New ‘Star Trek’ has a showrunner from the final frontier
Star Trek fans have had a tumultuous last few months. But it seems that amid the recent ups and downs (a fan film getting shut down by CBS and Paramount most definitely qualifies as the latter), news of the upcoming streaming exclusive finding a showrunner with Trek in his blood should ideally register as a win. Whether you count yourself among the Rodenberry faithful or are just a TV addict, the name should ring a bell: Bryan Fuller. He wrote for Deep Space Nine and Voyager in addition to working outside of the final frontier where he’s been a scribe and executive producer on the criminally short-lived Hannibal.
He also has creator credits for Dead Like Me and Pushing Daisies on his resumé and is adapting Neil Gaiman’s American Gods for Starz. So yeah, his history as both a geek and a creator of some seriously well-regarded TV checks out. Of course, if you want to watch how his greater vision for Trek fares next year, a $6 per-month subscription to All Access is still a requirement.
Source: CBS
‘Rocket League’ reaches your Xbox One on February 17th
PC and PS4 owners have been playing Rocket League‘s unique take on sports gaming since last July, leaving Xbox One owners on the virtual sidelines. Don’t worry, though — you won’t have to twiddle your thumbs for much longer if you prefer Microsoft’s console. Psyonix has revealed that the Xbox One version of Rocket League will arrive on February 17th for a fairly reasonable $20. You’ll get three past downloadable content packs for free in exchange for the wait, and there will be two Xbox-exclusive vehicles, including the Gears of War-based Armadillo and a variant on Halo‘s Warthog.
If you’re not familiar, Rocket League is effectively soccer (aka football) in souped-up, rocket-powered vehicles. The allure is that it somehow manages to recreate the spirit of the real, on-foot sport while speeding things up — there’s nothing quite like a well-coordinated play or flipping your car to score in mid-air. The title requires a ton of skill to play well, but it’s accessible and fiercely competitive.
Source: Xbox Wire
DraftKings loses its exclusive ESPN ad deal
Things keep getting worse for DraftKings, the embattled daily fantasy sports site. Not only is it currently under investigation (or already banned) by a number of state attorney generals for violating online gambling statutes and losing payment processing partners, Yahoo Finance reported on Tuesday that it’s losing a deal to be the exclusive daily fantasy advertiser on ESPN.
This deal, which was inked in June — after a previously-reported investment by Disney didn’t materialize — made DraftKings “the official daily fantasy sports offering across ESPN’s platforms” including “integration into digital properties and television programming.” The exclusivity clause kicked in at the start of January, but now it’s already done.
Not only that, Twenty-First Century Fox Inc. also revealed that it is devaluing its $160 million investment in DraftKings by a whopping 60 percent. Fox bought 11 percent of the company back in July. At that time DraftKings was on the verge of raising $500 million in funding and was valued at roughly $2 billion. That all changed once the various investigations into violations of state gambling laws began. In light of those investigations, Fox cut the amount it’s willing to give by $95 million “based on information concerning DraftKings’ current valuation in a recent financing transaction.” While the news is bad for DraftKings here in the states, the company is hedging its bets by expanding overseas to the UK where gambling on sports isn’t just legal, it’s actively encouraged.
Source: Boston Globe, Yahoo!
10 reasons why Android is still better than iOS
Back in 2013 we wrote “10 reasons why Android is still better than iOS”. Three years later, almost all these points remain the same, and for those that we feel are no longer relevant, new reasons arose to take their place.
It has been a good year for Android, considering the latest reports mention it has an 84.7% market share (as of Q3 2015), but with a bunch of competitors waiting in the wings there’s no time to rest on laurels. So in 2016, what are the ten top reasons we feel that Android champions over iOS?
Let’s jump in and take a look.
Devices… devices everywhere!
