The Evolution of Card Games

Online Casinos have changed the way we play our favourite card games, there’s no denying that fact, but just how much have the traditional table games been altered thanks to the Internet and the convenience of playing in your own home? Obviously, we no longer need to head to the casino or invite friends over to get our kicks but there’s more to this shift than meets the eye.

Poker is a key example of a game changing courtesy of the technological revolution as many of the game’s core principles have been lost to the digital medium. No longer are players tasked with reading their opponents behaviour to try and glean a clue about the strength of their hand simply because they can no longer see the other players at the table!

Aside of the lack of face to face play; online poker is generally swayed in the favour of the high rolling gambler as many exceptional players find themselves folding when the stakes get too high for fear of losing it all on one hand – betting patterns are all the player really has to go on in terms of reading their opponents and it’s a risky business.

Blackjack has suffered in a similar fashion as players no longer have the option of trying to read a dealer or try and count their way through the deck to slightly less honest success. The lack of face to face interaction has damaged the potential enjoyment for many players but the evolution of card games isn’t all negative.

Online card games now bring together players from around the world in a way that was never possible before; far short of a chance meeting in Vegas, how else could you play poker against players from around the world? The online revolution has brought players together and is promoting the games in a way that couldn’t have been achieved via the casinos alone.

Equally, the games are far more accessible for many players who may have shied away from the tables in a land based casino for fear of losing it all. Tables with incredibly low stakes are open to players who want to enjoy the game without risking huge losses alongside the no limits games for the higher rollers.

In brief, the evolution of traditional card games has been both a beneficial and a negative thing depending on your outlook. The one thing that remains certain is that players who prefer the traditional approach can still attend the casinos and those who embrace the developments can continue to enjoy the games how they see best.

Learn how to play the piano on your iPad with Skoove, a new music app

Why it matters to you

Learning how to play the piano can be expensive and hard — Skoove wants to address both those issues.

You may not become Mozart overnight, but there is nothing stopping you from trying now that Skoove, the 21st-century piano-learning platform, is available to download for free on your iPad. Over the course of the last two years, the previously browser-only platform has given eager musicians from 187 countries more than 200,000 lessons on tickling the ivories. Now that it is coming to iOS and the iPad, that number will only grow.

Promising “the most effective and complete way of learning the piano,” Skoove takes the traditional elements of learning how to play an instrument and combines them with modern technology. That results in an interactive platform that claims to help anyone from a true beginner to a seasoned expert learn a little something about the instrument.

More: The best music streaming services

Skoove features a virtual guide that offers advice throughout each and every lesson, providing real-time feedback and listening to the user as he or she practices. All elements of piano playing are included in the Skoove experience, including technique, improvisation, and music theory. During “lessons,” your iPad’s built-in microphone is actually capable of detecting the sounds of up to 10 simultaneous notes played on a piano, and notes are highlighted on-screen as budding musicians begin to find their way around a keyboard.

Much of the platform’s curriculum has been derived from experts in music, like the Liverpool Institute for Performing Arts, which is said to have “contributed their educational expertise to ensure Skoove’s piano lessons meet the needs of players of all levels.” Skoove also gathers information from its users to determine what students need to improve, providing an adaptive experience that helps ensure that practice makes perfect … or, at least, better.

Skoove is available around the world in English and German and is free. To access full access to lessons, one-on-one learning support, and other exclusive content, however, you will need to upgrade to Skoove Premium, which starts at $10 a month.

Stop that Skype install! Here are the chat apps you should be using on Windows or MacOS

In last few years, it seems like everyone has ditched AIM, Trillian, and the like for Facebook Messenger, iMessage, and plain-old text messages. And while person-to-person instant messaging is something we all do on our phones now, desktop clients are far from dead. In fact, they’re currently enjoying something of a renaissance.

While apps like Trillian and AIM have fallen to the wayside, companies like Slack have seized an opportunity. By reaching back into the mists of time and resurrecting the ancient traditions of mIRC, Slack has ignited an arms race between Silicon Valley’s biggest players. Between Microsoft, Facebook, and dozens of smaller companies, it’s safe to say that pretty much everyone is trying their hand at a chat app. Microsoft’s recently-introduced Teams is simply one of the more recent apps to join the fray.

