Prana: an LED exhibit that breathes with you
As you step into the shimmering globe of 13,000 LEDs, a sensor detects your presence. It reacts to the rise and fall of your lungs and illuminates the sphere of suspended lights called PRANA. The signal from the chip works its way to a computer that’s loaded with custom javascript. The program triggers a variety of light effects – from pitch dark to sparkling lights – that fall in sync with your breathing to wrap you in a hypnotic glow. “Breathing is something that powers the body but you can’t see it or detect it in very many ways,” says Ben Hughes, managing creative director of B-Reel New York, the creative agency that created the experience. “PRANA is an attempt to visualize the unseen energy of our bodies and augment it in a really interesting way.”
As an agency that works with tech companies like Google, Facebook and Spotify, B-reel is no stranger to the world of technology. Mike Potter, the art director, spent almost a year in R&D to find the technology that could power the team’s vision. The search ended with a XeThru chip, a Norwegian sensor with a radar that’s sensitive enough to measure a baby’s vital signs and powerful enough to pick up a presence even through walls. It’s a fully digital system that’s been used for security measures and disaster recovery. “[It can] find people trapped in collapsed buildings,” says Hughes. “We’re using it for very sensitive motion detection. The way we’re reading the visitor’s breath is through the small motions of their chest as they stand in the middle of the exhibit.”
The installation, which was parked at the Fridman Gallery in SoHo in New York, is expected to travel. But for now, the studio has opened it up digitally to the public via a code editor that allows anyone to play around with the animation online. “The hope is that over time we’ll have a constantly growing library of animations that have been submitted by the public that we can play out on the structure,” says Hughes. “It’s a way of allowing other people to touch it and interact with it.”
[Image credit: XeThru, Novelda]
Tags: ArtExhibition, B-Reel, BreathingSensor, DisasterRecoveryChip, google, installation, led, Prana, radar, sensor, spotify, XeThru
Motorola trimming 25% of Chicago workforce
The skies are a little darker over Chicago today as Motorola Mobility is trimming its staff by 500 positions, or 25 percent of its workforce. Parent company Lenovo is restructuring and reported to be cutting jobs in other locations as well. Given phone sales are down 31 percent as compared to one year ago, it stands to reason that Lenovo would want to stem bleeding as soon as possible.
The Chicago site is Motorola’s largest facility in terms of head count. But, as much as this one stings, it sounds like it could hurt even more in other parts of the world.
“It’s across all functions, affecting all departments. Chicago is not as badly impacted as some of our other sites.“
Motorola only recently moved to its Chicago location and takes up four floors of the Merchandise Mart building. Looking ahead, it’s unclear whether they’ll continue to occupy the entire space or whether it will look to sell unused areas.
“There’s nothing specific we can announce. The Merchandise Mart continues to be our headquarters and will still be the hub for global R&D and home for our labs. We’ll continue to be there.“
If there is a bright side to the situation, a majority of Motorola’s staff is comprised of engineers and technical workers. As such, we might hope for those losing jobs to quickly find work with other companies.
The post Motorola trimming 25% of Chicago workforce appeared first on AndroidGuys.
Eye Spy Pumpic device monitoring review (Review)
I
n the technologically advanced era we currently live in kids are becoming more and more tech savvy. Thus, parents are getting left behind in a cloud of smoke and mirrors. Parents yearn for the ability to monitor their child’s daily activities, devices, and understanding who they really are versus their online alter ego.
Pumpic, a mobile monitoring company, has created a digital solution to this problem that monitors your child’s mobile device. Pumpic gives parents the ability to view their child’s social media posts,SMS/MMS messages, current location and more.
Setup
In order to use Pumpic, the targeted device to be monitored must be rooted. You will also need to log on to Www.Pumpic.com to register/sign up for an account.
1) After registration, you will receive an email with your login and password credentials.
2) You will need to log in to Pumpic and follow the setup wizard to continue.
Follow Setup Process:
- choose OS (Android);
- download the app on the phone that you are going to monitor (the target device) and make all necessary settings
- enter a PIN code on the target device to connect it to your Control Panel
- set up an admin password for Pumpic app on the target device
3) After approximately 20 minutes, monitoring will start on the target device.
