Google’s mobile app answers your complex questions
Google’s mobile search app just got much better at handling the sort of detailed, nuanced questions you’d ask a real human. The Android and iOS software now does more to gauge the true intent of a question, including multi-layered questions that would previously have thrown it off — ask for the population of a country in a specific year and you’ll get the exact number you wanted. The app also understands superlatives like “biggest” or “smallest,” and it knows how to deal with ordered items (say, the tallest buildings in the US). Google is quick to admit that its upgraded engine still makes mistakes, but it’s good enough that you can expect useful results whether your requests are very specific or slightly fuzzy.
Source: Google Inside Search
AI has a better shot at Tokyo University than your kid
Students in Japan could soon compete with AI to get into colleges. The National Institute of Informatics in Tokyo has developed a program that scored above average on a standardized entrance exam that covered math, physics, English and history. The AI scored 511 out of 950, beating the national average of 416. While it was expected to do well on the math test, it did exceedingly well on the history questions that required natural learning processing skills to make inferences.
Source: WSJ
Deal: Unlocked 32GB Nexus 6 for just $290 from eBay
Are you in need of a really good Android phone and don’t have a ton of money to spend? If so, there’s a deal on eBay that may be worth your while. Right now you can pick up an unlocked 32GB Nexus 6 (XT1103) in Midnight Blue for just $289.99 from eBay. We’ve seen the Nexus 6 go for this price point in the past, so if you didn’t have time to take advantage of that deal, now’s your chance.
Keep in mind that this is a brand new Nexus 6 for less than $300, which is less than half the price the Motorola-made smartphone was originally sold for at launch. This deal also comes with free shipping to anywhere in the United States. And since this is the XT1103 variant, that means you’ll be able to activate it on any U.S. mobile carrier you’d like. Even Verizon!
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The Nexus 6 might not be the newest device on the market, but it’s still one hell of a smartphone. It comes with a big 5.96-inch AMOLED display, a 2.7GHz quad-core Snapdragon 805 processor, 3GB of RAM and a 13MP rear-facing camera. It also runs the latest version of Android, 6.0 Marshmallow, and will be among the first devices to receive software updates from Google for a few more years.
Some might say this device isn’t worth the trouble since the Nexus 6P is now available for purchase for $200 more. While the two are different in many aspects, we’d wager to say that day to day performance won’t differ too much. So if you’re interested in taking advantage of the deal, be sure to head to the eBay link below.
Walmart is selling a $10 Android smartphone with better specs than the first iPhone
The year was 2007. On the radio, Mims was struggling to articulate exactly why he was hot and Fergie was rubbing her “Glamorous” lifestyle in our collective faces. George W. Bush was president, and Steve Jobs showcased the smartphone that would revolutionize the market: the original iPhone.
See also: ‘Enhanced’ Xiaomi Redmi 2A boasts double RAM and ROM
It’s eight years later, and now Walmart is selling a device that trumps that smartphone handedly. Only instead of costing you $599, this LG Android device is going for $9.82.
Granted, it’s running a paleolithic version of Android that isn’t exactly ideal from a security standpoint, and you’re probably not going to make much progress on Octodad with it. Nevertheless, the idea that you can get this level of technology for a single Alexander Hamilton is pretty mind-blowing.
The LG TracFone has a 3.8-inch display and a 3MP camera. It can’t swing 4G, but 3G networks are within its reach. With its wifi capabilities, you could easily stream some pretty decent video on the device, and streaming music from a service like Google Play Music All Access or Spotify would be well within its reach.
Consider this: Walmart sells a 4GB USB flash drive for about the same price. This smartphone has the same amount of internal storage, except you can also order pizza on it and tweet Obama your opinions on geopolitical issues.
This colossal price drop serves as a reminder of how fast this competitive industry is developing. Imagine the phone in your pocket clasped in clamshell packaging and strung on a rack at a megastore for a handful of dollars. That’s a reality less than a decade away, and the technology that will have rendered it nearly obsolete will be at most people’s fingertips. The future will be fascinating.
