Google Announces Cardboard SDK for iOS, ‘VR View’ Feature for Apps and Websites

Google today announced the launch of a Cardboard SDK for iOS developers, allowing them to more easily create native iPhone apps and experiences that will work with the Google Cardboard virtual reality viewer. The Cardboard SDK for iOS includes all of the features that are already available in the Android Cardboard SDK.

For those unfamiliar with Google Cardboard, it is a low-cost viewer designed to work with a range of smartphones from Android devices to iOS devices. The iPhone or other smartphone fits into the front of a viewer made from cardboard or another material, bringing virtual and augmented reality experiences to the user through apps.

Google is also debuting VR view, a feature that allows immersive content to be embedded into apps and websites. VR views transform 360 degree VR images or video into an interactive experience that can be viewed on a desktop computer (an example is available in Google’s blog post) or with a phone attached to a Cardboard viewer.

Travel apps may include turtle photos, but they’re nothing like diving into the open ocean. Real estate websites may include descriptions of the dining room, but it’s nothing like actually touring the home. For developers, having immersive elements in their apps and websites can be the difference between meh and magical. That’s why we’re introducing VR view–a quick and easy way to embed immersive content on Android, iOS and the web.

The Cardboard SDK for iOS and the tools for creating VR views are available starting today.

Tags: Google, Google Cardboard
Discuss this article in our forums

Disney Not Planning Additional Updates to ‘Disney Infinity 3.0’ for Apple TV

When the Apple TV launched, Disney sold (and continues to sell) a $100 Disney Infinity 3.0 Star Wars-themed bundle that included a Disney Infinity Base and controller designed to work with the Disney Infinity 3.0 game on the Apple TV, encouraging people to adopt Disney Infinity 3.0 on the set-top box.

At the time, Disney promised to bring the full Disney Infinity 3.0 Edition console experience to the device, but it appears Disney is reneging on that promise, abandoning development of Disney Infinity 3.0 on the Apple TV.

According to a recent customer service response shared by our sister site TouchArcade, Disney currently has no plans to update the Apple TV version of the Disney Infinity 3.0 app. The response was given to a customer who asked if new Disney Infinity figures would work with the Apple TV.

The team is currently focusing on the traditional gaming platforms. We are always evaluating and making changes, but there are currently no plans for futher updates to the Apple TV version of the game. Please keep an eye out for further news about this, and feel free to contact Support if you have any questions.

Disney Infinity enthusiasts who use the Apple TV app are understandably upset about Disney’s decision not to update the game after just four months, as it means development has effectively come to a halt and no new characters will be supported, including new Marvel Battleground figures which some people purchased before learning of the incompatibility issue. It also means Disney has no plans to fix bugs that are currently affecting the tvOS app.

As TouchArcade points out, Disney may have made this decision due to poor app sales and revenue generation on the Apple TV. Games and apps have not proven to be as popular on the new platform as they are on iOS, with some popular Apple TV games even bringing in less than $100 per day.

Disney has updated its Disney Infinity website with a new disclaimer noting not all content is available for PC, Steam, iPhone, iPad, Windows, Amazon, Google Play, and Apple TV. The latest Marvel Battlegrounds figures are compatible only with PlayStation 3 and 4, Wii U, Xbox One, and Xbox 360.

Tags: Disney, Disney Infinity 3.0
Discuss this article in our forums

First iPhone SE Teardown Reveals Mix of iPhone 5s, 6, and 6s Components

With the iPhone SE now available in several countries, the first teardown of the device has been conducted by Chipworks. As expected, the device uses a hodgepodge of components sourced from several past iPhones, including the iPhone 5, 6, and 6s, leading Chipworks to say “this is not your typical Apple release.”

There are very few new parts, but that hardly means there is no innovation. As is the genius of Apple and its fearless leader, Mr. Cook, it is the combination of all the right parts that make a successful product. Finding that just-right balance of old and new, and at such a low cost, is no easy feat.

