Matchstick’s Firefox OS-based TV dongle is dead
Bad news if you backed Matchstick’s crowdfunded, Firefox OS-powered TV adapter: it’s not going to happen. The team has cancelled its would-be Chromecast rival after realizing that implementing copyright protection will require “significantly more” work than expected. It wouldn’t be fair to leave people hanging when there’s no way to “reliably predict” when you could play Netflix or other locked-down content, the company says. If you plunked money down, you should be getting a full refund within the next 60 days.
The move is unfortunate if you were looking for an affordable, more flexible alternative to the media sticks on store shelves, but it isn’t surprising. Like many of these dongles, the Matchstick was going to live or die based on the services you could access — its openness was great for tinkering, but that wasn’t going to matter if you couldn’t sit down and watch Orange is the New Black. The one consolation is that Matchstick’s efforts likely furthered web technology, however briefly.
Filed under:
Home Entertainment, Peripherals, HD
Via:
Variety
Source:
Kickstarter
Tags: adapter, dongle, drm, firefox, firefoxos, hdpostcross, matchstick, mozilla, peripherals, streaming, tv
‘Gunjack,’ a VR space shooter that puts you in the cockpit
You’re sitting in the pilot seat of a cutting-edge spacecraft outfitted with two heavy-duty turrets. The inky universe expands around you and begins to populate with enemy ships: You pull the triggers and shoot them down, gathering new ammunition for more coordinated, deadly attacks and powering up your craft. This is Gunjack, a new virtual reality game from Eve Online and Eve Valkyrie developer CCP, created specifically for the Samsung Gear VR. It’s an arcade shooter (think more Star Wars Battle Pod than Space Invaders) set in the Eve universe, and it’s due out in the fall.
Filed under:
Gaming, HD, Samsung
Via:
Android Central
Tags: eve, EveOnline, evevalkyrie, gearvr, hdpostcross, samsung, samsunggearvr, video, VirtualReality, vr
Researchers create a worm that infects Macs silently and permanently
Macs have typically been heralded as the more secure of the two main operating systems. But according to researchers, at the firmware level, that’s not necessarily true. Ahead of their ‘Thunderstrike 2: Sith Strike‘ Black Hat presentation, Xeno Kovah, Trammell Hudson and Corey Kallenberg demonstrated to Wired that Macs have some of the same vulnerabilities as their Windows counterparts. The exploit is especially troubling because now a phishing email or click on a link on a malicious site could compromise the computer. This is in addition to the exploit shown last year that was spread by the ROM of infected external drives and accessories like a Thunderbolt to ethernet adapter. These exploits are nearly impossible to detect because security software doesn’t scan the firmware and reinstalling the system doesn’t remove the problem.
The exploit highlights that firmware (the software that boots a computer) isn’t typically encrypted out of the factory and doesn’t authenticate updates from the manufacturer. The researchers say they have alerted Apple about the issue and according to the Wired article, the company has patched one exploit and partially patched another.
This is the second Thunderstrike exploit to target Macs. The first version was fixed with OS X 10.10.2 and required the hacker to have physical access to the computer. This new version is more nefarious because the malware can be delivered via a link. The latest OS X security update (10.10.4) seems to keep the exploit from taking hold.
Still, vulnerabilities like this are a reminder that companies should be encrypting all the elements of a machine to reduce the chance of their customers getting hacked in the first place.
Filed under:
Desktops, Misc, Laptops, Apple
Source:
Wired
Tags: apple, BlackHat, Firmware, Hacking, Security
‘Google Auto’ is the official name for Google’s self-driving car company
Google has been working on bringing self-driving automobiles to the road for some time, but we’re just now getting word that the search giant actually has its own subsidiary car company. According to documents obtained by The Guardian, Google has been quietly running its own subsidiary company under the name Google Auto LLC since 2011.
Google Auto was created when the company switched from testing a small number of Prius vehicles to autonomous Lexus SUVs. The documents state that Google Auto is the official manufacturer behind all 23 autonomous Lexus cars registered with California’s department of motor vehicles, which also includes the cars that were involved in some recently-announced minor accidents.
