Microsoft unlocks framerates for smoother gameplay on Windows 10
Microsoft wants folks to believe Windows 10 is a serious gaming platform and has showcased its capabilities with tech demos like its retooling of Forza 6 for powerhouse PCs. Today, they’re letting games designed for the Universal Windows Platform (UWP) unlock their framerates from the refresh rate of their monitors. This fixes a long-standing complaint from gamers and developers who want to play games at higher framerates on UWP but were prevented from doing so, even for recent releases like Quantum Break.
Framerate, measured in frames per second, is an important benchmark in graphical power: your high-resolution game might be gorgeous, but you’ll get flak if players can only run through it at a choppy 30fps. 343 Studios prioritized Halo 5’s consistent 60fps so much that the game sacrifices resolution on the fly and ditched splitscreen multiplayer entirely.
Microsoft also announced support for AMD Freesync and NVIDIA G-SYNC, which enables smarter refreshing of the monitor’s display. This and the framerate unlocking are exactly the granular support needed for computers to run titles to their maximum graphical capability. Other PC gaming platforms like Steam don’t lock framerates, so it’s strange for UWP to have set a framerate cap to begin with. Eliminating limits in graphical capability is a good way to win over the core computer gaming fanbase, which takes its visuals seriously.
Source: DirectX Developer Blog
Facebook respects European privacy, skips facial recognition
Last June, Facebook launched an app called Moments that allows you to share event photos with friends. The software uses facial recognition to who’s in the pictures for easy tagging and organizing. In the EU, regulators had already taken Facebook to task over its “tag suggest” facial recognition feature that scanned photos for your friends so you could easily tag them on the site. European data authorities haven’t changed their stance on the feature, so Moments wasn’t available there or in Canada until now.
An alternate version private photo application is now available for users in Europe and Canada, leaving out features that violate privacy laws in those locales. Most notably, the facial-recognition tool isn’t included in the software, which means users will have to do a bit more work to tag and identify who’s in their snapshots. Facebook says that while it left the facial recognition out, the app will group photos that “appear to include the same face.”
Sounds kind of like facial recognition, right? Well, not exactly. Facebook says the app now functions more like object recognition, observing things like the distance between someone’s eyes and ears rather than their unique facial features. The social network explained that because this doesn’t examine images as closely, it’s not as accurate. For that reason, this new version of the Moments app has a “Who’s this?” where the tagging it handled. Once you group a few photos together, the software will gather any new pictures that have a person who looks similar in them.
Despite the changes in how images are tagged, the tweaked Moments app still keep tabs on things like location, date and time. Like the application that’s already available in the US and other places, it also lets you decide if your photos are ever shared with anyone or if they’ll remain private. Back in December, Facebook nixed its Photo Sync tool in favor of Moments, making it the primary method for building and sharing photo albums on the site.
Via: TechCrunch
Senate committee looks into Facebook’s news filtering methods
It’s not just your right-leaning friends worried that Facebook is pruning conservative perspectives out of its Trending News section. The US Senate’s Commerce Committee (led by Republican John Thune) has sent a letter to Mark Zuckerberg asking him to answer questions about Facebook’s news curation methods. The group wants the social network to not only explain its news curation methods and policies, but show how it’s investigating alleged exclusions of conservative stories. Does it keep records of the judgment calls that curators make, for example?
The company has until May 24th to provide info, and Zuck is supposed to make staff available if the committee has any questions.
Facebook hasn’t formally responded to the letter as we write this (we’ve asked it for comment), but it has already denied playing fast and loose with its rules on political objectivity. As it stands, it’s not clear that this is anything more than an attempt to court outrage while it’s still hot. After all, it’s not as if the Senate can dictate Facebook’s news policy without running into thorny free speech issues. We’d add that Senate letters only occasionally translate to real action — this investigation could easily fizzle out unless there’s concrete proof of something shady going on.
Via: Gizmodo
Source: Senate.gov (PDF)
ZENS’ Apple Watch Power Bank is Pocket-Sized and Ultra Portable Thanks to Built-In Charging Puck
ZENS’ Apple Watch Power Bank is a compact Apple Watch charging solution that’s one of the first to come with a built-in Apple Watch charging puck, eliminating the need for bulky, complicated cable winding systems used in other Apple Watch stands and docks.
