Google Photos gets some much-needed editing tools

When Google broke Photos out from Google+, there were a lot of benefits — a canny search algorithm, unlimited storage for compressed photos and more. One thing that got lost, however, was the Snapseed-based photo editing tool in G+ that gave users a decent option to Adobe’s Photoshop (Snapseed is still available as a standalone Android app, though). In the latest web-based version of Photos, Google has made some much-needed improvements to the editing tools.

For one thing, while you’re making edits, you can move between images and the system will save any changes. When you’re ready, you just have to hit “Done” or “Revert to Original” if you decide not to keep the tweaks. There’s also a new aspect ratio selector that lets you crop exactly to the original size, square, 4:3 or 16:9. So far, the tweaks haven’t appeared in the Photos smartphone apps, but it seems like a no-brainer that they’ll arrive there soon.

Source: Google+

Fast Voice Assistant App ‘Hound’ Comes to iOS, Takes on Siri

A new voice search and personal assistant app called Hound debuted on iOS yesterday that apparently outperforms Siri, Google Search and Cortana in terms of speed and recognition accuracy.

Developed by the creators of music-recognition app SoundHound, the new app provides extremely fast responses to complex, nested natural language queries with highly accurate results and location-based suggestions.

Hound uses a simple single-button interface similar to the Google Search app for users to tap and ask a question. Alternatively, users can say “Ok, Hound” to initiate a query, which can broach a multitude of subjects, including weather, GPS navigation, directions, Uber, web searches, and local hotel, bar and restaurant queries.

As well as stock price, flight status, date, time, alarm and timer requests, users can also activate a Shazam-style music recognition feature called “SoundHound Now”, which also responds to sung and hummed queries.

Many of the queries are already handled by Apple’s voice-activated personal assistant Siri, however it is Hound’s reaction speed, language translation and search accuracy that make the app particularly noteworthy, according to The Verge.

The app is so fast that it can produce near real-time translations of whole sentences in other languages, and it can spit back mounds of requested data faster than you could ever possibly glean it from Google with a keyboard.

[…]

The software’s true appeal is understanding questions within questions and sussing out human context. You can give it sprawling, absurd requests nested inside other requests like, “What is the population and capitals of Japan and China, their area in square miles, and the population of India, and the area codes of France, Germany, and Spain?” and Hound will give you the information just seconds later.

The developers are apparently reluctant to disclose how the app is able to perform so well compared to competing voice-activated services. However, SoundHound CEO Keyvan Mohajer puts it down to a new “speech-to-meaning” language processing technique.

In essence, while other digital assistant software translates what you speak into text and tries to figure out what you said, Hound supposedly skips that step and deciphers your speech as it hears it.

Despite Hound’s impressive abilities, iOS users will take some convincing to adopt the app in replace of Siri, which comes baked into Apple’s operating system and can be voice-activated at any time without having to open an app.

Hound is a free download on the U.S. App Store and is compatible with iPhone and iPad.

Tags: App Store, Siri
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Vivo Xplay5 Elite is the world’s first smartphone with 6GB of RAM

Vivo has unveiled its flagship phones for 2016, the Xplay5 and Xplay5 Elite. The Xplay5 features the Snapdragon 652 SoC with a modest (relatively speaking) 4GB of RAM, while the Xplay5 Elite is the first smartphone in the world to offer 6GB of RAM.

The all-metallic Xplay5 Elite offers Qualcomm’s latest SoC, the Snapdragon 820, clocked at 2.15GHz. You also get a 5.43-inch Super AMOLED display with dual-curved edges, 128GB internal storage, 16MP camera with the same sensor that’s used in the Mi 5 (Sony IMX298) with phase detection autofocus and dual-tone LED flash, 8MP camera at the front, LTE, Hi-Fi 3.0 (2*ES9028+OPA1612), Wi-Fi ac, Bluetooth 4.2, and a 3600mAh battery. The phone comes with a fingerprint scanner at the back, and runs Vivo’s Funtouch OS 2.6 atop Marshmallow.

