Infuse helps you find fresh videos on Apple TV and iOS
Media portal and set-top box makers have tried any number of things to help you decide what to watch next, ranging from visual makeovers to voice recognition. However, the team at FireCore thinks it has a better way: filters. The new Infuse 4.2 for Apple TV and iOS has a redesigned library view that not only helps you find videos the old-fashioned way, but incorporates smart filters that automatically sift through your collection. You can quickly figure out which TV shows are kid-appropriate, for example, or look for just the movies that came out last year. Moreover, you can create home screen favorites that revolve around these filters — you could always see what’s new the moment you sit down for the evening.
There’s more. On iOS, Infuse titles now show up in Spotlight searches and will start playing right away when you tap the results. Your ratings on Trakt sync across devices, too, so you won’t forget that a show was amazing just because you’re about to watch it somewhere else. All told, this isn’t the minor update the version number suggests. Give it a look if you’re frequently wracked with indecision on movie night.
Source: FireCore
7 helpful ways to use Google Now on Tap – CNET
Google Now on Tap can help you do searches faster, without actually typing anything into Google.
Taylor Martin/CNET
Among the new features announced with the current version of Android last year was Google Now on Tap, an extension of Google Now and Google search to practically every possible screen on your smartphone.
While the feature was received with quite a bit of fanfare, it’s not always as practical as Google would have you believe. It’s very hit or miss. Often giving you no useful search cards when you would expect it to.
However, there are some situations where Google Now on Tap shines and makes what would normally be a multistep process just a tap or click away. Here’s how to get the most out of Google Now on Tap.
Find out when your favorite band is playing
I can never keep up with when my favorite bands are in town or on tour. But with Google Now on Tap, you can quickly check for upcoming shows or concerts by long-pressing the home button when listening to an artist in a music app like Google Play Music or Spotify, or while viewing their Facebook page. Once the card for the band or artist appears, scroll all the way to the right. If upcoming tour dates are available, you will see an option called Events. Tap this to icon to bring up more information.
Find a music video for a song
If you’re listening to a specific song in a music app, bringing up Google Now on Tap will provide quite a bit of information on both the band and song. If there’s one available, it will also provide a direct link to the official music video on YouTube. When you tap this icon, YouTube will launch, the video will load and it will begin playing.
Create a calendar event
If you’re trying to make plans with friends, queueing up Google Now on Tap will suggest creating a new event in your calendar. If you tap the card, your default calendar will open, jump to creating a new event and input the details discovered by Google Now. Tweak the information (such as location and time) and save the event.
I’ve found that Google Now on Tap is spotty when picking up on possible calendar entries, only catching very obvious phrases, such as “today at 2” or “tomorrow for lunch.” When being more vague, as is typical in casual conversation, it doesn’t always pick up on suggested times as calendar entries.
Get more information on news stories
If you keep seeing the same story pop up in your news feeds and you don’t know the backstory, you can quickly find it with Google Now on Tap, which is surprisingly great and providing some context on different stories, people, events and more.
Check package tracking
Google Now will automatically track packages for you as it finds valid tracking numbers in your inbox. However, if you’re viewing a tracking number on a website or a friend sends you a tracking number in a chat, you can quickly track the package without having to copy and paste the tracking number. Instead, just summon Google Now on Tap and tap Track [carrier] Package.
Search for product reviews
Amazon product reviews aren’t always the most reliable or trustworthy writings. Often, old Amazon listings get repurposed for new (and sometimes completely unrelated) products by the same company. The issue of paid or incentivized reviews also exists, and some reviews just aren’t reliable.
However, using Google Now on Tap, you can jump to a Google search or YouTube for more professional reviews of the product you’re looking at in any online store. For the record, the Google search option is recommended, as the YouTube shortcut is usually a wildcard and doesn’t always find the best possible review video for a product.
Place dinner reservations
If you’re on the Facebook page of a restaurant, someone mentions it in a chat or you’re on their website but can’t find a way to book a reservation, make sure you have the OpenTable app installed on your Android device and long press on the home button. If the restaurant is available on OpenTable, you can also then jump into booking a reservation from Google Now on Tap.