Related: Google’s driverless car prototypes are now cruising the streets of Mountain View
The move to create a subsidiary company for a driverless car initiative was smart on Google’s part, especially because this field is risky. This way, Google is essentially protecting itself from any risk regarding self-driving car accidents and the lawsuits that come with them. If Google Auto were to have any financial difficulties, Google’s own assets would be protected, according to The Guardian.
The documents also state that Google’s newest driverless cars feature rear-wheel drive, with each wheel having its own braking system. The cars are also powered by a 20-30kW electric motor, and have all been assembled on the outskirts of Detroit, Michigan by Google’s manufacturing partner, Roush.
FDA approves a drug made using 3D printing
You might be familiar with the concept of 3D-printed medical equipment, but you’re going to have to get used to seeing 3D-printed medicine, too. The US Food and Drug Administration has approved its first drug manufactured using 3D printing, Aprecia’s epilepsy-fighting Spritam. The medication uses a porous, 3D-printed formula to help deliver even very high doses (as high as 1,000mg) while remaining easy to swallow — all you have to do is take a sip of liquid to quickly disperse the drug and get it into your body.
Spritam won’t be available until the first quarter of 2016, and then only by prescription. If it takes off, though, it could do a lot to help patients of all kinds deal with unpleasant medicine. Some kids, seniors and people with swallowing problems may skip doses if they think it’s too difficult to gulp down a pill — Aprecia’s 3D-printed tech should soften the blow. That, in turn, could prevent potentially dangerous lapses in treatment.
[Image credit: Shutterstock]
Filed under:
Science
Via:
Reuters, 3DPrint.com
Source:
Aprecia (PDF)
Tags: 3dprinting, aprecia, drug, epilepsy, fda, FoodAndDrugAdministration, health, medicine, pill, science, zipdose
Twitter tries out a dedicated News tab
If you’re noticing a new tab at the bottom of your Twitter app for iOS and Android, you’re not alone. The social network is experimenting with a “Featured News” tab that surfaces trending news items in its mobile apps to keep users engaged. The new tab sits right in the middle of the apps’ bottom row and when tapped, surfaces what’s currently happening in the world. Tapping on a news item not only opens up a screen with an image, block of text and link from the source, but a list of tweets from other publishers and Twitter users about the item. According to a Twitter spokesperson, “we’re experimenting with a news experience on iOS and Android as we continue to explore new ways to surface the best content to users.”
This latest experiment is part of Twitter’s push to add more value for users, especially new ones. With its upcoming editorially curated Project Lightning feature surfacing the best tweets about daily events, the company is attempting to gather and keep new users that have found the timeline confusing. While the company has increased revenue, getting new people on the platform has slowed.
Unlike the editorially curated Project Lightning, the experimental Featured News tab is populated algorithmically. But like all Twitter experiments, how and what gets surfaced in the tab could change. In fact, the whole feature might go away. But regardless of how it works and if it sticks around, the company seems poised to try more experiments like this to make all those Tweets more palatable to a wider audience.
Source:
Buzzfeed
Tags: FeaturedNews, Twitter
Samsung Galaxy A8 Impressions: a new design can’t hide what lies beneath
Samsung’s new Galaxy A8 had been rumored for some time now, but it was only last month that leaks started making their way onto the Internet. The device itself is somewhat of a hybrid of sorts given that it is essentially a mid-year refresh for the Galaxy A7 which released back in January, yet it has a new body and some of the positive changes that were introduced in the Galaxy S6.
After spending roughly a week with the phone, I wanted to present to you my initial impressions of the device, with a full review to follow in coming weeks. Please be aware that while the phone has been announced for both China and India, this piece (and the specs themselves) all pertain to the Korean model.
Of specs and such
The Galaxy A8 looks like it should be a top tier phone, given the aluminum unibody design and large display which borders on bezel-less-ness. Assuming the tacky packaging isn’t a give away however, the specs themselves serve as a minor reminder of the parts inside, in an effort perhaps, to temper the expectations one might have.
