2015 July | AIVAnet

Jul

Hillary Clinton isn’t a fan of Uber-style contracted workers

Like it or not, the hiring practices of on-demand internet companies just became an election issue. Presidential candidate Hillary Clinton has outlined her economic policies, and it’s clear that she’s not fond of Uber and other firms relying on contracted workers instead of regular employees. While she believes that these demand-based outfits are “unleashing innovation,” their labor practices allegedly amount to “wage theft.” They’re depriving people of vital benefits like paid maternity leave and sick days, Clinton says. She’s not specific about how she’d solve this dilemma, but she believes that policies could “fix” the situation and give some workers a stronger safety net.

The stance isn’t entirely surprising for Clinton, who’s also calling for higher wages, pay equality and other labor measures that she thinks will help the middle class. However, this is also the first instance of a 2016 presidential candidate directly addressing how the government should handle the internet-based “gig economy.” While party lines will tell you how each side is likely to respond (Democrats tend to favor labor regulation, while Republicans tend to reject it), this hasn’t been a hot-button subject until now. Don’t be surprised if your favorite ridesharing or property rental service comes up in stump speeches and debates during the next year and a half.

[Image credit: AP Photo/Seth Wenig]

Filed under: Transportation, Internet

Comments

Via: Business Insider, Wired

Source: TechCrunch

Jul

Download: Android M Developer Preview 2 OTA Updates

The Android M Developer Preview has already received its first update following Google’s promise to issue monthly deltas following Google I/O 2015, and OTA updates are already hitting devices running Preview 1.

For those who prefer to flash the Android M Developer Preview 2 as a fresh install, you can download the ZIP files below:

Download Android M Preview 2 updates:

Nexus 5 – [MPZ79M from MPZ44Q, 182MB] – Download Link
Nexus 6 – [MPZ79M from MPZ44Q, 330MB] – Download Link

Via: DroidLife

The post Download: Android M Developer Preview 2 OTA Updates appeared first on AndroidGuys.

Jul

Pebble Time Steel will ship to early backers at month’s end

Pebble Time Steel Gold

While most backers have already gotten their ~~hands~~ wrists on the Kickstarter-funded Pebble Time smartwatch, the high-end Pebble Time Steel still has yet to make its way to early adopters. That will change sometime very soon, according to an announcement made by the Pebble team on Kickstarter.

The Pebble Time Steel will start production this week and will begin shipping out to Kickstarter backers the last week in July. All backers should receive tracking numbers by the end of August, as long as production goes as planned. The metal-clad smartwatch will ship out to backers in both leather and metal strap varieties, though due to limited availability, some backers of the Pebble Time Steel will receive their metal bands as a separate shipment as more become available.

In addition, when the watch hits retail shelves, the metal band will only be sold as a separate accessory and won’t be included in retail units.

Deal: Refurbished Samsung Gear 2 smartwatch for just $120 after coupon code

Samsung-Gear-2-20

Android Wear, Apple Watch and Pebble all seem to be the big players in the smartwatch space lately, though there is one other notable option that we tend to forget about when it comes to choosing our next smartphone companion. Samsung’s Tizen-powered Gear 2, which was unveiled early 2014, is still a decent option for those looking for an inexpensive, capable smartwatch. Normally the watch’s price point is too high for us to recommend, but right now there’s a decent promotion going on that may be worth your while.

For a limited time, or while supplies last, you can pick up a refurbished Samsung Gear 2 smartwatch from A4C for just $119.95. The list price reads $169.95, but it will drop down to the sale price once you apply coupon code CHEAP50 at checkout. The watch is available in both Black and Gold Brown color options.

Addictive game Agar.io now available on Android

If you haven’t heard of the popular browser-based multiplayer game called Agar.io then you’ve been missing out. In the game, you are a cell that splits and absorbs other smaller cells to grow larger and you compete against players around the globe to become the biggest cell of them all.