Because the charging puck is included in the body of the Power Bank, it’s one of the smallest Apple Watch charging options available, and with an included 1,300 mAh battery, it serves as the most portable Apple Watch charger available for travelers.
The Power Bank is cube shaped, measuring in at about an inch and a half wide and just over an inch tall. It’s small enough to fit in jacket pocket (it’ll fit in a pants pocket too, but the shape is bulky) and it doesn’t take up a lot of room in a purse or a backpack.
Available in either black or white, the Power Bank is made from a smooth, velvety plastic. It is Apple-certified and uses Apple-approved parts, so despite the Power Bank’s small size, ZENS is charging $56 for the accessory. That’s competitive with many other Apple Watch stands and docks, but may be more than some are willing to pay for a small plastic cube.
On one side, there’s an Apple Watch charger, while another side houses four LEDs that display the remaining battery life and a button to activate charging when the Apple Watch is placed on top of the Power Bank. Opposite the LEDs, there’s a microUSB port, used to charge the Power Bank, and on the bottom, there’s rubber for a firmer grip on flat, smooth surfaces.
Charging the Apple Watch with the Power Bank can be done by laying it across the top of the accessory with any open loop band like the Sport Band. It’s also possible to use it with closed loop bands by wrapping the band around the bottom. It won’t quite sit flat, but it works. When the Apple Watch is placed flat on the Power Bank, it’s easy to accidentally knock it off, so wrapping the band around the base was actually the more secure way to use it, though less convenient.
I also found that with my Apple Watch band wrapped around the Power Bank and closed tightly, I was able to place it on its side to take advantage of the Apple Watch’s Nightstand mode, which only works in landscape orientation. Since the cube-shaped Power Bank is so small, the Apple Watch is able to rest on a flat surface when charging this way and so it’s quite sturdy.
The ZENS Power Bank, though equipped with an Apple Watch charger, needs to be charged with a microUSB cable, which may be one of the only downsides to the product. As someone with almost all Apple products, I don’t normally carry a microUSB cable with me, but I’ve had to bring one along when traveling to keep the Power Bank charged.
According to ZENS, the 1300mAh battery in the Power Bank is enough to charge the Apple Watch three times, but in my testing with the 38mm Apple Watch, I didn’t get quite as much power out of it. Over the course of three days, I drained my Apple Watch to zero battery three times over and charged it with the Power Bank, but it was only able to deliver a full charge the first two times, recharging my watch to just 20 percent on the third time before the battery ran out.
I’m not entirely sure why I was only able to get two complete charges out of the Power Bank when ZENS promises three, but it’s possible that I have a faulty unit because I did test twice over. With the 42mm Apple Watch, which has a larger battery, users may see just two full charges from the ZENS Power Bank instead of 2 charges with a bit of juice leftover.
It’s actually unusual for my Apple Watch to be fully drained each day, and with normal usage, the Power Bank lasted for approximately four days before I needed to recharge it. That’s probably enough for a weekend trip if you’re somewhere without power. Recharging the Power Bank from empty to full took a couple of hours.
When plugged into a computer’s USB port or a USB power adapter like the one that ships with the iPhone, the Power Bank offers passthrough charging, so it can be set on a desk for general daily charging and then be unplugged and taken on the go when necessary.
Bottom Line
The ZENS Power Bank isn’t much bigger than a standalone Apple Watch charging cable and it’s more expensive, but during my time testing it, I found it surprisingly handy to have an Apple Watch charging solution that could be easily disconnected from its cord and transported around the house to be placed wherever I wanted it.
It’s also the sole Apple Watch charging solution I brought with me on a recent vacation and I’ve only needed to plug it in every few days for a couple of hours – otherwise, I’ve been charging my Apple Watch cord free. The Power Bank is as versatile as a standalone Apple Watch cable, supporting several different charging orientations and all Apple Watch bands, plus it adds the ability to go cable free and it’s the smallest travel solution I’ve come across.
