Scientists beam power to a fitness tracker via WiFi
Wireless electricity transmission sounds… dangerous, but the ability to do it could transform the internet of things. Researchers from the University of Washington have charged a JawBone UP24 fitness tracker with nothing but ordinary WiFi. They noticed that regular, ambient WiFi was strong enough to power a variety of tiny devices, but only in micro-bursts. So, they inserted “noise” into the signals to keep the power levels steady without disrupting data transmission. Using the technique, which they dubbed “PoWi-Fi” (we vote for just “Pow-Fi”) they ran a low-power surveillance camera and temperature sensor from up to 6 meters (20 feet) away from the WiFi antenna.
Not content with that, the team ratcheted up the experiments. They found that by adding a rechargeable battery, the same camera could be powered from up to 7 meters (23 feet) away, even through a brick wall. They then tested the setup in six homes and found that the modified routers had no impact on data rates in the real world. Finally, they charged a Jawbone UP24 sports tracker via PoWi-Fi to 41 percent in just two-and-a-half hours.
It’s still early days, and more tests need to be done. But if you’ve ever changed the battery in a wireless remote camera or climate sensor, you might be able to smell the potential. If you could power those devices from a regular WiFi router instead, it could transform the internet of things into much cheaper and more usable idea.
Filed under: Wireless, Science
Via: BBC
Source: Cornell University Library
The one-cable future of gadgets: simpler, but still confusing
For such a quiet tech show, this week’s Computex in Taiwan may have been a watermark moment that will affect nearly every PC, phone and tablet you’ll see in the next few years, if not decade. The new USB Type-C port may have debuted on flagship devices like Apple’s single-port new Macbook and Google’s Chromebook Pixel, but the new, smaller, reversible kind of USB is shaping up to be the connector of the future. This week ASUS joined the USB-C party, and in a reassuring vote of confidence, Intel announced that its newest iteration of Thunderbolt will take the same shape. Thunderbolt 3.0 will, at a minimum, double the data speed found on USB-C cables. It might not work wirelessly just yet, but the single-cable future is coming. However, change isn’t always easy.
Other than a standard headphone jack, the new MacBook has just one USB-C port.
Sure, tech companies adopting yet another kind of port doesn’t send shivers down your spine. But what USB-C can do is worth getting at least a little excited about: a single wire that delivers data, power and display signal all at the same time. It’s all done through a connector that’s roughly a third of the size of the decades-old USB port you’re used to. It’s also reversible, and because power can flow both ways, the host device (say a laptop) can both charge other gadgets or be charged by them.
In short, connecting and charging nearly any gadget is about to get real simple. Like the mid-’90s introduction of USB, which effectively removed serial and parallel ports from the back of PCs and laptops, USB-C could do the same for all things in mobile computing, but to an even larger extent, replacing cables for power, data and video.
Thunderbolt 3: looks like USB-C, but better in a few ways.
But nothing’s ever that simple and not all USB-C is created equal. In fact, USB-C is really only the physical shape of the port and connector. The extent to what the cable can do depends on the hardware you’re connecting it to, and what version of USB it’s using. There are already USB-C devices (like Nokia’s N1 tablet) with “only” USB 2.0 capabilities. Then there’s Apple’s new MacBook and the latest Chromebook Pixel, which use USB 3.1 Gen 1 spec, with data speeds up to 5 Gbps. This part alone is confusing because the first-generation USB 3.1 specification is pretty much exactly the same as USB 3.0. (Ars Technica sums up the confusion well here.) Finally, there’s the full 10 Gbps data-slinging power of second-gen USB 3.1, which will arrive on next-generation machines. Just because it has the tiny USB-C port on the end, it doesn’t mean it’ll be able to charge the device you’re plugging it into, or offer the highest data speeds. There’s a danger that manufacturers could very easily mislead buyers.
