Google almost made an actual ‘Star Trek’ communicator badge
Google is always working on new and innovative technologies to bring to market, but some ideas get a little crazier than others. One of those ideas was basically a Star Trek communicator badge.
Amit Singhal, the senior vice president and software engineer at Google said:
“I always wanted that pin. You just ask it anything and it works. That’s why we were like, ‘Let’s go prototype that and see how it feels.’”
The device used Bluetooth to connect to another device in-order to process the user’s voice commands. However, unfortunately, or possibly fortunately, the prototype never made it to production. The reason mainly came down to poor voice command recognition. Currently, it is just too difficult to understand the human language. Humans can use context to apply multiple senses and draw on vast past experiences to interpret what other people are saying. This is one area Google is working on, but hasn’t mastered yet.
Source: TIME
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Buy the OnePlus 2 with no invite during Black Friday, accessories also discounted
Every company is announcing its Black Friday deals, but we know many of you already have a good deal in mind… one that needs no special days to give you great value for your cash. Of course, by now you can assume we are talking about the OnePlus 2, a device with high-end specs and a price that is nearly impossible to beat.
At $329 off-contract, the OnePlus 2 is a hell of a deal, so don’t expect to see an additional discount coming. Instead, OnePlus aims to take people away from the so-called “deals” and have them go with the OnePlus 2 instead. This phone is normally very hard to get, due to the invite system the company uses to control supply and demand. But this November 27th things will change, and OnePlus is hoping to have all of us blasting to its digital doors to buy OnePlus 2 devices.
No invites will be needed from November 27th to November 30th! The company calls the event “Black Friday Unlimited”, a moniker that makes quite a bit of sense. In addition to having the privilege of buying a OnePlus 2, customers will also be able to enjoy “incredible deals” on other OnePlus products. Details on these offers haven’t been disclosed, but the Chinese startup tells us we should stay tuned to their Twitter account to learn about them as soon as news is released (always hyping things up!).
Starring the #OnePlus2. #BlackFriday: Unlimited is coming to a https://t.co/aVnLDQyFoW near you. pic.twitter.com/ARNQuWiXXK
— OnePlus (@oneplus) November 23, 2015
http://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js
Are any of you considering getting a OnePlus 2 this Black Friday weekend? We know it’s not really a discount, but looking through our list of favorite Black Friday deals we can say that no comparable phones offer quite the same value, even when discounted. You might be better off just getting a OnePlus 2 during its first open sale event, now that you can actually put your name to one!
Black Friday deals: Unlocked Huawei phone, watch and a variety of Bluetooth speakers
With more Americans set to shop from the comfort of their own home this year on Black Friday, online retailers are ratcheting up the deals for 2015. Shoppers are also planning on spending an average of $369 dollars over the upcoming holiday weekend, an increase of 25% over last year according to a Deloitte survey. And the online deals just keeping getting better and better this week.
With that being said, Lugulake Direct(99% positive feedback rating at Amazon.com) has some fantastic deals lined up and are available early. All deals are ready to be used now so you don’t have to wait for Black Friday to roll around.
Huawei Deals
Huawei Talk Band B2 – $159.99(final price) – LINK
Apply discount code at checkout – 6ZYTGEID to save $10 with free shipping. Deal is available now.
- TalkBand B2 is a powerful next-generation wearable device that gives you everything you need for smart living, including automatic activity tracking, sleep monitoring, and crystal-clear hands-free calling
- The Next-Generation Wearable: It gives you everything you need for smart living
- Perfect for your busy lifestyle: TalkBand B2 is multi-functional to help keep you updated and in control whatever you are doing
- More than a pedometer: Thanks to its innovative 6-axis motion sensor, the TalkBand B2 is more than a pedometer but an activity tracker
- A perfect choice to wear it anywhere and everywhere without worry about dirt, sweat or splashes
Huawei Ascend Mate2 16GB factory unlocked Android smartphone LTE – $209.99(final price) – LINK
Apply discount code at checkout – 6ZYTGEID to save $10 with free shipping. Deal is available now.
