Google reveals hardware requirements for Daydream VR

By the numbers: What a phone needs to run high-performance VR content.

We know Google’s Daydream VR experience, introduced in Nougat, requires some pretty beefy technology to run, but so far the exact hardware and software requirements have eluded us. They’re now laid bare in the new Android 7.0 Compatibility Definition Document, which shows in great detail the criteria a phone must meet in order to run in “high performance” VR mode.

The documents go into fine detail on exact numbers to do with display latency, video capabilities as well as OpenGL features, but the condensed version is basically as follows:

• Bluetooth 4.2 LE
• Display between 4.7 and 6 inches
• Resolution at least 1080p @ 60Hz display with 3ms or less latency and 5ms or less persistence. (Quad HD or higher recommended.)
• OpenGL ES 3.2 and Vulkan
• Able to decode 2 instances of 60fps video simultaneously
• Consistent 60fps rendering
• Temperature sensors capable of reading device surface temperature

This doesn’t exactly make it simple to work out if a phone will support Daydream based on a spec sheet alone, since properties like display latency aren’t shown in your average spec sheet. (Kind of a moot point as Daydream-ready devices are advertised as such.) Nevertheless, it’s interesting to see the exact numbers Google’s holding device manufacturers to.

It’s interesting to note that the just-launched Huawei Mate 9 just about meets the spec with its 5.9-inch 1080p display, whereas a smaller, higher-res phone might not be Daydream-ready because of the display latency or sensor requirements.

In any case, the only Daydream-ready phones you can actually buy right now are the Google Pixel and Pixel XL.

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Everything you need to know about 4K streaming on Chromecast Ultra

Buying the Chromecast Ultra was the easy part.

Google is doing its part to make 4K streaming more accessible, but buying a Chromecast Ultra is only part of the equation. In order to stream a the highest-available resolution you’ll need a few different pieces to come together. Namely you need a display that can handle the resolution, enough internet bandwidth to carry all of those extra bits and of course you have to find the 4K content to stream.

It’s going to be a little while before 4K streaming is ubiquitous, but you can be ahead of the curve with your Chromecast Ultra and all of the right equipment to support it.

First, a 4K screen

The most important starting point for this equation is a screen with a 4K (or UHD) resolution. Though that can mean a computer monitor, chances are you’re looking to use this with a TV. 4K TVs aren’t nearly as expensive as they used to be, and it’s actually getting kind of tough to buy a new TV that isn’t 4K. Go pick up a new TV with the resolution, and you’ll be good to go.

More: Best 4K HDR TVs under $700

If you want to guarantee compatibility, make sure the TV you’re buying (or the one you have) supports HDCP 2.2, which is a prerequisite for streaming copy-protected content on the Chromecast Ultra. If you use an A/V receiver or a soundbar system with your TV, those will also have to be HDCP 2.2 compliant.

While you’re shopping, you may consider splashing a little extra cash to get a TV that supports HDR video as well. You’ll get more vivid colors and dynamic range, and the Chromecast Ultra supports HDR streaming. Another nice-to-have feature is HDMI CEC, which lets the TV and Chromecast Ultra talk to one another, enabling features like the Chromecast turning the TV on and outside devices to control the Chromecast via the TV.

A lot of bandwidth

You either have a 4K screen or you don’t — that part is pretty easy — but whether or not you have enough internet bandwidth is definitely another question. In order to stream in 4K, Google recommends at least 20 mbps sustained speeds for the Chromecast Ultra — and for what it’s worth, Netflix recommends 25 mbps. That honestly doesn’t sound like too much if you live in a major city and have cable internet, but there are a few things to consider here.

Chances are you’re getting less speed than you think, and that may be an issue.

Just because you have advertised speeds of (usually denoted as “up to”) 20 mbps to your home doesn’t mean that you have that speed sustained — it could be much less. If you do have that much bandwidth, you have to also take into account the fact that multiple devices in your home are likely sharing that bandwidth, and depending on the quality of your Wi-Fi router at home that may also take a chunk off the top of your internet speed as it’s delivered to the Chromecast Ultra.

