Smart cube lamp shows emoji and sets the mood
LED cube lamps have been around for a while, but they tend to either be make-it-yourself affairs or limited in what they can do. However, Spin-R might finally bring that lighting tech to your living room. It’s crowdfunding Tittle (yes, we know), a 512-light lamp that you can program to do your bidding. You can customize its patterns and colors to set the mood for a movie or house party, but the real fun starts when it talks to the outside world. It can pulse in sync with your music — conversation starter, anyone? — and you can send 3D emoji to other Tittle owners to share what you’re thinking.
You probably won’t replace every table lamp in your home. You need to pledge at least $199 to get a Tittle during the crowdfunding drive, and it’ll normally cost $349 when it’s officially released. Backers won’t get their lights until September, for that matter. Look at it this way, though: if you think smart bulbs like Philips’ Hue just aren’t clever enough, you now have an easy way to up the ante.
https://player.vimeo.com/video/154090331?color=fb9600&title=0&byline=0&portrait=0
Source: Indiegogo
Google is reportedly releasing a VR headset this year
There were hints that Google was interested in making virtual reality hardware, and now some of the first details of that gear seem to be trickling out. Financial Times sources claim that Google’s first true VR headset is effectively a more open rival to Samsung’s Gear VR — you slot in a phone from your brand of choice into a plastic housing that has its own movement sensors. It’s miles above Cardboard, according to the tip. If the leak is accurate, you’d see it arrive sometime this year… alongside software that could be just as (if not more) important to the experience.
The same insiders claim that Google is baking VR into Android itself, rather than relying on third-party apps like Cardboard does today. This wouldn’t just make support easier, but would fight common VR problems like lag — the smaller the delay, the less likely you are to be nauseous after a prolonged session. Google hasn’t confirmed either the Android VR support or the hardware, but it wouldn’t be shocking to get at least a sneak peek at this technology at Google I/O in May.
Source: Financial Times
Ben Heck’s Raspberry Pi Bitscope mod
If you need to troubleshoot or design electronic hardware, an oscilloscope is a useful bit of kit. This week Ben and Felix put together a Raspberry Pi-based Bitscope Micro Oscilloscope with a 7-inch touchscreen. Using Autodesk Fusion 360 to design a case for 3D printing in combination with a laser cut back and stand, Ben guides us through case design considerations to ensure everything is a good fit (especially with the insanity of the metric system). There’s also a sneak insight into a future project! Remember you can watch behind the scenes footage, get the build files for this project and interact with the cast on the element14 community, home of The Ben Heck Show.
5 Android apps you shouldn’t miss this week! – Android Apps Weekly
VarageSale
[Price: Free]
This week’s Android Apps Weekly show is brought to you by VarageSale. VarageSale is a Craigslist kind of application where people can post things they want to sell and you buy them. Unlike Craigslist, you’ll be required to create an account before you can interact with the site which is a mechanic we liked a lot. From there, you simply search around, find the stuff you want, and then buy it.
During our testing, we found all kinds of stuff from cloths to electronics and even an engagement ring. You can browse various categories in areas near you and you can even leave seller feedback which helps show which sellers are the most reliable. It has a lot going for it and it’s definitely worth a shot if you’re getting ready to sell stuff or just want to look around. It’s totally free so check it out and show your support for the Android Apps Weekly show!
Get it now on Google Play!
Welcome back to Android Apps Weekly! Let’s take a look at the biggest headlines from the last week:
- We managed to get a hold of the official Reddit beta application last week and wanted to show you what it was going to look like. It seems to have a modern design full of Material Design along with a few other fun features. We don’t know when it’ll be released but it seemed to work pretty well to us.
- SoundCloud announced a new stations feature that will give users a chance to listen to music similar to how they do on Pandora. This comes not long after announcing signing deals with a couple of major labels and announcing that they’ll be turning into a legitimate streaming service to battle the likes of Spotify.
- Nintendo has announced that people can start signing up for the closed beta of Miitomo, their first Android game, starting on February 17th. We know a lot about the game already and how it will emulate social media to an extent. However, we won’t know everything until we get our hands on it and that may be sooner than later.
- Even though most of Apple’s apps have received a slew of terrible ratings in the Play Store, they seem to be doing pretty good. How good? Well, Tim Cook announced this week that even more Apple apps will likely be making their way to Android. We don’t know which ones yet, but our guess is likely iCloud and other productivity apps.
