Watch Mercury cross the Sun starting at 7AM Eastern

Mercury might orbit the Sun every 88 days, but seeing it cross in front of the Sun is much rarer. That only happens roughly 13 times each century, and the technology to safely watch this happen hasn’t been widely available until recently. However, you’re in for a treat this time around. Mercury is poised to transit across the Sun on May 9th starting at about 7:12AM Eastern, and numerous sites (including NASA and Slooh) are offering live footage of the crossing until it finishes at around 2:42PM. Given that you probably don’t have a telescope and the solar filter needed to protect your eyes, this is likely the best way to watch.

The passage should be useful for researchers. While astronomers already know a lot about Mercury, the Washington Post notes that the transit will help them study the planet’s extremely thin atmosphere and calibrate instruments on both Earth as well as spacecraft around the Solar System. In short, this cosmic alignment should result in a lot more than some pretty pictures.

Via: Washington Post, Space.com

Source: NASA, Slooh

AC editors’ apps of the week: Distiller, 5217, Tripit and more

It’s Appday Sunday and that means we’re back with more of our favorites to share. Every week we bring a handful of great apps to the table and share them with everyone. Sometimes they are new apps, sometimes old standards, but every time they are apps we love to use.

Give these a look and then take a minute to tell us all about the apps you are using and love so we can give them a try. We all find some of our favorites right in the comments on these posts!

Ara Wagoner — Tasker

It’s been a while since we’ve mentioned Tasker, I know. In fact for most of the last six months I haven’t even had it installed on my daily driver, but back in late March I decided I was tired of manually enacting silent mode during showtimes, and that I missed my favorite alarm in the world: Tasker + Google Play Music. Kinda like root, some of the things I use Tasker for are getting replaced by Android system functions (like Do Not Disturb, which I apparently seem to be the only Android nerd that likes it) or made unnecessary by system improvements (like Doze).

It’s fun playing with Tasker again, and I’ll get into some of the fun ways Tasker figures into theming and home screen customization soon. While IFTTT has gotten a lot more attention in recent months, Tasker still has a lot to offer. Like letting me automagically start my Disney playlist when my phone re-connects to the car stereo.

Download: Tasker($2.99)

Russell Holly — 5217

It’s super easy for me to sit down at my desk, throw on a pair of headphones, and write for hours. Unfortunately, that’s not particularly healthy. There’s a ton of research that suggests breaking up your work day with movement is good for personal health and productivity, but forcing myself to do it is often a challenge.

5217 does exactly this, and looks really nice in the process. You get 52 minutes of productivity, and then a notification tells you to take a break for 17 minutes. Repeat as necessary, and in theory your day will be better and more productive. As is often the case with these things, your mileage may vary.

Download: 5217 ($1.14)

Jen Karner — Waze

When it comes to getting where I need to go, I am forever using a navigation app to help me get there. While I love using Google Maps for the most part, I’ve had some issues with it when driving in the city. Namely Google Maps like to take me the most circuitous route to get me where I’m going. So I figured I’d give Waze a shot, and see if I had a better experience.

I did. Waze gets me around within the city limits in a much easier, and overall faster. It’s got some nifty features you won’t find on Google Maps, namely choosing who is giving you directions, which can be a lot of fun. If you’re looking for a navigation app that will help you get around the city, then Waze is definitely worth a download.

Download: Waze (Free)

Alex Dobie — Tripit

Although Google Calendar and Gmail do a decent job of tracking flights, hotel reservations and other travel-related essentials, there’s no substitute for a dedicated service, especially when planning a complex, multi-leg journey. Tripit is my journey planner of choice, and the Android app for the service is pretty full-featured, giving you one easy place to track your entire itinerary, any related info you might need (light delays or gate changes) and what’s going on with others in your network.

