Infinite Arms mixes third-person action with real toys

Infinite Arms is a new title coming from Jumo, a game developer that includes veterans of games like Gears of War and toys like the Tamagotchi digital pets. Such a combination is fitting, because Infinite Arms is a toys-to-life game, much like Skylanders. You buy physical toys of the game’s characters, which can then be linked to your mobile device for use in the game itself.

From Polygon:

The combat-focused Infinite Arms, when it launches, will be free to play, Yano says. Like many free-to-play games, it will feature microtransactions — except the way that Jumo is approaching monetization is different than other notable mobile developers. Instead of offering players cosmetic options or more playtime at a cost, Jumo is selling them toys. Actual, articulated toys.

The toys themselves will connect to your device through Bluetooth, and players will be able to add new weapons to the physical toys which will then show up on the digital, in-game versions. Right now, Jumo is only revealing two of the figures, Skorpos and Ixion, though more are expected down the line. The figures will be available through Amazon, and the game will have links to purchase more toys and parts.

Infinite Arms is set to arrive on iOS and Android this summer.

Instagram adds a notification tab to its web interface

Instagram’s website has always felt like a bit of an afterthought. Sure, it works, with a feed and the ability to add likes and comments. But it’s never been as polished or as fully featured as the company’s mobile apps. Now, as TechCrunch notes, the web version is starting to catch up with the addition of an activity tab. Similar to the iOS and Android apps, this lists new followers, likes and users you might know through Facebook.

There is one key difference, however. Inside Instagram’s mobile apps, the activity tab is split into two sections: You and Following. The former is what’s shown on the web, however the latter — which lists what other users have been liking and following — is noticeably absent. It’s another reminder of the gap that exists between Instagram’s web and native apps. “Direct” messaging? Still not available on the web. Photo and video uploads? Still exclusive to the app on your phone or tablet.

Additions such as this one, however, are proof that Instagram hasn’t forgotten about its web interface completely. For serious photographers and social media managers, that’s a slither of hope to cling on to.

Source: TechCrunch

FBI leans on forensic software maker to crack terrorist iPhone

When the Department of Justice and FBI said they’d found another way to infiltrate San Bernardino terrorist Syed Rizwan Farook’s iPhone 5c without asking Apple to weaken its security, they raised a big question: just who was this “third party” they were talking about? We might have a good idea after today. Israel’s Yedioth Ahronoth claims that the FBI is getting help from CelleBrite, an Israeli firm that specializes in phone-oriented forensic software, to extract data from Farook’s phone. If the company manages to crack the contents of the device, it won’t have any reason to pester Apple… about this particular iPhone, anyway.

None of the parties involved have commented on the report so far. We’re asking the FBI if it can confirm any of the details. However, there’s a real chance that CelleBrite might pull this off. Its forensics skills include physically extracting the memory of locked iOS devices and examining the contents, so it might save the FBI a lot of trouble.

So why the FBI didn’t turn to companies like CelleBrite before demanding that Apple write purposefully insecure software? There’s no official explanation, but some suspect that the FBI was pretending to be naive in order to set a precedent — if it could compel Apple to write software to get into one iPhone, it could routinely ask Apple to crack iPhones instead of turning to security experts. If so, the decision to ask CelleBrite for help may be an admission that this strategy wasn’t going to work.

Via: Reuters

Source: Ynetnews.com

Blendle brings its pay-per-story news hub to the US

If you’ve ever thought that it would be wiser to pay a few cents to read a paywalled article than shell out for an expensive subscription, you’re about to get your chance. Blendle is launching a US beta for its news aggregation service, which lets you pay to read individual stories from outlets like the Economist, the Financial Times and the Wall Street Journal. Prices start at as little as 9 cents a pop, and you can even ask for an instant refund if you think you’ve been stiffed. At the moment, the only big catch is that you have to sign up for a waiting list to get in — you may be twiddling your thumbs for a while.

It’s hard to know whether or not Americans will bite. Many of the early partners are either free or have limited free access (such as Bloomberg and the New York Times), and those that usually insist on subscriptions (like the Wall Street Journal) tend to cater to a business crowd that subscribes as a matter of course. And let’s face it: many people are used to reading free, ad-subsidized stories. However, Blendle might help simply by putting the juicier pay-only articles within reach — you don’t have to settle for reading a tiny preview when you’re unwilling to make a full commitment to a magazine or newspaper.