There is something for everyone on the Android platform. The sheer variety of Android smartphones from manufacturers like Samsung, HTC, Sony, Motorola, LG, Huawei, ZTE, and others is staggering. You can get a compact phone, something with a huge touchscreen, a stylus, a rotating camera, an edge screen, or even a physical keyboard such as found on the Blackberry Priv. Niche demands like dual SIM are catered for, and the flagship devices are on the cutting edge when it comes to specs. There’s also features you just can’t get with Apple’s devices, like microSD and removable battery. Yes, some Android manufacturers have moved away from offering these extras, but the nice thing about options is there are manufacturers that still do.
The same story exists largely for the tablet market too, with all sorts of different devices from the Pixel C to the Nexus 9, Xiaomi’s tablets, Honor’s tablets, Samsung Note tablets, and the list goes on.
Attracting a huge range of manufacturers and giving them license to run amok in terms of imagination has resulted in the widest variety of devices on any platform, even blurring the line between smartphone and tablet. Compared to the limited iPhone and iPad lineup, Android represents choice on a grand scale.
See also: Best Android phones (January 2016)
Sure, Apple has a few sizes to offer, but size is really the only differentiator there. The iPhone 6S and iPhone 6S Plus, for example, have pretty much most of the same specs with the main difference being screen size and resolution. The same general argument applies to the iPads, even though there are more choices than with the smartphone counterparts.
Prices to fit your needs
This naturally follows on from the first point on our list. A wide variety of devices with different designs and specs means that Android has something for you at just about any budget. The exclusive nature of Apple’s products is in stark contrast to the inclusive nature of Android. Almost anyone can afford an Android phone. It might not be all-singing and dancing, but there are solid budget options that give people a true smartphone experience.
This is even more true in 2016 than it was when we first created this list in 2013. Not only do you have the Moto G line, but there’s the Honor 5X, a variety of BLU devices, OnePlus X and OnePlus 2, and even low-cost flagships like the Moto X Pure Edition and Nexus 5X. In contrast, the iPhone and iPad are prohibitively expensive for many, but a budget Android device doesn’t need to cost much more than an old feature phone. And if you can afford to spend somewhere in the $150 to $300 ballpark, you can find a handset that gives a near flagship-level experience with just a few concessions in order to keep pricing down.
See also: Best cheap Android phones (January 2016)
Affordability has been a key driver for Android dominance worldwide and it continues to be. If you want premium devices that match and surpass the iPhone or iPad then you can find them, but if you want a budget device, then Android is really your only choice.
Customization
One of the strong points of Android has always been the level of customization it allows. While Apple wants to keep control of default apps in order to maintain a homogenous software and hardware experience, Android lets you pick your own level of customization. This extends all the way from simple things like live wallpapers, to alternative keyboards, to custom ROM installs.
Detractors will always say only hardcore geeks care about this level of customization, but at the shallow end of the pool this isn’t true. Plenty of iOS users loved it when Apple started allowing third-party keyboards and basic widgets, and that on its own is proof that this flexibility is what people want.
Some manufacturers are even allowing complex hardware customization. Motorola has Moto Maker, LG has replaceable leather back plates, as does Xiaomi. Those are just a few examples of something Apple will never do for you. Consider yourself lucky to have champagne gold and rose gold available… that is pretty revolutionary for Apple.
Widgets?
Android’s widgets have long been a feather in its cap compared to the static rows of icons you find in iOS. Even Microsoft saw the advantage, developing the Live Tiles system for Windows Phone. Widgets are still a major advantage for Android over iOS. Simply put, you can see all of the information you want at a glance on your home screen without having to fire up an app.
And yes, we know Apple introduced widgets last September. Have you seen those things? They are very limited and live only on your notification area. Not the same! Android still wins here.
Multi-tasking
You can argue iOS does multi-tasking all you want. And it’s true, you can do multiple things at once by switching apps back and forth, but that doesn’t even come near to the level of multi-tasking some Android phones offer.
Take Samsung as an example, which introduced multi-window long ago, in which you can view multiple apps at once. Plenty of other manufacturers have also been doing this for years, even if we will admit this is one area where stock Android lags behind.