If you don’t meet the bandwidth requirements, the Chromecast Ultra is likely to fall back to streaming in 1080p in order to keep the stream going. Chances are it’ll still look really good, and will stream smoother, but then again it won’t look any better than streaming in 1080p from a cheaper second-gen Chromecast, either. If you are using a slower DSL connection or find your cable internet slows down heavily at peak times, you may never be able to stream in 4K.

External power brick

If you had one of the prior two Chromecast models before your Ultra you may have enjoyed the freedom of running your Chromecast off the power provided by a USB port on the back of your TV — saving you from extra cables and power outlets. With the Chromecast Ultra, it’s a requirement that you use the included power brick if you want to stream in 4K, as the new model draws more power than previous generations, and more than any TV can reliably provide.

The power brick outputs 5V/1A of power, so theoretically you could use any power brick you have laying around that offers the same output, but considering the included one is … well, included, you might as well use it.

The power brick is a little bulky, but it also has the benefit of giving you an ethernet port, which means you can get your Chromecast Ultra hooked up to a wired network without extra accessories. Since many people have a router or switch in their home entertainment setup, this may be the best way to ensure you meet those above-mentioned bandwidth requirements for 4K streaming.

Now find the 4K content

So you’ve jumped through all of the hoops in terms of hardware, now you just have to find some content that actually streams in 4K. It’s true that the majority of what you’ll find out there today is still in 1080p, but there are a few reliable sources for finding that high-resolution goodness you bought the Chromecast Ultra for.

• Netflix has a good amount of 4K video that you may actually want to watch — just remember you have to upgrade to the highest-tier subscription to get it, which costs $11.99 per month (and also gives you simultaneous viewing on four devices).
• YouTube also offers lots of 4K video.
• If you like to use Vudu, you’ll find 4K content there as well.
• Vimeo also has 4K and supports Google Cast.
• Google Play Movies has 4K content, though it’s tough to identify just which movies and TV shows are in the higher resolution.
• Google keeps a comprehensive list of all Google Cast apps on its website, and tags the ones that are 4K capable.

After you search through and find some good 4K video to be impressed by you’re likely to fall back to watching mostly 1080p video as you start to make viewing choices based on the actual content rather than the resolution. But with the Chromecast Ultra all set up and ready for 4K, you’ll seamlessly stream the highest-quality video when available — no need to configure anything extra. Eventually, more and more of what you actually want to watch will also be coming at you in 4K.

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Samsung isn’t messing with Nougat too much

Not messing with a good thing.

So far, we’ve only seen a couple of interpretations of Android 7.0 Nougat from companies that aren’t Google, and the results have been a mixed bag.

Now, Samsung is on the verge of releasing a beta version of its take on Nougat, and from initial screenshots and video, it appears that the Korean company isn’t changing too much.

We’re looking at screenshots of a beta version out of Korea (via SamMobile), and Samsung’s so-called Grace UX is intact, with slight changes to color accents throughout. Thankfully — and this is an encouraging trend — Samsung hasn’t messed with the notification shade, which means inline replies should work as intended on the Galaxy S7 and S7 edge, which are sure to receive the update first.

Finally, as you can see in the three short screen recordings, the UX looks just as smooth as ever, if not more so, and Samsung’s camera interface has received a bit of a gesture-friendly spit shine, which was first seen in the now-cancelled Galaxy Note 7.

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Best Tempered Glass Screen Protectors for LG V20

Protecting your LG V20’s screen doesn’t need to be difficult.

The LG V20 is a huge phone, featuring a 5.7-inch main display below a smaller secondary ticker. If you’re like us, you’ll want to find a quality tempered glass screen protector to ensure both displays stay scratch free and protected from damage.