Function
In order to monitor a device, I had to be logged into Pumpic.com and access its control Panel. The control panel is professionally designed with a crisp clean white layout overlaid with minimalist icons. Navigating between the features menus is effortless and intuitive; I just had to scroll up and down with my mouse.
When you click on a particular feature, for example SMS: a web page displays the date of the message, type of message (SMS/MMS), the number it was sent/contact name, the messages content, and the status of the message if it is still on device or has been deleted. This same formula is a recurring theme although it changes to fit the current category you are monitoring.
Surprisingly, Pumpic was very accurate on the location of the device I monitored. Pumpic pinpointed the location within 400 feet of the device’s actual location.
Emails, photos, and videos when monitored synced with the monitoring app with no problem and appeared nearly in real time with a slight lag of 45-80 seconds.
Monitoring the device without having to sneak or actually have the it in hand allows for a controlled, confrontation-free experience. What’s great about Pumpic is you don’t need to rely on neighbors or friends spying or your children, expensive camera equipment, you just have to have an internet connection and know how to navigate a web browser.
Target Audience
So whom might be interested in using Pumpic? Pumpic allows you to monitor a device although it is not done subtly. In order to use Pumpic, you need to have the app installed on the target device and with that being said the app on the phone is listed as “Monitoring”. So if you are wanting a secretive monitoring solution PumPic is not for you. PumPic is great for parents who are really interested in monitoring their child’s posts, actions and really don’t care about invading their child’s privacy.
What We Like
- Pumpic is very useful monitoring tool
- Design is professional clean and intuitive
- Application and monitoring options are easy to use.
What We Don’t Like
- Device has to be rooted in order to use app
- Pricing options, not a set one time fee, have to select from a variety of monthly payment options
- The app has to be first set up on the monitored device, would prefer an option where monitoring is more subtle.
Summary
My initial thought of Pumpic was “Wow, that’s a lot of power – one app to have the ability to track a devices movement, view social media posts, set geological gates, view the user’s typed keystrokes and more.”
After using Pumpic, I found the app to be packed with an array of useful features that allow a parent or loved one to gain endless information on the devices user. The idea behind Pumpic monitoring is genius. With that said, my experience with Pumpic gave me an eerie voyeuristic sensation due to the fact that you are able to be really intrusive with the access you have from the device.
I believe that Pumpic is very useful, but I would like to see features that gives more of a proactive approach to the monitoring service. What good is it to just see the posts and messages sent from the device? Why not go further and give at least an option to toggle on or off to first view or scan messages and posts before they are sent/posted.
Pumpic is a well-designed app that is easy to register, set up, and use. Pumpic enables you to deeply monitor a personal vault that is normally locked tight and protected by any means necessary.
The sweeter features come at a recurring fee with packages ranging from $5.33-$83.99 with payment intervals of 1 month, 3 month, 6 months, and 12 months. If you want to monitor closely, be prepared to spend some cash. Worth noting, there is also a free 7-day trial available here.
Disclaimer: BE AWARE
Above is the surface review of the functionality of the device, along with its respective star rating (below). Nevertheless, we feel strongly that you should also consider the following before using this service.
The reviewer of this service installed the necessary programs on his device in order to give a review. When he completed using it, he naturally uninstalled the app as he did not have use for it. When this was done, he received a call from someone at Pumpic, who proceeded to ask him questions regarding the un-installation of the the service.
We then reached out to the Pumpic team regarding the situation as we found it somewhat alarming. After seeking clarification, and in turn expressing concern, Pumpic did not seem to directly address our concern, but advised it would not share the information with other parties or use it for personal purposes.
Considering the nature of this service, and the fact that you need your device rooted, we felt that we should be transparent about our experience so that our readers have all the information before using a product we reviewed.
If interested in using Pumpic click the link here. If you have used Pumpic tell us about your experience by leaving a comment below.
The post Eye Spy Pumpic device monitoring review (Review) appeared first on AndroidGuys.
OtterBox reveals its range of cases for Samsung’s Galaxy Note 5 and Galaxy S6 Edge+
So, you watched Samsung’s Unpacked event yesterday and decided to pre-order a Galaxy Note 5 (not in Europe of course) or the Galaxy S6 Edge+. What about when you get your hands on it, how will you protect the metal and glass constructed smartphones from life’s everyday knocks and scratches? Luckily, OtterBox has some options for you to choose from.
