Official Reddit app for Android is finally available
The official Reddit app for Android is finally here. This app was built in-house by the Reddit team, and will offer a fast experience that has you in mind. With over 200 million people using the service, and half of them browsing from mobile phones, the team wanted to make sure they built a fast app that presented a richer content experience, and the ease-of-browsing you deserve.
With the official Reddit app, you’ll be able to select between a dark and light theme, depending on your preference. The team says that this is just the foundation of the app, and future updates will make it even greater. If you sign into the official app this week, you can score three months of Reddit Gold for free. The app is launching in the U.S., Canada, UK and Australia, with more countries to roll out in the near future.
You can grab the Reddit app for free from the Google Play.
Alcatel’s 17-inch Xess tablet will be available online starting April 22 for $499
Alcatel’s 17-inch Xess tablet will finally be available to purchase online starting April 22 for $499. The tablet is aimed at being a kitchen accessory, with partnerships that pre-load it with recipe apps, Nickelodeon content and more. Xess tablets that are sold in the U.S. will include a free IP camera that can be placed in a nursery or kids room so you can keep tabs on them while not in the same area of the house.
Some of the key features of the Xess tablet include:
- Immersive 17.3-inch Full-HD display for a more brilliant viewing experience
- Dual 3-watt speakers featuring JBL Audio® for a high-fidelity home audio experience
- All-day battery life with a 9600mAh battery and magnetic quick release charger so you never have to worry about tripping over cords
- Portable design and adjustable stand for use anywhere in the kitchen or elsewhere in the home
- Powered by a 1.5 GHz MediaTek Octa-Core processor, 3GB of RAM and 32GB of storage (supports up to 64GB of additional MicroSD expandable storage)
You can find additional information about the partnerships and pre-loaded apps below.
Press release:
MEET THE PERFECT AMOUNT OF HOME SIMPLICITY: XESS
Designed to bring more engaging experiences to the home, the 17-inch Xess is the perfect kitchen accessory with pre-loaded recipe applications and other partner content
IRVINE, Calif. – April 7, 2016 – Alcatel – the number four mobile phone manufacturer in North America[i] – today announced a new device category in partnership with the TCL brand, with the North American launch of Xess. Initially unveiled at CES in January, Xess is purpose built to be the perfect 17-inch accessory for the kitchen, whether it’s for discovering and creating new meals via the pre-loaded recipe applications, accessing Nickelodeon content, such as PAW Patrol for kids, or catching up on the latest news and entertainment. Xess will be available for early-access purchase beginning on April 22 for the online exclusive price of $499 USD.
“We’ve been committed as a company to expanding the reach of our consumer technology and how it can bring better experiences and value to the lives of our customers, and with Xess, we’re delivering a meaningful connected kitchen hub that allows users to access more of the content they want and need, “said Steve Cistulli, President and General Manager for Alcatel, North America. “By bringing Xess to North America with the TCL brand, we leveraged their consumer electronics expertise with Alcatel’s proven record of bringing the perfect amount of mobile technology to our customers at affordable prices. This also allows us the opportunity to work with new partners like Viacom, and others to bring valuable content to our customers.”
“Through this partnership with Alcatel we are leveraging the power and reach of the Nickelodeon brand and our beloved IP, to connect kids and families with a seamless entertainment experience on the Xess that will greatly improve the time they spend together,” said Pam Kaufman, Chief Marketing Officer and President of Consumer Products, Nickelodeon.
Every Xess sold in North America will also come with an in-box IP camera, perfect for keeping an eye on the nursery, playroom or living room. The Xess launcher also comes with a dedicated IP camera portal, so parents can be at ease and keep a lookout on their kids while working in the kitchen or another room in their home where they may have Xess setup. The real star of Xess though is the content you have access to from partners like Viacom and others to be named later.
Nickelodeon content just for kids at families’ fingertips Xess truly is made for families, right down to providing easy access to content from Nickelodeon, a Viacom media network, that includes hit shows such as TV’s number-one preschool series, PAW Patrol, and the award-winning Nick App, as well as the Noggin App. With this partnership, kids are able to have direct access to Nick branded content with ease, and thanks to Xess’s Android software, parents are also able to download additional content for their kids, like educational games, directly from the Google Play Store.
Discover, plan and prepare great meals Planning meals is a whole lot easier with Xess thanks to pre-loaded recipe applications to find new recipes and cooking how-to videos for your favorite meals; making meal discovery and planning simple and something the whole family can take part in. Preparing those new meals is a breeze as well, with step-by-step how-to videos to help along the way and integrated shopping applications pre-loaded on Xess, allowing users to order groceries easily through these apps.
