Google Maps for Android just got a whole lot better for commuters

Google Maps makes it easier to check traffic and transit times.

Google Maps for Android is getting a visual refresh in an update rolling out now, with a new tabbed interface that makes it easier to check on nearby places, traffic conditions, and transit times nearby.

As with many Android apps in Google’s repertoire, Maps seems to be getting an update to come more in line with the company’s updated Material Design guidelines, relying less on menus and more on more visually-pleasing and accessible tabs.

The company says that these tabs — Places, Traffic, and Transit — are three of the most-used features in the app aside from directions, which are still easily accessible from the always-on search bar at the top, and users are familiar with the idea of swiping up from the bottom of the scree to access information.

The move also puts Maps in a better position to take on competitors in the transit space, which have until now had an advantage in the speed at which a user could access transit times.

Like all Google apps, the Maps update will roll out piecemeal over the next few days and weeks, so make sure your version is up-to-date from the Play Store.

Samsung Galaxy S8 vs S8 Plus: What’s the rumoured difference?

Samsung is rumoured to be announcing the Galaxy S8 and S8 Plus flagship smartphones at the end of March, with reports suggesting they will go on sale in April.

The two devices have leaked aplenty over the last few months, giving us a strong indication as to what we can expect. Here is the difference between the Galaxy S8 and the S8 Plus based on the rumours and speculation.

• Samsung Galaxy S8 and S8 Plus rumours

Samsung Galaxy S8 vs S8 Plus: Design

• Same design expected
• S8 Plus will be the larger device
• Slim bezels, no home button and rear-mounted fingerprint sensor reported

The Samsung Galaxy S8 and S8 Plus are both rumoured to feature similar designs, though as you might expect based on the suggested names, the Plus should be a larger version of the standard device.

Both are reported to offer very slim bezels surrounding their displays, no home button on the front and a rear-mounted fingerprint sensor to the right of the camera lens. They are also both expected to retain the headphone jack.

It is thought the two devices will continue with the metal and glass sandwich design, but both are expected to have dual-edged displays, rather than one flat model and one curved model as was the case with the Galaxy S7 and S7 edge.

Despite the reported increase in screen sizes over their predecessors, the S8 and S8 Plus are both expected to feature the exact same width dimensions to the S7 and S7 edge, putting them at 69.6mm and 72.6mm, respectively. We can also expect IP68 waterproofing on both.

• Samsung Galaxy S7 edge review

Samsung Galaxy S8 vs S8 Plus: Display

• S8 expected to have 5.7-inch or 5.8-inch display
• S8 Plus rumoured to have 6.2-inch display
• Both said to retain Quad HD, Super AMOLED

The Samsung Galaxy S8 is claimed to be coming with a 5.7-inch or 5.8-inch display, while the S8 Plus is said to be featuring a 6.2-inch screen.

Both are rumoured to be curved this time round and it is thought they will both offer a screen-to-body ratio of nearly 90 per cent. Some rumours suggested resolution might increase, though it is more widely thought the two devices will retain the Quad HD Super AMOLED screens but offer improvements on the S7.

Due to the size difference however and if the rumours are true, the Galaxy S8 will have a sharper display on paper, with either a pixel density of 506ppi or 515ppi compared to the 474ppi of the S8 Plus.

• Samsung Galaxy S8 vs Galaxy S7: What’s the rumoured difference?

Samsung Galaxy S8 vs S8 Plus: Camera

• 12MP Duo Pixel rear camera reported for both S8 and S8 Plus
• 8MP front-facing camera for both rumoured
• Iris scanning capabilities reported

Several rumours have surfaced regarding the cameras on the Samsung Galaxy S8 and S8 Plus, but the most reliable source claims the new flagships will have the same 12-megapixel Duo Pixel rear snapper as their predecessors.

It is thought the aperture will be f/1.7 and that both devices will have a new visual search feature. There is also rumoured to be an 8-megapixel front-facing camera on both the S8 and S8 Plus, which is claimed to have iris scanning capabilities and auto-focus rather than fixed.

Based on the rumours, it looks like the S8 and S8 Plus will have the same camera capabilities as each other, unlike the Apple iPhone 7 and iPhone 7 Plus.

• Samsung Galaxy S8 vs LG G6: What’s the rumoured difference?

Samsung Galaxy S8 vs S8 Plus: Hardware

• Same hardware rumoured for S8 and S8 Plus
• S8 Plus expected to have larger battery capacity

Like their cameras, the Samsung Galaxy S8 and S8 Plus are expected to have the same hardware capabilities. Rumours suggest the devices will feature either the Qualcomm Snapdragon 835 processor or the Exynos 8895 chip, depending on the region.

