Three Apple Developers Join WebVR Community Group

Three Apple developers yesterday joined an open community initiative that aims to make virtual reality content viewable regardless of device or browser. As reported by UploadVR, the staff added their names to the WebVR Community Group members list on Wednesday, in what looks like a continuation of the company’s recent major push into VR.

Apple’s senior front-end developer Brandel Zachernuk, multimedia and software standards representative David Singer, and WebGL spec editor Dean Jackson now appear alongside the names of developers from various other major internet companies like Facebook, Google, and Microsoft.

WebVR’s mission is to enable web users to enjoy online VR experiences whatever hardware or software platform they use, suggesting Apple’s involvement will be focused on Safari compatibility. Working on that assumption, Apple’s participation means every major web browser now has representation in WebVR development, including Google Chrome, Mozilla Firefox, and Microsoft Edge.

Google’s Brandon Jones, who is chair of the WebVR Community Group, was first to notice Apple’s appearance in the member list, which includes 147 participants at the time of writing. However, Jones offered the caveat that “group participation does not necessarily imply a commitment to implement”.

Last month at the Worldwide Developers Conference, Apple revealed its first big push into the augmented reality and virtual reality spaces, with a new ARKit developer framework and high-performance iMacs with native support for VR content creation. Native VR support in macOS High Sierra also opens up the possibility for Mac owners to hook up VR headsets to their computer for the first time.

Related Roundup: Apple VR Project
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Google Maps Gains Local Guides Widget and Transit Transfer Reminders

Google Maps received an update on Wednesday that makes it easier to contribute reviews to points of interest and adds the option to get reminders to make a transfer on a transit journey.

The user contribution aspect comes in the form of a new “Local Guides” widget that allows users to propose new places to visit, to comment on existing points of interest, and upload location photos.

The new widget becomes available when people register to become a Local Guide through the Contributions pane in the app. By signing up, users earn points by adding information to Maps like reviews and photos of venues.

The level-based points system is gamified and users can earn rewards, so guides who get to level four receive three months of free access to Google Play Music and 75 percent off rentals in the Google Play Movie store, for example. More information on Local Guides is available here.

Elsewhere in the new update, Google has added an option for users to receive a reminder when it’s time to make a change when following transit directions. The new toggle appears at the bottom of the directions screen, beneath the toggle for a reminder to leave on time.

Lastly, for owners of iPhones that support 3D Touch, Google has added a Peek and Pop gesture to preview list items, such as search results.

Google Maps can be downloaded from the App Store for free. [Direct Link]

Tag: Google Maps
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Track Bluesmart’s latest luggage anywhere in the world

Connected luggage sets are easy to find these days, but Bluesmart stands out: as one of the first out of the gate, it has experience its rivals lack. You’ll be glad to hear, then, that the company is back for another round. It’s crowdfunding Series 2 luggage that builds on the existing formula with some features that, at first blush, appear to be genuinely practical. Both the 22-inch Cabin carry-on bag and 29-inch Check suitcase include a combination of 3G cellular and GPS that lets you track your luggage anywhere in the world (with cellular reception, at least) for free. If your luggage goes to Bhutan instead of Boston, you’ll know it.

The two also include automatic locking when you wander out of range, and the carry-on’s built-in battery is quicker at charging devices. You can top up a laptop (Bluesmart doesn’t say which) in 2.5 hours. That carry-on is also much better for extended trips, as it has both 25 percent more capacity and a 30-day battery life instead of the original’s 7.

There’s a connected laptop bag and a passport pouch too, although their size limits them to Bluetooth tracking. The laptop bag touts its own removable battery pack to charge two USB devices at the same time.

