‘Minecraft’ tops 100 million sales
The Minecraft juggernaut shows no sign of slowing down. Today, developer Mojang announced that the block-building phenomenon has passed 100 million sales across all platforms, including PC, Mac, consoles and mobile. Since the beginning of the year, roughly 53,000 copies have been sold each day around the world. The game keeps people hooked too — more than 40 million people boot up a Minecraft world each month and tinker around with a blocky axe, shovel and sword. Apart from Tetris, few games have come anywhere close to hitting the 100 million mark.
Much of that success can be attributed to the game’s open structure and limitless potential. Players can build anything they imagine, provided its outward-facing geometry is made up of simple, colorful blocks. The focus on creativity is why so many players, young and old, have been drawn to the game and continue to play years after its release. Mojang has supported the game with a steady stream of updates that have added new mechanics, creatures and materials. The game’s flexibility has also made it a smash-hit in the classroom, teaching art, geology, coding and other subjects.
When Microsoft acquired Mojang almost two years ago, many wondered what it had planned for the game. A sequel? Some kind of exclusivity to Xbox, PC and Windows Phone? In fact, none of that has panned out. Minecraft is available on more than platforms than ever before, and there’s been no word of a ‘Minecraft 2.’ Instead, we’ve had a HoloLens version of the game, a spin-off adventure series by Telltale Games and an acquisition of MinecraftEdu, which will soon result in a new, education-focused version of Minecraft. Soon, there will be a version just for China too.
Minecraft’s popularity shows no sign of waning. The game’s strength isn’t a finite story or tremendous graphics — because of this, it has a seemingly timeless appeal that catches new children as they grow old enough to play it. As long as that continues, Minecraft will continue to sell in extraordinary numbers.
Source: Mojang
Sony adds picture-in-picture editing to PS4 Sharefactory app
For a growing number of people, it’s not enough just to play a video game anymore. They also want to record and share their favorite moments, whether as a walkthrough, highlight reel or humorous “let’s play” experience. Sony’s answer to this — Sharefactory, a video editing app for the PlayStation 4 — has now been updated to facilitate more complex videos. The biggest addition is Track 2, formerly the Commentary Track, which now lets you add a second piece of footage from the Capture Gallery. With this, you can show two different clips simultaneously, side-by-side.
That’s useful if you want to show how a particular move or strategy (think Overwatch) will affect different parts of the map. Or how tackling an objective in different ways — a freedom offered in games like Hitman, Deus Ex: Human Revolution and Dishonored — will change your experience.
As part of the update, Sony has also increased the app’s export limit to 60 minutes — useful if you like making “let’s play” videos — and added Chroma-key support, which lets you edit footage shot with a green screen. Sharefactory will never match professional software like Adobe Premiere, but these new features should make it a more competent alternative.
Source: PlayStation Blog
Spotify’s karaoke-style lyrics are gone, for now
If you tried to access Spotify’s lyrics feature recently, you were likely greeted with a “Humming is fun” message instead. That’s because the streaming service ended its partnership with Musixmatch, a company that power the tool with its catalog of song lyrics. Billboard reports that “updates” are on the way, though specifics aren’t mentioned, so there’s no concrete indication when or if the feature will return. Spotify does still offer insight into the meaning of a song’s words, thanks to a separate partnership with Genius.
In a Medium post this week, Musixmatch explained that as of the end of May, its lyrics would no longer be available in the Spotify app. Musixmatch’s library is still available through its own apps for Android, iOS, a Chrome app for YouTube and the web. “We don’t want to run the risk of Musixmatch no longer existing, CEO and Founder Max Ciociola explained. “We would eventually like to offer this experience to third parties, however only if the economic value is recognized.”
Spotify did confirm that the partnership was ending, but didn’t elaborate on any future plans. “It was a great partnership and there is mutual respect between both companies as our business strategies move us each in different directions,” a Spotify spokesperson told Engadget.
Via: Billboard
Source: Musixmatch
Vysor allows you to mirror multiple Android devices
Google developer, Koush, announced an update to his popular device mirroring app Vysor on Thursday that will enable users to share multiple android screens to a PC, Linux or Mac simultaneously and then grant remote access to the device farm. The new “Share All” feature works just like the original Vysor Share: you plug the Android into the computer via a USB cable, install the visor app and activate it to mirror the Android screen to the computer. However, Share All takes that process a step further by allowing the user to link multiple handsets to a computer and then use it as a shared server which multiple people can remotely access.
This could prove a boon for developers. You’d be able to centralize all your various test devices to a single computer and share access to the entire array with the rest of the team.
