How to use Prisma for Android
What is Prisma and how does it work?
These days, it’s not enough to make a simple photo effects app. To stand out, companies need to create effects using complicated machine learning algorithms that create creative and unique pieces of art in the style of Munk, Picasso and Van Gogh. At least that’s what the team behind Prisma believes.
What is Prisma?
Prisma is a photo effects app whose workflow mimics that of popular photo sharing apps like Instagram and EyeEm. At its core is a simple viewfinder that takes square images to which you can apply around 30 filters, many of which are modelled in the style of famous painters like Van Gogh and Picasso.
Once those filters are applied, you can then choose to save it to your phone, share with with Facebook or Instagram, or, using Android’s Share button, to any number of other apps.
Download: Prisma (free)
What’s so special about Prisma over other similar photo apps?
Prisma is by no means the first app to produce beautiful, fantastical, and psychedelic photos using filters, but the consensus around the internet is that it does it the best. The secret sauce is AI — yes, artificial intelligence — that processes each photo differently depending on the filter. The app reportedly learns and adapts the way it implements these filters over time, using the data it gets from each person’s photos.
So that means Prisma can see all my photos?
Yes, because Prisma uses A.I. and machine learning to dynamically change each photo, the app requires an internet connection to work properly. That also means that Prisma, as per its terms and conditions, gets to use the photos you upload for its own purposes, though you continue to own the photos indefinitely.
“Prisma does not claim ownership of any Content that you post on or through the Service. Instead, you hereby grant to Prisma a non-exclusive, fully paid and royalty-free, transferable, sub-licensable, worldwide license to use the Content that you stylize on or through the Service.”
What about my privacy? How much data does Prisma collect?
Like many free, ad-based services, Prisma collects a decent amount of data about you that it anonymizes and shares with third-party marketing companies and advertisers to better target you with ads. While right now the app is fairly basic, and ad-free, we’re already seeing a business model in the form of sponsored filters, and the company’s privacy policy specifies that it will use information about your Android device to share with affiliates and third-party advertisers.
We may share User Content and your information (including but not limited to, information from cookies, log files, device identifiers, location data, and usage data) with businesses that are legally part of the same group of companies that Prisma is part of, or that become part of that group (“Affiliates”).
At this point, Prisma’s terms and privacy policy is boilerplate stuff, but it’s worth keeping note of.
How do you use Prisma?
Prisma is easy to use. When you first open the app, you’ll see a square viewfinder with a virtual shutter button.
Taking a new photo in Prisma
Open the Prisma app.
Locate a subject you want to photograph. The higher the contrast between the subject and background, the better.
Tap on shutter button.
Select a filter from the horizontal list. Wait for it to process.
Select effect intensity by sliding finger horizontally across photo (if desired).
Choose a destination to save or share the photo to.
Using an existing photo in Prisma
Open the Prisma app.
Select the Gallery thumbnail on the bottom right.
Choose a photo for filtering.
Select a filter from the horizontal list. Wait for it to process.
Select effect intensity by sliding finger horizontally across photo (if desired).
Choose a destination to save or share the photo to.
Thanks, but I keep seeing a Prisma logo at the bottom right of my photos
That’s a feature Prisma turns on by default to spread the brand through Instagram and Facebook as the app gains traction. Thankfully it’s easy to turn off.
How to remove the Prisma logo watermark from your photos
I can’t connect to Prisma right now, it keeps telling me it’s over capacity!
Prisma is really popular, and because the app relies on the remote processing to generate all those amazing effects, sometimes the servers are overloaded. That’s OK, though, because we have some ways to get you back to being Prismatic, fast.
Prisma app over capacity or slow? Help, tips and tricks for quicker artworks
I love this app! How do I share my creations with the world?
Well, millions of people are sharing their Prisma creations on social networks like Instagram, Facebook and Twitter using the hashtag #prisma, but we’ve also got a great place to share them — Android Central’s forums!
Share your Prisma pics on the Android Central forums!
Anything else I need to know?
Prisma on Android is still in its infancy, and there are some bugs to be worked out. Some people are still getting errors when generating photos, or seeing strange notifications. Give it some time, and the company will likely work out those issues.
BlackBerry Neon/Hamburg vs BlackBerry Priv: What’s the rumoured difference?
BlackBerry is rumoured to be announcing three smartphones over the next 12 months, one of which is claimed to be the Neon.
The Neon has also been codenamed Hamburg and more recently DTEK50, but we will be calling it Neon for the sake of this feature. Rumours claim it will be a high to mid-tiered, entirely touchscreen device.
We’ve put the BlackBerry’s Neon’s rumoured specs up against the flagship Priv to see how they compare, based on the speculation.
