2nd gen Chromecast details leaked
A rather major Chromecast update is in the works, according to leaked documents seen by 9to5Google. The refresh looks set bring some improved hardware and all new features to Google’s miniature streaming platform.
Starting with the second generation Chromecast hardware, the biggest change looks to be improved WiFi, which should result in a stronger, faster connection for streaming. Google may be planning to support faster 802.11ac, which would be an upgrade from the current Chromecast’s 802.11b/g/n.
The upcoming hardware appears to have taken on a more circular form factor, ditching the old slim dongle look. Perhaps the extra size will be accommodating some additional hardware too. There are at least three colors options to choose from, yellow, red and black. You can see a sample in the images below.
In terms of new features, there’s something called ‘Fast Play’. Exact details about this feature aren’t known, but it sounds like it will allow for faster connections or more instantaneous content playback when casting, which would fix one major complaint about Google’s current gen product. There is also expected to be support for content feeds directly on the Chromecast home screen this time around, which presumably displays information from social media accounts and other feeds.
“Chromecast Audio” is another new feature listed in the documentation, which is said to enable the Chromecast to plug into speakers and other bits of audio hardware via an auxiliary port. This feature will apparently support multi-rooms, be able mirror Chrome or Android audio, and also adds in a “high-quality” option.
The new Chromecast is expected to be announced on September 29th, the same day as the new Nexus devices from Huawei and LG. Launch price and regions are still unknown, but we imagine that it will be a similar situation as the first gen hardware. Any thoughts?
Samsung S Health app now available to all
Samsung’s S Health app is packed full of features for the fitness enthusiasts out there, but it has unfortunately been locked away and limited to just a select few Samsung handsets. Even when the app hit the Play Store back in April, older Galaxy handsets remained locked out, but today Samsung has updated the app so that it works with a much wider range of Android smartphones. What a nice surprise.
S Health will now work with any Samsung Galaxy smartphone, even the older generation models. The app can also be installed on any Android handset running version 4.4 or newer, regardless of the manufacturer.
As for features, S Health comes with the usual selection of stat tracking and target setting options. You can keep track of your steps, weight, daily food or caffeine intake, and can even monitor your sleep patterns if you so desire. Of course, you won’t be able to use the heart rate monitoring features without a compatible handset, but all of the other options seem to carry over to non-Samsung smartphones.
If you want to try it out for yourself, you can download S Health from the Play Store completely free.
‘Star Fox Zero’ barrel rolls into next year
Longtime Nintendo fans are used to delays, but that won’t make the news of Star Fox Zero not releasing this year any easier to swallow. Legendary game designer Shigeru Miyamoto took to Facebook to announce the delay (embedded below), saying that the Wii U game’s technically ready to hit the initially promised November release, but the company is putting it back in the oven to sand off rough edges on level design and to perfect the tone of its cutscenes. Oh, and Nintendo is also putting more time toward working on the “unprecedented discovery” innate to Zero‘s unique two-screen control scheme. Miyamoto says that the game isn’t far off though and that his team is shooting for a release in the first quarter of next year.
A Message from Mr. Miyamoto Regarding Star Fox ZeroI made a big decision last week.We have been developing Star Fox…
Posted by Nintendo Console Gaming on Thursday, 17 September 2015
Via: Kotaku
New circular Chromecast rumored for later this month
The second-generation Chromecast will come with quite a list of new features and won’t even look the same anymore, according to 9to5google. The website has published what it says are a couple of internal images, and as you can see below, the streaming stick might take on a balloon-like appearance (in three different colors!) in its next iteration. 9to5google also found that the next Chromecast might have better WiFi connection, which could mean that it supports the 802.11ac band. Another possible upcoming feature called “Fast Play” will apparently enable the device to connect more quickly to a TV, since the current version sometimes takes a while to establish a stable link.
In addition, Google’s reportedly planning to give the device the power to plug directly into a speaker using a cord, to support a multi-room speaker set-up and to mirror the audio playing on a Chrome browser or an Android device. Finally, the internal documents indicate that Mountain View will be formally launching the second-gen Chromecast on September 29th, along with new Nexus devices, so check back that day if you want to know its final specs and details.