The Galaxy A8 features a 5.7-inch Full HD Super AMOLED display, a 64-bit octa-core Snapdragon 615 processor backed by 2GB of RAM, 32GB of on-board storage and microSD expansion up to 128GB. It also has a 16MP rear-facing camera, 5MP front-facing shooter, and a 3050mAh battery. It runs the most recent version of Samsung’s TouchWiz overlay atop Android 5.1.1 Lollipop, and also comes with the same fingerprint sensor as seen in the S6. The device measures just 5.9mm thin and weighs only 151g, making this the thinnest smartphone Samsung has released to-date. It also retails, in Korea at least, for 714,000 won (about $610), though current pricing on sites like eBay has it going for around $800+
Hardware
On paper, the phone seems like a fairly solid mid-ranger, even if still considerably less impressive than a flagship-level product. Unfortunately, after using the phone for even just a few minutes, its limitations become quite obvious. Between the Snapdragon 615, the 2GB of RAM, and TouchWiz, the phone is constantly lagging and stuttering. At times it takes seemingly ages for Swiftkey to load up or to open an application and, coming from the Galaxy S6, this is egregiously problematic. Even something as simplistic as opening the Settings menu has lag with the background loading up a pure white screen, followed by the actual listing. After many of these apps are running in the background, reloading them doesn’t take quite as long, but suffice to say from the software side of things, the A8 is probably not going to make any top-10 lists this year.
Running a benchmark test on AnTuTu, the device scored 45233 placing it on-par with some 2014 flagships. Curiously the app reported the SoC as a 32-bit variant, and didn’t prompt for side-loading of the 64-bit version.
Battery
Battery life is relatively good, with the A8 easily lasting throughout the day with moderate use including liberal web surfing, texting on several applications including Line and Slack, and a few phone calls. Tethering seemed to drain it quickly however, and I have opted to wait for the full review before evaluating it with respect to games and heavy-handed tasks. All-in-all, the battery performed better than that of the S6 and at no point during the day did I actively worry the phone would power down before getting home.
Sold in South Korea but aimed at Asia
In an almost comical way, the A8 doesn’t seem to be made for South Korea. Despite featuring the same “Dual SIM” set-up that is found in the Chinese model, the second slot is strictly relegated to microSD even though you can actually put a nanoSIM inside it. The primary tray is even labeled as “SIM 1″, clearly indicating Samsung didn’t bother to create an original part for this model. Likewise the software is puzzling given that the dialer has not a shred of Korean-language text on it, something that I had yet to ever notice on a Samsung device. In standard Korean models, the “ABC” markings are all replaced with Hangul characters, regardless of the device’s language setting.
This, coupled with the lack of LTE band support compared to the Galaxy S6 Korean model truly serve to emphasize the notion that this phone is literally an “Asian market” product. Through tinkering with a hidden menu, I was able to enable LTE support, but at the expense of any voice. Altering the band settings again, voice was possible but no data. Given that this impression piece was carried out in Japan there is somewhat of a caveat, but in testing the Korean Galaxy S6 this problem didn’t occur at all.
An Exceptable Display
The display, while a Full HD SAMOLED panel, fails to have the same ultra-sharp, vibrant in-your-face colors and crispness that the Galaxy S6 has. The phone does support multiple screen modes, thus allowing for those who hate over-saturated colors to dial-back the concentration. It also has the fantastic auto-brightness “outdoor” automatic setting Samsung has championed as of late, where using the device in extremely bright conditions results in a high contrast color enhancement making it easy to see. This feature is definitely worth having and makes switching back to a standard phone all the more difficult afterwords.
Serviceable Sounds
The sound quality of the Galaxy A8 is not much different than that of the previous A-models, including the grating high pitched clicking sounds that accompany input -they can be turned off however. This is largely due to the fact that once again, the product’s sole, tiny speaker is located on the rear of the device, next to the protruding camera module. We question Samsung’s design given that the bottom side of the phone clearly could have supported the inclusion of a downwards-firing speaker a la the Galaxy S6. Just take a look:
Notice the empty space to the left of the USB-port? Compare it to that of the Galaxy S6 or S6 Edge as seen below:
The speaker placement smacks of cost-cutting to say the least, something that is further emphasized by the software.
