Microsoft delays tool that will bring Android apps to Windows
Microsoft has confirmed that a tool that lets Android apps easily run on Windows 10 is “not ready,” according Windows Central and other sources. The software giant introduced the Windows Bridge for Android, dubbed “Project Astoria,” earlier this year as part of a larger effort to help app-builders easily convert Web, iOS and Android apps to Windows. Developers complained that it still isn’t available (unlike the other apps), though Microsoft hasn’t said the project is in trouble. However, the Project Astoria forums have gone dark and Microsoft removed the Android subsystem from the last Windows 10 Mobile preview, suggesting it may be killed altogether.
Via: Windows Central, Re/Code
Binge On this! – Podcast 040
Josh Vergara leads Andrew Grush, Joe Hindy, Jonathan Feist and Nirave Gondhia through an interesting conversation on carriers, the idea was to discuss net neutrality and T-Mobile’s new video streaming perks, but we divert into looking at pricing and features. We share some of our own insights on data services in our local areas and for our international travel. From there, Josh and Nirave both have the new BlackBerry Priv in hand, come hear what they have to say about this new Android phone with a slide-out keyboard. Enjoy AA Podcast #040.
The Android Authority Podcast – discussing topics in Android every week.
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T-Mobile introduces free video streaming
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Follow our Hosts
Joshua Vergara
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Joseph Hindy
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Andrew Grush
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Jonathan Feist
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Nirave Gondhia
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Recorded on November 13th, 2015 – Hosted and Produced by Joshua Vergara.
Pop-up sensor would give robot surgeons a sense of touch
Robotic surgery is no longer the stuff of science fiction. However, these robots can’t really feel their way around — the need for super-small mechanisms rules out existing approaches to touch. That’s where Harvard researchers might come to save the day. They’ve developed a pop-up sensor whose four layers collapse to a tiny footprint (just a tenth of an inch) when necessary, but expand into a 3D sensor thanks to a built-in spring. The design is extremely sensitive, too, with a light intensity sensor that can detected mere millinewtons of force.
Source: Harvard University, IEEE Sensors Journal
Amazon briefly slashes Prime to £59 ahead of Black Friday
With Black Friday and Christmas on the horizon, Amazon knows that countless Brits would appreciate next-day deliveries and other Prime-associated perks. As a result, the retailer is making it a little cheaper than usual to sign up for an annual membership — £59, rather than £79. It’s a sizeable price-drop, although the deal only runs until Wednesday (November 18th). So if you want in, better act fast. For that price you’ll gain access to Amazon’s ancillary services, including Prime Video (its Netflix equivalent), Prime Music (its Spotify equivalent) and unlimited photo storage through Cloud Drive. Even if you’re an infrequent Amazon shopper, this could make one of its “all-in” 12-month subscriptions worthwhile. It also means you can try some of its more experimental delivery services, like Amazon Pantry and Prime Now, for when your cupboards are bare and it’s too cold to brave a trip to the shops.
Source: Amazon
Vinyl is more lucrative than YouTube for UK music labels
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YouTubers are pretty much the rock stars of the Internet, earning millions of views and presumably millions of dollars with every video they make (okay, maybe thousands). And with the number of views that some official music videos get on YouTube, you’d think they were raking it in too. According to the British Phonographic Industry (BPI), that’s not the case for UK music labels, saying that Vinyl is more lucrative than YouTube.
Now that sentence itself just seems ludicrous, though you can take it two ways – it could be the resurgence of vinyl as a viable medium for music sales, or that YouTube is just really not great income for music labels. Apparently part of the issue is how YouTube and its income is regulated in Europe vs how it’s done in the US, and without getting too political, it would seem BPI wants the situation in Europe to change. With the launch of YouTube Red, however, perhaps this will be a more sustainable form of income for the UK music industry.
What do you think about the suggestion that Vinyl is more lucrative than YouTube? Let us know your thoughts in the comments below.
Source: The Guardian via engadget
The post Vinyl is more lucrative than YouTube for UK music labels appeared first on AndroidSPIN.
