Wake up to the smell of money, not farts
If we were rich, we’d pay gourmet baker Richard Bertinet to rouse us every day with the scent of his freshly baked bread. Unfortunately, we’re not, which is why SensorWake’s smell-based alarm clock is such an exciting prospect. Rather than waking users up with the traffic report, the device uses a cartridge of odors to get you out of bed in the morning, from coffee and croissants all the way through to the smell of US dollars.
The project was created by 18-year-old engineering student Guillaume Rolland and was named a “top 15″ invention at last year’s Google Science Fair. Now, the company is taking to Kickstarter to raise cash for an initial production run, with deliveries expected to begin in November. If you’re interested in getting your hands on one of these devices, then early birds can snag one for €60 (around $65), with two capsules of your choice. When a capsule expires, you’ll be able to replace it for $7.50, with each one rated to last roughly two months at a time.
Filed under: Misc
Source: Kickstarter
HTML5 vs Native Android App
A common question asked by mobile app developers is this, ‘Should I build my app with HTML 5, or build native?’. There are a wide range of reasons why you would choose either of these, and the proponents of both have very valid and compelling arguments. With this article, we will explore the various types of app categories, and discuss the pros and cons of both methods.
Definitions
Before we begin, we ought to define the terms, HTML5 app and Native app, to prevent ambiguities, and needless arguments in the comments.
If you intend to develop a graphic intensive game, you almost certainly want to build a native app.
A native app, for the purpose of this article, refers to an application built completely using technologies native to a particular operating system. This could be Android, iOS, Windows, Blackberry, etc. For Android, native apps are typically built using Java, while for iOS, a native app can be built using Objective C or (more recently) Swift.
A HTML5 app, on the other hand, refers to a mobile app built completely using HTML, CSS and Javascript only. HTML5 apps are web apps and they must be run using the underlying OS browser. Note that HTML5 supports offline data as well as rich media, such as audio and video. A well written HTML5 app can be used even when the device is offline, or at the very least, show an error message.
Comparison of HTML5 and Native Apps
Portability
HTML5 apps are portable across different OSes and device types. A HTML5 app written with responsive design methods would also scale appropriately depending on the size of the device it’s currently viewed on. When an update is required, the single app is updated and tested, and is available for all devices immediately.
Native apps, by definition, are unique to each OS, and so, to support multiple mobile OSes, a separate app must be written for each OS. When an update is required, each app must be updated independently, and tested independently. Android apps do not modify the layout to match the size of the device automatically, however, during development, different layouts can be specified for different device/screen sizes and orientations. This usually results in layouts that are more aesthetically pleasing compared to automatic responsive design HTML5 apps, albeit with more effort and planning required.
Winner: HTML5
Cost to develop
HTML5 apps are generally cheaper to develop and maintain than native apps, since just the single app is required for multiple OS support. This single app can be developed by a single web developer. However, native apps for all major mobile OSes would typically require a specialized developer for each OS (Java for Android, Objective C/Swift for iOS, C# for Windows), which would be significantly more expensive than a single web developer.
Winner: HTML5
Speed and Efficiency
Native apps are almost always more efficient, and faster than HTML5 apps. Despite the strides made in increasing the speed of Javascript interpreters, a HTML5 app cannot execute at the same speed as a native app of similar functionality. Apple’s App Store can reject apps for being too slow or not feeling native enough, which is more likely to occur with a HTML5 app than a fully native app.
Winner: Native
Use of Hardware
Native apps can interact with a wide range of the hardware available on a device, including location, camera, accelerometer, speakers, screen and more. HTML5 apps do not have the same ability to interact with the hardware, which can be a major deal breaker, depending on the desired functionality of the app.
Winner: Native
If you need to deliver an app for the lowest cost at the quickest speed on multiple mobile OS types, a HTML5 app is almost always the preferred way to go. However, if your app needs to make use of device specific hardware, or needs to run very fast, you will do better with a native solution.