There have been claims of 4GB, 6GB and 8GB of RAM so it isn’t clear which the devices will opt for, but internal storage options are claimed to start at 64GB with microSD for both models.

Battery capacity is expected to be slightly different between the S8 and S8 Plus though, with the smaller model thought to be coming with a 3000mAh capacity, and the larger with 3500mAh. Both are expected to have USB Type-C.

Samsung Galaxy S8 vs S8 Plus: Software

• Android Nougat expected for both S8 and S8 Plus
• Bixby voice assistant rumoured for both

The Samsung Galaxy S8 and S8 Plus are both expected to launch on Android Nougat with the company’s TouchWiz software on top so the software experience should be identical.

There will apparently be an always-visible status bar and it’s been claimed the handsets will be able to connect to a monitor for a desktop view of Android.

The two devices are also expected to come with the Bixby voice assistant, powered by Viv, which will apparently feature in all native apps on the S8 and S8 Plus.

Samsung Galaxy S8 vs S8 Plus: Conclusion

Based on the rumours, the Samsung Galaxy S8 and S8 Plus will be almost identical. It looks like the designs and screens will be the same apart from the physical size, while the camera and hardware capabilities also appear to be the same, except the battery capacities.

The software experience should also be identical so based on the rumours, the only reason for buying the larger device is if you want a bigger phone.

Everything is based on speculation for now though, meaning Samsung could still have something extra up its sleeve for the S8 Plus device. We will update this feature as new leaks appear, as well as when the official specs are announced.

TomTom Touch Cardio is an entry-level fitness tracker that covers the basics

TomTom Sports has announced its second fitness wearable, the Touch Cardio, it joins the TomTom Touch with Body Composition. This new model has been designed and priced to make it more accessible to more people and to encourage healthy lifestyles. 

• TomTom Touch review: Out of touch

he Touch Cardio can measure your heart rate, track the number of steps you take, calories burned, sleep and active time. It’s essentially a stripped back version the Touch with Body Composition. That model can measure your fat and muscle percentage, on top of the features covered by the Touch Cardio.

However, the Touch Cardio shares the same slim design, OLED display and 24/7 monitoring, the only real difference is the loss of the silver touch button from the Body Composition version. From our time with the TomTom Touch, we found the basic fitness tracking functions to perform relatively well, our only real niggles with it were the design and the fact it was a less intuitive to use than the Fitbit Charge 2. 

The TomTom Touch Cardio can also be used for basic smartwatch functions, such as notifying you of incoming calls and messages on the display. All the activity data it collects is synced to the accompanying TomTom Sports app where you can view your progress, activity trends and comparisons, along with sharing your data with other users.

When we last used the TomTom Sports app, we found it to be too tricky to use and not as user-friendly as the competition. Thankfully it’s had a complete redesign now, so we look forward to trying it out in its new guise.

• TomTom Spark 3 review: Getting better with age
• Fitbit Charge 2: Taking charge

The TomTom Touch Cardio will be available from March for £89.99, some £40 cheaper than the Touch with Body Composition.

An entire ‘Pokemon’ game is playable inside ‘Minecraft’

When you think of Minecraft add-ons, you probably think of mini games or the occasional clever machine — fun, but you’ll likely be back to the main game before long. Well, you might want to clear your schedule with this one. Phoenix SC has released Pokémon Cobalt and Amethyst, a Minecraft add-on that recreates the adventuring and creature battles of its namesake game with uncanny attention to detail. There’s a brand new storyline, 136 (!) new Pokémon and many of the experiences you know, including a blocky Pokédex. Reportedly, it could take you longer to beat than the official Pokémon games — Phoenix SC is estimating that it’ll take 60 to 80 hours to finish.

Cobalt and Amethyst has some hiccups, which isn’t surprising when the team is building on top of another game. There are some actions you can take that will break the game, and you’re encouraged to back things up so that you’re not stuck if something goes wrong. Even so, the work is impressive — the 31 months of effort has resulted in a game deep enough that you might not return to the base Minecraft gameplay for weeks. Let’s just hope that The Pokémon Company and Nintendo don’t object and shut this down, as it’d be a shame to lose such a well-produced tribute.