More: The 10 best messaging apps for Android and iOS

Chat is the “next big thing,” at least for the moment. If you Google “chat apps,” for instance, you’ll be presented with a buffet of choices. And like a real buffet, once you have a look around, you’ll quickly realize that most of your options are just slight variations of the same thing. With so many choices, which chat app or apps should you be using? Well, there are really only two viable choices worth considering.

Short answer? Slack. Long answer? Slack and Discord. Here, we have some additional details, just in case you’re curious about why you should use either offering.

Slack

Slack is the de facto king for now, and for good reason. The software is slick, feature-rich, and pretty much ubiquitous. These days, you can’t throw a rock without hitting a business using Slack. It’s everywhere, not because it’s the default chat application for Windows or MacOS, but because it’s the best.

Why? The interface is clean, stylish, and straightforward. You have your channels on the left, your direct messages directly below. You also have Slackbot, which essentially amounts to Siri and Alexa’s less-helpful cousin. You can have Slackbot set reminders, and you can even customize it to respond to certain commands.

More: Windows 10 Cloud is on the way — but what is it, exactly?

With dozens of integrations — including support for a host of other productivity suites — Slack works well with just about every service out there, and businesses can further customize it to fit their needs. Plus, it’s a bit of a hot property right now. The Slack team is constantly updating the app to roll out new features, squash bugs, and make your chat experience as pleasant as possible.

Plus, it’s free. There are also no ads, or limits on how many users you can have. There are paid plans, and they provide a more robust experience and added storage space, but most users can get by with the free version.

Need another reason why Slack is the best chat app on the market today? It runs on Windows, MacOS, iOS, Android, and directly in your web browser, without any major variations between platforms.

Download now from:

Slack iOS

Discord

If Slack is the best choice for the workplace, then Discord is the best for basically everything else. Designed as a text and voice chat client with gamers in mind, Discord provides a feature set that should be familiar to Slack users, or anyone who’s been a member of a guild in World of Warcraft. Don’t deny it — we’ve all been there.

Discord is less formal than other chat apps, which is refreshing since the current market is very business-oriented. But that doesn’t mean it isn’t powerful. Featuring robust chat support and a built-in Streamer-mode, this is a finely-crafted application that puts apps like Skype to shame.

Unlike other popular chat apps, you only need to create one username from which you can join multiple different “servers” at a time. No need to create a work login, or a personal login — it’s the same one used across the entire platform.

More: Google’s Allo messaging app might be sharing your searches

Once you create or join a server, you can set up individual channels for specific topics, and even join each one like a no-fuss conference call. It’s reliable, attractive, and well-designed. Best of all, it just works.

That infamous Apple line is important here because nobody wants to fiddle with preferences or settings simply to talk to their friends. In our experience, Discord provides clear, reliable voice quality, without the choppy performance issues you sometimes run into with in-game chat options.

With Discord, you can also turn off your mic if you’re not in the mood to talk, or just jump right into a real “chat room”-style conversation with just the touch of a button. Simple, easy, and reliable. It’s also worth noting that Discord also features apps on every major platform, including Windows, MacOS, iOS, Android, and even Linux.

Download now from:

Discord iOS

Android 7.1.2 beta 2 is here, and it brings new features to old phones

Android 7.1.2 has now received its second beta prior to the public release in April.

Users of Nexus and Pixel phones running the Android 7.1.2 beta can now download the second beta in the series, which fixes some bugs from the initial version released in January while bringing eligible phones that latest security updates.

The update is already hitting Pixel devices, along with the Nexus 6P, Nexus 5X, Pixel C and Nexus Player, and brings the devices up to build NPG47I. It was announced on Google+ by Google’s Orrin Hancock.

According to numerous reports, the Nexus 6P gains the popular “swipe-down-for-notifications” shortcut with the new version, which came to the Nexus 5X in a previous update.

How to enrol in the Android 7.1.2 beta

We expect the final public version of Android 7.1.2 to roll out to all eligible devices in early April.

