The Snap Map is another way to stalk your pals in real time

In addition to being the place you share evidence of all the fun you’re having and potentially where you land a job with McDonald’s, Snapchat also wants to be the app you use to find cool stuff to do. Its latest feature, called the Snap Map, shows collections of public Stories from events around you so you can go straight to the site of that super awesome-looking concert or street fair after seeing posts about it.

To view the map after you update the app, you’ll have to pinch to zoom out from the Snapchat camera page, and you’ll see snaps from events happening around you. If a lot of posts are being shared from one location, it’ll show up as “heat” on the map, indicating a special event or breaking news. You can also explore what’s going on around the world instead of just what’s in your vicinity.

Let’s be real, though: You’re probably going to use Snap Map to see what your crush is up to or if your friends are hanging out without you. Snap Map will enable your stalking if your contacts have opted to let you see their location, and this setting is disabled by default. You can choose to share your activity with select friends, all friends or none at all.

Snapchat also lets you start messaging your friends from the Map by tapping on their avatars, and if a group of friends are together at the same spot, you can also launch a group chat. What better way to let your crew know you feel left out than by snapping them a selfie of your FOMO?

Like existing Stories that are curated around specific events, Snaps on the Map are available to view for about 24 hours after they’re posted, and consist of contributions submitted by other users to the “Our Story” group. Thumbnails on the map will highlight points of interest like Times Square and other attractions that regularly see plenty of submissions, so you can differentiate them from other special events that Snap curates.

Given all the ways Snapchat’s rivals have been copying all of its features lately, it wouldn’t be surprising before we start seeing map-based curation of stories popping up in other social networks soon enough.

Source: Snap Inc

An iPhone is your only option on Virgin Mobile

It’s no secret that American carriers sell a lot of iPhones. Virgin Mobile, however, is taking that to a logical extreme. The Sprint sub-brand has announced that it’s partnering with Apple to become the US’ first iPhone-only carrier as of June 27th — if you don’t like iOS, you’ll have to head elsewhere. In return for the exclusivity, you’ll get a fairly good rate as well as some potentially juicy promos.

You’ll normally pay $50 per month for unlimited talk, texting and data, with the potential for “deprioritized” data (read: it may slow down) if you use more than 23GB per month. There are no commitment. However, you’ll get 6 months of service for $1 if you buy an iPhone and sign up — and those who enlist before July 31st will get a full year of service for the same buck. Also, Virgin is selling the iPhone SE at a starting price of $279 ($379 for 128GB), well under Apple’s usual $399. Combine those with perks with Virgin brands (such as a round-trip companion ticket to the UK on Virgin Atlantic) and it may be tempting to switch over, at least if you’re looking for a new iPhone.

We’ve asked Apple about the extent of its involvement and whether or not more is planned down the line, and we’ll let you know if there’s anything it can add. Regardless, it’s an audacious move. Apple may be playing it safe by partnering with a relatively small carrier like Virgin (Sprint can still count on its own brand and Boost Mobile), but you don’t really see providers limiting themselves to one manufacturer — even fledgling networks like Comcast’s Xfinity Mobile have some diversity. Apple and Virgin are clearly betting that many Americans are more interested in a sweet deal on iPhone service than a wide choice of devices.

Via: 9to5Mac

Source: Virgin Mobile

Classic RPG ‘Pillars of Eternity’ is headed to consoles in August

Fans of classic role-playing games have had a lot to be happy about these past few years. The isometric genre has seen somewhat of a resurgence lately thanks to high-profile crowdfunded games like Wasteland 2 and the Divinity series — both of which got console ports, no less. That trend continues with the news that Pillars of Eternity will make its way from PC to consoles as well. As the name suggests, Pillars of Eternity: Complete Edition will pack all the expansions and patches from the PC version when it is released August 29th on PlayStation 4 and Xbox One.

What’s more, the console versions have been updated with couch play in mind. That means radial menus for most things, bigger text, a brand new user interface and “real-time-with-pause” combat. As Kotaku notes, though, this version will be running in the Unity engine like the Torment port, so maybe hold off on buying until there’s a patch or two.