Xess Key Features Include:
- Immersive 17.3-inch Full-HD display for a more brilliant viewing experience
- Dual 3-watt speakers featuring JBL Audio® for a high-fidelity home audio experience
- All-day battery life with a 9600mAh battery and magnetic quick release charger so you never have to worry about tripping over cords
- Portable design and adjustable stand for use anywhere in the kitchen or elsewhere in the home
- Powered by a 1.5 GHz MediaTek Octa-Core processor, 3GB of RAM and 32GB of storage (supports up to 64GB of additional MicroSD expandable storage)
For more information on Xess, please visit Alcatel’s website.
Twitch broadcasts can now stream directly to BlueStacks, and vice versa
Twitch broadcasts are now able to stream directly to BlueStacks, and you will also be able to stream from BlueStacks through Twitch. The two companies are working together to make it easier for gamers to broadcast what they are playing, and make it easier for people to watch those broadcasts.
Both Twitch and BlueStacks have enabled new APIs that the teams made use of to allow for all of this integration to be utilized with just a single click. BlueStacks Product Manager Shashi Kant Sharma told us:
“Up until now it’s been extremely tricky to stream an Android game to Twitch. We’ve worked to consolidate everything onto one device – your PC. It just happens to be the most popular device to stream games from anyway. It’s a seamless match.”
It’s great to see the companies working together to enhance the experience for everyone in a simple way. Full details about the new capabilities can be found below.
Press release:
BlueStacks Integrates Twitch to Bring Mobile Game Streaming and
First-ever one-click streaming of mobile games from PC; Company celebrates with 1st Annual Content to 130 Million Users via BlueStacks TV
BlueStacks Hearthstone Invitational broadcast on Twitch
Palo Alto, CA April 7, 2016 Mobile company BlueStacks has announced the ability to both stream and consume mobile gameplay inside its popular App Player. BlueStacks’ 130 million users of mobile games on PC saw BlueStacks TV go live today. The company is the largest yet to integrate Twitch’s recently launched APIs. Twitch currently boasts 1.7 million broadcasters worldwide, mostly playing C titles.
“This was a natural combination,” said BlueStacks CEO, Rosen Sharma. “BlueStacks has mobile equivalents of the most popular games on the Twitch platform, midcore RPG titles especially. It used to be hard to stream a mobile game. It involved multiple devices: a tablet, a webcam and wires. We’ve cut all of that out. From a PC it’s easy to stream. It’s why Twitch has become so popular so fast. BlueStacks users are already playing mobile games like Hearthstone, Castle Clash, Vainglory and others we just built a bridge between our platforms. This combines the power of two huge user bases.”
Mobile developers and publishers also gain a large new distribution channel. “We’ve always known our mobile games look and sound awesome on PC, but streaming them from a phone is complicated,” said IGG SVP, Mark Zhang, developer of the popular Castle Clash title. “We’ve been approached to put an SDK in our games, but that’s bandwidth we don’t have. We’d rather focus on our games. The fact that millions of people can stream Castle Clash to Twitch without us doing anything is massive.”
The simplicity of BlueStacks’ new broadcasting function is also a boon to streamers. “The simpler streaming becomes and the more games that are easy to stream, the better for the whole ecosystem,” said top Hearthstone streamer Aleksandr “Kolento” Malsh. “If I’m going to stream mobile games I don’t want to change my PC setup. This lets people keep everything the same.”
To commemorate the launch of BlueStacks TV, the company is hosting a 16player tournament of top Hearthstone competitors using the mobile version of the game to stream live to Twitch.
The tournament is singleelimination and the winner will receive $3000, sponsored by Game.tv and Glory4Gamers. The tournament begins on Twitch at 915AM Eastern Daylight Time April 7 on the BlueStacksInc channel (https://Twitch.tv/BlueStacksInc) and is sponsored byGlory4Gamers.
T-Mobile’s latest plan offers two lines with 6GB of LTE data each for $80 a month
T-Mobile is launching yet another limited-time promotion for new customers. This time, the carrier is offering a plan for two lines, each with 6GB of LTE data, for $80 a month.
T-Mobile says:
“Families who want fewer lines deserve a better option and we’re giving them one! Don’t let Verizon trick you with their misleading ads. They lure you in with the promise of a ‘Large’ serving of data for $60, only to sneak in another $20 PER LINE in monthly access fees – to use the data you already own! At Verizon, $60 actually means $100 for 2 lines and 6 GB!” said John Legere, President and CEO of T-Mobile USA. “Even worse, these guys charge you those access fee again and again, every single month. Don’t believe the BS; come to T-Mobile where we do data different!”