Samsung exec subtly exposes the processor for the Galaxy S7
A Samsung executive seems to have revealed which processor will be featured inside next year’s Galaxy S7.
Hong Kyushik, VP of Marketing for Samsung System LSI, said that the new Exynos 8 Octa is being made for high-end devices. Bloomberg collected his comments from Monday’s investor briefing:
“As a component provider you have to find the biggest customer in the world, and for us it happened to be Samsung. Exynos 8 is targeted for the premium segment.”
Earlier, it was reported that the international and North American variants of the Galaxy S7 and Galaxy S7 Edge will have two different processors. While the international variant will allegedly keep the company’s own processor, Samsung is said to be using Qualcomm’s Snapdragon 820 in select markets. Samsung used a self-made Exynos processor last year for its 2015 lineup when rumors swirled that Qualcomm’s Snapdragon 810 was overproducing heat and having a hard time managing its temperature.
Piecing together today’s report with Kyushik’s comments easily gives away that Samsung’s Galaxy S7 will be put to work with the Exynos 8 Octa. The only question remaining is which markets will get an Exynos or Snapdragon processor.
The wait won’t be long, though, as Samsung’s 2016 flagship is expected to launch as early as February.
Source: Bloomberg
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NBC hosting limited public beta for SeeSo
NBC is giving people a chance to test its soon-to-be comedy-focused video streaming service before an official launch.
Beginning December 3, NBC will hold a limited free public beta for SeeSo. The trial will be for the web-only version. If you were looking to try the mobile-version, it seems that you’ll have to wait until the official release.
For only $4 per month, users will have access to NBC’s large selection of comedies such as Saturday Night Live, 30 Rock and many more.
The service is expected to launch in January of 2016 in full-scale. But if you’re impatient to see what NBC’s SeeSo service is capable of, it’s recommended that you register for the beta test shortly to ensure a spot.
Click here to view the embedded video.
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Oxford Dictionaries’ Word of the Year is… an emoji
Oxford Dictionaries’ Word of the Year is as much about capturing the cultural zeitgeist as it is reflecting the evolution of the English language, and that’s truer than ever in 2015. For the first time ever, the institution chose emoji (the “tears of joy” icon you see above) to win the honor — yes, actual words lost out. It’s an odd decision, to put it mildly, but Oxford notes that the use of the word “emoji” more than tripled in the space of the past year, and the tears image was the most popular emoji worldwide.
Source: Oxford Dictionaries
Rdio shutters, Pandora buys “key assets”
Two music streaming services made announcements on Monday, both very different in their nature. Just as Rdio files for Chapter 11 bankruptcy, Pandora is buying “key assets” from one its many rivals. Pandora is spending $75 million on what’s left of Rdio to “accelerate the company’s plans to offer fans greater control over the music they love.” Select employees of Rdio will be given the opportunity to move over to Pandora.
The surviving music streaming service expects to launch an “expanded Pandora listening experience” by the end of 2016.
Hit the break for the full press release.
Pandora to Acquire Key Assets from Rdio
OAKLAND, Calif.–(BUSINESS WIRE)–Nov. 16, 2015– Pandora (NYSE: P), the world’s most powerful music discovery platform, today announced an agreement to acquire several key assets from Rdio, a pioneer in streaming music technology. This will accelerate the company’s plan to offer fans greater control over the music they love, strengthening Pandora’s position as the definitive source of music.
“Whether streaming through radio, on-demand or in-person at live events, Pandora is building the definitive source for fans to discover and celebrate music,” said Brian McAndrews, chief executive officer at Pandora. “Wherever and however fans want to hear music, we intend to be their go-to destination.”
In addition to acquiring technology and intellectual property from Rdio, many members of Rdio’s team will be offered roles with Pandora, subject to close of the agreement. The company expects to offer an expanded Pandora listening experience by late 2016, pending its ability to obtain proper licenses.
More details about Pandora’s future vision will be shared during an investor call today at 1:30 p.m. PT. (Details below.)
The purchase price is $75 million in cash, subject to certain purchase price adjustments.