- Perhaps the biggest app news from the last week was Microsoft purchasing SwiftKey for $250 million. There hasn’t been a lot of information from either company but the popular guess is that Microsoft is after SwiftKey’s legendary predictive algorithms and AI. For now, nothing is changing, but after seeing what happened to Sunrise Calendar and Accompli, we wouldn’t blame you if you were a bit worried.
For even more Android apps and games news, don’t forget to check out this week’s newsletter! We had a metric ton of news there that we didn’t have time for here. If you want to sign up, use the form below and we’ll send you the Android Apps Weekly newsletter every Sunday!
Signup for our newsletter
- Android Weekly
- Apps Weekly
Sundance VR
[Price: Free]
Sundance VR is a newer application released with the idea of showing you full VR content including short films, music videos, and other types of VR stuff. It’s a newer app and there aren’t a lot of selections yet so you may not find the app overly enjoyable right now. However, if you own Google Cardboard or you’re interested in VR, I would keep this app in your crosshairs because it should get a decent selection of unique VR content eventually.
Get it now on Google Play!
LEGO Ninjago: Skybound
[Price: Free]
The latest LEGO game has hit the Google Play Store and like many were before it, this one is entirely free with no in-app purchases. This one continues the Ninjago series where the prior game left off and includes a lot of the same graphics and mechanics as prior Ninjago games. There is a stealth element where you can hide in the shadows instead of engaging in fights and the controls are very simple. It’s a great title for kids or adults and is especially great if you’re low on money.
Get it now on Google Play!
Marvel Avengers Academy
[Price: Free with in-app purchases]
Marvel Avengers Academy is the latest adventure/simulation game out of TinyCo. They are the same developers who did Family Guy: The Quest for Stuff. The game lets you play as your favorite Avengers as teenagers who are just beginning to find their abilities. You’ll battle bad guys, level up your characters, and even do teenager stuff like go on dates. It’s a mixture of adventure and simulation so there will be some management here and there and then some action here and there. It’s free to download but does have in-app purchases.
Get it now on Google Play!
Promo Codes
[Price: Free]
Promo Codes is a new application that is meant to take advantage of the new promo codes feature in Google Play. It’s very simple. Developers sign up for the service and once per day, people using the app can check and see if they get a free promo code. If they do, they get a paid app for free. If not, well, better luck tomorrow. It’s a fun and unique way for developers to utilize their promo codes and even if the users lose out, they get to see a fun new app every day. This should be on every smartphone. Get it.
Get it now on Google Play!
Adventures of Mana
[Price: $13.99]
Adventures of Mana is a classic RPG that was originally released on Game Boy in the early 1990’s. Don’t worry, though, because Square Enix has updated the graphics and soundtrack to make it look way better than it did back then. The story line and content remains intact and you’ll play once again as the hero trying to keep the Dark Lord Glaive from reaching the sacred Mana Tree and destroying all life. It has simple, touch-based controls. There is also a steep price tag but at least there are no in-app purchases.
Get it now on Google Play!
Related best app lists:
If we missed any big Android apps or games news, tell us about them in the comments!
Android Authority this week – February 27, 2016
Hello Android fans, this week we finally had confirmation that the Galaxy S7 and the LG G5 are both launching on February 21 in Barcelona; we’ve heard about Google’s plans to take more control over the Nexus program; the first credible image of the HTC M10 leaked out; Google became the most valuable company in the world; Microsoft bought SwiftKey for a rumored $500 million; and Marshmallow graced several flagship phones and one device that was launched in 2011!
Inside AA HQ
Our smartphones are hardly phones anymore, with their large screens made for browsing the web and specs that rival laptops. It would probably be more accurate to call them “smartcameras.” Millions of users use their devices primarily to take pics and share them on their social network of choice. Thing is, despite the amazing advancements of mobile cameras, the average shot is still pretty… average. If you’re looking for ways to up your mobile photography game, don’t miss Edgar’s excellent piece with tips and tricks for getting better pics out of your phone right away. And stay tuned for more in-depth posts on mobile photography in the future.
Both Samsung and LG have confirmed that their respective flagships will be unveiled in Barcelona in exactly two weeks. Exciting times, as LG vies to turnaround its top phone series and Samsung is in the tricky position of having to top the superb Galaxy S6. And that’s just the cherry on the cake: MWC is shaping up to be more interesting than ever, and Android Authority will be there to cover it all. Flights are booked, accommodation has been arranged, now it’s time to wait. In the meantime, look out for our MWC preview, coming soon.
Back to the popular Nexus 6P for our popular Sunday Giveaway. Try your luck here!