“Play online with players around the world as you try to become the biggest cell of them all! Control your tiny cell and eat other players to grow larger! But watch out: players bigger than you will be trying to make you their lunch. Survive and eat long enough to become the biggest cell in the game!“

The game is incredibly addictive and a great time-killer, and because it’s in your browser can be played anywhere. Now, the addictive game just got even more addictive and accessible since it just got an Android companion app.

“With new controls developed especially for touchscreens, agar.io offers the same addictive gameplay that millions have already enjoyed on PC. Play online in free-for-all action and use splitting, shrinking and dodging tactics to catch other players – or avoid them! Use a variety of special secret skins with the right username!“

You can download Agar.io right now using the link below.

Agar.io (Playboard) | Agar.io (Play Store)

The post Addictive game Agar.io now available on Android appeared first on AndroidGuys.

Jul

Editior’s Picks: 13 apps we think you should try right now

One of our favorite things to do here at AndroidGuys is to help Android users get the most from their devices. Whether in the form of app reviews, news and rumors, or something else, we aim to please.

Our Editor’s Picks column is designed to help existing Android owners discover apps and games. What you’ll find below are some of the apps that we at AndroidGuys enjoy using ourselves. Some of what follows are new titles while a few are classics we can’t let go of. We understand that we won’t get every single app that crosses our path but we hope to filter things a bit and pass them along to you. Whatever the case we’re certain you will find something fun to play with this week. Let’s get to it!

Wallmax

Wallmax is another awesome wallpaper aggregator with a wide range of wallpapers. From opening to loading of the wallpapers, the animations make this app deligthful to use. You also have the ability to sort wallpapers by resolution, which is great for those rocking a QHD smartphone. It’s a free app and We definitely recommend you try this out.

Ghostery Privacy Browser

As the name implies, Ghostery Privacy Browser is a privacy-oriented browser by Ghostery, Inc. that is much like its desktop counterpart. This browser is able to detect tracking scripts on web sites that are visited and block them. Also, the user can pause blocking or whitelist sites by clicking the Ghostery icon next to the tabs icon. Individuals can opt-in (opt-in by default) to Ghostrank, which sends anonymous statistics to Ghostery, Inc. about the trackers that are blocked but no information about the sites they are on or the sites themselves. Lastly, privacy search engine Duck Duck Go is the default, however, users have the options to change it to Google, Bing, Yahoo, Yahoo Japan, Naver, Baidu, and Yandex.

Periscope

Periscope is another livestreaming app brought to you by Twitter. Periscope lets you broadcast live video to the world. Going live will instantly notify your followers, who can join, comment and send you hearts in real time. You can also make your videos available for replay so viewers can watch it later. If you want to explore the world while sitting in your chair then this app is definitely for you.

Netflix

We all have heard of this app and yeah, there is a good chance you already have a Netflix account. If you don’t have one, you might want to consider picking up an online streaming account for $7.99 per month. Netflix has been producing more original content than ever and surprisingly there are a few shows that are very entertaining. Netflix has produced over 20 new shows and continued fan favorite shows like “Arrested Development” and “Star Wars: The Clone Wars”. The biggest benefit to watching Netflix Original content is that they release entire seasons in one fell swoop. Rather than waiting every week to watch your show, you can veg out over a weekend and watch an entire season of “BoJack Horseman” or “Chef’s Table.”

They also have quite a selection of movies for you to watch too. If you have more than two members of your family who want to watch Netflix at the same time, you can upgrade to the $11.99 plan which allows 4 members to watch at the same time in addition to Ultra HD access.

SD Maid – System Cleaning Tool

System cleaners have become a necessary evil on mobile devices. The more you use a device, the more junk keeps piling up. When you uninstall apps and delete files, they can often leave traces behind especially on internal storage or external SD card. SD Maid is an app designed to clean this unnecessary junk from your internal/external storage. The app comes in free and paid versions. Keep in mind that it is a very powerful tool. Please be sure to read full description before digging into its advanced features.

