Toyota teams up with MIT and Stanford for AI research
Artificial Intelligence is big deal (even if Elon Musk thinks it will doom us all) and today Toyota announced that it is collaborating with MIT and Stanford to accelerate its own AI research. The goal of the collaboration is to advance artificial intelligence for vehicles with a strong focus on safety. The carmaker will invest $50 million over the next five years in joint research centers and has hired former DARPA Program Manager Dr. Gill Pratt to lead the initiative. Dr. Pratt noted that in addition to using the research to reduce vehicle-related fatalities, “we want people to live a more dignified and more safe life.” That includes using autonomous systems to enable the elderly to continue to be mobile after they have traditionally lost their licenses. That doesn’t necessarily mean that drivers will become pure passengers according to Pratt. One of the goals is to “eliminate highway collisions without eliminating the fun of driving.”
University research leaders, professors Fe-Fe Li of Stanford and Daniela Rus of MIT both reiterated the collaboration’s primary focus on safety. Rus noted the teams will be working on cars that will be driving partners that will “watch our backs.” Both universities have a history of working with artificial intelligence. Stanford’s SAIL (Stanford Artificial Intelligence Laboratory) was the first to win the DARPA challenge autonomous vehicle challenge in 2005. While MIT has over 20 professors and 100 plus graduate students working in the CSAIL (Computer Science and Artificial Intelligence Laboratory) department.
Pratt stressed that the $50 million allotted for the research centers isn’t the only investment Toyota is making in the artificial intelligence area.
With a focus on the evolution of autonomous vehicles that in the relative short term will have the vehicles working in partnership with humans, we should expect to see something sooner rather than later from the collaboration. “We will not be waiting for a fully autonomous car to show you what we are working on,” said Pratt.
Filed under:
Transportation
Source:
Toyota
Tags: AI, ArtificialIntelligence, Toyota
5 Android apps you shouldn’t miss this week! – Android Apps Weekly!
Sponsored by: Perbby
[Price: Free]
This week’s Android Apps Weekly is sponsored by Perbby. Perbby is a social application where you can post what you’re doing and where you’re doing it. Other members who are near you will be able to see your posts and “heart” them if they’re interested in doing the same activity. Once that happens, you’ll have the option to chat with them and set things up! It’s a fun little app with a clean design and a fairly straightforward premise. It also uses Facebook login. It’s free to download so why not try it out?
Get it now on Google Play!
Welcome back to Android Apps Weekly! Let’s jump right into the headlines!
- Google is giving a look at its new design language which is aimed to make everything on the web and mobile look the same. So far Google Search has been updated to mixed reviews thanks to the colored microphone but otherwise it looks pretty good. Google also has a new logo!
- Samsung has announced that they’ve been working with European digital publisher Axel Springer to create a curated news app for their Galaxy devices. It’ll be known as UPDAY which will debut in select markets soon and slowly roll out to everyone else.
- Noodlecake Studios has announced that they’re working with Built By Snowman to bring the hit iOS game Alto’s Adventure to Android. The snowboarding game was hailed for its slick graphics and unique game play. We’re excited about it!
- Dendroid developer, Morgan Culbertson, pleaded guilty to federal charges revolving around the creation of his malware app. The malware would infect devices and give the hacker access to all kinds of wicked things. If convincted, Morgan could face up to 10 years in prison and $250,000 in fines.
- YouTube is preparing for a fundamental change. According to multiple sources, it will evolve into a mixture of free videos, ad-supported videos, and premium videos complete with a paywall. According to other sources, this is because YouTube actually doesn’t contribute to profit and Google wants to change that.
If you want to see all of the Android apps and news headlines, updates, and new releases, don’t forget to subscribe to our newsletter using the box below or check out the full version here! There we’ll have everything rounded up for you to check out and we’ll beam it straight to your inbox every single Friday!
- Android Weekly
- Apps Weekly
While you’re at it, why not check out our Twitch channel? There we stream games and have some fun. Our next scheduled stream is at 4PM EST on Monday, September 7th. Why only one day this week? The other days we usually stream we’ll be dedicating to getting our YouTube Gaming channel up and running!