When Intel set out to design Thunderbolt 3, it wanted both double the data rate of Thunderbolt 2, while also settling on a smaller form factor. USB-C fit the bill. Better still, it already housed space for “alternate mode.” This is where companies are able to transmit other things besides data and power, making it ideal for the additional tricks Thunderbolt could bring. In short, Intel already had a winner in USB-C; there was no need attempt to create another type of cable.
If you’re doing a lot of data-based heavy lifting, Thunderbolt has usually made sense.
But while Intel’s new Thunderbolt 3 will have a USB-C connector, those accessories and cables won’t work on the existing 12-inch MacBook or the Chromebook Pixel. The chipmaker also has two different types of Thunderbolt 3 cables incoming: a passive one that’ll be cheaper than Thunderbolt cables of past, yet will still offer double the maximum speed of USB 3.1, and an “active” cable that includes signal-boosting chips to double (again) data rates. Even checking to see if a cable does or doesn’t have a lightning bolt emblazoned on it won’t make everything clear.
Isn’t Intel adding to the confusion? “We also think there needs to be identification across these (different kinds of USB-C cables) in general,” explained Intel’s head of Thunderbolt marketing, Jason Ziller. ‘We’re also considering a secondary identifier for our active cables.”
USB-C sockets may not replace everything, however. The original USB port can deliver everything included in the USB 3.1 specification. In TVs, desktops and other devices, where size and reversibility are less of an issue, there’s arguably less impetus to change to USB-C. Also, sometimes smaller isn’t better. MHL President Rob Tobias explained to me that the newer USB-C ports simply aren’t as easy to plug in — when reaching around the back of a TV, an HDMI or older USB port is far easier to find by feel than a less-than-thumbnail-sized USB-C socket.
“The port could be everything to everybody.”
It makes good business sense for Intel to unite around a common standard, if only because of production scale. Apple may have a history of proprietary cables and ports, yet it’s also fallen in love with the slender USB-C form factor. Intel’s Kirk Skaugen mentioned in his Computex keynote that there are around 30 PC designs incoming with Thunderbolt 3 — and that’s not counting devices that merely feature standard USB-C ports. Then there are the smartphones already packing the new USB port in China — expect to see plenty more of those as well. As Intel’s Ziller noted: “The port could be everything to everybody. It has the superset.”
Filed under: Cellphones, Desktops, Displays, Gaming, Laptops, Tablets, HD, Mobile, Intel
Samsung Galaxy J7 specifications confirmed
A few months back, there were rumors about Samsung making additions in its mid-range portfolio. Samsung is now all set to bring two new additions to its Galaxy J series family. We had already seen the Galaxy J1, now it’s the brand new Galaxy J7. The specifications of the Galaxy J7 has been confirmed by a pre-order listed on a Russian retailer’s website.
The J7 supports a 5.5 inch 720p HD screen resulting in a screen density of 267ppi. The phone is said to be running on an octa-core Marvel PXA1936 SoC, a 1.5GB of RAM and a total of 16GB onboard storage which can be further expanded by a micro-SD card. The phone is slated to have the latest version of Android i.e Android Lollipop with the same version of TouchWiz as Galaxy S6. The phone is also said to have a 3000 mAh battery and Dual-Sim support.
The specifications of the phone itself paint quite a picture that it’s going to be a mid-range phone and going to compete with the Moto g and other mid-ranged phones. There is still no word on official announcement and pricing. But we all know Samsung and how the company prices its smartphone during its initial days.
The post Samsung Galaxy J7 specifications confirmed appeared first on AndroidGuys.
Kabam announces Star Wars: Uprising for this fall
New game will take place in aftermath of Return of the Jedi
Ever wondered what happened in the Star Wars universe after the events of 1983’s Return of the Jedi. Well, for some of us, we read books like The Courtship of Princess Leia or the Timothy Zahn series. But, given that’s not considered official canon now, we all have unanswered questions.
Kabam, in collaboration with Disney and Lucasfilm, has announced a new game for release later this fall which addresses the time after the Empire was defeated. In fact, this game will be a companion piece that fills in the blanks between ROTJ and the forthcoming Star Wars: The Force Awakens.