Via: Politico

Source: Alexander Klopping (Medium), Blendle

ICYMI: UAVs of the sea, real-time FaceSwap and more

Today on In Case You Missed It: The Applied Physics Lab at Johns Hopkins has created a UAV that can stay underwater for two months, before launching through water and air. A mouth-mapping system using an off-the-shelf web camera is able to swap out anyone’s lips onto the face of a famous person talking, and get pretty realistic results — this can’t end well. And Domino’s is unveiling a robot delivery system in Australia that will either make you hungry or angry, depending on how you feel about 15-year-olds having a first job.

Seiko created a Rube Goldberg machine with watch parts and it’s darling. As always, please share any great tech or science videos you find by using the #ICYMI hashtag on Twitter for @mskerryd.

Todoist for Android lets you build tasks using natural language

Task management app Todoist may require a $29 annual subscription for you to get the most out of the app, but at least the frequent pace of upgrades and feature additions makes it feel like you’re getting your money’s worth. Today, Android users are getting some love with the launch of Todoist 9, an update that brings a handful of smart features as well as some design tweaks to make the app feel even more at home on Google’s mobile OS.

Perhaps the most clever trick that Todoist for Android now features is called Intelligent Input. Todoist already let you type using natural language to set to-do items and reminders (For example: typing “send in rent check on the 1st of every month at 10AM” would automatically add a recurring to-do item, complete with reminder). But Intelligent Input takes it a step farther, letting you add things directly to project or adding members to a to-do item just by typing. Adding a # symbol lets you put in whatever project you’d like to assign the item to, and typing + with another Todoist user’s name will add them to the task — perfect if you use the app along with family members or roommates to get things done.

The update also adds support for Bluetooth keyboards. We’re not sure why they didn’t work before, but if you use an Android tablet plus a keyboard to get work done — something that should become more commonplace with Android N’s new multitasking features — you’ll appreciate this change. Todoist has also improved syncing, with notifications read and dismissed on other platforms syncing back to the Android app. Syncing tasks in general is said to be four times faster with this update, something Todoist claims will help reduce the app’s drain on your phone’s battery.

Todoist made a few other UI tweaks which you can check out in the screenshots below; it’s nothing radical, but it does help make the app easier to navigate than before. Oh, and one last change is pretty radical: you can now include emoji when you’re naming a project. So if there’s a work project that you just don’t want to deal with, you can include the appropriate rage-filled face to go along side it. The new update rolls out today if you want to give it a shot.

Twitter is testing stickers you can add to photos

Twitter is struggling to attract new users, so it’s looking to other social networking apps for ideas. As Recode reports, the company is testing a new sticker feature similar to Facebook, allowing users to spruce up their photos with colorful, customizable additions. One such tester, @XBLFoxes, shared a screenshot with the new sticker option in the right-hand corner of Twitter’s photo editor. The idea being, of course, that it could encourage people to tweet more photos and, in response, receive more likes, retweets and replies from other users. All of which would help Twitter to grow.

Credit: Recode, @XBLFoxes

A curious aspect, according to Recode, is the option to “see how other users from around the world have edited the same photo.” Furthermore, Twitter will supposedly “suggest photos that you can edit and post to participate in trending conversations and breaking news.” That sort of description suggests the feature is built for doctoring other people’s photos, rather than your own. Such an approach makes sense for so-called “viral” news — those moments when Twitter explodes with reactionary comedy.

Stickers are still in a testing phase, so there’s no guarantee that they’ll ever roll-out to everyone. Nevertheless, it’s an interesting peek at what Twitter’s developers are working on, and an indication of how the company hopes to fight the rise of social apps like Snapchat.

Source: Recode

Switching mobile carriers will become much easier this year

There are several reasons to remain allied to one mobile network operator or another. Loyalty rewards such as contract discounts and special upgrade terms aside, switching providers can just be a bit of a faff. UK telecoms regulator Ofcom doesn’t want this to deter you from shopping around, which is why it’s going to make the process of jumping between carriers a whole lot easier. It’s been on Ofcom’s agenda since last summer, shortly after the regulator introduced a greatly simplified way of switching between broadband suppliers. Today, Ofcom’s announced its formal proposals, volunteering a couple of different options it’s settled on to the hassle out of moving providers.

