ICYMI: Rubik’s phone, underwater bomb bot and more
Today on In Case You Missed It: The University of Bristol’s Interaction Group made a phone prototype out of small cubes that can be flipped around to form different shapes. Saab created an underwater robot to help detect explosives. And Colorado State University students made a real life Mario Kart game with carts that we are dying to experience for ourselves.
In case you want to share it with friends, the video for the bottle opener that automatically messages your friends when you open a beer is here. As always, please share any great tech or science videos you find by using the #ICYMI hashtag on Twitter for @mskerryd.
Up close with the Moto G4 Plus, the best from a puzzling new lineup
I’ve been spending my time here at Google I/O hoping to catch a Google exec pull a supersecret VR headset out of a coat pocket. Instead I ran into one using Motorola’s new Moto G4 Plus — the highest-end of the three new Moto G models announced earlier this week. Said exec was surprisingly cool about letting me give a personal phone the full hands-on treatment too. After a few minutes of play time, I can say that Motorola once again has an impressive device on its hands. It’s too bad, though, that a confusing lineup of Moto Gs suggest Motorola’s priorities have shifted in some unsettling ways.
First things first: To quickly recap, the G4 Plus runs Android 6.0.1 Marshmallow with an octa-core Snapdragon 617 chipset, and either 2GB or 4GB of RAM. The pricier 4GB model is paired with either 32GB or 64GB of storage, while the lower-specced version has only 16GB of storage. It’s a good thing, then, that the microSD slot takes cards as large as 128GB. This particular Plus was a 4GB/64GB model, making it a terribly snappy little machine. Swiping through home screens, launching apps and some furious multitasking all felt instantaneous.
Two software factors probably helped here: Motorola once again used a near-stock build of Android, and fortunately the exec who loaned me his phone hadn’t yet loaded up his device with many apps. This level of performance would’ve been flagship quality not that long ago, and now we’re squeezing it out of a mostly midrange phone. The overall experience — complete with mostly clean Android and useful extras like an always-on display — make the G4 Plus a compelling choice compared with other Snapdragon 617-enabled phones, such as the HTC A9.
And, speaking as a phone-design nerd, the slim G4 Plus actually feels pretty great in hand. It’s an entirely plastic phone with a nicely textured removable back (hiding a nonremovable 3,000mAh battery), and its surprisingly skinny frame reminds me a bit of the Galaxy S4. That’s not to say, however, that every design choice Motorola made works well. Consider the square fingerprint sensor below the bright, 5.5-inch TFT LCD screen: It looks like a home button but doesn’t work as one, making the placement feel odd and clumsy. This isn’t something the old Motorola would have done.
At the very least, the 16-megapixel camera seems impressive. Besides the fingerprint sensor, this camera is the only difference between the G4 Plus and the regular G4, which instead comes with a 13-megapixel camera. DxOMark puts it slightly ahead of the iPhone 6s and 6s Plus in terms of image quality. I wasn’t able to snap photos with this phone — mostly because I didn’t want to accidentally look into this guy’s camera roll — but the phase-detect and laser autofocus worked remarkably well.
So yes, the Moto G4 Plus is a fine phone. It’s also part of a confusing trio of Moto Gs, including one — the Moto G Play — that felt noticeably less powerful than the others. Potential Moto E replacement? Maybe, though Motorola said earlier this year it has “no plans to retire” the E. What was always nice about the Moto G was how uncomplicated its ambitions were: If you wanted an inexpensive, undeniably good Android phone, the Moto G was your best choice. That clarity is now gone. You’ll be able to get a good Moto G, or a better Moto G or a slightly worse Moto G.
It’s a sign of pragmatism, I suppose: The company can reach different customers with different needs, but it’s also a sign that Motorola has lost some of the focus that once made it so special. With any luck, I’m totally wrong. Maybe everything is great under Lenovo, and Motorola President Rick Osterloh’s return to Google doesn’t mean the company’s vision has been muddled. We’ll see.
For all the latest news and updates from Google I/O 2016, follow along here.
Global Smartphone Market Grows in Q1 2016 as iPhone Share Shrinks to 14%
Apple’s global smartphone market share fell to 14.8 percent in the first quarter of 2016, down from 17.9 percent in the same period the previous year, despite a 3.9 percent growth in overall smartphone sales compared to Q1 2015, according to Gartner (via DigiTimes).