We are very excited to announce that #PillarsofEternity is coming to PS4 and Xbox One this August!@WorldofEternityhttps://t.co/R6NS4eaKyh

— Obsidian (@Obsidian) June 21, 2017

Via: Kotaku

Source: Paradox Interactive (YouTube)

AI film editor can cut scenes in seconds to suit your style

AI has won at Go and done a few other cool things, but so far it’s been mighty unimpressive at harder tasks like customers service, Twitter engagement and script writing. However, a new algorithm from researchers at Stanford and Adobe has shown it’s pretty damn good at video dialogue editing, something that requires artistry, skill and considerable time. The bot not only removes the drudgery, but can edit clips using multiple film styles to suit the project.

First of all, the system can organize “takes” and match them to lines of dialogue from the script. It can also do voice, face and emotion recognition to encode the type of shot, intensity of the actor’s feelings, camera framing and other things. Since directors can shoot up to 10 takes per scene (or way more, in the case of auteurs like Stanley Kubrick), that alone can save hours.

However, the real power of the system is doing “idiom” editing based on the rules of film language. For instance, many scenes start with a wide “establishing” shot so that the viewer knows where they are. You can also use leisurely or fast pacing, emphasize a certain character, intensify emotions or keep shot types (like wide or closeup) consistent. Such idioms are generally used to best tell the story in the way the director intended.

All the editor has to do is drop their preferred idioms into the system, and it will cut the scene to match automatically, following the script. In an example shown (below), the team selected “start wide” to establish the scene, “avoid jump cuts” for a cinematic (non-YouTube) style, “emphasize character” (“Stacey”) and use a faster-paced performance.

The system instantly created a cut that was pretty darn watchable, closely hewing to the comedic style that the script was going for. The team then shuffled the idioms, and it generated a “YouTube” style that emphasized hyperactive pacing and jump cuts.

What’s best (or worst, perhaps for professional editors) is that the algorithm was able to assemble the 71-second cut within two to three seconds and switch to a completely different style instantly. Meanwhile, it took an editor three hours to cut the same sequence by hand, counting the time it took to watch each take.

The system only works for dialogue, and not action or other types of sequences. It also has no way to judge the quality of the performance, naturalism and emotional beats in take. Editors, producers and directors still have to examine all the video that was shot, so AI is not going to take those jobs away anytime soon. However it looks like it’s about ready to replace the assistant editors who organize all the materials, or at least do a good chunk of their work.

More importantly, it could remove a lot of the slogging normally required to edit, and let an editor see some quick cuts based on different styles. That would leave more time for fine-tuning, where their skill and artistic talent are most crucial.

Source: Stanford

‘Sega Forever’ Plans to Debut Free Classic Sega Games on iOS Each Month

Sega today announced a new mobile gaming initiative that will see a vast collection of the company’s classic games launch monthly on iOS and Android devices for free, although in-app purchases will be available so users can get rid of ads. Called “Sega Forever,” the program will let iOS gamers play “nearly every Sega game ever,” from all of Sega’s previous console generations, including Master System, Genesis/Mega Drive, Game Gear, Dreamcast, and Saturn (via GamesIndustry.biz).

The games will be available as individual apps, with the first five appearing at launch including Sonic The Hedgehog [Direct Link], Comix Zone [Direct Link], Phantasy Star II [Direct Link], Kid Chameleon [Direct Link], and Altered Beast [Direct Link]. At the time of writing, none of the apps had yet to appear on the iOS App Store, but their launch should be imminent. After that, Sega plans to debut between two and three games from its classic library every month under the Sega Forever initiative.

All of the games will be supported by advertisements with an optional $1.99 in-app purchase to remove them. But Sega Network chief marketing officer Mike Evans promised that the integration of ads has been executed so as to not interrupt gameplay.

With the back catalogue Sega has available, the publisher is confident it will be able to continue bringing more classics to mobile for years to come. There are 15 classic Sega titles already available through the App Store that will also be brought into the Forever fold.