But LG threw a curve for those looking for tempered glass protection by literally adding curves to the top and bottom of the display. As has been discussed in the AC Forums, it’s been a challenge to find a quality tempered glass screen protector that offers good coverage without peeling up around the top and bottom.

There’s also a number of really bad options floating around early in this product cycle, so you’ll want to be careful with which one you buy. If it’s not sized or installed properly, you’re going to have a bad time.

Having said all that, here are some recommendations taken from firsthand experiences from the Android Central community.

• Incipio
• Pure.Gear
• Monoy

Incipio

The V20 tempered glass screen protector from Incipio was recommended by AC user durandetto, who shared the results of his purchase in the forum thread linked above.

When installed correctly, this screen protector will provide coverage for the entire lit screen — including the second screen at the top. It’s not full edge-to-edge coverage, and features a big cutout in the top-left corner for the front-facing camera. However, it adheres smoothly and will do the trick if properly installed in a dust-free environment. After a few days, durandetto did report that the screen protector wasn’t as hard as he thought it would be, as scratches had started to appear on the protector itself. But that means it’s also doing its job and protecting the screen.

Currently, it seems this screen protector isn’t available on Amazon, or even Incipio’s site, but you can get it from T-Mobile. It’s definitely on the pricier side, but it’s worth considering if you trust Incipio and absolutely must have a tempered glass screen protector on your phone.

See at T-Mobile

Pure.Gear (via ansa82 from the Forums)

This screen protector was recommended by AC user ansa82 in the forums, after she picked it up in-store from Verizon. Here’s her quick breakdown of the process:

It’s high definition glass. Comes with an easy install alignment tray, is touch and swipe precise, promises to be bubble free and advertises a case friendly fit.

Like the option from Incipio, this one also fails to provide full edge-to-edge coverage and has a cut out around the front-facing camera, but the inclusion of the alignment tray should help if you typically have trouble installing screen protectors right on the first attempt.

If this all sounds good, you can buy it from Amazon at a decent price.

See at Amazon

Monoy

This screen protector was also mentioned in the forums as a decent option. It’s definitely the cheapest product on this list, and boasts 9H hardness and .3mm thickness.

Again, as with seemingly every tempered glass screen protector for the V20, you’re not going to get edge-to-edge protection here, but instead will cover the active portion of the display and second screen. You’ll want to make sure to apply this one starting from the bottom, just above the LG logo, and work your way up to ensure a good installation. Considering the other options on this list, with Monoy’s offering priced under $10, it’s worth giving this one a shot.

See at Amazon

Which did you get?

Did you get a screen protector for your V20? Some folks have said they’ll just roll with the pre-installed screen protector out of the box.

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Samsung could release a large-screen Galaxy S8 to entice Note customers

South Korean news outlet The Bell has reported Samsung will make two versions of the Galaxy S8 smartphone, one with a 6.2-inch screen, to help lure disappointed Note 7 customers.

• Samsung Galaxy S8 and Galaxy S8 Edge: What’s the story so far?

The other version is said to have a 5.7-inch screen, the same size as the Galaxy S7 Edge, meaning there’ll be no 5.1-inch variant. Because both phones will be considered large, the company is rumoured to be calling the new devices the Galaxy S8 and Galaxy S8 Plus.

An analyst has been quoted as saying: “In order to attract potential Note consumers who prefer a large screen, Samsung has decided to adopt bigger screens for both new models of the S8”.

However, if you’re a small-handed person don’t worry, as it’s expected the Galaxy S8 phones will keep the same or have similar dimensions to their S7 and S7 Edge predecessors because the screens are said to take up more of the body. A Samsung Display spokesperson was recently quoted saying “Samsung Display would roll out a full-screen display who display area ratio reaches more than 90 percent next year”.

If Samsung does opt for design that sees the majority of the front taken up by the screen, it will need to embed sensors into it to such as a fingerprint scanner and home button.

It could be a wise move from Samsung, as will need to pull out all the stops to entice Note 7 customers back to its hardware after a number of them overheated and production was stopped.