Ofcom won’t be telling mobile operators what’s what until autumn, after taking feedback on its plan into account, which is why it’s proposing two methods of simplification right now. The first (and preferred) idea is to introduce a “gaining-provider led” process, which is exactly how changing broadband providers works now. All a consumer would have to do is to pick their new carrier, and that company will do all the legwork on their behalf, including advising them of their current provider’s notice period and any outstanding charges.

The second, slightly less convenient option is to make requesting PAC codes easier and immediate, either online, by text or by phone. You need a PAC code to carry your mobile number over to your new provider, but typically, you have to call your current carrier, put a request in, and wait (often a day or two) for the code before giving that info to the network you’re switching to. With immediate access to PAC codes, there will be much less back and forth, and you should only really need to make the one call to your new provider.

Either way Ofcom decides to implement simpler carrier switching, it should incentivise you to seek out the best deals as your contract approaches its conclusion. It should also have a knock-on effect on competition, too, with carriers being ever more mindful of the level of service and prices they offer when it becomes much less a chore for consumers to jump ship.

Source: Ofcom

Popular ‘Destiny’ matchmaking site plans app for more games

Online multiplayer isn’t just an afterthought for many of today’s PC and console games — it’s central to the whole experience. Games like Destiny work best as massively multiplayer experiences, where you’re part of focused squads taking down difficult opponents. Quickly finding a competent team can be difficult, however, which is why tools like DestinyLFG have flourished online.

DestinyLFG (LFG = Looking For Group) is a website that allows Guardians to submit posts stating what quests they wish to complete, exactly the type of player they’re looking for and list other in-game requirements. The site now counts over 6 million users from all over the world. With a dedicated user base using the site daily, the team behind it has decided to branch out. It’s headed to Kickstarter to launch For The Win (FTW), a new app that incorporates all of the useful elements of DestinyLFG and makes them available to communities of other popular multiplayer games.

Beerock Studios have set a $75,000 goal to create the FTW app. When released, the app will feature Looking For Group tools for games like Call of Duty: Black Ops II, Destiny, Borderlands, Minecraft, The Division and a number of EA Sports titles like FIFA. Users will be able to rate gamers to help others understand who they’re teaming up with, chat with them before a game and schedule future events. Twitch streams can also be embedded into listed games, allowing the community to see how you’re getting on.

If the app does get built, that doesn’t mean the websites will go away. An app request to drive into the heart of The Division’s Dark Zone will also appear on the FTW website for that particular game. Both iOS and Android will be supported, supplying notifications for events, chat requests, start times on your mobile device rather than frequent notices on your PC or console.

Like DestinyLFG, FTW will offer free memberships, which will be supported by “non-disruptive” advertising. There will also be a premium plans, which removes limits on numbers of friends and allows Twitch streaming (although there’s currently no guidance on price). The paid element might put some people off, especially if they’ve already grabbed a season pass for the game they’re playing, but it shouldn’t stop casual gamers from jumping into the odd raid from time to time.

Source: FTW (Kickstarter)

Pornhub is streaming skin flicks in virtual reality

If last week’s slurry of video game virtual reality news left you craving something a little more carnal in nature, you’re in luck. Skin site Pornhub has announced it’s launching a category dedicated entirely to VR sex videos. Pornhub says that these are optimized for mobile VR on Android, iOS and Samsung’s Gear VR, as well as being playable in the Oculus Rift and “most” other PC-based headsets. And unlike KinkVR’s subscription model, these videos are free.

Oh, and if you’re left high and dry without a set of VR goggles, the flesh peddlers say that they’ll be giving away 10,000 pair of them. Knowing how cheap Google Cardboard is, that’s probably similar to what it’ll ship out. And on that note, Pornhub says it’s baked Cardboard support into its Android app, and 360 degree video will even be supported via mobile browser on the platform. Keep in mind though that you’ll need a free hand to keep that VR system on your face.