“Star Wars: Uprising will allow players to create their own unique character, go on missions, and build their gear and skills, while amassing a powerful crew and cartel to join in large-scale sector-wide battles that dictate the future of the game universe.“
According to the press release we received, SW: Uprising be a role playing game with unique and individually created characters.
With familiar locations such as Cloud City and Hoth, you’ll be tasked with collecting “iconic” gear and learning hundreds of abilities. What will you be? A Rebel Geurilla? Bounty Hunter? Something else?
If you are interested in checking things out, or signing up for more details, there’s already a page set up for you. We understand there will be a beta release made available in the next few weeks, too.
The post Kabam announces Star Wars: Uprising for this fall appeared first on AndroidGuys.
RAWtronics 7-Port USB Hub, $29
Need more power? Boost your PC’s connectivity with this 7-port USB hub from RAWtronics and save 39%. AndroidGuys readers can grab this travel-sized hub for just $29.
See more at deals.androidguys.com
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HTC shaves $50 off Re Camera; save 50% on accessories with limited time offer
Limited time deal sees the camera discounted for dads and grads. Also, buy three accessories and save huge
HTC, for a limited time, is taking $50 off its Re Camera as part of a promotion for Father’s Day and graduation gifts. As part of its Hot Deals, the HTC Re Camera can be picked up for $150 instead of the normal $200. That’s quite a percentage off to be sure. But it gets better.
If you purchase three accessories at one time through HTC you can grab them for half price. Indeed, that’s 50% off the entire purchase. With plenty of options to choose from you’ll find something for your HTC smartphone or tablet. Examples include a Dot View case, Battery Bar, and Dual Port Car Charger. Mix and match and save!
Also worth noting, HTCis offering 50% off HTC Print Studio card packs. Simply add promo code DAD at checkout and you’ll save 50% on your order.
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Cyanogen’s email client Boxer gains material design in new update
There seems to be a never-ending quest to solve mobile email problems. The Boxer team a popular alternative to Android’s’ Gmail app believes they have “A Better Inbox”
The integration of Google’s Material Design UI into the email client is the biggest update since its launch back in September. The redesign and app enhancements aim to provide an enriched mobile experience.
Boxer is noteworthy for being the default email client for CyanogenOs. Cyanogen has gone on record and has been extremely vocal about their intent to take Android from Google. The war has started it will be interesting to say the least. I am eager to see what unfolds and what Boxer and Cyanogen’s partnership can really bring to the email client space.
The previous version of Boxer was well designed and looked professional. Although Boxer v2.2 has been rebuilt from the ground up and immersed nicely and genuinely feels as if it’s part of the Android ecosystem instead of just being dropped onto it.
Not to dwell on just the beauty enhancements there has been more changes than meets the eye. Going under the hood this update features improvements to the overall app speed, faster mail searching on Gmail accounts, the addition to be able to create new folders/labels and improvements made to battery usage.
Also a new floating action button, full height navigation drawer, color and style updates in the toolbar and status bar, circular avatars, and a new set of icons. It looks as if taking its time to update allowed Boxer to create a beautiful sleek application.
Cyanogen users will be affected by this update as well. With the partnership, Boxer will be capable of pushing out faster features, designs, and updates more often. In the coming weeks, this update will be shipping out Over The Air (OTA) to Cyanogen devices.
With the overwhelming amount of email clients available in the Google Play Store, the Material Design allows Boxer to be fluid yet familiar. Navigating from inbox account to inbox account is pleasurable. Although after switching to Boxer fully on my Samsung Galaxy Tab pro and Note 4 I couldn’t wait to switch back to Gmail and Inbox.
