Fly close to Pluto in a detailed NASA tour
Alas, you’re unlikely to soar over Pluto’s alien landscape any time soon — not when it’s billions of miles away. However, NASA has whipped up an aerial tour that will give you an inkling of what it might be like. The simulated flyover (below) uses the New Horizons probe’s latest high-res imagery to show off Pluto with an “unprecedented” level of detail of up to 0.25 miles per pixel). It’s certainly not the same as being there, but it’s not hard to imagine sitting in a spacecraft orbiting the dwarf planet. And don’t worry if this doesn’t meet your expectations. New Horizons will eventually send pictures that are up to seven times sharper, so you can expect more impressive virtual flights in the months ahead.
Source: NASA
Talk Android Apps of the Week: September 20, 2015
It’s Sunday, the time of the week when Talk Android brings you a report on some of the very best applications we’ve been using throughout the course of the past week. Today we’re focusing our attention on a fantastic password manager, a super-entertaining DJ tool, a wine exploration service and concluding this week’s medley is an innovative instant messaging application.
Dashlane
First up, we have Dashlane, which is an essential tool for all inhabiters of the Internet. The sole purpose of this application is to provide a secure vault for users to store their usernames, email addresses, credit/debit card details and passwords — so that they never forget a set of login or payment credentials ever again.
Dashlane automatically syncs with other devices you install it on and employs military standard AES-256 encryption techniques to ensure the data isn’t compromised during transmission. Privacy is without a doubt the main concern with this type of app, which is why it’s reassuring to know that the service doesn’t keep any user data records.
If you’re anything like me and you struggle to create secure passwords, Dashlane is an invaluable tool. Users can visit the Password Vault section of the application and instruct it to generate a unique, 13-character password encompassing letters, digits and symbols, which is then automatically entered whenever a password entry screen appears.
To really get to grips with Dashlane’s features, it’s best to see it in action, so be sure to check out the gallery below.
djay
Next up is djay. Have you ever dreamt of being a world-famous DJ? Well, with this application you can feel a little closer to living the dream. It transforms your smartphone or tablet into a fully-featured DJ system, providing you with direct access to mix and remix your favorite songs from either your device’s internal memory or Spotify.
Using djay gives you the facility to create loops and apply unique sound FX all in real-time. There’s even compatibility for external MIDI controllers for the more experienced DJ’s amid the userbase. Sets created using the service can be outputted to Bluetooth devices for wireless playback, which is an awesome feature to have if you’re hosting a party.
In addition, as a result of a recent partnership between Algoriddim and The Echo Nest, adopters of the app will be able to create a remix of their music library with intelligent song recommendation; meaning that music selection and mixing has never been easier as the tempo, pitch and BPM are automatically matched.
To see djay in full swing, take a look at the demonstration video below.
Click here to view the embedded video.
Delectable Wine
Up third, we have an application directed at all the budding and accomplished wine connoisseurs out there. Delectable Wine is a relatively new service, which allows you to create a personalised journal containing a record of the wines you’ve had, alongside a rating out of ten. You also have the facility to send personalised recommendations to friends.
Delectable Wine aims to help you find new flavours and broaden your taste buds. Having the ability to follow top sommeliers, winemakers and critics gives you direct access to curated lists of wines that could take your fancy. If you do find something you like, you can easily order it from within the app for delivery to your doorstep.
Take a look through the gallery below to get a feel for the apps functionality
Cord
The final application we’re looking at this week is Cord, which, for those unaware, is a fantastic instant messaging platform that solely relies on voice notes. Once downloaded, you will have the facility to chat with one or a group of friends by sending 12-second voice clips.
The easiest way to get your head around Cord is to think of it as a voice-based version of Snapchat. However, instead of images, you use short, disappearing voice notes to communicate. No text involved. It really is great fun.
To see it in action, check out the video below:
Click here to view the embedded video.
Previous Apps of the Week editions:
Come comment on this article: Talk Android Apps of the Week: September 20, 2015
Mariah Carey’s first ad for ‘Game of War: Fire Age’ is action-packed
Goodbye Kate Upton, hello Mariah Carey.
Machine Zone, the developer of Game of War: Fire Age, signed a deal with Carey that resulted in Upton being dropped as the face of its wildly successful mobile game. That deal was signed in February and now, more than six months later, the first advertisement featuring Carey has debuted. The plan is for Carey’s songs to be utilized in the ads, likely a demand from her camp. And Game of War: Fire Age generating around $1 million per day, Machine Zone can certainly afford to pay for the use of Carey’s catalog.