Via: Videogamer

Source: Phoenix SC, Minecraft Forum

Airbnb wants to house 100,000 displaced people in five years

Airbnb was one of several tech companies to take a firm stance against Trump’s immigration ban last weekend, but the company has since expanded its assistance beyond just those affected at American borders. In a blog post titled #weaccept, Airbnb’s founders outlined a goal to provide short-term housing for 100,000 displaced people in the next five years. It will start with refugees, disaster survivors and relief workers, and has pledged to contribute $4 million over four years to the International Rescue Committee.

The company is not only looking to its community of hosts to open up their homes to those in need, but also for them to help make displaced people feel “connected, respected and part of a community again.” At the same time, Airbnb acknowledged its own challenges with discrimination faced by its guests and said it is “dedicated to achieving greater acceptance in our community.”

The blog post isn’t clear on how the company plans to reach out to displaced people who need accommodations, but it does offer a link for users to volunteer their homes or spaces to those affected by natural disasters or “war, government policy or economic disaster.” You can also suggest a cause that you believe would benefit from temporary housing.

Source: Airbnb

BT defends Google and Android in EU antitrust case

Google has found an unlikely ally in one of its many battles with the European Commission. As the Telegraph reports, UK telecoms provider BT has sent a letter defending Google’s ownership of Android and the promotion of its own apps and services. While the exact wording is unclear, a spokesperson for the company confirmed its existence and the gist of its contents for Engadget.

“We told them BT is free to pre-install its own or third party apps on devices alongside preloaded Google apps. We also said that, as an app provider, we value the ongoing stability and compatibility of operating systems, whether they are ‘open source’ or ‘closed source.’ This is why we welcome anti-fragmentation initiatives such as Google’s.”

Google stands accused of forcing its own software — YouTube, Google Drive, Play Music, and more — on phone manufacturers that wish to use some version of Android. While the platform is open source, allowing companies to freely fork and tweak its underpinnings, Google has an “Anti-Fragmentation Agreement” that protects one pretty big aspect: the Play Store. If you want Google’s marketplace, you have to accept the rest of the company’s software. That, according to the European Commission, is an abuse of the company’s market position, because it doesn’t allow manufacturers to freely choose which software comes with their devices.

The European Commission filed formal charges against Google last April. It follows a similar investigation into its search engine and the way it prioritises Google-developed sites and services at the top of results. Politicians are worried that Google is enforcing its own market dominance by ensuring its software and search services are installed and easily accessible on most Android phones. Such a system, it argues, discourages users from downloading third-party alternatives such as Dropbox or Spotify. Google obviously disagrees, believing that Android is offered in a “careful way” that’s ultimately “good for competition and for consumers.”

BT’s decision to wade into the argument is an intriguing one. What does the company have to gain from siding with Google? More of the status quo, which so far has delivered a large, varied portfolio of Android phones. Few companies have managed to fork Android successfully (remember Amazon’s Fire Phone? or Cyanogen?) and Google’s apps, while dominant, are some of the best in their respective categories. Decent pre-installed software means fewer complaints from customers and a stronger combined opposition to Apple’s iPhone. That means no single company who can manipulate BT into acting in ways that it doesn’t like.

As BT notes, it still has the option to pre-install its own software; it’ll just sit alongside Google’s selection. Duplicate apps are commonplace on Android handsets, and the practice riles most phone reviewers. Still, the mobile network provider argues, the option is there for manufacturers.

Whether the letter sways the European Commission remains to be seen. It’s an unusual show of support, but possibly an important one — BT is Britain’s biggest mobile operator, so its voice carries some weight.

Source: The Telegraph

Tim Cook Meets Fashion Designer and VizEat Co-Founders on France Tour This Week

Apple CEO Tim Cook is touring France this week and has shared some of his experiences along the trip on Twitter.

After making an unexpected visit at the new Apple Store in the port city of Marseille on Sunday, Cook met with Shot on iPhone photographer Jean Claude Luong. Cook then spent some time with Paris-based fashion designer and haute couture house owner Julien Fournié, whose latest collection was created with an iPad Pro.

Thrilled to spend some time with the incredibly talented @JulienFournie, whose exquisite new collection was created with iPad Pro. pic.twitter.com/CTSI3Q96CK

— Tim Cook (@tim_cook) February 6, 2017

Cook then had dinner with VizEat co-founders Camilla Rumani and Jean-Michel Petit. VizEat is a social dining service that allows travelers to “taste the city with locals” by booking an experience with a host, such as a cooking class, food tour, dinner, and more. VizEat was named one of the Best Apps of 2016 on the App Store.

