Target Begins Testing Beacon-Based Deals and Recommendations in 50 Stores
Target this morning announced that it would begin testing beacon technology in 50 of its stores in Chicago, Denver, Minneapolis, New York City, Pittsburgh, Portland, San Francisco and Seattle (via Buzzfeed and TechCrunch). The company plans to use the technology to send deals and customized recommendations to customers who opt-in to get the notifications within the Target iOS app [Direct Link].
After users download the app and turn on notifications and Bluetooth, the beacon technology will discover where customers are within each Target location and send out subsequent push notifications regarding items in their nearby vicinity. Target promises that it will keep beacon alerts to a maximum of two per shopping trip. The company says the current plan is to “adapt and enhance” the service following the 50-store roll out, then introduce it to other locations sometime later in the year.
During Target’s testing period, capabilities are limited to surfacing deals and recommendations based on what section of the store a customer is in: A two-for-one deal on Tylenol pops up when a shopper hits the pharmacy, or a recipe for banana bread appears while walking through the fresh fruit section. Target has plans to add features like reorganizing a shopping list based on the most efficient route through the store, and pushing a reminder if you forgot anything on that list once you hit the checkout line, but these will not be available at launch.
Target hopes that the Bluetooth-enabled technology will be welcomed by customers, thankful of its ability to keep them in the loop of weekly deals — courtesy of a bit of synergy with the company’s Cartwheel coupon app [Direct Link] — in addition to acting as a hub and guide in their shopping experience. The beacon technology will even gather data from third-party apps, letting users know what clothes and shoes near them in the store are currently trending on Pinterest, for example.
Apple has its own spin on the beacon technology, iBeacons, that it’s rolled out in all of its brick-and-mortar retail stores across the country. Like Target’s plan, the App Store app provides customers with nearby notifications of accessories to purchase and even local store events that may be occurring. Last year, the company tested the technology in small scale retail store locations like American Eagle and even at Dodger Stadium in Los Angeles.
Microsoft’s Sway presentation app hits Windows 10, leaves preview
Sway, Microsoft’s app for building well-designed presentations on the web, is beginning to seem like more than just a mere experiment. Today, Microsoft announced that it’s bringing the app out of preview mode (the company’s designation for a beta test), and it’s launching a dedicated Sway app for Windows 10. On top of that, Sway is also one of the services Microsoft has integrated into Docs, its new online document sharing service. That’s a surprising amount of progress for an app that initially seemed like a less capable PowerPoint for the web. In a nutshell, Sway lets you create stylized presentations that are easily viewable across phones, tablets and computers. Much like Edge, the company’s new Windows 10 browser, it’s as if Microsoft went back to the drawing board and came up with a new type of presentation app for our multi-device age. In many ways, it’s also like a modern Content Management Service like those offered by Squarespace and Medium, allowing you to just plug in content and get a beautiful final product.
The Sway Windows 10 app should make it easier for users of the new OS to build and manage their projects, though Microsoft reps were clear that Sway isn’t moving away from its focus on the web. The online Sway editor can do everything that the Windows 10 and iOS apps do, and it also has the benefit of being accessible by any platform with a web browser. Sway’s new integration with Docs also gives you one place to share all of your presentations (you can also embed them right into any web page).
https://sway.com/s/nLa7rrYhdCmzRyQd/embed
Sure, you could make a stylish web page or a well-designed presentation in plenty of other apps, but Sway’s big draw is its ease of use. You can take photos, video and notes from a Windows 10 or iOS device (an Android app is coming soon) and plug them into a Sway presentation later on. Microsoft also added the ability to co-edit Sways with others, based on user feedback. Early testers include teachers who’ve used Sway for building class lessons, artists using it for their personal portfolios and musicians like Daria Musk, who documented the creation of a song on the service (embedded above).
Now that it’s out of preview, Office 365 users in 213 markets will get access to Sway. But you don’t need to be an Office user to use it — you can sign up at Sway.com to start building presentations. While hardcore Powerpoint users probably won’t be giving up their slide decks anytime soon, Sway is a sign that Microsoft is at least trying to keep pace with the changing technological landscape.