That’s not going to be worth upwards of $50 for all Apple Watch owners, but frequent travelers and those who want to add a bit more convenience to their Apple Watch charging routine will undoubtedly appreciate the Power Bank.
Pros:
- Tiny
- Highly portable
- Built-in Apple Watch charger
- Works in Nightstand Mode
- Passthrough charging
Cons:
- On the pricy side
- Need to carry microUSB cable
How to Buy
The ZENS Apple Watch Power Bank is priced at €49.99 or approximately $56. It can be purchased from the ZENS website and it will ship to the United States and several other countries from the Netherlands.
Note: ZENS provided a Power Bank to MacRumors free of charge for the purposes of this review. No other compensation was received.
Tag: ZENS
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Disney Crossy Road: Charming, fun, and hard as hell (Review)
People like to torture themselves with challenging games. It’s a fact of life. After surviving tears-inducing gameplay in the NES era, games became gradually easier, but, ignited by Demon’s Souls, hard games have a home again among console gamers. Mobile games are no exception. Games like Temple Run and Flappy Bird infuriated us to the extreme, but we kept coming back to them anyway. Crossy Road is one of the latest examples of challenging games we love, and Disney has partnered with its developer to bring us Disney Crossy Road.
Features
Colorful worlds await you.
Being a family-friendly game, Disney Crossy Road warns you about in-app purchases and the possibility of watching video ads in exchange for in-game currency. In order to continue, you need to enter your age.
If you’ve played Crossy Road before, then you already know the basics. If you haven’t, then let me tell you that the premise is really simple. Your mission is to guide your character as far as you can through a scenery full of obstacles and moving objects. It’s similar in concept to an endless runner but you have more control over your actions and movements.
The game keeps everything very simple with dead-easy controls. The scenery is divided into an imaginary grid, and you can move your character one space at a time. By making quick swipes in any direction, your character gleefully jumps in said way. You can also tap wherever you like, and your character will move forward.
Of course, the game would pose no challenge at all without obstacles. This is where things start to get interesting. There’s a vast array of elements that will try to stop you from reaching your objective (sadly, just like in real life). You will have trains storming through the field, cars that could care less about speed limits, and water segments with floating logs.
The problem comes from the fact that if you wait too much time until your next move, an eagle will soar through the sky and capture your little, helpless character. Not only you need to avoid obstacles to progress, you have to do it quickly, or you’ll die anyway, making the game a constant fight against both the clock and your highest score.
Scenery changes according to the character you choose.
You will also see some yellow circles scattered throughout the land. These are coins used to buy new characters. I thought at first that a new character would only change the coat of paint of your figurine. Turns out, changing a character changes the whole setting. The scenery color, the obstacles, and the music change completely.
Characters are classified by the movie or series they come from. For example, Mickey and Donald Duck are classified under “Mickey Mouse and Friends” (obviously). But, there are also characters from other famous Disney movies, such as The Lion King, Tangled, Wreck-It Ralph, and Disney’s newest hit, Zootopia. Choosing Simba will change the setting to a jungle-like world, in which cars are replaced by animals, while choosing Ralph will turn everything into pink candy and racing cars, just like the movie. It’s a nice touch that works amazingly well and encourages the player to get more characters.
Options
A few options are at your disposal.
The options provided by the game are nothing to write home about. Some basic controls over music and special effects are there. Also, you can access Disney’s website from here. The game has been translated into 15 languages, but the language isn’t detected automatically. Instead, you need to access the options screen and selected the button with a world icon on it.
The game also offers Facebook integration to share your scores and similar. For those looking for Google Play Games, you can connect the game to your account, but the integration is limited to five achievements, all of which deal with character collection.
General Impressions
First things first: I found this game to be hard. Not in an unfair way, but the sheer number of obstacles all moving at different speeds combined with the eagle that carries you away if you’re not fast enough, provide a challenging but rewarding experience. You have to analyze a lot of stuff quickly, but when you do and it works, it feels extremely pleasant.