Troubled TouchWiz
It’s amazing that for all the positive or interesting changes Samsung brought to the table with the Galaxy S6, it has gone right back to the traditional comfort zone with the A8. Gone is the motion-sensitive background effect seen in the S6, and gone is the ability to select multiple lock screen backgrounds. Hybrid Download, a feature which allows users to download files over 30MB using both Wi-Fi and LTE, is missing. There is no setting menu for “Accessories” allowing for features like an “S-Window” type cover. There is no high-sensitivity mode for those who want to use the device with gloves.
This, in addition to the lag mentioned earlier, basically relegates the Galaxy A8 to the same type of user experience found in the original A-models. The only real exception is the presence of a full Theme Store.
The build is paradoxical
As mentioned earlier, the build of the Galaxy A8 is fantastic, especially at first glance. The sides in particular have a modified version of the “pointed oval” design motif seen on the Galaxy S6, but instead of being flat, curve along with the contour of the device. It is extremely thin as well, though for a device this large the lack of girth actually makes it a bit more difficult to hold than were it to be a bit thicker.
The lack of a notification LED is a major sore point, however. Samsung has been including this on phones even back when they were made of plastic, yet seems to arbitrarily distribute it. Why the Galaxy A8 lacks the LED, yet paradoxically has capacitive buttons that vanish from sight when not lit, seems to hint at a very haphazard design aesthetic. The front camera has also been moved from the right-hand side of the device, to the left, and vice-versa for the sensors.
While arguably no one will find the Galaxy A8 to be an ugly looking phone by any means, after using it for a bit, it’s more probable that the faults will become more apparent than any semblance of appreciation for the new frame, especially given how the large size makes the barren bumper all the more mundane.
On a final note, given the size of the device, it is going to be immediately compared with the Galaxy Note 5 and Galaxy S6 Edge+ when they launch next week. Perhaps Samsung’s timing was done to get the A8 out beforehand, allowing those with more meager budgets to “get in” on the big-screen action.
Wrap Up
The Galaxy A8 is somewhat of a puzzling phone, to say the least. From all the press renders and pictures that had been leaked and later officially released, the device looked like it would be a truly stunning piece of kit. The new design flourishes for example: the way the side curves ever so slightly. Indeed the material itself looked to be of somewhat “better” quality, a belief perhaps fostered by use of the Galaxy S6/S6 Edge for the past few months.
The camera protrudes slightly less than the previous Galaxy A models.
Ultimately the only real problem with the Galaxy A8 is the price, as charging $610 for a device that can’t even hold a candle to last year’s OnePlus One is a bit hard to swallow. Truth be told the experience with the A8 is quite similar to that of the previous installments in the A-series, and not unlike what we had with the HTC Desire 626 earlier this year. Unfortunately while HTC had enough Sense to price its product to better compete with rival offerings, Samsung has opted to charge above and beyond what some flagships retail for.
The Galaxy A7 certainly looks different than the A8, yet at this point is going to cost much less money despite having similar features.
It is highly unlikely that the Galaxy A8 will ever see release in North America, though given the release of the A3 in the UK, there is a possibility Europe might get it. While we suggest waiting for the full review, based on our initial time with the device, there are seemingly far better, cheaper products that can be purchased that offer similar (or better) specs at much more competitive prices, including Samsung’s own Galaxy Alpha -if you can still find it.
Motorola’s new focus on cameras shows with the Moto G (2015)
Motorola devices have been haunted for years by bad cameras. There was an opportunity to change the poor camera quality perception in 2013 when Motorola reinvented itself; however, critics and consumers were only left disappointed yet again when the Moto X (2013) failed to deliver a camera comparable to that of the Samsung Galaxy S4 and LG G2. Motorola’s low-end and mid-range devices obviously suffered from awful cameras, too. The Moto G (2013) had a 5MP camera while the Moto G (2014) raised that to 8MP. As we all know, megapixels mean nothing on paper. This year, with Lenovo overseeing the company, Motorola seems to have found itself a pretty good camera of 13MP on the Moto G (2015).