“It’s a very easy conversion to take those games to free,” Sega Network’s chief marketing officer Mike Evans tells GamesIndustry.biz. “We’re just bolting in the advertising support model and a single in-app purchase that can disable those ads.”

“The games were never designed for ads or in-app purchases, which is why we’ve maintained this faithful emulation experience,” he says. “We’ve spent a lot of time looking at the analytics from the soft launch in the Philippines to understand how we can get this model to be the best for the game experience itself whilst balancing the commercial needs we have.”

Enhancements to Sega’s old games include Messages sticker packs, leaderboards, achievements, cloud saves, touch screen controls, Bluetooth controller support, and an offline play option. Looking toward the future, Evans said that the company will hold user polls to gauge which classic games that its fans want to see most come to mobile.

The first five Sega Forever titles should begin populating on the iOS App Store soon. Users can go to Sega’s website to sign up for email alerts that will notify them when new games are announced for the collection. For even more information about the new mobile initiative from Sega, check out Mike Evans’ interview with GamesIndustry.biz.

Tags: App Store, SEGA
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Virgin Mobile USA Goes ‘Exclusively iPhone’ With Unlimited Plan Priced at $1 for First Year

Virgin Mobile USA is moving to an iPhone-only business model beginning June 27, and to entice customers to switch it’s offering an entire year’s worth of unlimited talk, text, and data for $1.

Called the “Inner Circle,” the unlimited plan is available until July 31, and only to customers who purchase a new iPhone and transfer their phone number to an Inner Circle plan. After their first year on the plan, users will switch over to the normal $50/month price tag.

There’s iPhone. And then there’s everything else. At Virgin Mobile, we’re teaming with Apple to offer you nothing but the world’s most popular phone. Because life in the Inner Circle is about living big, expanding your horizons and pursuing your passions. And it starts with an iPhone you’ll adore. Pre-order your iPhone now, or head to an Apple Retail Store on June 27th to be one of the first members of the Virgin Mobile Inner Circle!

Currently, Virgin Mobile offers a variety of iPhones in all storage capacities, including the iPhone SE (32GB for $279.00), iPhone 7 (64GB for $749.99), iPhone 7 Plus (256GB for $969.99), and others. The iPhones are up for pre-order on the Inner Circle plan today, and will ship on June 27, with the plan going into effect upon the iPhone’s activation.

The unlimited Inner Circle plan does have restrictions related to data throttling, becoming “deprioritized” in some areas after exceeding a certain data cap, and even risking service termination after specific amounts of off-network roaming are reached. Per the fine print on Virgin Mobile’s website:

– Plans are domestic only and include unlimited data, talk, text, 800 domestic voice roaming minutes and 100MB domestic data roaming.

– Customers who use more than 23GB of data during billing cycle will be deprioritized during times and places where the network is constrained.

– To improve data experience for the majority of users, throughput may be limited, varied or reduced on the network. Virgin Mobile may terminate service if off-network roaming use in a month exceeds: (1) 800 mins or a majority of mins.; or (2) 100MB or a majority of KB.

For an additional $5/month users can gain unlimited calls to Mexico and Canada, and unlimited worldwide texting. A $10/month bundle includes everything in the $5/month tier with unlimited calls to landlines in 70+ countries, 200 minutes to “select mobiles” in 200+ countries, and reduced per-minute rates to over 200 locations. A full list of countries and details on the international plans can be found here.

Check out Virgin Mobile’s website for information about iPhone protection plans, member benefits, and more.

Related Roundups: iPhone 6s, iPhone 7
Tag: Virgin Mobile
Buyer’s Guide: iPhone (Caution)
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New 27-Inch iMac Has Up to 80% Faster Graphics at Compute Tasks Compared to Previous Model

Earlier this month, Apple launched new iMac models with Intel’s seventh-generation Kaby Lake processors and improved AMD Radeon Pro discrete graphics options at its annual Worldwide Developers Conference.

