We’re one step closer to navigable 3D pictures of real places
If you’ve experienced a VR representation of a real place, chances are that you’ve just been looking around a static, 360-degree panorama of a room. OTOY believes that the days of the fixed-camera 3D picture are now done thanks to light-field technology, the same image refocusing tech you’ll find in a Lytro. In short, a pair of DSLRs on a prototype rig spin around to capture pictures of a space with light field lenses. When that data is pulled into a computer, it creates a virtual version of that picture with unprecedented fidelity. The best thing, however, is that the company believes that users can then move about the image as they see fit.
“The light field data of the room was rendered instantaneously in VR, mirroring the reality and grit of the natural world, while allowing a user in that world to look in any direction and move around in the space as if they were actually there.”
Or, at least, that’s the idea. If you check out the video that the company has produced, you’ll see the user tilting their head but no free roaming around the space. Still, being able to retain a true image while tilting the head is a big achievement, and the image clearly has plenty more depth and clarity than a standard panorama. It’s also the first of several companies who are experimenting with light-field VR, including NextVR, which uses six Red Dragon cameras to create a similar effect.
Filed under: Wearables
Source: OTOY
AeroMobil’s flying car prototype crashes mid-test
AeroMobil may have its work cut out for it if it’s going to deliver a practical flying car within two years. Unfortunately, inventor Stefan Klein crashed a prototype in Slovakia this weekend after it entered an unrecoverable tailspin during a test flight. While the pilot thankfully managed to activate his vehicle’s parachute in time and avoid any serious injuries, the machine wasn’t so lucky — as you can see above, it wasn’t about to drive away. The company is optimistic about the accident in a statement, arguing that it’s a “natural part” of testing that will help refine the design. It’ll no doubt be a learning experience, but something tells us that the official roadmap doesn’t include wrecking an aircraft. This is going to be a setback, even if it’s relatively minor.
[Image credit: MH, SME.sk]
Filed under: Transportation
Via: CNET, Prague Post
Source: AeroMobil, SME.sk (translated)
Three new Verizon Motorola smartphones appear with Quad HD displays
Now that summer is almost here, it’s time to start thinking about what Motorola has in store. They usually announce their products in the late summer to early fall. Of course, we know there will be a new Moto X and a new Moto 360, but let’s not forget about the Verizon exclusive DROIDs. Last year, Verizon chose to go with one DROID, the DROID Turbo. In previous years, they did offer multiple models, and it looks like they might adopt that strategy again this year.
The models in question are the XT192A, XT1585 and XT1578, which are being tested in Chicago right now and they are all Verizon compatible, sport Quad HD (2560 x 1440) displays, and are running Android 5.1.1. Now we know that Verizon will carry the Moto X as well, so one of these devices could be a Moto X. The XT1578 appears to have a 5-inch display, while the XT192A and XT1585 appear to have 4.3-inch displays. I would say that Quad HD is a serious overkill for a 4.3-inch display, so I will surprised if that sticks. The XT1578 also appeared in a HTML5 test.
At one time the DROID was the coolest phone, but do they excite you anymore? I thought last year’s DROID Turbo should have been the Nexus 6, but the one area where Motorola continues to lag is the camera. Until they get that straightened out, they will have a tough time playing with the big boys.
sources: Reddit / HTML5 Test
Come comment on this article: Three new Verizon Motorola smartphones appear with Quad HD displays
Qualcomm rumored to launch a deca-core Snapdragon 818 SoC
Information has leaked concerning Qualcomm‘s upcoming Snapdragon 818 SoC. Sources are telling tech publication STJSGadgets that it will feature a deca-core processor.
Keep in mind that there is no official statement on the alleged Snapdragon 818 SoC–just a tip from an insider at the company. It sounds like it’s in the very early stages of development, as it’s only on paper. Specs are most likely to change, and they probably will before the public hears an official announcement from the chipset manufacturer.
Here’s what they have in the planning stages so far:
This new SoC will be offering 4 Low Power Cores (Cortex A53 @ 1.2GHz), 2 Mid Power Cores (Cortex A53 @1.6GHz), and 4 High Power Cores (Cortex A72 @ 2.0GHz). As pictured above, it’s also said to support and handle the Adreno 532 GPU, LPDDR4 RAM, LTE-A Cat10 speeds, and is produced using the 20nm process.
While nothing is official yet, this sounds phenomenal on paper. It’ll be interesting to see how it’ll run in an actual device, and boy, are we looking forward to that.
source: STSJGadgets
Come comment on this article: Qualcomm rumored to launch a deca-core Snapdragon 818 SoC
Google now allows pre-registration of Android apps
Customers can sign up for launch notifications
Head to the Google Play store today and you’ll find that you can now pre-register for apps before they are released. Specifically, you can pre-register for the Glu Mobile game for Terminator Genisys: Revolution.
With no expected launch date listed we would assume the game debuts within a short window of time centered around the film’s premier date (July 1). Simply tap or click the button that says “pre-register” and you’ll be added to a list of people who want to be notified of the app’s release.
