Apple Releases Second OS X 10.11.4 El Capitan Beta to Public Beta Testers
Apple today seeded the second beta of an upcoming OS X 10.11.4 beta to public beta testers, just a few days after releasing the second OS X 10.11.4 beta to developers and more than a month after releasing OS X 10.11.2.
The second beta is available through the Software Update mechanism in the Mac App Store for those who are enrolled in Apple’s beta testing program. Those wishing to join the program can sign up on Apple’s beta testing website.
OS X 10.11.4 has been provided to developers and public beta testers alongside OS X 10.11.3, which is also currently in testing. Apple has provided testers with two betas of OS X 10.11.3, and it could be released to the public shortly.
Both OS X 10.11.3 and OS X 10.11.4 appear to focus largely on under-the-hood bug fixes, security enhancements, and performance optimizations with few noticeable outward-facing changes. OS X 10.11.4 does support password protected notes in the Notes app, allowing a password to be assigned to individual notes, and it includes Live Photos support for the Messages app.
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Apple Releases Mac App Store Update for OS X Snow Leopard
Apple today released a minor update to OS X Snow Leopard with a refreshed version of the Mac App Store. According to Apple’s release notes, the Mac App Store has been updated to ensure the future compatibility of the app with the OS X Snow Leopard operating system.
Today’s Mac App Store update is available to all OS X Snow Leopard users and can be downloaded through the Mac App Store’s software update mechanism.
Before becoming available for public release, the OS X Snow Leopard Mac App Store compatibility update was made available to developers on January 20 for testing purposes.
OS X Snow Leopard (aka OS X 10.6) was first released in 2009. As software that has been discontinued and is run primarily on older machines, Snow Leopard updates are few and far between. The last significant Snow Leopard update, aside from security fixes, was introduced in 2011 ahead of the release of OS X Lion.
Apple’s Mac App Store first launched in 2011 as part of the OS X Snow Leopard 10.6.6 update.
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Dual Camera iPhone 7 Plus Could Offer ‘DSLR-Like’ Quality, 3D Depth Mapping
Earlier today, reputable KGI Securities analyst Ming-Chi Kuo said the iPhone 7 Plus will likely have a dual-lens camera system based on technology Apple acquired from LinX Imaging. The new hardware could lead to some significant improvements in camera quality on Apple’s next flagship smartphone.
LinX’s multi-aperture cameras pack impressive image quality in a smaller size than single aperture cameras, meaning the iPhone 7 Plus may lack a protruding camera lens and be able to take SLR-quality photos — think Canon or Nikon. The camera modules are also capable of very interesting technology called 3D depth mapping and more.
We previously provided an in-depth look at LinX’s camera modules after Apple acquired the company, but it is worth recapping some of the major advantages of their technology, given today’s iPhone 7 Plus rumor.
Noise Reduction
The images captured by the LinX camera are brighter and clearer, with significantly reduced noise levels, compared to smartphone cameras. Available detail when zoomed into a photo was also much greater, as can be seen in the comparison below. View this PDF for more side-by-side image comparisons.
Improved Indoor Photos
In the photo below, the image was taken in mid-levels of light, at approximately 40 to 50 lux, similar to a decently well-lit room in a house or restaurant. The LinX sensor let in more light than the iPhone 5 or the Samsung Galaxy S4, for a photo that is clearer and sharper with less noise.
Improved Low Light Photos
LinX technology is able to significantly improve low light performance by using multiple channels to increase the sensitivity of the camera for better detail. It also keeps exposure times short to cut down on the motion blurring that can impact photo quality in conditions where lighting is not optimal.
LinX technology doesn’t have to compromise between pixel size and resolution, as it can use small pixels but still let in adequate amounts of light.
3D Depth Mapping
LinX’s multi-aperture cameras can create detailed depth maps of objects. With depth information on a per-pixel basis along with RGB information, LinX cameras can create 3D point clouds of objects from a single frame or a complete 3D model by combining several frames captured from different angles.
3D depth mapping has a number of useful applications, including 3D scanning of objects, sizing of objects, background removal and replacement and gesture recognition. The depth maps also allow for improved refocusing; by knowing the depth at every pixel, the feature allows for a synthetic blur to be applied that emulates a shallow depth.