Early benchmark results for the new 27-inch iMac have already surfaced on Geekbench that suggest the 2017 models are up to 15% faster in multi-core CPU performance compared to last-generation models.

Apple’s new high-end 27-inch iMac stock configuration with a 3.8GHz quad-core Core i5 processor has an average multi-core score of 14,886, for example, compared to 12,953 for the equivalent 2015 model.

John Poole of Primate Labs, the creators of Geekbench, said the new 27-inch iMac also has up to 80% improved graphics performance compared to the equivalent 2015 models at compute tasks such as image processing.

Geekbench’s new GPU Compute Benchmark measures the performance of GPUs at performing compute tasks such as image processing, computer vision, and physics simulations, rather than rendering tasks.

Poole said compute performance is becoming more important as more applications, such as Photoshop, take advantage of GPU compute.

The built-to-order 27-inch iMac with a 4.2GHz quad-core Core i7 processor is Apple’s fastest Mac ever in single-core CPU performance, according to the Geekbench results, continuing a trend set with the late 2014 model. The 2013 Mac Pro remains Apple’s fastest Mac in multi-core CPU performance on Geekbench.

That will undoubtedly change in December when Apple launches the iMac Pro with workstation-class tech specs, including up to an 18-core Intel Xeon processor, top-of-the-line Radeon Pro Vega graphics, up to 4TB of SSD storage, and up to 128GB of ECC RAM. iMac Pro will start at $4,999 in the United States.

The new 27-inch iMac starts at $1,799. New 21.5-inch models are also available from $1,099. Prices vary by country.

Related Roundup: iMac
Tags: Geekbench, benchmarks
Buyer’s Guide: iMac (Buy Now)
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PSA: AppleCare+ for Mac and iPhone Must Be Bought Within 60 Days of Purchase

All of Apple’s AppleCare+ plans for Macs, iPads, and iPhones, must be bought alongside a new device or within 60 days of purchase, according to AppleCare+ support staff that MacRumors spoke to this morning.

Following its Worldwide Developers Conference in June that saw the debut of new iMacs, MacBooks, and MacBook Pro models, Apple introduced an updated AppleCare+ for Mac warranty plan that provides standard AppleCare coverage along with accidental damage coverage.

Apple’s AppleCare+ for Mac plan was introduced on June 5
The original AppleCare plans for the Mac could be purchased while the Mac was still under its standard warranty, so customers had a year to buy it, but with the new AppleCare+ plan for Mac, a purchase must be made within 60 days.

Apple in March changed its AppleCare+ policy for the iPhone and iPad and temporarily allowed customers to purchase the plan for up to one year after the device’s purchase, while it too was still under standard warranty, but that policy appears to have been reverted back to 60 days.

In March of 2017, an iPhone 7 Plus purchased in September was temporarily eligible for AppleCare+. That is no longer the case due to policy reversion
AppleCare+ plans for the iPhone and the iPad must once again be purchased within 60 days of a device purchase. Attempting to make an AppleCare+ purchase on an iOS device purchased more than 60 days ago now brings up no AppleCare+ purchase options when logging into the AppleCare+ website.

AppleCare+ is no longer available for an iPhone 7 Plus purchased less than a year ago
As for the Mac, customers who have had their Macs for longer than 60 days but less than a year are not eligible for AppleCare+ but are still able to purchase a standard AppleCare Protection Plan, MacRumors has learned. Apple is only offering AppleCare+ for Mac on its website, so customers will need to call in to Apple Support to make the standard AppleCare purchase. Standard Mac AppleCare is priced at $149 to $349, depending on the machine.

A MacBook Pro purchased in October 2016 isn’t eligible for AppleCare+, but standard AppleCare can still be purchased via Apple Support
AppleCare+ for Mac is available for the MacBook, 13-inch MacBook Pro, 15-inch MacBook Pro, MacBook Air, iMac, Mac Pro, and Mac mini, with prices ranging from $99 to $379. The plan extends the warranty of the Mac to three years and includes coverage for two incidents of accidental damage, but a service fee of $99 will be charged for screen damage or external damage while a service fee of $299 will be charged for any other damage.

