TuneIn Premium introduced: sports, music and audio books for only $7.99 a month!
Are you a TuneIn user? The service just got better for those of you willing to spend $7.99 a month for a Premium subscription. The streaming service has just announced the new TuneIn Premium, which goes beyond your basic radio stations and podcasts.
The new TuneIn Premium grants access to live play-by-play events from every MLB and BPL game. In addition, TuneIn Premium offers over 40,000 audio books and 600+ commercial-free music stations (we suppose this is aside from the 100,000 radio stations TuneIn usually brags about). Those pesky banner ads will also disappear from your sight! Oh, and there are language learning courses, too!
Of course, you can get your 30-day free trial, just in case you are not sure about making a bigger investment into the service. I happen to like the fact that TuneIn Premium seems to offer multiple types of content, not just music. It has a little bit from multiple audio entertainment types.
You can get the app straight from the Google Play Store. By the way, it happens to have a 4.3/5 star rating, so you know you are getting something worth your time and cash. Have any of you been using TuneIn? How do you like the app. Are you signing up for the Premium plan? Hit the comments to share your thoughts and experiences!
‘Magic: The Gathering – Puzzle Quest’ game coming to mobile
Are you a fan of the Magic: The Gathering trading card game? I still remember collecting those cards and battling it out with my friends during lunch. Those who were (or are) also part of the Magic club will love to hear today’s news. Wizards of the Coast has partnered with D3 Go! to release a new game. The moniker is a bit confusing, but here it goes. The new app will go by the name of “Magic: The Gathering – Puzzle Quest”.
Well, those are a bunch of symbols, aren’t they? As you should have guessed, this will be part of the Puzzle Quest franchise, so it won’t be as complex as the actual Magic: The Gathering game. All you have to do is keep matching three identical symbols and get as many points as possible. Users can complete quests, daily events and even join tournaments. And though the game is not exactly the same as Magic: The Gathering, it does have some card elements, including the ability to collect creatures, spells and artifacts, which can later be used in battles.
“Magic: The Gathering – Puzzle Quest is the ideal marriage of the deep lore and strategic elements of Wizards of the Coasts’ iconic series, along with the gripping match-three gameplay of one of the most popular puzzle game series in history. From the competitive tournaments to the intense in-game battles, Magic: The Gathering – Puzzle Quest perfectly encapsulates the strongest elements of both franchises to create something compellingly new, yet perfectly intuitive to Magic fans and puzzle gamers alike.” -Peter Andrew, vice president of publishing at D3 Go!
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‘Magic: The Gathering – Puzzle Quest’ (seriously, what’s with the name?!) will be available for both iOS and Android. As it goes with most recent mobile games, this one will be free to download, but there will be in-app purchases for those who want to advance quicker.
We are not sure about the actual launch date, but it’s said the game will be showcased at PAX Prime 2015, which takes off this Friday. Are any of you looking to play this game? I haven’t touched anything related to Magic: The Gathering in a long time! I will definitely give it a shot.
Sketchy Photo of Claimed ‘iPhone 6s Plus’ Box Surfaces Alongside Rumor of Smaller Battery
A new photo obtained by cnBeta [Google Translate] (via Macotakara [Google Translate]) allegedly shows off what appears to be the packaging of the upcoming iPhone 6s Plus. The photo depicts a standard white iPhone box, similar to what Apple has used as packaging for previous phones.
The box is unfolded and has what appears to be a gold iPhone 6s Plus on the front, a gold Apple logo on the bottom and “iPhone 6s Plus” written on the side. The “S” is within a small square, as is standard on iPhone “S” packaging. The box also shows off what looks to be a brand new wallpaper featuring a black and gold fish.
Additionally, cnBeta says that the iPhone 6s’ battery capacity will be down to 1715 mAh from the iPhone 6’s 1800 mAh, while the iPhone 6s Plus will be down to 2750 mAh from the iPhone 6 Plus’ 2910 mAh. Macotakara says they’ve also heard the battery capacity for both models will be lower, lining up with earlier rumors that the battery capacity in the phones would be smaller. If true, it likely indicates Apple has increased the battery efficiency of both “S” phone models in order to make up for the smaller battery capacity.
However, it’s unclear how authentic the photos of the iPhone 6s Plus packaging are. The material of the box appears to be a thinner material than current iPhone packaging and displays an unfamiliar wallpaper that has not appeared in any iOS 9 betas thus far.