Here is how Motorola describes the new Moto G’s camera:
The new Moto G delivers high-quality photos in any environment. Even in low light, the ultra-fast f2.0 lens produces crystal-clear images, and the color-balancing dual LED flash preserves color and clarity. What’s more, High Dynamic Range (HDR) imaging helps you capture both the brightest highlights and darkest shadows, just as your eyes see them.
Below you are going to see images taken by the Moto G. Interestingly, Motorola has the phone’s camera set to capture images in widescreen. This means that they are taken at 9.7MP and 16:9 aspect ratio. Taking pictures at the standard 13MP alters the aspect ratio to 4:3. We have images of both varieties to show you. Also, high-dynamic range (HDR) is set to automatic for all of them.
Indoors (widescreen)
Indoors (standard)
Outdoors (widescreen)
Outdoors (standard)
Closing
What’s left to say? For a phone that starts at $179, the camera performs well above expectations. Motorola’s new commitment to sell devices with good cameras is evident in a sub-$200 phone.
Come comment on this article: Motorola’s new focus on cameras shows with the Moto G (2015)
16GB model of the Moto G (2015) is currently sold out
Last week, Motorola had everyone’s attention with the arrival of three new devices. While the Moto X Style and Moto X Play are not yet available, the company started selling the Moto G (2015) right away. The handset is customizable through Moto Maker; however, options have become limited as one model of the Moto G is sold out.
The Moto G starts at $179 for the 8GB model with 1GB of RAM and spending an additional $40 raises that to 16GB with 2GB of RAM. Today, it looks like the roomier 16GB model is popular among consumers because Motorola has stopped selling it through Moto Maker. Only the 8GB model is currently available to purchase. Beyond that, consumers wanting the navy back panel will have to wait as Motorola has labeled that as being delayed.
Be sure to check out our hands on video with the Moto G.
Source: Motorola
Come comment on this article: 16GB model of the Moto G (2015) is currently sold out
The 2015 Nexus is our last hope for the perfect Android phone
As we head into the last half of 2015, we have to look back and say that the slew of Android phones that have been released thus far have simply failed to impress. We have seen slight improvements when we needed drastic redesigns. So far, the best Android phone of 2015 just is not good enough.
We only have a few Android phones left to be released this year. Samsung will debut their new phablets in August, Google will unveil the new Nexus phones, and Sony may release the Z5 (or whatever it is going to be called). Unfortunately, only one of these companies has what it takes to release a phone that provides the features everyone wants.
The Competition
Rumors are that Samsung is going to show off its new Note 5 along withe the S6 Edge+. While Samsung’s Note line has normally been targeted towards power users, it appears that many favorite features may be disappearing from the Note 5.
It has been rumored that the Note 5 may not come with a replaceable battery or expandable storage which are two features that long-term Note users have come to know and love. If the S6 Edge+ is merely a larger version of the S6 Edge, it is also not likely to include these features either.
Sony disappointed many fans earlier this year when they released the Z4, or Z3+, or Z3v, or whatever you want call it. Many were expecting a drastic redesign but instead got a Z3 with upgraded internals. Even worse than that, the Z3+ is prone to overheating which makes it difficult to use for a long period of time. Unless Sony decides to bring a major change to their Android phones, I am afraid the Z5 will suffer a similar fate.
The 2015 Nexus Phones
With this in mind, the phone (or phones) that has the ability to become the best phone of 2015 is the new Nexus. So far, rumors are suggesting that there will be two different Nexus phones this year with different screen sizes.
One will be a smaller Nexus made by LG that is said to be reminiscent of the beloved Nexus 5. The other will the a larger phablet that is to be manufactured by Huawei and appeal to the lovers of the Nexus 6. This is already promising because it appeals to users who prefer large screen phones and small screen phones.
