Google’s driverless car ideas include airbags on the outside
Airbags on the inside, that’s what cars typically have, protecting the driver from any incident that might knock them around inside a vehicle. But how about airbags on the outside, for the rest of us? Google’s patented the idea for its driverless cars, with a system of inflatable bumpers that would react in the event of an accident. Sensors could detect when a collision is imminent and inflate the bags to hopefully reduce damage to anyone (or anything) involved. That said, typical airbags might not help when installed outside of the car, as any poor pedestrian that the system would aim to protect would likely be bounced off — which doesn’t sound particularly safe. Google has the answer, however: visco-elastic material.
This wonder-material that would offer a degree of give when coming into contact with objects (or what we like to call ‘people’). The idea of airbags-on-the-outside isn’t completely new, though. Volvo is also toying with the idea, here’s how the carmaker imagines it would look like:
Google appears to be making sure its driverless vehicles are packed with safety features: hopefully, to assuage that freaky feeling a lot of us get at the idea of a car that gosh-darn drives itself.
Filed under: Transportation, Google
Via: Quartz
Source: USPTO
Action Launcher update adds open source live wallpaper engine, gesture system
Developer Chris Lacy has announced the release of Action Launcher 3.3. This latest update adds a new open source API that developers can use to match theme colors to live wallpaper automatically. The color theme carries over to things like the search box.
Lacy also added a new system for customizable gestures and shortcuts. Using this feature, users can setup gestures based on swipes from the difference screen edges, tapping the screen, or tapping the home button. The gestures can trigger a variety of customizable actions defined by the user like launching an app, locking the device, displaying notifications, or opening a search box.
The update includes several other smaller improvements like some animated color transitions, matching Android 5.1 home screen indicators, improvements to gesture detection so it works over icons, and a host of bug fixes.
You can get Action Launcher 3.3 using the download links below.
Click here to view the embedded video.
source: +Chris Lacy
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Toast Time, Solar Flux and Eufloria HD now included in the Humble PC and Android Bundle 12
The latest Humble Bundle was announced just a few days ago, bringing you $136 worth of PC and Android-compatible games for a huge discount. A few new games have just been added, making the Humble PC and Android Bundle 12 really worth the money.
Now included in the bundle are three new games: Eufloria HD, Solar Flux and Toast Time. You’ll need to pay above the average price (currently $5.14) to grab these three games, and you’ll also get Costume Quest and Ironclad Tactics. Did you already donate a higher amount than the average price before the new games were added? The three new games should be available for immediate download.
If you think the average cost too much to spend, you can still pay whatever you’d like to receive Titan Attacks!, VVVVVV, The Inner World and Tetrobot and Co. And if you’d like to spring for all of the games, the folks at Humble Bundle will give you Shadowrun Returns if you pay more than $10.
All ten games listed above are available on the PC and Android. If you happen to pay more than $1 in all, you’ll be able to redeem all of the games on Steam, which means you can play them on any computer running Windows, OS X or Linux.
If the first round of games didn’t do anything for you, what about now? See anything you’d like to download?
HTC launches site to make themes for the One M9
When the device launches around the world next month, the HTC One M9 will have multiple themes accessible. Owners of the device also have the option to extract qualities from photos to compose a personalized theme. Taking things even further is the HTC Themes site that was launched today. The site provides users with the ability to change wallpapers, colors, icons, sounds, and font. Specific elements of a theme can be changed while others are left alone.
There is also the social aspect of HTC Themes. Users can bookmark themes from around the world to see what they like. An HTC, Facebook, or Google+ account is required to start using the theme creator.
Source: HTC Themes
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Humble PC & Android Bundle 12 expands to ten games
The latest Humble Bundle fundraiser covers games on both PC and Android. Today, three games were added to the mix. Donating more than the average will now include Eufloria HD, Solar Flux, and Toast Time. This round of Humble Bundle benefits the Electronic Frontier Foundation, American Red Cross, and developers. A tip can also be left for those who run the fundraiser.
Hit the break for a rundown of the games available.
Donate any amount:
- Tetrobot and Co.
- Titan Attacks!
- The Inner World
- vvvvv
Donate more than the average:
- Costume Quest
- Ironclad Tactics
- Eufloria HD
- Solar Flux
- Toast Time
Donate $10 or more:
- Shadowrun Returns
Source: Humble Bundle
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Samsung Galaxy Note 3 on AT&T getting Android Lollipop now
Earlier today AT&T starting rolling out the Android Lollipop update to the Samsung Galaxy Note 4. Turns out that is not the only Note device on AT&T getting Lollipop today as the carrier started rolling out the update for the Galaxy Note 3 as well.
AT&T’s support site does not indicate whether the update includes some of the additional apps the Galaxy Note 4 is receiving, like Evernote or Amazon Shopping. There is also no indication as to whether Samsung modified the update from Samsung to ensure the mute mode works properly.
Users can wait for the OTA update notification to show up on their device to start the update process. They can also check to see if the update is available for them by going to Settings –> General –> About device –> Software updates –> Check for updates.
source: AT&T
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US Cellular adding the LG G Flex 2 to their line-up on March 26th
In just two days US Cellular customers will be able to pick up the newest LG device on the market, the LG G Flex 2. The launch of the Qualcomm 810 toting flexed device will be available both online and in retail stores for new accounts and upgrades. They will be launching the Platinum Silver […]
The post US Cellular adding the LG G Flex 2 to their line-up on March 26th appeared first on AndroidSPIN.
AT&T doubles down with Android 5.0 for Galaxy Note 3 today too
Earlier this morning I let you wonderful Samsung Galaxy Note 4 owners on AT&T‘s network know that your patience was about to be rewarded. AT&T started to push the 1.2GB Android 5.0 update to Note 4 via a Wi-Fi only update. It looks like the Note 4 wasn’t the only one to see the update […]
The post AT&T doubles down with Android 5.0 for Galaxy Note 3 today too appeared first on AndroidSPIN.
If you’re having trouble receiving MMS in Hangouts, it might be your User-Agent: Cyanogenmod
Reddit user vsTerminus has discovered why CyanogenMod 11 and 12 are incapable of receiving MMS through Hangouts. He or she added that this works fine in the default Messenger app but does not if Hangouts is the default SMS application.
vsTerminus used the Shark for Root (Native) app to capture TCP messages while receiving MMS.
The user goes on to explain that a properly received MMS looks like this. Normally, the device downloads the attachment from the URL given by the MMS provider. Next, Rendering Configuration Information is sent from the MMS provider to the phone. The phone tells the provided that it got the file, and the provider deletes its own file. Lastly, an HTTP OK is sent to the device.
If this fails, then this happens. On the last step, the provider sends back an HTTP 204 No Content message. The phone believes the process failed when it already has the attachment.
This is caused by differences in the user-agents of the two apps. The Messaging app gives an agent of “Nexus5.” Meanwhile, the Hangouts app supplies “CyanogenMod.”
vsTerminus determined that the MMS provided is probably not aware of the “CyanogenMod” user-agent given by Hangouts, and so it returns an error. His or her proposed solution is to switch back to Messenger as the default app or use a third party SMS app until it is hopefully fixed.
The post If you’re having trouble receiving MMS in Hangouts, it might be your User-Agent: Cyanogenmod appeared first on AndroidGuys.
myAT&T update for Windows Phone allows you to check your rollover data balance
myAT&T offers a wide variety of services for Windows Phone customers on AT&T to view and manage wireless services, plans and bills, with the latest update to the app bringing the ability to view rollover data balance.
AIVAnet 