Meanwhile, Apple is playing catch-up by adopting similar features, a change that took place in 2015. Most of Apple’s multi-tasking features also remain limited to the tablet realm for the time being, however, and by the time they really bring it to the next level, it’s fairly likely that even Google’s “stock” vision for Android will offer some form of multi-window navigation.
Launchers
Grab an iPhone, sit next to another iOS user and compare your home screens. Oh wait, they look exactly the same! That’s not the story with Android.
If you want control over how your Android smartphone or tablet looks then you’ve probably tried out a custom launcher. You can choose from a wide variety of custom launcher apps in Google Play and tweak everything from your home screen layout, to your page transitions, to effects and even gestures. There’s no risk involved with launcher apps and you can really open up a world of possibilities.
A launcher also is good for those instances where you love a handset but maybe aren’t so keen on the manufacturer’s custom interface. A launcher goes a long ways in these kinds of situations. And if you are the kind who enjoys the freedom of Android but actually lusts after the looks afforded by iOS or Windows — there’s even launchers that help you achieve a similar look and feel.
See also: 15 best Android launcher apps of 2015
Custom ROMs
You can actually replace the software that came with your device with a custom ROM if you want to. This is essentially installing a new operating system and many Android users do it because their carrier or manufacturer is slow to upgrade to the latest version of the Android platform, but you may also do it for better performance or to gain access to some add-ons or tools. This is definitely the extreme end of Android customization and you need to exercise a little caution to ensure that you don’t run into trouble. That said, as long as you can follow a tutorial and your device is supported, the benefits can be enormous.
Hell, there’s even ways to install completely different operating systems on some Android devices, such as Ubuntu, Firefox OS, Sailfish, and the list goes on.
Google integration
Some years ago we discussed why Google and Android will prevail over Apple and iOS, and this specific topic is still one of the main reasons. Android devices integrate seamlessly with Google’s array of services. People are increasingly using their mobile devices to go online and Google is king of the web. Google Docs, Gmail, Google Drive, Google Maps, Google Music, Google+, Google Chrome…the list goes on, and Apple and iOS are not keeping up.
Sure, many Google services are now in iOS, but that deep level of integration simply isn’t there. And this is an important factor, because most of us use one or two… or three or 10 Google services. You want these to work seamlessly, and Android offers that.
Google Now
This stands out from the crowd of Google services and, while the excellent voice search has been rolled into the Google iOS app, there are elements of Google Now that you can only enjoy on Android. When we look to our technology to push things forward and offer real convenience boosts to daily life, the predictive and pre-emptive nature of Google Now as it seeks to fulfill your desires before you think to search, could be truly revolutionary.
Whether Google Now is better than Siri or not continues to be subjective, though. This is still a matter of preference, but here at Android Authority we believe Google Now is more straightforward and to the point, which is something we all look for when finding the right digital assistant. With Marshmallow, there’s also plenty of new functionality making its way over, such as Google Now on Tap.
More free apps and games!
It may be a double-edged sword, but you can’t escape the fact that there are more free apps and games on Android than there are on iOS. Sometimes ports of the same apps that carried a price tag on iOS are free on Android. There also seems to be a greater willingness to pursue the freemium or ad-supported model.
Sadly, this may be, at least partly, down to piracy concerns and, while more hits are being ported across, the ability to earn more from iOS development still means more high quality, premium apps and games release on iOS first. Android continues to dominate and we have seen a change here, but it remains one of Android’s biggest challenges.
See also: 15 best free Android apps
The industry moves fast, and so does Android
Bugs, lag, an ugly interface, a lack of apps – Android’s weaknesses have been systematically dealt with by a determined development team. The Android platform is unrecognizable compared with the first release and it continues to improve and evolve at a faster pace than the competition.