The processor inside the iPhone SE is indeed the same A9 processor found in the iPhone 6s, and the part in the iPhone SE Chipworks took apart was labeled with an APL1022 part number from a TSMC facility. It includes SK Hynix memory, which Chipworks says is likely the same 2GB LPDDR4 DRAM module found in the iPhone 6s.

The date codes might actually tell a story: the decapped application processor chip is dated 1535, Aug/Sep last year, so it was sitting in inventory for a while; the memory is 1549, last December; and presumably the whole package-on-package was assembled this year at the end of January.

The NFC chip is the NXP 66V10, the same used in the iPhone 6s, and the 6-axis sensor is from InvenSense and was also used in the iPhone 6s.

The Qualcom MDM9625M modem and the accompanying transceiver were originally found in the iPhone 6, and the Audio ICs, which Chipworks thinks were designed by Cirrus Logic, came from the iPhone 6s.

While many parts were originally from the iPhone 6 or 6s, the touch screen controller components (Broadcom BCM5976 and Texas Instruments 343S0645) were originally used in the iPhone 5s.

There are a few new components in the iPhone SE, including a “338S00170 device,” which Chipworks says is “very likely a new Apple/Dialog power management IC,” along with a Skyworks SKY77611 power amplifier module, a 16GB Toshiba NAND flash module, an EPCOS D5255 antenna switch module, and an AAC Technologies microphone.

Additional information about the iPhone SE will come out as Chipworks continues on with its teardown and as other companies like iFixit conduct their own device teardowns. The iPhone SE will be available in the United States starting tomorrow, March 31.

Related Roundup: iPhone SE
Tag: Chipworks
Discuss this article in our forums

Google VR View makes it easier to embed 360-degree photos on sites

Google has just done something that will make virtual reality more accessible.

Virtual reality has been a hot topic for some time now, but it still has a very long way to go before everyone can easily experience the trending technology. Google offers a budget headset, called Cardboard, that attempts to make it more affordable for everyday people to access, and indeed, more than 5 million Cardboard viewers have been shipped, though it still takes a bit of effort to use Cardboard and thus experience VR.

In order to engage with VR content, you need to have a VR headset and use a dedicated VR app that supports said headset. This process restricts discovery because users are limited in what they can view and how (plus developers have to take on the expense of creating full-blown VR apps in order to showcase VR content). Well, Google’s latest initiative, called VR View, is a new tool that’s about to change all that for everyone.

VR View makes VR content more simple to implement, discover, and view. It’s a tool that developers can use to embed 360-degree photos into not only apps but also websites. With this tool, VR photos should become something just about everyone can easily access, as it lets you click a button in your browser or tap a photo in an app in order to jump into an immersive experience.

With a few lines of code, developers can add VR content to their website or apps, allowing them to show off whatever their heart desires. Vogue could uniquely show off the latest looks on the runway online, or Ikea could offer engulfing demos of products. The possibilities are endless. To complement this tool, Google is also adding iOS support to the Cardboard SDK.

Google is making it way simpler for developers to embed VR content their sites and native apps as well as giving Cardboard users better ways to find and view that content. It is therefore once again pushing VR innovation/adoption.

Oculus Rift teardown reveals an easy-to-fix VR headset

Now that the finished version of the Oculus Rift is here, you might be wondering what’s inside and how easily you can replace parts if something goes terribly wrong. You won’t have to guess after today, though: the repair-it-yourself crew at iFixit has torn down the virtual reality headset. The production model isn’t quite as easy to fix as the original developer version due to its “intricate design,” but it’s still accessible — if an earpiece breaks, you might have a chance at replacing it on your own.

There aren’t any big surprises inside, but the teardown is also a surprisingly effective way of learning about some of the mechanics involved in making VR work. It explains why the Rift’s lenses are so oddly shaped (to increase immersion and alleviate eye strain), and why it’s so easy to slip the headset on (springs in the headband). While we’re still in the early days of high-end VR, it’s evident that Oculus is aware of many of the potential problems.

