Google+ launches Collections, a Pinterest-style sharing board
The new Collections tab on Google+ offers a way to organize and share your interests with other people on the network, a la the mother of all cutesy-sharing sites, Pinterest. You’re able to create a customized Collection about anything that you like (suggestions: Hello Kitty accessories, Harry Potter spells, summer books, League of Legends champions), complete with photos, videos, links and commentary. Fellow Google+ users are able to follow any Collection set to “public,” or you can start a private Collection and keep all of those adorable Hello Kitty backpacks and phone cases to yourself. The Collections feature is live for many users right now, and you should be able to find it in the dropdown tab on the left side of your very own Google+ page.
Filed under: Gaming, HD, Microsoft
Source: Google+ Collections
Microsoft Updates Windows 10 Emoji to Resemble Apple’s Collection [iOS Blog]
Microsoft has included several redesigned emoji in Windows 10 that resemble Apple’s emoji found on iPhone, iPad and Mac, including a wide range of faces and even the “sassy” information desk person (via Emojipedia). The update also includes skin tone modifiers, the middle finger, a new haircut emoji and more, although country flags are still not supported on the upcoming operating system.
Windows 10 is currently available in beta for developers and is expected to be released to the public in July. The latest version of Windows will deliver a unified experience and platform integration that will make it easy to put one device down and continue where you left off on another device. The software update will be free for Windows 8.1 and Windows 7 users for the first year.
Many emoji character sets have been incorporated into Unicode, resulting in the icons being standardized across multiple platforms such as iOS, Android, OS X and Windows. The exact appearance of emojis is then left up to companies like Apple, Microsoft, Google and Twitter to decide. In this case, Microsoft’s redesigned emoji and the addition of skin tone modifiers is more uniform with Apple’s collection.
GE to Create Intelligent LED Lightbulbs Compatible with Apple HomeKit
GE today announced plans to take advantage of Apple’s HomeKit platform, creating intelligent, color-charging LED lightbulbs that will interface with iOS devices. GE’s HomeKit-compatible LED lightbulbs will include GE’s Align technology, which aims to improve sleep through controlling blue light output at critical times.
During the day, the Align technology is able to mimic daylight to suppress the production of melatonin for a more awake feeling, adding bright blue tones to white light, and at night, blue light is reduced to promote melatonin production and avoid disrupting circadian sleep rhythms.
“As we continue to grow our infrastructure business by connecting our brilliant industrial machines to the Internet, it is important that consumers experience connected things in easy-to-use, everyday ways. Lighting is how many first experiment with the idea of a smart home, and our insights show that consumers want the ability to control lighting from anywhere, automate lighting and pair lighting with other devices–like sensors, thermostats and door locks,” says Comstock. “We’re excited to announce our support for HomeKit as it will bring a seamless, intuitive user experience using Siri and superior quality of light from America’s most trusted lighting brand for more than a century.”
HomeKit is Apple’s home control platform that will allow Apple devices to control various connected smart home products like lightbulbs, garage doors, locks, fans, thermostats, power outlets, and more. Users will be able to give Siri commands to perform actions that will control physical objects, such as “shut off the lights” or “close the garage,” with the Apple TV serving as a home automation hub.
Through HomeKit, the GE bulbs will integrate with other HomeKit-connected devices and will be able to be controlled by voice using Siri. Lightbulbs will be available for individual control and can also be organized into groups for room-wide lighting scenes.
GE’s upcoming lighting project will be a direct competitor to the Philips hue line of lights, which also allow consumers to choose lighting colors based on mood and control lights with their iOS devices. Philips is also one of Apple’s HomeKit partners and plans to have its hue lighting system integrate with HomeKit.
Apple’s HomeKit hardware specifications were finalized in October of 2014, further paving the way for the first HomeKit devices to come to market. In January, Apple said it was “excited” about the growing number of partners bringing HomeKit products to market. Some of those upcoming products include the iDevices smart plug, Elgato’s range of connected home devices, and the Schlage Sense smart lock.
We still don’t know when HomeKit-enabled devices will be widely available for purchase, but GE says that its lightbulbs will be available later in 2015.
Plastic variant of HTC One M9+ spotted
Recently spotted in the TENAA certification database, China’s equivalent of the FCC, a new device from HTC appears to be a plastic version of the HTC One M9+. The HTC One M9+ is a slightly larger and more powerful version of the HTC One M9. Inexplicably, HTC only makes the bigger device available in Asian market despite interest from Western market buyers. The device that was spotted in TENAA carried the model name “M9e” and it is unclear where it may land.
According to the documents that are available, the HTC One M9e mirrors the HTC One M9+ hardware and specs with only a couple exceptions. The new device does not have HTC’s duo camera setup and it is unclear as to whether it has a built-in IR blaster.
Being constructed with plastic rather than metal means HTC will likely price the phone at a more affordable price than their top-tier devices even though it should mostly match flagship class devices in terms of performance. There is still the ever present question of whether it can escape Asian markets and offer an alternative for buyers in Western markets who want a bigger device from HTC than what is currently offered without sacrificing performance.