Carbon for Twitter

Carbon is a Twitter client, but unlike other Twitter clients available in the market. All of your Twitter content is present on one screen. A screen that doesn’t get you drilling down to many other screens to reach what you want. Timelines, Lists, Favourites, Searches, Trends, Profiles, are all there. The Black theme is just a bliss to the eyes. Overall, it’s “THE” best free Twitter client for Android and We definitely recommend you to give it a try.

Joyride Podcast Player

Joyride is the smart podcast player that makes podcasts easy to use. Way easier to use than other podcast apps! Gone are the days of confusing UI and a bazillion taps to add podcasts and play episodes, Joyride Podcast Player lets you listen instantly to all your favorite radio shows everywhere!. The app has a great user interface and options to either download or stream a podcast.

YouTube

Everybody has heard of YouTube and knows what it is. If you don’t know then its worth checking out. YouTube is a cross platform video streaming app that lets you watch the latest music videos, movies trailers, tech related videos and much more. You can upload videos, subscribe to various channels, share videos to other social networks and can also comment on videos. With the current update, it now streams videos at whopping 60fps, turning a Smartphone into a high quality TV.

Domino’s Pizza USA

The Domino’s pizza app is a ‘must have’ app if you’re into pizza. Domino’s Pizza is definitely not going to win awards for best New York style or Chicago style pizza, but their pizzas are still tasty and definitely affordable. The Domino’s Pizza app is one of the best apps for ordering food and other delivery chains should take notice. Every current coupon offered by Domino’s is within the app in the “coupon” section so you don’t have to worry about searching for coupons online just to get the best price. The app can use your location to match you up with the nearest Domino’s store, and you can order for delivery or pickup if you want to save on tips and delivery fees.

You can save your favorite order, including a coupon associated with that order, for one-click reordering in the future. In addition, the Domino’s app also allows for payment with a credit card, cash on delivery, or even payment with Google Wallet.

BombSquad

BombSquad is a multiplayer cross-platform game that can be played by up to 8 players. Players can throw punches, fuse bombs and mines. There is never any shortage of explosives and powerups to throw and assist your way into an unflinching mission to whittle your opponents to a minimal pile of dust. Tournaments are also held to win tickets which can be used to buy things in the store. You can also use various wireless controllers for the game play. The game is free, there are in-game purchases, and it’s definitely worth a try.

Manuganu 2

Manuganu 2 is a 3D side- scroller running game, in which you control the boy “Manuganu”. The traditional “three-star” mechanic is here, with each level offering stars for picking up a certain number of the small collectables, picking up three big coins and reaching the goal under a certain time. Trying to hit all of those at once brings a very welcome extra challenge for the hardcore gamer. The game experience is also worth mentioning as you can swim, fly, jump and more. There are over 40 levels to complete and the occasional Boss fight definitely makes it challenging.

Shoot The Zombirds

Shoot The Zombird is a fun little shooting game that follows a Halloween theme. Basically, you are a pumpkin boy and you have to stop the Zombirds from kidnapping the pumpkids. The game is fairly easy to play with interesting and kinda scary music playing in the background. The game also features dozen of challenging objectives to complete. The game is free and offers in-app purchases for various upgrades.

PAC-MAN Friends

PAC-MAN Friends is a new, original fast-paced game using classic PAC-MAN characters! With simple tilt controls, you can maneuver PAC-MAN through progressively challenging mazes to rescue his friends from the Ghosts’ Castle. You can explore 95 levels in 6 worlds and unlock 8 uniquely powered friends. You also have to collect keys and fruit to unlock the next episode and explore the world of PAC-MAN Friends.

Last week’s Editor’s Picks
Essential Productivity Apps

The post Editior’s Picks: 13 apps we think you should try right now appeared first on AndroidGuys.