Source: iFixit

These are the hoverboards you can still buy – CNET

Even though they don’t actually hover and they’re prone to fires, hoverboards are still as popular as ever. But good luck heading out to buy them; retailers are dropping them left and right over safety concerns — I’m sure you’ve heard of at least one of the many reports of boards catching fire or exploding.

While you can still find cheap models online, Amazon, Toys R Us and Target pulled self-balancing scooter boards (their more accurate name) from shelves. And because of an import ban that’s stopping many models from arriving in the US, they’re even harder to come by.

A note about safety

Many companies making these boards are working with the US Consumer Product Safety Commission to ensure they’re safe. The biggest concerns are with the batteries used in these scooters, which are prone to overheat and catch fire. Underwriters Laboratory, the independent testing and safety organization, announced that it’s accepting hoverboards for inspections and safety certification.

Getting UL certification means a scooter’s battery and other parts are safe. No models have been certified yet, but several manufacturers have submitted their models. Hopefully that means we’ll soon know for sure which boards to buy and which ones to steer clear of. Until then, there’s no definitive way to know.

If you’re adamant about getting a self-balancing scooter right now (and we don’t advise you do until future notice), there are a few legitimate places still selling them.

Visualizing the new UL hoverboard tests (pictures)

1 – 5 of 9

Next
Prev

Stick with manufacturer’s websites

The big names in hoverboards, PhunkeeDuck, IOHawk, Swagway and Monorover, are still selling their scooter boards directly from their websites. Until they’re certified, there’s no guarantee these boards are safe, but these companies offer warranties in case of disasters.

• Phunkeeduck sells one model for $1,499and it comes in eight colors. The company claims its batteries and chargers are UL certified, but they did not respond when asked about whether the board was submitted for UL certification.
• IO Hawk offers several scooter boards, starting at $1,299. They did not respond when asked about UL certification.
• Swagway’s X1 model starts at $399 and the company ensures that its boards meet current safety standards.
• Monorover is selling its R2 model for $499 and says it’s submitted its board to the UL for inspection. The company’s batteries and chargers are also UL-certified.

Steer clear of eBay

Though it’s tempting to pick up a cheap board from eBay, it’s not smart to buy a no-name board from a seller on the site. Many of the boards you’ll find there don’t come with warranties and there’s no way to know if the board’s batteries are safe to use, despite whatever claims sellers make (and no, a Samsung battery label isn’t a guarantee of safety for hoverboards).

Self-balancing scooters can and have caused fires and injuries. Saving some cash on a cheaper version is not worth the risk. For more information about self-balancing scooters, check out CNET’s guide to buying a hoverboard.

How to estimate your tax refund – CNET

With the calendar soon turning to April, it’s time for all procrastinators to start thinking about filing their taxes.

This year, you have until Monday, April 18 to submit your tax return, thanks to Emancipation Day, a Washington DC holiday that falls on Friday, April 15 this year. And residents of Maine and Massachusetts have until Tuesday, April 19 to get in their returns, thanks to Patriots Day on April 18.

A bracket apart from March Madness

With any math problem, it’s a good idea to get a rough estimate of the answer before you begin your calculations. There are a number of free calculators available online that can give you a quick ballpark figure of your federal tax return or liability. Before you obtain that ballpark figure, however, it’s useful to know in which ballpark you are playing. That is, in which tax bracket your income places you.

The IRS lists federal tax rates for 2015, along with personal exemptions and standard deductions. If you know what the tax rate is for your taxable income, you will have a general idea of the amount of taxes you are required to pay.

Begin calculation

Of course, you can lower the amount your owe by claiming exemptions and deductions. To get a more accurate accounting, check out one of the many online tax calculators available online, from H&R Block, TurboTax and others.

Enlarge Image

Screenshot by Matt Elliott/CNET

With a tax calculator, you’ll get a more accurate picture of your income tax situation if you sit down with your W-2s and other tax documents. You should have these files organized and at the ready anyway, with tax day approaching.

