Meet the company that’s hoping to democratize art collection — Absolut Art

Why it matters to you

Art is meant to give us global perspectives on matters of import, but sometimes, art simply isn’t that accessible. One company is hoping to change that.

It’s meant to transcend boundaries and break down walls, but for all intents and purposes, much of art today simply isn’t all that accessible. From expensive museum entry fees to the high costs associated with collecting, creative works seems to hide behind a paywall. But one company is hoping to give the public a key. Meet Absolut Art, the new digital platform looking to democratize international art at a time when access to global perspectives may be more important than ever. 

By digitizing the process of art collection, Absolut Art hopes to allow a wider audience to participate in a previously exclusive conversation. So how does it do it? Absolut commissions artists the world over to create limited edition, one-of-a-kind prints specifically for the e-tail platform, making them far more accessible and indeed affordable for those interested in purchasing original pieces.

More: Forget turning photos into paintings, this software copies another photo’s style

The vast majority of the art found on Absolut falls within the $150 to $600 range, so even if you’re a first-time art buyer, there’s likely a piece within your means. And profits are split evenly between Absolut and the artist, so you can rest assured you’re indeed supporting creative endeavors. And because this is the 21st century, art ships within 48 hours and arrives framed and ready for your wall.

To ensure that new and seasoned collectors alike are selecting from the best collections, Absolut’s team explores cities like LA, Berlin, and Havana with expert curators to handpick local artists to bring to the platform. And thanks to the company’s deep-seated connections, you’ll also be able to buy works commissioned from major names like Frances Stark, Miranda July, Malin Gabriella Nordin, and Sascha Pohflepp.

So whether you’re looking to buy your home’s first piece or adding to a growing collection, Absolut may become your online destination for all things art.

Samsung Gear 360 (2017) initial review: Improvements all around

As early hardware and unfinished software goes, this is actually pretty good.

Samsung stopped in the middle of its big Galaxy S8 unveil to hand out a new Gear 360 to the crowd. With that camera came instructions to have fun capturing the world around us in a new way, and while 360-degree cameras aren’t new to me it’s still exciting to see what Samsung has in store for the next Gear 360. Here’s what I have to say after using this camera for the last week.

For starters, I want to make sure it is clear this is in no way a full review of this camera. The Gear 360 (2017) was delivered in a little cardboard box with no instruction manual, lens protection, or even a charging cable. The only thing I got in the box, besides the camera, was a QR code to download a beta version of the Gear 360 app for handling this new camera. This is hardware given to me before retail packaging with unfinished software, so none of my opinions are final and very little about the overall experience is set in stone.

That having been said, I’ve had a lot of fun with this camera so far.

Samsung has traded the sphere design for something more like a stick, but instead of a rounded rectangle body we get a nice round body with plenty of grip. The single button on the side of the body is easy to find and press without looking, with the power and menu buttons out of the way up near the lenses. This keeps you from accidentally hitting any buttons, so you can quickly grab the camera and capture with confidence.

It’s smaller than last year’s version, but the 2017 Gear 360 is still pretty chunky.

Just above that single button is a display, and like the previous version of this camera it’s easy enough to read in direct sunlight that you don’t need to grab you phone when you’re supposed to be enjoying the moment. Through this display you can see how much storage you have left, read to you in photos or video time remaining, and an icon with text for the shooting mode you are currently on. Tapping the menu button on the side of the camera will allow you to cycle through Photo, Video, Time Lapse, HDR Landscape, and Looping Video.

While the Gear 360 has stepped away from the orb shape with all of the computer bits in between the lenses, it’s still a little chunkier than most other 360-degree cameras. This camera is more pocketable than its predecessor, but still a little on the awkward side. Ricoh, LG, and Insta360 all have less physical space between the two fisheye lenses that work together to take a photo. The farther apart the lenses are, the more work software has to do to make the sphere seamless. In its current state, the sphere created by the Gear 360 is far from seamless.

The blurry line splitting the two halves of the sphere appear in every photo, but are most apparent when using the HDR photo mode shown in the above image — which is a shame, because it otherwise does a great job addressing the biggest problem with 360-degree cameras in difficult lighting. On most consumer 360-degree cameras, this photo would have been completely blown out on one half of the sphere due to the sunlight.

Samsung’s HDR Landscape handled it much better, though it takes significantly longer to take these photos when compared to the normal button press. As the name suggests, this mode is only really useful if you’re taking photos of a landscape with little or no movement. You’re also going to want a tripod or something to keep the camera steady.