Bluesmart has already hit its crowdfunding target, but it’s not too late to get a discount if you move quickly. The carry-on is available for a $295 pledge (about half the $595 retail price) as of this writing, while the suitcase goes for $325 (normally $695). The laptop bag and passport pouch go for $195 and $95 respectively. Most of these travel companions will ship in November if all goes according to plan. That’s a lot to shell out and won’t satisfy you if you’re looking for a truly cavernous checked bag (the Check holds 80 liters). Even so, the price might be justifiable if you can’t stand the thought of losing your belongings during a lengthy trip.

Source: Indiegogo

Up your ‘gram game: how to get more Instagram followers

In the digital age, the thirst for followers (and elusive likes) is very real. However, outside of our social circles, it can be difficult to add followers in order to promote our brand or simply stroke our egos. That said, there are plenty of easy ways to gain more Instagram followers. You may not garner as many likes as Selena Gomez anytime soon, but these helpful tips should bring your page to a broader audience. And don’t worry about all of these new people perusing the posts you’d like to keep private: The new Favorites feature allows you to share certain posts with only a selective group of friends. Read on to find out how to get more followers on Instagram.

Remember to hashtag

One of the easiest ways to increase your followers is to simply use hashtags. Using popular hashtags will make your photos more accessible to those who utilize the search feature. Lucky for you, we’ve created a list of some of the most popular hashtags, which should make daily hashtag incorporation even easier.

Communicate

Engagement is crucial to increasing your follower base. While liking images is an easy way to engage users, commenting on photos and responding to others on Instagram adds a little personality to your profile.

Timing is everything

As it turns out, when you post on Instagram matters perhaps more than what you are actually posting. For example, people are more than twice as likely to engage with an image posted at 7 p.m. ET on a Monday, opposed to the same image posted at 5 p.m. ET that same day. Instead of listlessly waiting to post your images at these exact times, you can use the Later app to plan and schedule posts for these peak times.

Wait until Wednesday

Later analyzed Instagram data and determined that Wednesday has the highest engagement rate of the week, so, when in doubt, save that selfie for hump day.

Follow other thirsty folks

Don’t worry, you aren’t the only person out there attempting to unabashedly amass followers. You can easily search for other thirsty Instagrammers using #followforfollow, #followme, and #likeforlike. These individuals may be willing to barter a follow for a follow. However, don’t be surprised if they unfollow you days later — it’s simply part of the game.

Add a bio

Filling out the bio portion of your account is another easy way to boost your page. For entrepreneurs and artists, this allows you to clearly express your brand message and link to your other professional webpages.

Network effectively

It’s important to utilize your full social network when trying to increase your Instagram following. You can connect your Instagram account to your contacts list and Facebook, which will allow you to quickly add friends, family members, and other people you marginally care about.

Similarly, to maximize your existing network, it can be helpful to link to your Instagram page via your other social networks — meaning LinkedIn might actually be good for something after all. Also, if your Instagram page is pertinent to your professional life, it can be helpful to list the account on your business card.

Instaglam

With an app based on the visual appeal of images, anything that gives your photos a little extra pop can increase the odds of engagement. Thankfully, Instagram’s apt-titled Layout (iOS and Android) app allows you to create collages, helping your photos stand out in a crowd.

Kinect is pretty great at scanning dino bones

When your fancy high-tech tools aren’t suited for the job, it’s time to call the tinkers. The Field Museum of Natural History had a certain famous Tyrannosaurus rex skull they wanted examined with 3D imaging systems, but their dental scanners couldn’t fit around the dinosaur’s massive jaw. They contacted MIT Media Lab’s Camera Culture group, which scanned the whole five-foot fossil with a $150 makeshift setup featuring a Microsoft Kinect.

While the Kinect’s resolution tops out at 500 micrometers, it only costs $100, compared to thousands of dollars for high-end 3D imaging systems that get down to 50 or 100 micrometers. Still, it was precise enough to scan the skull so scientists can look closer at mysterious holes in the jaw.