As for Tripit the service, it easily integrates with Gmail to pick up details of flights, train journeys, hotels, AirBNB reservations and other stuff as it arrives, which saves you manually setting things up. The basic service (and app) is free, and there’s a paid Tripit Pro option available for a $49 annual subscription. (Similarly, a payment of just a dollar gets you an ad-free experience in the Android app.)

Download: Tripit

Download: Tripit (paid, no ads)

Daniel Bader — Distiller

Once you enter the seemingly-endless world of scotch, bourbon, Irish, Canadian, American and Japanese whiskey varieties, it’s difficult to wrap your head around — and unkind to your wallet.

Distiller is an app that attempts to curate some of the best whiskeys from around the world, filtered by geography, taste profile and, most importantly, price. The company behind the app employs a number of full-time whiskey critics, offering a full flavor profile, tasting notes, and a rating out of 100. But perhaps more important is the ability to keep track of your own purchases, building a personal list of bottles and their unique traits.

Distiller divides your personal shelf into three tiers: Top Shelf, for the cream of the crop; Collection, for the everyday tipples; and Wishlist, for the bottles too expensive, or too rare, to acquire just yet.

If you’re into whiskey (or whisky!) and don’t know where to start building your collection, Distiller is a great first step.

Download: Distiller (free)

Andrew Martonik — Square Cash

I’m a huge proponent of Google Wallet when it comes to transferring money among friends and family, especially when it comes to being able to quickly attach money to a Gmail message. But unfortunately, it just hasn’t caught on with most of my friends in the way Square Cash has.

The idea behind Square Cash is simple … and basically the same as Google Wallet. Connect your debit card to the app, and you can then send and receive money instantly with anyone by using their email, phone number or $cashtag (basically a Square Cash username). Money you receive is available instantly for deposit to your bank, or you can keep it in Square Cash to quickly send back out to someone else in the future. You can also see a history of money transfers so you know where the money has gone.

The interface just couldn’t be simpler, and it’s pretty incredible how many people are using it on a regular basis to send money around. Whether you’re trying to pay someone back for dinner last night, giving someone money in advance for a favor or whatever, Square Cash is increasingly the way to go for the service.

Download: Square Cash (Free)

Jerry Hildenbrand — Toca Kitchen 2

A friend’s kids were playing this crazy looking game on their Samsung Tablet, so I had them show it to me for a few minutes. Toca Kitchen 2 is one of the best kids games I’ve seen. Invite goofy looking characters into your kitchen, make stuff for them to eat and watch the reaction. It’s funny, it’s fun and it was engaging to the 6 year old and 8 year old in the room. And the 40-something kid in the room. Kids have a lot of fun both pleasing the diners and cooking awful concoctions so they can watch a yeti freak out because you put too much hot sauce on his deep-fried broccoli. They explained to me that this was one of their favorite games because it was cool to cook food and fun to watch the people eat it.

There are no ads, there are no in-app purchases and the permissions don’t touch anything like contacts or messages — something very important for a kids app. If you have kids who like to play on Android, Install this one and give it a look. If it meets your approval (I don’t see any red flags, but they’re your kids and my discretion doesn’t count) let them see if they like it as much as these two (OK, three) rascals do.

Download: Toca Kitchen 2 (Free)

New 2016 Moto X and Droid leak reveals potential dock connector

We’ve already seen what a potential 2016 refresh of the Moto G and its reported Plus counterpart will look like, and thanks to a weekend leak from HelloMotoHK, we could now be looking at this year’s Moto X and Droid refreshes.

While a summer announcement is all but a sure thing, this is the first good look we’ve seen of the 2016 Moto X and its Verizon-only Droid counterpart, which are, year after year, increasingly losing their differentiating features. What we see here is a new rear camera module, with a Moto 360-like “flat tire” that houses the phone’s dual-LED flash. Around the side, separate buttons for the volume nubs and power can be distinguished, along with a front-facing fingerprint sensor that — well, it’s about time.