Benefits Overview
– Better color accuracy and uniformity
– HDR – higher dynamic range
– UHDR – ultra high dynamic range
– Low noise levels
– Higher resolution
– Low module costs
– No Autofocus for modules of up to 20MP
– Zero shutter lag
– Small size allows for slim devices and edge-to-edge displays
Read A Look at LinX Camera Technology for more details about the dual camera systems.
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[TA Deals] This Complete Game Developer Course will teach you everything about making video games
Have you ever wanted to become a Game Developer? It takes a lot of time and money to follow that path through traditional avenues of education. Thankfully, you can achieve your dream through a self-study course, called the Complete Game Developer Course over on Talk Android Deals!
Here’s just a peak at what exciting things you’ll be learning as a Game Developer:
- Learn practical, employable skills w/ over 423 lectures & 34 hours of content
- Start making games from scratch w/ Construct 2
- Create 60 real-life games to add to your portfolio
- Make art & game design in Photoshop
- Watch the courses at any speed you want
- Build a variety of different types of games
- Learn from a professional game developer who has released over 40 games
While this certainly won’t help you master the topic, it’ll get you on the right path to creating your own games. And if you work at it enough, you might even have a bright future working at a studio somewhere as a developer.
This particular course is only going to cost you $39. It normally retails for $300, but it’s been discounted by 87% for a limited time only. With that in mind, you’ll want to act fast!
Anyone plan on picking this sweet deal up?
Come comment on this article: [TA Deals] This Complete Game Developer Course will teach you everything about making video games
How to Download the iOS 9.3 Beta to Your iPhone or iPad
Ahead of new software releases for iOS devices, Apple provides early copies to both developers and public beta testers to work out bugs and refine features. Major updates often include exciting new additions that people are eager to try out right away, such as iOS 9.3’s Night Shift Mode and all of its other new features.
If you want to get your hands on iOS 9.3 ahead of its prospective spring public launch date, there are two legitimate ways to do it: a developer license or a public beta invitation. We’ll outline both ways to get iOS 9.3 below, plus we’ll include some instructions on downgrading in case you run into bugs.
Both those who sign up for a developer license and those who test betas through Apple’s public beta testing program should use caution when installing beta software. It’s called a beta because it’s unfinished, and there are often significant issues and problems that can prevent apps and features from working, especially in the early beta testing process.
iOS 9.3, though relatively stable, should not be installed on a main iOS device that’s used on a daily basis. Testing should be done on an extra device that can be easily wiped should something go wrong.
[Deal] You can snag an unlocked 16GB Galaxy S5 for $259.99
If you’re in the market for a new smartphone, but aren’t too fussed about having one of the latest devices on the market, we have a great little deal for you. Online discount website Daily Steals has today launched a fantastic sale on Samsung’s flagship smartphone of 2014, the Galaxy S5. For the next 24-hours, you can pick up a brand new factory unlocked 16GB variant of the handset in either Black, Gold or White for $259.99, which is a whopping 56% off its launch price of $599.99.
The Galaxy S5 isn’t old hat by any means, so don’t go thinking that it won’t see you through a good two-to-three years of use. It’s a pretty impressive mid-range phone, which sports a 5.1-inch Full HD display, a 2,5GHz Snapdragon 801 quad-core processor, an Adreno 330 GPU, 2GB of RAM, a 16-megapixel rear-facing camera, a 2-megapixel selfie shooter and a 2,800mAh removable Li-Ion battery. There handset also features a biometric scanner and is IP67 dust and water resistance.
At present, the device is running Lollipop skinned with Samsung’s TouchWiz user interface, but is scheduled to receive the much-anticipated Marshmallow update in April, along with a more recent version of the custom UI, that’s more compliant with Google’s Material Design guidelines. This is cracking news for those drawn towards a more stock-like Android experience.
To find out about taking advantage of this deal, hit the source link below.
Source: Daily Steals
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Dear Veronica: Do you have a minute for beats?
This week on the show, we get super music-nerdy with producer and composer Justin Lassen, coming to us from the floor at NAMM. He explains to us how music software figures out BPM (beat per minute) in songs and samples. Having worked with some incredible musicians (and creating some amazing works of his own) Justin knows and thing or two about the process!