Other than the Snapdragon 652 and 4GB of RAM, the standard Xplay5 is identical to the Elite model when it comes to hardware, sharing the same screen, camera, storage, and battery. On the software front, however, it is running Android 5.1 Lollipop, with Funtouch OS 2.5.1 on top.

The Xplay5 Elite will launch in China on March 8 for 4,288 RMB ($655), while the Xplay5 will retail for 3,698 RMB ($565). No word as yet on availability outside of China, but with Vivo targeting emerging markets in Asia, it is likely we’ll see the Xplay5 make its debut in other regions shortly.

Source: Vivo; Via: GSMArena

Geneva Motor Show 2016 in pictures: Bugatti, Ferrari, Aston, Audi and more

Every March, the auto industry gathers on neutral ground in Switzerland, coming together for one giant huzzah of an event, showing off its latest wares and new ideas to woo car buyers of tomorrow.

Of all the international shows, Geneva tends to be the best. Best that is, in terms of the sheer number of launches of cars. And best as in everyone’s here and trying hard – we’re not in Germany or France, where home pride tends to take over and make things a distinctly nationalist affair.

Geneva has become the home of supercar’s too: Ferrari has launched nearly all of its recent important models here, and this year’s no different – with the clumsily named, but neatly designed GTC4Lusso making its debut. Not to be outdone in the horsepower stakes, rival Lamborghini celebrated its own birthday by wheeling out a Centenario concept, and the fastest car in the world – the Bugati Veyron – is dead, replaced by what’s likely to be the new fastest car in the world: the Bugatti Chiron.

It’s not just about the unobtainable though, there’s everyday family stuff here too in the form of a fun and brightly coloured new Renault Scenic, a Prius-rival from Hyundai, a new Seat SUV and Toyota’s segment-busting C-HR.

Check out what you’ll be driving later in the year and beyond, plus what you’ll be able to see double-parked outside Harrods shortly, by glossing your eyes over our favourites from the show.

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Shocking news for PS4 fans, Uncharted 4: A Thief’s End delayed again

The unthinkable has happened. PlayStation 4 owners will have to wait even longer to get their hands on Uncharted 4: A Thief’s End; it’s been delayed even further.

Thankfully though, Sony claims it is only a two week extension. The last two announced delays put the game back months each time. It was originally coming out in the latter part of 2015, then 18 March, then 26 April.

Extra development time to ensure the game is perfect was the reason cited at the time, with Neil Druckmann and Bruce Stanley, the directors at developer Naughty Dog, saying the game “deserves every bit of the attention to detail, precise pacing and nuanced storytelling Naughty Dog is known for”.

READ: Hanging around with Nathan Drake: Pocket-lint chats to Nolan North about gaming superstardom

Now it is coming out on 10 May instead, and Sony holds its own hands up for the latest delay: “In an effort to meet the considerable worldwide demand, and to ensure that all gamers worldwide have the opportunity to play the game on day one, we have chosen to postpone the launch of the game by two weeks to allow for extra manufacturing time,” it said on the PlayStation blog.

Thankfully, from everything we’ve seen so far, the wait will have been worth it. The game is shaping up very nicely indeed. And with No Man’s Sky scheduled for a June release, Uncharted 4 will now spearhead a potentially good late-spring, early-summer for PlayStation fans.

Nasa funding quiet supersonic jet, a friendly Concorde for everyone

Nasa has set its sights a little closer to earth for once as it begins plans to help make supersonic airliners a reality once again.

The world famous and now retired Concorde was the last supersonic jet to take paying passengers into the air. But it wasn’t sustainable and has now been in retirement since 2003. For those of you who thought you’d missed the chance at ever hitting supersonic speeds and breaking the sound barrier, it’s not too late.

Nasa has given funding to Lockheed Martin to begin the preliminary design work for a supersonic airliner. The $20 million of funding is aimed to get the early design and prototyping stages taken care of, then the real funding can begin.