Filed under:
Microsoft
Tags: microsoft, presentations, Sway
‘Mighty No. 9’ won’t arrive until early 2016
Mighty No. 9, the new game from Mega Man creator Keiji Inafune, isn’t going to be arriving until some point in the first three months of 2016. It’s the second delay for the kickstarted title, which was originally slated to drop this spring before being pushed back to September. According to an update posted to Kickstarter, the reason behind the push back is that while the core functionality of the piece has been finished, there’s still a raft of bugs and issues relating to the online components that have yet to be fixed. Considering that so many recent high-profile releases have been sold with bugs that make them almost unplayable, it’s probably wise to hold off. Still, judging by the comments on the post, it looks as if plenty of backers would much rather have the game now and wait for the features to come later.
Filed under:
Gaming
Source:
Kickstarter
Tags: Delay, Gamescom, Gamescom-2015, KeijiInafune, Kickstarter, Mighty-No-9, MightyNo9
Google and MIT can take reflection-free photos through windows
Who knew that reflection-free window photos were suddenly in vogue? Google and MIT do, apparently. Some of their researchers have developed an algorithm that eliminates unwanted visuals by using frames from a short video to separate the foreground from the background. Unlike an earlier MIT-only technique, this works with nearly any kind of obstruction. It’ll remove rain drops and chain link fences, for instance. And in an odd twist, it can also capture an uncannily clear image of any reflections — you know, in case you want to remember what shirt you were wearing when you took that shot.
There’s no word on whether or not the algorithm will reach shipping devices you can buy. However, it’s easy to see this technology wending its way into just about any camera, including smartphones. You could take that scenic instagram shot from your airplane window without having to apologize for the picture quality.
[Image credit: Tianfan Xue]
Filed under:
Cameras, Science, Google
Via:
TechCrunch
Source:
Google
Tags: camera, google, googleresearch, mit, photography, reflection, reflections, science, video
Dear Veronica: Your brain on code
Welcome back to the show, everyone! In case you missed it, we now have an iTunes and RSS feed for the show, so you can subscribe to it however you like. Thanks for your patience on that!
As for the episode, we’ve got some great questions this week. We tackle how and when you should call out companies on Twitter for bad behavior (if it gets really bad you can always take the nuclear option like my husband and I did, but I don’t recommend it). My friend Anthony Carboni of 3 Scientists Walk Into a Bar pops in to answer a fascinating question about how our brains work when we code, and I take on yet another dog question. Because dogs are awesome.
Don’t stop sending those questions in! You can email them to me, or post online using the hashtag #DearVeronica. Have a great week!
Filed under:
Science
Tags: anthony carboni, dear veronica, dogs, Twitter, veronica belmont, video
Samsung ‘fast tracks’ Android security fixes with monthly updates
To ensure that your Samsung devices get timely updates when security issues arise, the company announced a new plan for the patches. Samsung is changing how it handles the security problems by fast tracking fixes via over-the-air updates which will happen “regularly about once per month.” The device maker says it worked with carriers to quickly patch the Android Stagefright flaw that let hackers access phones through MMS videos. Moving forward, Samsung will employ a similar process for beaming out updates, with a hand from carriers and other partners to make sure Android gadgets are updated as soon as possible — especially when it comes to critical issues. “Since software is constantly exploited in new ways, developing a fast response process to deliver security patches to our devices is critical to keep them protected,” explains Samsung executive vice president Dong Jin Koh. Expect to see more info on devices and update timelines in the near future.
Filed under:
Cellphones, Mobile, Samsung
Source:
Samsung
Tags: android, galaxy, mobilepostcross, samsung, security, software, update
This is what the Nexus 6 would have looked like with a fingerprint sensor
It may have been a while since the Nexus 6 was ‘new’ news having been on the market already for around 9 months, but recent pictures of the device show that the original plan was to incorporate a fingerprint sensor into the Nexus 6 and got scrapped last minute.
You know that dimple where the Motorola symbol sits? That’s not just cosmetic design; that’s where the fingerprint sensor originally was positioned, and the recessed button housed the necessary sensors. However, at the time of the Nexus 6 being manufactured, Apple had lock down on the best fingerprint sensor on the market, forcing Motorola to go with a sensor that had a significantly worse user experience. As such, Motorola was forced to scrap their plans for a fingerprint sensor in the Nexus 6.