Hybrid Apps
However, as with most things related to computer, there is more than one solution. There is a third category of apps, called hybrid apps. Hybrid apps are built using on language/framework, and are then wrapped with native specific code for each desired mobile OS. For example, you build an app using HTML5, CSS and Javascript, then generate a wrapper around the app for Android, iOS, and Windows devices. The final product is, to all intents and purposes, a native app for each platform, however, they share a single code base. To the end user, a hybrid app is no different from a native app. Popular hybrid app frameworks include Apache Cordova (formerly PhoneGap), Appcelerator Titanium, Appear IQ, CocconJS and Appzillon among others.
Hybrid apps are not all roses though. There are both pros and cons:
Pros
- Hybrid apps are as portable as HTML5 apps. They allow code reuse across platform, with the framework handling all platform specific differences.
- A hybrid app can be built at virtually the same speed at which a HTML5 app can be built. The underlying technology is the same.
- A hybrid app can be built at almost the same cost as a HTML5 app. However, most frameworks require a license, which adds an extra development cost
- Hybrid apps can be made available and distributed via the relevant app store, just like native apps
- Hybrid apps have greater access to the native hardware resources than plain HTML5 apps, usually through the corresponding framework’s own APIs.
Cons
- Not all native hardware resources are available to hybrid apps. The available functionality depends on the framework used.
- Hybrid apps appear to the end user as native apps, but run significantly slower than native apps. The same restriction on HTML5 apps being rejected for being too slow on Apple’s App Store also apply to hybrid apps. Rendering complex CSS layouts will take longer than rendering a corresponding native layout
- Each framework has it’s own unique idiosyncrasies and ways of doing things that are not necessarily useful outside of the given framework.
While the HTML5 vs native app debate still rages on, it is worth mentioning that there are literally dozens of valid reasons to develop a HTML5, native or hybrid app. However, the most critical question shouldn’t be “What technology should we use to develop?”, but rather “What does the app do?”. The functions the app is intended to perform, when spelled out adequately would often answer what technology is appropriate.
If you intend to develop a graphic intensive game, you almost certainly want to build a native app, in order to give users the fastest and most responsive game play possible.
If you are writing an app for a business that enables executives on the go access company information, you can decide between a hybrid or HTML5 app, especially if your app has no need to use device hardware, and should be available to use on the user’s preferred device.
If you are developing an app that is the core of your business, like Instagram, you might want to build a native app, to provide the best experience for your users, or go hybrid, so that it will be be available to as many users, on as many devices, as possible.
Did we leave anything out? Hit the comments and let us know.
Silk Road creator could spend decades behind bars
Silk Road founder Ross Ulbricht aka Dread Pirate Roberts will be an old man by the time he gets out of prison. The 31-year-old is already expected to serve a minimum of 20 years after being found guilty on seven charges, including money laundering and narcotics trafficking. But the United States Attorney for the Southern District of New York, Preet Bharara, is aiming to get an even lengthier sentence, one “substantially above the mandatory minimum.” In a letter for New York Judge Katherine B. Forrest, Bharara’s office wrote (emphasis ours):
Given the enormous quantities of drugs sold on Silk Road, in combination with other aggravating factors, Ulbricht’s recommended sentence under the United States Sentencing Guidelines is life imprisonment, with a 20-year mandatory minimum due to his conviction for engaging in a continuing criminal enterprise in violation of Title 21, United States Code, Section 848. The Probation Office, too, recommends life imprisonment, finding “no factors that could overcome the severity of the instant offense.” (PSR at 38). As set forth below, in light of the seriousness of the offense and the need for general deterrence, the Government believes that a lengthy sentence, one substantially above the mandatory minimum, is appropriate in this case.
The letter called him the “kingpin of a worldwide digital drug-trafficking enterprise” and revealed that when the feds seized his laptop, he had $18 million in his Bitcoin account from Silk Road commissions. It also brought up the accusations that Ulbricht hired a hitman in at least five instances, paying a total of $650,000 out of his Bitcoin wallet. It doesn’t seem like anybody was actually killed, though, so authorities have yet to prove that he really paid up to get people murdered.
