Monument Valley maker ustwo’s foray into VR is called Land’s End, launching on October 30
ustwo, the developers behind the widely popular Monument Valley, have just announced that their foray into the virtual reality space will commence next month. Land’s End, which was first announced over one year ago, is a new virtual reality adventure game that will make its way exclusively to the Samsung Gear VR on Friday, October 30th.
Attached below is the game’s first trailer, released by ustwo just this morning. There really aren’t too many details about this game so far, though the trailer’s description on YouTube reads that it will provide “an adventure through spectacular landscapes to awaken a lost civilization.” In the game, according to Engadget, you’ll encounter a puzzle every few minutes, which will require you to levitate blocks or join dots using nothing but head movements to advance to the next area. Puzzles will get more difficult as the game progresses, but not to the point where it becomes frustrating.
Be sure to check out the trailer attached below for a better look at Land’s End.
Similar to Monument Valley, Land’s End will only provide about an hour’s worth of gameplay in total. No pricing information has been disclosed quite yet, but we’ll be sure to let you know once we get the details. Judging from the trailer, what are your thoughts? Is Land’s End setting out to be the Monument Valley of VR? Tell us what you think in the comments below.
Predator drones could soon hide under dielectric ‘invisibility cloaks’
America’s fleet of Predator UAVs could soon become even harder to shoot down (or even detect for that matter) thanks to a new kind of camouflage developed at UC San Diego. UCSD professor Boubacar Kante and his team published their findings last month in the journal Progress In Electromagnetics Research and will submit a separate report to the Department of Defense later this month, according to reports from the Army Times. The material, dubbed the “dielectric metasurface cloak,” builds on earlier work from Duke University in 2006. It’s essentially a thin layer of Teflon studded with ceramic particles and capable of modulating wavelengths of energy along the electromagnetic scale (including both visible light and radar).
The technology isn’t exactly new but it is a heck of a lot better than what the DoD has access to now. “Previous cloaking studies needed many layers of materials to hide an object, the cloak ended up being much thicker than the size of the object being covered,” Li-Yi Hsu, the study’s lead author said in a statement. “In this study, we show that we can use a thin single-layer sheet for cloaking.”
The current generation of Teflon camouflage has to be literally slathered onto drones. For example, to block out a missile’s guidance radar using a 3 cm wavelength, the Teflon coating would need to be ten times as thick as the wavelength, or 30 cm. A dielectric metasurface cloak, on the other hand, would provide the same degree of protection but only require a 3mm-thick coat, one tenth the thickness of the incoming signal.
The new material isn’t perfect just yet. Since its thickness determines which wavelength it can block, the material can currently only cancel a single wavelength at a time. And even with the appropriate wavelength, the system only works if the incoming signal hits it at a 45 degree angle (within 6 degrees or so). Despite these shortcomings however, the DoD is reportedly very keen on implementing the camouflage system. Barring any setbacks the camo could enter active service within five to ten years, Kayla Matola, a research analyst for Homeland Defense & Security Information Analysis Center, told the Army Times.
[Image Credit: top art – DoD, inline – UCSD]
Via: Washington Post
Source: Army Times, UCSD
WatchOS 2 hands-on: What Apple Watch should have had from the start
Ignoring the mixed reviews, common sense and the usually wise advice that you should avoid first-gen products at all costs, I bought an Apple Watch last June. Honestly, I’m still surprised by that. I backed the original Pebble crowdfunding campaign, and I’ve tested a few Android Wear devices, but as a whole smartwatches have always left me wanting. If I was going to wear anything on my wrist, I typically preferred a dedicated fitness tracker. But after hearing about what Apple had planned for watchOS 2 (the software that powers the Watch), I felt compelled to snap up a 42mm Apple Watch Sport. Now, a little more than five months after the Watch’s launch, that long-awaited update is here. And while it doesn’t fix all of the Apple Watch’s flaws, it’s a significant improvement for the crazies like me who bought one already. Slideshow-322291
Upgrading to watchOS 2 took over an hour, including a surprisingly lengthy download. (Pro-tip: Make sure you’ve got your charging puck ready, as the upgrade won’t start without it.) There weren’t any major changes once my Watch finally rebooted, though I noticed that the animated jellyfish watch face stayed on the screen much longer than before. It’s a minor thing, but it makes it easier to show off what the Apple Watch is capable of to friends. Similarly, you can now have your Watch keep its display on for 70 seconds, not just 15.
The biggest addition to watchOS 2 is something that would sound familiar to early iPhone users: native apps. Previously, third-party Apple Watch apps relied on your iPhone to do just about everything, making for interminably long delays. You’d probably spend more time staring at the circular loading screen than whatever you were looking for from an app — not exactly what you’d want for a new flagship Apple device. With watchOS 2, developers can now have their apps run directly on the Watch, which should speed things up considerably. Those apps also have access to more of the device’s features, including the Digital Crown, “taptic” feedback and health tracking.
