Ford explains why Sync supports Apple and Google car apps
With both Apple and Google wrangling to become the infotainment center of your next new car, Ford will be choosing neither. Or both, depending on how you look at it. During an interview with Re/code, Ford CEO Mark Fields provided some details on how his company will be leveraging its in-house designed Sync system to act as middleman between smart devices and vehicles.
Like many other carmakers, Ford will equally support both Apple’s CarPlay and Google’s Android Auto services, but Sync is still the primary system. The reason is simple, Ford CTO Raj Nair explained to Re/code, “We want to make sure you are not pushed into a decision on a $40,000 car based on your $200 smartphone.” And since neither Apple’s or Google’s offerings can do everything that the other can, Sync will be able to leverage the features of either regardless which OS drivers use. As such, Ford is touting a high level of flexibility with Sync — like letting drivers navigate with Google Maps through their phone but still play Sirius stations using the in-dash receiver.
When the Sync 3 platform debuts this summer, it promises a better touchscreen than its predecessor, new apps and the ability for future updates to occur over Wi-Fi, not just via the OBD-II port or USB. Ford is also working on adding cellular capabilities to its vehicles, and has its own tech for btoh semi- and fully-autonomous driving, though there’s no word on when those features will actually roll out.
[Image credit: Andrew A. Nelles/Associated Press]
Filed under: Displays, GPS, Transportation, Internet, Apple, Google
Source: Re/Code
Turn your home into a haunted house with AR game ‘Night Terrors’
You’re home alone. It’s the dead of night and all of the lights are off; you creep down the hallway with one hand dragging along the wall, your phone serving as a makeshift flashlight. You hear a young girl’s voice whisper from the bedroom in front of you and the hair on the back of your neck stands up straight. You pause. Your heart pounds. A dull ringing assaults your ears. You creep forward, holding the phone higher, when suddenly — a high-pitched shriek as your phone’s light starts rapidly flashing and a deformed, undead monster barrels down the hallway directly toward you. You drop your phone. Game over.
That’s basically the premise of Night Terrors, an in-development, augmented reality game for mobile devices that maps out the entirety of your house and fills it with terrifying creatures, turning a home into a real-life survival-horror game. It’s currently looking for $70,000 on Indiegogo — developers say they’ve already created a system that understands spatial elements such as walls and complex floorplans, and they’re using physical special effects rather than CGI. It sounds like an innovative and truly horrifying project, even as its narrative plays off of an overused gaming conceit: Save the girl and be the hero. That’s so close to being cliche, it’s scary.
Source: Night Terrors on Indiegogo
Microsoft wants third-party apps for its fitness tracker
Microsoft Band users might get to enjoy a lot more third-party apps in the near future. Redmond has released the full Band SDK, giving developers power to create fully functional apps for the fitness tracker. The company already launched a preview version back in February, which allowed devs to create tiles that send glanceable notifications to the wearable. However, that only gave them access to sensors and other basic features. According to the general manager of Microsoft’s personal devices division, Zulfi Alam, the newer SDK lets developers take advantage of all the device’s features/functions and comes with the ability to:
- Build apps that support Windows.
- Create own custom layouts for pages on third-party tiles using icons, text, buttons, and barcodes for payment options.
- Receive events and button-click callbacks from the Microsoft Band to the phone app. If you press a button on a page inside your tile, the app will know which button was pressed.
- Connect to the Band from background tasks.
- Tap into calorie subscription from the Microsoft Band.
Since the Band syncs with Windows, Apple and Android devices, Microsoft uploaded separate versions for all three platforms. Hopefully, developers design their applications for all three, so no user gets left behind.
Today we release the #MicrosoftBand SDK. Developers, start creating third party tiles now: http://t.co/5t9H9XMHD9 pic.twitter.com/yQ6FqrZcoZ
– Microsoft Band (@microsoftband) April 30, 2015
Filed under: Wearables, Mobile, Microsoft
Source: Microsoft, Microsoft Conversations
Marvel Future Fight bashes its way into the Google Play Store
Marvel has released a new superhero-packed game into the Google Play Store just in time for the new Avengers: Age of Ultron movie to hit U.S. theaters. The new free-to-play action RPG has actually been out for some time in select markets, but it’s just now making its way to the Play Store for everyone to download.
