OneDrive cribbed a lot from Google Photos for its new update
Competition is good for everyone. Case in point: Microsoft has added some features to the OneDrive platform that should be pretty familiar to anyone accustomed to Google Photos. First up are Automatic Albums, which, as the name implies, groups photos together based on metadata to give you a comprehensive view of a given time period’s events. In a neat twist, the folks in Redmond say that every Monday morning the service will automatically create albums of the pictures you took over the weekend. The platform will do a TimeHop-style “On this day” photo-resurfacing as well.
Additionally, you can use emoji (yep, really) to search your uploads, and the folder view page and Windows 10 Photos app have also gotten an overhaul. Microsoft’s love of Pokémon Go is on display here too: screenshots from the game will be grouped according to pocket monster, using machine learning to ID and group them. Now that shot of a Pidgey sitting on your BFF’s shoulder will only a couple of taps away.
Via: Ars Technica
Source: Office Blog
Pokémon Go team leaders revealed, new pokémon and trading feature incoming!
At Comic-Con, CEO of Niantic John Hanke talked about the initial rollout of Pokémon Go and new features that will be making their debut in the coming years, including the addition of new pokémon and a trading feature that will allow players to trade pokémon. Niantic revealed the team leaders for Team Mystic, Team Valor, and Team Instinct, with Hanke saying that each leader will offer players advice.
#PokemonGO Team Leaders revealed! Team Valor: Candela. Team Mystic: Blanche. Team Instinct: Spark. pic.twitter.com/j05H5K0tfY
— Pokémon GO (@PokemonGoApp) July 24, 2016
Hanke revealed that new pokémon will be showing up in the game:
There are a certain set of pokémon in the game right now. There are some rare ones that haven’t showed up yet that will be showing up. And there are some other ones in the universe, it’s something we’re excited about continuing with in the coming years.
Without giving a specific timeline, Hanke said that the trading feature will make its way to the game eventually:
Trading is not in Pokémon GO today, but it’s something we’re working on bringing to the product. Don’t get too excited – we need to make sure we can keep the servers up first!
The executive also said that updates to training is at the top of the priority list, and talked about making PokéStops customizable:
That’s a pretty cool idea that you can acquire an object that changes the function of a PokéStop and gives it a new ability.
Excited about the upcoming features? Let us know what you’re looking forward to in the comments.
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Roadmap says transistors will stop shrinking in 5 years
Whether or not Moore’s Law on complexity has always held true, you’ve had one constant in the semiconductor world: chip makers would always find a way to shrink transistors and create more powerful chips without increasing size or power consumption. However, even that one hint of predictability might soon disappear. The Semiconductor Industry Association (which includes the likes of IBM and Intel) has published a roadmap which expects transistors to stop shrinking after 2021. Simply speaking, it might not be financial practical to keep reducing transistor sizes — companies might not recoup the costs. Instead, they may focus on 3D chips an other technologies that make better use of available space.
There is some evidence to support the prediction. The number of companies that can afford to compete in chip manufacturing is getting very small. Intel, GlobalFoundries (AMD’s former manufacturing wing), Samsung and TSMC are the only big players left, and there’s no guarantee that all of them will stick around. Intel’s slower development pace is largely a reflection of how difficult it is to shrink transistors without introducing problems like excessive power leaks.
This doesn’t mean that Moore’s Law will be dead in 5 years. The use of 3D and other tricks may continue to double the complexity of chips for a while yet. And it’s important to stress that this is a roadmap, not a guarantee. How many times have pundits predicted the end of progress in chip design, only to be proven wrong as a discovery keeps hope alive for a while longer? The biggest concern is that semiconductor giants may have to change how they increase the complexity and power of their products, not that they’ll hit a wall.
Via: IEEE Spectrum
Source: Semiconductor Industry Association
CarPlay Now Available in All 2017 Ford Vehicles Equipped With SYNC 3
Ford has announced that its SYNC 3 infotainment system, which includes CarPlay and Android Auto, is now available across its entire 2017 lineup of cars, SUVs, light trucks, and electric vehicles in the United States.
The expansion brings CarPlay to already-released 2017 models such as the Fusion, Mustang, and Explorer, while other models like the 2017 F-150, Focus, Edge, and Super Duty will arrive at U.S. dealerships later this year.
Ford confirmed in January that it would be adding CarPlay and Android Auto to all of its 2017 vehicles in North America equipped with BlackBerry’s QNX-based SYNC 3 platform, starting with the 2017 Escape in May.
Ford has also added Spotify, Pandora, Ford PASS, AccuWeather, and AAA member services to SYNC AppLink.
In December, Ford retroactively added Siri Eyes Free support to 5 million 2011-2016 vehicles through a SYNC 3.8 software update. The automaker says more than 15 million SYNC-equipped vehicles are on the road worldwide today, although that figure likely includes older SYNC platforms incompatible with CarPlay and Android Auto.
Ford is also adding CarPlay and Android Auto to its 2016 vehicles equipped with SYNC 3 as an over-the-air software update.
CarPlay brings Maps, Phone, Messages, Music, Podcasts, and a number of third-party apps, such as Spotify, to a vehicle’s dashboard. Apple’s in-car software platform can be controlled with Siri and your vehicle’s built-in controls for convenient access to common iPhone features. It is compatible with iPhone 5 and later models.
