The After Math: You’ve got to see this
What a week it’s been for entertainment news on the internet! Netflix’s first theatrical release, Beasts of No Nation, is racking up views; the NFL’s first live-streamed game, which debuted on Yahoo!, was reasonably well-received; and we learned something new about our friend, the chameleon. And now for some numbers.
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Android Authority this week – November 1, 2015
Android fans, this week brought us a glimpse into the future of Android and Chrome OS, which will reportedly be merging starting next year. Android is coming to PCs and that means some big changes are afoot. In other news, Motorola launched the Droid Turbo 2, with its shatterproof screen, the Droid Maxx 2, and the international Moto X Force. OnePlus released its second device this year, the affordable, but stylish OnePlus X. And Samsung showed us once again that it thinks big, with the 18-inch Galaxy View.
Inside AA HQ
The Wall Street Journal report from last week about the lack of relevance that the dual-OS approach now has inside Google sparked a lot of interesting conversations about the future of Android. Google is planning to “fold” Chrome OS into its much more popular mobile operating system, and on face value, that seems like a sensible decision. Android is on 1.4 billion devices. The sheer size of this user base gives Android a real fighting chance against the stalwart Windows.
But having a chance is one thing, seizing it is another, and looking at how the Android ecosystem has yet to realize the potential of tablets, Google definitely has its work cut out for it. Competition isn’t sitting idle either. Microsoft might be dead in the water when it comes to phones, but Windows 10 is a powerful, extremely mature platform, that’s deeply entrenched into the market. It will be very interesting to see how Google approaches this problem, and we at Android Authority definitely look forward to extending our coverage to yet another class of devices.
This week we’re giving away a OnePlus X! This sleek and compact device can be yours – if luck is on your side – if you throw your name in the hat right here.
The stuff you shouldn’t miss
- Review: One A9 is definitely controversial – but how good is it? Josh weighs in.
- Comparison: Nexus 6P or Nexus 5X: we help you make up your mind.
- Review: The Nexus 5X is the Google phone for the people – is it worth your money?
- Review: Josh reviews the excellent Nexus 6P – see his thoughts here.
- Comparison: Mid-range showdown: Nexus 5X vs Moto X Style
Top news of the week
OnePlus X
- OnePlus X officially announced: what you need to know
- OnePlus X hands-on and first impressions
- OnePlus X will be temporarily sold invite free in these cities
Droid Turbo 2, Droid Maxx 2, and Moto X Force
- Motorola announces Moto X Force with iPhone and Galaxy S6 drop test
- Motorola Droid Maxx 2 officially announced: everything you need to know
- Droid Turbo 2 officially announced: what you need to know
- Motorola Droid Turbo 2 vs Moto X Style quick look
- Motorola Droid Turbo 2 hands-on and first look
- How does Motorola’s new ShatterShield technology work?
- Motorola Droid Maxx 2 first look
Android and Chrome
- Report: Google to fold Chrome OS into Android by 2017
- Android + Chrome OS: four big questions
- Android boss says Google is still “very committed” to Chrome OS
Galaxy View
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Disney Research has a faster way to render realistic fabrics
Computer graphics have come a long way, but there are still a few aspects that are pretty time consuming to get right. Realistic fabric movement that reacts to gravity and other forces is one of ’em. The folks at Disney Research have found a way to make life-like cloth simulations by six to eight times in certain situations, though. Walt’s science department says that using a technique called multigrid, specifically, smoothed aggregation allowed it to make clothing worn by a main character or fabrics that make up the foreground of a scene at a much faster clip. There’s an awful lot of science and equations behind the concept (PDF), but the long and short of it is that this should allow for more realistic cloth simulations that stretch and act like fabric does in the real world and even aid in virtual try-on situations.
Via: Eurekalert
Source: Disney Research (PDF)
Disney Research has a faster way to render realistic fabrics
Computer graphics have come a long way, but there are still a few aspects that are pretty time consuming to get right. Realistic fabric movement that reacts to gravity and other forces is one of ’em. The folks at Disney Research have found a way to make life-like cloth simulations by six to eight times in certain situations, though. Walt’s science department says that using a technique called multigrid, specifically, smoothed aggregation allowed it to make clothing worn by a main character or fabrics that make up the foreground of a scene at a much faster clip. There’s an awful lot of science and equations behind the concept (PDF), but the long and short of it is that this should allow for more realistic cloth simulations that stretch and act like fabric does in the real world and even aid in virtual try-on situations.
Via: Eurekalert
Source: Disney Research (PDF)
Inhabitat’s Week in Green: Concept cars and betting big on solar
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.
