Would you want an Android-powered BlackBerry smartphone if it had these specs?
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Qualcomm Snapdragon 808. 3GB RAM. 5.4-inch Quad HD display. 18MP rear camera. I could easily be describing an upcoming Android flagship device, and in some ways I am, but the interesting thing about this particular device is that it’s rumoured to be a Android-powered BlackBerry smartphone. We first heard this rumour only a week ago, and we’ve now been treated to what could be this BlackBerry’s specification list. According to the rumour, this Android-powered Android device is codenamed “Venice” at BlackBerry, and although its spec list looks very Android (and actually pretty impressive), its hardware – which allegedly incorporates a sliding keyboard – screams BlackBerry.
In a lot of ways, an Android-powered BlackBerry device makes a lot of sense for BlackBerry – after all, if you can’t beat them, join them. BlackBerry still has a formidable corporate business presence, and even if they opted for a forked version of Android with all their own furnishings, it could signal a revival for the once great mobile company. We’ll have to see whether that pans out, and whether these rumours are true at all.
What do you think about an Android-powered BlackBerry smartphone? Let us know your thoughts in the comments below.
The post Would you want an Android-powered BlackBerry smartphone if it had these specs? appeared first on AndroidSPIN.
Google, Microsoft join government’s disaster response program
People hit by storms and other disasters need more than food, clothes or shelter in the days following the unfortunate event. They also need access to working internet or cellular networks to find family and friends who (heaven forbid) might be missing or to get in touch with people who might be worried sick about them. Homeland Security’s Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) hopes to supply the need for tech-savvy volunteers who can help out in those situations. That’s why it has launched the Tech Corps program and enlisted the help of several big-name companies in the industry, including Cisco Systems, Google, Intel and Microsoft.
These companies will not only provide volunteers with the skills to carry out tasks the Tech Corps needs to do, but also train others willing to help out. According to FEMA, the Tech Corps will be in charge of setting up temporary networks to bring back internet connectivity and enable telephone and radio communications in disaster areas. Some of the program partners have previous experience helping out in times of need, such as after the earthquakes in Nepal and Haiti, as well as during Hurricane Sandy. Hopefully, this initiative enables them to organize bigger disaster response operations.
According to Senator Ron Wyden, who first proposed the idea:
Tech Corps harnesses a deep well of technical expertise and private-sector manpower to make sure every resource is available immediately when disaster strikes. Information technology is often critical to saving lives, and this program ensures that red tape won’t stand in the way of volunteer experts who can stand up temporary cell networks and Wi-Fi solutions that are so important in disaster areas. I’m hopeful today’s partners are the first of many to sign up to work hand-in-hand with emergency responders to help craft more resilient and effective responses to future disasters.
[Image credit: AFP/Getty Images]
Filed under: Misc, Microsoft, Google
Source: FEMA
Timed exclusive games: Does anybody win?
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We recently found out that Fallout Shelter, recently crowned #1 game on the Apple App Store, would eventually be arriving on Android in a few months. I postulated that it was ridiculous that big developers were still delaying Android games after their iOS counterparts, but I completely forgot the possibility that Fallout Shelter might have timed exclusivity attached to it. Certainly, this isn’t the first time that this has happened, if true, though it often happens the same way: iOS game gets released, Android release comes months later. Which got me thinking about the question – timed exclusive games: Does anybody win?
Whether it’s a monetary bonus that’s offered to the developers, or some other assurance, we’re honestly baffled why this is still a thing. Sure, if you are Microsoft and Sony and you’re still trying to sell your relatively new game console hardware, that makes sense – however, if you are the two most established mobile platforms in the world and hardware is not really a question anymore (besides eking out percentage points of market share every year) and games aren’t a major selling point, it kind of stops making sense.
If you only release your game on one mobile platform, you’re potentially short-changing yourself of immediate profit – it’s not like users are going to flock to the other platform if they don’t release their game on that platform immediately. If you release your product on both platforms at the same time, you’re going to make more money right now. Is the amount of money Apple is offering Bethesda going to offset the loss of sales due to the delayed launch – possibly. However, one thing’s for sure: smartphones and tablets aren’t like game consoles – while they still polarize people, they are considerably more expensive than a game console, which really makes the notion of video game exclusivity on a mobile platform even more moot.
