Periscope adds support for landscape videos
Users of Periscope can now Vlog in the orientation of their choice, as the latest update brings support for landscape captures.
“Viewers can continue holding their device in portrait, or match the broadcaster’s orientation to maintain full screen video. Either way, you’ll never need to tilt your head to watch sideways video.“
There are also some other cool features that Periscope users should find useful:
Share Context: When someone you follow shares a broadcast, it appears in your home feed. In this update, we’ve added an indicator beneath the broadcast title explaining who shared it with you. No more wondering why a broadcast showed up in your feed!
Accessibility: We’ve heard from a lot of people that Periscope needs to be more accessible for visually impaired Periscopers. In this version we’ve made large steps towards improving support for iOS accessibility features. We’ll continue to invest in this over time!
Mutual Follow: This update makes private broadcasting much easier on Android. When you start a private broadcast, you can choose from a list of mutual followers (people you follow, who also follow you). We think this list is a more natural selection of people who you are likely to broadcast to. We’ve also added an option to quickly select all of your mutual follows. See something you want to share with your friends, but not the whole world? Check.
Periscope historically only supported portrait broadcasting and apparently landscape support was something users were continually asking for. The support is built into the latest version of Periscope and is available in the Google Play Store.
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Samsung sends more jabs Apple’s way in new Galaxy ad
Samsung has released a new 30-second Galaxy ad, making fun of the iPhone in that it doesn’t have Samsung’s fast wireless charging capabilities or any wireless charging at all.
It’s a joint commercial, featuring both the new Galaxy Note 5 and Galaxy S6 Edge+. The ad shows how convenient it is to wireless charge the Galaxy Note 5 and Galaxy S6 Edge+, but when you put an iPhone on it, well…nothing happens.
Apple previously released its own set of ads with the “If it’s not an iPhone, it’s not an iPhone” tagline. Samsung’s response, right off the heels of the iPhone 6S and iPhone 6S Plus unveiling, is “It’s not a phone, it’s a Galaxy.”
Now the only real problem is that Samsung’s wireless charging isn’t actually wireless, requiring the pad to be plugged into a wall outlet by way of a cable.
Here’s the ad:
Click here to view the embedded video.
Come comment on this article: Samsung sends more jabs Apple’s way in new Galaxy ad
Rovio moves past Angry Birds with new title, Nibblers
Despite finding at least a moderate level of success with Angry Birds 2, a recent cut of 260 jobs in August makes it pretty clear that Rovio has been struggling to gain fiscal ground as of late. Could something new and unrelated to Angry Birds be the key to renewed interest by mobile gamers? While it’s too early to say for sure, Rovio has now released a brand new game called Nibblers!
Not only is the game completely bird-free, its mechanics have nothing to do with Angry Birds or its spin-offs either. Instead, what we are looking at is more of a Candy Crush-esque experience. This matching puzzle game stars fish and other aquatic creatures as they journey out of the water, onto land, and start apparently matching fruit together in order to consume as much as they can.
Unlike most puzzlers, this game seems to put as much emphasis on the special characters as it does the puzzle grid. Each of the characters also have their own unique abilities that can help enhance the gameplay experience. The game still has a good guy/bad buy theme to it, just like Angry Birds, though this time we see fish vs reptiles, instead of birds vs pigs.
The game is currently comprised of 200 levels, with Rovio planning to add more as time goes on. Each game level will have at least one reptile to defeat, and there are also boss battles every so often. Certainly a unique spin on the matching-puzzler genre.
Nibblers is a free to play experience, though you can expect the usual Rovio-style in-app purchases as well.
Scientists track fish health by ‘finding Nemo’
While a Fitbit isn’t much use to a flounder, a team at the University of Liverpool has figured out the next best thing. Dr Lynne Sneddon’s team created a system that non-invasively monitors the welfare of our sub-aquatic friends. Two cameras monitor how healthy fish swim in three dimensions, while software picks out any critters showing irregular patterns. Any real-life Nemos get given a health score, alerting carers to which animals might need attention.
The system may have been developed for laboratory use, but it’s clearly helpful to aquariums, too — provided it scales. One nearby aquarium, Blue Planet, is already set to trial Dr. Sneddon’s system, which will highlight how suitable it is for a commercial/larger scale environment. Sneddon’s earlier work was instrumental in proving fish are capable of feeling pain.
Filed under:
Science
Via:
PhysOrg
Source:
University of Liverpool
Tags: aquarium, findingnemo, fish, nemo, pain, science, universityofliverpool
The Seaboard Rise is Roli’s more affordable rubber-keyed piano
British startup Roli has launched a follow-up to its reimagined keyboard with a continuous, rubberized exterior: this one, however, is quite smaller and a lot more affordable. The Seaboard Rise was designed to be the more portable version of the company’s Seaboard Grand instrument released a couple of years ago. It only has 25 keys — Roli calls them “keywaves,” because they do look like waves on a black surface — whereas the smallest Grand iteration has 37. Thanks to that, though, it will only set you back $800, which sounds more reasonable than the cheapest Grand ($1,999), especially if you just want one for a home studio.
