Boeing is NASA’s first pick for manned ISS flights
NASA is on track to bring human spaceflight back to the US. The agency has ordered its first “crew rotation” mission from Boeing, which will involve ferrying astronauts to the International Space Station (ISS). NASA says it expects to make a similar order with Elon Musk’s SpaceX later this year — afterwards, it will decide which of the two companies to green-light for the first mission in late 2017. However, this milestone moment in US spaceflight could easily shift. For one, Boeing and SpaceX still need to complete NASA’s certification process before they can undertake any missions. For another, NASA’s Commercial Crew Program is dependent on adequate funding through 2016 and beyond. If it comes up short, the agency says it “will have to delay future milestones for both partners proportionally and extend sole reliance on Russia.” We’re keeping our fingers crossed.
Filed under: Science
Source: NASA
Watch the Google I/O keynote right here
Technology is pretty awesome. Google is prepared to take the stage in San Francisco for the I/O Conference keynote presentation, with executives ready to talk about the company’s latest wares — and you can watch it all from the comfort of your own screen. Even if you’re in San Francisco, we suggest beating the traffic and watching the presentation without moving an inch (except to grab your coffee, of course). The keynote begins at 12:30PM ET / 9:30AM PT, and you can watch it via the live stream below.
Filed under: Google
Live from Google’s 2015 I/O keynote!
The stage is set, the Moscone Center is tricked out with leopard print Androids, and Google I/O is just about to start. You know the drill here: The first order of business is an hours-long keynote address that’ll show us exactly what Google’s been working on behind closed doors these past few months and what we can expect to play with in the future. Android M? More insight into Android Pay? VR announcements? It seems like this year’s show is really going to have it all. We’ve got a little more time before the keynote kicks off, so hang tight, thumb through our I/O preview for as a quick refresher, and stay tuned for more shortly.
Don’t miss out on all the latest news and updates from Google I/O 2015. Follow along at our events page.
Samsung’s Project Valley may be a dual-screen, foldable smartphone
We’ve been hearing for ages now about Samsung’s plans to release a foldable display, and at one point late last year, it actually went on record to state 2015 would be the year. Sadly the statement was more-or-less retracted some months ago, but there should be little doubt that something is eventually going to materialize. Exactly what it is is now becoming clearer, though unfortunately the specifics, as well as the timeline, are still a mystery.
Sony has already released a dual screen tablet, though with two separate screens.
The folks at Sammobile have obtained information about a new device Samsung is working on, allegedly called “Project Valley”, or “Project V”. Said to be very early in the development timeline, the key feature here is a pair of screens, and specialized gestures to alternate between them. A caveat is given that the product may never see the light of day, let alone a public unveiling, and could be terminated at any time.
Given the nature of the code name, “Project Valley”, there is the obvious implication that the device will fold. The question – or problem rather – is just how advanced such a feature would be. Years ago, Sony released the Sony Tablet P which featured two screens that folded into one larger one. The same was true for the Japan-exclusive NEC Medias W, dual screen smartphone. And let’s not forget the Kyocera Echo, arguably the grandfather of them all.
Still, these devices all used two separate panels to achieve the desired effect. If Samsung is working on something this “rudimentary” it would call into question the logic given that all three of the aforementioned devices fared rather poorly. On the other hand, if Samsung will be developing this prototype as a way to commercialize its foldable AMOLED panels, then there is a lot of potential. Just looking at how the Galaxy Note Edge worked is a great indication of the potential, as said device featured two separate screens fused together into a product that had a very intuitive and unique way of interacting with it.
NEC’s Japan-only Medias W was a smartphone that had two screens, though again they were separate panels.
Assuming something eventually sees the light of day, would you be interested in the prospects of a foldable, dual screen Galaxy smartphone? The Galaxy Gemini perhaps? Maybe HTC would get busy on its patent as well…
Project Tango development kits now available for $512, no invite required
Google’s Project Tango is an interesting concept, but it hasn’t been widely commercially available up until this point. The development kit for the tablet started out with a pricey $1,000 price tag before Google cut it down to just $512 in April of this year. While that made the kit much more affordable, you still needed an invite to actually buy the tablet.
Today, that last requirement has been dropped, so anyone who wants a Project Tango development kit can pick one up for $512. It’s obviously not a tablet that the average consumer has any business buying, but if you’re a developer that’s interested in 3D motion and depth sensing, it’s nice to be able to buy one of these without having to jump through hoops.