Jul

A closer look at Sony’s first crowdfunded products

It could be the start of a new Sony — a company that’s trying to recalibrate its new product compass by throwing nascent ideas and projects to the public… and asking for money. Perhaps Sony’s most interesting move might be launching First Flight, its very own crowdfunding platform-slash-online store expressly for its employees’ pet projects. These projects have passed auditions in front of senior execs: In fact the Seed Acceleration Project (SAP) has even been granted a fair amount of autonomy from Sony CEO Kazuo Hirai. Even if it still feels a little odd for a firm this size to be asking you to fund its next hit, some of those seeds are now taking root. We visited the company’s “Creative Lounge,” where employees and outsiders work on pitches as well as prototype products. We got to take a look at three of the most developed projects. Here’s what we thought.

MESH Creative DIY kit

MESH raised its funds through Indiegogo, surpassing its goal back in March. It’s a DIY smart project maker that Sony reckons can be up and running in mere minutes. The team created a simple, clean “visual design” app to combine and tie together inputs and outputs. Those inputs and outputs are realized through tags: brightly colored bricks that look like stumpy USB drives. At the moment, the set includes an accelerometer, button, LED and slightly more complicated GPIO (General Purpose Input Output) tag, which has digital and analog input/outputs that can connect other detectors or actuators such as light sensors, motors and circuit boards.

It’s geared toward kids, and at Sony’s seed event we saw brightly colored combinations that tied the tags to tabletop games, or smart notification systems that ping your smartphone. It’s now up for preorder on Amazon in the US, as well as Sony’s First Flight. But the building blocks of invention don’t come with an entry-level price: Each tag is currently priced at $50 (and up) apiece. In its favor, designing and programming the tags was straightforward, and at least from a cursory play, the learning curve is a shallow one. You’ll get out of the kit what you put in, and while it may not have the depth of a Raspberry Pi or BBC’s new tiny computer, it has a breezy design and simple interface. The system also reminds us of SmartThings‘ smart home-centered collection of sensors and connectivity. (That’s a company now owned by Samsung.)

FES Watch

The FES watch houses an e-paper display in the watch face, which then stretches across the watch strap too. Users can cycle through 24 different combinations of watchband designs, all monochrome, and a lot of them oddly cartoony, with big, bold faux-stitching or outlines. Does it look familiar? We reported on the watch when it launched on Japanese crowdfunding site Makuake. It may not be a smartwatch, but it’s pretty darn smart looking. It will apparently run for two months on a single charge; your mileage will obviously vary depending on how many times you’re cycling through those designs. The screen refreshes and displays the time as you lift your wrist. The watch is described as a canvas — apparently that’s the design inspiration. It’s meant to show what users wants to show — on both the face and strap, although at the moment, that only ranges from block monochrome to black-and-white patterns. The watch is on sale to Japanese backers for 30,000 yen (around $245), but it won’t be dispatched for a few months.

The price could be a sticking point, but as outlined by SAP’s head Shinji Odajima as he showcased the devices and how the accelerator program will work, one of its aims is to drum up support from early adopters: a crowd willing to pay a price that may seem excessive to others. Depending on the reception of the watch, however, the possibilities don’t have to stop there. As seen above, the same e-paper technology could be easily transferred into other wearables: from smaller bracelets and rings to an eye-catching pair of glasses — our top pick for a sequel FES product.

HUIS custom remote

Universal remotes are nothing new. However, the HUIS remote (pronounced “haus”) is a thoroughly modern take, with barely a button on it, even if there’s something a little bit “OG iPod” to that e-paper touchscreen. The primary feature here is a very customizable interface, one that not only simplifies your Blu-ray remote control down to a handful of buttons, but also includes another remote “page” a swipe away that offers up switches for everything that the HUIS connects too — and that includes fans, air-con and compatible lights. There’s also haptic feedback as you interact with the touchscreen, which is as responsive as the e-paper touch display on a Kindle. It worked well in the demo situation, and while the controller has a fair bit of junk in the trunk at the base (It charges through micro-USB; no more batteries!), we reckon it could benefit from being a little slimmer. The team also says it’s working on a charging dock — which sounds very Sony.