The number of smartphones delivered to end users in Q1 totalled 349 million globally, compared to 336 in the same period in 2015. Apple shipped 51.6 million iPhones to maintain its number two spot in the top five largest makers, while Samsung reached unit sales of 81.2 million to maintain its position as number one. The figures show Samsung extended its lead over Apple in the same period with a 23.2 percent market share, despite a slight decline from 24.1% in Q1 2015.
Oppo had the best performance in the first quarter of 2016, moving into the number 4 position among the top-five smartphone vendors with unit sales growth of 145%. Like Huawei and Xiaomi, Oppo saw strong growth in China, taking share from the likes of Lenovo, Samsung and Yulong, Gartner indicated.
The overall growth in smartphone sales was put down to a demand for low-cost handsets in emerging markets and more affordable 4G promotion plans globally.
In a separate note disclosed by research firm IDC yesterday, more Google Chromebooks were sold in the U.S. in the first quarter of 2016 than Apple’s entire Mac line.
Apple’s Mac shipments are estimated to have been around 1.76 million in Q1 this year, according to an IDC analyst who spoke to The Verge, while combined estimates for Dell, HP, and Lenovo put the number of low-cost Chromebooks sold at 2 million in the same quarter.
IDC put the Chromebook’s sales growth down to their appeal in the education sector, with wide uptake across K-12 schools in the United States. The milestone also comes at a time when Mac sales have held steady while PC shipments have seen an overall decline, making the news more of a concern for Microsoft as it tries to maintain its dominance in the low-cost laptop market.
The research firm also predicted a “modest rebound” over the coming months as buyers consider transitioning to Windows 10 and a continued increase Chromebook sales.
Tags: IDC, Gartner
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Uber Enters Race to Perfect Driverless Vehicle Technology
Uber has announced it is currently testing self-driving car technology with a view to completely remove the need for drivers from its ride-hailing service.
According to a statement by the company posted online yesterday, the initial testing phase is being conducted on the streets of Pittsburgh, using a hybrid Ford Fusion fitted with various sensors including radar, laser scanners and cameras.
The test vehicle from Uber’s Advanced Technologies Center (ATC) collects mapping data as it travels, while a trained driver monitors operations in the car at all times.
The driverless project is being carried out in partnership with Pittsburgh’s Carnegie Mellon University. Uber says it is pursuing the goal of inducting autonomous vehicles into its fleet by 2020.
Real-world testing is critical to our efforts to develop self-driving technology. Self-driving cars have the potential to save millions of lives and improve quality of life for people around the world. 1.3 million people die every year in car accidents — 94% of those accidents involve human error. In the future we believe this technology will mean less congestion, more affordable and accessible transportation, and far fewer lives lost in car accidents. These goals are at the heart of Uber’s mission to make transportation as reliable as running water — everywhere and for everyone.
Uber joins an accelarating industry race for the mainstream introduction of self-driving cars, with Tesla already developing the technology and multiple Chinese firms also making headway.
There have been indications suggesting Apple is exploring autonomous vehicles for its own car project, codenamed “Titan”, but sources say the first car it releases will not be driverless, with that functionality perhaps coming at a later date.
Tag: Uber
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Nintendo 2DS review – CNET
The Good The Nintendo 2DS is the most affordable portable system for a younger gamer or for those not interested in 3D visuals. It packs in a 4GB SD card and gives players access to the 3DS’ impressive library of cartridge-based and downloadable games. Best of all, it comes with a free download code for Mario Kart 7.
The Bad The 2DS feels cheap and has only one speaker, which sounds a little lacking. Though it’s designed for children, there are a few vulnerable spots on the 2DS, and it might not survive a bad fall. By today’s standards, its screens feel too small.
The Bottom Line With a new low price, the 2DS offers a huge array of compelling games and makes for a great entry-level system for uninitiated first-time gamers.
Remember the Nintendo 2DS? Yeah, that little wedge-shaped portable console without all the bells and whistles the 3DS XL has? It’s now even cheaper.
Starting May 20, the price of the 2DS will drop from $100 down to $80 — and that’s still including a free download code for Mario Kart 7. That’s 38 percent less than the $130 price at which the 2DS debuted in October 2013.
It’s important to reinforce that the 2DS is Nintendo’s no-frills, entry-level portable. The 2DS plays nearly all games for the Nintendo 3DS platform, but it can’t display anything in 3D. It also has the smallest screens of any of the current DS models, and it doesn’t have a great-sounding speaker.
Moreover, there’s no hinge to keep it closed, so you’ll want to protect it with a case. It also feels cheaply made and likely wouldn’t survive a decent fall. But if you can look past those issues, I think the 2DS is perfect for younger players.
Editors’ note: This review has been updated from its original publication in October 2013 to reflect a major price drop and changes in the competitive landscape.