You have a lot more flexibility when it comes to shooting video on the Gear 360, but only if you use the app to set things up the way you want. The Gear 360 app lets you choose between 4K video at 24fps and 720p video at 120fps, with a number of options in between. These options are incredibly important for a number of reasons, but VR is the most important. By offering 360-degree video at 60fps or 120fps, you ensure the videos are much easier to watch inside a VR headset.

The Gear 360 does a great job addressing the biggest problem with 360-degree cameras in difficult lighting.

The general rule of thumb here is based on motion: increase your FPS when you increase motion, or you risk nauseating some of the people watching. Samsung doesn’t do a great job explaining this anywhere, but the options available are very easy to switch between. What would be especially cool here would be a quick button to send the video you’re looking at directly into a Gear VR app for you to quickly view, but right now that’s not an option.

Everything you do on this camera is stored initially to the microSD card in the camera. This unit came with a 32GB card from Samsung, which is enough for thousands of photos and hours of 360-degree video. When you’re ready to view or share what you’ve captured, it’s time to head to the app on your phone.

The Gear 360 app establishes a Wi-Fi Direct connection with the camera, and lets you either transfer files to your phone or use the app as a remote shutter for the camera. Like the original Gear 360, using Wi-Fi Direct means a faster and more stable connection to the camera than the usual Bluetooth. It also means you’re going to drain your battery if you leave the app open for particularly long, which is why there’s a notification warning you to turn it off.

While the app works well enough in its beta form, it only works on modern Samsung phones and no update is going to fix that. Which is a bummer, because while you don’t need a Samsung phone to take pictures you need the app in order to stitch the two halves together to make a sphere. To make things even weirder, there’s eventually going to be an iOS version of the app, so in relatively short order there will be more iPhones able to use Samsung’s camera than Android phones. There’s also a YouTube live streaming feature in the app, but it only works on Android 7.0 or greater and in its current form isn’t particularly stable.

As it stands right now, there’s a lot to like about the Gear 360. The camera is easy to use, the software offers a lot of useful new features, and the battery will get you at least four hours of fairly constant use. It’s small enough to be reasonably portable as long as you have something to protect the lenses, and it just plain looks nice. Assuming Samsung is working on making the stitching a little smoother while we wait for release details that are a little more specific than “sometime in April or May” this will be a great camera to use just about anywhere.

See at Samsung

Google Duo’s audio calling feature is now rolling out to everyone

Everyone can now make audio calls on Google’s Duo.

Google rolled out audio calling in Duo last month, starting with users in Brazil. The feature lets you easily toggle between video or audio calls from within Duo’s interface, and the app’s technical lead Justin Uberti announced today that audio calling is now available to all users globally.

Just like Duo’s video calls, the audio calls feature is optimized for spotty connections, so even if you’re on a 2G cellular connection, you’ll be able to make audio calls with passable clarity. The feature certainly makes the app much more versatile, but the main problem with Duo and Allo — an instant messaging app that has the Assistant baked in — is user adoption.

Both apps are aimed at emerging markets like India, where millions of users are making their way online for the first time. If Google launched them two or three years ago, they would’ve racked up millions of users. But with WhatsApp effectively sowing up the Indian market thanks to its smorgasbord of features and ubiquity across platforms — both Allo and Duo don’t have a desktop app yet — there’s little incentive for customers to install multiple apps when there’s a single platform that does it all.

Google is ready to spend a billion dollars to give the Pixel a curved display

Google is looking to better compete with Samsung by partnering with LG on displays.

Google is ready to spend close to $1 billion — around $880 million at today’s exchange rate — to LG Display to produce curved OLED panels for its next Pixel phones, according to Korea’s Electronic Times (via Reuters).

The report says that LG has not approved the offer just yet, but the move is an indicator that Google understands it needs to follow Samsung, LG and presumably other OEMs in producing thinner, more flexible OLED panels to maximize the screen space of its next Pixels while keeping overall device footprint down.

While the original Pixels use OLED panels, which are ideal for virtual reality and optimized for the Daydream platform, the phones, available in 5-inch and 5.5-inch variants, have been criticized for their bezels above and below the display, making their overall size much larger than other devices with the same usable screen real estate.

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ZTE Quartz is an affordable Android Wear smartwatch with 3G and a huge battery

The maker of budget smartphones begins its foray into the wearables market with the biggest battery in Android Wear.

ZTE isn’t quite known for its wearables because it hasn’t really offered any — at least, not any running Android Wear. The company is hoping to turn that around now that smartwatches and wearables have become a veritable thing in the mobile industry, and companies of all sorts are investing in their own devices in this space, ZTE has committed to trying its hand.