Dealing with the Galaxy S6 Edge+ first, you can choose from OtterBox’s slim and sleek Symmetry Series that has a raised beveled edge that helps keep the display safe from drops and scratches without interfering with the functionality of the dual-edge display. The Symmetry Series comes in a variety of color options and a price tag of $49.95. It is also available for the Note 5.
If you would like a case that is more rugged for the Note 5, You can choose OtterBox’s heavy duty Defender Series. As you can see from the image above, it’s quite a bit more substantial than the Symmetry Series. The Defender case offers three layers of protection for the Note 5, consisting of a polycarbonate shell to guard against drops and knocks, an outer cover that helps disperse the shock from being dropped or knocked, and finally a built-in screen protector to prevent scratches. The Defender Series case is available in a variety of color schemes and will set you back $69.90.
Finally, if you want something that offers a level of protection in-between the Symmetry and Defender Series of cases, OtterBox have the Commuter Series, a slim-ish case with two layers of protection. Much like the Defender case, it has an inner layer that absorbs shock with an outer shell that absorbs the impact from falling. It costs $49.90 and is also available in a bunch of color options. You can get a better look at OtterBox’s offerings right here.
Source: PRNewsWire
Come comment on this article: OtterBox reveals its range of cases for Samsung’s Galaxy Note 5 and Galaxy S6 Edge+
Another Report Claims No iPad Air 3 Launching in Near Future
Apple is expected to announce new iPhones and iPads over the next month or so in preparation for the holiday shopping season, but it remains unclear which iPad models in particular will be unveiled.
It is widely believed that a new iPad mini 4 will be announced, but rumors about the iPad Air 3 and so-called “iPad Pro” and their respective release dates have been inconsistent thus far.
A new report from Taiwanese blog DigiTimes offers some further details, corroborating a previous rumor that Apple is not planning an iPad Air 3 right now and focusing its efforts on the iPad mini 4.
The report claims that Apple’s upstream supply chain is readying components for the fourth-generation tablet, noting that it will only have minor upgrades over the current iPad mini. Recent reports suggest the upcoming 7.9-inch tablet will likely be a slimmed down version of the iPad Air 2 and support split-view multitasking.
DigiTimes has a mixed track record at reporting on Apple’s upcoming product plans, so its latest report should be treated with a proverbial grain of salt. Moreover, the more reliable Japanese blog Mac Otakara reported in July that an A9-based iPad Air 3 is still possible for 2015, so Apple’s roadmap remains unclear and could change between now and the forthcoming iPhone and iPad event.
Apple has faced six consecutive quarters of declining iPad sales year-over-year as the broader tablet market continues to decline.
LG’s new G Pad 2 8.0 has a full-sized USB port in-tow
Perhaps lost in the grand fanfare of LG’s Korean neighbor, a new tablet offering has been released. The LG G Pad II 8.0 looks quite similar to the mid-range device that came before it, however some new additions will ideally allow for increased productivity and use.
The tablet packs an 8-inch 1280X800 IPS LCD display, 1.2GHz Qualcomm Snapdragon 400 SoC, 1.5GB of RAM, 32GB of eMMC on-board storage, a 5-megapixel rear camera and 2-megapixel front camera. It supports microSD, includes a 4,200mAh battery, and runs Android 5.0. Unlike most other devices, it also includes a full-sized USB 2.0 port.
As the above picture explains, the full sized USB port can be used with everything from transferring files to the PC to plugging-in a keyboard to even using a PS4 controller. This is a markedly different approach than other OEMs who have experimented with USB OTG support for some time now, but typically have always required the customer to purchase an optional accessory to facilitate it.
Also being touted with the G Pad 2 8.0 is pre-installed applications for productivity in the form of Microsoft Office. MS Word, MS Excel, and MS PowerPoint are all included, though it will remain to be seen as to if they can be removed entirely or else only disabled as with some of Samsung’s recent devices. 
LG is also touting the inclusion of a new, even thinner-tipped stylus at just 3.5mm allowing for more accurate input:
The product is only being released in South Korea for the time being, but given the larger-scale release of last year’s offerings it would not be surprising to see LG’s latest reach additional territories, possibly with LTE support included.
Deal: MiiShower Bluetooth speaker only $24.99!