Source: Google+
ASUS’ $599 home robot is smarter than it looks
It goes without saying that ASUS’ first-ever home robot, Zenbo, stole the show at this year’s Computex. As soon as it rolled onto the stage during the keynote, everyone rushed to the front to get a good look at this cute little fella; and that was before Chairman Jonney Shih shocked the audience with its surprisingly attractive price point of just $599. Apart from its basic capabilities, little else was said about the machine, so we traveled all the way to ASUS’ headquarters to meet Shih for a detailed demo. During the process, we managed to pry a little more info out of the exec, including what’s inside this mysterious bot, the thinking behind its design and a target launch date around the holiday season.
For a robot that is about a meter tall and can move its head, wheel around, recognise people plus objects and do voice interaction, $599 is almost too cheap — that’s in the same league as some of the unlocked flagship smartphones. From what I could see, the BB-8-like machine runs on four wheels (two large rubber-tired ones and two small assistive ones), and it’s able to avoid bumping into objects or falling down the stairs by using an array of sensors around its body. There are also speakers, microphones and apparently a full-day battery tucked somewhere into the bot.
Unlike its spherical body, Zenbo’s face comes in a “paper clip” oval shape to accommodate a 10-inch touchscreen (we think the prototype had a 1080p LCD panel) that’s occupied by a cute animated cartoon face most of the time. You’ll also find a conventional camera and a depth camera — likely similar to the one ASUS made for Softbank’s Pepper — right above the screen, which are for face and object recognition, taking photos and surveillance. There’s a socket at the top left for future accessories, which could include a projector, according to Shih. While there’s no word on what processor is inside, it’s pretty obvious that Zenbo runs on Android — which is great for attracting developers to create apps for Zenbo.
As to how ASUS has managed to set such an affordable price point, again, Shih wasn’t willing to share the details. Instead, he went on to explain the design thinking that strictly focused on the essential features. For one, limbs and fingers would be too costly to make, nor would they be practical given today’s technology — they aren’t precise enough to pick up pills for the elderly, for instance. In Zenbo’s case, the wheels alone are sufficient for surveillance and basic remote assistance purposes.
There’s also a reason for why Zenbo is modeled as a cartoon-like character with a five-year-old personality: A realistic human-like robot would be a bit intimidating plus costly, which isn’t a good idea for a company’s first attempt in entering this market. On the contrary, a kid-like design would appeal to all ages. This is especially important for children, who will treat Zenbo as a playmate and dance with it, watch it act out a story or even try some kid-friendly programming to boost their logical thinking.
The seemingly intuitive voice commands — initiated by saying “hey Zenbo” to the bot — helps as well, and Shih said Zenbo’s natural language processing will only get better over time with machine learning. These make features like screen-sharing remote assistance and screen casting to TV a whole lot easier than digging them up in the menus, which can be challenging for elderly users. But more importantly, they will potentially benefit from Zenbo’s fall detection emergency feature: If a fall is detected by their wearable devices (in this case, a ZenWatch 2), Zenbo will automatically call a designated contact to start a video call and offer remote control via an app, so that said contact can go check on the users.
With just under half a year to go, it’ll be interesting to see what new features Zenbo will get by the time it launches. Regardless, we have a good feeling that this machine will sell like hot cake and make a fun home helper, but whether it’ll arrive on time or stick to the same $599 price point, that’s a whole different story.
Stay on top of all the latest news from Computex 2016 right here.
Tinder to debut transgender-friendly feature next month
Up until now, Tinder’s gender options have been rather, well, binary. It’s either men looking for women or vice versa. However, that’s going to change according to Tinder CEO, Sean Rad. “There’s a transgender community on Tinder and we haven’t done enough to give them a good experience,” Rad told the attendees at the Recode Code Conference on Thursday. To that end, the company will begin rolling out a more flexible system with which people can identify themselves and specify who they’re looking to connect with. Rad did not go into much detail of how the news system will actually work, though he did confirm that the features will be implemented within the next month and a half.
This move comes as the debate surrounding transgender rights picks up. Certainly a percentage of the community will react with anger, disbelief and threats to this policy change — you know, the manufactured rage that is now status quo for the internet. However, trans folks have just as much of a right to online love as anybody else. And given all the crazy shit that cishet people pull on Tinder, looking at you datenappers, maybe that anger is better spent in more productive pursuits.