Through a PC interface, you can transfer new remote layouts: an accessibility-friendly one with giant channel buttons and a giant off switch, or maybe a monochromatic teddy holding a single button. The crowdfunding round, done exclusively on Sony’s own platform, has raised over 17.5 million yen as of writing — that’s around $142,000 from Japanese early adopters willing to pay roughly $200 for a programmable controller. It’s also the most traditionally “Sony” device we’ve seen so far. Despite its prototype status, the function, feel and look of it struck a chord with this editor. That price, however, didn’t.

Filed under: Cellphones, Peripherals, Wearables, Sony

Comments

Jul

Trees with email addresses get into strange conversations

Think you get into some oddball email threads with your coworkers? That’s nothing next to what’s happening in Melbourne, Australia’s green spaces. The city gave email addresses to trees in 2013 to help deal with broken branches and other issues, but it now finds that many people are striking up conversations with these leafy residents about everything from their looks to the weather. In some cases, the trees (okay, city staff) reply back. Want to know what a cedar thinks of the Greek debt crisis? Ask it — you might just get an answer.

And in case you’re wondering, the city doesn’t mind. This shows that locals are fond of their trees, Councillor Arron Wood tells Citylab. It also suggests that the internet of things is having an unintended effect: when you can talk to inanimate objects (even if there’s a human pulling the strings), that changes how you care for and interact with them. The best way to preserve something valuable might just be to give it a digital personality.

[Image credit: Edwin Lee, Flickr]

Filed under: Internet

Comments

Source: Citylab

Jul

Ex-‘Assassin’s Creed’ lead joins EA to build ‘Star Wars’

As a producer at Ubisoft and founder of Ubisoft Toronto, Jade Raymond had a hand in creating some of the most notable AAA experiences of our time, including Assassin’s Creed II and Watch Dogs. She left the company in October to pursue “new opportunities,” and now those ambitions have a name: Electronic Arts. Raymond has joined the company and opened Motive, a new EA studio in Montreal. Motive’s first project is the new Star Wars game coming from Uncharted series writer and Creative Director Amy Hennig. Raymond now also oversees Hennig’s studio, Visceral Games, and she says Motive will “work in close quarters with the BioWare team,” which is responsible for Mass Effect and Dragon Age. No pressure.

“I’m thrilled that the first big project that we will work on in Montreal will have Amy as Creative Director,” Raymond writes. “An opportunity to work with her and the Visceral team, and to play in the Star Wars universe, is once-in-a-lifetime stuff.”

Raymond is now a mastermind behind Star Wars, Mass Effect, Dragon Age and whatever else Motive and Visceral dream up. With a solid background in creating large, innovative experiences, it will be interesting to see how much Raymond can shake up EA’s established franchises.

Filed under: Gaming, HD

Comments

Source: EA

Jul

Android 5.1 Lollipop now rolling out to Sprint’s Galaxy Note Edge

samsung-galaxy-note-edge-review-aa-23-of-26

Although some variants of the Galaxy Note Edge have just recently received the update to Android 5.0 Lollipop, Samsung’s curved screen phablet on Sprint’s network is now one big update ahead of the pack. Sprint has just started rolling out the Android 5.1 Lollipop update to the Galaxy Note Edge, which will bring the device’s software version up to N915PVPU4COFE.

Along with various bug fixes and software enhancements on Sprint’s side of things, this update brings a few user interface changes, factory reset protection, as well as a ton of performance improvements. Be sure to check out our “What’s new in Android 5.1 Lollipop” post for more details. Unfortunately Sprint’s changelog for this update isn’t very helpful, so we’re not entirely sure what changes are present in this new software version.

Archive for

Hillary Clinton isn’t a fan of Uber-style contracted workers