This project, dubbed Quiet Super Sonic Technology, is part of Nasa’s New Aviation Horizons X-planes plan. The idea is to create a supersonic jet that doesn’t create a sonic boom as it breaks the sound barrier but more of a gentle thud. These should make them commercially more friendly to those living nearby.

These initial plans should get the project to creating half-size, piloted demo planes by around 2020. Then some serious funding needs to be injected so we can get these up and running commercially. You listening Richard Branson?

READ: DJI Phantom 4: The drone that won’t crash and sees everything

Xbox One update boosts Party Chat and lets you buy Xbox 360 games

For Microsoft and Sony, the start of a new month means it’s time to share new software updates. Sony’s already had its turn, announcing that Remote Play will soon make its way to PC and Mac, and now Microsoft has confirmed it’s deploying a patch with a number of frequently requested features.

One of the most notable additions is improved access to Xbox 360 games. Microsoft has allowed Xbox One gamers to play older titles on their console for a few months now, but finding and launching them can be a pain. With the new update, older-generation games will be listed in a similar way to digital Xbox One titles, making them easier to buy and download to your console.

Party Chat has been given a nice little overhaul too. It can now be used during Twitch broadcasts and there’s now the ability to listen to conversations through your headset and speakers at the same time. The Party Chat limit has been expanded from 12 to 16 people, which is either a blessing or a curse depending on what type of games you play.

Microsoft has also listened to gamers who are frustrated with having to jump between apps to check on their achievements. They’ll now be loaded into the Xbox One guide and videos will now be playable from your Activity Feed. On top of that, Microsoft is scrapping the hard 30 second limit on Game DVR recording and adding a number of new recording lengths. Footage can now be saved in 15 second, 30 second, 45 second, 1 minute, 3 minute or 5 minute clips.

If you’re a member of Microsoft’s Xbox One Preview program, you can download the update today. Everyone else will have to wait for it roll out over the next few weeks.

Source: Major Nelson

Pictures of Huawei’s dual-camera P9 surface

It seems like just last week we were at Mobile World Congress in Spain checking out all the new phones. Oh wait, that was last week. Then why in the hell didn’t Huawei show off the P9 handset there instead of having a leaker steal its thunder? The world may never know, but VentureBeat has photographic evidence of the new handset and some of its key specs, regardless.

This flagship phone will apparently hit before June, sports a 5.2-inch chassis with twin 12-megapixel cameras (similar to Huawei’s previous Honor 6 Plus) and a Nexus 6P-ish fingerprint reader on the rear. It sounds like there might be more than one version of the device: a standard and then one with slightly higher internal specs — a custom Kirin 955 system-on-a-chip with 4GB of RAM versus a Kirin 950 with 3GB of RAM, for instance. Android 6.0.1 Marshmallow is on tap as well.

Now about all that’s left are pricing and availability, which noted leaker Evan Blass says should clear up by the second quarter of this year. Want an even closer look? Check out the source link below.

Via: Android Police

Source: VentureBeat

Scosche’s GoBat 6000 rugged battery is tough enough to meet anyone’s demands (review)

Scosche is one of the most well established mobile accessory makers today, getting its start in 1980 in beautiful Southern California. It has won countless awards for many of its

Android Pay explained: How does it work and where is it available?

You now have yet another way to pay for goods from your mobile device.

This new mobile payment solution is a little more exciting than some of the others though, because it’s coming from Google. It’s called Android Pay, and Google first unveiled it last May. Four months later it began to roll out Android Pay across the US. The launch occurred gradually, and Google said it had plans to continue expanding it as well as add more features, banks, and stores.

According to The Telegraph, Google will finally launch Android Pay in the UK sometime by the end of March 2016.

Here’s everything we know so far about Android Pay…

Android Pay: What is Android Pay?

It’s a mobile wallet that can store your credit cards, debit cards, loyalty cards, etc. If that sounds a lot like Google Wallet, it’s because Android Pay is the new Google Wallet (only it’s supposed to be better, more convenient, and secure).

Android Pay: How does Android Pay work?