The $80 plan will be available starting on Friday, April 8, but there’s no word on when this promotional offer will end. T-Mobile is also offering a way for new and current customers to get either a LG K7 or Samsung Galaxy Core Prime for $0 down when purchased on an Equipment Installment Plan.
Google’s self-driving cars will make their way to Phoenix, Arizona
Google has expanded its self-driving car project testing to the Phoenix, Arizona metro area. This will be the fourth city in the U.S. that will have the company’s driverless cars on the road.
Reuters stated:
“Arizona is known as a place where research and development is welcome, innovation can thrive, and companies can set up roots,” said Jennifer Haroon, head of business operations for the Google Self-Driving Car project. “The Phoenix area has distinct desert conditions, which will help us better understand how our sensors and cars handle extreme temperatures and dust in the air.”
Google began testing self-driving car prototypes near its home base in Mountain View, California several years ago. In mid-2015, it expanded to Austin, Texas and earlier in 2016 it began testing those cars on the roads of Kirkland, Washington.
Facebook Messenger makes it easier to connect with the other 900 million users
Facebook Messenger is adding some new connection features, even as its user base continues to increase. The company announced that the chat service now has over 900 million monthly users worldwide.
According to Facebook’s David Marcus, Messenger is getting some features that are similar to ones found in Snapchat:
We’re starting to roll out Messenger Codes, Usernames, and Links (with the amazing m.me/[yourusername] URL) available to people and businesses, making it easier than ever to connect.
This should help users connect faster with friends and companies. Marcus also stated that over 1 billion messages every month are sent between consumers and businesses.
Android Pay to rock out at Coachella 2016 thanks to Square
Square has announced that it is bringing NFC payment support to the 2016 Coachella music festival. The latest Square Reader, which supports NFC payment systems like Android Pay and Samsung Pay, will be available as the exclusive point-of-sale during the festival, letting attendees pay for anything without needing to take out their wallets.
From Square:
If you’re headed to the festival in a few weeks, you won’t need to stand in any ATM lines. In fact, you may not even need to take out your wallet. That’s because this year, you can pay with your phone for everything. Square is the exclusive point of sale at the festival, and every vendor will be using the latest (and fastest) Square Reader.
Of course, if you still prefer paying with a physical credit or debit card, the new Square Reader also accepts EMV chip cards, which have recently started rolling out in the United States.
The 2016 Coachella festival will take place April 15-17 and 22-24 in Indio, California.
DJI will supply drones for European emergency missions
While aerial drones are opening up a whole new world for consumers, organizations are also quietly working out the best way to deploy them in high-impact situations. The UAE’s Drones for Good competition, for example, awarded $1 million to the makers of a rescue UAV that can search buildings, but drone maker DJI now wants to help set the rules for how and when they should be deployed. The company has teamed up with European Emergency Number Association (EENA) to create a set of best practices for response teams all over the globe.
As part of its new alliance, DJI says it will supply “carefully selected” teams of European pilots with its Phantom and Inspire drones, its Matrice 100 (M100) developer quadcopter (used for testing new sensors and other technology) and the Zenmuse XT thermal-imaging system. After it’s delivered specialized training, the EENA and DJI will monitor how drones are used in specific environments and then share those “insights and best practices with the broader international emergency-response community” to ensure first responders act quickly and efficiently in risky situations.
With representatives from 1,200 emergency services across 80 countries on its books, the EENA is well placed to help develop a framework for drone operators in Europe. The group also established the 112 emergency telephone number that can be called free of charge in many European countries to reach police, ambulance and fire services.
It’s been successful in signing up both the Greater Copenhagen Fire Department in Denmark and the Donegal Mountain Rescue Team in Ireland as its first two test sites. In Denmark, the team will focus on firefighting, chemical spills and large car accidents, while in Ireland, the rescue team will utilize DJI’s software kits to better conduct search-and-rescue missions in remote areas.
Source: DJI (PR Newswire)
These smart glasses became my erratic personal trainer
Fitness wearables don’t have to go on your wrist — although it makes sense that most of them are designed that way. We’ve been wearing wristwatches for generations, so it’s a place where we’re used to tethering something. But how about the original wearable: eyewear? JINS Meme is a pair of unassuming smartglasses that have highly sensitive three-axis gyroscopes and accelerometers inside. And because they’re situated on your head, the Japanese eyewear company says it can offer insight into your posture and balance and pinpoint weaknesses. To help you with all of the above, JINS recently launched a core-training application (“taikan”) to complement its existing running-coach app. It tests your core strength (think: abs, back, abductors, butt, etc.) and offers a live critique on how you’re doing. Here’s how training went.