The World Health Organization handed down some heavy news this week: Bacon causes cancer. Fortunately, scientists are developing healthier meat alternatives. One lab discovered a type of seaweed that tastes just like fried bacon (and it’s two times healthier than kale), and Impossible Foods is working on the next generation of plant-based burgers. Watch out for veggie dogs though — a new study shows that one in 10 vegetarian sausages contains meat.
Don’t like the Verizon logo on your Motorola DROID Turbo 2? It can be removed.
Motorola recently announced the new iteration of the Droid TURBO, and the specsheet is worthy of a premium device. Particularly the shatterproof screen which can take quite a beating.
However, there is a catch. The device, exclusive to Verizon, has the infamous logo slapped on to the bottom bezel. This isn’t the first time we’ve seen this and it probably won’t be the last.
Thankfully, there is a method to remove it. As it turns out, the ShatterShield technology, which makes the screen shatterproof, includes an outer layer. Made of acrylic polymer, the Verizon logo is printed on this outer layer.
Simply put, you can easily remove the outer layer, and in turn remove Verizon’s isignia. This will obviously remove a layer of the screen and likely affect the integrity of the durability.
While it’s too early to say, it may also void your warranty. And as Pocketnow pointed out, it is likely that the international variant, the Moto X Force, will have the same (unbranded) outer layer and thus replacements for it may be made available to swap on.
You may also be able to hide it using a tinted screen protector, if you don’t feel like fiddling too much.
Source: Pocketnow
The post Don’t like the Verizon logo on your Motorola DROID Turbo 2? It can be removed. appeared first on AndroidGuys.
Do you like cats? Well, Neko Atsume: Kitty Collector now has English support
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I’ve never heard of Neko Atsume: Kitty Collector (shame, on me; I know) but apparently it’s a hugely popular game. A quick look at the Google Play Store page tells me it is free-to-play, has a 4.6 star rating after 67,822 reviews and has somewhere in the vicinity of 1 to 5 million downloads – so yeah, pretty popular I would say. Perhaps the reason why you and I might not have heard of it is because the game previously didn’t have English support, only Japanese, and while that probably didn’t stop a lot of people playing it anyway, there’s now more of a reason to do so now that it’s in English.
In Neko Atsume, you assume control of what could be likened to a cat sanctuary – your job is to full your sanctuary with cat-friendly items like balls of yarn, food and playgrounds in the hopes of attracting cats there. I don’t believe there is any explicit endpoint to Neko Atsume, but there is a book that keeps track of what cats have visited you, and presumably you’ll want all the cats to visit you – there’s plenty of cat puns here too e.g.”Joe DiMeowgio”. It’s also adorably animated, so if you’re a cat person and wanting a chill game this weekend, then maybe you should try Neko Atsume – Play Store link is below:
Neko Atsume: Kitty Collector – Free
What do you think about Neko Atsume: Kitty Collector? Let us know your thoughts in the comments below.
Source: Kotaku Australia
The post Do you like cats? Well, Neko Atsume: Kitty Collector now has English support appeared first on AndroidSPIN.
Dead Effect 2 has your zombie-filled Halloween fix covered
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In case you’re home on Halloween and you’re wanting to kill some zombies, BadFly Interactive has just released Dead Effect 2 onto the Google Play Store which should be more than enough to cover those needs. As the name suggests, Dead Effect 2 is the sequel to Dead Effect (not to be confused with Dead Trigger, obviously) which updates the first-person shooter game with even better graphics and even some RPG features too. You’ll also get access to 3 different characters, over 40 different weapons, over 100 pieces of gear which can be upgraded, and apparently 20 hours of game time.
Of course, the best thing about this is that Dead Effect 2 is free-to-play (with in-app purchases of course). We can’t yet vouch for good the game actually is yet, but there are already a ton of reviews on the Play Store page and it seems like most of the people are pretty happy.
http://playboard.me/widgets/pb-app-box/1/pb_load_app_box.jsWhat do you think about Dead Effect 2? Let us know your thoughts in the comments below.
Source: Phones Review
The post Dead Effect 2 has your zombie-filled Halloween fix covered appeared first on AndroidSPIN.
Google’s self-driving cars are more cautious around kids
If you’ve got spawn traipsing through the streets of Mountain View in search of sweets tonight, you needn’t fear Google’s self-driving cars… much. While there’s something a little unsettling about an autonomous car — even a cute one — coming at you on Halloween, Google says they’re at least programmed to act differently around children. In the days leading up to this most creepy of holidays, the company’s self-driving car team had parents trot their tots in front of parked vehicles to give their sensors and software more experience detecting “children in all their unique shapes and sizes, even when they’re in odd costumes”. Good idea — your author used to dart in the street for really no reason at all, and I’m sure I’m not the only one. Google’s cars are already “jittery” in their cautiousness, but a little extra practice couldn’t hurt, especially when they’re still not great with people on bikes.