That big user base and the wide range of manufacturers producing Android devices can only drive further improvements to greater heights. While iOS stagnates, paralyzed by the “if it ain’t broke don’t fix it” school of thinking, Android continues to innovate and improve at a faster rate. Think about it. Android adopted NFC first, as well as fingerprint readers, and retina scanners, and mobile payments, and higher definition displays. The list goes on.
What’s important to you?
We’d love to hear why you think Android is better than iOS. Are your motives for choosing Android covered above or did something else attract you to the platform? Post a comment and let us know.
Apple Music on Sonos Officially Launching Tomorrow
Sonos today announced that Apple Music will be officially available on Sonos wireless speakers starting tomorrow, ending a two month beta testing period. Sonos customers across the world will be able to stream Apple Music content and directly access Apple Music features including For You, Radio, and My Music.
Over the course of the beta test, which started on December 15, Apple Music on the Sonos platform was tested by hundreds of thousands of listeners. Apple’s Eddy Cue commented on the beta test, calling it “great” and an “amazing listening experience.”
“The feedback from Apple Music members on Sonos during the beta period has been great,” said Eddy Cue, Apple’s senior vice president of Internet Software and Services. “Sonos plus Apple Music provides an amazing listening experience at home – and we’re excited to offer it to all Sonos customers starting tomorrow.”
Beginning Wednesday, February 10, streaming Apple Music on Sonos speakers can be done by selecting “Add Music Services” from a Sonos controller app, choosing the Apple Music icon, and logging into the service. An Apple Music subscription or free trial is required.
Apple Music on Sonos has been highly anticipated as it was noticeably absent from the system when Apple Music first launched on June 30. Sonos previously supported the direct streaming of Beats Music and promised to implement Apple Music support before the end of 2015.
Ahead of the announcement of official Apple Music support, Sonos conducted a study on the positive effects of music listening in the home using an Apple Music subscription paired with a Sonos sound system. The study found that families who regularly listened to music in the home spent 67 percent more time together and ate together more often, among other positive effects.
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StreetView VR brings Google Street View with Wikipedia overlays to the Gear VR
By far one of the coolest and most useful features of the modern age is Google Street View. It has taken mapping to the next level and nothing else comes close. However, StreetView VR plans to take things to an even higher level of amazing.
Google Street View can already be viewed in VR using the Google Cardboard, which is really cool, but not super useful. StreetView VR for the Samsung Gear VR and PC takes the normal Google Street View experience, but overlaps it with Wikipedia integration.
All of this is in VR remember, which makes it much more realistic than just seeing a flat image on a screen. However, since it is using the basic Google Street View as its source, the images technically aren’t in 3D, but still give a 360-degree view.
What makes it really cool is you can stay in the Gear VR and browse anywhere in the world while seeing it all in 360-degrees. Plus, the added bonus of actual information about landmarks around the world. You do all this by activating voice commands to say the location you want to travel to next. If a location is too difficult to pronounce or voice control just isn’t working right, you can always use the on-screen keyboard too.
What I find really cool is you can “travel with others” by sharing things with your friends or leading a group. You can even speak to other people with voice chat and more. This is definitely something you are going to want to try out for yourself if you own a Gear VR.
Source: StreetviewVR
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NASA’s space tourism posters will make you want to suit up
NASA’s Jet Propulsion Laboratory has a knack for space-themed travel posters. A little over a year ago, its “Exoplanet Travel Bureau” series made its debut with an homage to the iconic WPA prints of the 1930s. This year, the JPL commissioned Seattle-based design firm Invisible Creature to be part of a project/gift for staff. Invisible Creature designed three “travel posters” to be included in the “Visions Of The Future” 2016 calendar. Among the collection are visuals for a multi-planet tour, a stop at Mars and exploring Enceladus, Saturn’s icy moon.
The posters themselves are visually stunning, with bold graphics that are a trademark of Invisible Creature’s work. Since its start in 2006, the sibling duo of Don and Ryan Clark have created striking visuals for big companies like Target, T-Mobile and Live Nation on top of a wide-ranging portfolio of CD packages and music posters. Heck, they even have a smattering of toys they’ve designed.