ZTE’s first smartwatch is the Quartz. It runs Android Wear 2.0 and features 3G connectivity, and it’s nearly as polished and preened as some of the pricier fashion smartwatches available. Its main appeal, however, is its price point. When the watch launches on April 21, you can buy it at T-Mobile for $199.

See at T-Mobile

Bang for the buck, but with compromises

The ZTE Quartz isn’t a bells and whistles kind of Android Wear smartwatch. It’s barebones packed into a pretty well-crafted metal chassis. It’s up to speed with all its specifications, too, as it runs on the same Qualcomm Snapdragon Wear 2100 processor and 768MB of memory as the LG Watch Sport. It has 4GB of onboard storage for Google Play Music playlists on the go, as well as a built-in speaker for speakerphone, GPS, and a barometer. It’s also IP67-rated for water resistant, too, and features removable watch bands — which is appreciated, considering the default silicone watch band that comes with the Quartz is stylistically limiting.

The ZTE Quartz isn’t a bells and whistles kind of Android Wear smartwatch.

There is only one button the Quartz: a ridged crown located on the left upper corner of the device. It doesn’t spin and scroll like the LG Watch Style’s, but it is placed on a part of the chassis that’s easier to access when wearing the watch.

The Quartz’s most alluring feature its is comparatively huge 500mAh battery. If a long-lasting Android Wear smartwatch is on your wish list, but you don’t want to spend too much, you’ll want to give this particular wearable a look over. ZTE says the Quartz can last up to 36 hours, which is just enough to make it back home for a charge after a rowdy night on the town.

ZTE’s first major smartwatch is lacking a few marquee features, though that’s the compromise for its cheaper price. To keep its thickness at a minimum — for reference, it’s 0.3mm thicker than the LG Watch Sport — ZTE left out a heart-rate monitor and an NFC chip, which would have enabled Android Pay. And though it’s compatible with GSM networks, the Quartz is limited to 3G connectivity.

The Quartz also charges on an antiquated MicroUSB-connected dock. This decision was likely made in an effort to keep the overall cost of the Quartz as affordable as possible, but it feels like a stumble backward as the rest of the industry is moving forward with USB Type-C. It’s certainly not a deal breaker, but it is an annoyance.

Coming soon

A pretty basic smartwatch.

ZTE has made its business on affordable smartphones, and now it’s hedging its bets on smartwatches. The wearables market may have slowed down a bit in sales, but ZTE’s is hoping its connected watch will attract any early adopters in search for a cheap entry point. For $199, the Quartz offers 3G connectivity on your wrist through T-Mobile, a longer battery life than its competitors, and a relatively abbreviated design chassis that’s malleable enough for anyone to style.

The ZTE Quartz is on sale exclusively at T-Mobile on April 21. You can pre-order it starting April 14. And in the meantime, we have a review in the works, so stay tuned.

Android Wear

• Everything you need to know about Android Wear 2.0
• LG Watch Sport review
• LG Watch Style review
• These watches will get Android Wear 2.0
• Discuss Android Wear in the forums!

Get a two-year subscription to one of the leading VPN services for only $51

Online privacy is slowly but surely eroding, and it doesn’t seem like the general public has much of a say in the matter. Some people don’t mind having their activity spied on and sold for profit, but others would like to keep their matters to themselves, no matter how innocent they are.

Start protecting your online privacy with Private Internet Access VPN! Learn more

How is it possible to protect some bit of online privacy? With a VPN! It acts as a sort of encrypted tunnel that masks your internet activity. While there are many free VPN services out there, you have no idea who is controlling the server, and thus can’t trust them. You might have to pay, but paid VPN services are always better.

Right now, Android Central Digital Offers has a deal on a two-year subscription to Private Internet Access, one of the best VPN services in the world. Instead of paying $166, you’ll pay only $60. That’s 64% off the regular price. What’s more, you can use the code PIA15 at checkout to get an additional 15% off, bringing the total price down to $50.96.

Private Internet Access VPN does not log any user information, it blocks ads, trackers, and malware, and you can use it on up to five devices at once. There is no limit to bandwidth, and transfer speeds are always fast.

Get a two-year subscription to PIA VPN for only $51! Learn more

Ready to reclaim some of your online privacy? This two-year subscription from Private Internet Access VPN will do just that. Don’t hesitate — this deal won’t last forever.

Best baseball games for Android

Spring has finally sprung, which means America’s favorite pastime is back!

With the new Major League Baseball season just getting underway, we’re sure all you baseball fans are clamoring for a quick fix between — or possibly even during — watching your favorite team’s games. We’ve got the rundown on the best baseball games that have been updated for the new season.

PLAY BALL!