[Image credit: @iannnnn/Flickr]
Source: 9to5google
Don’t drink and drive: use the Floome Breathalyzer(review)
Floome recently provided me with a breathalyzer to review as an alternative to doing blood alcohol content(BAC) levels based on height and weight. I jumped at the opportunity, because I am a social drinker and don’t ever want to drive drunk. It’s simply not worth the consequences. For many, it is easy to say, “I’m good to drive. It’s just five minutes away” when they are drinking, but those five minutes can be life changing.
If you get caught over the legal limit for a first time offender in California, according to Nolo,(laws vary from state to state) and you did not cause a crash, you can get off easy with a $390 fine plus over $1000 in penalty assessments. It doesn’t stop there with an additional DUI-only $1800 penalties, a 48-hour jail sentence or a 90-day license restriction allowing you to only drive to and from work, and to and from an alcohol treatment program. You will also be required to complete an alcohol treatment program, and possibly get even up to six months in jail.
The reason why I say that you would get off easy is because there are even more severe consequences of driving under the influence. You can possibly give multiple people life sentences if you crash and kill them. Even if you cause a crash and do not kill someone, but do injure them, you can face jail time on top of fines and it could be considered a felony based on your situation. Plain and simple, don’t be selfish and endanger others just because you wanted to have a good time. Here are some facts courtesy of MADD(Mother’s against drunk driving).
The Floome is a breathalyzer designed to be used with your smartphone, is made by 2045 Tech and is sold in the US, Canada, Europe and Japan. 2045 Tech only uses the highest-quality parts for the Floome: The sensor used in the Floome to determine BAC is the same as the ones used in breathalyzers of law enforcement officers. Its purpose is to help you get the most accurate BAC level using your breath, app on your smartphone and of course, the Floome.
Design
The Floome is about the size of a key fob used in automobiles today. If you can carry a car key, you can carry the Floome. It is definitely portable and is well built. It comes in glossy red and matte black for those of you who are conscious about the devices you use as the Floome definitely fits the high-end design category.
Everything you need is contained in the one device. 2045 Tech designed the Floome to be simple and durable which is perfect for party goers and social drinkers alike. No battery is required to power the Floome, which means no charging and worrying about it not working without power.
Setup
In order to use the Floome, you need to download the required app from Google Play or the App Store as this is compatible with both Android and iOS. Once installed, you need to create an account, and then you can plug the Floome into your audio jack and get testing.
Usage
In order to use your Floome, the app will require you to enter your weight, gender, height and age, and the app will calculate how long it should take your body to lower your BAC. In addition, with increased usage, the app will learn your metabolic rate as everyone’s body is different. After you have been drinking, you need to wait twenty minutes before your test results will be accurate. The alcohol in your mouth can distort the results, but on the plus side, it will give you a higher reading than you actually expect which means it will tell you not to drive.
Once I filled in the necessary information, I took a baseline reading before I got to partying by myself. As expected my first reading was .000 g/dL which means I had no alcohol in my system.
After my initial reading, which required a gentle blow into the Floome for a few seconds, I started to drink my Scotch. To test the Floome, I took another test after thirty seconds of waiting. Like I said before, I was supposed to wait 20 minutes before I took my first test, but for the sake of the review I wanted to see what would happen if I broke the rule. My BAC came in at a whopping .167 where the legal limit is .08 which means I was double the legal limit.
After waiting the full twenty minutes and after finishing my two ounce drink, I took the test again and my reading came in at .017 g/dL. The Floome app let me know that my driving could be impaired which I do not disagree with. After pouring myself another, drinking it, and testing again my BAC came in at .033 which meant it was time for me to stop drinking. I normally only have one or two drinks when I go out and at my weight and time spent drinking over 75 minutes, the Floome definitely matched up to BAC calculators. I have full confidence that the Floome was giving me an accurate reading.
Now I know you’re probably thinking, why would I get the Floome if I can use a BAC calculator? When you are out and having fun, do you find yourself keeping track of what time you started drinking? Do you keep track of exactly how much alcohol is in your craft beer(craft beers in San Diego easily push 6-8% alcohol content)? Was it a double shot or was it a single shot of whiskey? None of these things are easy to track and relying on calculators just isn’t accurate. Plus if you are aware enough to keep track of all of those things, there’s a good chance you are a responsible drinker anyways.
The Floome does whatever it can to prevent you from driving over the legal limit by suggesting restaurants you can go eat at, providing a taxi finding service, as well as connecting you to your contacts so they can give you a ride.