The Clark brothers have family ties to NASA as their grandfather was an illustrator and graphic designer at NASA for more than 30 years. With this trio of 24 x 36 in. posters (also available in 10 x 14 in. sizes), major achievements of the space agency are highlighted as destinations of splendor. Whether its the Voyager taking advantage of a rare alignment of planets to capture sights of all four or human exploration of Mars, this set certainly has us considering suiting up. For those of you wanting to remain on Earth, the JPL will make the artowrk available as downloadable posters soon, but for now, you can purchase high-quality prints from the source link down below.
Via: The Verge
Source: Invisible Creature
Apple Music for Sonos comes out of beta tomorrow
Sonos started supporting Apple Music in the middle of December, but then it was technically in a beta. As of tomorrow morning, that beta label will be removed — the service is now fully supported by Sonos. In our experience, being in beta didn’t really hamper usage of Apple Music with Sonos in our experience, but it’s good to know that things should be even more stable than they already were. The company now covers pretty much every streaming music service you can think of, but of course you still need to use the official Sonos app to play music on your speakers (unless you’re using Google Play Music on an Android device). Still, given how good its newest speakers sound, it’s worth that slight frustration.
Beer-tracking app Untappd gets barcode scanning, hails an Uber
If you’re a dedicated beer geek, chances are you’re using the app Untappd to track your libations. For the unfamiliar, the mobile software allows you to log and rate beers while following what and where your friends are drinking. With a new update to the iOS version, the app is getting a load of new features. First, there’s a new barcode scanner that’ll make searching for beers you’re drinking a breeze. Rather than having to manually search, all you’ll have to do is point your phone’s camera at the barcode on a bottle or can.
When you’re ready to head out for the evening, you can hail a ride from Uber inside the app by selecting the venue you want to visit. After you select the option, destination info is automatically sent to the transportation app. Other new features include friends lists to keep your feed tidy, support for 3D Touch, the ability to tag friends in comments and more. The truckload of new stuff is only available in the iOS app for now, but Untappd says the features will make it Android soon enough.
Untappd merged with fellow alcohol app Next Glass last month. In doing so, the folks behind the beer app promised to deliver new features and updates on the regular. Today’s news is certainly a nice start to the partnership.
Source: Untappd
‘Huge’ Number of Mac Apps Open to Hijacking From Sparkle Updater Vulnerability
A pair of vulnerabilities in the framework that some Mac apps use to receive automatic updates leaves them open to man-in-the-middle attacks, according to a report from Ars Technica covering a security flaw that was first discovered by a security researcher named Radek in late January.
Apps that use a vulnerable version of Sparkle and an unencrypted HTTP channel for server updates are at risk of being hijacked to transmit malicious code to end users. The Sparkle framework is used by apps outside of the Mac App Store to facilitate automatic software updates.
Some of the affected apps are widely downloaded titles like Camtasia, Duet Display, uTorrent, and Sketch. A proof of concept attack was shared by Simone Margaritelli using an older version of VLC, which was recently updated to patch the flaw. The vulnerabilities were tested on both OS X Yosemite and the most recent version of OS X El Capitan.
A “huge” number of apps are said to be at risk, but as Ars Technica points out, it is difficult to tell exactly which apps that use Sparkle are open to attack. GitHub users have compiled a list of apps that use Sparkle, but not all use the vulnerable version and not all transfer data over non-secured HTTP channels.
Apps downloaded through the Mac App Store are not affected as OS X’s built in software update mechanism does not use Sparkle.
Sparkle has released a fix in the newest version of the Sparkle Updater, but it will take some time for Mac apps to implement the patched framework. Ars Technica recommends concerned users with potentially vulnerable apps installed avoid using unsecured Wi-Fi networks or do so only via a VPN.
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