This is your closest look yet at a Kuiper Belt object
That moving dot you see in the picture above may not seem like much at first glance, but it’s a pretty big deal — it’s humanity’s closest-ever look at an object in the Solar System’s distant Kuiper Belt. NASA’s New Horizons spacecraft recently caught 1994 JR1 on camera from ‘just’ 170 million miles away, or 15 times closer than any Kuiper Belt object has been seen before. That’s no mean feat when the celestial body is a whopping 3.3 billion miles away from the Sun, putting it beyond Pluto’s current position and into the realm of even tinier dwarf planets like Haumea and Makemake.
Via: Gizmodo
Source: New Horizons
Order the Cyanogen powered Lenovo ZUK Z1 at Gearbest
“CyanogenMod (pronounced /saɪ.’æn.oʊ.dʒɛn.mɒd/) is an enhanced open source firmware distribution for smartphones and tablet computers based on the Android mobile operating system. It offers features and options not found in the official firmware distributed by vendors of these devices.
Features supported by CyanogenMod include native theming support, FLAC audio codec support, a large Access Point Name list, an OpenVPN client, an enhanced reboot menu, support for Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, and USB tethering, CPU overclocking and other performance enhancements, soft buttons and other “tablet tweaks”, toggles in the notification pull-down (such as wi-fi, Bluetooth and GPS), app permissions management, as well as other interface enhancements. CyanogenMod does not contain spyware or bloatware. In many cases, CyanogenMod may increase performance and reliability compared with official firmware releases.
CyanogenMod is developed as free and open source software based on the official releases of Android by Google, with added original and third-party code.” – From Wikipedia
There are not many many devices that come with Cyanogen OS installed direct from the manufacturer, especially here in the U.S. But for fanatics of customization, which are many of our AndroidGuys readers, Cyanogen is a must have for you. The first smartphone from OnePlus came with Cyanogen installed directly which was one of its best features. Now gearbest.com has a full featured smartphone from Lenovo for you for the low price of $320, with free shipping and a 45-day satisfaction guarantee.
I recently have been writing about how unlocked budget and mid-range devices will rule the market in 2016 and the Lenovo ZUK Z1 is proof of why that will happen.
Not only does the unlocked Lenovo ZUK Z1 run Cyanogen OS 12.1, it also comes with a Qualcomm Snapdragon 801, 64GB of memory, 3GB of RAM, a 13MP rear camera, dual SIM capability, 1080p IPS display, and a HUGE 4100mAh battery. What more could you ask for in an unlocked smartphone. It also comes with a built-in fingerprint reader and a gorgeous metal frame. Head on over to gearbest.com to check it out. With a 45-day 100% satisfaction guarantee and free shipping, you have nothing to lose.
Specs
| Brand: Lenovo Type: 4G Smartphone Service Provide: Unlocked OS: Android 5.1 SIM Card Slot: Dual SIM, Dual Standby SIM Card Type: Dual Nano SIM Highlight: 3GB RAM 64GB ROM |
 Hardware
CPU: Qualcomm Snapdragon 801 |
 Network
Wireless Connectivity: WiFi, Bluetooth, GSM, 3G, 4G, GPS |
 Display
Screen type: Capacitive |
 Camera
Camera type: Dual cameras (one front one back) |
 Media Formats
Picture format: PNG, JPEG, GIF, BMP |
 Other Features
Microphone: Supported |
 Battery : 4100mAh Built-in Battery
|
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Kickstarter project of the week: Fleye is a “safe, fun and autonomous” drone
Kickstarter is a bit of an interesting website. There’s a plethora of innovative products being funded in there, but there’s also a bunch of worthless projects. In the Kickstarter project of the week series we hand pick the best and bring them to your attention. And do remember we will be featuring a different campaign every single weekend, so keep checking back if you want to stay in the loop!
https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/gofleye/fleye-your-personal-flying-robot/widget/video.html
With that said, let’s jump right into Fleye, a drone that aims to be the robot of the future. But what is it that makes it different? For starters, it’s darn cute! Fleye has a spherical shape and certainly doesn’t look like it will stay in the air, but it is it’s design that actually makes it a great flying machine. People can even push it in mid-air and the Fleye keeps its stability.