Huawei made a name for themselves this year in the U.S. with the Nexus 6P and the Huawei Android Wear smartwatch. But before those two devices, Huawei was already making spectacular unlocked smartphones like the Ascend Mate2.
Speaker deals up to 50% off
LuguLake Slim Extremely Portable Pocket Size Wireless Bluetooth Speaker – LINK
Save $10 using code XEJHZQTL at checkout
- Design – Sporting a slim and lightweight design, the Bluetooth 4.0 speaker is designed with buttons that you can use to control the volume, Bluetooth, calls and more. The portable speaker also features an LED indicator.
- Awesome sound quality – Powered by Cambridge Silicon Radio Chipset, this device is designed to produce excellent sound at all times. The speaker also comes with a 1.5 inch full range neodymium driver microphone for excellent sound pick-up.
- Connectivity – Connect the speaker to a variety of devices using different methods. The speaker comes with Bluetooth v4.0 connectivity option along with NFC and a 3.5mm aux input. It can also directly access files from a microSD card.
- ortable – It’s almost the same size as your Nexus 5, just a bit thicker. Built-in 1000mAh lithium polymer battery, recharged via USB port.
LuguLake Swan Wireless Portable Bluetooth Speaker- LINK
$10 off Swan speaker via code OMJRJWKG
We recently reviewed the Swan speaker and thoroughly enjoyed it. It packs big sound in a small package.
- Advanced Bluetooth 4.0 technology. Home-developed module and high transfer speed. It offers HiFi audio quality and has two full range Neodymium drivers offering a rich and clear sound quality.
- Zinc alloy built body for a sturdy solid construction. Easy to use touch sense control panel. Long lasting internal rechargeable Li-Ion battery.
- The Swan Wireless Bluetooth speaker comes with a hands free voice calling prompt feature which enables you receive calls on the go. With a simple touch of the Bluetooth lights it transforms into a speaker phone.
- Elegant design and perfect as a portable speaker. It masterfully pairs with various devices, and can even pair with two different gadgets at once.
Full Androiduys.com review here.
LuguLake II Charge 10Watt Wireless Bluetooth Speaker – LINK
$7 off LuguLake II Charge Speaker via code KT4EYA96
- Huge 10-watt driver output: LuguLake offers a wide range of highly sensitive speakers that can make a big sound with 2 x 5-watt amplified speakers. The advanced equalization technique allows the stereo audio system to deliver high fidelity sound without any distortion at all.
- 3 in 1: Built-in 4000mAh Li-ion battery allows you to power your smartphones or tablets even if you are listening to music; built-in cradle, the solid and durable cradle firmly holds your tablet or smartphone at a comfortable viewing angle.
- Latest Bluetooth 4.0 allows you to connect wirelessly to the LuguLake II Charge from up to 33 feet away. 3.5mm audio port for non-Bluetooth devices. Seamlessly stream and share music, movies and games anywhere. Easy to pair – No code/pin needed.
- Aluminum material: An aluminum shell gives a premium look and feel to your premium portable speaker.
Full review here.
LuguLake 40watt TV Soundbar – LINK
No discount code required. %50 off MSRP now.
- 2.0-Channel Soundbar: 40W (20W*2) ultra-strong power output brings you a luxurious and grand acoustic feast for your favorite movies, shows, games and music.
- Virtual 3D Surround Sound: Digital signal processing (DSP) system provides high-fidelity sound to give you a truly realistic sound experience.
- Wireless Remote Control: Including a small IR remote control to enable easy operations from a distance, up to 33FT/10M range.
- Various Connection: Latest Bluetooth 4.0 wireless technology. Optional RCA and 3.5mm audio jack inputs, RCA audio output. Easily works with any devices you want, such as smart phone, iPad, HD LCD TV and DVD player etc .
- Wall-mounting Design: The soundbar can be placed on a table top or easily hang beneath your wall-mounted flat-panel
Check out these deals and beat the crowds and winter weather.
The post Black Friday deals: Unlocked Huawei phone, watch and a variety of Bluetooth speakers appeared first on AndroidGuys.
