Lost ‘Sonic’ arcade game will soon be playable
Even the most diehard Sonic The Hedgehog fan could be forgiven for missing out on playing Waku Waku Sonic Patrol Car. The 1991 arcade game was released exclusively in Japan for small kids, placed within a car-shaped cabinet that was big enough for junior and their adult minder. Thankfully, the title, which had been thought lost for the better part of two decades, has now been found. If you’re prepared to wait a little longer, then the game will be available on the MAME arcade emulator along a forthcoming software update.
The effort to resurrect Waku Waku has been something of an international affair, with Sonic Paradise finding a partially-working model in the dark recesses of a Spanish shopping mall. Kotaku reports that the version that’s coming to MAME is coming from collector Will Medved, who found a machine in Japan and had it imported off his own back. According to Medved, the cabinet cost just $350, but shipping and import duties pushed that figure well past the $5,000 mark. As such, when you’re done enjoying this rare gem — and the first Sonic game to feature voice acting — maybe you should throw him a couple of bucks to show your gratitude.
[Image Credit: Sonic Retro]
Via: Kotaku
Source: Sonic Retro, MAMEWorld, GitHub
It’s not a phone, it’s a Galaxy: Samsung’s latest ads take it to Apple
One of the big secrets behind Apple’s considerable mobile success is the Cupertino company’s marketing department, which coined the iconic “if it’s not an iPhone… it’s not an iPhone” phrase and transformed what mobile technology marketing should be like. In its latest ads, Samsung has sought to follow suit, with three ads showing off key unique selling features of the new Galaxy Note 5 and S6 Edge+ that aren’t possible with the iPhone.
The new adverts all have the same tag line “It’s Not a Phone, It’s a Galaxy” and if there was any doubt about Samsung’s intentions with the adverts, each one features the iPhone 6 attempting (and failing) to do what the Galaxy smartphone pictured does. From wireless charging to an immersive dual edge display and the wide support for Samsung Pay, the adverts are certainly different to what we’ve seen from the Korean manufacturer in the past.
Here’s the three short adverts:
Naturally, these adverts are designed to showcase the key features of all of Samsung’s new flagship Galaxy devices and for the most part, they certainly seem to deliver. If you were a consumer watching any of these, it would be immediately clear that the iPhone doesn’t support wireless charging and Samsung Pay is more widely accepted than Apple Pay.
The question remains whether this is enough to convince die-hard iPhone users to switch over but even if these adverts don’t work, Samsung’s trial program might yet persuade some users. What do you think? Do these adverts make you want to buy a Galaxy such as the Galaxy Note 5, Galaxy S6 Edge Plus or Galaxy S6? Let us know in the comments below guys!
Samsung Galaxy in video:
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ZTE smartphone without a camera passes through TENAA
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By now, having a camera on your smartphone is all but a certainty, which makes it all the more unusual that a ZTE smartphone without a camera has just passed through TENAA for certification – the Chinese version of the FCC. It’s kind of disconcerting look at the rear of device, but the completely smooth brushed metal back does make for a very attractive aesthetic.
We’d be interested to know what kind of market this device would be popular in, but given the low-end specs, the omission of a camera module is likely to make the device even more dirt cheap. According to the TENAA listing, the device has a 1.5GHz processor, 1GB RAM, 5-inch 720p display and weighs a measly 117 grams – for reference, another budget smartphone, the Motorola Moto G, weighs around 140 grams.
We’ll have to see whether this device ever makes it West-ward, and while it might not be a big seller, if the price is right, a smartphone without a camera would make a very interesting proposition for those who have no use for a camera.
What do you think about this ZTE smartphone without a camera? Let us know your thoughts in the comments below.
Source: TENAA via TalkAndroid
The post ZTE smartphone without a camera passes through TENAA appeared first on AndroidSPIN.
One Day Sale: $300 Discount on 2015 15″ Retina MacBook Pro
Best Buy is offering a substantial one-day sale on Apple’s current generation 15″ Retina MacBook Pro. The $1,999 2.2GHz MacBook Pro has been discounted $300 to $1,699.
The current generation 15″ Retina MacBook Pro was released in May of 2015. It offers the following specs:
– 15.4-inch Retina Display
– 2.2GHz Quad-Core Intel® Core™ i7 processor
– 16GB of 1600MHz DDR3L onboard memory
– 256GB PCIe-based flash storage
– Intel® Iris Pro Graphics
– Force Touch trackpad
The next MacBook Pro is not expected until 2016 with the release of the Skylake processors. $1,699 represents the largest discount on the current generation 15″ MacBook Pro that we’ve seen, and expires at the end of Monday, September 21st.
Best Buy is an affiliate parter of MacRumors.
Radar turns your smartphone into a baseball speed detector
Want to know if your baseball team’s pitching skills are up to snuff without carrying a dedicated (and frequently not-so-smart) speed detector? Scoutee might have something up your alley. It’s crowdfunding a baseball radar peripheral that turns Android phones and iPhones into pitch speed detectors. Plunk the device in the right place (including on the back if your phone, if you like) and it’ll tell you just how quick that fastball really was. You can not only add notes, but record video with a speed overlay — you’ll know whether or not that curveball was slow from the start.
The gadget won’t be cheap, but you can get a good deal if you pledge during the Kickstarter campaign. It’ll take as little as $129 (normally $149 to $169) to get a Scoutee versus waiting for the retail launch, when it’ll cost $299. You’ll ideally get your device in April, just in time for those early spring games. This isn’t a trivial expense no matter what you pay, but the crowdfunding price is just low enough that it might make sense if your kid’s Little League team needs a tune-up.