The game is called Future Fight, and it features all of the characters we usually find in Marvel games – Iron Man, Spider-Man, the Guardians of the Galaxy team, and many more. The aim of the game is to assemble your team of heroes to thwart off super villains as you make your way through the Marvel universe. You can choose to upgrade your weapons along the way, and teach your heroes new special attacks.
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Here are a few extra features you can find in the game if you choose to download:
- Epic 3v3 Battles – Test your mettle against other players in 3v3 battles! Choose from four unique hero types – Combat, Blast, Speed, and Universal – then pit your champions against your opponents’ teams for supremacy.
- Single Player Campaign – Wage epic battle against Super Villains in stage-based battles across a deep, immersive single player RPG campaign to unlock exclusive content, new costumes and rewards!
- Team Bonuses – Team up classic Marvel characters to earn special boosts and bonuses!
- Summon Allies – Need a little help to get through the next Super Villain battle? Summon your friends via the Ally System for reinforcements and claim victory as a team!
The controls are easy to learn and very simple, making it easy to jump right in to the action. The game is free to download, though you’ll quickly run into a ton of in-app purchases. It’s possible to play the game without spending any extra money, but you’ll probably get annoyed pretty quickly if you aren’t a fan of the free-to-play genre.
Where to watch Tesla’s ‘The Missing Piece’ livestream
Tesla is known for its amazingly quick electric vehicles, but if the chatter around today’s event is true, the Elon Musk-led company will be introducing a home battery solution this evening. The livestream will be viewable on the car company’s site beginning at 11 PM ET. So put on your pajamas and snuggle up with your computer to see if you’ll be adding a battery to your home in the not-so-distant future.
Fact: Of all the fossil fuel consumed in the US, ⅓ is used in transportation and ⅓ goes to electricity production.
– Tesla Motors (@TeslaMotors) April 30, 2015
2,000 million metric tons of CO2, is produced by electric power sector. That’s like burning 225 billion gallons of gas. Time for change.
– Tesla Motors (@TeslaMotors) April 30, 2015
Filed under: Household, Transportation
Source: Tesla
Nexus 10 getting updated to Android 5.1.1
The Google Nexus 10 is possibly the longest supported Nexus device in recent memory. The tablet has been one of the first Nexus tablets to receive the latest updates, despite the fact that it’s over two years old in the tablet industry now. And now, Google has reiterated that yet again by rolling out the Android 5.1.1 update to the device.
As of now, only the Google Nexus Player is running Android 5.1.1, although a T-Mobile Galaxy S6 Edge user was claiming to have received the Android 5.1.1 update yesterday.
The update on the Nexus 10 should bring the build number LMY47V and probably won’t carry a lot of other changes. It’s a measly 13.9MB in size, so it shouldn’t take long to install. Don’t expect any fancy changes on board here as it’s only a minor bug fixing update.
Owners of the Nexus 10, are you seeing this update on your tablets yet? Sound off below.
Via: Android Police
Come comment on this article: Nexus 10 getting updated to Android 5.1.1
Sprint customers get free Boingo WiFi access in 35 U.S. airports
Soon, travelers within the United States that are also Sprint customers will notice free access to Boingo’s WiFi at select airports. The two companies announced a multi-year agreement that supplies Sprint customers with free Boingo WiFi access in thirty-five airports located throughout the United States. Through the auto-authenticating networks, customers save data (and money) by not devouring data while waiting for departure. Sprint and Boingo tested “millions” of devices to ensure the quality of connecting to the WiFi networks.
Hit the break for the full press release.