Source: Google+
Logo: go, go! Droid Turbo 2’s front-facing carrier branding can be removed…kind of
Motorola has truly pulled out all the stops with this year’s Droid Turbo 2. In addition to featuring several improvements and/or changes over the standard-affair Moto X Pure Edition (Moto X Style) such as an AMOLED display, the phone is fully customizable in Moto Maker and literally has over a thousand possible permutations.
The device itself has a very distinctive look, something made all the more noticable thanks to Verizon’s prominent placement of its infamous checkmark insignia. Thankfully, Pocketnow has found a way to remove it…kind of.
Essentially the “hack” or “mod” of sorts involves tampering with Motorola’s ShatterShield technology. Consisting of both a layer of polycarbonate and a layer of acrylic polymer on the outer-most of the five layers the display consists of, the trick is simply to remove the surface layer itself. Take a look at the results:
#gallery-1
margin: auto;
#gallery-1 .gallery-item
float: left;
margin-top: 10px;
text-align: center;
width: 33%;
#gallery-1 img
border: 2px solid #cfcfcf;
#gallery-1 .gallery-caption
margin-left: 0;
/* see gallery_shortcode() in wp-includes/media.php */
It should be noted that removing this layer of protection could have a detrimental effect on the ShatterSheild protection the phone comes with. While it is too early to say, it may ultimately void your warranty, thus we encourage a bit of careful consideration before making the big decision. As Pocketnow pointed out however, it is likely that the international variant, the Moto X Force, will have the same (unbranded) outer layer and thus replacements for it may be made available to swap on.
One other possibility, for those not interested in removing screen “surface” is simply to purchase a privacy filter or other type of tinted screen protector that would place a dark boarder around the bezel and thus hide the mark. Or just leave it as is and enjoy.
Droid Turbo 2 videos
.rvs_wrapper
width: 350px;
.rvs_wrapper.align_left
float: left;
.rvs_wrapper.align_right
float: right;
.rvs_wrapper.align_center,
.rvs_wrapper.align_none
width: 100%;
.rvs_wrapper.align_center
text-align: center;
.rvs_wrapper.align_center.cbc-latest-videos ul li
float: none;
display: inline-block;
vertical-align: top;
.rvs_wrapper.cbc-latest-videos:not(.align_none) ul li:nth-child(2n+1)
clear: both;
.rvs_title
font-weight: 600 !important;
margin: 0 !important;
font-size: 24px !important;
.rvs_wrapper.align_right .rvs_title
padding-left: 20px;
.rvs_title a
font-family: ‘Roboto Condensed’;
color: #3a3a3a;
.rvs_wrapper.cbc-latest-videos ul
padding-top: 10px;
.rvs_wrapper.align_left.cbc-latest-videos ul li,
.rvs_wrapper.align_none.cbc-latest-videos ul li
padding: 0 15px 0 0;
.rvs_wrapper.align_right.cbc-latest-videos ul li
padding: 0 0 0 15px;
float: right;
.rvs_wrapper.align_center.cbc-latest-videos ul li
padding: 0 7px;
.rvs_wrapper.cbc-latest-videos ul li > a
font-weight: 400;
.rvs_wrapper.cbc-latest-videos ul li > a .yt-thumbnail
margin-bottom: 0;
@media only screen and (min-width : 480px)
body #page .rvs_wrapper.cbc-latest-videos ul
width: 100% !important;
@media only screen and (max-width : 480px)
body #page .rvs_wrapper.cbc-latest-videos
width: 100%;
float: none !important;
overflow-x: auto;
overflow-y: hidden;
body #page .rvs_wrapper.cbc-latest-videos ul
overflow: auto;
max-height: none;
body .rvs_wrapper.cbc-latest-videos ul li
float: left !important;
clear: none !important;
For full coverage of the Droid Turbo 2, be sure to check out our announcement post here, and stay tuned for continued content of the new phone!
By the way…
You’d be surprised what comes off when push comes to shove…
For reference this isn’t the first time we’ve actually seen an OEM paste their pattern to plastic. Sony’s Xperia line has, for years, came with factory installed shatterproof screen protectors, many of which contain the company’s logo. The removal has been featured on various posts around the internet over the years, including this one.
AIVAnet 