“We are defining the next chapter of Pandora’s growth story,” continued McAndrews. “Adding live music experiences through Ticketfly was a transformative step. Adding Rdio’s impressive technology and talented people will fast-track new dimensions and enhancements to our service. I couldn’t be more optimistic about Pandora’s future and the future of music.”
“The Rdio team built an acclaimed product and technology platform that has consistently led innovation in the young streaming industry. I’m pleased that many members of the Rdio team will continue to shape the future of streaming music, applying our tradition of great design and innovative engineering on an even larger stage with Pandora,” said Anthony Bay, chief executive officer of Rdio.
The transaction is contingent upon Rdio seeking protection in the United States Bankruptcy Court for the Northern District of California. Upon approval of the proposed transaction by the bankruptcy court, Rdio will be winding down the Rdio-branded service in all markets. Pandora is not acquiring the operating business of Rdio, and is acquiring the technology and talent to accelerate its own business strategy. The transaction is subject to the approval of the Bankruptcy Court, which will supervise an auction for the assets of Rdio, as well as other customary closing conditions.
Listen to Pandora’s investor call today at 1:30 p.m. PT. A live audio webcast of the event will be available on the Pandora Investor Relations website at http://investor.pandora.com. A live dial-in is available at (877) 355-0067, or (443) 853-1239 internationally, using passcode 80010898. A replay will be available at (855) 859-2056 or (404) 537-3406, using passcode 80010898, and available via webcast replay until November 30, 2015.
ABOUT PANDORA
Pandora is the world’s most powerful music discovery platform – a place where artists find their fans and listeners find music they love. We are driven by a single purpose: unleashing the infinite power of music by connecting artists and fans, whether through earbuds, car speakers, live on stage or anywhere fans want to experience it. Our team of highly trained musicologists analyze hundreds of attributes for each recording which powers our proprietary Music Genome Project®, delivering billions of hours of personalized music tailored to the tastes of each music listener, full of discovery, making artist/fan connections at an unprecedented scale. Founded by musicians, Pandora empowers artists with valuable data and tools to help grow their careers and connect with their fans.
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OnePlus responds to allegations that its USB Type-C accessories are out of spec
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A few days ago, an investigation by Google engineer Benson Leung found that OnePlus‘ USB Type-C accessories might be out of step with the standard. OnePlus has now responded to the claims, saying that its accessories – its cable and adapter – are compliant with USB 2.0 and Type-C 1.0 standards, curiously omitting the 1.1 standard for USB Type-C which is arguably the more important one. With USB Type-C 1.1, a connected device can be charged with up to 3A – this is what the Nexus 5X and Nexus 6P are designed to do. However, if you use anything lower than 1.1, you risk damage to your device – as Leung explains it:
“Having a weaker than 3A charger is actually a risk factor because the device being charged will always try to charge at 3 and if the older adapter can’t handle 3A, that is when it might be damaged.”
OnePlus confirms that its own cables are right for the OnePlus 2 to be charged and transfer data, but it’s clear the cables shouldn’t be used for more recent devices like the new Nexuses where damage is possible. Looks like we’re going to have to wait a little bit longer before USB Type-C is truly a mainstream standard.
What do you think about OnePlus’ response to Benson Leung’s findings? Let us know your thoughts in the comments below.
Source: Gadgets 360 via XDA
The post OnePlus responds to allegations that its USB Type-C accessories are out of spec appeared first on AndroidSPIN.
Twitter is testing new emoji reactions
Twitter users are getting the chance to experiment with some new implemented emoji reactions.
Shortly after changing the star to a heart, Twitter has now delivered a bunch of new emotions to express one’s feelings on a particular post. Twitter wants users who write a post to get a sense of how other people are feeling about their tweet. With this enhancement, people can see how someone felt when reading a particular tweet that one wrote. Twitter is hoping this will put an end to the complaints pertaining to the lack of expression. For now, only a few emotions are available so it may remain hard for some to fully describe exactly how they’re feeling. But it’s great to see that Twitter is experimenting with some new implementations.
It should be noted that the update is not permanent and is more of a test run to see if people enjoy the feature. So if you’re digging the new emotion emojis, be sure to let Twitter know!
Via: TechCrunch
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