Intel chips to help pinpoint cause of bee colonies’ deaths
Researchers from Australia’s Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organisation (CSIRO) want to pinpoint the factors that lead to the mass death of honey bees everywhere, in what’s being called as colony collapse disorder. In order to do so, it teamed up with Intel earlier this year to outfit healthy bees with a “backpack” that’s a third of their weight. That backpack is actually Intel’s Edison wearables computing platform, comprised of an Atom processor, 1GB of memory, 5GB of storage, dual-band wireless WiFi, Bluetooth and a battery that can generate energy using vibration. They’ve already managed to attach chips to 10,000 bees in Tasmania, and the research is now ongoing.
CSIRO’s Professor Paulo de Souza compares the bee backpack to an airplane’s “black box flight recorder.” He says the system can help them monitor and analyze “the effects of stress factors including disease, pesticides, air pollution, water contamination, diet and extreme weather on the movements of bees and their ability to pollinate.” Since bees are pretty predictable, a device that can track their movements could lead researchers to identify what stressor makes them act weirdly and ultimately cause their death.
Wild bee colonies around the world are dying at an alarming rate. Since they’re responsible for pollinating around 33 percent of our food sources, vegetable and fruit prices could go through the roof without their help. Australia’s the ideal place to look at CCD more closely, since the country’s bees aren’t affected by a parasite called the Varroa mite yet, which has already killed numerous colonies elsewhere. While Australia’s population will serve as a good control due to the absence of Varroa mites, researchers from Brazil, Mexico, New Zealand and the UK have joined CSIRO’s Global Initiative for Honey bee Health in the past few months. The scientists plan to release their findings sometime next year and will share it with the global scientific community, because honey bee deaths affect everyone on Earth.
Filed under:
Science
Via:
BBC
Source:
CSIRO
Tags: bees, honeybees, research
Link Bubble Browser takes their premium features and makes them free
Only earlier this month did we see Link Bubble Browser add some new features and sell to an unnamed buyer. Today we see that the once premium app will now be free for everyone.
There was always a free version, but now it will include the premium features. The premium features that are now free are things like:
- An infinite number of bubbles (tabs)
- Themes base on website color
- Article mode
- Article mode for Android wear
Those of you who already purchased the premium version are probably pretty mad that it is now free. However, no need to be angry because anyone who bought the premium version after August 4th, 2015, will receive a full refund. Just email support@linkbubble.com with your transaction ID.
Source: Brian Bondy
Come comment on this article: Link Bubble Browser takes their premium features and makes them free
Etsy updates their mobile app to show you local content
Although everyone mainly knows Etsy as an online platform, they are also a network of offline communities. Their “shop local” feature let’s you find products or craftsmen close by.
The problem is that feature is only available on the desktop. Yes, I know that seemed weird and so did Etsy, which is why they have added Etsy Local to their iOS and Android app. Users will now be able to find local items or sellers near them.
The app will also make automatic recommendations for retailers and items near you that you might want to check out. It does this all based on your previous history, things like what shops and items liked when using the site. Also, if you will be traveling soon and want to see local sellers in other locations, just switch to the map to see other areas.
Source: Etsy
Come comment on this article: Etsy updates their mobile app to show you local content
Verizon makes it easier to bring (some) phones to its network
As a CDMA-based carrier (until LTE takes over), Verizon isn’t nearly as friendly to the bring-your-own-phone trend as the likes of AT&T or T-Mobile. You can’t usually swap SIM cards and expect your unlocked phone to work. Thankfully, the carrier recently made the process a whole lot easier… provided you have the right device, that is. It’ll now activate compatible, unlocked versions of the iPhone 6 and Nexus 6. So long as you can find your device’s ID and pick up a Verizon SIM, you can jump over to Big Red without having to ditch your existing hardware. You’ll likely be stuck if you own another device, but that’s more due to technology (few unlocked phones have full Verizon CDMA and LTE support at present) than anything else.
Of course, Verizon isn’t opening up strictly out of kindness. Allowing outside phones helps Verizon honor the voluntary code of conduct for American carriers, which is meant to simplify jumping between providers and stay on the government’s good side. Also, this is simply wise from a business perspective. Few people relish the thought of buying a brand new phone (or waiting for a promotional credit) to switch networks — eliminating that hurdle potentially gets more customers, whether they’re unhappy with their old service or wary of owning a carrier-locked handset.
Photo by Will Lipman.
Filed under:
Cellphones, Wireless, Mobile, Apple, Google, Verizon
Via:
9to5Mac
Source:
Verizon
Tags: apple, byop, google, iphone6, mobilepostcross, nexus6, smartphone, unlocked, verizon, wireless
VMware Fusion is ready to put Windows 10 on your Mac
Parallels may have been the first to bring Windows 10 virtualization to the Mac, but its rival VMware isn’t far behind. Its newly released VMware Fusion 8 has full support for Microsoft’s latest platform, including Cortana — you can ask it questions whenever the virtual machine is open, even if it’s in the background. Graphics also get a big helping hand this year, with faster overall performance, support for DirectX 10-only software (read: some games) and compatibility with super high-resolution 5K iMacs.
Whether or not you’ll want to pick VMware’s offering over Parallels will likely depend on how you like the finer points of their interfaces, such as their attempts to blend Windows into OS X (such as Fusion’s Unity mode). The regular edition of Fusion 8 is even priced similarly, at $80 for a fresh copy or $50 if you’re upgrading from version 6 or 7. Developers and other high-end users can shell out $200 to get Fusion 8 Pro. If you do choose VMware, though, be prepared for a hiccup — Ars Technica notes that the initial release has a bug that sometimes deprives you of the Start screen with Unity mode turned on. The flaw should be fixed soon, though, so don’t let that deter you if you prefer VMware’s approach.
