Blackberry Priv unboxing video released by Carphone Warehouse
Blackberry’s first Android powered smartphone, the Blackberry Priv, will be hitting consumers’ hands soon. U.K. retailer Carphone Warehouse has released an unboxing video for the device so buyers can get a better idea of what to expect from the new smartphone. The video is standard fare for an unboxing video, giving viewers a glimpse of the actual packaging and how Blackberry went about fitting everything in the box. The latter half of the video shows a little bit of how the software, especially the Blackberry specific apps, work on the device and how the physical keyboard is accessed. Blackberry appears to be following the path of Motorola in keeping Android pretty much close to stock and adding apps to the device as opposed to layering on their own user interface.
Hit the break to check out the video and let us know in the comments if you plan to give the Blackberry Priv a try.
Click here to view the embedded video.
Come comment on this article: Blackberry Priv unboxing video released by Carphone Warehouse
[TA Deals] Get the Aduro Surge Protector for just $17.99
Are you constantly running out of wall outlets to plug your smartphone or tablet chargers? Then you might want to check out the Aduro Surge Protector, what is essentially a power station with 6 wall ports and 2 USB ports.
When your chargers are plugged straight into a wall outlet, unforeseen and uncontrollable weather changes and power outages can severely damage your device by causing voltage spikes that can short your electronics out. But there’s no need to worry about that with the Aduro Surge Protector, which employs Safe Shutdown Technology to protect your devices from harm. There’s also an LED that indicates that your protection is on.
Here’s what your getting in this package:
- Power up to 7 devices at once
- Protect against fire & other damage w/ Safety Shutdown Technology
- Get maximum reduction of AC line noise interference w/ the EMI/RFI Filter
- Charge your tablets, smartphones & more w/ the USB outputs (combined output of 2.4 amps)
- View the light indicator to confirm protection is active
Surge protectors like these are nice things to have, and they vary in pricing. The Aduro Surge Protector normally costs $40, but for the next two days, we’re offering it to our readers for 55% off, bringing your grand total to $17.99! It’s a deal you don’t want to miss out on!
Come comment on this article: [TA Deals] Get the Aduro Surge Protector for just $17.99
Foursquare cards are popping up in Google Now, even without the app
Google Now has been serving up cards with info from your apps for a while. According to a report in VentureBeat, you might start seeing cards from apps you don’t have installed — starting with Foursquare. Cards with tips from the app were spotted alongside Google’s own regular location-based recommendations. Foursquare still isn’t listed on Google’s partner page, so likely these cards are part of a limited trial, and the search giant isn’t confirming anything when asked.
Source: VentureBeat
Sony’s new PSVR shooter is a rollercoaster ride of horror
“When we announced this, we saw a 50/50 split among the fanbase,” said Simon Harris of Until Dawn: Rush of Blood, Supermassive Games’ recently announced virtual reality shooter. The title, which debuted at Paris Games Week, is an extension of the PlayStation 4 exclusive released last August.The reason for the mixed reaction? Although its predecessor is an intense interactive drama, Rush of Blood is an on-rails arcade shooter (think House of the Dead or Time Crisis). Fans of the original want more drama, more Until Dawn, and this clearly isn’t more of the same. But after playing a brief session of Rush of Blood and talking to Harris about the studio’s plans, I’m convinced Supermassive knows what it’s doing.
Mini-fridge disguised as a life-size, mobile R2-D2 is up for pre-order
Yes, these are full-scale R2-D2s replete with a moving head and flashing lights. They’re not loaded with a super-intelligent AI and they don’t project holograms, but they can chill your beer and even bring it to you while you put your feet up on the Ottoman. We’re assuming you have an Ottoman (a fancy one, even) if you get one, because this mini-fridge costs almost $9,000… and that’s not including the fees you have to pay to import it from Japan. According to our friends from Engadget JP, these remote-controlled AQUA R2-D2s made by Haier Asia are now up for pre-order. Unfortunately, you’ll need a Japanese address, as you can see on its Star Wars-themed reservation page. If you do have a way to buy one, you might get it just in time for Star Wars: The Force Awakens, since units will start shipping out in December 2015. Take note that it can fit a few cans of beer at most, but hey, we doubt you’ll get it to use as an actual mini-fridge anyway.