There’s no shortage of Bluetooth speakers out there (here are some of our favorites), but how many of them can you take into the shower? Yeah… not many. This is why we are so excited about today’s offer from the AA Deals Store.
The compact MiiShower Bluetooth speaker is waterproof, which means you can take it to the shower, pool or the beach. All with no risks of damaging your accessory. This product works on Bluetooth 3.0 and can connect to your device at a 10-meter range. Its buttons can control your media, as well as calls, making it a convenient tool. The only downside is battery life averages only at about 3 hours of playback, but you must also consider this device’s small size.
For only $24.99, you really can’t go wrong with this one! That happens to be a 50% discount over its original $50 price point and much cheaper than you’ll find on Amazon.
New Android M teaser video asks “What’s M gonna be?”
The Note 5 announcement may be behind us now, but this year is far from over when it comes to anticipating hot new phones. Not only do we expect to see some intriguing devices from Sony, Huawei, LG and others at IFA, there’s all the next-gen Nexus family to consider. Beyond the hardware, many of us are also looking forward to the next version of Android.
What will Android M’s final name be? While we are still at the guessing stage, a new teaser video from Google employees Nat and Lo indicates that we are getting closer to finding out. The video goes through the Android release names we’ve seen up until now, and ends with a little teaser portion talking about various M-named desserts. As expected, both Marshamallow, Milkshake, and Moon Pie are highlighted as just a few possibilities.
What final name are you hoping to see for Android M? Let us know your thoughts in the comments.
Samsung Galaxy Note 5: what it packs and what it lacks
The Samsung Galaxy Note 5 is going to be one of the most sought after handsets of 2015. It reached the market with high anticipation and made every fanboy go nuts. We spent some good time playing with it and even compared it to its main competitors. The dust has now settled, so it’s time to take a look back at the phone and see if it’s really what you want.
In this post we will focus on the things that make the Samsung Galaxy Note 5 special, as well as the lacking elements that could have made it an outstanding phone. Let’s start with what the phone is missing, shall we?
What the Samsung Galaxy Note 5 lacks
An identity
This may sound a bit harsh, but the Samsung Galaxy Note 5 is just a larger copy of the Galaxy S6… with curves on the back. Samsung’s Note series has always differentiated itself from the Galaxy S line-up in many ways, but this is not the case this time around.
For starters, Galaxy Note handsets are always much more specced out than their smaller counterparts. The Samsung Galaxy S6 and Note 5 both have a Samsung Exynos 7420 processor, they sport the same camera, pack very similar software and all other specs are very closely related.
Furthermore, the designs are pretty much identical, save for the larger size, back curves and S-Pen slot on the Galaxy Note 5. This was done on purpose, as Samsung is trying to move to a more premium build and better looks. The issue here is the are way too closely related, in every way. All other Notes looked significantly different from their Galaxy brethren, even if they were based on the smaller handsets.
A microSD card slot
Samsung devices have always been characterized by their storage flexibility, allowing you to use microSD cards while most other manufacturers took those rights away. Samsung did away with expandable storage when they released the Galaxy S6. And since the Note 5 is based on the S6, the same applies to the new phablet. No more microSD card slot for you!
A 128 GB storage option
Let’s touch base on this while we are on the topic of storage. What’s up with Samsung only giving us 32 GB and 64 GB memory options? Yes, 64 GB is plenty of room for most people, but not for everyone. If they won’t give us expandable storage, we should have at least gotten more choices. Samsung’s main competitor is Apple, and the iPhone 6 Plus has a 128 GB option (just let that sink in). Not only that, but the Galaxy S6 devices also have 128 GB options!
A removable battery
Here’s another feature Samsung used to be famous for and they killed with their latest flagships. Removable batteries are important to many of us. The ability to carry multiple batteries and swap them on-the-go changes your whole experience! Battery life becomes much less of an issue. Not to mention, once that battery gets old you don’t have to jump through hurdles just to install a new one.
An IR blaster
This one may seem like a gimmick to some, but once you can replace your remote control with your smartphone, you really can’t go back. Some phones out there sport IR blasters, allowing them to control TVs, sound systems, cable boxes, stereos and more. I love using the LG G4 to control my entertainment system. Smart devices are great, and they will discard the need for infrared technology at some point, but we haven’t reached that milestone just yet. Please, give us them IR blasters!