It’s worth noting that the expected price is not listed with the game. Should you decide that you ultimately don’t care to be notified, you can cancel the request at any time.
We like the idea of pre-registering for games and are anxious to learn more about the new feature. As consider the possibilities we have a new number questions, too.
We suspect that we’ll learn plenty more about pre-registration of apps and games in the coming days and weeks. If not a blog post or mention on Google+ perhaps something at Google I/O later this month.
The post Google now allows pre-registration of Android apps appeared first on AndroidGuys.
No-contract Motorola Triumph, $104.99
Thinking of pulling the trigger on a prepaid or no-contract device? It’d be worth 5 minutes to check out the Motorola Triumph. While its days of headlining the show may be in the past, this 4.1-inch screened phone packs a 1GHz processor and pulled in terrific ratings when it was first released.
Now, you can save yourself hundreds of dollars and grab one with no commitment from Virgin Mobile for just $104.99 (shipped for Prime customers). A solid device at an attractive price.
Join Prime and get this deal with FREE two-day shipping!
The post No-contract Motorola Triumph, $104.99 appeared first on AndroidGuys.
How a yearly release cycle could improve the Android experience
Back in 2010, when Andy Rubin was still heading up Android, he told Mercury News, “Our product cycle is now, basically twice a year, and it will probably end up being once a year when things start settling down, because a platform that’s moving — it’s hard for developers to keep up. I want developers to basically leverage the innovation. I don’t want developers to have to predict the innovation.”
If you look at the Android version history, you can hardly fail to notice how erratic the release schedule has been. In the early days of the platform, it was important to rush, because Android was playing catch up, and there was a lot to do. Each new version brought a raft of essential features, but that’s no longer the case.
There are now signs that Google might finally be settling into an annual update schedule, albeit later than expected. Android 5.0 Lollipop landed a year after 4.4 KitKat. Google announced it in June at Google I/O 2014, providing time for a developer preview before the consumer launch in November.
Smaller updates with bug fixes are inevitably going to be released throughout the year, but it looks as though Android M will follow the same pattern.
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A lot of benefits
You would assume that having a concrete schedule in mind would be a good thing for the Android team at Google. It’s not a rush to push out new features with the decision on when to ship being made as they go. It should improve the chances of a stable release that’s been properly planned and tested, at least in theory. Nexus owners can attest to the potential impact of bugs in new Android versions.
Predictability and stability are big potential pros for developers and OEMs. If they know when a new version is set to land, then they can plan accordingly. Having to guess isn’t ideal, and it can obviously be pretty frustrating. For OEMs it would provide a nice foundation for their own annual flagship releases. Some manufacturers have stuck to big shows, like MWC, others have chopped and changed every year, but a fixed schedule makes it easier to build hype and expectations.
It should also make it easier for developers and OEMs to plan updates. Previews help developers to ensure that their apps and games work with the latest Android version on day one. Manufacturers can theoretically make the necessary tweaks to their UIs, and push new versions over-the-air (OTA) within a predictable timescale. The current situation is a rush. Often by the time the update actually goes out, Google is announcing a new version of Android.
For consumers, a predictable release schedule for new Android versions would be great. As it stands, the fragmentation situation is very frustrating for device owners keen to get their hands on the latest and greatest features. When Google decides to update Android, there’s a wait to see which manufacturers will push it to their devices, and then another wait for the carriers to make their changes before the update can be pushed out OTA. HTC released an interesting infographic about the update process a while back. You can see how a stable timetable and longer gaps between releases might help. Fragmentation isn’t going to be solved by the annual cycle, but it should certainly make things a bit more transparent.
Click for full version
A yearly cycle also means one big exciting release with a new feature list, instead of a stream of smaller updates. It brings a bit more clarity to the divide between versions, and it makes it harder for OEMs and carriers to justify not updating. With fewer updates to deal with, perhaps they’ll start to update devices for longer.
And a few drawbacks
The reason that Google hasn’t had a yearly cycle thus far, is to do with the pace of innovation. More frequent releases provide the opportunity to push out new features and cool functionality as it’s developed. With a yearly cycle we’re going to have to wait a bit longer to get the new goodies.
OEMs feed off each other right now, with the competition pushing them to innovate, and a steady stream of new devices hitting the market year-round. A single annual update model could deflate this constant jockeying for position, and slow innovation further.
Security is an issue. If there’s one improvement you don’t want to wait for, it’s the closing of a vulnerability. Bugs are never intended to be part of a release, but unless Google ups its game in terms of defects in new versions of Android, the wait for a fix could grow longer. Even with a yearly cycle, small updates for security and bugs will surely be inevitable.
Is it the right move?
There’s another compelling reason for Google to switch to the annual cycle that we haven’t mentioned yet. The move to deliver new features within Google apps is clearly underway. We don’t always need a platform update to get more out of Android. Regardless of how you feel about this trend and Google’s motivations for it, there’s little doubt that it’s happening.