See also: Kickstarter project of the week: Lumenus is “designed to save lives”
But even that isn’t too special. We have all seen drones with interesting designs before. What really makes the Fleye unique is what is inside, and what it can do with it. Fleye tries to take on the robot concept, as opposed to sticking with a simple drone mentality. The idea is that there will be a future in which drones are just flying around improving our lives. And Fleye has everything it needs to operate autonomously.
The basic version of the Fleye comes with an 800 MHz dual-core processor and 512 MB of RAM, WiFi and a 5 MP camera that can record at 1080p 30 fps. Getting the Power Edition would upgrade you to a quad-core processor and a whole GB of RAM. And the great part about it is that all of this power is unlocked to developers and tinkerers. Fleye is offering an API and SDK so devs can go ahead and create their own apps for it.
See also: All drones in the USA may soon need to be registered
As for its basic functionality, the robot can definitely hold its own as it is. Its features include the ability to take selfies as it backs away from you, shoot panoramic images and hover with 10 cm precision. But there’s also a slew of sensors that make it space aware and can really turn it into a smarter robot. Imagine using one of these as some kind of guard that patrols an area! Oh, and of course, you can also control it with your smartphone.
So, what’s the damage? Needless to say this thing isn’t exactly cheap. The lowest priced early bird special starts at 599 Euros, and all the spots are gone. As of the time of this publishing, the cheapest you can get one for is 699 Euros. It’s totally worth it if you want to have your own apps and functionality developed, and even casual drone enthusiasts will get more out of this bad boy in the long run.
I just hope developers actually do something with it. That’s really the key to Fleye’s success. Are any of you signing up?
A new report suggests that people are naming their children off of Instagram filters
Based on a new report, the hottest trends in baby names came from shared monikers with Instagram filters.
Instead of using a family name for a baby, it turns out there’s a large sum of people who use the internet/social media as their source. Believe it or not, photo-sharing apps were among the most popular this year, with the most apparent name being Lux. Others such as Ludwig, Amaro, Kelvin, Reyes, and Hudson also saw major gains on the list of most popular names for newborn boys. Some of the most popular names for girls included Willow, Juno and Valencia. The results come from data taken by BabyCenter, which included a set of 340,000 parents scattered all throughout the world.
Source: BabyCenter
Come comment on this article: A new report suggests that people are naming their children off of Instagram filters
Samsung Galaxy Note 4 gets updated to Marshmallow in Hungary before its successor
Not many smartphones outside of Google’s Nexus devices have received the Marshmallow update. Interestingly, in Hungary, Samsung Galaxy Note 4 owners are reporting that the update is hitting handsets now.
One would think the Galaxy Note 5 should get the Marshmallow update first, however this is not the case in Hungary. Owners of the unlocked Samsung Galaxy Note 4 model from last year can now install the latest version of Android from Google. And just in case you don’t believe us, a screenshot has been uploaded thanks to NapiDroid.
The update brings all the newest tastes from Google such as doze mode, now-on-tap, individual app permissions, and more. In addition, the update also touches upon some of Samsung’s touchwiz capabilities. A new air command menu has been included as well as the ability to write white on black using the S Pen when the screen is locked, just like that on the Galaxy Note 5.
Now that Nexus devices and a slew of Android One handsets have been updated to Marshmallow, it’s only a matter of time before updates start rolling out to current flagships. Hopefully, those living in other places around the world will get the same feature enhancements that Hungarian users received on their Galaxy Note 4. Only time will tell.
Source: NapiDroid
Via: Phone Arena
Come comment on this article: Samsung Galaxy Note 4 gets updated to Marshmallow in Hungary before its successor
A fix is coming to those experiencing a slightly tinted display on their Nexus 5X, 6P or Player
If you own one of Google’s newest Nexus smartphones or a Nexus Player that’s experiencing screen issues, you’ll be happy to know that a fix is coming.
Google has finally found what’s causing the display problems on select Nexus 6P and Nexus 5X units. If you’re unaware of the issue, colors on select handsets were reported slightly washed out. The company is now on top of it and is finalizing an update containing a fix. Nexus owners are very fortunate that the issue turned out to be software related and not a hardware problem in the display itself. Google is planning to push out the update containing the fix to all Nexus 5X and 6P owners in the near future. Nexus Player owners that reported a similar issue will also be glad to know that a fix has been made and will be sent out shortly via OTA. Have you experienced any problems with your Nexus device?