New Apple TV Billboards Start Popping Up in U.S. Cities
Apple has launched (via AppleInsider) a brand new outdoor ad campaign for the Apple TV a week after debuting its first TV commercials for the new set-top box. The new ads feature a variation of the SMPTE color bars, a television test pattern, as a backdrop to the simple Apple TV logo.
Image via SMPTE Connect
The color bars are also featured in the TV ads, dispersing in different ways as the ad showcases its apps or games. Thus far, the billboards have been spotted in Los Angeles, Boston, New York, San Francisco, Beverly Hills and Hollywood.
The ads appear to have gone up in the last 24 hours, with Instagram user Courtney Cerruti noting that she saw workers tugging the image into place and that they went up “in unison.” Additionally, every current picture of the new billboards have appeared within the last 11 hours or so. The ads also come in different formats, with some ads in a vertical orientation on buildings and others in a more traditional horizontal format.
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‘Futurama’ is coming back as a mobile game
Futurama has been canceled for a few years now, but will be coming back soon as a mobile game. 20th Century FOX and game developer Wooga will be partnering together to create Futurama: Game of Drones.
The story will be about the Planet Express crew vs their shipping rival MomCo. in an ongoing trade war. Players will have to connect groups of delivery drones in-order to solve puzzles throughout the Futurama universe.
The Futurama: Game of Drones storyline has been written by Dave Grossman, he has worked on many other titles like Secret of Monkey Island, Jonathon Myers who has worked on Game of Thrones: Ascent, as well as Patric M. Verrone, an original Futurama writer.
They haven’t mentioned when the game will be released, but we would imagine it will be soon.
Source: Wooga
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Shazam is getting a whole lot faster in its latest update
Shazam has been one of the main go-to-apps when it comes to music recognition for many years now. It was never really slow per se, but has now been drastically sped up in its latest update.
It also has a new feature that can help you quickly find, learn more about, and follow artists and songs. Not to mention, verified artists now have over 2 billion followers collectively on Shazam.
Charles Henrich, Chief Technology Officer, Shazam said:
“Our research team works continually to improve our recognition technology, and our latest release significantly reduces the amount of time required to get a result, making this our fastest Shazam experience ever,”
Also, the new search feature will allow fans to easily discover artist’s music, videos, and lyrics all within Shazam. This makes it a lot easier for the user as they no longer have to leave the app to learn more about a particular artist.
Press Release:
NEW YORK–(BUSINESS WIRE)–Shazam, the world’s most popular app for connecting artists and fans through music discovery, today launched an update that introduces the fastest-ever audio-identification speeds as well as a new feature to quickly find, learn more about, and follow artists and songs. Verified artists have also reached a new milestone, with over 2 billion followers collectively on Shazam.
“Our research team works continually to improve our recognition technology, and our latest release significantly reduces the amount of time required to get a result, making this our fastest Shazam experience ever”
Tweet thisShazam’s goal is to create a magical connection between fans and artists. This goal began with music identification, and today’s update introduces technology from Shazam’s Research & Development team, which has redeveloped key parts of Shazam’s engine so it can make music matches even more quickly.
“Our research team works continually to improve our recognition technology, and our latest release significantly reduces the amount of time required to get a result, making this our fastest Shazam experience ever,” said Charles Henrich, Chief Technology Officer, Shazam.
Alongside faster recognition, Shazam’s new Search feature is an effortless way for fans around the world to discover an artist’s music, videos and lyrics. They can also find the artist’s own Shazam discoveries and follow the artist for more — for free on any device, without signing up.
Shazam continues to welcome the world’s artists to share their own moments of discovery with fans. At launch, Shazam welcomed top performers like David Guetta, Coldplay, Maroon 5, and as of today, over 600 artists are sharing their music discoveries, reaching over 2 billion followers collectively through the app.
The new Shazam features include:
- RECOGNITION: Thanks to new technology from Shazam Research, Shazam is now faster and more accurate than ever.