Info needed for tax estimate

A tax calculator will start by asking for your Filing Status, whether you are filing individually, married filing jointly or otherwise. You will then need to enter your age or date of birth and if someone can claim you as a dependent.

Next, you’ll enter information about your income, likely starting with the figure in Box 1 of your W-2, your taxable wages. Look to Box 2 of your W-2 when asked for your total federal withholding. You can do the same for your spouse if you are filing jointly, and you’ll also be able to enter income earned from other sources, including interest and dividends from any investments

After entering your income, you can start knocking down the amount you owe or, better yet, increasing your refund by tabulating your expenses from last year, including deductions, credits and exemptions. Things like tuition payments, mortgage interest and real estate taxes, medical expenses, charitable donations and retirement contributions.

I played around with a handful of tax calculators and found those from H&R Block and TurboTax to be the most thorough and easy to use. And both seemed to be fairly accurate; their estimates were within $1,000 of one another and also close to what I paid last year in taxes. If I had to point you to one tax calculator, I’d go with TurboTax for the sliders its calculator provides for easy data entry. TurboTax also offers its TaxCaster free tax refund calculator as a mobile app for iOS and for Android, if using your phone or tablet to estimate your tax bill is less daunting than sitting down at your computer.

You can now text to an AI bot with Skype on Android

As part of Microsoft’s Build 2016 developer conference, the company is updating its Skype messaging app for Android with a preview version of its bot support. The new feature will allow users to chat with an AI bot in via text messaging.

These bots will in the future allow Skype users to do things like order pizza, book hotels and more. Microsoft says:

Skype Bots will come to life through messaging today, and in the future will be available for audio and video calling as well. Each Bot will enhance your Skype experience in its own way, bringing a new dimension into your everyday Skype chats by helping turn your ideas and plans into actions.

Microsoft showed off a preview of how Skype bots will work in a video chat during the Build 2016 keynote. You can learn more about Microsoft’s plans for Skype bots at Windows Central.

The best gamepads for the Samsung Gear VR

If you’re getting a Gear VR, you might want to get your hands on a controller.

Gaming on the Gear VR is a fantastic experience, right until you feel like your arm is going to fall off from holding it up to the D-Pad on the side of the headset for an hour. There’s only so much Gunjack you can play in that position, and beyond shooting enemies from your space turret there are several games that require a gamepad to start playing. There’s no shortage of Bluetooth gamepads for Android, but with your eyes unable to see your fingers you should be a little pickier about what you are gripping when gaming in VR.

Here’s a quick look at our top choices for Gear VR gamepads.

SteelSeries Free

This is the best all-around gamepad for the Gear VR. It’s compact enough to toss in a bag with your Gear VR or slide in your pocket, but all of the buttons are easily identifiable with your fingers. You can run your thumb over the action buttons and feel the numbers to easily identify them, and the bumpers on the top of the controllers are plenty tactile. It’s a great all-around gamepad for the Gear VR, and for $30 you aren’t spending a whole lot for the addition to your experience.

See at Amazon

Beboncool mini controller

If portability is the most important thing to you, Beboncool is where you want to look. This controller can be clipped onto your keyring, and when you want the controller for the Gear VR you’ll have everything you need. The buttons are etched so you can feel them with your thumb, but the icons aren’t uniform so it’s less obvious which button is where. You’re compromising comfort for portability, but the end result is a controller that is always on you when you want to game.

See at Amazon

GameSir G3s

Portability and easy key location are important, but if you’re used to a specific look and feel to a controller that may be the most significant part of the experience for you. The controller design of the GameSir G3s is undeniably similar to the PS4 controller, and that familiarity is significant when you can’t just look down at the controller. This controller also includes a bracket to hold your phone when not using the Gear VR, so you can use it for just about everything.