The stuff you shouldn’t miss
- Review: Krystal reviews the incredibly affordable honor 5X
- How-to: You always wondered, admit it – how can I take better pics with my phone. Wonder no more
- Tech talk: iOS has long held the lead in audio latency, but Marshmallow is narrowing the gap.
- Tech talk: Which fast charging standard is the best?
- For developers: Here’s what you need to know to start building apps with Android IDE
- Best apps: So you’re finally done with the Facebook app. Here are some alternatives
- Explainer: Fingerprint scanners are everywhere: here’s how they work
- Versus: Sibling rivalry: Mate 8 vs Nexus 6P
- Feature: 2016 is do or die for Sony Mobile – here’s why
News of the week
Google Nexus changes
Galaxy S7 release date
- Latest Galaxy S7 renders allegedly show off back of device
- It’s official: Galaxy S7 is launching on February 21
LG G5 teasing is on
M10 revealed
Marshmallow updates
- Google releases February security update factory images for Nexus devices
- Android 6.0 Marshmallow rolling out to the LG G4 in Canada
- BlackBerry Priv February security patch is now rolling out
- Marshmallow now rolling out to the original NVIDIA Shield Tablet (Update: OTA halted)
- Android 6.0 Marshmallow rolling out to the LG G4 in Canada
- Select AT&T Galaxy Note 5 users are receiving Marshmallow beta on their devices
Google’s raking in money
- Google posts Q4 and full year 2015 earnings – $74.5 billion in revenue for the year
- Alphabet is now the world’s most valuable company, toppling Apple
Microsoft now owns Swiftkey
Join our newsletters
Get the Android Weekly delivered to your inbox each and every Sunday, sign up for our newsletter below.
Android Authority Newsletters
- Android Weekly
- Apps Weekly
- Dev Weekly
- Breaking News Alerts
- Top Stories of the day
- Review Alerts
- Deal Alerts
The After Math: The rule of three
There’s an old rule in comedy writing called the rule of three (no, not “threeves”) which dictates that things in sets of three “are inherently funnier, more satisfying, or more effective.” What is true for comedy, turns out, is also true for technology. This week we saw 30% older mice, Orange is the New Black getting renewed for three more years and Louis CK rounding down the price of his new web comedy to, you guessed it, $3. Numbers, numbers, numbers!
Inhabitat’s Week in Green: VW’s microbus concept, and more!
Volkswagen is still reeling from the Dieselgate emissions scandal, but it’s trying to turn over a new leaf. So far the automaker has announced plans to launch 20 electric vehicles by the year 2020, and this week we learned that the BUDD-e electric microbus will be one of them. In other transportation news, a team of MIT students took top place in Elon Musk’s Hyperloop design contest with plans for a streamlined pod that uses maglev technology. Uganda launched its first solar bus, and Google wants to bring 5G internet to off-grid areas with fleets of sun-powered drones.
The Wendelstein 7-X stellarator has been hyped as the holy grail of cheap, clean energy. This week it passed a critical hurdle in the quest for nuclear fusion. Meanwhile, Morocco flipped the switch on phase one of the world’s largest solar farm, and China unveiled plans to build the largest waste-to-energy plant on the planet. Tesla’s first Powerwall sold out in a flash, but if you missed out on the first run, you’ll be happy to hear that the company is planning to launch a new version of its home battery this July. And ThermalTech just launched a line of solar jackets that soak up sunlight to keep you toasty in freezing conditions.
Vertical farms are taking off, Japan is pushing the envelope with plans for the world’s first farm run by robots. The facility is expected to produce 11 million heads of lettuce every year while cutting energy demand by 30 percent. In other tech and design news, a new robotic exoskeleton called the Phoenix launched this week and it can restore mobility to the paralyzed for $40,000. An architecture firm unveiled plans for a futuristic “Next Tokyo” eco city with a Hyperloop and a mile-high skyscraper. And Super Bowl fans will be excited to know that this year’s game is net zero thanks to Levi’s LEED Gold stadium.
Nexus 6P International Giveaway!
Welcome to the Sunday Giveaway, the place where we giveaway a new Android phone or tablet each and every Sunday!
A big congratulations to last week’s winners of the Nuu Mobile X4 Giveaway: Edwin B. (Bosnia), Shareece B. (USA), Henry P. (UK), Damir (Kyrgyzstan), Michael C. (USA).
This week we are giving away the highly sought after Nexus 6P.