Get money off a Lumsing fast charger with Quick Charge 2.0 that will have your battery back to full power within 80 minutes
We’re not sure about you, but for us here at Pocket-lint we can never find enough chargers in the house or office for all our gadgets. It doesn’t have to be that way though.
The Lumsing Quick Charge 2.0 40W Multi-Port USB Desktop Charger is a five USB port charging station giving you the ability to charge a five devices at once from a single plug socket.
Those in need of a superfast charge to get them back up and running again can use the dedicated Quick Charge 2.0 port that can charge a QC2.0 compatible phone in minutes rather than hours.
Samsung Galaxy S7 owners for example, will be able to fully charge their phone from 0 per cent battery life to a full battery in just 80 minutes. That’s shorter than a game of football.
Lumsing
The Lumsing Quick Charge 2.0 40W Multi-Port USB Desktop Charger can charge your devices up to 75 per cent faster than the average market charger.
All five ports have Lumsing’s Smart Charging technology that automatically adjusts themselves to compatible devices and deliver the best possible charge (up to 3 amps per port, or 8 amps max) meaning it will conveniently switch to the suitable mode for optimum speed charging for your device without you having to do a thing.
iPhone and iPad users using this charger can save up to 5.6 hours in charging time thanks to the intelligent charging feature.
Coming with a 1.5m power cord it can charge iPhone, iPad, Android smartphones, tablets and any other USB devices (power bank, radio, LED lights etc) up to 5 at the same time and the unit is small enough to pop in a bag for travelling.
To get your discount, go to Amazon.co.uk or Amazon.com and enter the discount codes below.
The deal starts from today and will end at 23:59 local time on the 6 June 2016.
Code: 55CXY5OV
Discount: 40% OFF
Deal price: £10.19
Deal end: 23:59 06/06 BST
Code: WABR8BQC
Discount: 40% OFF
Deal price: $11.99
Deal end: 23:59 06/06 PDT
Watch homebrew code run Steam games on the PS4
Ever since Sony switched to x86 processors with the PlayStation 4, gamers have been craving the chance to play PC games on the console — it’s much closer to your home computer than the PS3 was, after all. Well, we’re glad to say that it’s no longer just a dream: OsirisX recently demonstrated Steam running on a PS4 thanks to a combination of a jailbreak, Arch Linux and some software libraries from Fail0verflow. And yes, it plays games. The demo shows the action-RPG Bastion running at a decent pace, and OsirisX notes that most other titles run well enough at medium to low graphics settings.
The problem, as with many such mods, is aligning the stars so that you can get it all running. At last check, you need a PS4 with a relatively ancient version of Sony’s operating system (1.76) to jailbreak and install Linux. Also, there’s no simple package that includes everything you need; this will require some elbow grease. There’s talk of a possible jailbreak for much newer software (3.50), though, and it won’t be surprising if it’s eventually trivial to run Steam games on the same system you use for Uncharted.
Via: Wololo.net (1), (2)
Source: OsirisX (YouTube), Fail0verflow (GitHub)
Indiegogo deal helps crowdfunders make their gadgets
Indiegogo has made some effort to help get crowdfunded projects off the ground, but it has mostly focused on big companies so far. What about startups still grappling with the basics of making devices? Don’t worry: they’re getting some help now, too. Indiegogo has formed a partnership with Arrow Electronics to help crowdunders produce their inventions. If Arrow thinks a project is both feasible and important, it’ll offer direct access to design, manufacturing support and supply chain services (including engineers) worth as much as $500,000. The recipients also get discounts on parts and software, and there’s a badge to show Arrow’s approval on campaign pages.
It’s too soon to say how well this team-up will fare, but it could be crucial in the long run. While most crowdfunding efforts succeed, a sizeable number of them don’t — this increases the odds that the money you pledge will lead to a shipping product. In a sense, it’s a seal of approval for cautious backers who only want to support campaigns that are likely to deliver. And it’s particularly important for Indiegogo, which is still trying to mend its reputation for hosting the occasional less-than-realistic project. Arrow’s help might persuade you to fund Indiegogo projects when you’d otherwise see what Kickstarter has to offer.
