Big Boi and Phantogram master seven deadly sins in ‘Supergrams’ game
What’s the best way to promote your newly released album? Well, if you’re Big Grams, the group comprised of Outkast’s Big Boi and Phantogram, you make an browser-based video game. In Supergrams, you can play as an 8-bit member of the group to leverage the seven deadly sins by nabbing coins and power-ups while avoiding various pitfalls along the way. For example, the sloth power-up will slow you down so you can tackle obstacles with ease. As you might expect, you can listen to the trio’s EP while you’re playing, so give it a shot via the source link below.
Via: Pitchfork
Source: Supergrams
The EPA is cracking down hard on auto industry shenanigans
The smogging scandal that has enveloped Volkswagen has also left the Environmental Protection Agency with something of a black eye. So even though the EPA failed to catch on to VW’s games this time, the agency is damn sure not about to let it happen again. Like, ever. “The Volkswagen violations before us now make it clear, we need to adapt and step up our oversight,” Janet McCabe, acting administrator in the EPA’s Office of Air and Radiation, said during a press conference.
The EPA outlined its plan in a strongly worded letter to car manufacturers on Friday. Those plans include spot checking vehicles for the so-called “defeat devices” in addition to the normal rounds of smog testing. The agency did not specify how it would actually do that, given that these devices are really just lines of computer code scattered through the 10 million or so that modern vehicles require to operate.
What’s more, the EPA won’t be relying solely on vehicles provided by manufacturers for its baseline standards testing anymore. It will now borrow specific models from private citizens and rental companies as well. The agency also plans to redeploy some of its 23 mobile emissions testing platforms, the system that West Virginia University researchers used to discover the testing scam in the first place. Almost all of these platforms are currently being used to test big rigs and other heavy duty vehicles for NOx emissions — even though these heavier vehicles actually account for 98 percent of nitric-oxide emissions.
Of course Elon Musk, founder of electric car manufacturer Tesla, didn’t miss the opportunity to throw shade on his fossil fuel-powered rivals. Take a look at his remarks in the video below, at the 1:12 mark.
[Image Credit: Getty]
Via: Autoblog
Source: EPA
The EPA is cracking down hard on auto industry shenanigans
The smogging scandal that has enveloped Volkswagen has also left the Environmental Protection Agency with something of a black eye. So even though the EPA failed to catch on to VW’s games this time, the agency is damn sure not about to let it happen again. Like, ever. “The Volkswagen violations before us now make it clear, we need to adapt and step up our oversight,” Janet McCabe, acting administrator in the EPA’s Office of Air and Radiation, said during a press conference.
The EPA outlined its plan in a strongly worded letter to car manufacturers on Friday. Those plans include spot checking vehicles for the so-called “defeat devices” in addition to the normal rounds of smog testing. The agency did not specify how it would actually do that, given that these devices are really just lines of computer code scattered through the 10 million or so that modern vehicles require to operate.
What’s more, the EPA won’t be relying solely on vehicles provided by manufacturers for its baseline standards testing anymore. It will now borrow specific models from private citizens and rental companies as well. The agency also plans to redeploy some of its 23 mobile emissions testing platforms, the system that West Virginia University researchers used to discover the testing scam in the first place. Almost all of these platforms are currently being used to test big rigs and other heavy duty vehicles for NOx emissions — even though these heavier vehicles actually account for 98 percent of nitric-oxide emissions.
Of course Elon Musk, founder of electric car manufacturer Tesla, didn’t miss the opportunity to throw shade on his fossil fuel-powered rivals. Take a look at his remarks in the video below, at the 1:12 mark.
[Image Credit: Getty]
Via: Autoblog
Source: EPA
Free Basics is the new name of Facebook’s Internet.org
Facebook has decided to change the name of Internet.org to Free Basics. The service has been under a lot of criticism as Facebook say it’s basically free internet, but users have reported that is not true, it’s limited internet of what Facebook want to show you.
There were also net neutrality concerns, saying Internet.org would gain an unfair advantage in the marketplace since other services could not give their services away for free. Facebook commented saying Free Basics would be free and allow any service to be free as well.
Support for HTTPS will also be added. This makes sure everything is fully encrypted when users are browsing the internet. The Android app, however, already has HTTPS when possible. Both the app and the website will be accessible in 19 countries and offer over 250 services, with 60 new services having just been added. If you are in India, you can only access it if you are a Reliance subscriber. Facebook says they are planning on making it available to other carriers in the future.