It’s also worth remembering that Google is starting to push Android for Work and it wants the platform to challenge for the enterprise. Businesses, IT departments, and enterprise app developers want stability, and expect a stable update schedule. For planning purposes it may be seen as a prerequisite that’s currently harming Android’s credibility.
The Android platform is mature. There’s always room to innovate and improve, but we aren’t seeing vital new features in every update. As Google moves towards the refinement process, it seems to make sense to slow down and reduce the disruption of a faster release cycle. It may be difficult to determine whether it will have any impact on the pace of innovation, when it feels as though innovation is already slowing, but the potential benefits for developers and OEMs will hopefully be felt by end users as well.
Asus announces new limited run Zenfone 2 4GB variant for India
Trying to keep up with all the different variants of the Asus Zenfone 2 has become almost as difficult as understanding Samsung’s Galaxy range. And now to make matters worse, Asus has launched a new 4GB variant especially for India. Fasten your seat belt as we try to understand all the different models available.
The first thing to understand is that not all Zenfone 2 handsets are equal. While other smartphone makers do release variants of a basic design, they tend to distinguish between the mainstream model and the variant with extra monikers like “Plus”, “Active”, or “Mini.” But not so with Asus. OK, it is pretty much an industry standard that you can get the same model phone with different amounts of storage. But Asus have taken this idea three steps further. The company varies the screen, the processor and the amount of RAM across the range!
Due to the overwhelming demand for #Zenfone2 4GB variant, we’re bringing limited stock of ZE551ML.
You can get a Zenfone 2 with a 5 inch display, or one with a 5.5 inch display. And they are both called the Zenfone 2. OK, but all the models with the 5.5 inch display are the same, surely? Well no, actually there are some models with a 720p 5.5 inch display, and then some with a 1080p display.
But if you get a Zenfone 2 with a HD 5.5. inch display then it will be the same as your friends model… Errrrmmm… Nope.
Some of the Full HD Zenfone 2 devices have a 1.83 GHz Intel processor, while others have a 2.33 GHz processor. Until today, the variant with 4GB of RAM used the faster processor, and the one with 2GB of RAM used the slower processor. But that is no longer true.
Asus has announced a new variant for India which includes 4GB of RAM, but the slower 1.83GHz processor. This is what the company said on its Facebook page:
“Due to the overwhelming demand for #Zenfone2 4GB variant, we’re bringing limited stock of ZE551ML / 1.8 GHz Processor / 4 GB RAM / 32 GB Storage priced at Rs.18,999 specially for India.”
Rs.18,999 is about $300. I can recognize a bargain when I see one, and a 5.5 full HD smartphone with 4GB of RAM and 32GB of storage for $300 is a very good price. But make sure you are buying the right Zenfone 2 device, because if you aren’t careful you will end up with the 5 inch, dual-core version!
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If you want the real top-of-the-line Zenfone 2 then you should checkout the variant with 4GB of RAM and 128GB of flash, also be sure to check out our full review.
If you want to buy the Zenfone 2 (model ZE551ML / 1.8 GHz Processor / 4 GB RAM / 32 GB Storage) then it is available from Flipkart.
Move over Apple Watch, Macintosh II emulated on Android Wear
Last year, Corbin Davenport showed off Windows 95 running on a Samsung Gear Live, a confusingly wonderful demonstration of the customization and power of Android Wear smartwatches. If that wasn’t odd enough, Davenport can now completely bewilder onlookers with his Android smartwatch that emulated Apple’s Macintosh II from 1991.
To get it all working Davenport took the Mini vMac II emulator from the Play Store, backed up the APK from his phone and side loaded it onto the watch. From there, it’s a simple case of booting up the desired operating system, which in this case is a System 6 software version from 1991. Although the emulator will support versions as new as 7.5.5 from 1996.
You can see the smartwatch running the emulation in the video below, complete with clumsy touchscreen controls. I wonder what he’ll stick on an Android Wear watch next.
Annoying song stuck in your head? Chew gum
Catchy songs are infectious, so you shouldn’t feel bad if you’ve spent the last six months muttering about being all about that bass. Treatments for this persistent condition normally include either playing the track on a loop until you’re bored of it, listening to anything else or forcing yourself to put it out of your mind. They all work to some degree, but it looks as if researchers at the University of Reading have found a far more successful solution: to chew gum. According to the findings, the best and easiest way to eliminate an earworm is to crack open a pack of Wrigley’s.
The researchers believe that the mental pathways that run to the ear are the ones that hold onto catchy songs. When you start to chew gum, the mechanical action of your jaw disrupts these pathways to wash away the tune. Even better, of course, is that there are several other reported cognitive benefits of chewing, including improved concentration and alertness. Unfortunately, the scientists can’t be sure if the chewing is a specific magic bullet for earworms, or if it’s just sufficiently distracting to help you forget — but if you’d like to try for yourself, grab a pack of sugar-free gum and try to beat these songs out of your subconscious.
Now we move into the harder leagues…
Feeling brave?
[Image Credit: Getty]
Filed under: Home Entertainment, Science
Via: Forbes
Source: Taylor & Francis, Paper (.PDF)
AIVAnet 