Filed under:
Software
Via:
Ars Technica
Source:
VMware Fusion Blog
Tags: mac, osx, software, virtualization, virtualmachine, vmware, vmwarefusion, vmwarefusion8, windows, windows10
Motorola, LG, ASUS and Huawei reportedly introducing new Android Wear watches at IFA
It has been a bit quiet around the Android Wear realm. Is Apple stealing all the thunder? The Cupertino giant did sell more smart watches in a day than the Android Wear manufacturers shipped in 2014, collectively. In fact, Strategy Analytics’ studies suggest about 75% of all Q2, 2015 smart watches came from the iPhone maker. The Apple Watch is a force to be reckoned with, and the silence among Android Wear manufacturers may simply signify they’re getting ready for a battle to come.
According to sources familiar with upcoming Android Wear launches, multiple companies are planning to take the stage and introduce their new Android-based wearables at IFA 2015. next week. These sources couldn’t tell us much about the upcoming products, but they did give us a few hints on the general plans.
Motorola is said to launch a successor to the Moto 360, which managed to be among the most popular devices during the first Android Wear wave, thanks to its circular screen and enticing design. Meanwhile, LG is said to be planning a device similar to the LG Watch Urbane LTE. And don’t worry, it seems this time around LG is opting to use Android Wear instead of WebOS.
We have already seen the upcoming Huawei and ASUS Android Wear products, so all we can hope for is to see more details in Berlin. The Huawei Watch (yes, that’s the name) is meant to be a “timeless” piece of technology with a classic design. It’s actually quite gorgeous, but some of you will prefer the ASUS ZenWatch 2, which was unveiled at Computex last June.
Will these new Android Wear devices be able to compete against Apple’s mighty watch? Most of us will side with Google’s partners, but the truth is it’s very hard to go against the Apple Watch – those guys have the numbers! And with Samsung possibly getting rid of Google’s software on the Gear S2 in exchange of their own Tizen platform, things are looking pretty tough.
All we can do is wait and see what happens at IFA. You can be sure we will be there catching all the goodies, so keep it tuned to Android Authority for all your wearable coverage!
Android Wear videos
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Sony’s SmartWatch 3 gets a dedicated watch faces app
Personalizing the SmartWatch 3 just became easier with a new app dedicated for watch faces. Sony has released an app that allows owners of its Android Wear device to change the background, hands, time markers, accent color, and display settings. So now is your chance if you’ve ever wanted to customize the SmartWatch 3 with unique watch faces.
The timing of this app’s release is interesting as new Android Wear devices are expected at IFA 2015. Despite its Play Store listing mentioning only the SmartWatch 3, Sony could easily extend support to another smartwatch with an update.
Come comment on this article: Sony’s SmartWatch 3 gets a dedicated watch faces app
TuneIn announces premium subscription with tons of ad-free radio stations and content
TuneIn has announced a new premium subscription option for listeners that includes a ton of content that should appeal to just about everyone. The subscription includes 600 commercial free music stations, access to over 40,000 audiobooks, play-by-play coverage of all Major League Baseball games and Barclays Premier League and Bundesliga matches, and 16 language learning stations. This makes for a pretty compelling option for someone that’s looking for more than just on-demand music streaming.
The premium service will be available in the US, Canada, and the UK at first, with plans to roll out to other countries soon. The pricing will run $7.99, $8.99, and £5.99 per month, respectively. Free users will still be able to keep doing what they’ve been doing with TuneIn.
Premium content is accessible right from the TuneIn mobile app, and the company is offering a free trial to anyone that’s interested. Hit the link below to read up and get started.
source: TuneIn
Come comment on this article: TuneIn announces premium subscription with tons of ad-free radio stations and content
Etsy’s mobile apps now let you find local sellers and events
Etsy may be an online marketplace first and foremost, but the company has long had a “shop local” feature to let you find craftspeople and products made near you. Strangely, though, this feature only existed on the desktop — Etsy’s mobile app didn’t have its local feature, despite the fact that your smartphone pretty much always knows where you are. The situation has now been corrected: Etsy Local is now included in the company’s iOS and Android app. Users can now find items and sellers near them, whether they’re selling at a pop-up shop or through a local retailer, and Etsy sellers can add real-life locations to find their work.
The app will also automatically make recommendations for retailers and items near you worth checking out; it’s all based on your Etsy history, including what shops and specific you’ve favorited while using the site. And if you’d rather see local goods in areas that outside of your current city, you can just use the built-in map to explore any other location you choose. The company may still not want you selling spells, but you can find other local goods in person by updating to the new app — it’s available now in iTunes and Google Play.
Filed under:
Mobile
Source:
Etsy
Tags: crafts, etsy, etsyapp, etsylocal, mobilepostcross, shopping
‘Splatoon’ is getting a 61-tune soundtrack in Japan
If you’ve even had a small taste of Splatoon, you know that the inky shooter is defined as much by its upbeat, irreverent music as its bright, Nickelodeon-circa-1995 visuals. Nintendo clearly knows this, too — it’s planning to release Splatune, a whopping 61-song original soundtrack. Most of it (37 tracks) will be straight-up music, but there will also be 10 jingles and 14 pieces based on sound effects. That’s a lot, especially when you consider that many big-name movies don’t get such a lavish treatment. Be prepared to pay a pretty penny to an importer if you want a copy, though. Nintendo is releasing Splatune as a ¥3,200 ($27) two-disc album in Japan (where CDs are still huge) on October 21st, and there’s no word yet on a release elsewhere.
Via:
Siliconera, Eurogamer
Source:
Famitsu (translated)
Tags: gaming, music, nintendo, soundtrack, splatoon, splatune, videogames, wiiu
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