The fact that the world changes according to the character you choose is a welcome addition, too. I thought at first that I had seen everything to this game after some rounds, but then I got a new character from Tangled and the scenery changed completely, all with new hazards, songs, and background. It’s nice to see what new worlds have to offer, and it adds a lot to the game’s replay value. You don’t need every character to see all of the available worlds: having one from each series is enough.
Vehicles change to animals if you choose a character from The Lion King.
However, once the novelty wears off, you may find that there’s not a lot of things to do. Sure, there are more than 100 characters to collect, and you can always improve your high score (which is a motivation in itself), but things like daily challenges, timed events, or leaderboards through Google Play Games would add a lot to the game. Right now, other than collecting characters, I feel it’s way too simple and doesn’t give you enough motivation to keep you coming back for more.
Also, I found some rare instances in which the game lagged a little bit on my Nexus 6, especially when doing a lot of movements very close to one another. Not a big deal, but in a game that requires quick reflexes and swift movements, a performance issue could be the difference between increasing your high score or have your character drown after missing a floating log.
Graphics and Sound
All of the characters look as cute as this one.
Graphics for this game are great. All of the elements used follow closely a blocky, almost Minecraft-like appearance that looks extremely good. Since this is a family-friendly game, when your character is smashed by cars or animals, there’s no blood at all. Your character will get reduced to a pile of pixels that will not traumatize your children.
Even though blocky elements can’t provide a lot of detail by nature, obstacles and other elements scattered throughout the land are really well done. Be it the bullet train in the Mickey Mouse and Friends world, the animals in The Lion King setting, or the ghosts in the Haunted Mansion backdrop, everything looks very refined and is pure quality.
Music and sound effects are really cool too. Like mentioned before, there are several tunes included in the game, one for each world. Sound effects are fine and add to the experience. The game also triggers an audible alert when you reach certain scores, which can be startling at first, but useful once you get accustomed to it.
What we like
- Challenging gameplay
- Scenery changes according to your character
- Nice graphics
Room for improvement
- Not much else to do apart from increasing your score
- Some performance issues
Conclusion
Crossy Road is undoubtedly one of the biggest hits to come out of the Play Store, so it’s no wonder Disney decided to partner up with the developer to release a spinoff. Disney Crossy Road retains the same challenging gameplay of its father, while adding several interesting elements, such as new worlds, and more than 100 characters to choose from. Sadly, the game doesn’t offer a lot of replay value. However, it’s still a solid game that can keep you entertained for a lot of time while you explore all of its worlds and try to dodge its carefully-placed obstacles in order to get the highest score.
Download and install from the Google Play Store.
Best drones for under $300
You don’t need to break the bank to buy a fun, reliable drone.
If you’re looking to buy your first drone, whether for racing or just for the fun of it, searching for the top-rated drones might result in sticker shock. Sure, the DJI Inspire 1 looks AMAZING, but at nearly $3,000, it’s not worth the investment if you’re a novice hobbyist.
If you’re a beginner, you’ll want a drone that’s easy enough to fly to get a handle on everything but also tough enough to survive a crash caused by human error or technical malfunction. Fortunately, there are a number of great drone options out there for under $300. They often include cameras (of lesser-quality, of course) and first-person view (FPV) flying options, as well as bumpers to protect the blades and hardware while you’re still learning the basics. Then, once you’re confident in your skills as a drone pilot, you can decide whether to upgrade to a more expensive, professional drone.
Two of these drones fall below the FAA requirements for registration, which only costs $5 per aircraft and will save you from dealing with fines (or worse) if the authorities catch you flying an unregistered drone.
- DBPOWER Hawkeye III
- Microdrone 3.0
- Syma X8G
- Walkera Runner 250
- Parrot AR.Drone 2.0 Elite Edition
- LaTrax Alias Quadcopter
DBPOWER Hawkeye III
The Hawkeye II features all the bells and whistles you’d want from your first drone, in a slick package. It has a headless control feature, which just means that it’s easy to maintain control, regardless of where the “front” is facing.