Source: CNet
With the Gear Fit 2, Samsung tries again at workout wristbands
Samsung’s original Gear Fit was as flawed as it was ambitious, but the market for fitness gadgets is still growing. Of course Samsung was going to try again! That’s where the new $179 Gear Fit 2 comes in: Samsung took the fitness formula it developed two years ago, polished it up a bit and added a few features that have become de rigueur for higher-end workout wearables. You’ll be able to pre-order one starting June 3rd, but join us here for a first look.
First, the broad strokes. The Gear Fit 2 is nearly the same size as the model that came out two years ago; it’s just a little longer and a little wider to accommodate the updated display. That would be the 1.5-inch curved AMOLED screen, which is almost twice as wide as the original to better display your stats. An added bonus of this tweaked design is that the Gear Fit 2 is so, so much more comfortable to wear than its predecessor. Seriously, it’s a night-and-day difference — no small thing on a device you’re supposed to wear 24/7.
There’s a heart rate sensor here too, just like last time, and even in my brief time testing it, the readout seemed a bit more accurate than before. Throw in a dual-core 1GHz Exynos 3250 chipset, 512MB of RAM and a 200mAh battery (rated for three or four days of mixed use) and you have got the foundation for potentially great device.
Meanwhile, the addition of GPS and the ability to automatically recognize and track certain exercises help the Tizen-powered wristband go toe to toe with rivals like the Fitbit Blaze. For those who need some tunes to get them through runs, there’s 4GB of storage inside the band, allowing you to stream saved music to your Bluetooth headphones. Curiously, Samsung inked a deal with Spotify to provide playlists and music curated by athletes because… why not? And if you’re the sort who brags, you can easily share tracked runs to Facebook. Sharing, as it turns out, is a big part of the new Gear Fit experience. Friends and phones contacts who use Samsung’s S Health platform can issue challenges to each other and keep tabs on their progress.
Then there are the plain usability updates. If you ever used the original Gear Fit, you’ll surely remember that sometimes information was displayed vertically on your wrist, and sometimes horizontally. No more of that: The UI is strictly vertical this time around, and while that doesn’t sound like a huge change, it goes a long way in making the Gear Fit 2 feel more refined.
Indeed, refinement is the overarching theme here. Samsung had high hopes for the original Gear Fit but didn’t (or couldn’t) build a device that adequately ticked off all the boxes they laid out. After making wearables like the Gear S2, the company is better prepared to build high-quality Tizen devices. If we’re lucky, that experience will make the Gear Fit 2 more than just a pretty bauble when it launches on June 10th.
Samsung’s new smart earbuds track your steps and heart rate
The newly announced Gear Fit 2 is probably the fitness band Samsung should have made in the first place, but does the world even need another wrist-worn gewgaw? In case your answer to that is “no,” Samsung is unveiling a second exercise-friendly wearable today: a $199 pair of smart earbuds called the Gear IconX. (And no, the name doesn’t make any sense to us either.)
Samsung says the IconX is meant for people who have a more casual relationship with exercise (the Gear Fit 2, meanwhile, is meant for the truly dedicated). Still, that doesn’t mean Samsung skimped on the fitness tech here. Each bud weighs 6.3 grams — a hair or two heavier than a US quarter. The device tells you how far you’ve run, how fast you’re going and how fast your heart is beating. Yes, there’s a heart rate sensor built into these things. More importantly, there’s a voice coach feature (which I didn’t get to test), which is meant to help runners trim their lap times and surge into higher intensity zones.
I spent about 20 minutes pacing around a room while wearing the earbuds, and the audio was rich in treble, though there seemed to be more reverb than usual. The IconX has 4GB of internal storage, like the Gear Fit 2, though it seems immune to the sort of sound syncing issues I’ve experienced with other tiny Bluetooth buds. Usually, only one earbud is connected directly to the phone; the other connects to the first bud to keep audio playing at the same time. The thing is, that bud-to-bud connection can be weak, leading to audio dropouts while moving. Samsung’s approach cleverly puts a copy of each song onto both earbuds. From there, it just takes a little software to make sure they’re playing at the same time.
My ear canals are a little oddly configured, so testing in-ears can be a little tricky. It took a few moments to figure out just how the IconX buds were supposed to fit me. At the very least, they’re not barrel-shaped like the Earin, so they won’t roll away if you ever drop them. Once they’re in, though, they didn’t feel like they were going anywhere. As it turns out, that’s pretty damn important since you’ll frequently be tapping and swiping to control them.
Each bud has a sort of capacitive touch patch on it, and the gestures needed to use it are easy to learn. Need to change tracks? Double-tap to skip to the next one or triple-tap to go back. Changing volume can be a little trickier since you have to swipe up and down on such a tiny space, but the most important gesture is arguably the long press. That fires up the ambient sound mode, which is crucial for urban runners: It lets you hear what’s going on around you in hopes that you’ll cross Broadway without violently intersecting with an ambulance.