As of today, there seem to be only a handful of Watch apps built specifically for WatchOS 2, though I’d expect that to change over the next few weeks. Citymapper was one of the first native Watch apps to appear on my phone, and it certainly feels zippier than before. The app loads in about a second, and it lets you easily plan a trip from your current location to your home or other saved address (which you have to add from the iPhone app). You can also view nearby bus and subway stops, and, surprisingly, even locations for NYC’s Citibike stops. The big takeaway: It actually feels like an iOS app now, rather than a mere shell of an app.
There are also a slew of other updates throughout watchOS 2 that makes it a better overall experience. Apple’s Siri virtual assistant is a bit smarter now — it can even direct you to specific locations within apps. For example, you ask Siri to “start a running session” and it’ll open up Apple’s fitness app with a choice of available running workouts. Siri can also pull up “Glances,” the informational screens that appear alongside the clock app, on its own, instead of pushing you to search for things on your iPhone. Apple says Siri’s responsiveness has also been improved, but in my short testing the “Hey Siri” command hasn’t really improved. It still takes me a few tries sometimes before Siri actually starts listening for commands.
Of course, there are also a handful of new watch faces, including time-lapses of cities like New York, Hong Kong, and Paris, photos and albums. It can also take advantage of the new “live photo” feature on the iPhone 6S and 6S Plus, which displays short video segments from before and after you shoot a photo. You can also add more “complications” (the watch industry term for features, which seems wildly out of place when referring to smartwatches) to the watch face from third-party apps. There isn’t much room to work with, but at least you have the freedom to make tiny bits of news stories or flight details one of the first things you see on your Apple Watch.
A new feature called “Time Travel” also lets you wind the Digital Crown back or forth to see calendar events or even the upcoming weather. Previously, you could wind the Crown to interact with some watch faces, but it didn’t display any useful information. There’s also a night stand mode that reorients the watch face sideways so you can charge your watch on its side.
For the most part, watchOS 2 is more about what it enables, rather than any immediate features. But just like when Apple kicked off the App Store on iOS, it portends some fundamental shifts in the way the Apple Watch works. The big problem? Apple doesn’t have much of an excuse for not delivering most of watchOS 2’s features when the Apple Watch launched. It’s not as if Apple is unaware of the benefits of a strong app ecosystem.
In our original review, we called the Apple Watch a “status symbol for iOS devotees.” That’s still the case today, but watchOS 2 shows that Apple is learning from its mistakes. And who knows, maybe next year I’ll actually be able to recommend the Apple Watch without hesitation.
Jon Fingas contributed to this report.
Coolpad and T-Mobile partner to offer the Rogue, a $50 budget smartphone
T-Mobile and Coolpad have for some reason formed a partnership to offer a one of a kind budget phone–the Coolpad Rogue. It’s a $50 budget smartphone running Android 5.1, which is a price point you almost never see.
At $50, there’s obviously a lot of cost cutting to offer this smartphone at such a low price point. Here’s what the device is running:
- 4-inch WVGA display
- Dual-core 1.1GHz Snapdragon 200 Series CPU
- Adreno 304 GPU
- 1GB of RAM
- 4GB of ROM, microSD supported up to 32GB
- 2-megapixel rear camera/0.3-megapixel front camera
- LTE Bands 2, 4, 12, and AWS3
- Android 5.1.1
As you can tell, there’s been cost cutting in a lot of areas. And yes, while it’s running Android 5.1.1, there’re questions as to how well the Coolpad Rogue actually performs. Consumers’ll have to find out when it launches on September 30.
Anyone plan on picking one up?
SAN DIEGO, Sept. 21, 2015 /PRNewswire/ — Coolpad, a global-leading smartphone manufacturer, announced today the upcoming launch of the Coolpad Rogue Android smartphone. Launching September 30, 2015, the Rogue will be the first of the Coolpad product portfolio available online and at participating T-Mobile stores nationwide.
Coolpad is one of the top mobile brands in China and has recently grown awareness around the globe with its high end devices at incredibly affordable prices. The partnership with T-Mobile is their first with a tier-one mobile carrier in the United States. Coolpad focuses on creating high-quality, affordable, smartphones that bring the latest Android technology to a wider audience.
“We are extremely excited that Coolpad can bring our ‘Live Smart’ motto of providing cool technology, easy-to-use interface, affordable prices, and attractive designs to T-Mobile customers,” said Charlie Parke, VP of Coolpad Technologies.