Déjeuner with @VizEat co-founders Camilla & Jean-Michel. Thanks to our hosts – and new friends – Odile & Pierre for a wonderful meal! pic.twitter.com/WT6roAlY0S

— Tim Cook (@tim_cook) February 6, 2017

Cook still has time for a few more excursions before heading to Scotland, where he is set to receive an honorary degree from the University of Glasgow on Wednesday. Cook was also named the recipient of the Newseum 2017 Free Expression Award in the Free Speech category last week. He will accept that award in April.

Tags: Tim Cook, France
Discuss this article in our forums

LG Watch Style design confirmed in leaked photo, Watch Sport to get quad-core processor

Both the LG Watch Style and LG Watch Sport are expected to be announced in three days time on 9 February. They’ll be the first two watches to feature Android Wear 2.0 and have been developed in collaboration with Google.

• LG Watch Sport and LG Watch Style: Release date, rumours and specs

We’ve already seen renders and heard about potential specs, but this latest wave of leaks reveals yet more details. The retail box for the LG Watch Sport has been papped and uploaded, allegedly by a Best Buy employee – whether said employee still has their job is unclear. The box clearly shows the same design for the Watch Sport as we’ve seen in previous renders, but also introduces a new black/space grey-like colour finish. We can’t deduce much more from the box though, so any confirmation of internal specs and features will have to wait a few days.

Pocket Now

That’s not the case with the LG Watch Sport however, as a leaked screenshot from a benchmarking database has revealed what its packing behind the watch face.

The database says the Watch Sport will have a 1.09GHz quad-core Qualcomm processor, which is likely to be from the Snapdragon Wear range, along with 653MB of usable RAM, which likely means it’ll say it has 768MB. The Watch Style is listed as running Android 7.1.1, but we know it will in fact be Android Wear 2.0, and in the motherboard field it says ‘swordfish’, which refers to an earlier codename.

• Snapdragon Wear will give your next smartwatch battery better life and more
• Android Wear 2.0: What’s new in the major software update for watches

Both watches are said to be unveiled at an event on 9 February but global availability is to be confirmed. The Watch Style should come with a $249 price tag while the more feature-packed Watch Sport will demand $349.

Arcade cabinet brings wind, smell and bugs to VR

Koei Tecmo Wave, the company best known for the Dynasty Warriors game series, has unveiled an arcade cabinet that adds all-new sensations to virtual reality. The “VR Sense” enclosure is a “multifunction 3D seat” that brings movement, aroma, touch, wind, heat, cold, rain and mist to VR, the company says. It seems it’s not meant for the home, however, but as a “pay-per-use” machine, designed to liberate you from your cash at arcades or other facilities.

The device is launching with three different games. GI Jockey Sense (below) offers riders a “transcendent experience” thanks to the 3D seat — which presumably moves or vibrates — along with wind, rain and snow(!).

A non-snowy day at the racetrack (Koei Tecmo Wave)

Horror Sense, meanwhile, is some kind of variation on Resident Evil, with the thrills augmented by seat movements and “bugs falling from the ceiling and small things scurrying across the floor,” the company writes.

Finally, there’s a VR version of the company’s Dynasty Warrior series, letting you “feel the fire and heat in the middle of war.” That’s thanks to, and I’m not making this up, a “realistic reproduction of hot flames covering the battlefield,” the company says.

Koei Tecmo didn’t say what kind of VR headset it’s using, if any, for the VR Sense cabinet, nor did it mention pricing, launch dates or other details. However, it’s set to reveal more at the Japan Amusement Expo 2017 starting on Friday, February 10th.

Via: Famitsu

Source: Koei Tecmo Wave

Uber’s latest option is a personal chauffeur

If you’re traveling, or flitting about from one business meeting to another, it can be annoying to arrange a ride for very stop on the journey. Uber is looking to remedy the issue by launching UberHire, a service that lets you rent a car (and driver) for a day. The service is launching in a handful of Indian cities, including New Delhi, Mumbai and Pune, amongst others.

Uber users in India can access the service simply by swiping across to UberHire and selecting the first part of your trip. Mashable reports that the minimum fare will set you back around $10 for two hours and 30 kilometers worth of travel. Afterward, you’ll be charged a flat fee for every minute and kilometer afterward, apparently up to a top limit of 12 hours.

The company has found life in India to be complicated, and has had to tweak its business several times to better suit the market. Car rentals, for instance, was offered by local rival Ola last year, and the service had to implement cash payments in the country. In addition, users can book rides from their browsers and had to suspend surge pricing after pressure from regulators.

Via: Mashable

Source: Uber