Samsung announces new tool to help developers with VR
Samsung has announced a new tool intended to help developers get on board the virtual headset train. The Gear VR framework, or GearVRf, is an open source framework that developers can utilize to prepare videos and apps for use on Android-powered virtual reality devices.
Samsung indicates one benefit to the GearVRf for developers is the use of familiar programming languages like C++ and Java. The framework handles all the heavy lifting related to OpenGL and the Oculus renderer. The new GearVRf also handles much of the 3D graphics issues one might encounter during development. This should make it easier for developers to drop in existing images, videos and 3D models. With the platform being open source, Samsung hopes developers will modify and add to the code to meet their own unique needs.
source: Samsung
Come comment on this article: Samsung announces new tool to help developers with VR
Google Play version 5.4 debuts immersive hero images for Lollipop devices
Starting today, owners of devices with Lollipop will begin to notice some changes in the Play Store. The latest version, 5.4, introduces immersive hero images throughout the application. Coloring, sizing, and placement have all been altered in certain areas, too. The changes are not considered part of an overhaul, but something like the transparent status bar is noticeable.
The evolution of the details page can be seen here:
Source: Kirill Grouchnikov (Google+)
Come comment on this article: Google Play version 5.4 debuts immersive hero images for Lollipop devices
Latest Skype update aligns it with iOS, desktop versions
The Android version of Skype has trailed behind its iOS and desktop counterparts for some time. While the app was given attention and updated to remain capable, it never matched those other versions. Finally, today, an update is arriving for the app on Android devices that shifts it much closer to iOS and desktop versions. The chat layout follows the bubble style and emojis have been added in addition to the service’s own emoticons (which will now be animated). Also, the update brings support for voice input when utilizing Android Auto.
Hit the break for the full changelog.
What’s New
New features• New bubble-style chat for a consistent Skype experience• Animated and bigger emoticons- being rolled out in coming weeks• Emoji support to let you express yourselfFixes/improvements• Updated setting so username and password are required to sign back in• Chats no longer auto-scroll as new messages come in• View and change avatars for all group chats
Source: Skype
Come comment on this article: Latest Skype update aligns it with iOS, desktop versions
Google Wallet gets updated, adds transaction search
Traditionally Google tends to roll out most of its app updates on so-called Update Wednesdays, but there’s certainly no rule saying it has to be that way. With this in mind, Google has brought us version 9.0 of the Google Wallet app. Jumping a whole letter number, you’d probably expect the changes here to be pretty massive, but that’s really not the case. Aside from likely bug fixes and performance tweaks, the new update brings just two new features, transaction search and a Maps widget that shows the location of purchases.
Transaction search is certainly the more useful of the two, placing a search bar on the Transactions screen that lets you type in a keyword and quickly find past transactions. As for the Maps widget, you can now find exact locations where physical purchases were made. In other words, it will track the retail stores you shop at and place them on a map. The idea behind this feature is to make it easy to notice suspicious purchases, like an item that is bought at some random store hundreds of miles away from your location.
Both these additions are nice, though not necessarily game-changing. Oddly enough, Google Wallet is also subtracting a feature, the order screen is no longer present. Orders previously made it easy to track past purchases that were made online and then physically delivered.
As is typical of Google, the rollout here will likely take a few days to reach everyone, though you can always trying checking for the update by visiting Google Play.
Download and install latest Google Play Store 5.4.10 APK (Material Design)
The Google Play Store has just received a version bump, bringing it to version 5.4.10 and few minor changes.
What’s New
– Transparent status bar when viewing listings.
Of course, there could be more undisclosed under the hood performance enhancements not immediately noticeable.
If like me you like to be on the cutting edge of developments, you can go ahead and grab the latest Google Play Store 5.4.10 APK from here.
Notice anything else different in the newest version of the Google Play Store? Drop us a comment below.
The post Download and install latest Google Play Store 5.4.10 APK (Material Design) appeared first on AndroidGuys.
Galaxy S6 Edge bends at the same pressure as iPhone 6 Plus
Do you remember when the term ‘Bendgate’ went viral? It happened when the iPhone 6 Plus users complained that their phone bends in pocket or after a certain force. Well, it seems Galaxy S6 Edge bends as well, as it bends at the same pressure point as the iPhone 6 Plus. Check out the video below to see HTC One M8, Galaxy S6 Edge, and iPhone 6 Plus going through the test:
However, iPhone is just bending and the screen is still safe, but the screen on Galaxy S6 Edge shatters right at the point, and that’s probably because of the edges. But it is hard to disagree on the fact that Galaxy S6 Edge is probably the greatest looking Samsung device to date. All you have to do is to be a bit careful, maybe a good phone cover would suffice because there is a probability that it might bend in your pocket or maybe breaks if you drop.
Are you planning to grab it? Let us know in the comment box below.
The post Galaxy S6 Edge bends at the same pressure as iPhone 6 Plus appeared first on AndroidGuys.
Samsung’s Galaxy S6 Bends as Easily as iPhone 6 Plus
Third-party warranty firm SquareTrade recently released a video showcasing the durability of the new Samsung Galaxy S6 Edge and HTC One M9, discovering the Galaxy to bend at 110 lbs of pressure and the One M9 to bend at 120 lbs of pressure.