AppleCare+ for iPhone is available for $129 for the iPhone 6s and later, $99 for the iPhone SE, and $99 for iPad models. It extends warranty coverage to two years and covers two incidents of accidental damage, with a service fee of $29 required for screen repairs or $99 for other damage.

Purchasing AppleCare+ for Mac, iPhone, or iPad after the device has already been purchased requires customers to run a remote diagnostic to ensure the device is working properly or have it inspected at an Apple retail location.

Tag: AppleCare
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Lasers and ultrasound may allow ‘while-you-wait’ breast cancer diagnosis

Why it matters to you

The PAMMOTH may make breast cancer screenings less painful and stressful for patients.

A device being developed by European scientists may help make breast cancer tests easier and less painful. It’s called the PAMMOTH (or, photoacoustic ultrasound mammoscopy for evaluating screening-detected abnormalities in the breast, if you have time to say it) and combines light and sound sensors to offer a 3D image of the suspected tumor. The goal is to create a “while-you-wait” test that minimizes discomfort and uncertainty of cancer diagnosis.

“Despite advancements in X-ray imaging, ultrasound imaging, and MRI, these clinical imaging [methods] have shortcomings,” Srirang Manohar, project coordinator and professor at the University of Twente, told Digital Trends.

Although artificial intelligence has significantly improved successful breast cancer diagnoses, current breast cancer evaluations may take many weeks and multiple steps that can be stressful for a patient, who may begin by visiting their GP before being referred to a specialist for a number of procedures.

University of Twente

“In general … discrimination between malignancy and healthy tissue or a benign abnormality is challenging,” Manohar said. “This results in use of multiple and/or repeat imaging, and often unnecessary biopsy.”

With the PAMMOTH, a patient simply rests her breasts in a hemispherical bowl, which uses lasers and ultrasound — combining photonics and acoustics in a technique called photoacoustics — to scan the suspected tissue.

“Light scatters within the breast and is selectively absorbed by blood in the strongly vascularized tumor site,” Manohar explained. The energy absorbed by the tumor is converted into thermal energy, creating a pressure wave that can be detected with ultrasound sensors. “From the detected signals the locations where the initial acoustic pressure was created can be reconstructed” he added. This data can be used to develop a 3D map of of the blood vessels within the tumor.

The photoacoustics technique will provide data on the blood vessels within the tumor and “also enable the calculation of oxygen saturation with the use of multiple wavelengths and clever image reconstruction algorithms,” Manohar said. “This is expected to give information which is specific for cancer. ”

The PAMMOTH still has at least another two and a half years of development, but it offers a promising alternative to current diagnostics in an industry that’s expected to reach $8 billion by 2022.

“The imager will be noninvasive, will not require contrast agents nor use ionizing radiation,” he said. “Furthermore, the patient will feel no pain or discomfort.”

5 common Sony Xperia XZ Premium problems and how to fix them

The Sony Xperia XZ Premium is Sony’s top-of-the-line phone this year, and it boasts impressive hardware and specs. It hit retailers on June 19, but people in other parts of the world have already gotten their hands on the highly anticipated smartphone, allowing us to assemble some tips and tricks, and to take a look around various forums to see what Xperia XZ Premium problems they have run into so far.

It is Sony’s latest smartphone, running the latest version of Android, but that doesn’t mean it’s safe from harm and the occasional technical issue. Fortunately, we can give you a heads up on what problems to brace yourself for, and how you might handle them.

Problem: Camera distortion

A couple of threads on the XDA-Developers and Sony Mobile forums have detailed accounts from people who have experienced a weird distortion or wavy affect when taking pictures with the phone’s camera. In some cases, like when taking pictures of flat objects, it’s a little subtle, but with 3D objects and people, it becomes noticeable enough to be an issue.