Come comment on this article: Plastic variant of HTC One M9+ spotted
Smartphone Camera Shootout: Samsung Galaxy S6 vs LG G4
Reviews of the Samsung Galaxy S6 and Galaxy S6 Edge have been pretty positive with the camera being a standout feature. However, last week LG announced their newest flagship, the G4, and they feel they might have one-upped Samsung. The Galaxy S6 and Edge sport an industry first f/1.9 aperture, giving them tremendous results in low light. It hasn’t even been a month and now LG has trumped Samsung by giving the G4’s camera an aperture of f/1.8. It might not sound like much of a difference to you, but LG believes it is. On top of that, they threw in auto laser focus, and OIS 2.0, which gives you a 3rd axis for even better image stabilization.
Android users have been craving for smartphones that sport cameras that can get the job done, so it’s nice to see both LG and Samsung pushing the envelope here. Is there a clear winner? Did LG trump Samsung?
I have spent a decent amount of time with both the G4 and the Galaxy S6 Edge this past weekend capturing photos to see how each one fairs. I am not only looking for great photos, but I wanted to see how each device did with detail, so you will find cropped examples as well.
Before we begin, I should note that all photos were taken in Auto mode, so I did not tweak any controls whatsoever. This is how most people will capture photos. All photos came in at 5312 x 2988 or 16 MP
Let’s start with this baseball on my garage floor. I took both of these photos from about waist high. Below are the originals, followed by cropped versions of both photos (1350 x 759)
Original (5312 x 2988) Click on images for full resolution version
Galaxy S6 Edge LG G4
Cropped (1350 x 759) Click on images for full resolution version
As you can see, the LG images are brighter, but the Galaxy S6 Edge’s images are more color accurate. I also think the Galaxy S6 Edge captured more detail on the garage floor in the cropped image. On the other hand, the writing on the ball is clearer on the cropped picture from the G4.
Next up is an image of a creek at dusk, and again, followed by cropped mages
Original (5312 x 2988) Click on images for full resolution version
Galaxy S6 Edge LG G4
Cropped (1350 x 759) Click on images for full resolution version
Again, the G4’s image is a little brighter, but if you take a look at the cropped images, the Galaxy S6 Edge has more detail on the rocks.
Now we have a picture of a “No Outlet” sign after sunset when it’s just about dark.
Original (5312 x 2988) Click on images for full resolution version
Galaxy S6 Edge LG G4
Cropped (1350 x 759) Click on images for full resolution version
Once again, the G4’s image is brighter. The sign, which is the focal point, isn’t all that much better though. Cropping an image like this seems futile at best, but it does give us some information. The G4 has a lot more noise, and the lights on the light posts are a little cleaner on the Galaxy S6 Edge.
Here are some more photos in which I didn’t do any crop tests. The ones with the clouds, especially the sunset, are hard to compare since they moved slightly from image to image. Note: The G4 used HDR to capture the first picture with the clouds. The last two images are closeups, not crops.
Original (5312 x 2988) Click on images for full resolution version
Galaxy S6 Edge LG G4
Conclusion
You can clearly see the f/1.8 aperture of the G4 captures more light than the f/1.9 aperture, but the Galaxy S6 seems to capture more detail. I’m not sure you can pick a clear winner because all photos are remarkable, but if you’re a photography enthusiast, the G4 might be the better pick since it offers the ability to capture Raw (DNG) images and there are more controls in Manual mode vs Samsung’s Pro mode, For example, you can adjust the shutter speed on the G4, but you can’t on the Galaxy S6 or Galaxy S6 Edge. Even the ISO setting is limited to 800 on the Galaxy S6 and Edge, whereas the G4 allows you to dial it up to 2700. So if you know what you’re doing, you can definitely capture better photos on the G4, but t the average person will more than likely be ecstatic with the performance of either phone.
What do you think of the photos? Let me know in the comments.
Come comment on this article: Smartphone Camera Shootout: Samsung Galaxy S6 vs LG G4
Get alerted when Star Wars: Episode VII tickets go on sale
While it may not be directly OS related, you better believe we’re going to sprinkle in a bit of news from the universe that has so much tied to the (an)Droid namesake. Today’s release of 6 new photos from Vanity Fair has revealed new characters, creatures and crew from The Force Awakens and has ignited a fury among fans across the world.
Abrams has consistently delivered thus far and fans are clamoring for more. The anticipation for this film is reaching a feverish pitch and you will NOT want to be left outside holding your light-saber when opening night rolls around. You can use the force (of your Android device) to sign up for a mobile alert from Fandango that will let you be among the first to know when tickets are available. It’s a quick and easy insurance policy to make sure your seat is claimed when history is made on December, 18th.
Sign up for your alert or grab a giftcard and give the gift of what’s sure to be an epic Jedi showdown.
The post Get alerted when Star Wars: Episode VII tickets go on sale appeared first on AndroidGuys.