What I liked
- Simple to use
- Accuracy
- Build quality
- No battery required
- Portable
- Well executed app
- Compatible with Android and iOS
What I didn’t like
- Nothing. I am going to buy a couple for my buddies.
Summary
The Floome costs $99.00 which is a bargain considering the alternatives. Not only will it help you stay away from fines, but more importantly it will help prevent crashes and save lives. Drunk driving is all too common in this world and many of you probably know someone who has been affected by a drunk driver in some way. If you haven’t, consider yourself fortunate and don’t become a statistic.
Use the Floome if you are a drinker, or get one for your friends and family if you know them to be irresponsible when it comes to drinking. No one deserves a life sentence at the hands of a drunk driver. With tools like the Floome, there simply are no excuses for driving under the influence.
EVERY TWO MINUTES, A PERSON IS INJURED IN A DRUNK DRIVING CRASH.
National Highway Traffic Safety Administration. “The Economic and Societal Impact Of Motor Vehicle Crashes, 2010.” National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, May 2014, DOT HS 812 013. http://www-nrd.nhtsa.dot.gov/Pubs/812013.pdf.
ON AVERAGE, TWO IN THREE PEOPLE WILL BE INVOLVED IN A DRUNK DRIVING CRASH IN THEIR LIFETIME.
National Highway Traffic Safety Administration. “The Economic and Societal Impact Of Motor Vehicle Crashes, 2010.” National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, May 2014, DOT HS 812 013. http://www-nrd.nhtsa.dot.gov/Pubs/812013.pdf.
THE RATE OF DRUNK DRIVING IS HIGHEST AMONG 21 TO 25 YEAR OLDS (23.4 PERCENT).
(Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration. “Results from the 2010 National Survey on Drug Use and Health: Summary of National Findings.” September 2011.)
IN 2013, 10,076 PEOPLE DIED IN DRUNK DRIVING CRASHES – ONE EVERY 52 MINUTES – AND 290,000 WERE INJURED IN DRUNK DRIVING CRASHES.
National Highway Traffic Safety Administration FARS data, 2014. http://www-nrd.nhtsa.dot.gov/Pubs/812102.pdf. National Highway Traffic Safety Administration. “The Economic and Societal Impact Of Motor Vehicle Crashes, 2010.” National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, May 2014, DOT HS 812 013. http://www-nrd.nhtsa.dot.gov/Pubs/812013.pdf.
Luckily there are ways to truly determine if you are under the influence. The Floome Breathalyzer.
The post Don’t drink and drive: use the Floome Breathalyzer(review) appeared first on AndroidGuys.
Ford releases Android Wear app for its electric and plug-in hybrid vehicles
Ford’s MyFord Mobile app now has support for Android Wear. This means you’ll be able to lock, unlock, and start your car remotely, as well as check a number of stats, such as the battery status, or even get directions back to it in case you get lost.
This is only for Ford’s C-Max Energi, Fusion Energi Plug-in Hybrids, and Focus Electric vehicles with built-in LTE modems.
Although I believe this is worth it just to be able to check the car’s status, this will never replace the key or remote control vehicle manufacturers provide. An app that can replace your key is convenient, but in order to have this app, you need a smartphone or smartwatch, of course. Neither a smartphone or a smartwatch are as ubiquitous as a key, and they’re substantially more expensive, as well.
Not everyone uses a smartphone or smartwatch for a variety of reasons. Therefore, for people who prefer keys and such, they should always be around.
MyFord Mobile can be downloaded at Google Play.
Source: 9to5Google via The Verge
The post Ford releases Android Wear app for its electric and plug-in hybrid vehicles appeared first on AndroidGuys.
Google slashes $50 off the price of the LG G Watch R
Believe it or not, the LG G Watch R is almost a year old and sadly its age is beginning to show as it’s considered to be one of the more chunky devices on the market, but that doesn’t stop it from being one of the best.
If you’re planning on picking one up any time soon, we have some great news for you. Google has dropped the price of the wearable by $50 on the Play Store — so you can now pick one up for $299.
Don’t be fooled into thinking that the G Watch R is old hat, though. It’s not by a long shot. It sports beefy hardware, runs the latest build of Android Wear and is scheduled to receive any future updates for the operating system.
If you like the sound of the LG G Watch R and would like to find out more about picking one up for the reduced price — hit the source link below.