After using Boxer, I was reminded of a pretty toy that looks great but you should never play with. As a business or productivity tool, I didn’t feel very productive using the application. I closed the application multiple times to see if that would change it didn’t. Boxers interface was just very slow and sluggish. I began to get confused when looking at the combined tab or regular email tab. Creating a folder/label needs to be simplified tremendously. You have to first click on an email then this retro boxy menu appears you click label then another menu appears. Once you get the option to create a label it gets confusing again next to it you have a check mark and an ok option. New folder/label creation was not cohesive at all. Can I get an easily accessible add new label button here, please? Needing to check emails and reply quickly to time sensitive content Boxer is inadequate as my daily email client.
For those of you who like choices and enjoy customizing your app experience not wanting to settle for what comes preinstalled with your device give Boxer a try. Business professionals and individuals who have multiple email accounts that have images, documents, and other content heavy emails. Boxers inability to quickly handle the content will mostly like be more of a hindrance than a productive tool for you.
Material Design gave Boxer a new polished look and feel and with version 2.2 it’s more of a legitimate contender. Gmail the big dogs looking down for now are still safe as the leader of the pack. Although if Boxer keeps its core identity giving the user cool customization features and can find a way to speed up the clunky interface we could soon see a changing of the guard.
If you’re interested in the full Change-log for Boxer you hit the jackpot below:
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5 Android apps you shouldn’t miss this week! – Android Apps Weekly
Sponsored by: Blood Brothers 2
[Price: Free with in-app purchases]
Blood Brothers 2 is a strategy RPG game that has you recruiting commanders and using their armies to do battle against opponents. Each one has a class such as archer, cavalry, or infantry and you use those to gain the advantage. The game also includes free daily commander recruiting, a PvP arena where you can do battle against live opponents, and guilds that allow you to grow your skills, get bonuses, and play as a team. It’s free to play so there’s no harm in trying it out and you’d be showing your support for Android Apps Weekly. Who knows, you might even like it.
Welcome back to a special edition of the Android Apps Weekly show! This week we’re going to run down a bunch of app-related stuff from Google I/O 2015 and talk about some other news! Let’s get started:
- Google I/O was a huge deal in the world of apps. Let’s talk about that first. One of the first announcements was of Chrome Custom Tabs which will allow developers to add Chrome Browser directly into their apps to help get rid of those terrible built-in web browsers in apps like Twitter or Facebook.
- A new app permission system will allow you to grant access or deny application permissions when the app asks for it and you’ll be able to turn off app permissions in the Settings. Of course, this will all be in Android M.
- Starting in Android M, developers will be able to use native Android fingerprint scanner support in apps. This will allow you to do things like log in with your finger or, in conjunction with Android Pay, let you pay for stuff in apps and in the Google Play Store. Oh by the way, Android Pay is totally happening.
- Also included in Android M is a new way to backup applications that will backup everything so you’ll be able to just download the app and have your data already on your device for it.
- Inbox by Gmail no longer requires an invite. Hooray! It will also be getting new features including undo sent emails, swipe to delete, and more!
- Google Now on Tap is a new implementation of Google Now that’ll gauge what’s going on with your screen and give you suggestions on what to do with that information. It will also allow for app indexing soon to work better with other Android apps.
- Google Maps will finally be getting improved offline maps support by the end of the year.
- Google announced the Google Family Star which will show up on G-rated content in the Google Play Store to help families find content that is suitable for their children. The Play Store also has ESRB, PEGI, and other ratings for games.
- HBO Now will be hitting the Play Store this summer.
- Lastly, the Chromecast will be getting an update soon that will give it auto-play capabilities, second screen support, and multiplayer gaming. No word yet on when that’s coming.
You can read up on all of the Google I/O stuff from this master list we compiled. Here are some non-Google I/O headlines from this week:
- Microsoft purchased the popular to-do list app Wunderlist this week. We have no idea what they’ll do with it but it is the latest in a string of purchases that Microsoft has been making that has also included Sunshine Calendar and Accompli which actually turned into the new Microsoft Outlook.
- In some rare Android TV news, a few new applications will be making their way to the platform in the coming months. They include HBO Go, Vimeo, Twitch, and many, many others. This is great news for Android TV because it really needed more apps.