MLB Tap Sports Baseball 2017

Tap Sports Baseball is a free-to-play game that’s been officially licensed by the MLB and features all teams and players from Major League Baseball game.

If you’ve played previous iterations of this game, you’ll be happy to know that the graphics have been improved for 2017. Featuring the same simple one-touch controls for batting, this is a game you can comfortably play one-handed, though you’re only tasked with batting.

There are many ways to play, from online exhibition games, home run battles, and tournaments. In multiplayer, teams take turns at bat so you’re able to play multiple games at one time. There’s also weekly events where you can show off your ultimate team in head-to-head competitions.

Again, this is a free-to-play game that relies on in-app purchases. You should be able to grind your way through things, but if you’re frustrated by that style of game you’re best to look elsewhere. Otherwise, this game is perfect for casual players and looks really great.

Download: MLB Tap Sports Baseball 2017 (Free w/IAPs)

MLB Nine Innings 2017

The 9 Innings franchise has been a very popular game on Android over the years, and the latest edition might be the best yet. The game features all 30 MLB ballparks and over 800 players, which have been carefully rendered in 3D for a very authentic gameplay experience.

There’s a number of ways to play depending on how much free time you have. You can jump into an exhibition game or play your way through a full season with options to play bat/pitch only or take control of both sides of the game. The game also features a unique “Live Player System”, which will accurately reflect the real-life performance and value of MLB players throughout the season.

You’re also tasked with collecting your favorite players and building your dream team which, coupled with the free-to-play model, means you’re going to have to deal with in-app purchases. If you can get past that, you should have a great time playing this game throughout the season.

Download: MLB Nine Innings 2017 (Free w/IAPs)

MLB Line Drive

While the other games on this list do their best to simulate the MLB as realistically as possible, MLB Line Drive is an arcadey take on everyone’s favorite event: the home run derby.

Controls are simple: you wait for your pitch, then swipe to hit the ball with your finger (think Fruit Ninja-style). Connect at the right angle and you’ll send the ball sailing out of the park for a home run… but that’s only the beginning! Each time you play, you’re given a goal for scoring points, which you collect by clearing the park and smashing lights, collecting coins, popping balloons, dinging cars, breaking windows and much more.

Developed by MLB.com, Line Drive features six iconic ballparks are featured within the game — Yankee Stadium, Wrigley Field, Comerica Park, Globe Life Park, AT&T Park & Citizens Bank Park — with each new park being unlocked as you progress through the game. To do so, you’re going to need to upgrade your swing power and use boosters… which you buy with the in-app currency.

I think you see where this is headed. Yes, there are in-app purchases here as well, and the further you progress the harder the challenges become which will, in turn, tempt you with in-app purchases. Of you can get past the pay-to-win mechanics and are looking for a fun and casual game, check out MLB Line Drive.

Download: MLB Line Drive (Free w/ IAPs)

R.B.I. Baseball 17

If you’re looking to play full baseball games on your Android device without being pestered with in-app purchase offers, R.B.I. Baseball 17 is your best bet. This paid app was developed by the MLB and is also available on PS4 and Xbox One.

While the game might feel a little lacking on the consoles, it looks and plays quite nicely on Android, featuring beautifully rendered stadiums and all 30 MLB teams available with regularly updated rosters. Choose your preferred game mode and play a quick exhibition game, take your favorite team through a full season, or jump right into the heat of the post-season.

This game is fairly optimized for mobile gaming, allowing you to play a full nine-inning game in under 20 minutes with intuitive two-button on-screen controls. Keep in mind that all those pretty graphics requires a fairly modern phone to play it, which means R.B.I. Baseball 17 only supports devices with memory/processor comparable to the Samsung Galaxy S5 and up.

This game will set you back $4.99 in the app store but in exchange, you won’t have to deal with clunky free-to-play game mechanics.

Download: R.B.I. Baseball 17 ($4.99)

Swing for the fences!

What do you think of our picks? Who you got winning the World Series this year? Let us know in the comments below!

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Who’s going for the Galaxy S8+ over the S8?

Are you leaning one way or the other?

Last year, there was a clear divide in size and features between the Galaxy S7 and the S7 edge — it was even in the name!

This year, not so much. The Galaxy S8+ is slightly taller and wider than the Galaxy S8, with a 6.2-inch display over the smaller phone’s 5.8-inch panel, but both are curved, and both are very compact.

boubazm1
04-06-2017 04:17 PM

“

Hi, I just want to know for the ones who will buy the S8+ their reason to buy it.Do u think S8 is really not big enough or just you’re used to big phones.I’ve always had samsund S series phones.But I feel now that my S7 is too small.Is the S8 enough bigger than the S7?