Source: Google
Come comment on this article: Google slashes $50 off the price of the LG G Watch R
Gapless playback finally arrives for Play Music on Chromecast
Even with how convenient beaming tunes from Google Play Music to a Chromecast connected to your living room’s audio system is, there’ve been some hard to overlook flaws since launch. Mountain View’s fixed a handful of them with the latest update to its in-house music app. The biggest of the bunch? Gapless playback. It’s something that existed within the application before, but didn’t carry over to Cast sessions. Finally you can listen to Nine Inch Nails’ The Fragile without any annoying pauses between “The Wretched” and “We’re in This Together” — the way Trent Reznor intended. What’s more, the patch notes say that even if you leave the house or if your phone turns off, music will keep playing on Android. Here’s to hoping that music keeps playing if you take a phone call during a cast session now and that iOS snags this functionality sooner rather than later.
More of a Spotify fan? You’re covered there too from the sounds of a report by 9to5Google. The outlet has it on good authority that at Google’s media event later this month, the Swedish music streaming service (a longtime Chromecast hold-out) will make the announcement that it’s coming to Mountain View’s HDMI dongle. How about that!
[Image credit: Bloomberg via Getty Images]
Source: Google Play, 9to5Google
Asus now has a $229 ZenFone 2 variant with 4GB RAM
When Asus introduced the ZenFone 2 earlier this year, many took to the terrific tech it packed inside. Two variants were released in the United States: a reasonably priced $199 model that included 2GB of RAM, and a slightly pricier $299 model that featured an impressive 4GB. As months have passed, Asus has brought forth siblings including the ZenFone 2 Laser, the ZenFone 2 Deluxe, and ZenFone Selfie, none of which have yet to officially see a release in North America. There is a new model available, and it looks to be the best possible deal for those eager for higher-end specs, but with a priority on value-for-money.
Just announced is a $229 variant of the cheaper ZenFone 2: it includes all the specs of the lower-end model but adds on an extra 2GB of RAM. The $30 price difference makes it now much more affordable for those who were hoping for a bit of future-proofing yet not willing to go all out and spend for the premium model. Note that at the moment, only a black color option is available, however given the ease of swapping the rear cover, it shouldn’t be too difficult to change that if desired.
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For those in need of a recap, the $199 model includes a 5.5-inch Full HD IPS display, a 1.8GHz Intel Atom Z3560 Moorefield SoC, 16GB of on-board storage, 2GB of RAM, a 13-megapixel rear camera and 5-megapixel front facing camera, microSD support, Dual-SIM LTE support, and Android 5.1. As mentioned the new $229 variant retains these specs yet bumps the RAM up to 4GB.
The $299 model, on the other hand, features the same core specs but comes with a 2.3 GHz Atom Z3580 SoC, 4GB of RAM, and 64GB of on-board storage.
Given the fierce competition that now exists in this mid-to-upper range price point, it makes sense Asus would want to make their product as appealing as possible. The ability to get 4GB of RAM at such a low price is definitely a selling point for those interested in specs but not prepared to spend excessively on a mobile phone. While this new variant may only include 16GB of storage, the presence of microSD card support means that users can swap expandable storage modules as they like and thus manually increase the amount available .
What are your thoughts on this new variant? Does the extra 2GB of RAM justify the $30 price jump, or is it just a better idea to go for the full $300 and get a faster SoC and 64GB of RAM? Leave us your comments below and tell us how you feel!
You can now pre-order the Huawei Watch in Europe
Starting today, residents in Belgium, France, Germany, Italy, Spain, Switzerland, Portugal and the Netherlands can pre-order Huawei’s first ever smartwatch. The device is listed on the Chinese company’s online store for €399 ($455) for the leather strap variant.
However, if you’re after something a little more elegant, you could always opt for an all-black or stainless steel model. Both come with a €449 ($511) price tags and are available with a link or mesh strap design.
The Huawei Watch is the latest Android Wear device on the market, which is compatible with both Android and iOS. It packs a 1.4-inch 400×400 AMOLED touchscreen, sapphire crystal protection, a heart rate monitor and a 300 mAh battery.
If you’re based in any of the above regions and would like to reserve yourself a Huawei Watch — hit the source link below. It is worth noting, though, that shipments won’t leave the warehouse for another two-to-three weeks.
Source: Huawei
Come comment on this article: You can now pre-order the Huawei Watch in Europe
AIVAnet 