Sprint and Boingo Bring Seamless Wi-Fi to Millions of Sprint Travelers
Strategic Agreement Enables Access to Boingo Wi-Fi Networks in 35 Major U.S. Airports
LOS ANGELES & OVERLAND PARK, Kan. (BUSINESS WIRE), April 30, 2015 – Boingo Wireless, the leading DAS and Wi-Fi provider, and Sprint today announced a multi-year Wi-Fi agreement, enabling access to seamless and secure Boingo Wi-Fi networks in 35 major U.S. airports. Leveraging Boingo’s industry-leading network technology, connecting to Wi-Fi will become as easy and safe as cellular.
Sprint devices within proximity of a Boingo hotspot can automatically connect to the Wi-Fi network seamlessly, providing service at the fastest speeds available, be that cellular from Sprint or Wi-Fi from Boingo. The auto-authenticating Wi-Fi connections are available at no additional charge to all Sprint customers with capable devices, and usage while connected to Wi-Fi does not count towards a customer’s monthly service plan. Sprint and Boingo conducted successful market trials with millions of Sprint handsets, which demonstrated the consumer benefits of effortless authentication onto Boingo’s network.
“With Wi-Fi being the world’s largest wireless ecosystem, we view it as a highly complementary layer to our network,” said Stephen Bye, Sprint CTO. “By enabling customers to move seamlessly between secure Wi-Fi and cellular, our customers will have a better mobile experience in more locations, all while lowering their cost of data usage.”
The Sprint network improves daily and the company continues to invest in solutions that deliver the consistent reliability, capacity, and speed that customers demand. As service expands to additional Sprint handsets, customers with Passpoint-enabled devices can be connected to Boingo’s “Passpoint Secure” networks at airports nationwide. By utilizing Boingo’s “Passpoint Secure” networks, customers can enjoy a simpler mobile experience with seamless Wi-Fi authentication and WPA2 enterprise-grade encryption technology.
“Boingo’s relationship with Sprint removes the traditional barriers between Wi-Fi and cellular service,” said David Hagan, Chief Executive Officer for Boingo Wireless. “Sprint is a market leader with the integration of Wi-Fi and cellular, which is a very customer centric solution to provide an always-best-connected experience through either network.”
About Sprint
Sprint (NYSE: S) is a communications services company that creates more and better ways to connect its customers to the things they care about most. Sprint served nearly 56 million connections as of Dec. 31, 2014, and is widely recognized for developing, engineering and deploying innovative technologies, including the first wireless 4G service from a national carrier in the United States; leading no-contract brands including Virgin Mobile USA, Boost Mobile, and Assurance Wireless; instant national and international push-to-talk capabilities; and a global Tier 1 Internet backbone. Sprint has been named to the Dow Jones Sustainability Index (DJSI) North America for the past four years. You can learn more and visit Sprint at http://www.sprint.com or www.facebook.com/sprint and www.twitter.com/sprint.
About Boingo Wireless
Boingo Wireless, Inc. (NASDAQ: WIFI) helps the world stay connected. Our vast footprint of small cell networks cover more than a million DAS and Wi-Fi locations and reaches more than one billion consumers annually – in places as varied as airports, stadiums, universities, and military bases. For more information about the Boingo story, visit http://www.boingo.com.
Boingo, Boingo Wireless, the Boingo Wireless Logo and Don’t Just Go. Boingo are registered trademarks of Boingo Wireless, Inc. All other trademarks are the properties of their respective owners.
Come comment on this article: Sprint customers get free Boingo WiFi access in 35 U.S. airports
[Deal] Nexus Player discounted on Amazon, includes $25 Google Play credit
Today, the price of the Nexus Player on Amazon’s site has fluctuated between $69 and $75. The constant, though, is the inclusion of a $25 Google Play credit. So the online retailer has discounted the Android TV device while also including a digital credit, meaning that you are sort of paying only $50 or so for the Nexus Player.
Has this deal caused you to take a look at the Nexus Player? Or is the Razer Forge TV or NVIDIA SHIELD TV more appealing? Let us know in the comments.