BlackBerry Neon/Hamburg vs BlackBerry Priv: Design
The BlackBerry Neon is rumoured to measure 147 x 72.5 x 7.4mm and weigh just 135g, which would make it smaller, slimmer and lighter than the BlackBerry Priv.
The Priv by comparison measures 147 x 77.2 x 9.4mm and weighs 192g. It features SmartSlide technology that reveals a QWERTY keyboard however, while the Neon appears to be touchscreen only with no physical keyboard.
In fact, the Neon looks more like a standard Android smartphone, much like the Alcatel Idol 4. It is distinguished only by the BlackBerry logo on the rear and the textured-looking finish. Neither the Neon or the Priv have or are reported to have a fingerprint sensor.
BlackBerry Neon/Hamburg vs BlackBerry Priv: Display
The BlackBerry Neon is reported to offer a 5.2-inch display that features a Full HD resolution resulting in a pixel density of 424ppi.
The BlackBerry Priv has a slightly larger display at 5.4-inches and it also offers double the resolution at 2560 x 1440 pixels for a pixel density of 540ppi.
If the rumours are accurate, the Priv will theoretically feature slightly sharper images and more detail than the Neon thanks to the extra pixels per inch.
BlackBerry Neon/Hamburg vs BlackBerry Priv: Cameras
According to the rumours, the BlackBerry Neon will arrive with a 13-megapixel rear camera featuring an aperture of f/2.2, optical image stabilisation and phase detection auto focus.
It’s been claimed, the Neon will have a dual-LED flash on board and be capable of 1080p video recording from its rear camera. The front-facing snapper is said to be 8-megapixels with a f/2.2 aperture, 1080p recording and a selfie flash.
The BlackBerry Priv has a higher resolution rear camera at 18-megapixels and it too has an aperture of f/2.2, OIS, PDAF and a dual-LED flash on board.
The rear camera is capable of 4K video recording, while the front-facing 2-megapixel camera only manages 720p. There is no selfie flash on the Priv and the aperture sits at f/2.8, meaning the Neon should deliver better selfies in low light conditions.
BlackBerry Neon/Hamburg vs BlackBerry Priv: Hardware
The BlackBerry Neon is reported to be coming with Qualcomm’s Snapdragon 617 processor, coupled with Adreno 405 graphics and 3GB of RAM.
There will apparently be 16GB of flash memory that can be expanded via microSD and the battery capacity is rumoured to be 2610mAh.
The BlackBerry Priv has Qualcomm’s Snapdragon 808 chip with Adreno 418 graphics and it too is supported by 3GB of RAM.
The Priv has double the storage though at 32GB, also expandable via microSD and its battery capacity is quite a bit larger at 3410mAh.
BlackBerry Neon/Hamburg vs BlackBerry Priv: Software
The BlackBerry Neon should arrive on Android Marshmallow and feature a number of BlackBerry apps pre-loaded, including the company’s DTEK security software.
The BlackBerry Priv also runs on Android and it too has BlackBerry apps pre-loaded so expect a similar software experience on both devices being compared here, if and when the Neon launches.
BlackBerry Neon/Hamburg vs BlackBerry Priv: Conclusion
Based on the leaks, it looks like the BlackBerry Neon will be a smaller, lighter device compared to the Priv, but it will be a full-touch controlled smartphone, with no physical QWERTY keyboard. It is also likely to be cheaper with a sub-£300 price tag rumoured.
A slower processor appears to be on board the Neon, as well as a smaller battery and less storage. It does have a higher resolution front camera than the Priv based on the rumours though, even if it has a lower resolution rear camera and display.
This is all based on speculation at the moment but we will update this feature when Neon’s official details and name are announced. For now, you can read our Hamburg/Neon rumour round up for more details.
ICYMI: Better 3D viewing and your new robot gardener
Today on In Case You Missed It: MIT developed a 3D projector system for movies that could get rid of 3D theater glasses altogether. An automated farming machine can plant, water and maintain the garden in your backyard with hardly any effort on your part (beyond set-up, assembly, and that ‘discounted’ $3,000 pricetag).
One of my favorite YouTubers has a new DIY for Pokemon fans. As always, please share any interesting tech or science videos you find by using the #ICYMI hashtag on Twitter for @mskerryd.
Xbox One S ‘Halo’ and ‘Madden 17’ bundles arrive August 23rd
Microsoft dropped the price of the original Xbox One to $249 over the weekend, and now the company is offering more details on the new Xbox One S. The first two bundles that pair games with the smaller 4K-ready console will ship August 23rd, but they’re up for pre-order today. First, a Madden NFL 17 option comes with a One S that offers a download of the game, 1TB of storage, seven Madden Ultimate Team Pro Packs and one month of EA Access for $349. Unfortunately, there’s no 500GB model available with the popular football title and the bundle will only be available in the US and Canada for now.