Alan Taylor, director of Thor: The Dark World and Terminator Genisys, was brought in assemble Carey’s first ad for Game of War: Fire Age. Rather than continuing to emphasize sex appeal, Taylor is shifting the mobile game’s ads to focus on action. In this ad (seen below), two men are desperate for assistance in battle. So they call in help but are only faced with more difficulties. A dragon begins descending to devour the duo, but Carey steps in to help. She shoots the dragon with a fiery bow from her crossbow and tells them that “It’s time to be heroes, guys.” Carey then runs off into the battlefield.
Click here to view the embedded video.
The background music for this ad comes from Carey’s Music Box album that was released in 1993. The song is “Hero.”
Come comment on this article: Mariah Carey’s first ad for ‘Game of War: Fire Age’ is action-packed
dMetronome is a simple metronome app for Android Wear
I’m sure any music lover out there has heard of a metronome. It is a device that basically plays a steady beat to help musicians play rhythms accurately. With dMetronome for Android Wear, you can do the same thing, only from your wrist.
There are a few other metronome apps for Android Wear, but dMetronome was the first. It keeps things super simple and to the point, just look at the picture. You can change the beat per minute with the slider or the arrows, the range is from 1-200 BPM. The default count is four, but can be changed up to 12. You can do a couple other things like have the screen flash for every beat, but that’s it. After you set the BPM, your Android Wear watch will vibrate giving you a physical feel for the beat.
Come comment on this article: dMetronome is a simple metronome app for Android Wear
What You Need to Know About iOS Malware XcodeGhost
Palo Alto Networks has published details about new Chinese malware called XcodeGhost. MacRumors has created a FAQ so you can learn more about the malware and how to keep your iOS devices protected.
What is XcodeGhost?
XcodeGhost is a new iOS malware arising from a malicious version of Xcode, Apple’s official tool for developing iOS and OS X apps.
How is XcodeGhost distributed?
A malicious version of Xcode was uploaded to Chinese cloud file sharing service Baidu and downloaded by some iOS developers in China.
Chinese developers then unknowingly compile iOS apps using the modified Xcode IDE and distribute those infected apps through the App Store. Those apps then managed to pass through Apple’s code review process, enabling iOS users to install or update the infected apps on their devices.
Which devices are affected?
iPhone, iPad and iPod touch models running an iOS version compatible with any of the infected apps. The malware affects both stock and jailbroken devices.
Which apps are affected?
Palo Alto Networks has shared a full list of 39 infected iOS apps, including WeChat, NetEase Cloud Music, WinZip, Didi Chuxing, Railway 12306, China Unicom Mobile Office and Tonghuashun.
How many users are affected?
XcodeGhost potentially affects more than 500 million iOS users, primarily because messaging app WeChat is very popular in China and the Asia-Pacific region.
Which unofficial versions of Xcode are affected?
All unofficial versions between Xcode 6.1 and Xcode 6.4.
How does XcodeGhost put my iOS devices at risk?
iOS apps infected with XcodeGhost malware can and do collect information about devices and then encrypt and upload that data to command and control (C2) servers run by attackers through the HTTP protocol. The system and app information that can be collected includes:
Palo Alto Networks also discovered that infected iOS apps can receive commands from the attacker through the C2 server to perform the following actions:
Can XcodeGhost affect users outside of China?
Yes. Some of the iOS apps infected with XcodeGhost malware are available on the App Store in countries outside of China. CamCard, for example, is a popular business card reader and scanner app available in the United States and several other countries, while WeChat is a popular messaging app in the Asia-Pacific region.
Why would some Chinese developers download Xcode from Baidu?
Xcode is a large file that can take a long time to download from Apple’s servers in China, leading some developers to download Xcode from unofficial sources.
How are Apple and Chinese developers dealing with XcodeGhost?
Palo Alto Networks claims that it is cooperating with Apple on the issue, while multiple developers have updated their apps to remove the malware.
How do I protect myself against XcodeGhost?
iOS users should immediately uninstall any infected iOS app listed here on their devices, or update to a newer version that has removed the malware. Resetting your iCloud password, and any other passwords inputted on your iOS device, is also strongly recommended as a precautionary measure.
Developers should install official versions of Xcode 7 or Xcode 7.1 beta from Apple’s website for free and avoid downloading the software from unofficial sources.