“The Un-carrier doesn’t just spark industry-leading trends, we’re giving our customers even more options to pick the phone that fits their lifestyle,” said Roger Brown, Vice President, Marketing at T-Mobile. “With a $49.99 price point, the Rogue is our first phone from Coolpad and the perfect addition to our affordable Android smartphone lineup this holiday.”
The 4G Rogue features: a 32GB expandable microSD, Android 5.1 OS, and a VGA front-facing camera. It’s easy to use and with a sleek design it’s a great option for first time smartphone users or for parents looking to give their children a stylish and affordable phone.
Please visit your local T-Mobile retailer to learn more about the Coolpad Rogue.
About Coolpad: Coolpad (http://www.coolpad.com) was recently nominated to Forbes Asia’s Fab50 list as one of China’s largest 4G smartphone producers and vendors. Coolpad is a company made up of amazing people all around the world who believe that technology should be simple and instinctive. Simple in the way that it enhances every aspect of your life, and so instinctive that it becomes a natural part of you. That’s why Coolpad has created and continually strive to grow our entire mobile technology ecosystem that empowers everyone, everywhere.
Qual’g service req’d. Taxes & fees addit’l. See T-Mobile.com for details.
Come comment on this article: Coolpad and T-Mobile partner to offer the Rogue, a $50 budget smartphone
Kickstarter legally forces itself to give back to humanity
Kickstarter is now forced/willing to give back to society because they are reincorporating to become a “public benefit corporation” (PBC). That basically means the company will make profits while also benefiting society.
The actual laws on PBC are quite confusing and different in every state. However, Kickstarter plans on registering in Delaware where PBC state laws came into effect two years ago. They have also been a voluntary B-corp (benefit corporation) since last year, but decided to become a Delaware PBC to turn their personal pledge of giving back into state law.
With the change comes new rules.
– “Kickstarter will never sell user data to third parties”
– “Kickstarter will not use loopholes or other esoteric but legal tax management to reduce its tax burden”
– “Kickstarter will … invest in green infrastructure, support green commuting methods, and factor environmental impact when choosing vendors.”
They even say they will give large amounts of money to others. Kicksterter says they will “annually donate 5 percent of its after-tax profit”. The 5% will be split into two halves, 2.5% going towards music programs for children and young adults, primarily focusing on undeserved communities in New York City. The other 2.5% going towards “organizations fighting to end prejudices against and increase opportunities for people of color, women, and LGBTQ individuals”.
Kickstarter is one of the few profitable startups. Making the move to PBC makes sure they can’t slip up on their word. The founders also say they never plan on becoming incorporated. Kickstarter co-founder and CEO Yancey Stickler tells The New York Times,
“That would push the company to make choices that we don’t think are in the best interest of the company.”
February 2017, is when the first PBC statement will arrive. The statement will go over if and how the company has reached it’s laid out charter.
Source: Kickstarter
Come comment on this article: Kickstarter legally forces itself to give back to humanity
Samsung’s bringing back the TV ‘set’ with the Serif TV
The humble television wasn’t always the ultra-thin, wall-mounted “appliance” we know today — it used to be a piece of furniture, wrapped in an elegant case of wood, plastics and metal. Now, Samsung is bringing the idea of a stylized ‘TV Set’ back, introducing a an expensive, font-inspired television called the Serif TV.
The name is a wildly overt nod to the television’s shape — a thick chassis with ledges that jut out from the top and bottom of the screen. When viewed in profile, these ‘serifs’ give the TV the distinct shape of a capital letter ‘I.’ This charming design can stand up on its own, but add a pair of retro-looking legs and the design becomes shockingly nostalgic. It’s all about looks: there’s even a fabric panel on the TV’s backside to hide connectors and ports.
Ronan & Erwan Bouroullec, the design firm behind the Serif TV, also revamped Samsung’s Smart TV interface into something it calls “curtain mode.” This pulls a fabric-like filter over whatever the TV is showing and offers a simple menu with Bluetooth speaker functionality, apps, a photo gallery and a simple clock mode.
Samsung says the Serif TV will come in three models: a large UHD model (about 40-inches) a medium sized Full-HD model (30-inches) and as well as a smaller 24-inch set. All of the sets will have built-9in WiFi and Bluetooth, as well. They’re fancy, but not cheap — when the 40-inch set hits stores in the UK, Sweden, Denmark and France on November 2nd, it’ll cost £1,199 (about $1860). There’s also no word yet if these TVs will be hitting the international market at all, but we’ll let you know if we hear anything.
Via: Engadget Germany, Daily Mail
Source: Samsung
Over 4 billion people will go without internet access this year
The tech industry likes to talk a lot about a connected world, but just how many people are online, really? Most of them aren’t, unfortunately. The United Nations’ Broadband Commission has released a 2015 report which estimates that 57 percent of the human population (about 4.2 billion people) won’t have regular internet access by the end of 2015. Not surprisingly, the likelihood that you’ll have access is highly dependent on your economic and social opportunities. Over 80 percent of people in fully developed countries currently have connections, but that number plummets to 6.7 percent in the poorest nations; gender inequality only makes it worse.