Once you’ve got the basics down, this is just a downright fun drone to fly. It’s got stunt buttons built in to the controller, so you’re able to pull off awesome flips at the press of a button. Its bigger size means it handles well, even on windy days. You also have the option to use FPV through a smartphone app using a VR headset (not included), but, given the camera quality, you’re probably not going to feel comfortable flying it in first-person. Also, keep in mind that using the camera will cut into the overall flight time, since it drains the battery.
One thing to consider about this drone is the color. It sure looks sharp in all-white, but if you’re flying it high in the sky on a cloudy day, you might find yourself losing visual contact with it.
See at Amazon
Specs:
- Dimensions: 13.2″ x 13.2″ x 7.3″
- Weight: 3.5 lbs
- Camera: Yes (1MP, 720p)
- Average flight time: 10 minutes (without camera)
- FAA registration required?: Yes
Microdrone 3.0
This drone raised over $3 million on IndieGoGo and, like the name suggests, is the smallest drone on this list, but don’t let its small size fool you. This is a fully-capable drone with a ton of features jam-packed into a small, minimalist package.
Included in the full set combo, available on the Microdrone website, you get the drone, a 2.4 GHz handset, propeller guards, four replacement blades, four blades for inverted flying, the Wi-Fi Camera module, a smartphone holder that attaches to the handset, as well as a VR headset that holds most smartphones for FPV flying. Basically, it’s everything you need to get started.
It’s a capable flyer with three control modes (slow, fast, and insane), as well as a toggle switch for stunt mode, which lets you perform impressive flips and rolls. The camera literally snaps on in a second thanks to proprietary magnets that also deliver power to the camera. Connect your phone to the camera’s Wi-Fi and control and record video through the Microdrone app.
Note that the folks behind the Microdrone are still working to fulfill their crowdfunding backers first, so you’ll probably end up having to wait some time before it arrives.
See at Microdrone.co.uk
Specs:
- Dimensions: 5.7″ x 5.7″ x 1.9″
- Weight: .12 lbs (56 g) without camera, .16 lbs (71 g) with camera
- Camera: Yes — removable, shoots 720 x 1080 HD at 30 FPS
- Average flight time: 10 minutes (without camera)
- FAA registration required?: No
Syma X8G
This is another great option for beginners. It flies well right out of the box with a gradual learning curve and a build that’s reportedly strong enough to survive multiple crashes into trees. It’s also the biggest drone on the list and comes with the best camera with the ability to swap in a GoPro.
You’ll get up to eight minutes of flight time on a full battery charge, but you’ll want to invest in multiple batteries because it takes up to 3 hours to charge the 2000mAh battery, which is by far the biggest drawback for this drone. Otherwise, given the build, size, and price, this is a fantastic option for a novice drone pilot or someone looking to get sweet aerial shots on the cheap.
See at Amazon
Specs:
- Dimensions: 19.7″ x 19.7″ x 7.5″
- Weight: 3.4 lbs
- Camera: Yes — removable, 8 MP, 120p and 1080p video quality. Also compatible with GoPro cameras
- Average flight time: 5-8 minutes
- FAA registration required?: Yes
Walkera Runner 250
If you’re interested in the emerging world of drone racing, this would be the drone to start with — but it’s not recommended for beginners. Made from lightweight carbon fiber, it’s built to take a licking and keep on ticking. It doesn’t look as pretty as the other drones on this list, but again, this one is built for speed over style and sure delivers on that front.
The Runner 250 is capable of going extremely fast — up to 24 miles per hour — while still offering good control with up to 1000 meters of range. Flying at those speeds, you’ll want to make sure the battery is well secured, as it’s been reported to come loose and cut power to the camera after major crashes. Everything comes assembled in the box, along with a tool set for making repairs as needed. Happy racing!
See at Amazon
Specs:
- Dimensions: 18.5″ x 11.3″ x 5.2″
- Weight: 1.1 lbs
- Camera: Yes (800TVL built-in)
- Average flight time: 12-15 minutes
- FAA registration required?: Yes
Parrot AR.Drone 2.0 Elite Edition
Parrot is a trusted name in drones, and the AR 2.0 is a fantastic entry point for someone interested in the hobby.