Potential solutions:

• A future update for the Xperia XZ Premium may sort out this particular problem.
• You can try adjusting the camera’s focus by going to Settings > More > Touch to adjust > Focus and brightness. (Can only be done when camera is in Superior auto mode).
• Try running a diagnostic. While you have an internet connection, open the camera and go to the Camera’s settings > More > Help > Camera, Front camera, Flash or Camera button, then follow the steps provided on screen.
• You can perform a factory reset by going to Settings > Backup & Reset > Factory Data Reset > Reset Phone > Erase Everything. Remember to back up first. Alternatively, you can install the Xperia Companion program for PC, and use it to backup, restore, update, and repair your phone.
• Reach out to Sony Mobile support, as it may be a hardware issue you’re unable to deal with. You may be entitled to receive a replacement phone.

Problem: Bluetooth connectivity

Like other smartphones, the Xperia XZ Premium can have issues with Bluetooth; mostly issues involving people being unable to connect their phones to Bluetooth accessories. There are a few options and steps that worked for other people, and may work for you.

Potential solutions:

• Restart your phone and try Bluetooth again.
• Turn Bluetooth off and on by going to Settings > Bluetooth and tapping the slider.
• To unpair a Bluetooth accessory, go to Settings > Bluetooth > Paired devices, tap the gear icon next to the devices you’re connected to, and tap Forget.
• Back up, then perform a factory reset.

Problem: Constantly losing Wi-Fi connection

Like the Bluetooth issue above, Xperia XZ Premium owners have also been losing their Wi-Fi connections. Some lose their connection despite being within range of their router, while others have a constant connection but are notified that they’re currently offline.

Potential solutions:

• As always, try a quick phone restart. This has been known to help a couple of people in the thread linked above.
• You can turn Wi-Fi off and on again by going to Settings > Wi-Fi and tapping the slider.
• This Sony Mobile support page suggests removing your protective phone case, as it may be interfering with the connection.
• Make sure your phone has the correct internet settings. You can download current ones by going to Settings > More > Internet Settings > Accept.
• You can try setting a new Wi-Fi Sleep Policy that will ensure you maintain a connection even when the phone is asleep. You can do this by going to Settings > Wi-Fi, tap the gear icon, tap Keep Wi-Fi on during sleep, and choose one of the options shown.
• Boot your phone into Safe Mode to see if your Wi-Fi performs as expected. If it does, this means a third-party app is causing your connection problems. To boot into Safe Mode, do the following:
  • Press and hold the Power Key until the Power off screen appears.
  • Tap and hold Power Off until you’re given the option to Reboot into Safe Mode. Tap OK.
  • The phone will reboot, and you’ll know you’re in Safe Mode when you see the text Safe mode in the bottom left corner.
• Back up and perform a factory reset.

Annoyance: Unable to Double-tap to Wake phone

A number of users have voiced concerns about not being able to double-tap their phone’s screen to wake the phone up.

Official solution:

• Current models of the Xperia XZ Premium simply do not have this specific feature. The Xperia Blog notes that it may be added in later models or as part of a future software update and there’s a lengthy thread full of people hoping for the same. For the time being, however, people will have to live without it. You can double tap to turn the screen off if you toggle on the option in Settings > Double-tap to sleep.

Issue: Viber no longer working

Look no further than the Sony Mobile and XDA-Developers forums to read multiple accounts from people having issues with the Viber app no longer working the way it should. Some have said the app will crash, or go to a white screen and become unresponsive, while others are unable to even install it.

Potential solutions:

• Restart your phone and try using the app again.
• If there’s an update available for Viber, consider applying the update. The app was last updated on June 13 to version 6.9.5.
• If the app is already on your phone, but not working, uninstall it and install it again.
  • If the app freezes during use or startup, you can force close it by going to Settings > Apps > Viber > Force Stop > OK.
• Go to Settings > Apps > Viber > Storage > Clear Data, then restart your phone.
• Go to Settings > Apps > Viber > Storage > Clear Cache > OK.
• A few people have said that previous version of the app work fine. Go to Settings > Apps > Viber, tap the three vertical dots icon, then tap Uninstall updates > OK. Alternatively, you can download previous versions of the app here.