Perhaps the most interesting part of the render is on the opposite side of the camera bump: a series of 16 gold dots that, to our eyes, comprise a dock connector of sorts, similar to Apple’s Smart Connector that began shipping with the iPad Pro. Whether Lenovo, Motorola’s new parent company, has grand plans for a Continuum-like platform — a throwback of sorts for Motorola — remains to be seen, but it could spark the beginning of yet another set of accessories powered by a smartphone.

As with previous years, it appears Motorola will offer both the Moto X and Droid lineups with the choice of custom colors and designs, courtesy of its popular Moto Maker system. Being Canadian, I’m hoping the customization options move north this year, but either way, it’s looking probably Motorola will continue the proliferation of funky and unorthodox back cover materials such as wood, leather, silicon and denim.

We likely only have a few short weeks to wait for an official announcement, so stay tuned to Android Central for all the details.

Bitcoin will pay for public services in a small Swiss town

Most experiments in paying with digital currencies have come from private companies, but the Swiss town of Zug is trying something different. As of July 1st, the community is launching a trial that will let you pay for public services using Bitcoin — as long as you’re shelling out the equivalent of 200 francs ($206 US) or less, you can skip old-fashioned money. The trial will run through the rest of 2016, though whether or not it lives beyond that depends on the town council’s findings.

It might seem odd to center a trial like this on a municipality with less than 30,000 people, but this is potentially an ideal testbed. Zug takes a laissez-faire attitude toward its economy, even in the context of Switzerland, and has much more financial clout than you’d expect — 3 percent of the world’s oil trades through the area. Combine that with a burgeoning financial tech sector and it’s likely that at least some locals will fork over some Bitcoin.

The real question is whether or not any other cities will bite. While some governments have been warming up to Bitcoin, the currency is still far from a household name. Zug would have to show that there are clear advantages (or at least, few drawbacks) to taking Bitcoin at municipal offices. The technology is secure and can lower transaction costs, but that has yet to be proven on this kind of government scale.

Via: Bitcoin.com

Source: Stadtzug.ch (translated)

Mobile Nations Weekly: Lock it down

Software updates, financial updates, stealth updates, and account updates.

Tesla had a huge week, starting off with their quarterly earnings call — they’re still losing money, in case you were concerned. No, what’s actually interesting is that Tesla is dramatically accelerating their production timeline, shooting to be producing 500,000 cars a year by 2018 — they plan to make 80,000-90,000 cars in 2016. They also executed a stealth upgrade option — some new Model S cars actually have a bigger battery than what they customer paid for, but they can pay to unlock the extra range.

Windows 10 has landed on 300 million computers, phones, and Xbox consoles. That’s huge. Also big: a thorough updating and redesigning of HP’s Pavilion PCs, our in-depth review of The Division, and details about how Microsoft plans to modernize classic Windows apps.

Google made a huge and long-awaited update to their keyboard app: one-handed mode (and some other stuff) while the HTC 10 got a software update with camera improvements. And while the roll-out of Marshmallow for the BlackBerry Priv continues, BlackBerry’s CEO confirmed that two new phones are coming by the end of the year (and we’d put out money on them running Android).

Apple, ever the subject of the tech media’s attention, found itself in the cross-hairs again. This time? Well-founded confusion about the confusing way that Apple Music merges streaming, cloud, and local music and the un-ending clamor that Apple’s best days are behind it (which may be true, but is likely hogwash).

We should also mention the elephant in the room: that huge data breach that may have compromised up to 232 million logins for Google, Microsoft, and Yahoo. If there was any doubt that you should be using two-factor authentication to make sure your accounts are secure, it should be erased now. Here’s how to set-up two-factor authentication for your Apple, Google, and Microsoft accounts. Additionally, check Two Factor Auth.org for a comprehensive list of services where you can enable two-factor authentication.

Android Central — Always waiting for a software update

HTC pushed an update to its new HTC 10 that has a few improvements for the camera, and we took the new software for a spin. At the same time, rumors are swirling about a potential upcoming Android Wear watch from the company.