Unlike other drones on this list, this one is controlled strictly via a Wi-Fi connection with your smartphone; no handset is included. Simply download the Parrot control app to your phone and you’re able to control and record video in 720p. There’s also an optional Director Mode available for purchase within the app that allows you to set up cinematic shots if you fancy yourself an amateur filmmaker. There’s even a USB plug in the base of the drone so you can record video straight to a removable drive.
The built-in sensors and navigation system allow the AR 2.0 to maintain stability, even in winds gusting up to 15 miles per hour, so you shouldn’t lose control of your drone on a windy day. Even if you do, simply attach the foam blade protectors to help take the brunt of any crashes. Oh, and the Elite Edition means it comes styled in your choice of camo: jungle, desert, or snow.
See at Amazon
Specs:
- Dimensions: 23″ x 23″ x 5″
- Weight: 4 lbs
- Camera: Yes — 720p HD video
- Average flight time: 11 minutes
- FAA registration required?:
LaTrax Alias Quadcopter
This one is a fine option for beginners and experts alike. Built with a solid, molded composite frame, this thing is both rugged and extremely lightweight.
Including a 2.4 GHz handset for controls, this thing is built for speed and stunting. There’s no camera or options, so if that’s an important feature for you, you’ll have to look elsewhere. It does come with multiple flying modes, from easy mode that keeps the speed in check, to a full manual mode that puts you in full control of stabilization and everything.
While the LaTrax Alias lacks features found in other options on this list, the build design and price make this a great option for someone looking for something fast, cheap, and fun to fly.
See at Amazon
Specs:
- Dimensions: 12″ x 12″ x 1.6″
- Weight: .22 lbs (100g)
- Camera: No
- Average flight time: 10 minutes
- FAA registration required?: No
What did we miss?
Are you a drone enthusiast? Got any experience with the drones we’ve listed here? Got a suggestion for one that we missed? Leave a comment below and let us know!
This is why you need a 360-degree camera
Getting four generations of family together for Mother’s Day is the perfect time to break out the 360-degree camera.
I have a big family, with a good number of us all living in the same town. Four generations of us in Pensacola, in fact. My grandparents. My parents. My in-laws. Myself and one of my two brothers. My two kids. Three dogs. And while we see each other throughout the week, we generally get together for lunch most Sundays. (Yes, it’s also like herding cats. Every. Single. Week. But that’s part of the fun of it all.)
This past Sunday was a little different. It was Mother’s Day. And while I’m generally not all that sentimental for made-up holidays (and nothing will make you wish you were better to your mom than becoming a parent), there’s something especially great about having three generations of moms around one table.
So, out came the 360-degree camera.
For all of the crap that Facebook spews, one of its redeeming qualities is the ability to give families an easy way to keep up with each other. And 360-degree cameras make it easy to keep up with what everyone is doing at a given time, all at once. So my grandparents’ other kids can see their brother and their parents together, around the rest of us. My mom’s siblings and far-away friends get to see what her kids look like, all in the same place. My friends get to see that my father no longer has the lone sweet beard in the family. My in-laws’ friends get to see the crazy family they hang out with.
Prices will fall. Quality will improve. And sharing will get easier.
The 360-degree camera sees it all, and it sees it all at once.
We’re just getting started with this stuff, of course. The first personal 360-degree cameras are only now becoming available. (I’m using the LG 360 CAM, still.) Prices will fall. Quality will improve. And sharing 360-degree video and pictures will get even easier. (Facebook and YouTube are great for video; Flickr is best for photos.)
This is one of those areas in which the possibilities are endless. Meetings. Family-get-togethers. Security and accountability. (A 360-degree camera mounted on top of emergency vehicles, instead of forward-facing dashcams, could change a lot of things.) Vloggers who chronicle their days are going to be all over these things. Google’s basically going to turn everyone into a Street View car. (I’ve been uploading 360-degree shots all over town.)
Being able to see everything can be distracting. It is, perhaps, not as artistic.
These new “see everything” cameras can’t and shouldn’t take the place of traditional photography and videography, of course. Being able to see everything can be distracting. It is, perhaps, not as artistic. Not as mysterious. And perhaps the supper table isn’t the most elegant of places to see everything. (Especially while eating corn.)