I also help a listener find his true passion for podcasting, and uncover the sordid history of the smiling poop emoji! Actually, that would be a great podcast right there… 💩
You can build a life size BB-8 out of a beachball
It took just days after BB-8 was shown to the world for someone to build their own, with the first one coming 48 hours after Star Wars Celebration. We’ve seen ’em come in all shapes and sizes, from a customized Sphero (before the company made its own) through to thousand-dollar versions. Now, 17-year-old Angelo Casimiro thinks that he’s found a way to craft a version for just $120, if you have the patience. Thankfully, almost all of the parts required are available from your local hardware store, including an Arduino Uno, some wheels and, best of all, a 20-inch beachball.
The full details are included in the video, but the general idea is that you use the beachball to create a papier mache sphere, reinforced with canvas. Once you’ve cut it in half, you build a “hamster wheel” style assembly with the microcontroller and some homemade rechargeable batteries. The most ingenious element of the construction is to swap out the ball bearings for a set of four roll-on deodorant bottles. If you’re interested in building your own, then check out the full tutorial — just remember to book four or five days off work first.
Via: Manila Shaker, The Verge
Source: Instructables
Peach now has a web version, if you care
Three weeks ago, a new social network called Peach debuted. Created by Vine founder Dom Hoffman, it quickly caught on and climbed the download charts thanks to its unique “magic word” commands — you could type “d” to draw something or “g” to search for a GIF — and simply due to the fact that it was, well, new. Peach is also the name of the iOS app (sorry, no official Android app, though there is an unofficial one called Nectarine), which also happens to be the only way you could sign up for the service. Actually, the app was the only way you could use Peach, period. Now, however, you can at least access your Peach feed on your desktop thanks to a new web interface created by Hoffman. That is, if you’re still interested in Peach at all.
See, even though Peach is a fairly new service, it’s already showing signs of decline. TechCrunch points out that downloads have taken a hit, while other pundits have claimed that the app’s 15 minutes of fame are already up. I know I’ve stopped using the service a day or two after I joined. The last time I looked at the app was yesterday, to see if any of my friends had posted an update. Only two out of 20 friends had. As harsh as it may seem, Peach’s days could already be numbered.
This quick rise and fall begs the question: Can a new social network succeed these days? Do users even want something else in the age of Twitter and Facebook? There are other social networks like Snapchat and YikYak, but I’d classify them less as social networks and more as glorified messaging apps. Snapchat pioneered the ephemeral messaging trend while YikYak spearheaded the pseudo-anonymous category, especially among the college crowd. But even these kinds of niche apps aren’t immune to failure. Secret, which also jumped on the pseudo-anonymous bandwagon, lasted just a little over a year before going out of business.
Peach, on the other hand, doesn’t seem to have a particularly unique bent: It seems to want to be a social network for everyone. And this could very well be its problem. Twitter, Facebook and Instagram are already so much a part of our lives that adding on a new generalized social network takes effort. Even Google didn’t quite succeed with Google+, and is now positioning it as more of a community forum rather than a place to catch up with family and friends. If even big-shots like Google and Twitter are constantly vying for new users, what hope does an upstart like Peach have?
That’s why this web version of Peach strikes me as too little, too late. It should’ve launched right from the start. But even then, I’m not sure if it would have been enough to win people over. You still need to use the app to sign up for the service. The web interface is an expanded view of the mobile app, with the list of friends on the left and the messages flanked on the right, so you can’t see your whole feed at a glance. Notably, those aforementioned “magic words” — you know, the thing that makes Peach at least a little special — don’t work on the browser version. In short, the web interface is pretty slapdash and not very good.
Perhaps that’s why Hoffman told TechCrunch that even though he created this web version of Peach, he doesn’t think of it as “official.” And if even the founder had to create an unofficial version of his own app, well, that doesn’t give me high hopes that Peach will ever catch on.
Via: Techcrunch
Source: Peach
6 buses transformed into incredible homes on wheels
By Cat DiStasio
Converting a disused school bus into a groovy makeshift home on wheels is a pretty common occurrence in many places around the world — and that trend continues to blossom in some incredibly cool ways. In some areas, housing is so desperately needed for the homeless and poor that city buses are being transformed into low-cost shelters. Elsewhere, a bus might get a new life as a cozy cabin or a chic recreational vehicle.
AIVAnet 