Although the Galaxy S6 Edge’s pressure limits are comparable to the iPhone 6 Plus’ testing, the Galaxy’s screen ended up cracking under the pressure instead of slightly bending similar to Apple’s plus-size iPhone model. The HTC One M9 lasted further than its two competitors, reaching 120 lbs of pressure, but the phone was rendered useless thanks to a faulty power button following the pressure test.
Testing to the point of “catastrophic failure”, the iPhone 6 Plus survived 179 lbs of pressure, beating out the Galaxy S6 Edge’s 149 lbs stress test. As SquareTrade points out, the Galaxy’s stress tests proves the phone could be worse for users due to the smartphone’s screen cracking under intense pressure.
Following the “Bendgate” controversy last year, both Samsung and HTC parodied Apple’s woes on social media. Though SquareTrade’s pressure tests are meant to measure intense circumstances, it’s still interesting to see where each smartphone lies on the durability scale when compared to one another.
MacRumors Giveaway: Win an Aluminum Monitor Stand With 4 USB Ports From Satechi [Mac Blog]
For this week’s giveaway, we’ve partnered up with Satechi to give MacRumors readers a chance to win one of the company’s $70 Aluminum Monitor Stands.
Designed to match the iMac and other Macs in Apple’s computer lineup, the stand has a clean aluminum design with four USB 3.0 ports built in to manage cables. The stand raises the monitor up by four inches to reduce eye and neck strain.
First unveiled this January at CES, the monitor stand is 11 inches wide in the front, 9.5 inches wide in the back, and 8.75 inches long, so it can accommodate most monitors and laptops. It supports up to 200 pounds.
To enter to win, use the Rafflecopter widget below. You can earn additional entries by subscribing to our weekly newsletter, subscribing to our YouTube Channel, following us on Twitter, or visiting the MacRumors Facebook page. Due to the intricacies of international law regarding giveaways, this giveaway is open only to U.S. residents who are 18 years of age or older.
a Rafflecopter giveawayThe giveaway will run from today, Friday, April 3 at 10:30 a.m. Pacific Time through Friday April 10 at 10:30 a.m. Pacific Time. Winners will be chosen randomly on April 10 and will be contacted through email. A response to our email is required within 48 hours or the winner will forfeit the prize and we will pick a new winner.
Buyer’s Guide: Discounts on Retina iMac, MacBook Air, Older MacBook Pro, and Apple Accessories [Mac Blog]
Despite the approach of the Easter holiday, there aren’t too many deals available this week. We’ve had good prices on the iPad for the last few weeks, but most sales have ended, so if you’re planning to buy one of Apple’s newest tablets, you might want to hold off for a week or two until prices drop a bit further.
That said, there are some good discounts on the Retina iMac and other iMacs, and 2014 MacBook Air and Retina MacBook Pro models continue to be available at low prices.
We’ve also got a lot of apps on sale this week, and there are a few Apple-related accessories available on the cheap, including Beats headphones.
iPad Air 2
Best Buy continues to offer the lowest prices we’ve seen on a few select iPad Air 2 models. The 16GB Cellular iPad Air 2 in silver is available for $499.99, $130 off its regular price. The 64GB Cellular iPad Air 2 in silver is available for $599.99, $130 off. The 128GB Cellular iPad Air 2 in silver is priced at $699.99, also a $130 discount.
B&H Photo is offering a small discount on all of its iPad Air 2 models, dropping prices by $30 to $50. With the discount, the 16GB WiFi only iPad Air 2 is priced at $459 and the 64GB model is priced at $569.
iPad Air
Best Buy is also discounting cellular versions of its iPad Air stock, dropping the price on the 16GB Verizon Space Gray model to $379.99 and the price of the 32GB Verizon Space Gray model to $429.99, two of the lowest prices we’ve seen on those tablets.
Both Best Buy and B&H Photo have deep discounts on some remaining stock of now-discontinued higher-capacity iPad Air models, as listed below.
– iPad Air Wi-Fi 128GB Space Gray – $549
– iPad Air Cellular Space Gray 128GB (AT&T) – $579
– iPad Air Cellular Space Gray 64GB (AT&T) – $449
– iPad Air Cellular Silver 64GB (Verizon) – $566.99
– iPad Air Cellular Silver 128GB (Verizon) – $579
– iPad Air Cellular Space Gray 128GB (Verizon) – $559
iPad mini 2
Amazon has a few iPad mini 2 models available at discounted prices. The 16GB Cellular Verizon iPad mini 2 in Silver is available for $339. The 16GB Cellular Verizon iPad mini 2 in Space Gray is available for $335. The 32GB Cellular Verizon iPad mini 2 in Space Gray is available for $399.99.
Best Buy and Amazon also have remaining stock of now-discontinued higher-capacity iPad mini 2 models, which are a good deal if you’re looking for an iPad mini. Compared to the iPad mini 3, the iPad mini 2 only lacks Touch ID.