- In our last headline, Android is getting its first full Harvest Moon game this winter. No, friends, this is not a port of a pre-existing game, this is a brand new game. It’s very exciting and we really hope it’s not Freemium. .
For all of this week’s headlines, updates, and new releases, don’t forget to check out this week’s newsletter. It’s packed full of the latest Android apps and games news including all the stuff we didn’t have time for here. If you’re so inclined, you can sign up with your email address and have the newsletter sent straight to your inbox every single Friday.
Subscribe to our Android Apps Weekly newsletter!
Imgur
[Price: Free]
First up this week is Imgur. No, this isn’t a new application but it did receive a huge update this last week. Included is a Material Design overhaul, better uploading capabilities, and the boilerplate bug fixes and performance improvements. It has always been one of the better online photo sharing apps out there and now it’s gotten a whole lot better. It’s also totally free.
Hitman: Sniper
[Price: $4.99 with in-app purchases]
Hitman: Sniper is the latest game in the Hitman series from Square Enix. In this one, you’ll play once again as Agent 47 as you complete assignments using your sniper and assassination skills. It features some beautifully rendered cut scenes and some pretty impressive graphics. You’ll also be able to replay missions to get a higher score. It’s available right now but beware of those release day bugs.
Kamcord
[Price: Free]
Kamcord is a new screen capturing application that is aimed at helping you secure footage of the Android games you might be playing. It’s simple to use and has already seen some success on iOS. It uses Android’s native screen capturing capabilities which means you won’t need root but you will need Android Lollipop or better to use it. It’s currently free with no in-app purchases.
Chaos Rings III
[Price: $19.99]
Chaos Rings III is the latest member of the Chaos Rings franchise also by Square Enix. This one features really good, Kingdom Hearts-style graphics, game play that was built for mobile, and a long story line full of lore and large weapons. It clocks in at $19.99 but there are no in-app purchases and let’s face it, that’s about how much this game would cost if it came out for the Nintendo 3DS or the PS Vita. If you like jRPGs, this is worth a shot.
Google Photos
[Price: Free]
Google Photos was released at Google I/O 2015 and is already highly acclaimed thanks to its unlimited storage and slick interface. You can get unlimited photo backup as long as you don’t mind Google compressing it a little bit or you can use your Google Drive space to save the full photos without any modification. It’s been out a week and it’s already heralded as a must-have applications. Just go get it.
Wrap up
If we missed any great Android apps or games news, tell us all about it in the comments. See you next week!
Nokia Z Launcher adds widget support
When Nokia finally sold out to Microsoft, many people thought the company’s efforts in mobile were finished. The Finnish former manufacturer has large network and locations businesses but rather than just focus on these, it decided to become an Android app developer. It’s first app is arguably one of the best launchers on Android and the latest update brings a feature that’s long overdue.
An update to Z Launcher – which was released to the Play Store today – answers user feedback and adds support for standard Android widgets. Currently the launcher has just one screen but its key unique feature is that you can launch applications or contacts by drawing the name; for example, if I wanted to launch our app, I’d type A-N-D and then the Android Authority app would appear in the pop-up.
Adding widgets to this unique interface was always going to be a challenge but Nokia’s solution is innovative; the update brings a new page for widgets which can be accessed by swiping left from the home screen. Unlike other Android launchers, there’s only one page for widgets but as Nokia put it in their blog post;
From the data we have seen so far, we think one page will satisfy most people in terms of widgets used regularly. Having too many widgets for every conceivable need would require the user to flip through multiple pages and lose the quick convenience of widgets in the first place.
In other words, we believe the old adage of “less is more” can apply to widgets as well. So, try picking just the widgets that matter the most to you.