Source: Engadget Japan
[Deal] Snag some great Inateck gear in this Halloween promotion
Halloween is almost upon us, and accessory maker, Inateck, is joining the party with some howling good discounts for a number of its products ranging from Bluetooth speakers to headphones to desktop chargers. Join us after the break for the discount codes.
- Inateck Bluetooth 4.1 Weatherproof Stereo In-ear Headphones ($ 32.99): Use promo code 5QQAWHVN for $10 off [Amazon] (You can check out our review of this product here)
- Inateck Aries Premium Genuine Wood In-Ear Noise-isolating Headphones ($23.99): Use promo code D6BO5RI5 for $5 off [Amazon]
- Inateck Lacerta Dual Dynamic Driver In-Ear Noise-isolating HiFi Headphones ($25.99): Use promo code: NIJKEEVD for $5 off [Amazon]
- Inateck 2.4GHZ Wireless Pointer Control Powerpoint Presentation Remote Control ($12.99): Use promo code UV3VPQZT for $3 off [Amazon]
- Inateck Dual-Driver Portable Wireless Bluetooth Speaker with Stand ($29.99): Use promo code: 5AERJM5O for $5 off [Amazon]
- Inateck Ultra-Portable Aluminum Wireless Bluetooth 4.0 Speaker ($45.99): Use promo code: KA9U67XB for $11 off [Amazon]
- Inateck MarsBox Bluetooth 4.0 Speaker ($49.99): Use 8VD6I9RX for $13 off [Amazon]
- Inateck Portable Hi-Fi Wireless Bluetooth 4.0 Speaker ($39.99): Use promo code IJKGJLTZ for $10 off [Amazon]
- Inateck 40W 5-Port High-Speed Desktop USB Charger ($19.99): Use promo code W5K5Q4Z3 for $4 off [Amazon]
Come comment on this article: [Deal] Snag some great Inateck gear in this Halloween promotion
OnePlus brings unique photography app ‘Reflexion’ to the Play Store
OnePlus has been quite busy lately, launching the OnePlus X this week and now a new application inspired by the budget phone. Dubbed Reflexion, it aims to be a easy-to-use photography app that takes advantage of some unique post-production work for both Android and iOS platforms.
It’s different in that it takes advantage of both front and rear camera stills. Open Reflexion and you can snap a photo with the front camera and then the rear camera. After some automated post-production, Reflexion takes the two photos and transforms them into a creative and beautiful composition. OnePlus has set up an Instagram page for photos taken with the Reflexion app, and there’s actually some really beautiful stills on there. As users begin to use Reflexion, it’ll be interesting to see what type of compositions pop up.
Click here to view the embedded video.
It’s definitely one of the more unique photography applications available, and you can potentially make some unique creations. The video shown above shows off a couple of neat examples. If you’re interested, be sure to hit the download link below.
source: OnePlus
Come comment on this article: OnePlus brings unique photography app ‘Reflexion’ to the Play Store
Alphabet divisions are free to return to China, implies Brin
Google has not had the best relationship with China, having argued over censorship and been on the receiving end of hacking cases. As a result, the company has been absent from China since 2010. However, restructuring under the new Alphabet umbrella could mean that divisions are free to return to the country, should they choose to do so.
Speaking on Wednesday, Google co-founder Sergey Brin stated that each Alphabet business is free to make its own decisions about which countries they operate in, which opens the door to divisions going back to work in China or any other region of their choice. Countries, timings or divisions were not specifically mentioned, but the statement came at an event for Google’s Project Loon balloon-based internet service.
“Each Alphabet business can make its own decisions on which countries to operate in,” – Google co-founder Sergey Brin
Brin mentioned that China is one of the countries that is interested in expanding its internet coverage by using Loon technology, which could bring web access to the country’s large rural population. Last month, sources also suggested that Google may be looking at coming back to the Chinese mobile market with a specific Chinese version of the Google Play Store, which may comply with some of the country’s stricter rules on censorship.