There’s perhaps only one scenario where this practice would make sense – if Apple were pushing the iPhone and iPad as a gaming platform. Is Apple selling Fallout Shelter as an iOS exclusive? No. And even if they were, what difference does it make? – after all, they’re only denying the other platform’s profit by a few months. Keep in mind that I’m not having a go at small development studios that can only afford to develop one game at a time. But when you’re backed by a huge publisher like Bethesda in the case of Fallout Shelter, that’s not really an excuse anymore.
The only reason I can see that either Apple or Google would bother to do something like this is to engage in their (at times) medieval pursuit of dominance over the other, which I think is as disappointing in the 21st century as it is backwards. Nobody wins with time exclusivity, and we’d all be better off without it.
That’s my rant over. What do you think? Let us know your thoughts about timed exclusive games in the comments below.
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Targeted, interactive ads are coming to the Roku platform
Roku and advertising firm Innovid have joined forces to make advertisements on the company’s streaming set-top boxes both more accurate and more entertaining. The new ad format will reportedly allow viewers to do things like play games (using the Roku remote), browse a retailer’s stock and current sales, or even watch extended videos should they wish. Unfortunately, skipping the ads entirely doesn’t appear to be an available option just yet. CBS, VEVO and Crackle have already signed on for the new service. Roku and Innovid actually began implementing this new system just over a month ago, however, it’s only now going live. This news follows a pair of recent announcements from Roku that both Showtime and Nickelodeon are being made available to its users as well.
What’s more, the Innovid pairing will also allow advertisers to better target their desired audiences based on the user’s location and, as Techcrunch describes, “by tracking information collected on devices running on a household’s Wi-Fi network using traditional means.” Because that doesn’t sound the least bit intrusive. Nope, not one bit.
Filed under: Internet
Via: TechCrunch
Source: Brightroll
YouTube’s multi-angle video meets Boeing’s acrobatic 787 flight
At the Paris Air Show earlier this week, Boeing showed off a few of its 787-9 Dreamliner’s tricks, including a near vertical takeoff. This new YouTube video shows the flight demo from several angles: one has the fuel-efficient plane in full view, another gives you the chance to watch what went on inside the cockpit and the last one shows the flight from the plane’s perspective. YouTube launched multiple camera angles as an experimental feature earlier this year, making the option available to select users. It uses an algorithm that syncs all the angles as you play the video, and you only have to either click on any of them or press their respective numbers on the keyboard to switch views.
The transitions were pretty smooth during our tests, so long as you allow the video to load a bit first before hitting play. However, the feature’s only accessible from computers, doesn’t work on mobile devices yet and isn’t ready to be embedded (you can see the regular vid below, but click here for the multi-angle version). Couldn’t care less about planes? Jamie Oliver’s Food Tube also has a Choose Your View video, if you’d rather learn how to cook beer-battered corn dogs like a pro.
https://www.youtube-nocookie.com/embed/KYbM-3E11Qo?rel=0
Source: YouTube
Redditor gives us an adorable reason why Android M should be Android Marshmellow
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Every year, around this time, we’re often pondering what dessert Google is going to name their next version of Android after. This year with Android M, we’ve had great suggestions like Milkshake, Mint and Milk Chocolate, but one Redditor has put his 2 cents in about why he thinks it should be called Android Marshmellow. CaptGarfield provided the following image he created to illustrate his point of view and his argument is… well, adorable.
In the style of Stay Puft Marshmellow Man from Ghostbusters, you can almost see a life-size version of this marshmellow Andy sitting on the Google HQ front lawn. Too bad that licensing and trademarks would make this a minefield for Google to navigate and get the rights to, but it’s always nice to imagine. What do you think Android M should be? Do you like Android Marshmellow? Let us know your thoughts in the comments below.