Ulbricht was arrested back in 2013, when feds seized Silk Road, an online marketplace for things you wouldn’t find on eBay and Amazon that you could only access through the Tor browser. Due to its nature, it became a popular destination for drug and gun buyers and sellers, who did transactions primarily with Bitcoins. While it’s true that Ulbricht only served as a middleman of sorts, the US attorney believes he should still be held responsible for making drugs easier to obtain and causing overdoses and addiction. “It does not matter that he did not personally handle those drugs,” Bharara wrote, “neither would a traditional kingpin.”
The defense, on the other hand, is trying to convince the judge to hand down a sentence “substantially below” the 20-year minimum. According to Ulbricht’s lawyer, prosecutors couldn’t tie Silk Road with any incident of overdosing and that dealing drugs on the website was far safer than dealing on the street. He also submitted 100 letters of support for his client, including one from the man himself. In it, Ulbricht said he now realizes his terrible mistake and asks the judge to “please leave [him his] old age.” Judge Forrest will hand down his sentence on Friday, after which his lawyer will likely appeal the case, even though they were already denied a retrial in April.
[Image credit: Getty Images]
Filed under: Misc
Source: The New York Times
Cox is bringing VOD to select TiVo boxes in July
Cox and TiVo have been making noise about joining forces and making the cable provider’s extensive Video-On-Demand catalog available on retail TiVo set-tops for nearly five years now. Following a recent post by ZatzNotFunny, however, Cox confirmed earlier today that the integration will finally be taking place in “early July.” But don’t get excited just yet — the initial rollout will only be available to specific IP-connected customers in Orange County, California.
Specifically, Cox spokesman Todd Smith states that the service will initially be offered to digital TiVo customers who subscribe to Cox’s video digital or “Essential” high-speed internet tiers and higher. The service is expected to continue rolling out nationwide shortly thereafter. TiVo, which recently announced ongoing VOD agreements with both Virgin Media and Vodaphone, is also reportedly working to add Cox VOD support to its Premiere and Roamio set-top models. Those boxes will offer Cox’s VOD in the same manner as other streaming services like Netflix or Amazon Prime.
[Image Credit: Bloomberg via Getty Images]
Filed under: Home Entertainment
Source: MultiChannel
A pretty penny: Huawei Watch could cost around $100 more than its competitors
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The Moto 360 is an obvious first place when it comes to looks in the Android Wear world, but there is a very close second in the Huawei Watch. However, while the Moto 360 is relatively well priced among its competitors, there’s been a very big question mark around the price of Huawei‘s smartwatch after an Amazon listing put a price tag of $1000 next to the Watch. We’re learning today that it’s almost definitely not going to cost a grand, but it’s not going to be that cheap either. According to listings made on retailer MobileFun’s website, the Huawei Watch is going to start at $386.99 USD for the silver and black versions, and stretching up to $451.49 USD for the gold version.
How much can we trust these listings? As always, we have to take it with our usual grain of salt, but these pricings seem the most logical we have seen so far. That said, that would make the Huawei Watch more than $100 more expensive than its Android Wear compatriots – for reference, MobileFun is offering the leather Moto 360 variants for $257.99 USD. That puts the Huawei Watch in direct pricing competition with the LG Watch Urbane, the only other ‘premium’ Android Wear smartwatch, and although it has the advantage in the looks department, we still wonder how much of a market there is for ‘premium’ smartwatches.
What do you think about this pricing for the Huawei Watch? Let us know your thoughts in the comments below.
The post A pretty penny: Huawei Watch could cost around $100 more than its competitors appeared first on AndroidSPIN.