Watch the rock band Deerhoof experiment with sound at CERN
You knew that CERN was big on experimentation when it built the Large Hadron Collider, but it just took that curiosity in a strange, fascinating new direction. ATLAS physicist James Beacham has kicked off Ex/Noise/CERN, an initiative that has musicians experiment with sound at CERN in tribute to the institute’s physics breakthroughs. The first band in the mix is the out-there indie group Deerhoof, and the results are about as odd as you’d expect — the rockers’ fuzz and bass sounds very, very different in an LHC magnet test facility versus a stage. Most of what they play in the clip below wouldn’t be considered melodic, to put it mildly, but that’s part of the point. This is the sort of listening that usually involves a dark room, some big headphones and an open mind. Here’s hoping that the series carries on for a long while, and pushes more than a few creative boundaries.
[Image credit: Marine Bass/CERN]
Via: Ars Technica
Source: CERN, Ex/Noise/CERN
Xiaomi reveals information on its upcoming Xiaomi Mi 4c
Today, co-founder of Xiamoi, Li Nan and Lei Jun the chairman of Xiamoi believed it was necessary to give consumers some details on the upcoming Xiaomi Mi 4c.
We have already seen numerous leaks and benchmarks regarding the Xiamoi Mi 4c and now more details have emerged. According to Xiaomi, the Mi 4c will have dual-SIM/dual standby capabilities both supporting 4G LTE connectivity. The company is also adding some new features that are currently only found on select Android handsets. The double tap to wake feature will be among one of them.
Teaser images posted on Weibo reveal a Snapdragon 808 processor and an Adreno 418 GPU. These internals will give the handset a significant boost in connectivity and download speeds. Another image shows off a totally new orange and white colored packaging that will replace the plain white design of its counterpart.
The handset is scheduled to be announced at an event held on September 22, and launch in stores on October 3. Only a small amount will be produced and we are expecting to see a price tag south of $300 USD. We’ll find out all the mysteries in just two days time.
Via TechGrapple
Come comment on this article: Xiaomi reveals information on its upcoming Xiaomi Mi 4c
More capabilities are coming to Google Play Games
Google is working hard to make YouTube Gaming one of the most popular apps for live-streaming games. Today, the company announced it will be adding new functionalities associated with Google Play Games.
Soon, Android users will be able to live-stream games from their Android device to YouTube Gaming. With integration of its Play Games service, users will be able to screen record their video games and broadcast them to YouTube Gaming in real-time. This report comes from Android Police who found snippets of code in addition to icon assets being put into v3.3 of Play Games.
The code reveals support for 480p and 720p. Icons show us what appear to be toggles for different controls in addition to buttons offering actions and different options. Hopefully we’ll find out more at Google’s upcoming conference scheduled for September 29. Invites have already rolled out.
Source: Android Police
Come comment on this article: More capabilities are coming to Google Play Games
The After Math: Big scary numbers
This week on The After Math, Cablevision sells for buku bucks, AT&T gets generous with its data allowances and some sucker is probably going to spend $130,000 on a TV he won’t be able to use until its become obsolete. Because numbers!
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Inhabitat’s Week in Green: new EV concept cars and Napmobiles
Each week our friends at Inhabitat recap the week’s most interesting green developments and clean tech news for us — it’s the Week in Green.
Up until now, Tesla has blazed a trail in the electric vehicle market — but the major automakers are finally starting to catch up. This past week Porsche unveiled its new Mission E electric car, which packs over 600 horsepower and recharges in 15 minutes flat. Meanwhile, Audi showcased a sleek all-electric SUV to rival the Tesla Model X, and Mercedes-Benz debuted a car that can actually transform at high speeds. Even LA is jumping on the green-car bandwagon — the city just announced plans to launch the largest electric vehicle fleet in the US. If you prefer pedal-powered transportation, don’t miss out on a chance to win a Public V7 bike in our back-to-school giveaway — it only takes a second to enter!
Carnegie Mellon professor Jay Whitacre has created a non-toxic battery that’s clean enough to eat — and this week it won him the $500,000 Lemelson-MIT Prize. In other energy news, Ethiopia is turning to giant solar energy-generating tulips in its quest to become carbon neutral by 2025. And researchers recently developed a new hybrid solar cell that produces five times more energy by harnessing sunlight and heat at the same time.
What will the buildings of the future look like? Last week a team of architects unveiled plans for an underground bubble house that could be 3D-printed on Mars. Here on Earth, the world’s largest delta 3D printer can produce entire houses out of mud for practically zero cost. World-renowned firm Foster + Partners announced plans to construct a Droneport in Africa that will use unmanned aerial vehicles to distribute emergency medical supplies. And we showcased several examples of mobile architecture — an incredible tiny home on wheels, and a Napmobile that lets you test-drive a cozy mattress on the road.
AIVAnet 