Apple is expected to announce both the iPhone 6s and iPhone 6s Plus at a September 9 event. The Cupertino company is also expected to finally unveil its new Apple TV with a new touch-based remote and full App Store. New rumors indicate the event could be held at the Bill Graham Civic Auditorium in San Francisco.
Canon’s EOS M3 mirrorless camera is coming to the US
Canon is bringing its latest mirrorless camera, the EOS M3, to the US after all. The Japan-based manufacturer announced this compact shooter back in February, but now people in the States will have a chance to get their hands on it. A follow-up to the M2 from 2013, the M3 features a 24.2-megapixel APS-C CMOS sensor, Hybrid AF III focusing system and Digic 6 image processor– all specs found on the Rebel T6s and T6i DSLRs. Just as well, Canon’s new mirrorless comes with the same battery type (LP-E17), focus peaking and dynamic stabilization as its bigger siblings, so you can expect similar performance from a camera that’s wrapped in a much smaller package. What’s more, you’ll get NFC, WiFi and 1080p recording at 24, 25 and 30 fps, while the max ISO range is set at 6,400 and 12,800 for video and pictures, respectively.Slideshow-315559
We’ve only spent a couple of days with the EOS M3, but it’s been impressive so far — especially when compared to both of its predecessors. The autofocus is accurate and fast; it’s comfortable to hold; and the addition of an articulating screen gives you more flexibility when you’re shooting. We’ll make a final judgment on the camera later on. But for now, if you’re into it, you can prepare your wallet for when the M3 goes on sale in “early” October. It’ll be available in black and white for $680 (body-only), or $800 for the kit that includes an 18-55mm lens.Slideshow-315502
Filed under:
Cameras
Tags: Canon, CanonEOSM, CanonEOSM3, CanonM3, EOSM, EOSM3, hands-on, M3, MirrorlessCamera
North Dakota cops will be first in nation to use weaponized drones
North Dakota’s Bill 1328 was supposed to be cut and dry. “In my opinion there should be a nice, red line: drones should not be weaponized. Period,” Rep. Rick Becker (R-Bismarck), the bill’s original sponsor, told a committee hearing back in March, per The Daily Beast. That was going to happen too, at least until an industry lobbying firm got involved. Now, law enforcement agencies in North Dakota are legally allowed to arm their UAVs with any manner of weapons, so long as they aren’t “lethal“.
The bill was, in fact, originally designed to strictly limit law enforcement’s ability to weaponize drones. It also demanded that police obtain a search warrant from a judge before employing drones in an investigation. However, a rep from the North Dakota Peace Officer’s Association then amended the bill — at the behest of the state house committee, no less — to limit only “lethal weapons.” Anything classified as “less than lethal” is now allowed. That means cops can outfit their UAVs with everything from rubber bullets, pepper spray and Tasers to tear gas and sound cannons. And, as The Guardian points out, “less than lethal” police Tasers have already killed 39 Americans this year alone.
‘When you’re not on the ground, and you’re making decisions, you’re sort of separate,” bemoaned Becker back in March. “Depersonalized.” Given that law enforcement officials have already killed some 774 Americans this year, a future Good Kill-like scenario featuring your neighborhood police feels all too real.
Atlanta police officers with an unarmed UAV during last year’s Ferguson protests – Image Credit: Associated Press
Not so, Grand Forks County Sheriff Bob Rost told The Daily Beast. “It was a bad bill to start with,” Rost said. “We just thought the whole thing was ridiculous.” He also took umbrage with the fact that he’d need a search warrant to use his county’s drone when searching for evidence, clearly misunderstanding the core concept behind how search warrants work.
And it wasn’t just law enforcement that had a hand in castrating this bill. North Dakota’s Department of Commerce, the director of the University of North Dakota’s drone major program and various economic groups that would benefit from lax regulation testified against it. The reason for this, according Keith Lund of the Grand Forks Regional Economic Development Corporation, is simple.
“It’s really all about the commercial development, which is where all of this is heading,” Lund said during the hearing in March. “If [a law] is somehow limiting commercial, law enforcement development… that is a negative in terms of companies looking and investing in opportunities in the state of North Dakota.” Because who needs civil liberties when there’s money to be made by the UAV industry?
