Angry Birds Seasons does the NBA in latest update: It’s a Ham Dunk!
I’m not the most avid Angry Birds fan, but I do love basketball, so when I saw the news that Angry Birds Seasons was getting an update to include NBA related content, I had to take a look. The new ‘season’ is dubbed “NBA Ham Dunk” and includes 15 new, free levels which span the NBA Global Games, taking place in countries like Brazil, China and many more. The new update even includes NBA team specific levels, one for each team, but you’ll need to pay an in-app cost of $1.99 to get access to those. Check out the NBA update’s gameplay trailer:
The “Mighty Spalding Ball” is a particularly nice touch I thought. I don’t think many people could disagree that the Angry Birds formula has been getting stale for some time now, but Angry Birds Seasons has had the best longevity of all the games so far thanks to its varied and unique updates – the NBA update is just another chance for Rovio to try something new, and I know I’m going to give it another go after downloading it again. If you’re interested in trying out the new NBA Ham Dunk season, be sure to hit the Play Store link we’ve provided below. Happy ballin’!
Source: Phone Arena
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I did not expect that: Microsoft Android Wear keyboard is now in prototype, try it now
With their own glaring absence of a smartwatch, it appears Microsoft has thought it necessary to develop a keyboard for Android Wear smartwatches. The second most unusual thing about the Microsoft Android Wear keyboard is that it is an analog keyboard – the keyboard provides users with a space to ‘handwrite’ letters and symbols and the smartwatch interprets them as it sees fit. In the short examples shown in Microsoft’s prototype test video, it looks like it works pretty well as designed. Check out the Microsoft Android Wear keyboard in action:
Now you’re probably thinking that this is a bit cumbersome to write long messages, and the reality is that you’re probably right. Then again, there is very limited space afforded to you on a smartwatch’s screen, so perhaps this analog keyboard is a viable option. Apart from English, I can see this methodology being particularly effective for languages like Chinese that use a whole number of strokes and where a traditional keyboard in that language is ineffective on such a small screen. If you’d like to try out the Microsoft Android Wear keyboard prototype, you can download it now from the Microsoft Research site, however you’ll want to make sure to follow the instructions provided.
What do you think about the Microsoft Android Wear keyboard? Is it a keyboard that you’d want to use? Let us know your thoughts in the comments below.
Source: Microsoft Research via The Verge
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Sharp’s all-screen AQUOS Crystal arrives at Sprint
We knew the Sharp AQUOS Crystal was coming, but we weren’t exactly sure when. That’s all changed thanks to news from Sprint. The handset, packing a nigh edge-to-edge display, has just reached Sprint Prepaid and Boost Mobile (either at Best Buy or a Boost Mobile retail store) for $150. If you’d rather run Sharp’s latest attempt at breaking into the US smartphone market on traditional service using a $10 per month payment plan, you’ll have to wait an additional week until October 17th. There’s yet another option, although it sadly won’t put the phone in your hands any sooner. Quite the opposite, actually. Should you rather buy on the Sprint Prepaid from Radio Shack — it’d surely love the business — you’ll have to wait all the way until October 21st to drop your cash. Need help deciding if it’s for you? Check out our hands-on video after the break.
Filed under: Cellphones, Mobile, Sprint
Source: Sprint
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Poll Results: 64% of our readers said ‘Yes’ to getting the Motorola Nexus 6
We asked, and you have answered. We asked earlier this week if you, our readers, would be getting the Motorola Nexus 6 – we were interested to know how many people still want the device despite the device being 5.9-inches and what many people would call “too big”. Well, the results are in, and we’re pleasantly surprised to announce that 64% of the almost 400 people who partook in the survey said “Yes” to getting the Motorola-manufactured Nexus smartphone.
Note: There is a poll embedded within this post, please visit the site to participate in this post’s poll.
Now, we should note at this point that at the end of the day, you can make whatever you want of the results of this poll, but we’d like to think that the consensus is that people still would like a Nexus device, even a slightly large one. That much is true of the Android community we have here, but whether the wider community feels the same way is a matter for another discussion. Still, we’re happy to see that the Nexus line, particularly the Nexus 6, is still going to be a popular one and that Google isn’t completely out of touch with its consumer base, though at this point, all we really want to do is pre-order the device already – October the 15th can’t come soon enough.
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Microsoft’s Android Wear keyboard has you drawing every letter
Microsoft’s support for Android Wear smartwatches isn’t limited to a handy OneNote app. The company’s research wing has slipped out Analog Keyboard, a prototype input app that has you drawing individual characters on your wristwear instead of trying to hit tiny keys. It’s not the fastest solution (and triggers a few flashbacks to old-school PDAs), but it’s very straightforward — you get a relatively big drawing area, and there’s a smart auto-correct system that you turn off just by pausing for a while between letters.
Before you start drafting a magnum opus on your timepiece, be aware that this is definitely rough code. You have to sideload the app, and it saves battery life by dropping support for capital letters. Also, it doesn’t support either lower-resolution watches or future round models; your Gear Live or Moto 360 will work, but forget about trying the current Analog Keyboard on the G Watch or G Watch R. Provided that you’re willing to live with the many quirks, though, it’s worth a look if you’re not fond of voice dictation.