But there certainly are times when you want to be able to capture all angles of what’s going on around you. When the family comes together, especially. And don’t just wait for Mother’s Day to make it happen.
Pick up a Vena case for your Galaxy S7, S7 edge or LG G5 for as little as $2 at Amazon with coupon
If you are looking for a new case for your Galaxy S7, S7 edge or LG G5, you won’t want to miss this deal from SFPlanet on Amazon. Whether you are looking for something slim and clear or protective and colorful, there are tons of choices available here. You don’t need to break the bank to keep your new phone safe from scratches and dings.
When making your selection, be sure to pick SFPlanet as the seller, and not SFPlanet fulfilled through Amazon. If you select the fulfillment through Amazon, the coupons may not work, and you won’t get the free shipping.
LG G5
- Retain (Clear case) – $1.99 with code VENOFF06
- vAllure in Navy Blue/Gold – $3.99 with code VENOFF09
- vAllure in Coral Pink/Gold – $3.99 with code VENOFF09
Samsung Galaxy S7:
- Retain (Clear case) – $1.99 with code VENOFF06
- iSlide in Coral Red/Champagne Gold – $2.99 with code VENOFF08
- iSlide in Lavender/Champagne Gold – $2.99 with code VENOFF08
- vAllure in Navy Blue/Gold – $3.99 with code VENOFF09
- vAllure in Coral Pink/Gold – $3.99 with code VENOFF09
- vArmor in Black/Black – $4.99 with code VENOFF10
- vCommute in Space Gray/Black – $5.99 with code VENOFF09
- vCommute in Rose Gold/Black – $5.99 with code VENOFF09
Samsung Galaxy S7 edge:
- Retain (Clear case) – $1.99 with code VENOFF06
- iSlide in Teal/Champagne Gold – $2.99 with code VENOFF08
- iSlide in Lavender/Champagne Gold – $2.99 with code VENOFF08
- vAllure in Navy Blue/Gold – $3.99 with code VENOFF09
- vAllure in Coral Pink/Gold: $3.99 with code VENOFF09
- vArmor in Black/Black – $4.99 with code VENOFF10
- vCommute in Space Gray/Black – $5.99 with code VENOFF09
- vCommute in Rose Gold/Black – $5.99 with code VENOFF09
If you are interested in any of these cases, you will want to act quickly. We don’t know how long this deal will last, but if previous sales are any indication, it won’t be long. Remember, select SFPlanet as the seller so you can use the coupons, and not SFPlanet with fulfillment through Amazon.
AppStretch allows developers to use crowd funding to add features to apps
AdDuplex has announced the launch of AppStretch, a new service for app developers to help them add features via crowd funding. The service supports the iOS and Mac App Store, the Google Play Store and the Windows Store.
AdDuplex says:
Developers direct their loyal fans to AppStretch to provide ideas for the features they’d like to see in the future versions and vote by pledging support with either money or promotion via their social networks accounts. Based on these feature requests, or their own ideas, developers can launch crowdfunding campaigns to collect support for the implementation and derisk their time investment.
Support for other app stores will be added to AppStretch in the future.
Sign up to use AppStretch
Facebook’s Moments arrives in the EU and Canada, but without facial recognition
Facebook has launched its Moments photo-sharing app in the EU and Canada, though with a notable change from the version available to the rest of the world. The Moments app for these countries lacks the facial recognition feature found in the app in the rest of the world, which Moments uses to suggest which friends you should share photos with.
However, while this does make the app less intuitive, Facebook has come up with a partial solution, according to TechCrunch:
Explains Facebook, this modified version of the app doesn’t use facial recognition technology, but rather groups together multiple photos that “appear to include the same face.” To make this determination, Facebook says it instead uses a form of object recognition, which is based on features like the distance between a person’s eyes and their ears.
Aside from facial recognition, Moments uses date, time, and location to figure out who you should send photos to, so the removal of facial recognition doesn’t hamstring the app. You should be able to find the latest version of Moments in the Google Play Store in your country now.
AIVAnet 