Adult Swim makes virtual reality even weirder
Virtual reality’s notion of strapping a display to your head is already a bit weird by itself, but Adult Swim just took that strangeness to a new level. The network’s Virtual Brainload app for Android invites you to grab a Google Cardboard viewer and experience the “backside of reality” — in short, it’s going to be a kaleidoscopic mind trip. Whether or not you’re up for the audiovisual assault, you can expect more VR content from Adult Swim’s parent, Turner, in the future. The broadcaster says that it’s working on “deeper, custom-created” virtual content that will arrive as soon as this year, so you can expect these VR side projects to become increasingly important in the near future.
Filed under: Cellphones, Wearables, Mobile, Google
Via: Boing Boing
Source: Adult Swim, Google Play
New iOS Bug Crashing iPhones Simply by Receiving a Text Message
A new bug has been discovered in the Messages app, allowing a string of characters sent to a person via iMessage or text message to crash an iPhone and cause the Messages app to fail to open. The bug, which requires a specific string of characters, was first noticed on reddit earlier this afternoon and has been spreading around the Internet since then.
Sending the string of characters to an iPhone results in an immediate respring, causing an iPhone to crash and quickly reboot, and then it prevents the Messages app from being opened again.
If you receive one of these messages, there’s a quick way to fix it. The Messages app appears to be able to be opened to the last conversation where the offending message was sent from, so sending another message (or having a person send you a message) in this conversation clears the bug and returns functionality to normal.
Other fixes include sending yourself a message via Siri or sending yourself a message through the Share feature in the Notes app or any other app if you can’t open the Messages app at all.
Nintendo asks you to pay what you want for indie games
Nintendo’s been going through some serious growing pains on its path to the modern era of console gaming but with this latest step it’s actually beating Microsoft and Sony to the punch for once. The Japanese gaming company is running a Humble Bundle. Not a Nintendo homegrown version of a Humble Bundle, but a real McCoy on Humble’s website. Pretty crazy right? Especially considering these are all indies. Up for grabs are digital codes for games on the 3DS handheld and Wii U alike, including Guacamelee: Super Turbo Championship Edition for the latter and Whoah Dave! for the former.
Those follow Humble’s pay-what-you-want model (so long as it’s at least $1), but if you drop more than the average donation you’ll snag The Fall, OlliOlli and Moon Chronicles Episode 1. Should you feel even more generous, a donation of $10 or more adds Stealth Inc. 2 and SteamWorld Dig to the party. Now, if only Nintendo would jump on this whole mobile gaming fad it’d have its bases covered. Wait…
Filed under: Gaming, Home Entertainment, HD, Nintendo
Source: Humble Bundle
Amazon Fire Phone price drops… again
The Amazon Fire Phone has transitioned from an underwhelming, costly on-contract handset to an alright off-contract choice. The price of the Fire Phone has dropped yet again.
When launched last summer, the Fire Phone lacked an identity. Amazon gave practically no reason to purchase the handset. It was a glorified digital storefront in a phone that had one selling point: four front-facing cameras paired with a gyroscope that to give a 3D-like feel. The other specifications were not too bad, but owners of the Fire Phone would be locked into Amazon’s tight ecosystem. There were no Google services to turn to.
To make it even more difficult to sell, the Fire Phone was way too expensive (and offered only through AT&T).
Starting today, the Fire Phone can be purchased for $179 without a contract or any carrier restriction. This price, which is pretty good for an unlocked handset, also includes a free subscription to Amazon Prime for one year.
Via: Android Police
Come comment on this article: Amazon Fire Phone price drops… again
Skrillex Live Cases now available from the Google Store
Three limited edition cases, all designed by Skrillex, are now available in the Google Store for five handsets.
Owners of the Nexus 6, Nexus 5, Galaxy S6, Galaxy S5, and Galaxy Note 4 can purchase a Skrillex Live Case for $40. The cases have either metallic or matte finishes with special designs on the rear. Pair any one of the cases with the official app and it launches a live wallpaper that provides a 360° experience on the front, back, and sides.
Click here to view the embedded video.
Come comment on this article: Skrillex Live Cases now available from the Google Store
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