- Nexus 6P Review
- Nexus 6P Second Opinion Review
- Nexus 6P vs Note 5
- Nexus 6P vs iPhone 6S Plus
- Nexus 6P vs Mate 8
Enter giveaway
Nexus 6P International Giveaway!
https://js.gleam.io/e.js
More Giveaways
Winners Gallery
Winners Gallery on Google+
Terms & Conditions
- The giveaway is an international giveaway (Except when we can not ship to your Country.)
- If we can not ship to your country, you will be compensated with an online gift card of equal MSRP value to the prize.
- We are not responsible for lost shipments.
- You must be age of majority in your Country of residence.
- We are not responsible for any duties, import taxes that you may incur.
- Only 1 entry per person, do not enter multiple email addresses. We will verify all winners and if we detect multiple email addresses by the same person you will not be eligible to win.
- We reserve all rights to make any changes to this giveaway.
- This giveaway is operated by Android Authority.
- The prize will ship when it is available to purchase.
The new ‘Ghostbusters’ is getting its own LEGO set
The Ghostbusters reboot might be a geek’s dream in more ways than one. LEGO has offered a peek at a new Ghostbusters set that recreates all the main characters and their gear in glorious detail, including the signature ECTO-1 car and an ECTO-2 motorbike. The new box of plastic bricks doesn’t spoil too much of what’s coming in the new movie, although there’s a Red Daemon character (the new nemesis?) and hints that the assistant, Kevin, gets possessed.
It won’t be cheap to fight small-scale supernatural foes. LEGO releases the set on July 1st for $60, two weeks ahead of the movie itself. However, that might be worth it if you want to acquaint your kids with the Ghostbusters universe or put an elaborate tribute on your desk. One thing’s for sure: LEGO won’t face the uproar that Hasbro did with its early Star Wars: The Force Awakens toys and games. Hasbro initially excluded Rey from some products despite her being the heroine, suggesting that it didn’t think boys would play with girl characters; clearly, that isn’t a problem here.
We ain’t afraid of no ghosts! First look at the official images of LEGO @Ghostbusters Ecto-1&2 coming this summer! pic.twitter.com/j8iAdV0lFr
— LEGO (@LEGO_Group) February 5, 2016
Source: LEGO (Facebook), (Twitter)
The Elephone M3 is a whole lot of phone for just $200
Another great deal from gearbest.com brings you an ultra powerful device for just $199.99. Elephone has been on a roll with devices that defy the laws of pricing and smartphones. The Elephone Vowney is an Android device that comes with a super powerful processor with a 4k display for less than $350. $270 gets you Android 6.0 in the Elephone P9000 with ultra powerful specs as well.
The lines between flagship, budget and mid-range have definitely been blurred.
The Elephone M3 is up for pre-order on gearbest.com with no sales tax, free shipping and a full 45-day satisfaction guarantee for just $199.99. Don’t like it then ship it back. Unlocked phones like these are designed to work on GSM networks globally and are compatible with the AT&T and T-Mobile networks.
Gearbest.com
Main Features:
Elephone M3 5.5 inch 4G Phablet Android 5.1 MTK6755 Octa Core 2.0GHz Fingerprint Sensor 3GB RAM 32GB ROM 8.0MP + 21.0MP Cameras 1080P 2.5D Screen OTG Type-C
Display: 5.5 inch 1920 x 1080 1080p 2.5D screen
CPU: MTK6755 ( Helio P10 ) Octa Core 2.0GHz
GPU: Mali-T860MP2
System: Android 5.1 ( Will be upgraged to Android 6.0 soon )
RAM + ROM: 3GB RAM + 32GB ROM
Camera: Front camera 8.0MP OV8858 with 84 degree wide angle + Rear camera Sony IMX230 21.0MP with auto focus and double color temperature flashes
Touch ID: By pushing fingerprint sensor area, you can unlock your phone and enter into your app, safe and considerate design to protect your privacy and account security
Bluetooth: 4.0
GPS: GPS, A-GPS, GLONASS
Sensor: G-sensor, P-sensor, Light-sensor, Accelerometer, Hall sensor, E-compass
Features: Quick charge, Type-C interface
SIM Card: Dual SIM dual standby, dual micro SIM cards
Network:
WiFi: 802.11 a/b/g/n, 2.4G/5G WiFi
2G: GSM 850/900/1800/1900MHz
3G: WCDMA 850/900/1900/2100MHz
4G: FDD-LTE 800/1800/2100/2600MHz
The post The Elephone M3 is a whole lot of phone for just $200 appeared first on AndroidGuys.
AIVAnet 