As I’ve written before, JINS’ smartglasses are unassuming and normal-looking. In Japan, there are several frame styles to chose from (including the aforementioned running version). The only sign that there’s something different here can be found in the arms, where the battery, gyros and Bluetooth radios add some bulk. I’m a regular four-eyes, so wearing them poses no extra burden for me. I’ve already shared my feelings on running, so instead of that app, I focused on the gym- and yoga-mat-friendly core-training companion. Despite using the day-to-day frames, which are less sporty than the sunglasses, they’re well-fitting enough that I was able to lunge and plank without concern.
And now for the main piece: the training app designed to improve your posture and those all-important muscles surrounding your torso. No, these exercises don’t aim to give you a six-pack (the training is gentle, sometimes challenging, and you’re only competing against yourself), but what you get from the app is useful, applicable feedback.
Your workout is orchestrated by a JINS-glasses-wearing personal trainer (a cross between the Wii Fit Trainer and Janine from Ghostbusters) who offers detailed instructions (in Japanese), giving you reminders on what to focus on as you practice the movements. For example, when lunging, you want to maintain a vertical body line. You know this, but you may have a tendency to sag midway through the test. The digital trainer will ensure you’re at least trying to do things right.
For anyone who’s active (especially people into yoga or other activities that help with balance and core strength), you may find it all a bit too easy — but then this probably isn’t for you. It’s better pitched at rookies and anyone wanting to improve their posture or focus on their weak spots. The app is free (the glasses are not), but it doesn’t house an extensive range of exercises. Once you’re getting scores of high 90 across the board, it appears that you’ve reached the limit of what the app can help you with. (But good for you!) It’s precise too: When I wobbled on a squat or let my head drop on an otherwise simple exercise, my score dropped. It even composes line graphs after each workout, showing any imbalances to the left or right.
My terrible posture is a chronic habit, and having a robotic personal trainer tell me that I’m screwing up is a pretty good way to keep myself in check.
The app keeps a record of your score even if you don’t want it to, so you can see your numbers improve. However, the setup isn’t perfect. Those planks I mentioned? I have a constant score of zero. I don’t even know how it’s possible to be that bad at a side plank. (I attempted this exercise six times. I got the same score.)
What’s more, the primary app that you need in order to use the glasses often wouldn’t register that I was wearing them, and its eye-monitoring sensors deduced that I had the mind of 42-year-old (based on the fatigue detected in my eyes) with the body of a 63-year-old. That’s both cruel and highly specific. When it comes to your body, JINS Meme offers a score for your energy levels, posture and stability, while your mind is scored in terms of concentration, energy and composure. Sensors inside the bridge of the glasses detect minute changes in electromagnetic activity from your eyes, calculating where your eyes are looking and how often you blink. It sounds crazy, but it’s real. While the glasses can monitor tiredness in real time, there’s no kind of useful feedback for this feature just yet.
To demonstrate my aging state, the app displayed a wavering, drunken head. While my posture isn’t perfect (thus the core training), I’m no bobblehead. JINS told me that the glasses adjust to the wearer over time, getting more precise and calibrating to the user. Or maybe I am in such a bad state?
The current apps and glasses are just the start: The company has hinted at moving beyond Japanese borders (it already has a “normal” glasses store in San Francisco), so these smart glasses, or some variation thereof, might have a chance of hitting retail in the West.
As a fitness wearable, the JINS Meme is surprisingly effective, but the shallowness and erratic nature of the app limited how far I could go with it. Surprisingly, there was nothing uncomfortable about wearing a fitness tracker on my face — but then, I’m a glasses wearer. If you aren’t, you might feel a little weird wearing something while you work out.
Source: JINS Meme (Japanese)
Reuters: White House refuses to openly back encryption law
The White House is apparently refusing to publicly back a law that would force tech companies to comply with decryption requests. Reuters has spoken to anonymous sources inside the administration that claim there are deep divisions on the issue of violating individual privacy. The new bill has been pushed by senators Richard Burr and Dianne Feinstein in the wake of the San Bernardino iPhone case. The legislation is designed to give judges the power to compel firms like Apple and WhatsApp to comply with requests to decrypt secure software.
The sources claim that the White House has read the document and offered feedback but won’t throw its weight around in public. Reuters believe that the move is largely political since a looming election and intransigent leadership means the bill is likely to remain on ice. A report from The Hill in January points out that Feinstein and Burr rejected calls to ignore a proposed national commission to research better solutions. Presumably they thought that trying to look for coherent solutions was too much effort when a jerk of the knee is so much easier.
Source: Reuters
AIVAnet 