Source: Google
Come comment on this article: A fix is coming to those experiencing a slightly tinted display on their Nexus 5X, 6P or Player
My Nexus 6P looks better than yours thanks to my dbrand copper skin
dbrand seriously hooked me up with some sweet skins for my Nexus 5X and 6P. Many of you tech enthusiasts are similar to the writers here at AndroidGuys, in that you love your devices and want to make sure they look good too. Looks are becoming more important as we grow more attached to our devices.
A great way to prevent scratches, cover up existing scratches and to completely customize the look of your smartphone is to use a skin from dbrand. Yesterday I wrote about a gorgeous carbon fiber skin that I put on my Nexus 5X that looks awesome. dbrand sent me a carbon fiber skin for my Nexus 6P as well, but I didn’t want to give you guys the same look. Instead I went with the brushed copper skin with a cutout for the X in Nexus.
Nexus 6P in copper and the Nexus 5X in carbon fiber.
Design
With the Nexus 5X skin dbrand I was most impressed with the high-quality materials. Those high-quality materials are sourced from 3M, and dbrand guarantees its products meet the highest standards. dbrand also make precision a primary feature, and I can say the skins I have used are so perfectly cut, that they must have been cut with space age lasers. The cutout for the microphone and fingerprint reader on the back of the Nexus 6P are so perfect that it looks like my phone was made from copper straight from the factory. The proof is in the images below.
Our Variety, Your Choice (from the dbrand website)
Installation
Installation is so easy even I could do it without making a mistake. And that really speaks volumes because I am far from a perfectionist. I typically rush through projects like this, and dbrand was ready for my shaky hands. After installing the Nexus 5X skin, the Nexus 6P installation took me all of five minutes.
1. Get a hair dryer or heat gun and pull out your skin materials.
2. Wipe your Nexus 6P to remove oil and dust.
3. Install the top portion of the skin first by aligning the microphone cutout and fingerprint reader. No extra metal from the Nexus 6P should show.
4. After completing the bottom installation and wiping down the edges with the included cloth, the X is ready for its inserts. Yellow goes on the bottom left, blue top left, red top right and green on the bottom right. You could make your X all green, blue, red, or yellow as dbrand does provide you with four of each color for the X.
Complete. Time to show off my one and only copper Nexus 6P.
Even C3PO is awestruck.
Summary
The look and feel of my Nexus 6P has dramatically changed for the better, all for less than $12. dbrand’s skins are unique, great looking, reasonably priced and easy to install. It makes my wonder why manufacturers of smartphones just don’t offer skins direct since customers do love choice. Many of us really are tired of the same old gold, silver, white and black colors that our smartphones come in.
As you can see from the images above, the skins on both the Nexus 5X and the Nexus 6P are so perfectly cut that they look like they came in actual carbon fiber and copper from the assembly lines. I was even stopped by three people today, while I was out, asking what phone I was using because they had never seen a copper phone before. I love the skins from dbrand as they do protect my all metal Nexus 6P from scratches, and gives it a nicer feel too.
And one last thing, and I really do mean this, if I can install these skins there is no doubt in my mind you can too. My eyes are not quite perfect anymore and my hands are shaky. dbrand offers a huge range of skins so check out their website to see if they have a skin for your device. They even have skins for laptops, smartwatches, tablets and game consoles.
The post My Nexus 6P looks better than yours thanks to my dbrand copper skin appeared first on AndroidGuys.
Court says violating your work’s computer policy isn’t a crime
Your employers might shake their fists when you check Facebook at work, but they can’t have you sent to prison for it. A US appeals court has ruled that breaking corporate computer policies isn’t against the law all by itself — you have to commit a specific crime to get in trouble. Prosecutors had tried to argue that an NYPD officer was violating the Computer Fraud and Abuse Act by looking up people for non-police purposes (which violates policy), but the court thought this was an overly broad interpretation. If that’s illegal, the court says, “millions of ordinary computer users” would also be breaking the law.
Source: EFF
Court says violating your work’s computer policy isn’t a crime
Your employers might shake their fists when you check Facebook at work, but they can’t have you sent to prison for it. A US appeals court has ruled that breaking corporate computer policies isn’t against the law all by itself — you have to commit a specific crime to get in trouble. Prosecutors had tried to argue that an NYPD officer was violating the Computer Fraud and Abuse Act by looking up people for non-police purposes (which violates policy), but the court thought this was an overly broad interpretation. If that’s illegal, the court says, “millions of ordinary computer users” would also be breaking the law.