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AirDroid update brings quick reply feature to notifications for Telegram and Kik
AirDroid is a fantastic app for remotely managing your device across your WiFi network, and it’s just received a handy new update that should speed up your social media conversations.
The last AirDroid update allowed users to quick reply to pop-up notifications from both WhatsApp and Facebook Messenger messages, all without ever actually touching a phone. The newest update expands on that functionality, bringing Kik and Telegram into the fold. Any message notifications you get from either of those two apps will give you the option to reply from your PC or Mac as soon as you receive them.
Hopefully this update means AirDroid will continue adding quick reply features to more and more messaging apps in the future.
source: XDA Developers
Come comment on this article: AirDroid update brings quick reply feature to notifications for Telegram and Kik
Neutrinos may not be faster than light, but they can shapeshift
About four years ago, CERN made a claim that sent shockwaves through the scientific community. During the course of an experiment, CERN scientists apparently discovered that neutrinos — tiny subatomic particles that travel near light speed — could possibly accelerate faster than light. That, however, turned out to be an error, apparently due to some faulty testing equipment [Sad trombone]. Why are we talking about this now? Well, scientists have finally completed the experiment’s original goal, which was to see if neutrinos could shift from one type to another (also known as the Oscillation Project with Emulation-tRacking Apparatus (OPERA) experiment). And, well, they can. Between 2008 and 2012, researchers were able to shoot a beam of “muon” type neutrinos through the Earth — traveling a 730 kilometer distance from CERN in Geneva, Switzerland to the Gran Sasso lab in Italy — and found that they had metamorphosed into “tau” type neutrinos on the other side. Just recently, the team uncovered the fifth such “tau” neutrino, thus concluding the experiment. While the study’s result won’t spoil Einstein’s theory of relativity, the discovery is still an important step forward in the world of particle physics.
[Image credit: AFP/Getty Images]
Filed under: Science
T-Mobile offers more hotspot data for Unlimited subscribers
Everyone loves free data right? Well T-Mobile has a little treat for those customers who are currently under their Unlimited Data plans. Normally, those who have the Unlimited Data plans have 5GB of data to tether your various devices. However, today, T-Mobile announced that users would gain an additional 2GB of tethering data per month.
This isn’t earth-shattering news, however, it’s definitely nice to see one of the carriers throwing some extra incentives at their customers. Gestures like this are definitely hard to come by without any type of catch. And no, don’t worry, there’s no catch. If you’re already subscribed to one of the unlimited data plans, the 2GB of data will automatically be added to your account so you can tether away.
Just don’t think you can start using your device as a hotspot to play Xbox yet.
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Samsung Galaxy S6 receives Material Design theme
Were you one of the many people that rushed to procure a shiny new Samsung Galaxy S6 because you needed to have the next big thing? Or maybe you just wanted a new device and the Samsung Galaxy S6 seemed like the natural choice since everyone either has an iPhone (eww) or a Galaxy device. Whatever the case, you are now the proud owner of a Samsung Galaxy S6 device and with that comes the obligation to use TouchWiz.
While it is definitely one of the better OEM skins on the market, it still takes away from the awesome, natural look that stock Android has to offer. Thankfully one of the cool new features that are present on the Samsung Galaxy S6 is the ability to change themes without having to download any third-party software or having to root your device. Pair that ability with the recently approved Material Design theme by XDA cambunch and you have something to be excited about. Keeping in line with a stock Android experience, the Material Design theme will almost completely remove every aspect of TouchWiz on your Samsung Galaxy S6 and replace it with Googles latest theme guidelines.
“Material Design is meant to mimic the stock Google ROMs where available, and the official GApps elsewhere. “
The theme comes in two versions, a dark and light version and will be available in two weeks time, the normal amount of time that it takes Samsung to publish approved themes on their Theme Store. If you are feeling impatient and have rooted your Samsung Galaxy S6, then you can follow these instructions to go ahead and get the theme now. While not everyone is a huge of Google’s latest design guidelines, I think that we can all agree that TouchWiz is not the best when it comes to visual design and at least this Material Theme will give users something different to try out for a few weeks.
Source
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