What the Samsung Galaxy Note 5 packs
That S-Pen stylus!
Without a doubt, the famous S-Pen stylus is one of the most proclaimed features in the Galaxy Note series. The Samsung Galaxy Note 5 also has it, and it has been improved. The pen now uses a spring release mechanism that can be used as an anxiety soothing tool (you can click it when you are bored). Yeah, yeah – some say it’s there to help you remove the pen from the device.
Samsung has refined the Air Command menu, making it much sleeker and aesthetically pleasing. Of course, you can still use Action Memo, Smart Select, Screen Write, S-Note and more. It’s still one of the best smartphone stylus pens we have seen hit the market.
A larger battery than the S6
This one is important. Now that Samsung has done away with removable batteries, we can no longer swap them. You can also kiss those extended batteries goodbye. This became a huge issue when people started reporting lackluster battery life on the Galaxy S6. Thankfully, the Samsung Galaxy Note 5 is blessed by a larger 3000 mAh unit. While this is actually smaller than the Note 4’s battery, it is bigger than the S6. Considering the only difference between the GS6 is a few inches of screen, we imagine the Note 5 should provide reasonably decent battery life even if it could have been even better.
The best smartphone camera in the industry
This is one area in which the Samsung Galaxy Note 5 won’t disappoint. It sports the same camera as the Samsung Galaxy S6, which in turn means it has the best smartphone camera in the industry. This 16 MP sensor with OIS (optical image stabilization) can produce some of the best images around, hands down. Here are some sample images from the Galaxy S6 and S6 Edge.
A large, gorgeous screen
The screen is such an important part of the phone, and when it comes to offering a pleasant viewing experience Samsung has every single chess piece in the right place. Not only is the Samsung Galaxy Note 5 sporting a sizable 5.7-inch display, but it happens to be one gorgeous screen!
As it goes with new flagships, the Note 5 screen touts a QHD 2560x1440p resolution. In addition, this happens to be a Super AMOLED display, a technology which is known for its vivid colors and deep blacks. It may not offer the most accurate colors, but they sure are the funnest and most striking.
Most sensors and technologies you can think of
Even though the Samsung Galaxy Note 5 doesn’t sport an IR blaster, that doesn’t mean the phone is not well connected. Samsung is known for its experimental habits and they tend to be very thorough in supporting all the awesome technologies out there. This thing is as loaded as phones get!
Aside from the usual things (WiFi, Bluetooth, etc.), the Samsung Galaxy Note 5 also supports NFC, fast charging, wireless charging (WPC and PMA) and LTE Cat 6. In addition, users can take advantage of a fingerprint reader and a hear rate monitor.
A beautiful design
Sure, the Note 5 may lack an identity to some degree but that doesn’t mean it isn’t a sexy beast. The Galaxy S6 is easily one of the most attractive phones of 2015, and the Note 5 (and Edge+) join its ranks with a unibody glass design that truly is a looker.
Wrapping up
So there you have it, guys. Those are all the pros and cons of having a Samsung Galaxy Note 5. Is the phone worth it? Well, that will depend on your priorities and preferences. Now that we have gone through these points, why don’t you hit the comments and tell us what you think of the Galaxy Note 5? Which of these points are important for you? Do you care much about the mentioned factors?
US court rejects Samsung’s appeal against Apple over patent fight
Samsung’s latest attempt to appeal Apple’s 2012 patent infringement victory has fallen flat. A U.S Federal Court of Appeals rejected the Korean electronics giant’s bid for reconsideration yesterday, reports the San Jose Mercury News. The original 2012 trial ended with the jury saying Samsung had infringed on some of Apple’s patents in its phone designs, and called for Samsung to pay around $1 billion dollars in damages. Subsequent court decisions eventually lowered that figure to around $548 million. Surprisingly, Samsung got some big supporters of its latest appeal, including Google, HP and Facebook. Following this latest decision, Samsung’s only option now is to get the Supreme Court to reverse the damages ruling. But given how bluntly the appeals court rejected this bid, there’s little chance of a complete reversal.
[Photo credit: Janitors/Flickr]
Filed under:
Mobile, Apple, Samsung
Source:
San Jose Mercury News
Tags: apple, ApplevSamsung, mobilepostcross, samsung
AIVAnet 