[Image Credit: AFP/Getty Images]
Filed under:
Wireless
Source:
Daily Beast
Tags: Atlanta Police Department, drones, guns, lawenforcement, lobbyists, North Dakota, northdakota, UAV, University of North Dakota, weapons
Report: Lenovo Mobile to be dissolved and sell all phones under the Motorola branding
When word broke that Lenovo would be purchasing Motorola from its former owner, there was a bit of shock, a bit of awe, and a bit of business-as-usual. It had long been asserted that Google purchased the company largely for its patents and more advanced research projects, and despite the favorable reception to products such as the Moto X, Moto G, and Moto E, the acquisition wasn’t exactly bringing home the bacon.
While Western markets might be largely unaware of Lenovo’s presence in the smartphone industry, it has been an established player for some time. Still, much as how ZTE initially chose to hide its branding on the Axon Phone, so too has Lenovo -arguably- needed a way to make the global market feel comforted and at-ease with its products.
One brand to rule (them both)
The solution now seems to be clear: a report from Xiaomi Times indicates Lenovo will soon dissolve its own smartphone branding, instead leaving everything to Motorola’s doings. Specifically, according to Lenovo Mobile Group President Chen Xudong, Lenovo Mobile will eventually be merged into Motorola. “The new organizational structure will be immediately released,” said the SEO in an interview with Interface News.
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The decision was allegedly in planning for about a year, with the main problem having been trying to decide the best way to manage two separate companies that were, essentially, doing the same thing. Most of the management will apparently be comprised of Motorola staff, though Lenovo CEO Yang Yuanqing will still be calling all the shots.
Due to English-grammar related issues in the source report, it is unclear as to what will happen to the Zuk brand. A dual-branding is mentioned, with the idea that the it will become the company’s “flagship Internet brand” which might indicate it will be sold exclusively in key Asian territories online-only, and the Motorola branding will thus be used for all other devices sold in outside markets.
Even the Nexus 6 made use of Motorola’s signature design language.
Digital Trends has a slightly clearer interpretation, suggesting that “Lenovo’s high-end mobile brand Zuk will also merge into Motorola, even though the Zuk Z1 gained more than two million pre-orders. We expect Zuk will continue to sell devices online even with the change in management, as it competes against Xiaomi and OnePlus in the growing online-only market.”
What would it mean for Motorola?
On paper, this is a great idea. Lenovo has some fantastic looking devices, though as a company it lacks the smartphone brand-awareness that would otherwise help it to be successful in the global market. Motorola in turn, has a very solid product line-up, but has only a sparse three or four offerings to choose from: those looking for anything outside the box have previously needed to resort to other OEMs to meet their demands.
In practice, only time will tell what kind of results occur. If Motorola will indeed be responsible for all development, this could mean some of Lenovo’s more creative products such as the Vibe Shot or dual-selfie Vibe S1 will be the last of their kind. Motorola, as it exists today, has a singular design language going on with its products, and has been using it for the last few years now. (Of course there are off-shoots like the Droid Turbo/Moto Maxx). Will this result in “Lenovo phones” being forced to confirm? Or could it mean that Motorola products will begin to evolve and differentiate?
The Lenovo Vibe Shot has a very nice design aesthetic going on.
As Digital Trends also makes note of, the Motorola brand has not been as successful in Asia as Lenovo’s, and thus the former will have a sizable task in trying to decide just what to do with the products that have already been established.
There is also the issue of tablets, namely in terms of what Lenovo will opt to do with them. Will Android devices be turned over to Motorola as well? Will they continue to be developed separately by Lenovo? While the former would see the return of Motorola to the tablet world, the latter might result in some device overlap or inconsistencies.
Suffice to say, there are a lot of exciting prospects at hand for this new stage, and we look forward to seeing what potential products are produced.
Somewhat skeptical?
Despite the more concrete nature of this report given it was allegedly based on an interview, it should be noted that we advise our readers to approach the issue with some skepticism: The idea of Lenovo Mobile being folded into Motorola is a big issue. A very big one. Given that all current mentions of this story cite the same original post, Xiaomi Times, we must ask why it is Lenovo itself has not issued an official Press Release to provide the information. There could have been a bad translation somewhere, for example.
Alternatively, this could be a solid fact in China and the issue is simply that an official English-language Press Release or formal announcement has yet to be made. We will update this story in the event there are any further developments or official corporate confirmation.
The colorful new Moto G (2015)
At the very least, given Lenovo’s poor Q2 2015 performance results and potential for subsequent layoff announcements at Motorola, a more streamlined approach to its management and handling of the mobile market is definitely a good idea.