Google On
[Price: Free]
Google has released a new application called Google On. This nifty little app is used to control, configure, and interface with the Google OnHub router and it remains one of the best router interfaces I’ve ever seen. It has a good design, it’s simple to use, and it makes it much easier to manage. It’s totally free but, of course, you’ll need the Google OnHub router which will run you $199.
Get it now on Google Play!
Mirrativ
[Price: Free]
Mirrativ is a new streaming application that works a bit differently than most. Where Periscope uses your camera and Twitch does games, Mirrativ allows you to stream pretty much anything you’re doing on your device. It is in beta so you can expect bugs here and there, but it’s a nifty idea that even lets people engage with whatever it is that you’re streaming. It’s also free to use.
Get it now on Google Play!
Street View on Google Maps
[Price: Free]
Street View the application has been around for quite some time but it was updated to version 2.0 this last week and has become a full-fledged standalone application. It still does most of the same Street View things like give you 360-degree imagery and it still contributes to Google Maps. With the new update, you can push photospheres to Street View for immediate use. It’ll be a fun app to keep around.
Get it now on Google Play!
UNKILLED
[Price: Free with in-app purchases]
UNKILLED is the latest shooter out of Madfinger Games, developers of the acclaimed Shadowgun and Dead Trigger games. This one features fantastic graphics and simple game play where you collect weapons, mow down zombies, and a lot more. There are boss fights, over 300 missions, and over 50 weapons to collect and use. We’re not entirely sure why this wasn’t just called Dead Trigger 3 but it’s still fun. Just beware of those release day bugs!
Get it now on Google Play!
Pokemon Shuffle Mobile
[Price: Free with in-app purchases]
For the first time in the history of mobile gaming, there is a real, actual Pokemon game now available for Google Play. Unfortunately, it isn’t the kind we really wanted but at least it’s a start. This Pokemon game is a matching puzzle game where you must match icons and that deals damage to the Pokemon you’re currently battling. It’s cutesy and simple and worth a shot if you like Pokemon.
Get it now on Google Play!
Wrap up
If we missed any awesome Android apps and games news, tell us about it in the comments!
Alcatel OneTouch Idol 3C adds style with colorful back panels
Something about the Idol 3 must be working for Alcatel OneTouch as the company now has two spinoff devices from it. Alcatel OneTouch already started selling a smaller variant of the phone and now there is an Idol 3C that adds style through interchangeable back panels.
The Idol 3C is pretty much the same as the regular Idol 3 with the exception of the colorful options to put on the rear of the phone. Color options for these back panels include white, red, green, pink, and yellow.
Key specifications:
- 5.5-inch Full HD (1920×1080) display
- Qualcomm Snapdragon 615 octa-core processor
- 2GB of RAM
- 13MP / 5MP cameras
- 2910mAh battery
- 16GB of internal storage with microSD card slot
- Android 5.0 Lollipop
The Idol 3C does not have a release date or price at this time.
Alcatel OneTouch is having a busy IFA 2015, already announcing new hardware for the GO and POP lines.
Come comment on this article: Alcatel OneTouch Idol 3C adds style with colorful back panels
Amazon Echo now supports shared Google calendars
Amazon’s odd but intriguing Echo personal assistant / speaker has received a number of useful updates throughout its short lifespan, and today Amazon announced a few more tweaks to the device. If you’re a Google Calendar user, the Echo now supports shared calendars, whereas before it could only pull in details from calendars that were owned by your personal account. In the Amazon Alexa app, you enter your Google Calendar details; from there, you can pick specific shared calendars to add to the Echo. That way, when you ask the Echo what’s on your schedule, it’ll only tell you things that are on the calendars you selected.
And as a follow-on to the SmartThings home automation integration that Amazon announced a few weeks ago, the company says that the Echo will now work with the Scout Alarm home security system. Neither of these updates are ground-breaking additions to the Echo, but it’s definitely encouraging to see Amazon continue to expand and enhance the Echo’s features — the more support Amazon can provide for it, the more chance it has of becoming a truly useful and ubiquitous part of our homes.