Come comment on this article: [Deal] Nexus Player discounted on Amazon, includes $25 Google Play credit
New users can get a 3-month subscription of Spotify Premium for just $0.99 (U.S. only)
If you missed out on Spotify’s awesome deal a few months ago, the streaming service is now giving you a second chance to save some cash. For a limited time only, new users who live in the United States can get three months of Spotify Premium for just $0.99.
A Premium subscription will get you access to Spotify’s giant music database with no advertisements or interruptions, higher bitrate playback, and the ability to download music to your mobile device and listen offline. Spotify Premium accounts usually run $9.99 per month, so this may be worth your while if you’ve never signed up for the service in the past.
Unfortunately this deal doesn’t apply to folks living outside the U.S. or users who have previously signed up for the service. Of course, there’s always the possibility of creating a new account to sign up for the promotion, but that’s only if you feel like the effort is worth it.
If you’re interested in signing up, head to the source link below.
Some Apple Watch Users Experiencing ‘Sticky’ Digital Crown, Apple Suggests Water Rinse to Fix
With any new Apple product launch, there are always several issues that pop up in the days following release, and the Apple Watch is no exception. Thus far we’ve seen sensor issues with customers who have dark wrist tattoos and problems with bands that don’t lock. It appears there’s another minor problem Apple Watch users are encountering — malfunctioning digital crowns. The digital crown is located on the left side of the watch and is used as the primary input method on the Apple Watch, aside from touch.
A number of users on both the MacRumors forums and Apple’s own support communities are reporting issues with the digital crown of the Apple Watch becoming stuck or difficult to turn. Some users have said the stickiness causes the crown to feel stuck for a moment before loosening when turned, while others say the digital crown feels consistently difficult to turn.
I’m experiencing light stickiness every time I go to turn the crown, but it smoothens out shortly after. And this repeats itself after the crown isn’t touched for a few seconds. It wasn’t like this on day one. Mine doesn’t take considerable pressure to turn though, you just feel that it’s sticky at first as if there was a bit too much friction.
On Apple’s support communities, some users are speculating that the issue is perhaps caused by sweat getting into the digital crown resulting in crystallized particles that block movement, but there are reports of problems from users who have not used their devices while exercising. Many of the Apple Watches affected are the Sport model, but stainless steel Apple Watch owners have also reported issues.
Several users have taken their Apple Watches in to be assessed by Apple employees and were told that the stickiness of the digital crown is not normal.
Well started experiencing same issue with my sport. Bad enough that double clicking was almost impossible. Took in today to Genius and three diff people came over and tested. All said was not normal. But I decided to send back now. Will be interesting test to see how much I miss it. Bigger concern is why and perhaps the sport vs ss and possibility of it keeps happening.
Ps. We compared to four diff demo units and all had same tactile feel except mine.
Some users have discovered that the problem is resolved by a quick rinse in water, a fix that Apple recommends in a support document. According to Apple, if the digital crown gets stuck or won’t move, it could have dust or debris underneath, fixable by running the Apple Watch under fresh water from a faucet for 10 to 15 seconds.
If the Digital Crown gets stuck or won’t move, it might be because of dirt or debris. If you find substances like dust or lotion around the Digital Crown, follow these steps to clean, and repeat as needed:
1. Turn off your Apple Watch and remove it from the charger.
2. If you have a leather band, remove it from your Apple Watch.
3. Hold the Digital Crown under lightly running, warm, fresh water from a faucet for 10 to 15 seconds. Soaps and other cleaning products shouldn’t be used.
4. Continuously turn and press the Digital Crown as water runs over the small gap between the crown and the housing.
5. Dry your Apple Watch with a non-abrasive, lint-free cleaning cloth.
Some affected users have said that a water rinse does not solve the problem, or solves it only temporarily, while others have expressed dissatisfaction at potentially needing to rinse the Apple Watch after every workout. Customers who have gone to Apple Stores for a fix for their malfunctioning digital crowns have received either repairs or replacement devices, with Apple quoting week-long wait times for a fix.
AIVAnet 