Setup

Look for the Android Pay app on your phone. It is preloaded on several devices, but you can also simply download it from Google Play.
Add a credit or debit card within the app. If you already have a card in your Google account, you can add it to Android Pay by confirming a few details. If you’re adding a new card from any participating bank, simple snap a picture via the app.
That’s it. Simply unlock your phone and tap to use Android Pay at any contactless payment terminal.

Physical stores

When Google first unveiled Android Pay, it said you would be able to pay for goods by simply unlocking your Android phone like you normally do (which also enables Android Pay to authenticate your transaction), then placing it near a merchant’s contactless terminal, and that’s it.

You don’t even need to open an app to process a payment. It just lets you tap and go, and then you receive the confirmation/transaction details on your phone. Also, when you pay at select retailers, your loyalty points and offers will be auto-applied at checkout.

But let’s not forget Google is an advertising company that’s also in the business of making partnerships with other companies. So, you might also get special offers piped to your phone.

Apps

Google has also been working with developers to get a “Buy with Android Pay” button added to their apps, meaning you’ll be able to tap that button and swiftly checkout, rather than having to enter your credit card and shipping address each time you make a purchase.

It’s not yet clear which apps will be available with Android Pay support at launch, but Google said it’s been partnering with top payments processors (like Braintree, CyberSource, First Data, Stripe, and Vantiv) to make integration easy for developers.

According to Google’s Android Pay website, apps like Chipotle, Domino’s, Dunkin Donuts, Etsy, Groupon, GrubHub, JackThreats, Lyft, and OpenTable support Android Pay at launch.

Google

Android Pay: Which devices are compatible?

Android Pay works with all NFC-enabled Android devices running KitKat 4.4+. It currently supports any mobile carrier and tap-and-pay location across the US.

Android Pay: Does it require a fingerprint reader?

No. And that’s because many Android phone makers still need to integrate fingerprint reader into their devices. Android Pay therefore also accepts a PIN code, password, or pattern in order to authenticate a transaction.

Android Pay: Which banks are participating?

Android Pay works with your credit and debit cards from the following US financial institutions:

• • • American Express, Discover, MasterCard, and Visa. These cards are issued by the following US banks and credit unions: American Express, Bank of America, Discover, Navy Federal Credit Union, PNC, Regions Bank, USAA, US Bank, Citi, Wells Fargo, and Capital One.

Android Pay: Which stores let you use Android Pay?

Simply put: You can use Android Pay anywhere you can use Apple Pay (or any place with a contactless terminal). Google said it works across 1 million US locations, including everywhere tap-and-pay payments are accepted, such as:

Google

Google’s Android Pay website has a list of stores – and it includes Best Buy, Game Stop, McDonald’s Petco, etc.

Android Pay: What about Google Wallet?

The New York Times said Google Wallet might be revamped as as a peer-to-peer payment app like Square.

Google hasn’t commented on that report, but if you’re an existing Google Wallet user, it said you’ll be able to access Android Pay through an update to your Wallet app.

Android Pay: Is Android Pay secure?

Theoretically, yes.

Google said it was working with leading payment networks and financial institutions in the US to deliver industry-standard security tokenisation. With tokenisation, the retailer receives a newly-generated, 16-digit virtual number instead of your actual account number. So, should there be another major credit card data breach at a retailer, you’ll at least know your card is safe.

Android Pay’s tokenisation is different from Apple Pay’s in that tokens aren’t generated in a secure chip within the phone but rather within the cloud. But if you’re ever in a place without internet, Android Pay will apparently still be able to access some tokens that are stored on your device, thus allowing you to pay for your goods and be on your merry way. Simples.

Android Pay: When will Android Pay launch?

US

Android Pay is already available in the US. You can download it from Google Play. It will also come preinstalled on new NFC-enabled Android phones from AT&T, T-Mobile, and Verizon Wireless.

UK

According to The Telegraph, Google will finally launch Android Pay in the UK sometime by the end of March 2016.

Android Pay: Want to know more?

Check out Google’s Android Pay website for more details.