Let’s hear it!
What are your thoughts on the potential folding of Lenovo Mobile into the Motorola branding? Have you owned a Lenovo smartphone? Are you worried about what it might mean for Motorola products? Do you still regret Google’s sale? Please feel free to vote in the poll below, and leave us your comments and let us know!
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Deal: GOgroove Bluetooth car kit only $16.99!
Looking for a hands-free Bluetooth kit? There’s plenty of options out there, but for $16.99 you could definitely do much worse than the GOgroove hands-free Bluetooth car kit. That’s how much the accessory is being sold for at Amazon, which just so happens to be a $25 (56%) discount over the original price.
The system is pretty simple to operate. Just plug the car charger in and connect to your Bluetooth-enabled device. This process is made simpler to those who happen to have NFC technology available, as the product has an integrated chip for easy pairing.
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Need to charge your phone? No worries, the connector comes with an extra 2.1A USB port for powering any other handset. Pretty nifty, right? Once it’s all set up, you can make all the calls you want, as well as having access to music control, voice commands and more.
Want in on the deal? If you go to the Amazon product page you will see the price is still set at $41.99 with free shipping. To get the price down to $16.99, simply use coupon code “SAVEBLU1″ during checkout. This will grant yuo the $25 discount and you will be ready to head out the door with your brand new GOgroove Bluetooth car kit.
LG made a solid, roll-up keyboard for your tablet or giant smartphone
To the untrained eye, LG’s new Bluetooth keyboard looks like a (very long) mobile battery, but that’s because it’s all bundled up. Unfurl the Rolly and you’ll get a “full-size” keyboard that automatically switches on and connects to your nearest (LG?) tablet. There’s a stand built into the top of the device, which will hold tablets up to ten inches big. The keys are made of solid plastic (not the flat, squishy kind), which LG hopes will offer a typing experience close to what you’re used to on your PC. The keyboard is just the start: the company says it plans to offer even more “input devices” in the next few months. The Rolly will launch this September in the US first, rolling out to the rest of the world soon after. (You’re welcome.)
Filed under:
Peripherals, Tablets, LG
Source:
LG
Tags: bluetooth, BluetoothKeyboard, ifa, ifa2015, keyboard, lg, video
Colorful 3D cancer models show how tumors grow
Cancer is a terrible thing, but a beautiful representation of it might just help health care experts treat the disease more effectively. An international team of researchers has developed a 3D tumor simulation that shows how cancerous cells grow and mutate unevenly over time. Each color you see in a given model represents a different mutation — the more successful one of these aberrations is at migrating and reproducing, the more its color dominates the tumor. The simulation is also much better than previous models at representing the overall shapes of tumors, illustrating the bulges that come as the cancer rapidly outgrows any nearby healthy cells.
This isn’t a perfect replication of a tumor. It tends to omit or simplify a few factors, so you couldn’t use the code to predict how illnesses develop in a real body. However, the jump in accuracy may still be extremely helpful. Scientists could gauge the effectiveness of treatments before going ahead with clinical trials, or study the resistances that lead to a tumor bouncing back following a remission. In essence, the medical world should spend more time refining its cancer-fighting techniques and less time double-checking that these techniques work.
Filed under:
Science
Via:
Motherboard
Source:
Nature
Tags: cancer, cell, health, medicine, science, simulation, tumor, video
Coin version 2.0 brings NFC to your credit cards
Coin version 2.0 brings NFC to your credit cards. The way Coin works is by storing all your credit cards on your phone and syncing them to the Coin card. The new 2.0 version adds NFC in “Early Access Mode”, allowing tap-to-pay at most, but not all retailers.
The Coin card can be bought today, but Coin says they are working on “additional partnerships” with banks and finical institutions. Meaning, right now cards that can be added are limited, but eventually more cards will be added for tap-and-go payments.
The new version also becomes thinner than before, allows you to assign a four-character name to cards, and accepts over-the-air updates. Not to mention, being twice as fast compared to version 1.0.
If you already have the first generation card, you will be happy to know, Coin is allowing free upgrades to 2.0 using the Android or iOS app. There is no extra charge, and you can check the shipping date through the app or Coin’s website. Those of you who would like to purchase a Coin card can pre-order one for $117.50.
Click here to view the embedded video.
Source: Coin
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