Nexus 6 Fingerprint Sensor
Here’s some pictures of a Nexus 6 prototype with the fingerprint sensor positioned clearly underneath that Motorola logo on the back.
So ignoring the fact that Android Lollipop doesn’t come with native fingerprint support, and I suppose if the Nexus 6 had a fingerprint sensor this would’ve changed, but would such a feature have changed the success story of the Nexus 6 as a device? Drop us a comment below and let us know.
Source: GforGames
The post This is what the Nexus 6 would have looked like with a fingerprint sensor appeared first on AndroidGuys.
LG delivers Android-powered flip phone in Wine Smart
Running Android 5.1 Lollipop, the phone will find a home overseas
LG on Wednesday announced the Wine Smart, an Android-powered flip phone headed for international markets. Running the latest version of Android, the clamshell device offers a 3.2-inch display at 480 x 320 pixels.
Under the hood we find a 1.1GHz quad-core processor, 1GB RAM, and 4GB of storage with support for microSD expansion. Like other smartphones, the Wine Smart comes with a pair of cameras: 3-megapixel rear, front facing VGA. Rounding out the hardware are Bluetooth, WiFi, LTE support, and a 1700mAh battery.
If the name “Wine Smart” sounds familiar it’s likely because LG used the moniker last September when it launched another clamshell Android. Nevertheless, the new one builds on the predecessor just a smidge.
The LG Wine Smart will be offered in France, Italy, Poland, Spain, Kazakhstan, and Japan, and other countries later this month. It is not clear if LG has intentions to bring the phone to the US; we’re not betting on it.
The post LG delivers Android-powered flip phone in Wine Smart appeared first on AndroidGuys.
(Update: multiple Samsung devices, too!) Stagefright patch now rolling out to the Nexus 6 and Nexus 5 as build LMY48I
- Samsung Galaxy S6 – G920PVPU2BOGA
- Samsung Galaxy S6 Edge – G925PVPU2BOGA
- Samsung Galaxy S5 – G900PVPU3BOG1
- Samsung Galaxy Note Edge – N915PVPU4COG1
The update may take a day or two to make its way to your device, but at least we now know that a fix is coming. To check for the update manually, head to Settings>System update>Update now.
Original post: According to a couple of Sprint update documents, the Nexus 6 and Nexus 5 should be receiving an update today carrying build LMY48I. The new build brings security fixes for the Stagefright flaw we first heard about a few days ago. Build LMY48I doesn’t appear to bring any fixes other than the patch for the Stagefright issue.
The Stagefright exploit is a new vulnerability found in the Android operating system that can affect devices running Android 2.2 or later. As of right now, there really isn’t anything to worry about, but we’d still advise you to check out our full explanation on the Stagefright exploit here.
While there are still no new factory images posted by Google for these devices, this is a pretty good sign that the updates should start rolling out sometime soon. Have you gotten the new update for your device? If so, be sure to let us know in the comments section down below.
Google and MIT showcase photography algorithm that eliminates reflections
If you’ve ever watched an episode of Law & Order or CSI, you have probably noticed some outlandish forensic work involving photographs being used to aid the show’s team of detectives in furthering their investigation. Sometimes it’s clearing up pixelations or using a minute reflection in a window to read some perp’s name tag, which are all things that’s mostly cooked up in fantasy.
Until now…
In a partnership between Google and the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT), breakthrough work in photography algorithms has allowed researchers to eliminate, or mostly eliminate, occlusions and reflections from photographs. This is the part that’s great for consumers taking photographs at zoos and out of windows.
In order to do this, the image separates the background from the occlusion or reflection. This means that by the camera isolating the obstruction, it’s able to render that as a completely separate image with amazing clarity. This is the part good for law enforcement.
To get a better understanding of how all of this works, MIT researcher Tianfan Xue has uploaded an awesome YouTube video demonstrating the algorithm, which you can view below.
Click here to view the embedded video.
Xue will be joined by his fellow research partners in presenting a paper over their work at Siggraph 2015 this month.
Source: Google
Come comment on this article: Google and MIT showcase photography algorithm that eliminates reflections
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