Via: The Next Web
Source: Kickstarter
Sony applies for certification for new Xperia M4 Aqua and Aqua Dual update
Earlier today, Sony filed for certification on a new update it’s planning to roll out for the Xperia M4 Aqua and Aqua Dual. Unfortunately, judging by the details included in the documentation, it doesn’t look like a big update, but we should see a full fix for the Stagefright vulnerability.
Many Xperia M4 Aqua users have been reporting that their handsets have been getting extremely hot during extended use, so Sony most probably have included a patch to control the heat of the processor in order to keep the device running at a safe temperature in this upgrade, too.
The update carries build number 26.1.A.2.147 for the single-SIM model as opposed to 26.1.B.2.129 for the dual-SIM variant, and will be available for all carrier bands in the United States in the not-too-distant future.
Via: Xperia Blog
Come comment on this article: Sony applies for certification for new Xperia M4 Aqua and Aqua Dual update
Amazon Echo updated with news-reading ability
Amazon has started rolling out a rather nifty over-the-air update to all Echo units, which is primarily aimed at keeping you up-to-date with the latest news while you’re completing chores in and around the home.
Once the upgrade has been installed, you’ll be able to grab Echo’s attention and say “Read me the latest [sports] headlines.” You can, of course, change sports to whatever category interests you. The unit will then respond by providing you with a brief commentary on your chosen subject.
Obviously, you won’t receive a word-for-word dictation of a New York Times article, but you will get a breakdown containing all the relevant information, which is perfect in situations where you’re running around and just don’t have the time to pick up a newspaper.
The update also impacts Echo’s time-keeping abilities. You now have the facility to create, edit and delete alarms using your voice as opposed to its accompanying application.
If you’re having issues installing the upgrade, head over to Amazon’s Support Forum by hitting the source link below.
Source: Amazon
Come comment on this article: Amazon Echo updated with news-reading ability
[Deal] For the next 12-hours you can pick up a Verizon-branded Galaxy Tab S 10.5 for just $359.99
If you’re in the market for a new tablet, you may want to check out the deal eBay is holding on the Verizon-branded LTE model of the Galaxy Tab S 10.5. The slate is available to purchase for $359.99, which is a whopping $90 off the standard price of $449.99. However, the promotion is only live for the next 12-hours — so if you want to get in on the money-saving action, you better act fast.
For those in need a refresher on its specifications, the Galaxy Tab S is a pretty solid device, packing a 10.5-inch Super AMOLED display, a 2.3GHz quad-core Snapdragon 800 processor, an Adreno 330 GPU, 3GB of RAM, 16GB of expandable internal storage, an 8-megapixel rear-facing camera, a 2.1-megapixel selfie shooter and a beefy 7,900mAh Li-Ion battery.
It’s also worth noting that eBay is throwing in complimentary International economy shipping, so if you live in North or South America, Europe, Asia, Australia, New Zealand or South Africa, you can take full advantage of this, too. All you have to do is hit the source link below and fill in your card details to pay!
Source: eBay
Come comment on this article: [Deal] For the next 12-hours you can pick up a Verizon-branded Galaxy Tab S 10.5 for just $359.99
LG show us what its new Class smartphone has to offer in South Korea
Drawing a close to weeks of endless rumors, LG has today taken the wraps off its latest smartphone in South Korea. The Class will be up for grabs in Gold, Silver, Blue or Black colorways from all four major Korean carriers later today for 399,300 Won ($340).
The LG Class sports a 5-inch HD IPS display, a 1.2GHz Snapdragon 410 processor, an Adreno 306 GPU, 2GB of RAM, 16GB of internal memory (expandable up to a whopping 2TB via microSD), a 13-megapixel rear-facing camera and a 2,050mAh battery.
As the handset is part of LG’s G-branded lineup, the volume rocker and power button are both located on the back of the device, which makes the phone more ergonomic as it fits neatly in your hand, thereby making it easier to use.
If you’re based in South Korea, like the sound of the LG Class and would like to find out more about picking one up — hit the source link below.
Source: LG
Come comment on this article: LG show us what its new Class smartphone has to offer in South Korea
Mandatory South Korean parental control app is a security nightmare
Back in April, South Korea required that wireless carriers install parental control apps on kids’ phones to prevent young ones from seeing naughty content. It sounded wise to officials at the time, but it now looks like that cure is worse than the disease. Researchers at the University of Toronto’s Citizen Lab have discovered 26 security holes in Smart Sheriff, the most popular of these mandatory parental apps. The software has weak authentication, sends a lot of data without encryption and relies on servers using outdated, vulnerable code. It wouldn’t be hard for an intruder to hijack the parent’s account, intercept communications or even scoop up the kids’ personal details. The worst part? Some of these vulnerabilities apply on a large scale, so a particularly sinister attacker could compromise hundreds of thousands of phones at once.
Citizen Lab was quick to notify the South Korean carrier association (MOIBA) that developed the app, and the group claims that the flaws have already been fixed. However, the discoverers aren’t buying that line. They believe that “very little” has been resolved, and that one of the fixes may have created a new hole. Oops. No matter what the scoop is, the findings underscore the risks involved in demanding that providers bundle apps — exploits that normally have a limited impact quickly turn into major issues.
[Image credit: AP Photo/Ahn Young-joon]
Source: Citizen Lab
AIVAnet 