So yeah, the IconX is arguably more interesting than the Gear Fit 2, and we’re really looking forward to its launch in Q3, later this year. The thing you have to remember is that battery life can vary dramatically based on your usage. Let’s say you’re just listening to music saved on the buds: The IconX will last for 3.6 hours on a charge. That estimate dips to 3.4 hours if you throw in some workout tracking, and plummets to 1.5 hours if you’re streaming music from a phone with activity tracking on. Fortunately, the IconX’s case doubles as a battery pack that will charge the buds from bone-dry to full twice. The potentially short battery life won’t be a deal-breaker for some, but it’s a reminder of the limitations of fully wireless buds. Still, I’m already sold on the concept. Now we just need to see if the IconX lives up to its promise.
No 5K Thunderbolt Display With Integrated GPU Coming at WWDC
Earlier this week, rumors and speculation suggested Apple was working on a 5K Thunderbolt Display with an integrated GPU that could potentially debut at the upcoming Worldwide Developers Conference, but new information from iMore suggests that is not the case.
According to iMore’s Rene Ritchie, Apple does not plan to introduce an Apple Display with an integrated external GPU. Ritchie does not provide a specific source on this information, but he is well-connected and occasionally shares accurate details on Apple’s plans.
There’d been some speculation on Twitter and rumor reports about Apple possibly introducing a display with an integrated eGPU. Theory being, it would take some of the graphical processing overhead off MacBooks and/or facilitate a single-cable connection that could drive 5K.
While it sounds cool, it can also create expectational debt. So, scratch eGPU off your list for now, but keep your eyes locked to the keynote on Monday, June 13, for lots of other amazingly cool stuff.
Ritchie’s statement does not appear to entirely dismiss the possibility of an upgraded Thunderbolt Display at the Worldwide Developers Conference, so it is possible some kind of display-related announcement is still in the works.
As we explained yesterday, Apple could introduce a 5K display alongside Thunderbolt 3 Macs, using both DisplayPort 1.2 streams in the Thunderbolt 3 specification to drive a 5K display using Multi-Stream Transport. Apple used a similar setup internally for the original 5K iMac.
In recent weeks, Thunderbolt Display stock has been dwindling in many Apple retail stores across the United States, in Canada, and in the UK, leading to speculation that a refresh is on the horizon. It is still not clear if the stock shortages are indicative that a new model is coming, but the Thunderbolt Display is long overdue for an update and WWDC would be an ideal time for an unveiling.
Related Roundups: Thunderbolt Display, WWDC 2016
Tag: imore.com
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Apple Hires Software Engineer With Expertise in Satellite Navigation Systems
Apple recently hired Sinisa Durekovic, a software engineer with expertise in satellite navigation systems, reports Bloomberg. Durekovic, who was hired in October, previously developed satellite navigation systems used in a range of luxury vehicles from BMW, Volkswagen, and Mercedes-Benz while working at Harman/Becker Automotive Systems and NAVTEQ.
Durekovic’s LinkedIn profile does not offer up details on what he is doing at Apple, nor does Bloomberg have insight into his role, but given his expertise, it’s likely he has joined the company to work on the Maps or CarPlay team. He specifically lists his areas of expertise as digital maps, car navigation systems, and map-enhanced advanced driver assistance systems.
I am the Software Architect, Engineer and a Team Leader with more than 25 years of experience in design and development of software systems. After 8 years as Principal Engineer in a mid-sized company, I assumed role of Senior Principal Architect and later Chief Engineer at major premium Navigation System supplier. My main work is in area of the Map-Enhanced Advanced Driver Assistance Systems, Digital Maps and Car Navigation Systems.
Since Maps debuted in 2012 to criticism and poor reviews, Apple has worked to introduce significant improvements. New Flyover locations are added on a consistent basis, errors are fixed in a more timely manner, and iOS 9 introduced transit directions. Apple also made multiple map-related purchases, snapping up companies like Coherent Navigation, Placeable, HopStop, Locationary, BroadMap, and Embark.
In December, Apple said Apple Maps is now used three times more than Google Maps on the iPhone, and there are several projects in the works to further improve Maps. Apple will open a new development center in Hyderabad, India, where 4,000 employees will focus on Apple Maps development, and over the course of the last year, Apple has been using vans with mapping equipment to obtain street-level imagery for future mapping use.
Tag: Apple Maps
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