Google rolled out updates to many of its core apps this week, including a one to Google Keyboard with several new features. And now’s a great time to remember that we should be glad these apps are in Google Play, because it can take some time for full software updates to hit your phone.

If you’re one who wants to keep up with the security side of Android, be sure to check out this month’s Android Security Bulletin. As these monthly security updates get more popular in the general public, Android manufacturers are starting to step up their game in terms of update frequency. Chances are those who are interested in Android security are also checking out Android N, and we want to know how you’re finding the software so far.

And if you’ve been eyeing the Nextbit Robin, you have until May 10 to get one for just $299 on Amazon, which is one heck of a deal.

• Should you upgrade to the HTC 10 from the One M9?
• How to set up Google two-step verification
• Exploring the idea of Android apps on Chromebooks
• Samsung Fast Charge Wireless Charging Stand review
• Kick ass with our Captain America: Civil War themes
• AKG N60NC noise-canceling headphones review
• LG G5 vs. LG V10

CrackBerry — More to come

John Chen once again confirms plans to release two new phones, Android Marshmallow is reaching even more Priv owners as carrier updates have now begun and finally, BlackBerry brings back their ‘Fan of the month’ contest led by John Chen. All in all, a good week.

• John Chen: We have two new phones coming out between now and the end of the year
• The wider rollout of Marshmallow has begun for Priv owners
• John Chen wants to give you a BlackBerry!

iMore — Factored

The will-it-won’t-it see-saw that is iPhone 7 rumors continues, this week turning cold on a smart-connector. iOS 10, on the other hand, is promising a redo on the Music app, and maybe more.

There was also another data breach so, if you haven’t already, make sure you set up 2-factor authentication and get an app like Authy to manage it for you. Now, not when it’s too late!

• No, Apple Music will not magically erase tracks off your Mac
• How we work on our iPhones, iPads, and Macs
• ‘Apple’s best days behind it’… again
• Follow @imoregram on Instagram for your chance to win awesome iPhoneography gear!

Tesla Central — The ‘go’ pedal

Tesla’s not your typical car company, and it shows with how they implement new options. Take the 75kWh Model S battery upgrade — it’s built into every new 70kWh Model S, but that extra 15 miles of range is locked away until you pay a $3000 upgrade fee. That doesn’t sit right with some people, but that’s simply the future of how we’ll buy cars (not to mention a simpler manufacturing line for Tesla).

The bigger news, however, comes from their quarterly results (they’re still losing money, but that’s not new): Tesla is moving up their manufacturing plans and aiming to hit 500,000 cars a year by 2018 and 1 million cars a year by 2020. It’s hugely ambitious for a company that plans to make 90,000 cars this year.

Last, Tesla CEO Elon Musk said that there’s still time to reserve a Model 3 and get it by 2018 — but that time is quickly running out

• Want a Model 3 by 2018? You better reserve now!
• Tesla’s Q1 2016 earnings results and the Tesla Q1 2016 earnings call transcript
• Tesla is dramatically accelerating production ramp-up, shooting for 500,000 cars a year by 2018 and 1 million in 2020
• Tesla Model S 75D now officially official; upgrade from 70D for $3,000
• Tesla’s changing how we think about buying cars, and it might feel weird
• This Tesla Model S was absolutely demolished in a joyriding wreck — and everybody survived
• Everything you need to know about the Tesla Model S

Windows Central — 300,000,000

Microsoft did not release any new OS builds this week as they try to fix some last minute bugs. Nonetheless, there was still some big news as Microsoft announced that they had hit 300 million installations of Windows 10 across all devices including Xbox, PC, tablets, and phone. The company is now almost a third of the way to that 1 billion goal they set for themselves.

HP announced a series of new updates to their existing Pavilion computer line. The Lumia 650 went on sale on Cricket for just $130 and the Verizon Lumia Icon is getting back into things as Microsoft is now supporting the phone for the Insider program (right after we boasted about how well it runs on that phone).