ASUS ZenFone 2 with 4GB RAM and 64GB of storage will cost just $337 for one day only
ASUS launched the original ZenFone series back at CES 2014, and many would say that’s when the company became a big player in the smartphone market. The original device offered up great specifications at a super affordable price point, and the new ZenFone 2 is no different. We already know that the 2GB of RAM variant of the ZenFone 2 is being offered in various markets for around $200 to $300, and the 4GB variant will cost around $450 in many regions. However, for one day only, you’ll be able to score the higher-end model for a much cheaper price tag.
More on the ZenFone 2
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Online retailer AliExpress is selling the ZenFone 2 (ZE551ML) with 4GB of RAM and 64GB of internal storage for just $336.99 on Thursday, May 7th. The promotion only lasts for 24 hours, and after that the price will jump back up to the normal $449.32 price tag.
For those who need a refresher, the model with 4GB of RAM comes with a 5.5-inch full HD display, a 2.3GHz quad-core Intel Atom Z3580 processor, a PowerVR G6430 GPU, 64GB of on-board storage, MicroSD expansion up to 64GB, a non-removable 3000mAh battery and a powerful 13MP rear-facing camera. Despite a few software mishaps, the ZenFone 2 brings a lot to the table. Check out our full review to learn more about this handset.
For those of you on the fence about the ZenFone 2, you probably won’t be able to find the device any cheaper than $336.99 in the near future. If you’re interested in the promotion, head to the source link below.
Microsoft Office 2016 Public Preview is now available
Office 2016 may still be getting the finish touches in Redmond, but Microsoft is opening up its productivity suite for public preview. If you’ll recall, some apps were included in previous releases of the Windows 10 Technical Preview and made available for both IT folks and devs. As of today, though, regular folks can get an early look and offer feedback on all the new stuff — including those redesigned universal apps. This means that you’ll gain access to OneDrive attachments in Outlook, real-time co-authoring and retooled applications that learn how you work to lend a hand. Specifically in Excel, there are updated charts and graphs alongside one-click forecasting and more data analyzing tools. Looking to take it for a spin before the official release this fall? Even if you’re not an Office 365 subscriber, you can nab a trial version right here.
Filed under: Software, Microsoft
Source: Microsoft (1), (2)
Creator of the Roomba robotic cleaner is making a drone
Over the next few years, the market for consumer-facing drones is going to continue growing. And, as they say, the more the merrier. Enter CyPhy LVL 1, a sleek drone brought to you by the co-designer of the Roomba, iRobot’s renowned robotic vacuum cleaner, Helen Greiner. She’s now the CEO of CyPhy Works, which is a company that focuses on creating aerial robots — albeit not for hobbyists. But that’s about to change soon with its CyPhy LVL 1. Launched via Kickstarter, it is said to be the first drone for everyone, from young kids to old people, featuring a smartphone-based, swipe-to-fly remote interface, instant sharing of captured footage to social networks and geo-fencing.
CyPhy Works points out that the LVL 1 is different from other drones thanks to its Level-Up technology, which keeps it from tilting mid-air and, as a result, should make the flying experience rather simple for anyone to learn. Those of you interested will need to make a minimum pledge of $495 (it was $395 for early birds) — and if the campaign meets its $250,000 goal, the CyPhy LVL 1 could be showing up at your doorstep next February. Keyword: could. Don’t forget this is Kickstarter, after all.
Filed under: Misc, Robots, Transportation
Via: Fast Company
Source: Kickstarter
Samsung wants to emulate Stark Industries with movie tie-ins
In Korea, the new Hollywood blockbuster Avengers: Age of Ultron from Marvel has some unexpected fans in executives from Samsung Electronics. The company is so excited about the film that they collaborated with Marvel on future tech for the Avenger’s team and have plans to release an Iron Man themed version of the Samsung Galaxy S6 edge.
According to Samsung chief executive, Shin Jong-kyun, Samsung hopes to follow in the steps of fictional Stark Industries by becoming a leader in cutting edge tech. As an example of this, Shin poses the question, “did you see the device with the transparent display?” in reference to Tony Stark’s smartphone in the movie. Shin did not elaborate on whether the prop could become an actual product, but he sure sounded like he wants to see the company pursue the idea.
In addition to the transparent smartphone, Samsung also supplied smart watches and wireless earpieces that the Avengers used in the movie.
Joining Shin for a screening of Avengers: Age of Ultron was Lee Young-hee, executive vice president of Samsung’s mobile division. Lee confirmed, “Samsung is prepping up to rollout the Iron Man edition of the S6 Edge, which will be in red” late this month or early next month. No word on whether other characters will get their own tie-ins, like a Hulk inspired Galaxy Note Edge.
On a more serious note, Shin noted that sales of the new Galaxy S6 and Galaxy S6 edge are “basking in a more positive market” in response to concerns about sales not meeting expectations. Shin also noted that the company has improved their capacity to produce the Galaxy S6 edge display to meet demand.
source: The Korea Herald
Come comment on this article: Samsung wants to emulate Stark Industries with movie tie-ins
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