Filed under:
Amazon
Source:
Amazon
Tags: alexa, amazon, amazonecho, calendar, echo, googlecalendar, ScoutAlarm, sharedcalendar
6 futuristic 3D-printed clothes
By Cat DiStasio
3D printing is revolutionizing the way we make things, from buildings and cars to medical devices. But that’s not all: Many forward-thinking designers in the fashion industry are using 3D printers to cut down on material waste and explore new possibilities for unique and exciting designs. Read on to learn about some of the most advanced 3D-printed clothes and wearables that they’ve cooked up.Slideshow-316950
Tags: inhabitat, partner, syndicated
New Steve Jobs doc examines the myth of the man who made Apple
Director Alex Gibney wraps up his latest documentary, Steve Jobs: The Man in the Machine, with an apt encapsulation of the Apple co-founder’s conflicting persona: “He had the focus of a monk, without the empathy.” Jobs, who passed away in 2011 of pancreatic cancer, was the genius who transformed Apple into a pioneer of the PC era; and was then kicked out of his own company before returning to revolutionize the way we listen to music and use phones. But he was also a man who, in the pursuit of fortune, infamously ran away from his responsibility as a father, and is generally known for being a tyrant. So how do you reconcile these two extremes?
Gibney’s doc (available today on iTunes and other streaming services) doesn’t settle on an answer, but throughout its two-hour runtime, he explores what made Jobs tick, and what made millions of consumers admire him. And while The Man in the Machine covers plenty of familiar territory — how many times do we need to see the Apple origin story, really? — Gibney still manages to give us fresh insight into Jobs through newly unearthed footage and interviews.
Gibney says he was driven to make the film after seeing the widespread outpouring of grief for Jobs following his death at age 56. Though Gibney himself was an Apple customer who fully bought into the lifestyle espoused by Jobs, he was still baffled by the reverence for Jobs’ passing — normally something we see in connection with the deaths of notable artists and musicians. For as brilliant as he was, Jobs was still just a businessman, after all.
The Man in the Machine begins by painting Jobs as a young man quick to see the commercial potential of the technology sector. Jobs’ earliest foray into business was selling Blue Boxes — devices used to trick older phone lines into giving free calls — which were elegantly designed by Apple’s other famous co-founder, Steve Wozniak. While this venture was short-lived (mostly because it was very illegal), it stands as evidence of a rebellious Jobs — one who didn’t mind skirting the rules even at a young age.
A story recounted by Wozniak also gives us another look at that brazen business attitude:
For one of their first projects together, Jobs and Wozniak developed the game Breakout for Atari. Wozniak was paid $350 for the game, out of the initial $750 Atari initially offered. But what he didn’t realize was that Jobs was also paid a $5,000 bonus due to the efficiency of Wozniak’s design. Jobs didn’t tell Wozniak about that extra money (he also went on to take most of the credit for Breakout). In a clip played during the film, you can see the anguish and disappointment in Wozniak’s eyes as he recounts the tale of deception. Wozniak, for the record, said he would have given Jobs the money if asked, but it was the fact that Jobs lied to him that hurt the most.
The Man in the Machine’s most affecting and illuminating moment occurs during an interview with Bob Belleville, a former Apple engineer from the original Mac team. He describes a fairly demanding work environment, where everyone slaved around the clock to get the Mac up and running. That job eventually cost Belleville his marriage and his relationship with his children. But he also had a special connection with Jobs — they traveled to Japan together several times and worked closely for years. Belleville’s dueling mixture of love and underlying contempt for his former boss are plainly visible when, in tears, he reads a eulogy he wrote for Jobs on camera. There’s been plenty written about Jobs’ death, but Belleville’s tribute is by far the single most emotional response to his passing I’ve seen yet.