Hopefully this means we’ll start to see some new uses for Project Tango. Google’s off-the-wall ideas like this always struggle to gain traction, and part of that is likely because the devices aren’t readily available, like Google Glass. If developers can’t get it and consumers can’t buy it, it puts the device in an endless cycle over which side of that equation is going to adopt the tech first. Maybe Project Tango can avoid that with moves like this from Google.
source: Google
via: Android Authority
Come comment on this article: Project Tango development kits now available for $512, no invite required
AT&T’s LG G4 will be available starting May 29th
We’ve been waiting and waiting for all of the major carriers in the US to announce availability of LG’s G4, and AT&T is one of the last to make something official. It’s kind of a last minute announcement, but AT&T will begin selling the G4 starting on May 29th. Today is May 28th. Odd move, but hey, at the least the wait is over. Plus, AT&T customers should be able to buy the device ahead of Verizon customers.
The device will be available on AT&T Next for $0 down, starting at $21 per month on Next 24, $26.25 per month on Next 18, and $31.50 on Next 12. AT&T also mentioned that the device is available for $199 on a two-year contract, but you won’t have long to lock in that contract, since the carrier is dropping two-year contracts in June. The leather backed version of the G4 adds a few bucks to that pricing, and comes in at around $239 on contract.
LG is also offering an accessory bundle to anyone that buys the G4 before June 21st, and that includes a spare battery, battery charging cradle, and a 32 GB microSD card. They’re definitely capitalizing on the lack of removable battery + storage in Samsung’s S6, which makes the G4 a very, very compelling option. All you have to do to get the bonus accessories is register your G4 on time.
Anybody planning on buying a G4 on AT&T in the next few weeks?
source: AT&T
Come comment on this article: AT&T’s LG G4 will be available starting May 29th
Watch the Google I/O 2015 live stream right here!
Today, Google hosts its keynote for the annual I/O conference. There are a few things to expect, but Google will certainly surprise us. They always do. You can watch the keynote take place, live, with us here on Talk Android. Then we will have everything from I/O on the homepage as Google makes announcements.
Hit the break for the live stream!
Click here to view the embedded video.
[Day 1 live streaming sessions] [Day 2 live streaming sessions]
Check out our complete Google I/O 2015 coverage
Come comment on this article: Watch the Google I/O 2015 live stream right here!
Spotlight Stories to be launched on Android with Justin Lin’s film
Remember Spotlight Stories – a series of video stories that we first saw on the Moto X? Now, it is coming to Android devices with a new short film by Fast and Furious director Justin Lin.
Lin’s film, Help, will first come to Android devices, and soon it will be available to iOS users. Spotlight Stories offers an engaging outlet to filmmakers and animators to showcase their creative prowess.
Help was shot with four RED cameras, recording footage of 6K resolution, and joined together to give 360-degree effect. The film is about an alien attack on Los Angeles.
According to the Variety, Spotlight Stories will also be released to the YouTube app in addition to its own app. Google wants Spotlight Stories to be as accessible as possible.
You will have to wait for Spotlight Stories app to appear on your device’s Play Store until Google makes a formal announcement during I/O 2015.
Source: Variety
Via: The Verge
Come comment on this article: Spotlight Stories to be launched on Android with Justin Lin’s film
The Xperia Z3+ has a slightly brighter, warmer display than the Z3
It was just a couple of days that Sony announced that the Xperia Z4, as it known in Japan, would be released to the rest of the world as the Xperia Z3+. One of the main complaints is that the Z4/Z3+ isn’t much different than the outgoing Xperia Z3. Apart from the handset being ever so slightly lighter and thinner, its processor being upgraded to the Snapdragon 810 and its MicroUSB socket changing position and making do without a protective tab, there isn’t really much to talk about.
One other small difference that has been noticed is that the Xperia Z3+ has a slightly brighter display than the Z3, 16% brighter in fact. It would also appear that the Z3+ display is a bit warmer than the Z3. There’s another couple of comparison images in the gallery below. Let us know what you think of the Sony Xperia Z3+ in the comments, and remember, you can check out our coverage of Google I/O 2015 right here.
Source: ePrice
Via: XperiaBlog
Come comment on this article: The Xperia Z3+ has a slightly brighter, warmer display than the Z3
Android Game Developer Bundle, $49
Remember Flappy Bird? What a hit! With just a little bit of code and some retro minimalism, an amazingly viral sensation was created and generated tons of income for its creator. Do you have a great idea that you’ve been tossing around? We’ve entered a new year and you owe it to yourself to reach your goals and bring that game to life! This Android Game Developer Bundle is the exact purchase you should make to start the year off right.
The Android Game Developer Bundle gives aspiring creators 7 quality courses on game development. Learn to build with no prior knowledge of coding required. These courses will empower you and remove the barrier between you and your creative dreams. Heck, maybe we’ll even get to review your creation here on our site! Regularly priced at $662, AndroidGuys readers get limited-time access to this bundle for only $49! We will expect a small commission when your game reaches #1 on Google Play, though. 
See more at deals.androidguys.com
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