Not into sports games? There’s a Halo Collection Xbox One S bundle as well. You’ll have the option of 500GB or 1TB of storage alongside five games with Halo 5: Guardians and Halo: The Master Chief Collection. Both models will be available at retailers (including Microsoft Stores) in the US, Canada, Australia and New Zealand for $299 and $349. In the US, Microsoft says the 1TB bundle will only be available in limited quantities online and at the company’s retail stores. If you don’t live in one of those places, don’t fret: Microsoft said more bundle news is on the way as we get closer to the Xbox One S launch.
Talkshow offers the ability to host your own AMAs
A few months ago, a messaging app called Talkshow debuted with an interesting premise: all of your conversations on it are public. Everyone can “listen in” on the chatrooms you create, sort of like podcasting but in text form. One of the ways it differentiated itself from Twitter is that strangers can’t just butt into the discussions — they have to be invited. Otherwise, they could only offer canned responses. Now, however, outsiders can participate in a more engaged way, thanks to a new feature called Q&A.
Michael Sippey, one of Talkshow’s co-founders, says that the feature was born out of users holding impromptu Ask Me Anything sessions. But the only way for the audience to chime in was to be promoted to co-host, where they can say anything they want. They could then be removed from the discussion, but adding and removing these guests can be a hassle. The new feature, however, lets viewers submit questions and/or responses, which the host can review before allowing them through. It’s like a moderated comments section, but in real-time.
The Q&A feature is entirely opt-in, and is something that a host can toggle on or off. The default prompt is “Ask anything,” but you can customize it to whatever you like, such as “What’s your favorite Pokémon” or “What’s on your holiday wishlist.” Hosts and co-hosts can see all Q&A submissions, but only the host can decide what to publish. If a submission is accepted, the person who sent it in will get a push notification. You can then end the Q&A at any time during the conversation.
“It’s audience engagement, but more controlled,” says Sippey. “It keeps the host in control of the show.” He envisions that the feature will be used in AMAs of course, but he also foresees people using it for interviews or audience polling. “It’s a way to get feedback.”
“It’s going really well,” Sippey says about Talkshow’s progress since its launch. “People who are sticking around are really enjoying it.” When asked about the rise of public chat apps — Public is another one that debuted recently — he attributes the popularity to a general hole in the market. “Twitter is not great at ongoing conversation; the timeline is a very difficult place to navigate a particular topic,” he says. “Facebook is mostly for friends and family, not for public conversations.” An app like Talkshow, however, fills that void. “If people are good at it, it can be entertaining content.”
Right now Talkshow is sort of a mix of media — journalists have used it for event liveblogs — as well as community discussions around topics such as Pokémon Go. “Sometimes they’re not producing it for anybody but themselves.”
“Is it media? Or is it a chat product?” he queries rhetorically. “We’re straddling that boundary right now.”
T-Mobile adds Apple Music, Fox Now and more to Binge On
T-Mobile’s adding a whole bunch more entertainment services to its ‘Un-carrier’ plans today, meaning lower data bills for customers that just can’t bear to switch off Quantico while out and about.
New services joining the Un-carrier program include ABC, Fox Now, Apple Music and a whole host of others, including some more specialist providers like the sign language channel DPAN.TV. In total there are now more than 100 different entertainment services available, a four-fold increase from its launch eight months ago.
It might be growing at quite a clip, but not everyone is so happy about it. Researchers at Northeastern University say that Binge On doesn’t live up to the hype and regularly falls below minimum service standards, such as maintaining a minimum 480p resolution.
Net neutrality supporters also argue that Binge On flies in the face of the FCC’s Open Internet Order by making some video services more attractive than others. T-Mobile subscribers probably care less though, ’cause hey, they’ve got free Pokemon Go data for a year too.
Company president, CEO and enigmatic front-man John Legere says that over 765 million hours of video have been streamed for free so far and that it’s a winning formula for businesses and users, as it’s free to both.
Source: Business Wire
US government agency calls for the end of SMS authentication
The US agency that sets guidelines and rules in cryptography and security matters is discouraging the use of text messaging in two-factor authentication. In the latest draft of its Digital Authentication Guideline, the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) states that “[out of band authentication] using SMS is deprecated, and will no longer be allowed in future releases of this guidance.” Out of band authentication means utilising a second device to verify your identity.
NIST doesn’t make clear why it’s deprecating SMS two-factor, but there are a few reasons that make sense. Most phones display text messages on their lock screen, meaning a would-be attacker would be able to authenticate just by looking at your phone. There are also considerable flaws in signalling protocols that make SMS more vulnerable than other methods.
