Watch Nissan’s glowing Leaf tear down a glowing stretch of highway
Daan Roosegaarde’s Smart Highway concept saw a third of a mile of asphalt in the Dutch town of Oss festooned with phosphorescent stripes — they spend the day soaking up sunlight and convert it into a slightly eerie blue/green glow to guide drivers for eight hours once night falls. Seeing the road is trippy in and of itself, so (naturally?) watching Nissan’s glow-in-the-dark Leaf tear down it is a whole other story. Friendly reminder: You might want to have the Tron or Starlight Express soundtracks cued up before you press play.
If you’re asking yourself why this exists, just stop — there’s really no meaning to this little artistic exercise other than to demonstrate an understanding that glowing thing plus glowing equals cool. You won’t be recreating this with the same sort of gear soon either, since the relatively exotic strontium aluminate paint that makes the Leaf shine in the dark is Nissan’s and it won’t share. You’re better off just buying a Tron bike of your own for the same effect, but for now just enjoy the light show as you wait for the weekend to engulf you.
Via: Autoblog
Enter to win one of 5 chances to test Huawei’s unreleased smartphone!
The opportunity to experience a smartphone before it’s been released doesn’t come around too often. What if you could provide feedback on a smartphone before the general public gets to see it, or experience it? Thanks to the kind folks over at Huawei, a handful of Android Authority readers will be able to do just that.
Huawei’s Friendly User Testing program has traditionally only been open to employees and select partners, allowing them to test new devices in the real world before the phones come to market. But now, the company is opening the program up to everyone. And that includes you!
How to enter
We’re giving away five invitations to test out Huawei’s new smartphone. To enter, you must be over the age of 18 and live in the United States. If you meet those two requirements, there are a few different ways you can enter the contest:
- [1 Ticket] Visit Huawei on Facebook
- [1 Ticket] Follow Huawei on Twitter
- [1 Ticket] Follow Huawei on Google Plus
- [1 Ticket] Download the Android Authority App from the Google Play Store
- [1 Ticket] Follow Android Authority on Twitter
- [1 Ticket] Join the AA Community Forums
- [1 Ticket] Leave a comment down below – What kind of devices (smartphones, tablets, smartwatches, VR) would you like to see from Huawei?
a Rafflecopter giveaway
That’s seven different ways to enter this contest! It couldn’t be any easier than that. And, if you decide to share this contest with your friends and they sign up, you’ll get even more entries to the contest. If you really want to maximize your chances of winning, be sure to roll on down to Huawei’s Community, where you can enter for more chances to win! If you have any questions, feel free to ask them in the comment section below. Good luck!
Apple Stops Supporting Windows 7 in Boot Camp on New MacBook Pro, MacBook Air Models
Apple’s newly refreshed MacBook Air and 13-inch MacBook Pro models no longer support running Windows 7 with Boot Camp, according to Apple’s Boot Camp support document. Boot Camp on the new notebooks only works with Windows 8 or later, so it is impossible to use Boot Camp to install Windows 7 on the machines.
For those unfamiliar with Boot Camp, it is Apple’s software designed to allow Mac users to install Microsoft Windows on their machines.
Apple also dropped Windows 7 Boot Camp support in the 2013 Mac Pro, suggesting the software would cease to be supported by future Macs, but Macs released in 2014 continued to offer Windows 7 installations. The 2014 MacBook Air and the 2014 MacBook Pro will be the last Apple notebooks that support Windows 7.
It is not surprising that Apple has opted to phase out support for Windows 7, given its advanced age. Windows 7 first became available to the public in 2009 and was followed by Windows 8 in 2012. Despite being six years old, Windows 7 continues to be the most heavily used Windows-based operating system.
Mac users were not happy with Apple’s decision to cease Windows 7 support in the Mac Pro, and it’s likely the dropped support in the new MacBook Air and MacBook Pro will also be met with resistance. Windows users have not yet embraced Windows 8 due to both its cost and its interface, which deviated significantly from the design of Windows 7.
Windows 10, coming later this year, may encourage stalwart Windows 7 users to upgrade, as it melds Windows 7 design elements with Windows 8 design elements for a happy medium that might satisfy a wide range of tastes. Windows 10 pricing has not been unveiled, but it will be a free upgrade for Windows 8.1 users.
(Thanks, Daniel!)