Android M Features
Android M gives hope that the 2015 Nexus phones will also include features that are slowly going away. Android M comes with native support for microSD cards which means that the Nexus phones may come with expandable storage for the first time ever.
Also, LG and Huawei have included expandable storage in their flagships this year which will hopefully translate into their Nexus devices, too. Unless Google plans on increasing the base storage of their Nexus line, I feel that microSD support is the only option to allow users more storage while also keeping prices lower.
Android M also has native support for fingerprint identification, which means that the 2015 Nexus phones may come with fingerprint scanners also for the first time. With Android Pay also debuting with Android M, it gives Google more of an incentive to include this feature in their Nexus phones to make mobile payments easier and more secure.
Since Nexus phones were originally built for developers, I believe that Google will include a fingerprint scanner to demonstrate how Android M handles fingerprint identification and how it works with mobile payments.
Improvements on the Past
The Nexus 6 debuted with a 2K screen, and I believe that Google will continue with this decision. With the larger screen on the rumored Huawei Nexus, a 2K display would make for a wonderful viewing experience. However, the smaller screen on the LG Nexus probably does not need 2K resolution and should be kept at 1080p for the sake of battery life. The screens on recent flagships from LG and Huawei are gorgeous, and I believe we can expect to see a great screen on the 2015 Nexuses.
Battery life is another feature that I think Google will prioritize with its 2015 Nexus phones. Google has consistently tried to improve battery life throughout Android iterations, and Android M is supposed to be the most battery efficient of all.
Also, battery life has been one of the biggest complaints with past Nexus devices. Android M has seemed to improve on past complaints about Android, and I am confident that Google is aiming to fix complaints that users have been expressing.
There is no solid evidence to suggest improved battery life on the 2015 Nexus phones, but Google’s continued attempts to improve on Android’s weaknesses make me confident that these Nexus devices will have the best battery life yet.
One of the other big complaints of past Nexus devices has been the lackluster camera performance. I fully expect the 2015 Nexus phones to ship with cameras than can hold their own against players like Samsung. I doubt they will ship with best in class cameras, but they should have cameras that can compete and take high quality photos.
Just like with battery performance, Google is really focusing on fine tuning Android, and I feel like this will continue into fine tuning the Nexus devices. Plus, the LG put work into creating a great camera in the G4 which gives me hope that they will not skimp on the camera if LG is actually manufacturing a 2015 Nexus.
New Technology
Google is a big supporter of the USB Type-C standard, which was made prevalent when they released the Chromebook Pixel 2 with a Type-C charger. I believe that Google will put this new technology in their 2015 Nexus phones in an attempt to futureproof their devices.
While this will mean no Quick Charge compatibility, I also believe that both devices will come with the ability to charge wirelessly. Since the Nexus 6 came with wireless charging compatibility, I see no reason for Google to go backwards in their charging technology.
Old Prices
Finally, I believe the 2015 Nexus phones will come at affordable prices. Looking back at LG’s Nexus history, the Nexus 4 and Nexus 5 were both high end phones that hit the market at super affordable prices. If LG does build one of the Nexus phones this year, I see no reason why they would not deliever it at a competitive price.
Huawei is also know for delivering devices with fantastic specs at low prices, and it makes sense for them to continue that trend if they build a Nexus phone this year. Google got some backlash for pricing the Nexus 6 so much higher than previous Nexus devices, and I believe that they will attempt to make the 2015 Nexuses more affordable.
Android phones have been around for over 7 years now, and in that time we should have gotten these basic problems solved and features added. We should not have to worry about our phones lasting a whole day or becoming buggy and full of lag after several months of use. It is 2015, and we have still not seen a phone that ticks every box on consumers’ checklists.
It will not be known if the features rumored, or hoped for, in this article are actual fact until the phones are officially announced. However, these are the features I believe Google can and needs to put in its 2015 Nexuses to take the smartphone crown this year. While we may still not see the “perfect” phone, the new Nexuses are our best and last hope for 2015.
The post The 2015 Nexus is our last hope for the perfect Android phone appeared first on AndroidGuys.
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