Google Play Awards 2016 winners: Best Android apps and games of the year
During its Google I/O developers conference, the software giant hosted the inaugural Google Play Awards, a celebration of the most outstanding achievements in apps and games over the last year.
The winners were selected by the Google Play team itself and unlike other app awards that occur around the end of each calendar year, they include some obscure or innovative applications.
That’s why it’s of particular interest to Android device owners who are looking for something to download that’s a bit different. So here’s a run down of the Google Play Awards 2016 winners and what they offer.
READ: The Google I/O 2016 announcements that matter: Assistant, Home, Android N, Instant Apps, Allo, Duo and Daydream
Google Play Awards 2016: Best app
Houzz
Free from here
If you’re looking to redesign your home or have recently moved, Houzz gives access to millions of pictures of interior design ideas, plus places to buy furniture and fittings. It also has millions of design professionals connected to contact and share thoughts with. And it even lets you place and draw objects onto photos so you can see what a specific item would look like in your house.
Google Play Awards 2016: Best early adopter
World Around Me
Free from here
World Around Me uses augmented reality to help you find places in your current location. It uses your phone’s camera to see your surroundings and overlays virtual signboards and directions over your view to help you get to where you want to go, be that a restaurant, cash point, shop, train station or more.
Google Play Awards 2016: Best families app
Thinkrolls 2
£2.29 from here
Educational app Thinkrolls 2 is a puzzler for kids aged three to nine. A child must navigate cute characters through increasingly more complex mazes, using logic and basic physics along the way. There’s no better way to learn than when you’re having fun to boot.
Google Play Awards 2016: Best go global
Pokémon Shuffle Mobile
Free from here
Pokémon Shuffle has been available on other platforms before but you can get it on mobile too. It’s a match-three game starring everybody’s favourite collectable monsters, but the twist is that by doing so you get to battle and collect other Pokémon along the way.
Google Play Awards 2016: Best game
Clash Royale
Free from here
Based in the same world as Supercell’s incredibly popular and addictive Clash of Clans, Clash Royale is a real-time multiplayer card battle game. You build up a deck of cards featuring the Clans characters and use them to defeat your friends and foes online.
Google Play Awards 2016: Most innovative
NYT VR
Free from here
New York Times
With Google Cardboard already available and the Daydream platform on its way, VR is becoming massive in 2016. NYT VR has daily virtual reality video stories from the New York Times, presenting news in a more immersive way.
Google Play Awards 2016: Best use of material design
Robinhood
Free from here
Stock market app Robinhood isn’t just free to download it also offers free trading. That means you don’t have to pay a commission on buying and selling stocks, unlike with other services. It’s also a clean and simple app to use. Of course, you’ll need a decent knowledge of trading to get anywhere, but the app itself is lovely.
Google Play Awards 2016: Best standout indie
Alphabear
Free from here
Word puzzle game Alphabear has been incredibly popular here in Pocket-lint Towers. You spell words through the letter bricks on screen which turn into bears when successfully chosen. Select words next to each other and they turn into bigger bears that score well. Get a specific score and you win a digital bear as a collectable. Addictive fun.
Google Play Awards 2016: Best use of Google Play Game services
Table Tennis Touch
£2.29 from here
Table Tennis Touch is a beautiful and simple ping pong game for mobile that gets fiendishly difficult as you progress. There is a great career modes, plus mini games and multiplayer online action. You can take on friends over the net or locally.
Google Play Awards 2016: Best standout startup
Hopper
Free from here
Hooper analyses flight prices and presents the cheapest when you next want to book a trip. It can also be set up to send you a notification if the flight you’re looking for drops in price or is available for cheaper elsewhere. It also has quicktap booking.
The FCC is getting tons of net neutrality complaints
The FCC has unveiled a new online portal where anybody can see the kind of complaints people have been submitting to the commission. And according to the info on the website, the FCC has received 20,991 net neutrality complaints since the rules took effect on June 12th, 2015. That’s an average of 61 submissions a day and is eclipsed only by the number of billing-related reports under the internet category. It’s not really that surprising, considering the agency got 2,000 complaints a month after the rules took effect.
That number includes unverified submissions, and as Ars Technica notes, it’s not clear how many instances actually violate the core net neutrality rules. But it definitely sends a message that people — who tend to go straight to the FCC, because companies are actually required to respond to them after 30 days — are dissatisfied with their ISPs’ and carriers’ services.