NIST’s guidelines aren’t legally binding, but the industry will pay attention to them. So what’s the alternative to SMS? There are plenty. The most prevalent are dedicated applications that deliver a two-factor code that refreshes every 30 seconds. Google Authenticator, Authy, Duo and other apps all essentially do the same thing with slight differences in presentation and execution. If you work for a large company, you might have used hardware that works on a similar principle, such as RSA SecurID dongles.
There are still plenty of sites and services that only offer SMS-based authentication, while others such as Facebook support both app- and SMS-based methods. And, of course, there are inexplicably some services with no protection at all. Instagram is one such outlier — it’s been slowly bringing two-factor to its userbase this year, but at the time of writing has yet to complete that roll out.
Via: TechCrunch, Tom’s Hardware
Source: NIST (section 5.1.3.2.)
Google’s Omnitone adds 3D audio to web-based VR
Realistic sounds can turn good VR experiences into great, truly immersive ones, and Google’s new open source project can make that happen for web-based virtual reality. The technology, called Omnitone, uses a full-sphere surround sound technique called ambisonics. Simply put, it mimics how sounds are heard in reality. If a VR character is playing the piano, how you hear the music changes based on where you’re looking — turn your head (while wearing a VR headset, of course) away from the pianist, and you’ll hear the music coming from behind. Since it’s open source and has cross-browser support, anybody developing VR games and other experiences for the web can use it for their projects.
The Chrome team wrote in the announcement post:
“Throughout the project, we worked closely with the Google VR team for their VR audio expertise. Not only was their knowledge on the spatial audio a tremendous help for the project, but the collaboration also ensured identical audio spatialization across all of Google’s VR applications — both on the web and Android (e.g. Google VR SDK, YouTube Android app)…
With emerging web-based VR projects like WebVR, Omnitone’s audio spatialization can play a critical role in a more immersive VR experience on the web…We look forward to seeing what people do with Omnitone now that it’s open source. “
Google has a thorough explanation of how Omnitone works on the Open Source blog and has even posted a couple of demo videos you can try. If you don’t have a VR headset you can use to view the demos, make sure to drag the picture around and wear headphones — you might not hear the difference on speakers — when you play them on your browser.
Via: PopSci
Source: Google, Omnitone
OurMine ‘hackers’ are targeting news sites now
OurMine has been making quite a name for itself this summer, pulling off account takeovers of several high-profile targets. Celebrities have, for the most part, been the target, with the most recent attacks being on Sony’s Shuhei Yoshida and Star Trek actor William Shatner. But today, OurMine gained access to the backend of Engadget’s sister news site TechCrunch, marking a significant change in target.
OurMine considers itself an “elite” and “professional” hacker group, and aims to make money by charging companies and individuals to discover vulnerabilities in their account. We wrote extensively about its attempts to essentially extort companies last week, targeting high-profile accounts in order to promote its paid services.
Yet again, rather than being a bonafide hack, this seems to be a relatively simple case of gaining access via poor password practices. The group appears to have entered the site’s CMS (content management system) via a writer’s account. It’s likely, although not sure, that the account in question used the same password across multiple services. OurMine published an article under the writer’s name, put banners at the top of the site, and, as is par for course for the group, encouraged the owner of the account to write in to retrieve their accounts.
Because of the limited nature of the “hack,” TechCrunch was able to quickly roll back the changes OurMine made to its site. The erroneous post was deleted within minutes, and the banners and other accoutrements added to its homepage were removed soon after. While TechCrunch says it’s still looking into exactly what happened, it seems the situation is under control for now.
Olympic athletes are training with brain-altering headphones
Many of the athletes heading to the Rio Olympics are using some form of technology to help them out, but some of them are relying on particularly unusual gear. Halo Neuroscience has revealed that several athletes are using its Halo Sport headphones to (hopefully) improve the effectiveness of their training. The wearable is meant to stimulate your brain’s motor cortex into a momentary “hyperplasticity” mode, where it can more effectively build neural connections — if you’re in the thick of resistance training, you may move on to heavier weights that much sooner.
These are competitors you may recognize, too. On top of athletes from Sierra Leone (sprinter Hafsatu Kamara) and Trinidad & Tobago (hurdler Mikel Thomas), three of them are US medal-winners: 4 x 400m relayer Natasha Hastings, relay sprinter Mike Rogers and 400m hurdler Michael Tinsley.
This is as much marketing for the Halo Sport’s fall launch as anything else, so there’s good reason to be skeptical (especially given the $649 pre-order price). However, you can look at this as a grand experiment that goes beyond Halo’s existing partnerships. If the athletes training with these headphones come home from Rio with medals, it’ll suggest that this brain-changing headgear can produce quantifiable results.
Source: Halo Neuroscience, Medium
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