Android Nougat

• Android 7.0 Nougat: Everything you need to know
• Will my phone get Android Nougat?
• Google Pixel + Pixel XL review
• All Android Nougat news
• How to manually update your Nexus or Pixel
• Join the Discussion

Microsoft Xbox Live users can soon add custom gamerpics and way more

Microsoft has announced a tonne of new Xbox One-related features, including that it will soon allow participants in the Xbox Insider program to choose a custom image for their gamerpic.

Previously, you were limited to an avatar or game-related snapshot. Now, from your console, Windows 10 PC, or mobile phone, you will soon be able to update your gamerpic with a custom image. Microsoft described this capability as a “top fan-requested feature to Xbox Live”. However, it’s expected to be in preview longer than other features to ensure it’s 100-per cent perfect for everyone when officially released, Microsoft explained.

• Microsoft trials speech-to-text translation for Xbox One and PC games chat
• Xbox One S review: Great console and 4K Ultra HD Blu-ray player, what else?
• Xbox One S vs Xbox One: What’s the difference?
• Xbox One S vs PS4 Pro: What’s the difference?

The change, as well as other new features, were revealed in a blog post from Major Nelson. The post also detailed the ability to filter games by platform (like Xbox One or Xbox 360) on the My Apps and Games screen, making it easier to distinguished current-generation releases from older titles. Microsoft is also adding captive portal support, so your Xbox One will bring up a browser to help you log into Wi-Fi networks at public places.

An Arena tournament system is also slated to rolled out to Insider members within the next few weeks. There’s even improvements coming to Xbox Live clubs and more. All these features will likely make the Xbox One experience even better, but customer gamerpics is probably the most interesting. Check out the blog post for more information on what’s coming.

Comcast’s latest all-you-can-watch event includes Netflix

Comcast’s efforts to come to terms with Netflix just kicked up a notch. The cable giant is holding its fifth annual Xfinity Watchathon Week between April 3rd and April 9th, and this year Netflix is included as part of the all-access promo. So long as you’re a customer with an Xfinity X1 box, you’ll have free access to Netflix alongside the opportunity to catch up on shows from conventional TV channels like AMC and Starz. It sounds like an odd move for a company that has frequently been at odds with Netflix, but there’s likely a method to the apparent madness.

The Watchathon is normally about giving customers a taste of the channels they’re missing in hopes that they’ll sign up for more expensive TV packages. That’s still true this year, but Comcast now also has to convince subscribers that they’re better off watching Netflix on their X1 boxes instead of the apps they find on other devices. If you see Netflix as part of a larger Comcast package that offers a wider selection than Netflix alone, you might be less tempted to ditch cable TV and rely primarily on internet streaming for your entertainment. There’s no guarantee that this will work, but it may be worth the gamble.

And of course, there’s an obvious incentive for Netflix. This isn’t your ordinary subscription drive — it could reel in cable TV loyalists who might not have even considered streaming video before. Even if they don’t rush to sign up on April 10th, the Watchathon could still have them thinking about Netflix as an option down the road.

Source: Comcast

Researchers develop a drone that swoops and lands like a bird

Watch out, birds. The drones are coming for your jobs. Researchers at BMT Defence Services (BMT) and the University of Bristol in Britain have built a fixed-wing UAV that can land as well as its avian counterparts, reports Popular Mechanics. Although BMT’s project is currently part of a wider defense program called Autonomous Systems Underpinning Research, the team believes their drone could one day be used for other tasks like putting out fires or delivering packages.

When birds land, they perform a “deep stall,” meaning they swoop in at low altitude and angle their wings upward before landing. BMT’s drone does this too, thanks to a new morphing wing that can sweep forwards and backwards to create a pitching moment, or twist to allow the aircraft to roll. With this kind of high maneuverability, researchers envision a future where UAVs can easily fly through urban environments, dodging lampposts and power lines.

But, it takes more than high-tech wings for a drone to safely do a deep stall. The team also had to build it a bird-like brain, one that could compensate for slight changes in speed, wind, angle and wing position. They achieved this through something called “Q-learning,” a technique where an artificial intelligence learns an optimal course of action by raising its “Q,” or satisfaction level. Like a kid in an arcade, it kept trying to beat its high score, until it worked out how to get from its starting point to its destination. After about 5,000 practice attempts, BMT says the drone pulled off a soft landing without a runway.