See at Amazon

SteelSeries Stratus XL

The folks at SteelSeries have a long history of quality controllers for mobile platforms, and the Stratus XL kicks that up a notch. It’s an Xbox One-style controller for just about everything, supporting Steam Big Picture and the Gear VR at the same time. It’s not exactly portable compared to the other controllers SteelSeries makes, but the comfort and capability of this controller makes it an incredible choice for just about anything.

See at Amazon

8BITDO NES30

Forget portability, comfort, battery longevity, or tactile response when in the Gear VR. This controller looks like an amazing hybrid of a classic Nintendo controller and a Wii Pro Controller (not to be confused with the much better Wii U Pro Controller). It looks neat, and is compatible with Android. That’s basically the only reason to consider this controller over the others. For some folks that’s enough, and that’s okay!

See at Amazon

Samsung Gear VR

• Gear VR review
• Five Gear VR games that shouldn’t be missed
• Inside Samsung’s Gear VR web browser
• Gear VR vs. Google Cardboard
• Where to buy Gear VR

Amazon AT&T Best Buy Samsung

Where to buy the DJI Phantom 4

Drones have grown in popularity over the past few years, and each time a new one comes out they just continue to get better. DJI is one of the top drone brands, and its latest release, the Phantom 4, pushes the limits yet again. The Phantom 4 release date for most retailers is Friday, April 1st. With the Phantom 4, you gain auto takeoff and auto return home with GPS technology, touch to fly so you can simply tap a location on the controller and the drone will fly there, and more. DJI has put 4K cameras in other drones, like the Phantom 3 Pro, and the video results are stunning.

It’s capable of capturing 30 fps with a 12MP sensor anad a f/2.8 lens. Coupling all of that technology with the built-in gimbal stabilization technology, you are able to get crisp and clear shots, and some simply breathtaking video. Below is a sample from the Phantom 3 Pro, which also offers 4K recording.

With all of this new technology built-in, and the additional features that DJI has included, the price tag has been bumped up a bit over the other ones. This time around, you are looking at around $1,400 to have a Phantom 4 for yourself. If that price doesn’t bother you, let’s take a look at some of the places you can buy one for yourself.

Amazon

Amazon is a trusted retailer for many, and its awesome Prime benefits make shopping there a no brainer. Priced at $1,399, Amazon includes free shipping, though the packages will require a signature due to the value of the product. Signing up for, or using, an Amazon.com Store Card will also give you the option to pay it off over 12 months interest free.

See at Amazon

Apple

Apple got the early sales exclusive on this drone, so the company has been selling it for a little bit already. If you are local to an Apple Store, or just happen to be partial to making as many purchases from them as possible, you can check local inventory or order one online now.

See at Apple

Best Buy

If you need that instant gratification, Best Buy may be the retailer for you, depending where you live. Some Best Buy locations will have limited availability of the Phantom 4 at launch. If you want to make sure one is for you, hit the link below and select the in store pickup option from the website.

See at Best Buy

B&H Photo

B&H Photo is known for shipping quickly, and with the Phantom 4 the company is including expedited shipping free of charge. That’s right, you pay the $1,399, they pay the shipping. For those in New York, you can check the retail location as it will have limited availability of the drone at launch.

See at B&H

Drone World

Drone World is an online retailer that specializes in all things drone. From hardware to accessories, you can get just about anything you may need from them, and the Phantom 4 is no exception. The retailer is offering it for the base price of $1,399, and they are also offering a number of upgrades. From a wheeled carrying case to more storage for saving your video, you can grab it all at the time of purchase from Drone World.

See at Drone World

DJI

Sometimes you just want to go to the official source to make your purchase, and DJI’s store is the one for that. The company is offering it for the same price, but also has a nice bundle option that can be purchased if you are interest. For $2,100, the company is including two spare batteries and a Phantom backpack for traveling with it.

See at DJI

So, does the Phantom 4 interest you at all, or is it priced out of your budget? Let us know your thoughts, and where you will be making your purchase in the comments!