Perhaps the greatest paradox of Jobs was his devotion to Zen Buddhism, which conflicted with his increasingly massive ego and ruthless business tactics. The film features footage of Jobs’ Zen teacher, Kobun Otogawa, who noted that Jobs desperately wanted to become a Buddhist monk at several points in his life. Otogawa instead encouraged Jobs to bring Zen ideals into his work. At one point, Otogawa recounts a night where an anguished Jobs came to him soaking wet from the rain, looking for guidance. They go for a walk and end up sitting in a bar, where Jobs shows him a component from an early Mac, which he described as a form of enlightenment.
“His job was to make products,” Gibney said during a Q&A. “Fuck everything else.”
What really separates The Man in the Machine from most other Jobs biographies is its layered approach to the film’s subject. “It’s not about facts, it’s about texture,” Gibney said. As someone who’s directed and produced plenty of acclaimed documentaries in his time, including the war docs No End in Sight and Taxi to the Dark Side, Gibney disagrees with critics who say his films should just be a list of facts. For example, the film shows Jobs arguing with SEC investigators over a stock-backdating scandal in previously unseen deposition footage. On paper, Jobs’ responses might seem tame, but actually seeing his expressions and flippant attitude tells an entirely different story.
Like any effective religious figurehead, Jobs managed to tap into consumers’ capacity for brand devotion.
And, if you were wondering whether Gibney drew any parallels between the cult of Apple and Scientology, the subject of his last film, Going Clear: Scientology and the Prison of Belief, the answer is a definitive yes: “There is this feeling … there is a passion for this person and the products that any criticism can’t be tolerated,” Gibney said. “Can’t we discuss how pitifully paid the people are in China [who build Apple products]?”
Like any effective religious figurehead, Jobs managed to tap into consumers’ capacity for brand devotion, an element that gave Apple products a bit of an extra allure. The Mac wasn’t just a computer; the iPod wasn’t just a music player; the iPhone wasn’t just another smartphone — they existed to make your life more complete.
In the end, the same could be said for Jobs: He became a mythical product of his own invention. He wasn’t just a man and he wasn’t just a savvy tech innovator. He was a god — cold, distant and forever adored.
[Photo credits: Magnolia Pictures]
Filed under:
Apple
Tags: AlexGibney, apple, Documentaries, SteveJobs, TheManinTheMachine
Nokia C1 renders spotted on Chinese social networking website
Photos of the rumored Nokia C1 Android smartphone have been posted to popular Chinese social networking website Weibo.
Nokia earlier launched its first Android-powered tablet, the N1, and now we’re seeing indications of a Nokia Android phone following a similar naming convention.
From the renders, it looks like the rumored C1 will have small bezels, a speaker grille at the base of the device, and it seems to sport what looks to be an extremely tiny camera on the back panel.
Past rumors have indicated the C1 to feature a 5-inch 1280 x 720 display, an Intel chipset, 2GB of RAM, an 8-megapixel rear camera, and a 5-megapixel front sensor.
Keep in mind that these are just rumors and nothing is official until its official. Either way, this could most certainly be a device the company needs after Microsoft bought Nokia’s Windows Phone division.
There were also rumors earlier this year saying that Nokia would make great new strides in 2016 using Android, meaning the Nokia C1 could provide the company with a lot of potential.
source: Weibo
via: G for Games
Come comment on this article: Nokia C1 renders spotted on Chinese social networking website
POP Star and POP Up from Alcatel OneTouch offer affordable customization
Recently, customization has been used as a selling point for hardware manufacturers. Consumers want choice when buying a mobile device, but they also want a personalized product. That’s why Alcatel OneTouch’s two new POP phones, the POP Star and the POP Up, will be sold in different colors and back panel designs. Alcatel OneTouch is bringing customization to affordable devices.
Alcatel OneTouch POP Star specifications (with the 4G LTE variant’s changes in parentheses):
- 5-inch 720p display
- MediaTek MT6580 (or MT6735P) quad-core processor
- 1GB of RAM
- 8MP / 5MP cameras
- 2000mAh battery
- 8GB (or 16GB) of internal storage with microSD card slot
- Dual-SIM connectivity
- Android 5.0 Lollipop
The POP Star is the device that has the interchangeable back panels. Options include plastic, leather and denim. And the wallpapers pre-loaded on the device are meant to match whichever back panel is being used.