Launcher Apps:
.rvs_wrapper
width: 350px;
.rvs_wrapper.align_left
float: left;
.rvs_wrapper.align_right
float: right;
.rvs_wrapper.align_center,
.rvs_wrapper.align_none
width: 100%;
.rvs_wrapper.align_center
text-align: center;
.rvs_wrapper.align_center.cbc-latest-videos ul li
float: none;
display: inline-block;
vertical-align: top;
.rvs_wrapper.cbc-latest-videos:not(.align_none) ul li:nth-child(2n+1)
clear: both;
.rvs_title
font-weight: 600 !important;
margin: 0 !important;
font-size: 24px !important;
.rvs_wrapper.align_right .rvs_title
padding-left: 20px;
.rvs_title a
font-family: ‘Roboto Condensed’;
color: #3a3a3a;
.rvs_wrapper.cbc-latest-videos ul
padding-top: 10px;
.rvs_wrapper.align_left.cbc-latest-videos ul li,
.rvs_wrapper.align_none.cbc-latest-videos ul li
padding: 0 15px 0 0;
.rvs_wrapper.align_right.cbc-latest-videos ul li
padding: 0 0 0 15px;
float: right;
.rvs_wrapper.align_center.cbc-latest-videos ul li
padding: 0 7px;
.rvs_wrapper.cbc-latest-videos ul li > a
font-weight: 400;
.rvs_wrapper.cbc-latest-videos ul li > a .yt-thumbnail
margin-bottom: 0;
@media only screen and (max-width : 480px)
.rvs_wrapper
width: 100%;
text-align: center;
body .rvs_wrapper.cbc-latest-videos ul li
padding: 0 7px;
display: inline-block;
float: none;
vertical-align: top;
When using the widget screen, the bottom row of pinned apps aren’t shown to offer more space for widgets and the page itself is limited to only having widgets, which means you won’t be able to add any apps on that page. The concept is simple; “widgets on one page, apps on another“.
Nokia has also redesigned the way you drag, remove or resize widgets and the new design is as simple as Z Launcher itself: you add a widget by long-pressing the home screen; you drag a widget by pressing and holding whilst dragging; you remove a widget by pressing and holding it and then selecting the remove option and you can resize it by pressing and holding and then selecting resize.
setTimeout(function()
brightcove.createExperiences();
,
3000);
Z Launcher comes preloaded on Nokia’s N1 tablet – the first premium Android device the company has released – and the addition of widget support will be great for N1 users. Nokia has already cemented Z Launcher among the growing list of impressive launchers but the addition of widget support fills a gaping hole and lets it stand out from the competition.
Chrome Beta v44 update brings improvements to Notifications API and promoted add to homescreen
Google has just issued a new update to Chrome Beta, which brings a handful of developer-centric updates to the browser. Bumping the app up to version 44, this update will make it much easier for developers to get the most out of certain APIs that have already been introduced to the platform.
Chrome Beta version 42 introduced push notifications from favorite websites, which allowed users to receive updates from sites even after the webpage was closed. Now in version 44, devs can use a new method called getNotifications to find out which notifications are being displayed, and Notification.data so they can see which notification was clicked.
Beta version 42 also brought along with it the ability to easily add frequently-visited websites to the home screen, and version 44 brings a few improvements to this feature. Chrome Beta will now fire a beforeinstallprompt prior to the banner being shown, allowing devs to gauge which banners are being clicked and which ones aren’t. There are a few other notable updates in this release which you can find here:
-
Chrome’s implementation of the Push API has undergone several minor breaking changes in order to keep up to date with the evolving specification.
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ES6 extended Unicode escape sequences allow developers to use the extended set of Unicode characters in JavaScript string literals, where previously characters whose escape sequences contain more than four hexadecimal values were unable to be denoted.
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This release includes a new implementation of multi-column layout by Opera engineer Morten Stenshorne, solving historic issues with incorrect column balancing.
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Developers should now use the scroll attributes of document.scrollingElement instead of document.body as the latter has several well known issues.
The update is now live in the Google Play Store, so hit up the link below if you’re interested in grabbing the latest version.
AIVAnet 