While 20,991 is a sizable chunk of all the internet-related submissions the FCC got (see pie chart below), it’s still quite small compared to all the phone-related concerns the commission fielded. Over the past year, the FCC received 169,975 telemarketing-related reports and 78,876 submissions complaining about robocalls.
Via: Ars Technica
‘Halo 5’ multiplayer is coming to PC… sort of
Leave it to Microsoft to fulfill fans’ long-standing wish of bringing modern Halo multiplayer to PC and then obfuscate accessing it in the most spectacular way possible. It’s coming by way of Forge — Halo 5: Guardians Edition for Windows 10. As the name suggests, the free download is for Halo’s custom map toolset, Forge, and it features full keyboard and mouse control, up to 4K resolution and the ability to build stuff on PC and then play on Xbox One. The devil is in the details here, though: the Xbox Wire post also mentions that you can test levels and play them with your friends on PC.
Microsoft confirmed to Ars Technica that yep, this is what constitutes Halo 5 online multiplayer on PC. Albeit without matchmaking and being limited to playing only with folks on your friends list, that is. There’s silver lining here, though: While the package is indeed rather light, at least PC players don’t have to suffer through the game’s awful campaign because it’s not a part of Forge.
Via: Ars Technica
Source: Xbox Wire
Destiny’s next expansion will be called ‘The Rise of Iron’
Ignoring a welcome update last month, things have been pretty quiet on the Destiny front. That’s because Bungie has turned its attention to developing a sequel, which is slated to release next year. However, with E3 fast approaching, news of promised new, smaller expansion has started to slip out. According to a leaked poster shared on Reddit, the name of the next Destiny DLC will be called Rise of Iron and it’s likely to land in September.
The upcoming expansion will likely focus on the Iron Lords and the Iron Wolves. The Lords and the Wolves represented two groups of nine Guardians. The Iron Lords helped build the wall around the Last City and were joined by the Iron Wolves in the defense of the Last City against the Fallen at the battle of Six Fronts.
If you’ve played Iron Banner (a player-vs-player event), you notice that the tournament bears the Iron Lords sigil and that Iron Guardians lent their names to weapons available in the game (Felwinter’s Lie, Radegast’s Fury and Jolder’s Hammer to name a few). Oh, and that’s Iron Banner captain Lord Saladin brandishing the flaming axe in front of a partially destroyed wall in the poster.
Kotaku reports that the Rise of Iron expansion will feature a new raid, which was originally scheduled to drop earlier this year, and will be larger than the two DLCs that landed in the game’s first year. That also means there will be new missions and higher light levels, keeping you sweet until Destiny 2.0 arrives in 2017.
Via: Kotaku
Source: Destiny (Reddit)
DIY robotics made easy: The complete Raspberry Pi 3 starter kit
Almost exactly a year after Raspberry Pi 2 revolutionized introductory robotics, a new and updated model has arrived in Raspberry Pi 3.
The new board is the first 64-bit Raspberry Pi, and in addition to running twice as fast as its predecessor, the Raspberry Pi 3 comes with built-in Wi-Fi and Bluetooth for a widely expanded range of capabilities.
You can pick up one of your own, as well as all the tools and tutorials required for mastery of this next-gen device, with The Complete Raspberry Pi 3 Starter Kit – now 55 per cent off on Pocket-lint Deals.
The Raspberry Pi 3 is the latest evolution of the iconic microcomputer kit that’s taught countless curious minds the fundamentals of electronics and robotics. The Raspberry Pi 3 is powerful enough to replace a desktop PC for most people, with a quad-core 64-bit ARM Cortex A53 clocked at 1.2GHz. That’s more than 50 per cent faster than the Raspberry Pi 2, and almost ten times faster than the original Model B.
With the Complete Raspberry Pi 3 Starter Kit, you’ll get a Raspberry Pi 3 of your own, as well as a 7-course tutorial bundle to develop your skills. You’ll conquer essential programs and commands, learning to use Raspberry Pi for a wide range of projects from novel gadget operation to genuine life-hacker devices.
Your Complete Raspberry Pi 3 Starter Kit includes:
Raspberry Pi 3
Quick Starter Kit for Raspberry Pi 3 Model B
Wireless Penetration Testing with Kali Linux and Raspberry Pi
Cluster Pi: Build a Raspberry Pi Beowulf Cluster
Raspberry Pi Essentials and Extras
PiBot: Build Your Own Raspberry Pi Powered Robot
Raspberry Pi: Full Stack
Raspberry Pi and The Internet of Things
Get started with The Complete Raspberry Pi 3 Starter Kit today for just £83.56 ($119.99) from Pocket-lint Deals.
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