Alcatel OneTouch POP Up specifications:
- 5-inch 720p display
- Qualcomm Snapdragon 610 octa-core processor
- 2GB of RAM
- 13MP / 5MP cameras
- 2000mAh battery
- 16GB of internal storage
- Dual-SIM connectivity
- Android 5.0 Lollipop
- Black, Riva Blue, Amber Orange, White, and Strawberry Red color options
Alcatel OneTouch has yet to announce a release date or pricing for either phone, but it is safe to say these will be impressive affordable devices. These will join the company’s GO line of devices being released this year.
POP STAR and POP UP Smartphones Shine in ALCATEL ONETOUCH’s POP Family
- Highly customizable POP STAR allows consumers to express their own style from the large cover collection with up to 20 choices
- POP UP offers high-end design and performance at a mid-tier price point
BERLIN, Sept. 3, 2015 /PRNewswire/ — ALCATEL ONETOUCH unveiled its new POP smartphones at IFA today. POP STAR and POP UP are part of the brand’s POP series — A Combination of Talents.
All Eyes on POP STAR
The new 5-inch POP STAR smartphone is the undeniable standout in the latest POP lineup. “POP STAR is our most fashion-forward smartphone with a large collection of covers, consumers can choose the cover they like and fully express their own style,” said Cheol Woo Park, Chief Designer, ALCATEL ONETOUCH.POP STAR allows consumers to really express themselves. Choose the wild colors and psychedelic designs from the Funky Collection, a more classic look with the Leather Collection, total glamour with the Fashion Collection or wood with the Nature-ECO Collection. The attention to design details continues with the curved design, which gives the phone an elegant slimness at the edges, and making it a pleasure to hold.
POP STAR is available in 3G+ or 4G connectivity and runs on a quad-core processor. It struts an 8 Mpxl rear camera with EIS for quality photos and videos and a 5 Mpxl front camera for perfect selfies. The fully laminated HD IPS display offers 75% less light reflection for excellent readability under sunlight and a 160-degree wide viewing angle.
POP UP Has the Goods
The new POP UP smartphone has the specs to satisfy even the most demanding user: the fully laminated HD IPS display allows great readability under bright sunlight and wide viewing angles. A powerful octa-core CPU coupled with 4G connectivity guarantees fast and smooth streaming. The 13 Mpxl rear camera with quality sensor and f/2.0 aperture means sharp photos even at night.POP UP has style to burn — a metal frame with glass hard key and a back cover with a 3D spin effect make it a knockout. Plus it comes in five fresh colors: Black, Riva Blue, Amber Orange, White and Strawberry Red.
A Combination of Talents
ALCATEL ONETOUCH strives to offer the best to consumers by redefining the industry benchmark regardless of the price tag. POP family ensures the latest design trend and quality performance from higher-end products to be available in mid-tier segment.“Stocked with the features and style that consumers want, we can’t wait for consumers to get a look at our fresh lineup of POP smartphones,” said Dan Dery, Chief Marketing Officer, ALCATEL ONETOUCH.
About ALCATEL ONETOUCH
ALCATEL ONETOUCH is simple, unexpected, down to earth, irreverent and colorful. We believe that what makes technology smart is what you can do with it rather than what it can do.ALCATEL ONETOUCH is a brand within TCL Communication, an international multicultural company which designs, develops, and markets globally a growing range of mobile and Internet devices. TCL Communication is a public company listed on the Hong Kong Stock Exchange (2618.HK) and part of TCL Corporation one of the largest consumer electronics companies in the world.
For more information, please visit http://www.alcatelonetouch.com.
Come comment on this article: POP Star and POP Up from Alcatel OneTouch offer affordable customization
HTC revenues continue to fall, company has high hopes for the HTC A9
HTC has saw its revenues fall for the fifth month in a row to NT$6.89 billion in August. The company is down 6.99% this month, and down by 52.62% this year. Suffice to say, things continue to get worse for the Taiwanese company.