CarPlay widely launched in the second half of 2015, and the rollout has extended to several large automakers this year, including Chrysler, Dodge, and Jeep; BMW and Nissan; and Hyundai and Kia. CarPlay is now available in over 100 new 2016 and 2017 models, while two notable holdouts include Toyota and Mazda.
Related Roundup: CarPlay
Tags: Android Auto, Ford, Ford SYNC
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Microsoft’s free Windows 10 upgrade ends on July 29th
If Microsoft’s pushy upgrade notifications weren’t enough to compel you to install Windows 10, then maybe a looming deadline is. Windows 10 will no longer be a free upgrade after July 29th, a year after the OS was released and shortly before its anniversary update rolls out. The company revealed the features coming out with the anniversary refresh during Build 2016, and they include advanced gestures, new Cortana commands and the merged version of the Windows/Xbox One app stores.
From the very start, Redmond intended to make the OS available as a free update for only a year. Unless the company execs change their mind, a Windows 10 Home license will set you back $119 after July 29th, so you may want to stop procrastinating and install it if you always meant to do so. In case you’re still undecided, you can check out our review of the platform and read up on what other readers think about it.
All 2017 Ford vehicles are getting CarPlay and Android Auto
Ford has confirmed that all of its 2017 models — every single car, SUV, light truck and EV — are smartphone-ready. They all come loaded with Ford’s Sync 3 entertainment system and are compatible with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto. Those who’ve snapped any of the currently available 2017 models, such as the latest Escape, Fusion, Mustang and Explorer, can already enjoy the in-car technologies. They can use their iPhones (5 or newer) or their Android Lollipop (or higher) devices to access maps, music, messages and even third-party apps on their vehicles’ screens. Both systems give them access to voice commands, as well.
Ford also assures those interested in buying the upcoming F-150, Focus, Edge and all-new 2017 Super Duty when they come out later this year that they’ll have access to Google’s and Apple’s in-car tech. “Ford is not taking the traditional approach of introducing Apple CarPlay and Google Android Auto on a few piecemeal models or as an expensive option on luxury vehicles only,” said Jeffrey Hannah from automotive technology research firm SBD. “The guesswork for consumers is over — if you buy any 2017 Ford vehicle with SYNC 3, you drive off the lot with both of these innovative technologies ready to go.”
Source: Ford
What’s next for ‘Pokémon Go’? Custom locations and more monsters
As Pokémon Go continues its global assault, Niantic Labs founder John Hanke took to a panel discussion at Comic-Con to tease at what’s coming next to the app — and how the team hopes maintain this insane momentum. To start, more Pokémon critters will eventually make their way to Go, although Hanke’s wording makes it sound like not all of them will make the cut. “Beyond first generation [the original 150], there are some others that may make their way into our universe. We’re looking forward to finding interesting ways to make that happen in the coming months and years.” The CEO went on to elaborate on developments for the in-game world too — and that’s where it got interesting.
As you’d hope from a Pokémon title (even if it’s not quite a full-fat game), trading and training features are still a work in progress. (Niantic Labs are also looking into the Pokémon breeding inside the smartphone title.)
While discussing the game’s future direction, Hanke said that he was interested in further customizing the in-game pokéstop. At the moment you can attach a lure that ensures more Pokemon will pop up at that location — something which benefits all players in there area. Hanke suggested that other customizations could be setup at these stops, with the Niantic Labs boss citing a monster-healing pokécenter as a possible new function. “That’s a pretty cool idea that you can acquire an object that changes the function of a pokéstop and give it a new ability.”
There are currently no pokécenters — and no Nurse Joy — in Pokémon Go. This needs to be remedied immediately.
Source: The Verge
NASA wants more private uses of the International Space Station
NASA doesn’t just see the International Space Station as a place where government space agencies can work together in harmony — it could be a business hub, too. The agency has put out a call for ideas that could increase commercial use of the ISS. Those private outfits have potential uses that researchers hadn’t imagined, NASA says. They could likely take better advantage of the “unique capabilities” of the low-Earth orbit facility, such as hooking up to underused attachment ports.
Companies have quietly been soliciting ideas since the start of July, and they’ll have until the 29th to get their ideas in. This won’t necessarily turn the ISS into a marketplace. However, you shouldn’t be surprised if the station soon gets more of a private presence than the occasional SpaceX capsule.
Source: FedBizOpps.gov, NASA
Prisma’s neural net-powered photo app arrives on Android
When Prisma Labs said you wouldn’t have to wait long to use its Android app outside of the beta test, it wasn’t joking around. The finished Prisma app is now readily available on Google Play, giving anyone a chance to see what iOS users were excited about a month ago. Again, the big deal is the use of cloud-based machine learning to turn humdrum photos into hyper-stylized pieces of art — vivid brush strokes and pencil lines appear out of nowhere. Give it a shot if you don’t think your smartphone’s usual photo filters are enough.
Via: The Verge
Source: Google Play
How to remove the Prisma logo watermark from your photos
A simple settings change can remove the unsightly Prisma logo from your pics.
With the unique photo-filtering app Prisma now available on Android, it’s worth underscoring one of the most important settings changes you can make. By default, Prisma adds its own logo to every image you share from the app. But it’s easy to disable this watermark from within the app’s settings.
How to remove the Prisma logo watermark from photos
From the main photo-taking screen, hit the Settings button (cog icon).
Uncheck the Add watermark setting.
Press the back key again to return to previous screen.
With the watermark option disabled, your photos will no longer show the Prisma logo in the bottom right corner. Hurrah!
Left: Before; Right: After
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