Filed under: Wearables, Mobile, Microsoft
Via: The Verge
Source: Microsoft Research
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The Tesla D, HTC’s RE action cam and other stories you might’ve missed
Want to take a closer look at the Tesla D or HTC’s oddly shaped RE action camera? We’ve got all that and more — read on for all the best tech news from the last seven days. Oh, and be sure to subscribe to our Flipboard magazine!
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The next big iPad reportedly uses a souped-up iPhone 6 processor
Last year, both the iPad Air and Retina iPad mini used nearly the same A7 chip that you saw in the iPhone 5s. That wasn’t exactly a problem, but it was a bit disappointing if you were hoping for some extra oomph in bigger iOS devices. You may not have to worry about getting similar parts this year, though. Taiwanese site Apple.club.tw has posted photos that reportedly show the next big iPad’s motherboard, including what looks like a shiny new A8X processor. If history is any indication, that X means that it’s a tangibly faster upgrade to the iPhone CPU that could involve improved graphics, a higher clock speed or other new (though not revolutionary) tricks. The club also claims that the new board has 2GB of RAM (twice as much memory as you see in the current iPad), although it’s hard to verify this without a closer look. This probably won’t prompt an upgrade if you’re happy with the tablet you have — assuming it’s accurate in the first place, of course — but it may give you something extra to look forward to at Apple’s October 16th event.
Via: 9to5Mac
Source: Apple.club.tw (translated)
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Walgreens Planning for October 18 Apple Pay Launch
An internal memo addressed to Walgreens employees designed to prepare them for the upcoming launch of Apple Pay suggests that Apple’s new payments service might be going live on Saturday, October 18.
A Saturday launch is unusual, but it could make sense as Apple Pay is designed for in-store shopping and a weekend debut would give customers time to try the service. It is, however, also possible that Apple Pay will go live shortly before the October 18 date, following the company’s Thursday, October 16 iPad event, with support coming to Walgreens a day or two later.
At its October 16 event, Apple is expected to debut a new iPad Air, Retina iMacs, and possibly a new Retina iPad mini. The event, which will also likely see Apple previewing OS X Yosemite one last time before its public debut, would also be an opportune time to divulge more information about Apple Pay and possibly even launch the payments service.
As announced on September 9, popular drug store Walgreens is one of Apple’s major launch partners, along with other companies like McDonalds, Macy’s, Staples, and more. According to the Walgreens memo, customers who have an iPhone 6 will be able to use Apple Pay in Walgreens stores by tapping their devices “to the upper portion of the pinpad to pay for their purchase.”
Earlier this week, USAA assistant vice president Vikram Parekh suggested the bank would begin supporting Apple Pay on November 7, leading many to believe the service might see an official launch on that date, but it is possible that USAA and other banks may roll out support at different times following the launch of Apple Pay. Apple originally promised an October launch for Apple Pay when it unveiled the service.
Apple Pay will be enabled on iPhone 6 and 6 Plus devices through an update to iOS 8. iOS 8.1, which has already been seeded to developers, includes hidden Apple Pay settings and set up screens. With Apple Pay set to launch on or around the time of Apple’s October 16 event, that also means we should be seeing iOS 8.1 at that time as well.
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Carl Zeiss’ VR One is a $99 answer to the Samsung Gear VR
Virtual Reality isn’t quite here yet, but it’s starting to look like consumers will have plenty of options when it arrives: Gear VR caters to Samsung smartphone users, the consumer Oculus Rift is currently under development and Google has even fashioned a bottom-dollar solution that’s compatible with almost any smartphone. That said, cardboard is a bit flimsy — maybe you’d like something fancier, but not locked into Samsung’s product line? Take a look at Carl Zeiss’ VR One: a $99 smartphone VR headset for the rest of us.
The VR One is based on the same idea as the Samsung Gear VR, but with less specific hardware requirements. Carl Zeiss says the goggles should work with any smartphone between 4.7 and 5.2-inches (sorry OnePlus One users). It’s not completely universal though — users will have to order different “drawers” to hold different sized devices, which cost an additional $9.90 on top of the base device. The VR One isn’t due out until next year, but with Zeiss optics onboard, it’s bound to be a better experience than Google’s cardboard. Check out the pre-order page at the source link below.
Filed under: Misc
Source: One VR (1), (2)
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Marvel is releasing an adorable dancing baby Groot toy this December
The Gaurdians of the Galaxy market on Etsy is about to suffer a devastating blow. Why? Well, because Marvel has answered the pleas of fans and announced that it’s releasing an officially-licensed dancing baby Groot toy to “all major retailers.” Best of all, Disney, Marvel’s owner, have told Mashable that the embodiment of arguably Vin Diesel’s best performance will only set you back $15. The adorable, rhythmic twig will apparently shimmy to either your own music or a rendition (video after the break) of The Jackson 5’s “I Want You Back,” and hit shelves in time for your December gift-giving occasion of choice. Considering that other plastic versions of the charming tree-being are rather limited and can run well over $300, you could buy a handful of these and make multiple geeks in your life happy this winter.
For everyone who’s asked me about a dancing [spoiler-free] #GuardiansOfTheGalaxy toy–we’ve been discussing for months. No info yet!
– Ryan Penagos (@AgentM) August 4, 2014
[Image credit: Jonathan Short/Invision/AP]
Source: Mashable
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AIVAnet 