HTC saw a revenue of NT$88.83 billion during the first eight months of 2015, which is a 27.97% from just a year earlier.
The Taiwanese company is hoping to see better revenue once it launches the HTC Aero, which will be marketed as the HTC A9. HTC will launch a few new devices during the fourth quarter of 2015, according to industry sources. And the HTC A9 could be one of them.
HTC has high hopes for the A9. But let’s hope this won’t just be another repeat of a flagship device doing extremely well followed by another two-year downward spiral.
source: DigiTimes
Come comment on this article: HTC revenues continue to fall, company has high hopes for the HTC A9
Perfect Bible for your Child to explore, read, and interact with: Bible for Kids (App Review)
K
eeping a child’s attention has always been a difficult task. Today’s youth are even more difficult to keep still and entertain, due to the evolution of technology and how accessible and entitled they feel to have it near them and doing something to entertain them. Without this engagement, things are mundane and boring to them.
The development team at Youversion the developers of the widely popular Bible App that has over 50 Million downloads, created a new spin on the Bible and it’s for kids.
Overview
Bible for kids a free, digital storybook designed to explore the big stories of the Bible is available for download via The Google Play Store.
Setup
The set up for Bible for kids is simple all you need to do is download and install the app from the Google Playstore. once the download is complete Bible for Kids will update the app with it’s current stories. After the update is complete your child is now able to explore the stories of the Bible.
Features and Function
The Bible for kids is an extremely vibrant, colorful application with high-resolution graphics, animations, and characters.
In the Bible for kids, the easy to use kid-friendly navigation allows you to explore from story to story and really brings to life the stories and adventures that you might have been told or previously read about. .A few of the stories available are The creation of the world, Samson, David and Goliath and many more popular stories from The Bible.
When you want to read a particular story you click the download story button and the story downloads inside of the app. After the download, there are a few different options available. You can have the story read by a narrator with or without music, you can touch different elements on the screen, those elements open up an alternate story experience entitled touch-activated animations. For example in the Story of Samson (A Hairy Tale) you are able to touch the soldier when you touch the soldier he comes to life through animation and proceeds to cut Samson’s hair as he sleeps.
What I like about the Bible for kids is that it offers up fun incentives for the kids to read. The more you read the Bible for kids you gain stars. Also in every story there are hidden gems that are available to collect. Not only can you collect stars and gems you can also collect sets. Some of the sets available are the “Armor of God” in this set you are tasked to collect Helmet of Salvation, Shield of Faith, Belt of Truth, Good news shoes, and more.
Now reading pictures and animations is fine but what’s the point of reading if you don’t remember it. The Bible for kids after each story asks one short question about the story you read. If you get the question right you gain another star. Don’t worry if you get the question wrong you will get another chance to answer it correctly.
The Bible for kids was extremely fun to use before bed with my son. We were able to quickly travel from world to world engaging in fun interesting stories that allowed us to interact with the characters that we both loved. We both seemed to really like Samson and how strong and powerful he was.
Who will find Bible For kids useful
Bible for kids is a great tool to have for Sunday school teachers, parents, and even for children. With Bible for kids, it allows children to visually understand and view stories that might not have completely caught their attention or that they might not have understood all the verbiage that the verse stated. Bible for kids is also good for stories for children to read alone before bed or something that parents or the whole family can do together before bed.
What We Like
- Colorful high-resolution graphics and interface
- Brilliant visuals, narration, and storytelling
- Ability to interact with the characters and the story
What We Didn’t like
- Would like for YouVersion to expand the number of stories available
- Inability to actually read the whole Bible, you are just limited to the stories provided
Summary
I was extremely impressed with what the developers at YouVersion brought with the Bible for kids. It is as exactly as advertised. An interactive experience that gets kids reading the Bible and makes it fun by having colorful graphics, easy for kids to navigate, and incentive based challenges for kids to remember what they learned.To top it all off it is completely free.
The post Perfect Bible for your Child to explore, read, and interact with: Bible for Kids (App Review) appeared first on AndroidGuys.
AIVAnet 