These Seaboards’ “keywaves,” by the way, aren’t just rubber-covered traditional keys: You can physically bend, press, slide on and pinch ’em to produce different sounds. Since you probably have to see them in action to fully understand how they work, make sure to watch our old demo video featuring the devices’ creator, Roland Lamb. If you’re all set to get one, you can visit the startup’s website to pre-order, but note that the instruments won’t start shipping out until October 9th.
Filed under:
Home Entertainment
Source:
Roli
Tags: roli, roliseaboard, seaboard
Boeing and Jeff Bezos move closer to putting US rockets in orbit
United Launch Associates (ULA), the rocket enterprise from Boeing and Lockheed, has ramped up its commitment to Jeff Bezos’ Blue Origin rocket engines. The two companies agreed to expand production capability of Origin’s BE-4 rocket motor, “an important step toward building (them) at the production rate needed for the Vulcan launch vehicle,” said Bezos. Last year, the two companies formed a pact to develop an engine that that can replace the Russian-built RD-180 engines originally planned for Vulcan — ULA’s successor to the Atlas V. Due to a US congressional ban on Russian products, ULA can no longer purchase RD-180s.
The announcement comes just two days after rumors surfaced that rival Aerojet Rocketdyne — which is also building a rocket engine for the Vulcan — offered $2 billion to purchase ULA. However, ULA said that “the BE-4 engine offers the fastest path to a domestic alternative to the Russian RD-180.” By contrast, Rocketdyne’s AR1 Vulcan engine is at least 16 months behind, so ULA regards it as a backup if the BE-4 doesn’t work out. The Vulcan will eventually launch satellites and carry astronauts into space aboard Boeing’s CST-100 capsule. The CST-100 will first launch on ULA’s existing Atlas V rocket in 2017, presumably with the Russian engines.
The agreement appears to refute speculation that Blue Origin would be out with ULA in the event of a RocketDyne takeover.
The agreement appears to refute speculation that Blue Origin would be out with ULA in the event of a RocketDyne takeover. If the engine deal works out as the companies expect, ULA will have a fully made-in-the-US rocket by 2019, giving it the same bragging rights as SpaceX. It also keeps two of the world’s most interesting billionaires — Bezos and Elon Musk — squarely in the private space game, a boon for tech journalists everywhere.
Filed under:
Transportation
Source:
United Launch Alliance
Tags: BlueOrigin, Boeing, JeffBezos, Lockheed, rockets, space, SpaceX, ULA, UnitedLaunchAlliance
Chinese ride-sharing company is funding fellow Uber competitors
Uber’s biggest Chinese rival, Didi Kuaidi, has invested an undisclosed amount in Lyft, according to The Wall Street Journal. It’s still unclear how the pink mustache-loving firm will use the money, but it’s already begun discussions with its Chinese investors. Didi Kuaidi is a joint venture between Kuaidi Dache and Didi Dache, two of China’s former biggest taxi-hailing services, which joined forces earlier this year to stave off Uber’s growth in their home country. Turns out part of the merger’s strategy is to force the American ride-sharing firm to focus on other markets, including the US, by helping fellow Uber competitors grow. Back in August, it also agreed to back GrabTaxi — another fellow competitor operating in Singapore, Malaysia and the Philippines.
Since Uber hasn’t exactly been keeping quiet about its plans to conquer China and other Asian nations, it’s only natural for the joint venture to protect its business. At the moment, Didi Kuaidi’s still the bigger company within the nation, with a value of around $16 billion, but its execs are obviously hoping that this strategy successfully redirects Uber’s attention.
[Image credit: shutterstock]
Filed under:
Transportation
Via:
Recode
Source:
The Wall Street Journal
Tags: uber
Philo’s streaming TV platform now covers over 40 universities
It’s tough to be a college student these days, what with new sources of procrastination popping up everywhere. Philo’s streaming television platform, which gives students access to live TV and DVR functionality across a variety of devices, is one of the more recent entries. Now, it’s covering 15 more schools, including Harvard University, Brown University, and the University of Alabama. Altogether, Philo is bringing the joy of television to more than 40 schools. The startup works together with cable and satellite providers to bring live TV to its private network — it’s not the sort of thing just anyone can access. Along with the expansion news, Philo is also updating its Roku app to make searching for TV shows simpler. Yes, giving college kids access to TV service isn’t anything new, but Philo’s multi-device lets schools offer TV in a way younger folks are more used to.
Filed under:
HD
Source:
Philo
Tags: hdpostcross, Philo
Pad & Quill Debuts Traveler Case for iPhone 6/6s, Timber Nightstand for Apple Watch
Pad & Quill has unveiled a new Traveler bumper-wallet case for iPhone 6, iPhone 6 Plus, iPhone 6s and iPhone 6s Plus alongside a new Timber Nightstand for Apple Watch. Pad & Quill’s existing lineup of wallet cases, including the Valet Sleeve and The Luxury Pocket Book, are also compatible with the iPhone 6s and iPhone 6s Plus.