You can stream songs from Wu-Tang Clan’s ultra-rare album

Whatever you think of the outcome of the US election, it’s providing a surprise for music fans. You see, Martin Shkreli (the infamous pharma exec who jacked up prices on an HIV/AIDS pill) bought the Wu-Tang Clan’s one-copy album Once Upon a Time in Shaolin and said he’d release it if Donald Trump won the presidency. Well, he honored that promise… sort of. After word of Trump’s win got out, Shkreli livestreamed both the intro to Wu-Tang’s album and one of its tracks. These weren’t intended as permanent copies, but this is the internet — listeners ripped the video feed and put the tunes on other sites. They’re not album-quality recordings, of course, but this might be the only chance you get at listening to this exceptionally rare composition.

Don’t expect Shkreli to livestream more cuts, let alone put high-quality copies online. As he explained, he genuinely wasn’t expecting Trump to pull ahead. If he ever wants to formally release Once Upon a Time, he’ll need to get permission from RZA, Method Man and crew to distribute it to the public. The original agreement prevented the buyer from publicly releasing material for 88 years. We wouldn’t completely rule that out, but it seems unlikely. The whole mystique of the album revolves around its exclusivity, and it wouldn’t be very special if you only had to wait a year to find out whether or not it justifies its multi-million dollar selling price.

Via: The Daily Dot, Pitchfork

Source: Scarey Pros (YouTube), Mitsuba Marui (YouTube)

Stanford develops CRISPR-based therapy for sickle cell disease

A team of Stanford scientists are making great progress in their search for a cure for sickle cell disease, and they want to start human trials as soon as 2018. They used CRISPR to fix the mutated gene that causes the illness in human stem cells taken from actual patients. The CRISPR technique gave them a way to carve out the faulty part of the gene and replace it with the normal DNA sequence that was supposed to be there in the first place. That prevents previously affected red blood cells from transforming into tiny sickles that have the tendency to clog blood vessels and cause organ damage.

During their tests, the scientists injected the corrected stem cells into young mice, where they remained alive and thriving even after 16 weeks. That’s significant, because sickle cells tend to die only after 10 days, leading to anemia. Despite their successful testing, the scientists still have to make sure the gene therapy they developed is completely safe. They need to look out for any unforeseen immune reactions and figure out a way to ensure they never edit out the wrong DNA strand.

Since there’s no single test to ensure the therapy’s safety, it’ll take a while before it’s used to cure the condition. Stanford’s already building the infrastructure needed to scale up the process, though, in hopes of starting human trials a couple of years from now.

Source: Reuters, Stanford University

Pandora’s new website points to an on-demand future

Pandora has generated a lot of buzz about its rumored on-demand platform based on Rdio, and is working on an extensive re-branding ahead of that. It recently unveiled a new logo, and today launched a completely revamped website. As part of the new changes, you’ll now see radio stations in a grid of album art instead of an ordered list, much like with Google Play Music. The control bar with thumbs up/thumbs down, play, pause and song information has moved from the top of the screen to the very bottom now as well.

The design makes lets you navigate “between past, present and future listening,” Pandora says, making it easier to create and organize stations. Interestingly, Pandora cribbed from Spotify and is offering tour dates on both the Now Playing and artist profile pages. Finally, you’ll be able to replay and skip tracks, provided you’re willing to watch a video commercial, while subscribers to the $5 Pandora Plus option will be able to do it ad-free.

There are no options to stream songs on demand, but that will likely change soon. Pandora will reportedly launch a $10 on-demand service like Spotify or Apple Music based on the technology it purchased from bankrupt Rdio. When it arrives, Pandora plans to expand to new countries and has ambitions to triple its subscriber base to 11 million by 2020.

Despite having 78 million monthly listeners and 3.9 million subscribers, the company lost $170 million last year. Given all that, it no doubt wants a strong launch for its on-demand site, starting with the new logo and website refresh.