Source: EFF
5 Android apps you shouldn’t miss this week! – Android Apps Weekly
Welcome back to Android Apps Weekly! Here are your big headlines from the last week:
- Telltale Games is chugging right along as they picked up yet another popular IP to turn into one of their now-iconic episodic adventures. This time around, they’re making a Batman game. If their prior efforts are any indication, this game will likely be really good and true to the story of Batman. The game is expected to be released in 2016.
- Google Play has released their picks for the best apps and games of 2015. It’s a pretty standard list and a lot of them may only be there because of their popularity or their close ties to Google. In either case, there are no real bad eggs on the list and we encourage you to check them out!
- The Room 1 and 2 are among the best and most interesting puzzle games ever to land on Android. As it turns out, the developers have been fervently working on The Room 3 and that should be out Monday, January 11th, 2016. Needless to say, this app guy will be buying that on day one because it’s probably going to be awesome.
- Google has released a new type of advertisement that allows people to play-test games in the advertisement without actually downloading the game. The hope is that the player will enjoy the experience and download the game after trying the in-ad demo. On paper, it seems really awesome but you know people are when it comes to advertisements.
- Google has announced that by the end of January, they will have completely absorbed Songza into Google Play Music. As a result, the Songza service will be shutting down permanently. There is a silver lining as Google will be helping Songza users migrate over to Google Play Music to continue using those features.
For even more Android apps and games headlines, updates, and new releases, don’t forget to check out this week’s Android Apps Weekly newsletter. There you’ll find all the stuff we didn’t have the time or space for here today. If you’re so inclined, you can use the form below and sign up for the newsletter to get it sent straight to your inbox every week!
Signup for our newsletter
- Android Weekly
- Apps Weekly
LEGO Ninjago: Shadow of Ronin
[Price: $4.99]
LEGO Ninjago: Shadow of Ronin is a new action-adventure game from the popular LEGO franchise that has you playing as a group of ninjas who have lost their memories. Your job is to get those memories back and then defeat the evil Ronin to save the day. It’s a fun little game to play and, as with most LEGO games, it’s about as kid friendly as this subject matter can be. It’s also a pay once game with no in-app purchases!
Get it now on Google Play!
LinkedIn
[Price: Free]
We don’t normally do app updates in this section anymore but LinkedIn made such a huge change to their app that it’s worth talking about. Especially when the app was as bad as LinkedIn’s used to be. The new design features sprinkles of Material Design and it also appears to take some design cues from Facebook. The app centers around the core functions of the service and it’s so much easier getting around. If you haven’t checked out LinkedIn in a while, it’s worth a shot now.
Get it now on Google Play!
Rayman Adventures
[Price: Free with in-app purchases]
Rayman Adventures is the latest adventure-platformer game out of the once iconic Rayman franchise. This one features a bit more exploration than prior titles and the point will be to collect all of the Incrediballs. Interestingly, Ubisoft is going with a Freemium pricing model which is in stark contrast to the pay-once games that didn’t have in-app purchases. It’ll be interesting to see how it turns out, but so far the user reactions have been positive.
Get it now on Google Play!
Storehouse
[Price: Free]
Storehouse is a unique photo sharing application that creates a kind of webpage with up to 50 of your photos for easy sharing. The basic idea as far as I can tell is that it lets you create a collection of photos which it then arranges on a webpage type of layout. You can then send that link to your friends who can then view it on their mobile devices or on the computer if they so choose. It’s fun to use and it’s totally free with no in-app purchases.
Get it now on Google Play!
Cardboard Camera
[Price: Free]
Last and certainly not least this week is Cardboard Camera. This app is meant to be used in conjuction with Google Cardboard and it helps you create VR photographs. In other words, it lets you take photos that are meant to be viewed in complete VR. The app works surprisingly well and some of the stuff you can create with this is really awesome. It’s completely free to download and use and is now another great reason to grab at least a Google Cardboard device.
Get it now on Google Play!
Wrap up
If we missed any great Android apps and games news or new releases, tell us about them in the comments below! Thanks for joining us this week and we’ll see you next week!
AIVAnet 