Source: Popular Mechanics

US temporarily bans most electronics on Middle Eastern airlines

The US just made traveling to certain parts of the world considerably more complicated, at least if you’re a technology fan. Middle Eastern and African airlines (including Royal Jordanian and Saudia) say the US has asked them to institute a 96-hour ban on carrying most electronics on flights to or from the US, starting on March 21st. You can sit down with your phone or any necessary medical devices, but cameras, laptops and other gadgets will have to go into your checked baggage. The exact conditions of the ban aren’t yet clear, but an American official said that “12+” airlines are covered, while Saudia exec Abdulrahman al Fahad mentioned 13 countries being affected.

The reason for the surprise restrictions isn’t clear (Homeland Security isn’t commenting as of this writing), but this kind of sudden yet short ban tends to be in response to a specific and imminent terrorist threat. The US’ Transportation Security Administration is already worried about bogus devices being used to smuggle explosives, weapons and contraband aboard flights — this suggests that there may have been plans for just such an attack. While there could be alternate motives for the ban, it’s the most plausible explanation so far.

Attention all passengers 🛑 pic.twitter.com/VjN58EbJkJ

— Royal Jordanian (@RoyalJordanian) March 20, 2017

@thatjohn directives by US authorities with immediate effect (96 hours) for pax from 13 countries

— عبدالرحمن الفهـد (@ahfahad) March 20, 2017

Via: Jon Ostrower (Twitter), BoardingArea

Source: Ahfahad (Twitter), Royal Jordanian (Twitter)

Pottery Barn’s AR app will preview your future furniture

When you’re looking to purchase the perfect couch for your living room, you probably want to make sure that it looks good next to your end table. Pottery Barn hopes to entice shoppers into its stores with a new augmented reality app set to do just that when it launches later this month.

3D Room View will give you the option to see any Pottery Barn product in any of your existing rooms, even if it’s empty. You will be able to add, move and remove furniture, rugs, lamps and pillows and change the color of the pillows and upholstery. Two other AR apps will be available later this month, too: one to help teens design their own rooms around a desk from Pottery Barn and another that shows you couches in 360-degrees. Why you’d need a separate app to spin a couch around is anyone’s guess, however. Update: these last two are web-based tools for desktop and mobile, not native apps.

The new Pottery Barn app is made possible by Google’s Tango, an augmented reality technology that’s already been used by BMW and the Gap (as well as by mummy-studying scientists). Unfortunately, there are only two Tango-enabled phones, the Lenovo Phab 2 Pro and the Asus ZenFone AR; you’re out of luck if you have an iPhone or any other Android handset. The app is also only available in the San Francisco Bay area for now, with plans to roll out across the country later this year. Sorry, east coasters. Update: The app itself is available to everyone, but the pilot program that pairs interested customers with design specialists who can show the Tango-enabled tools in-store is only in the San Francisco area.

Ikea and Lowe’s already offer AR apps, while East-coast competitor Wayfair launched its own last November. Pottery Barn isn’t really innovating so much as playing catch-up. Still, if there’s one way to get a bunch of Silicon Valley tech bros to boost your bottom line, it’s with a gimmicky smartphone app.

Via: SF Chronicle

Cruise through your Kindle comics with ComiXology’s Guided View

ComiXology’s Guided View is a great way to experience digital comics. Designed for mobile devices, it allows readers to view things on a panel-by-panel basis, mimicking how you read a print comic. Now, that feature is available on Amazon’s Kindle app for iOS.

When Amazon bought ComiXology in 2014, it gave people the option to merge their accounts and move their Kindle purchases to the popular comic app. But, today’s update effectively eliminates all that, letting you buy and view comics within a single app.

Additionally, the patch adds a read-it-later feature similar to Pocket and Instapaper. Kindle users can now add documents and web pages to their library through the Share button. The web pages are converted to the Kindle format, so you can adjust the text, font and page color. Previously, saving a document to Kindle was a convoluted process involving multiple email addresses, browser extensions, and occasional animal sacrifice to the e-reader gods.

Source: Apple Store