See also: Google reportedly plans to re-enter mainland China through the Google Play Store
Google has been more open about its interests in China since appointing Sundar Pichai as CEO. The reorganization under Alphabet also means that separate projects from advertising, Search, YouTube, and upcoming ideas from Nest of the X Lab now have more autonomy over how they conduct their operations.
Given the fast growth in Chinese smartphone and consumer electronics industries, and many more consumers coming online, Google has good reasons to get back into China.
4K and 5K iMacs Support 10-Bit Color Depth on OS X El Capitan
Apple’s latest 4K and 5K iMacs support a 10-bit graphics driver on OS X El Capitan, allowing for smoother color transitions, according to German website Mac & i. The 10-bit color output enables 1024 gradations per color channel, a significant increase from 256 with 8-bit depth on previous iMacs.
30 bit pixel depth — 10 bit for each RGB color (Image: cinema5D)
Digital filmmaking news website cinema5D explains the technical benefits of 10-bit color depth for professional colorists, photographers and editors:
Professionals know that 10-bit screen color is the desired color depth for serious color correction. When you work in 8-bit you often see banding artefacts and lose detail on soft gradients which makes editing harder and less accurate.
This is not to be confused with the bit depth of your source files. We all know that working with video DSLRs or other heavily compressed video footage that is limited to 8 bit color depth gives you less options during grading and 10 bit, 12 bit or even 16 bit color photos and videos are better. On the screen side 10 bit is the desired depth to let you view the end result without gradation steps.
The new 10-bit color depth reportedly only works within the Preview and Photos applications for now, but other third-party software should eventually take advantage of the technology. The 2014 5K iMac also supports 10-bit color depth on OS X El Capitan, according to these reports.
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Apple’s Culture of Secrecy Slowing its Artificial Intelligence Development
Apple’s strict adherence to an environment of secrecy and privacy in regards to its software and hardware development has been suggested as a major blow to the company’s potential for growth in the field of artificial intelligence. In a new article by Bloomberg, Apple was noted as a non-attendee at the Neural Information Processing Systems conference, an annual confluence of companies including Google and Microsoft where researches get together to discuss the progress and development of AI technologies.
In years past, Apple has attended the conference, but its emissaries were known to keep “a low profile” during the proceedings. In the midst of a mass sharing and celebration of discoveries and findings in the world of AI, many remain unsure of the Cupertino company’s continued success in such departments if it remains attached to such strict secrecy rules. “They’re completely out of the loop,” said Richard Zemel, a professor in the computer science department at the University of Toronto.
The biggest threat posed to Apple due to this level of secrecy, according to Trevor Darrell, managing director of a machine-learning research center at the University of California at Berkeley, is the barrier to entry it creates for graduate students fresh out of college. The stagnant environment and closed-off atmosphere inhibits the company’s employees from interacting with the rest of the scientific community, an issue that most potential hires may not be entirely comfortable with.
“There’s no way they can just observe and not be part of the community and take advantage of what is going on,” says Yoshua Bengio, a professor of computer science at the University of Montreal. “I believe if they don’t change their attitude, they will stay behind.”
“The really strong people don’t want to go into a closed environment where it’s all secret,” Bengio says. “The differentiating factors are, ‘Who are you going to be working with?’ ‘Am I going to stay a part of the scientific community?’ ‘How much freedom will I have?’”
Earlier in the month, Apple acquired two artificial intelligence-related start-ups: VocalIQ and Perceptio. VocalIQ’s natural language API hints at a more naturalistic version of Siri in the future, and even possible integration into the rumored Apple car project. Perceptio suggests the possibility of a more expansive and robust AI system for Apple, without the compromise of the company’s in-depth privacy policies that pull Siri back from services like Google Now and Microsoft’s Cortana.
All the same, Bloomberg‘s story suggests that despite Apple’s enthusiasm to innovate in the artificial intelligence sector, the company could continue to lag behind in certain departments — Apple Maps, for example — due to its stances on secrecy and privacy.
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