need to juggle different apps and cards to use every payment option at your disposal. Wouldn’t it be nice if one card could handle everything? You might just get your wish. Shift Payments is testing a new debit card that can switch between real and virtual money on the spot, such as through an app; you could pay for morning coffee with Bitcoin and after-work groceries using real cash. Loyalty card support is in the works, too.
Whether or not you’ll get to use the card’s full potential is another matter. As Shift’s Meg Nakamura tells our colleagues at TechCrunch, American banks are jittery about backing the project; until (and unless) there’s a clear legal structure, you may be limited to handling digital cash. The team is willing to be patient, though, and it believes that loyalty points by themselves could be a big deal. If you’re willing to jump in early, you can sign up at Shift’s site to get an alert when testing opens up.
Filed under: Cellphones, Internet, Mobile
Via: TechCrunch
Source: Shift Payments
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‘Shadow Realms’ is the next original game from the creators of ‘Mass Effect’
EA subsidiary studio BioWare has made some pretty popular games, and is known most recently for its Mass Effect and Dragon Age franchises. Today at Gamescom, the developer gave us an insight into its first original title in some time — Shadow Realms. The “online action RPG” pits a team of four “Heroes” against the ghouls and demons of the “Shadow Legions,” including one player-controlled “Shadowlord.” The evil, lone player is able to manipulate the environment, place traps and control ghastly minions in an effort to thwart the Heroes’ progress.
The RPG will also be released in episodes, with different scenarios moving the story along as you customize your character to suit your particular play style. Shadow Realms is due out on PC next year, and the official site is now live if you want to learn more about the game or the new world BioWare has created. There’s also the option to register your interest in the alpha, which will begin testing for a lucky few next month.
Source: BioWare (Shadow Realms)
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Amazon undercuts Square and PayPal with its own mobile card reader
Square’s grand plan to democratize credit card payments has inspired a clutch of imitators, the latest of which is Amazon. The company has just announced Amazon Local Register, a credit card reader and app combination that’ll enable small businesses to take payments they wouldn’t otherwise get, as long as they have a smartphone or tablet lying around. The retailer is savagely undercutting both Square and PayPal Here, offering a flat charge of 1.75 percent per payment until the start of 2016, a full percent lower than the 2.75 and 2.7 percent asked by the other two. On January 2nd, however, the fee rises to 2.5 percent, a smaller yet still significant cut compared to Amazon’s rivals in the space. The gear’s available for Android, iOS and the company’s own Fire devices, priced at $10, and there’s even a business bundle for $380 that’ll include a Kindle Fire HDX 8.9 — which we figure is a whole lot cheaper than trying to install a cash register in your taco truck.
Filed under: Cellphones, Tablets, Internet, Amazon
Source: Amazon Local Register, (2), (3)
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Samsung’s premium Galaxy Alpha packs a metal frame and octa-core chip
Samsung’s finally launched the much-leaked Galaxy Alpha, a fancier-looking but stripped-down version of the Galaxy S5. As expected, it sports a substantially different, less rounded design than the GS5, with metal sides that gives it a glancing resemblance to an iPhone 5s. The phone is also much lighter and thinner than the flagship at a mere 7mm. However, Samsung has also slimmed the specs a notch: The screen is 720p compared to full HD (or quad HD), while the CPU is an octa core model (quad 1.8GHz + quad 1.3GHz), rather than the flagship’s top-of-the-line Snapdragon 801. It also has a rather lackluster-sounding 1,860mAh battery, nearly 1,000mAh less than the GS5 — meaning you might really need the ultra-power saving mode. Other features include 4K video capture, S Health a fingerprint scanner, Gear wearable connectivity, and the usual array of Google apps. There’s no pricing yet, but it’ll arrive in September in black, white, gold, silver and blue colors, depending on the market.
Filed under: Cellphones, Mobile, Samsung
Source: Samsung
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HTC is releasing its proprietary apps for non-HTC phones, starting with HTC Zoe
HTC has previously promised that it would release its proprietary apps for non-HTC phones in the near future, and it appears that time is almost upon us. Later this week, a beta of the HTC Zoe app is going to be released. Debuted on the HTC One M7, HTC Zoe is a photo/video capture app that allows 3 second clips to be taken and when viewed as a gallery create a unique visual experience. It’s definitely a brave move for HTC to launch such an app among all its countless other competitors, but this is presumably just the start of an exodus for all HTC apps.
HTC executive, Drew Bamford, is leading the effort comprised of a 260-strong team, so it’s definitely an effort that HTC isn’t shying away from, and one that it looks committed to following through with given its devotion of resources. Other HTC apps are sure to follow, including BlinkFeed. It’s good to see a manufacturer branch out and bring its proprietary apps to the Google Play Store for all the try; it’s definitely something that might even sway potential buyers towards their own devices.
What do you think about HTC releasing its proprietary apps for non-HTC phones? Let us know your thoughts.
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