Mark Zuckerberg said:
“We want to make it clear that the apps you can use through Internet.org are free, basic services that can give you access to essential resources like BabyCenter.
Connectivity isn’t an end in itself. It’s what people do with it that matters — like raising a healthy family. We hope the improvements we’ve made today help even more people get connected — so that our whole global community can benefit together.”
Source: Mark Zuckerberg (Facebook)
Come comment on this article: Free Basics is the new name of Facebook’s Internet.org
FTC to investigate Google for anti-trust abuses over Android operating system
This is the not the first time Google has been accused of abusing anti-trust laws. According to a new report, the Federal Trade Commission is about to step in and begin investigating whether Google has an unfair advantage by using Android to gain popularity of its services.
As most of you know, Google’s Android operating system is open source meaning the company allows others to use it free of cost. However, the companies apps and services are not open source. When a company or carrier wants to ship devices running the Android operating system they need Google’s approval. This is where Google is being accused. Google forces these companies and/or carriers to include Google’s core applications such as Gmail, Maps and more. The FTC believes that by promoting its apps through its widely popular mobile operating system gives the company an advantage and shouldn’t be allowed. If the FTC finds the company guilty of a Monopoly with its Android operating system, Google could very well be charged and forced to remove the pre-installed apps for future Android powered handsets. As of now, Google is yet to provide a response. Whether this will be seen as a violation or not, users will always be allowed to download the company’s services after purchasing the device via the Play Store.
Source: Bloomberg
Come comment on this article: FTC to investigate Google for anti-trust abuses over Android operating system
Verizon are sending out security updates for the Samsung Galaxy Note 5, S6 Edge Plus, S6, and S6 Edge
Verizon are sending out security updates to all 2015 Samsung flagship phones. That includes the Galaxy Note 5, Galaxy S6 Edge+, S6, and S6 Edge. The update does not really go over much as to what it entails other than “Android security patches”.
If you own one of the listed phones and are on Verizon, but have not received the update yet, you can manually check for it. Go to your settings, click “About device” at the very bottom, and click “Software update”.
Source: Verizon (1), (2), (3), (4)
Come comment on this article: Verizon are sending out security updates for the Samsung Galaxy Note 5, S6 Edge Plus, S6, and S6 Edge
Samsung’s second quarter results are in, remains the lead smartphone manufacturer in the world
A new report from Counterpoint Research states that Samsung remained the top smartphone manufacturer globally for the second quarter.
Samsung accounted for 21% of all smartphone shipments this quarter. Apple was a near second with 14% percent and Huawei took the third place crown with a share of 9%. Rounding out the top five were Xiaomi and ZTE who each had 5% of the pie. However, in North America numbers differed. Apple took the crown with a remarkable 31% share, Samsung was a distant second with 24% and LG placed third with 15%.
With smartphone sales still growing faster than ever and tablet sales slowing down, smartphones managed to make up 75% of all mobile shipments this past quarter. Both China and the United States were the leading countries when it comes to LTE enabled devices.
With new smartphones hitting the market such as Samsung’s Galaxy Note 5 and S6 Edge Plus in addition to Apple’s newly announced iPhone 6s and 6s Plus, one could expect the stats to change in the upcoming quarter. We’ll provide the results when they come. But for now, all the details regarding Samsung’s results can be seen in the info-graphic sourced down below.
Source: Counterpoint Research
Via: GSMArena
Come comment on this article: Samsung’s second quarter results are in, remains the lead smartphone manufacturer in the world
Feld & Volk and Colette Match Apple’s Launch With New Luxury Modified iPhone 6s Models
Luxury modified iPhone manufacturer Feld & Volk and French fashion boutique Colette are partnering on new devices based on Apple’s iPhone 6s, launching the new products on the same day Apple begins shipping out its latest devices.
Feld & Volk previously partnered with Colette to show off some of the Russian firm’s modified iPhone 6 designs, and Apple itself worked with Colette for the first public preview of the Apple Watch nearly a year ago.
iPhone 6s Double Carbon Limited Edition
The new two new iPhone 6s models from Feld & Volk and Colette include a customized limited-edition Double Carbon version and a Dark Graphite version from Feld & Volk’s WOOD collection. The company uses premium materials such as carbon fiber, titanium, and wood to build custom rear shells with lighted Apple logos for the various iPhone models, with prices starting at several thousand dollars.
iPhone 6s WOOD Graphite
Deliveries of the two new iPhone 6s models begin on September 30, and additional iPhone 6s-based models will be coming soon from Feld & Volk.
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