Vine launched their new app for Windows 10 on PC and it’s pretty impressive. A mobile version is expected shortly.

Finally, we answer questions about Project Centennial and whether or not converted Win32 apps can run on Windows 10 Mobile. We also show you how to set up two-step-authentication on your Microsoft Account.

• Tom Clancy’s The Division review: the full immersive, thrilling, and frustrating experience
• Review – Kangaroo Mobile Desktop Pro for $199
• Which Windows Insider Ring is best? All you need to know about Slow, Fast, and Release Preview rings
• How to dual-boot Windows 10 alongside an Insider Preview build

Kyocera DuraForce XD mini review: A rugged phone that doesn’t break the bank

Kyocera is no stranger to making rugged smartphones, and its latest offering, the DuraForce XD, shows just that.

Rugged smartphones are often times in a league of their own, and odds are unless you have a specific need for one you aren’t going to end up walking out of a retail store with one as your next phone. For those in the construction, trucking, and other more physically demanding fields, rugged smartphones are a no-brainer as the added protection is often times a necessity, not a want.

By nature, rugged smartphones are on the larger side, and generally much thicker than other smartphones, but that is to keep them protected. In the past, the trade-off to getting a rugged smartphone was general specs. You are looking at lower end specs on most of them, with the exception of Samsung’s Galaxy Active line which is a high-end smartphone with added durability.

This time around Kyocera decided to push the limits of rugged smartphones a bit further, increasing the internal specs and offering an overall appealing package to those who need this type of smartphone.

DuraForce XD Hardware

Coming in at around the $450 price point off contract, the DuraForce XD falls between the budget and flagship smartphones when it comes to price, and internally it has mid-range specs. Between the 5.7-inch impact-resistant display and the added bulk from the ruggedization of the phone, there is no denying that it’s on the large side here, weighing in at 10.8 ounces.

On the outside, the DuraForce XD is rather uninspired in terms of design but that isn’t necessarily bad. All rugged smartphones have a rather industrial-style design, and this is no exception. Looking at the front of it, you’ve got two speaker grills at the bottom, which protect the dual-front speakers. At the top is the AT&T logo and the earpiece. Over on the right side of the smartphone is the power button, with the volume buttons on the right along with a customizable button. If you will be using the PTT functionality, this key will be mapped to bring up your PTT contacts to start conversations.

On the top of the phone is a headphone jack and a speaker button, which enables or disables the speaker when using calls and PTT. The micro-USB port is down at the bottom of the phone, and on the back you’ve got the camera at the top with the flash next to it, and down at the bottom is a screw that keeps the battery door locked in place to maintain its ability to be waterproof.

Inside the DuraForce XD, Kyocera has opted to include Qualcomm’s Snapdragon 400 processor clocked at 1.6GHz and paired with 2GB of RAM. This combination isn’t out of the ordinary, as you wouldn’t expect a smartphone like this to come with a top of the line processor, nor a huge amount of RAM. As for storage, Kyocera has included 16GB of onboard storage that can be expanded by adding a microSD card.

But just how rugged is the DuraForce XD? Well, thanks to its Military-Standard 810G certification, it can withstand dust, shock, vibration and extreme temperatures with ease. The IP68 rating means that it can withstand being submerged in up to 6 feet of water for up to 30 minutes and still work normal after. You will need to make sure that when you aren’t using the charging port or headphone jack that you make sure they are properly closed, or water may be able to get in either of these two places.

DuraForce XD Software

For software, the DuraForce XD runs Android 5.1 Lollipop out of the box, with a slightly skinned user interface over the top. While we’ve previously said that the line was drawn in the sand for devices launching with the older software, odds are that people looking for these rugged devices value the durability more than the latest software. While that isn’t an excuse for the software choice, it makes it a little easier to deal with here.