Free or low-cost internet efforts from companies like Facebook and Google might help, but the UN believes that the real solution is much more comprehensive. On top of tackling issues like poverty and discrimination, more governments need to establish concrete broadband plans, like those emerging in Cuba. Also, there are many parts of the world where it’s hard to find internet content written in local languages. There’s not much point to having a fast data pipe when you can’t read the sites you visit.
The good news? The situation should get better. About 60 percent of the world should have access by 2021, helped by a big spike in mobile internet use — the number of mobile data subscriptions should come close to matching those of regular cellphone subscriptions by 2020. That could prove to be particularly vital, since many of those who are still offline live in rural areas where telecoms can’t (or simply won’t) run landlines. While near-ubiquitous internet is likely a distant prospect at best, it may not take long before high-speed data is the rule, rather than the exception.
[Image credit: Rodrigo Arangua/AFP/Getty Images]
Via: The Next Web
Source: UN Broadband Commission (PDF)
Coolpad Rogue officially announced: Android 5.1 Lollipop and 4G connectivity for just $50
Finding an inexpensive Android handset is pretty easy nowadays, but the term ‘inexpensive’ is pretty subjective for many folks out there. Sure, the Moto G 2015, Alcatel OneTouch Idol 3 and ASUS ZenFone 2 are great values for the money, but all three of these devices cost over $150 if you’re buying them outright. If you’re looking for a smartphone that’s significantly cheaper in price and don’t mind making some sacrifices, Coolpad has just announced a new smartphone that may be worth your while.
The Coolpad Rogue has just been made official, and it will be available both online and in-store from T-Mobile for just $49.99 on Wednesday, September 30th. Yes, $50 is insanely cheap for a smartphone, but that low price point doesn’t come without quite a few caveats.
The Coolpad Rogue features a 4.0-inch WVGA display with a resolution of 800 x 480, a dual- core 1.1GHz Qualcomm Snapdragon processor with an Adreno 304 GPU, 1GB of RAM, 4GB of on-board storage and microSD expansion up to 32GB. Also included on this smartphone is a 2MP rear-facing camera, a .3MP front-facing shooter and support for LTE bands 2, 4, 12 and AWS3. It runs a customized version of Android 5.1.1 Lollipop, which isn’t something we normally see on a $50 smartphone.
The Coolpad Rogue’s specs certainly aren’t anything special. But for $50, this might be a viable option for first-time smartphone buyers or for parents looking to get their kids an inexpensive handset.
Samsung is failing to hit anticipated Q3 2015 profit target
Samsung has had a great year so far. They have launched some amazing phones like the recent Galaxy Note 5 and Galaxy S6 Edge+, as well as some cool upcoming smartwatches. Unfortunately, they are still coming up a little shorter in Q3 profit than expected.
They are expected to bring in $5.68 billion for Q3 2015, which is a lot, but it’s 6% lower than anticipated. The mobile business itself does not seem to be growing much, making up only $1.7 billion of the $5.68 billion.
The problem seems to be that the majority of consumers are going for budget friendly phones and not high-end handsets, especially in key markets like China and India. Samsung have a huge range of devices, all at different price points, but the competition in those areas seem to always find a way to undercut Samsung, giving consumers an even better deal.
Luckily for Samsung, it has many other areas of business where it can increase profit and doesn’t have to only worry about the mobile division. However, that doesn’t mean it shouldn’t be concerned. The last thing it wants to do is turn into HTC.
Via: KoreaTimes
Come comment on this article: Samsung is failing to hit anticipated Q3 2015 profit target
[Deal] Nexus Player and ASUS Nexus Player controller only $49.99 and $29.99 from Best Buy
Google’s Nexus Player console and the wireless gamepad for the Nexus Player are only $49.99 and $29.99, respectively, through Best Buy for a limited time. The Nexus Player normally retails for $99.99 and the ASUS wireless controller for $39.99, so this is a deal you don’t want to miss!
Google’s Nexus Play has seen similar deals as of late, with some wondering if this means another Nexus Player is on the way. In fact, a FCC filing from last week indicate that these new Nexus Player rumors could be true. And it just might be possible that we’ll hear something at Google’s even next week in San Francisco.
In the meantime, you can get your hands on the Nexus Player and its wireless gamepad by hitting one of the source links below.
Anyone picking one up?
Come comment on this article: [Deal] Nexus Player and ASUS Nexus Player controller only $49.99 and $29.99 from Best Buy
AIVAnet 