Moonshine Rabbits Android App Review
Developed by STARS ASHES, Moonshine Rabbits is an arcade game with a very simple objective; smash the objects that are flung at you.
The scenario is that you’re a moonshine drinking resident who now finds multiple rabbits hurling objects at you on your property. You have to tap the objects as they come towards you in order to smash them. They get more frequent and quicker as you progress, with the number of rabbits increasing as you continue through the levels.
Moonshine Rabbits is very simplistic at its best and I did struggle with some graphic errors. As shown in the screenshot above running on my Note 4, on-screen graphics are tiny, with the instructions barely legible. I also seemed to have some odd black lines on the bottom left of my screen throughout my time playing Moonshine Rabbits, and for some reason the app wasn’t registering the number of objects I’d successfully smashed.
With a bit more variety and perhaps moving to a swipe motion instead of a tap (to cut the fruit rather than smash it) in order to enable combos and multipliers to be introduced, Moonshine Rabbit would be a solid game, but in its current state, and with the bugs mentioned above, the app is definitely worth checking out if only to kill a few minutes on the train on the morning commute.
The post Moonshine Rabbits Android App Review appeared first on AndroidGuys.
Amazon rumored to give away paid apps for free with new ‘Unlocked’ program
According to slides obtained by TechCrunch Amazon is working on a new way to entice more downloads through the Amazon Appstore. The new program, called ‘Unlocked’, will apparently allow users to download paid apps and in-app purchases free of charge for various large name apps and games.
NSFW: Apple Watch, turning the corner, and betting on the future
I’m curious about how Apple Watch technology will evolve. I’m also excited to see the third party market.
I admit that I’m later to the Apple Watch game than some of my colleagues. It was only recently that I had an epiphany about how the Apple Watch could really change things for me. I’m excited about them now. But what I’m even more excited about is seeing what happens from here.
For my part, I finally realized how helpful and personalized the Apple Watch will be to help me manage chronic health conditions. That’s a game-changer.
Thinking beyond what the product that’s about to go on sale can do, however, my imagination reels at the possibilities opened by wearable technology — especially wearable technology from Apple, really. People are already familiar with fitness wearables like the Fitbit, but these devices merely scratch the surface of what wearable technology might do in the coming years.
I’ve joked that I’d like to see an Apple Watch-powered pendant worn like Ricardo Montalban did in Star Trek II: The Wrath of Khan. I’m only joking a little. I think it’ll be genuinely great to wear something that I could use to communicate with people non-verbally, broadcasting state of mind and other information.
While I realize full well that I’m not going to get an Apple watch pendant any time soon, I do recognize that there’s about to be an explosion of third-party watch bands and other accessories for watch users. Already we’ve seen Apple Watch stands and boxes and other things designs to let people display or otherwise care for their devices.
Figuring out how to customize your Apple Watch is something that’s probably going to make some buyers dizzy: Pick an Apple Watch model, pick a size, then pick a band. I’m sure Apple will sell tons of their own accessories. For my part I’m going to go as cheap as possible in store. I’ll wait for third parties to start releasing bands that really interest me.
I fully recognize that a lot of people are still on the fence about the Apple Watch. Even if you’ve owned a Pebble, an Android Wear device, a fitness band or another sort of wearable, the Apple Watch is going to be very different.
If you still haven’t figured out how or even if the Apple Watch is something you need, I don’t blame you. Up until very recently, I didn’t understand how I could fit this device into my lifestyle in a way that would fundamentally improve it.
Now that I have, I can’t wait to get my hands on one. And I can’t wait to see the cottage industries that are going to pop up around the Apple Watch, either.
Image courtesy Glenda Adams.
Pre-orders commence for Samsung Galaxy S6 and Galaxy S6 edge in the U.K.
Most U.K. retailers and major carriers have opened the doors to take pre-orders for the Samsung Galaxy S6 and the Galaxy S6 edge. The available offers reveal some aggressive pricing for buyers willing to enter into two-year contracts. This may be driven by Samsung’s desire to reassert their leadership position in the smartphone market around the globe.