Reply

As the phone gets a bit closer to release, a lot of people are asking whether the S8+, which its 3500mAh battery, is actually a better decision than the S8, which has a 3000mAh cell.

Arsenio Martins
04-06-2017 05:50 PM

“

I just left Best Buy. If you aren’t looking at them side by side you almost would think they were the same size. I mean one is obviously larger than the other but it’s not that noticeable like it was last year. For that alone I think it’s worth going for the slightly larger screen and larger battery.

Reply

Some people look at the S8’s smaller size and focus on its one hand-friendliness, since it’s small enough to swipe-type and take a photo with one hand. But others just want the biggest phone, period.

Rumline
04-06-2017 04:23 PM

“

Yes, S8 is not big enough. IMHO even the S8+’s size is marginal, to the point that I may cancel my pre-order and wait for the Note 8. I want a 6″ screen with a 16:9 ratio.

Reply

Others don’t think the S8+ goes big enough, and are waiting to see what the Note 8 brings.

What’s your thinking? Are you going for the Galaxy S8 or the Galaxy S8+?

• Take a stand for the Galaxy S8 or Galaxy S8+!

Samsung Galaxy S8 and S8+

• Galaxy S8 and S8+ hands-on preview!
• Galaxy S8 and S8+ specs
• Everything you need to know about the Galaxy S8’s cameras
• Get to know Samsung Bixby
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This amazing picture leak could show us the Samsung Galaxy Note 8

An image purporting to be the Samsung Galaxy Note 8 has appeared on Slashleaks via Leakspinner, a contributor that has been bang on the money when it comes to Samsung leaks in the past.

• Samsung Galaxy Note 8: What’s the story so far?

There is only one image of the device in the leak, but it shows a large phone running Bixby, Samsung’s own virtual assistant. The phone itself looks remarkably similar to the recently unveiled Galaxy S8 and Galaxy S8 Plus smartphones, with a full-frontal screen and no physical home button.

Because of this new design, there’s no official Samsung branding to be seen, but considering the design similarities, it would be fair to assume this is a Samsung device.

To help with the assumption that this is a picture of the Galaxy Note 8, an S Pen stylus can be seen next to it. The only thing that lets this rumour down, is the fact we can’t see if there’s a dedicated slot to house the S Pen, a feature that’s exclusive to the Note series of phablets. Because we have to take this rumour with a pinch of salt for now, there’s always the possibility this is just a photoshopped Galaxy S8 Plus with an S Pen put next to it.

• Samsung Galaxy Note 8 will have 4K display and Bixby voice assistant
• Samsung’s Galaxy Note 8 has the codename…wait for it…’Great’

However, Samsung has hinted in the past that it would continue the Note series with the Note 8, despite the battery issues that plagued the Note 7 and caused it to be taken off sale after just two months. The company previously announced an upgrade scheme, that would allow anyone would bought a Note 7, could return it and get a Galaxy S7 or S7 Edge for half price, and then have the opportunity to upgrade to a Galaxy S8 or Note 8 when they’re released in 2017.

Sammobile has previously uncovered the model number SM-N950F, too, which adds further evidence to the device’s existence.

So while we can’t say for sure that this is the upcoming Samsung Galaxy Note 8, it offers us the best glimpse yet at what Samsung has planned to regain its reputation.

Android Wear 2.0 is ready for a bunch of new watches

It’s a bit beat up, but my OLED-equipped LG G Watch R is still going strong (and bright) after nearly two years. So it’s good news that, after being delayed by glitches, Android Wear 2.0 is rolling out this week to that model, the 2015 LG Watch Urbane and the more recent New Balance RunIQ.

LG said it’ll roll out the update to both the Urbane and G Watch R this week, and the Urbane second edition will get the OS “in the beginning of May.” RunIQ owners, meanwhile, will see the update “no later than April 14th.”

Android 2.0, which launched in February with LG’s new Watch Style and Watch Sport, was supposed to come to older devices like mine several weeks after launch. However, while Google recently managed to get it working on the Fossil Q Founder, Casio WSD-F10 and $1,500 Tag Heuer Connected, it said that “for other devices … [it] is currently being delayed due to a bug in the final testing.”

With that fixed, seven watches are about to get updates, leaving another 12 with owners still waiting to hear about Android 2.0 — including devices from Huawei, Moto and ASUS. New features of the OS include a refreshed, easier-to-use UI, standalone apps and watchfaces, and Google Assistant, the new, AI-powered version of Google Now. Hopefully, with the update bug apparently solved, we’ll see release dates for all those models soon.

Via: The Verge

Source: LG (Google+), New Balance