Source: Arrow
Google Science Journal studies the world through your phone
Are you (or your kid) curious about the world around you? Google wants to help. It just launched Science Journal, an Android app that helps you perform (and comment on) simple science experiments. The app can record light, motion and sound levels using only your phone’s sensors, letting you study everything from a light bulb’s brightness to the acceleration in a jump. It’s easy to kick things up a notch, though. You can connect Arduino-powered sensors, and Google is partnering with Exploratorium to offer starter kits to help budding scientists. Science Journal is free, so there’s no harm in giving it a try — even if you’re a full-fledged adult, you might learn something.
Via: Android Police
Source: Google Play, Google for Education
Court claims Google lost right to pull site from search results
You’d think that Google’s search results would be protected in the US by free speech rights. Google gets to say what what shows up on its own site, right? However, one Florida court thinks differently. It recently determined that Google wasn’t protected by the Constitution’s First Amendment when it pulled search engine optimization firm E-ventures’ website from its index. Google supposedly crossed the line when it claimed E-ventures was violating its policies by posting “pure spam” — this wasn’t strictly true, the court argued, and was driven by “anti-competitive motives” rather than self-expression.
The court also shot down Google’s attempts to use a Good Samaritan clause in the law that absolves it of liability for pulling content in good faith. It’s not clear that this is the case, according to the decision. Also, some of E-ventures’ complaint revolves around accusations that Google wasn’t acting in good faith.
We’ve asked Google for its take on the decision, but it’s already easy to see the company challenging this outcome. There’s already a precedent for Google having the right to order its search results under the First Amendment, for one thing. And as TechDirt notes, there’s a real risk of this giving some companies an escape clause whenever free speech issues come up. Don’t like that a search engine took down results for your content? Say it was an anti-competitive move. That doesn’t mean that Google will never violate the law through its search result strategy (the EU seems to think it does), but the Mountain View crew may still have a good case.
Via: TechDirt
Source: Google Scholar
These $70 DIY synthesizers are a hobbyist’s dream
For me, one of the most interesting parts of Moogfest is the Circuit Bending Challenge. Sure, the performances and tech demos are great, but it’s always a treat to see what a community of tinkerers can come up with on a tight budget of $70. I’ve seen everything from a wearable helmet instrument to creations that look more like a compact analog machine. This year’s finalists offer some of the most polished exterior designs I’ve seen over the last few competitions and all three have unique sounds to match.
The Vola V-System Sequencer functions much like a game console, allowing the user to insert cartridges based on the kinds of sounds they want to make. Built by Vola Noisy Stuff from Finland, the instrument can be a beat machine or a more traditional sampler depending on which cartridge is being used at the time. Due to its ability to easily add new sounds, the V-System is perhaps the most versatile of the bunch, pulling noises and effects from different children’s toys. It doesn’t skimp on the traditional synth controls either, as there’s a patch bay and two low-frequency oscillators.
What can you do with a $9 Yamaha PSS-140 keyboard from a thrift store? Well, Mike Sisk added a LTC1799 oscillator to control the pitch and speed of the original instrument’s sound bank. He then tacked on echo effects from a $5 Barbie karaoke machine and a low-pass filter and a main panel that offers knobs and switches for pitch, effects and voltage. All of that fits inside a wood frame reminiscent of classic synths, including the recently revived Minimoog Model D.
Last, but certainly not least, there’s another modified Yamaha PSS-140 from Chicago-based artist Mike Tewz. For this DIY instrument though, the keys and the control panel were separated to make room for a patch bay and additional controls. Tewz also added an LED sequencer for the PSS-140’s built-in drum sounds, an additional control panel and an LTC1799 oscillator module for those pitch and speed tweaks. This hacked PSS-140 rests inside a $5 poker chip case — you know, if he needs to take it on the road to a music festival.
Alleged iPhone 7 Prototype Case Leak Shows Four Separate Speakers
In a curious twist on recent rumors about the upcoming iPhone 7, French language blog Nowhereelse.fr today posted a series of images purporting to show a prototype rear case for the next-gen iPhone featuring four separate speakers.