– iPad mini Cellular Silver 128GB (AT&T) – $450
– iPad mini Cellular Space Gray 128GB (AT&T) – $400
– iPad mini Cellular Space Gray 64GB (AT&T) – $399.99
– iPad mini Cellular Silver 128GB (Verizon) – $439.97
– iPad mini Cellular Space Gray 128GB (Verizon) – $534.99
– iPad mini Cellular Silver 64GB (Verizon) – $396.99
– iPad mini Cellular Space Gray 64GB (Verizon) – $398.99
iPad mini 3
Best Buy has discounts on a single iPad mini 3, the 128GB Cellular iPad model in gold. The price is $579.99, a discount of $150.
iMac
– 21.5-inch `1.4GHz/8GB/500GB (Best Buy) – $999.99, $100 off
– 21.5-inch 2.7GHz/8GB/1TB (Adorama) (B&H Photo) – $1,189, $110 off
– 21.5-inch 2.9GHz/8GB/1TB (Best Buy) – $1,379, $130 off
– 27-inch 3.2GHz/8GB/1TB (Adorama) (B&H Photo) – $1,689, $110 off
– 27-inch 3.4GHz/8GB/1TB (Adorama) (B&H Photo) – $1,794, $205 off
– 27-inch 3.5Ghz/8GB/1TB Retina iMac (Best Buy) – $2,349, $250 off
Mac mini
– 1.4GHz/4GB/500GB (Amazon) (Adorama) (B&H Photo) – $464.99, $34 off
– 2.6GHz/8GB/1TB (Amazon) (B&H Photo) – $649.99, $49 off
– 2.8GHz/8GB/1TB (MacMall) – $934.99, $64 off
MacBook Air
– 2015 11-inch 1.6GHz/4GB/128GB – (B&H Photo) (Adorama) $829, $70 off
– 2015 13-inch 1.6GHz/4GB/128GB (B&H Photo) (Adorama) – $949.99, $50 off
– 2014 11-inch 1.4GHz/4GB/128GB (Amazon) (B&H Photo) – $729, $170 off
– 2014 11-inch 1.4GHz/4GB/256GB (Amazon) (B&H Photo) – $899, $200 off
– 2014 13-inch 1.4GHz/4GB/128GB (Amazon) (B&H Photo) – $799, $200 off
– 2014 13-inch 1.4GHz/4GB/256GB (Best Buy) – $899, $300 off
Retina MacBook Pro
– 2014 15-inch 2.2GHz/16GB/256GB (Best Buy) (B&H Photo) (MacMall) – $1,799, $200 off
– 2014 15-inch 2.5GHz/16GB/512GB (B&H Photo) –$2,249, $250 off
– 2014 13-inch 2.6GHz/8GB/128GB (B&H Photo) – $1,129, $170 off
– 2014 13-inch 2.6GHz/8GB/256GB (B&H Photo) – $1,249, $239 off
– 2014 13-inch 2.8GHz/8GB/512GB (Amazon) – $1,550, $249 off
Apps
There are quite a few apps that are on sale at discounted prices or available for free for a limited time. We’ll highlight a few here, but make sure to check out our sister site AppShopper for a complete list.
iOS board game San Juan is available for $0.99, down from $4.99. Valiant Hearts: The Great War is available for free, down from $4.99. Orbitum is available for free, down from $1.99. Blek is available for $0.99, down from $1.99.
Apple is running an “Amazing Photo + Video” promotion in the Mac and iOS App Stores this week, and more than 30 popular apps are available at 50 percent off.
Puzzle game Back to Bed was named Apple’s app of the week this week, and it will be available to download for free for the next six days.
Apple Accessories
Fluxmob is offering $10 off the Bolt battery/charger and throwing in a free Arc lightning cable through 4/5. Target is offering a $10 gift card with the purchase of an Apple TV.
Groupon is selling the Griffin USB Power Duo wall and car charger pack for $9.99, down from $29.95. Groupon is selling the Scosche BoltBOX Retractable Lightning cable for $12.99, down from $24.99. The Sony Portable Bluetooth Speaker with Lightning Dock is available for $139 from Groupon, $10 cheaper than Amazon’s price and more than $100 off the original price.
Best Buy is offering up to 20 percent off all Beats headphones.
MacRumors is an affiliate partner with some of these vendors.
Twitch hosting Q&A with stars of HBO’s Silicon Valley
Silicon Valley, HBO’s comedic take on the often ridiculous world of startups is returning for its second season on April 12. But before we find out what’s happening with Pied Piper, series stars Thomas Middleditch, Zach Woods, Martin Starr, and Kumail Nanjiani will be part of a Q&A at Twitch headquarters on April 8. After the Q&A, the actors will play a few video games and then viewers will be able to watch the pilot episode of the series. A first for the streaming service.
Landing the pilot episode isn’t as exciting as getting the actual season two premier, but it’s still a pretty big deal. Twitch is already venturing into streaming live music with the Ultra music festival last month and a 24-hour set from DJs Diplo and Deadmau5 in February. All of this serves as a reminder that the service is already more than just a place to watch video games.
[Image credit: HBO]
Source: HBO [PDF]
AIVAnet 