The new Traveler case is handcrafted from American full grain leather, with an orange hand stitched accent, camera aperture opening, parachute grade stitching and two pockets on the back for holding cash and up to 6-8 credit cards or IDs. The cases ship in late September for $79.95 in Dark Chocolate or Whiskey Brown.
The new Timber Nightstand docks the Apple Watch in landscape orientation for Nightstand Mode on watchOS 2, and also has a slot for keys, extra watch bands or other jewelry. The nightstand, handcrafted from a single piece of hardwood, ships in 7-10 business days for $89.95 (American Cherry) or $119.95 (American Walnut).
Moto X Style / Moto X Pure Edition unboxing and first impressions
2015 has been a great year for consumers in the Android world, thanks to an exponential rise in high quality, yet affordable, smartphones. This trend is not limited to the mid-range either, with a bevy of current generation flagships priced at least a couple of hundred dollars lower than the expected high-end standard. One such smartphone is the latest Motorola flagship, called the Moto X Pure Edition in the US, or the Moto X Style in other international markets. Before diving into a full review, here are our first impressions of the device, as we take a quick look at the unboxing of the Moto X Style / Moto X Pure Edition!
Unboxing
If you’ve stuck with the Moto X since its beginnings in 2013 like I have, the first thing you’ll notice right off the bat how much bigger the box of the latest iteration is. Obviously, the phone is much bigger this time around, but another reason for this difference in size is because of a bumper case that is included in the box as well.
Opening the box reveals the smartphone in all its glory, and right next to it the bumper case. It is a plastic clear bumper case that isn’t anything fancy, but should get the job done just fine if you’re looking for a little bit of protection while being able to show off the unique stylings of your customized phone. Underneath the bumper case is Motorola’s Turbo power charging brick, to take advantage of the fast charging capabilities of the device, and Motorola claims that you will be able to get up to 10 hours of battery life back after just 15 minutes of charging.
The only oddity here is the fact that the cable is permanently attached to the charger, so if you need a dedicated microUSB-to-USB cable for other needs, you will have to supply that yourself. Also included in the box is the typical documentation, including a Quick Start guide, warranty information, and other legal information. With the documentation is a leaflet that carries a standard SIM tray removal tool.
First impressions
One of the biggest selling points of the Moto X line is the customization that is available via Moto Maker, to really make the device look and feel like your own. Doing exactly that, I decided to go with a black front, slate back, and lemon lime for the accents. You get to choose whatever colors and material choices you want, including leather and wood, and that’s part of the beauty of owning a Moto X.
As far as the design language is concerned, there are a lot of similarities when compared to its predecessors, with its sloping curved back, rounded corners, and an unassuming and clean front. Motorola’s signature dimple returns on the back underneath the camera, but this iteration is far more subtle that what was seen with the Moto X (2014), and is certainly a lot better.
The biggest difference with the new Moto X Style is the size, and the 5.7-inch display did make it sound like this device would be too large, but when we got our hands on it for the first time during the launch event in New York, all my doubts were put to rest, and that is how I still feel about the device now. Of course, it’s not a small phone anymore, and does completely dwarf the previous generation devices, but Motorola has done a great job with keeping thin bezels, which makes the device feel very manageable in one hand. In fact, it is quite similar to the Samsung Galaxy Note 5 in terms of height and width, with the Moto X Pure Edition being slightly thicker.
As a refresher of the specifications, the Moto X Pure Edition is powered by a Qualcomm Snapdragon 808 processor, clocked at 1.8 GHz, and backed by the Adreno 418 GPU and 3 GB of RAM, and the device comes with 16 GB, 32 GB, or 64 GB of internal storage, which is further expandable via microSD card by up to 128 GB. Finally, the device packs a 3,000 mAh non-removable battery which is hopefully enough, especially when considering the fact that it has to power a large 5.7-inch TFT LCD display with a Quad HD resolution.
The cameras have also seen an improvement, at least on paper, with the phone now featuring a 21 MP primary camera and a 5 MP front-facing shooter with a wide angle lens and a “selfie” flash. We will, of course, be putting this camera setup through its paces in the upcoming full review, and we’ll have to wait and see whether this camera can stand up tall against the fantastic competition it faces in the Android world.
On the software side of things, the device is running Android 5.1.1 out of the box, and Motorola has had a really good track record with keeping the software experience very close to stock Android, which is what makes the Moto X one of the best alternatives to a Nexus device. In some ways, the Moto X is better, with some incredibly useful features that Motorola has baked in, such as the Moto Display, Moto Voice, and others. Another great aspect of the Moto X Pure Edition is that there is no bloatware to be found, and upon turning the device on for the first time, you will notice that there is only a page and a half worth of apps, most of which are Google applications.
So there you have it for this quick look at the unboxing of the Moto X Pure Edition / Moto X Style! Stay tuned with Android Authority for the upcoming comprehensive review of this smartphone, and for everything else that has to do with the world of Android.
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