According to previous rumors, Apple could drop the headphone jack in the iPhone 7 and replace it with a second speaker that would potentially allow for the use of an additional audio amp provided by Cirrus Logic, which would also supply the noise-cancellation smart codec in an also-rumored Lightning-equipped headphone accessory.
Other more recent rumors based on alleged leaked iPhone 7 blueprints have cast doubt on that claim, showing no second speaker in place of the missing headphone jack and suggesting Apple’s evolving iPhone design will continue to have a single speaker setup.
Today’s post by serial leaker Steven Hemmerstoffer has therefore thrown a curveball into the rumor mill, with some images apparently taken from a promotional video made by an Italian casemaker, which allegedly received a prototype iPhone 7 case in anticipation of the coming refresh in September.
While the wider lens and lack of horizontal antenna lines are consistent with previous leaks, the appearance of four separate speaker grilles – two at the top and two along the bottom – is a new, albeit sketchy contender.
As Hemmerstoffer himself notes, it doesn’t seem viable for a speaker to sit so close to the camera module, unless the reorientation of the camera and LED flash holes from a horizontal alignment across the rear of the handset, to a vertical arrangement running down it, somehow allows for the possibility.
In addition, it’s unclear what benefit four speakers would have in such a small profile over one or even two of them. Still, the alleged leak remains an unexpected and therefore interesting development in the continuing iPhone 7 rumor story.
Other, more consistent industry mutterings and leaks suggest Apple’s new iPhones will look similar to the iPhone 6 and iPhone 6s series, featuring only minor tweaks to the design such as the horizontal antenna band removal, flush camera, and a thinner Lightning port, while the larger 5.5-inch iPhone 7 Plus model is thought to get exclusivity to a dual-lens camera system and Smart Connector.
Related Roundup: iPhone 7
Discuss this article in our forums
Ukemi Ninja: This game should head back to the dojo (Review)
Overview
Ukemi Ninja is a platforming adventure game where you guide a ninja through obstacles and opponents to save the local villages.
Developer: NotskiGames
Cost: Free (with ads and microtransactions)
Highlights
- A lot of items and tools
- Floaty, difficult to control
- Relatively short
Impressions
Ukemi Ninja seems harmless enough on the surface. It has vibrant colors and a cutesy art style that appears kid-friendly and fun, but beneath that docile exterior lies a test of your patience that few games can equal.
The objective of the game is to run your ninja through the stages, to collect a key to open the exit. You have a few familiar ninja tools such as throwing stars and rope, as well as some odd ones, like grenades, dynamite, and bazookas. You can double jump, punch and kick as well.
1 of 4
The game is a chore to control. Your character has a floaty, low gravity jump that is difficult to maneuver and time correctly with the platforms. Also, your forward momentum is maintained after you stop, so you wind up sliding around and sometimes sliding off platforms for no reason. Ever wanted to play an entire game with a Mario-style ice platforms? This game is for you!
The levels themselves are fine, for the most part. A few stages don’t make it clear what you’re supposed to do to. Some stages also ask the impossible from the player. For example, one early stage wants you to use dynamite to move platforms to collect the key, but the timing and controls, coupled with the poor platform placement, made it nearly impossible. I had to repeat it over and over until I got lucky and pushed the platform enough with my face to get the key and leave. Oh, and also, there’s falling damage. Unforgiving, punishing falling damage.
The ads and microtransactions are harmless, thankfully, although the game is incredibly stingy with in-game currency, so if you’ll want to save your items as much as possible. The one thing that probably drives me crazy the most is that if you switch to a new app without fully closing the app, the music keeps playing, even while the device is locked.
Conclusion
Ukemi Ninja is a tough call, because it is not unplayable. The game is frustrating, for sure, but it works and isn’t Dark Souls levels of crushing. Some people may even find enjoyment in the challenge of the controls and platforming oddities, but I believe most people will just find it too much to play for any longer than a few minutes.
Download and install Ukemi Ninja from the Google Play Store.
AIVAnet 