Samsung Galaxy S7 and S7 Edge already in testing at AT&T
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With Samsung launching its phablet devices earlier than usual this year, there have been plenty of suggestions that Samsung is going to announce its first 2016 flagship a little bit early as well. Giving credence to these suggestions is leaker @evleaks who has said American telco AT&T already has their hands on the Samsung Galaxy S7 and S7 Edge and is testing it.
AT&T already testing both Galaxy S7 variants (SM-G930A and -G935A), adding weight to rumors of an early- to mid-1Q16 release.
— Evan Blass (@evleaks) November 13, 2015
http://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js This is just the latest puzzle piece in a picture that appears to be coming together even without Samsung having to say anything. One thing they have said, indirectly, that the Exynos 8890 is going to be in their flagship devices after Samsung announced their most powerful chipset yet last week. Somehow, the rumours are also suggesting that the Galaxy S7 is going to be 10% cheaper than the Galaxy S6 – how that’s going to be possible, we’ve yet to find out, but no doubt lots of people will be happy if it turns out to be true.
What do you think about the Samsung Galaxy S7 and S7 Edge already being in testing? Let us know your thoughts in the comments below.
Source: Twitter via Phone Arena
The post Samsung Galaxy S7 and S7 Edge already in testing at AT&T appeared first on AndroidSPIN.
Apple’s Tim Cook says a converged MacBook and iPad won’t happen
Apple CEO Tim Cook isn’t sold on the Surface, and the company doesn’t plan on bringing together its MacBook or iPad into a single product like Microsoft’s computing device, either. In an interview with the Irish Independent, Cook said: “We feel strongly that customers are not really looking for a converged Mac and iPad.” This follows comments the CEO made in an interview with the Daily Telegraph, where he questioned why anyone would buy a PC — those comments were apparently aimed at Windows PCs, not his company’s own computer range. “We don’t regard Macs and PCs to be the same.”
Via: PhoneArena
Source: Independent.ie
MetroPCS website bug put the data of 10 million subscribers at risk
If a comprehensive security report created and published by renowned researchers Eric Taylor and Blake Welsh is anything to go by, it would appear that MetroPCS had a major bug embedded in its website until this month when it was found and fixed. The error made it easy for any user to gain access to sensitive information for over 10 million current and past subscribers. The only tool needed to get hold of this data was a phone number. Pretty scary stuff, huh?
At this point, there’s no evidence suggesting that anyone discovered the defect before the researchers did and accessed customers’ personal information, and now, thanks to Taylor and Welsh, nobody will be able to abuse the glitch to do so. I find it quite frightening just how many companies have been at the centre of data protection scandals this year, and it doesn’t look like it’s going to stop anytime soon.
Source: Motherboard
Via: Engadget
Come comment on this article: MetroPCS website bug put the data of 10 million subscribers at risk
Lyft for Android updated with ‘colourful, directional cars’
Lyft has started rolling out a nifty new update for its official Android application via the Play Store. This upgrade makes it easier than ever to track your driver to get a feel for just how long he is likely to be, thanks to a new system the company has dubbed colourful, directional cars.
This feature essentially matches the car icon displayed in the app to the color and direction of your driver’s ride. The symbol is then displayed from a bird’s-eye view, showing the direction your taxi is headed in real-time — so you can instantly spot it as soon as it pulls up.
Installing the upgrade on your smartphone couldn’t be simpler. All you have to do is open up the Play Store, swipe in from the left-hand side of the screen, select ‘My Apps’ and click on ‘Lyft’, then hit the update button.
Come comment on this article: Lyft for Android updated with ‘colourful, directional cars’
Computers learn how to spot hidden facial expressions
Machines are good at spotting obvious emotions like smiles, but they’re not so hot at detecting the extremely brief microexpressions that reveal when people are covering up their true feelings. They may have a keener eye in the future, though: researchers have developed a computer vision algorithm that magnifies facial expressions, making it possible to catch the tiniest bit of displeasure or surprise. While some humans have a knack for spotting these subtle cues, the algorithm is far more effective in early tests — you likely wouldn’t fool the computer into thinking everything was hunky dory.
Source: ArXiv.org
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