- SEARCH: When Shazam users want to know more about an artist or song, they can now quickly search for them in the app to listen to top tracks, watch music videos, experience the artist’s own discoveries, and follow the artist for more. This one-stop shop is available globally, without the need to sign up or subscribe.
- SHARED DISCOVERY: Over 600 strong, verified artists on Shazam now have over 2 billion followers between them. Artists wishing to be verified can do so by going towww.shazam.com/verify. And fans can share more than ever, too, with a new sharing experience that means fans can share (or directly message) their discoveries to friends with just one tap.
About Shazam
Shazam is one of the world’s most popular apps, used by more than 120 million people each month to magically connect to the world around them. Building on its pioneering leadership in music identification, Shazam now helps people discover, interact with, and share video, audio, or printed content on TV, radio, movie screens, magazines, newspapers, packaged goods, and retail stores — and now Shazam lets music fans follow their favorite artists to see their Shazams and share in the thrill of discovery. The app has exceeded 20 billion total Shazams since its launch, and users Shazam over 20 million times each day. Follow us on Twitter @shazam or for more information, visit www.shazam.com.
Come comment on this article: Shazam is getting a whole lot faster in its latest update
Facebook quizzes are (still) a privacy threat
An online quiz that illustrates the words you use the most on Facebook as a “word cloud” has gone viral — and it’s a great reminder of why you should be wary of connecting ostensibly fun games with your account. UK-based VPN comparison website Comparitech has delved into how it collects not just your name, but also your birthdate, hometown, education details, all your Likes, photos, browser, language, your IP address and even your friends list if you link it with Facebook. Too many details for a simple game, right? If you agree, you may want to think hard before linking any other FB quiz in the future, because most of them require you to give up a similar list of information.
Source: Comparitech
‘Gene drive’ mosquitoes could end malaria once and for all
The scourge of malaria could be going away for good in some regions, thanks to a groundbreaking discovery by researchers at the Universities of California, Irvine and San Diego. Their study, published Monday in the journal PNAS, has reportedly uncovered a method that all but guarantees that specific gene sets will be passed to offspring.
Via: Nature
Source: PNAS
Doctors grow tumors that roll up like toilet paper
Modern medicine still takes a decidedly ham-fisted approach to treating cancer — it attacks with radiation and chemotherapy drugs that are just as toxic to healthy tissues as they are to tumors. What’s more the effects of these treatments vary between patients. However, a novel (albeit gag-inducing) new research method from the University of Toronto hold the key to personalizing oncology: 2D tumors grown from the patient’s own genetic material.
Via: Motherboard
Source: University of Toronto
Renders and specs of ZTE’s bezel-less Nubia Z11 leaked
It looks like ZTE has been cooking up a pretty sweet device for 2016 release. Our first glimpses of it reveal a bezel-less screen that likely borrows technology from the Nubia Z9, which uses light refraction to conceal the smartphone’s side bezels. The technique is called Refractive Conduction, and aside from looking slick as hell, it also lets the device take advantage of some additional swipe gesture capabilities.
See also: ZTE Nubia Z7 hands-on and first impressions
In terms of hardware, this device presents like a sportscar. The ZTE Nubia Z11 will allegedly rock a crystal clear, 5.2-inch, 2560 by 1440 display. Its engine will purr on a Snapdragon 820 processor, and the nitro is in an Adreno 530 graphics chip. With 4 gigs of RAM, you’ll be able to go from zero to sixty in a blink, and the internal storage is an impressive 128 GB but the car metaphor kind of breaks down there.
The Nubia Z11 comes with Android 6.0 Marshmallow, so you won’t have to wait around for an update. The front-facing camera is better than a lot of rear cameras, clocking in at 13MP. For the rear camera, it boasts an impressive 20.7 MP. A fingerprint sensor is mounted on the back to boot.
Rumor has it that we’ll be seeing this baby in early 2016. The remaining specs are still fuzzy. And as for the price… well, your guess is as good as mine. We’ll keep you posted as any more information comes out about the ZTE Nubia Z11, but until then, let us know your initial impressions in the comments below.
Trunk space! That’s it. 128 GB of trunk space! Car metaphor saved.
AIVAnet 