What is absolutely inexcusable is the amount of bloat that AT&T has packaged with this smartphone. The app drawer on this phone at first boot is fuller than my Nexus 6P with my own apps installed, and that is saying something. Besides the usual stuff like Chrome, Android Pay, and Google’s other default apps, the DuraForce XD packs 25 additional apps with it — let that set in for a second.

AT&T has included a suite of its own apps from AT&T EPTT (necessary if you are going to use the Push to Talk functionality), AT&T Family Map, DriveMode, Mobile TV and Usage Monitor to Uber, Outdoor Report, YellowPages and others, there is way more here than anyone should be subjected to. Of the included 16GB of storage, there is only 6.21GB available out of the box to be used for your own data. 16GB is not an acceptable starting point for phones these days, especially when you limit customers to one choice, then load it with apps that they can’t delete to regain the space.

DuraForce XD Cameras

When it comes to the camera, you’ve got an 8-megapixel shooter on the rear, which would have excited us years ago. Over the past year or two, we have seen a lot of progress with cameras in Android phones, and while not among the best in class the camera still works great. As expected, low-light shots are not the greatest, but you can still manage to capture an image that you’ll later be able to look at and remember what was taking place in it.

For shots during the day with ample lighting you should be able to capture some nice looking shots. Motion shots are a bit trickier, as the shutter is a bit on the slow side. The camera has options for self-timers, touch shutter, smile shutter and blink detection to help aid in getting the best picture possible for you. On the video front, you’ll be able to take some clips of the kids at the park, but you won’t be using this to film weddings or anything you really want to show in high quality.

DuraForce XD Battery life

Packed inside the DuraForce XD is a 3700mAh battery, which is quite large in comparison to many other phones. The phone is said to get around 23 hours of talk time per charge, and in day-to-day use, I was easily able to get a full day worth of use with battery to spare. Since everyone’s use of the phone will be different, it’s hard to say how long it will last for you, but it should make it through the day for just about everyone.

Standby battery is astonishing. Android has been known to drain a battery when sitting idle, which was addressed by Doze in Marshmallow, but being on Lollipop you don’t have Doze to rely on. Knowing that the phone isn’t draining rapidly in your pocket is a relief, and if you need to leave it off the charger overnight or for an extended period of time, you should be fine.

Is this the phone for you?

Unlike with other phones like the Galaxy S7 or LG G5, this phone is likely to appeal to a smaller audience. If you are in need of a rugged phone but don’t want to miss out on all the benefits of how far Android has come, this is a great middle grounds. The display is nicer than other rugged phones, and the software doesn’t get in the way. Sure, AT&T has loaded it with bloatware, but those things are more likely to anger the nerds than it is to the audience which this phone is meant to appeal to.

If you are in the market for a rugged phone, this is likely the one you should be looking at.

See at AT&T

What do you hope to see from Google I/O 2016?

Robots? Giant robots? Self-driving giant robots? What is it you’re dying to see from Google I/O 2016? (Hint: Robots.)

We’re just a week or so away from the Google I/O developer conference, where Google shows developers the ins and outs of what’s to come for all of your favorite products. Android. Chrome. VR. Apps. The cloud. Games. Design. Three days of anything and everything Google.

There’s something for everyone. Most of it will be geared toward developers, of course. (That tends to happen at a developer conference.) But there’s also going to be plenty for those of us on the other end of the equation to take home. Bits and pieces of what’s to come in the next major version of Android. (And maybe we’ll finally find out what the Android N nickname will be.) Possibly even some new adventures into home entertainment, perhaps?

We’ll just have to see, starting with the two-hour keynote address on May 18.

In the meantime — what is it you’re hoping to see from Google I/O? New platform features? New toys for app developers to play with? New products from Google itself? The sky’s the limit, really (and does anyone else thing there might be some Project Loon balloons lurking above?)

Sing out in the comments and let us know what you’re expecting from Google I/O!