EE is offering the 32GB Galaxy S6 for £49.99 ($75 USD) upfront for buyers who choose at least a £43.49 ($65 USD) per month plan that includes 4GB of data. Vodafone is offering the same device for zero down on a £43.50 ($65 USD) plan that includes only 2GB of data per month. Meanwhile, O2 is also offering the Galaxy S6 for no money down if buyers opt for a £48 ($72 USD) per month plan with 5GB of data. The carriers are also offering 64GB and 128GB versions of the device, typically for an extra £5 to £10 ($7.50 – $10.00 USD) per month. For the most part, the carriers are offering the base model in black or white to be “in hand” on April 10th for customers who pre-order. The Gold version or upgraded memory options may require an extra week for fulfillment depending on which carrier is chosen.
In general, the markup for Samsung’s curved edges of the Galaxy S6 edge will not set buyers back much more than the regular Galaxy S6. Vodafone is not adding any premium to their pricing for the Galaxy S6 edge while O2 is only asking for £10 ($15 USD) upfront and EE only bumps up the monthly payment amount by an extra £1.
For buyers who want to pay a little more upfront and reduce their monthly payment, they may want to check out Carphone Warehouse which is offering the Galaxy S6 32GB model in black or white for £80 ($120 USD) upfront and £39.50 ($59 USD) per month. To get the Galaxy S6 edge with 64GB of memory, consumers will have to pay £160 ($240 USD) upfront and £43.50 ($65 USD) per month. Carphone Warehouse is also offering a contract-free option that is SIM-free with the Galaxy S6 going for £600 ($898 USD) for the 32GB version, £660 ($987 USD) for the 64GB version and £740 ($1107 USD) for the 128GB version.
Besides these sources where interested buyers can place their pre-orders, Tesco Mobile has announced they will offer the Galaxy S6 for only £36 ($54 USD) per month with no upfront cost or the Galaxy S6 edge for £43.50 ($65 USD) per month with 2GB of data. However, Tesco Mobile is not taking pre-orders. Three UK is not taking pre-orders at the present time, though interested buyers can sign-up to register their interest.
source: GSMArena
Come comment on this article: Pre-orders commence for Samsung Galaxy S6 and Galaxy S6 edge in the U.K.
Google offering new promotions with Chromecast purchases
Google’s Chromecast has been one of the more successful pieces of hardware the company released, combining a low price with ease of use for buyers who want to use their flat screen TVs for more than traditional television. Since the release of Chromecast, others have jumped into the market or revised their products with similar features and many online services have worked to take advantage of casting capabilities. Although the low price is a key selling point, some potential buyers are still looking for something more to tip the scales in favor of a Chromecast purchase, so Google has announced some new promotions to that end.
Google has launched some new offers for Chromecast buyers in the market now, with most of the offers expiring in mid-April. Buyers can get 30 days of Qello HD concerts for free, a free Google Play movie rental, three months of Sesame Street Go, and three months of access to DramaFever. These are all in addition to 90 days of free access to Google Play Music, an offer that has been in place for a while now. Google’s offer of a $6 Google Play credit is still active for a couple days as well.
Google does specify that a Chromecast has to not only be purchased, but in most cases it has to be setup as well, to take advantage of the promotional offers. For more details and all the fine print, check the source link below.
source: Google
Come comment on this article: Google offering new promotions with Chromecast purchases
Android 5.1 pushing to Nexus Player, adds reboot option [update: factory image released]
If you have a Nexus Player, then be on the lookout for Android 5.1 because it’s being pushed over-the-air right now. We aren’t sure of what changes have taken place, but we do know that there is now a reboot option, which is nice.
[Update] The factory image has been posted so if you want to update it manually, you can give it a shot.
source: Google+ / Click here for the factory image
Come comment on this article: Android 5.1 pushing to Nexus Player, adds reboot option [update: factory image released]
Samsung expected to sell more than 55 million units of its next flagship
There is no question that Samsung is the most powerful hardware manufacturer in the Android world. The company sells devices around the world that amass for millions of units being in the hands of consumers. The upcoming Galaxy S6 and Galaxy S6 Edge will, after launching next month, continue Samsung’s path of dominance in the mobile industry.
Both the Galaxy S6 and Galaxy S6 Edge are expected to combine for more than 55 million units sold when the year comes to a close. The demand of the devices is said to remain high throughout 2015 because of the changes Samsung made with hardware. Also, the company’s biggest competitor, Apple, does not release its new mobile hardware until late in the year. Samsung only has to compete with LG, HTC, Motorola, and select Chinese companies for the first few months.
Source: The Korea Herald
Via: SamMobile
Come comment on this article: Samsung expected to sell more than 55 million units of its next flagship
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