There’s an easy joke here about using a dinosaur to scan a dinosaur: After reactive outcry following some of Microsoft’s Kinect ambitions when the Xbox One launched back in 2013, the gaming titan has slowly shut down the motion-capture camera system. Heck, after only two third-party Kinect-playable games came out in 2016, the developer of one of them (the brilliant Fru) told Engadget at this year’s E3 that we shouldn’t expect many more games to use the peripheral.

Which is a shame, given how versatile it is: From Nine Inch Nails shows to trying on clothes, artists and technologists have found novel uses for the aging device. But outside hacker spaces, the camera attachment that once came standard with every Xbox sold rarely appears, except occasionally playing second fiddle to today’s sexy tech, VR.

Source: MIT

Nike will also sell sneakers on Instagram

Turns out Nike will soon start selling sneakers and other sporting goods not only on Amazon, but also on Instagram. Nike CEO Mark Parker has revealed during the brand’s Q4 earnings call that the company will sell goods directly on both platforms, though he hasn’t shared the full details of either partnership. We know that it’s making a limited assortment of items available on Amazon in order to fight the distribution of counterfeit items, but that’s pretty much it. By making its products officially available on Instagram, Nike is likely hoping to connect with younger buyers who tend to spend hours browsing the app.

Based on what we know about Instagram’s plans of expanding beyond photo-sharing, Nike might have joined the list of companies that can use the app’s “shopping tags” launched back in 2016. When you tap on an ad posted by a brand that can take advantage of the feature, the tags pop up with the descriptions and prices of the items in the advertisement. Some tags may even send you straight to the company’s website or app to complete the checkout process. If that’s the case, you’ll soon be able to shop straight from Nike’s feed — you may want to keep those credit cards out of reach if you really just want to window shop.

Source: USA Today, Bloomberg

Disney’s first 4K Blu-ray will be ‘Guardians of the Galaxy 2’

At last, Disney is getting into Ultra HD movie releases. Fans of the studio’s flicks have been stuck in 1080p for the last couple of years even as other studios have released 4K movies via streaming, downloads and disc. Now Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2 director James Gunn has confirmed on Facebook that his movie will be the first one from Disney released in 4K and HDR — especially welcome thanks to the sharp image and vivid colors captured by using Red’s Weapon 8K camera. According to Gunn, “4K UltraHD is almost certainly the best way you can see this movie at home – with more definition and the most vibrant colors possible on your home screen, and with the brightest brights and the blackest blacks. A being composed of light truly appears to be a being composed of light!”

This opens the door to Ultra HD releases of other Marvel movies, the Star Wars series (it’s the perfect time for a release of the original trilogy without any updated CGI) and more. An internal document mentions the release date for this movie will be August 22nd, on DVD, Blu-ray and Ultra HD Blu-ray (there’s no mention yet of an early digital release), although there has not yet been an official announcement from Disney.

[Thanks Mark!]

Source: James Gunn (Facebook)

Valve Software’s Steam Link app is now available on Samsung smart TVs

Why it matters to you

PC gamers who own a 2016 or 2017 Samsung smart TV can download and use the Steam Link app for free although.

PC gamers with a Samsung smart TV wanting to stream their Steam library across the local network without a Steam Link set-top box can now do so with the new Steam Link App. The catch is that it only works with Samsung’s 2016 and 2017 portfolio of smart TVs, and is still considered as a beta application, so expect a few glitches for now. The app is currently available through the Samsung Smart Hub.

“During the beta, playback of 1080p video at 60 FPS and support for the Steam Controller are included,” Valve Software said in June. “For worldwide release later this summer, support for streaming 4K resolutions and additional controllers will be added.”

The Steam Link app is based on the same technology that powers Steam’s in-home streaming feature. For the uninitiated, this starts with a gaming-capable PC signed into Steam and connected to the local network. The “client” device, such as a non-gaming laptop, must also be signed on using the same Steam account and local network. A wired connection is best for stable, high-quality streaming.

However, Valve Software also provides a stand-alone set-top box called Steam Link that merely serves as a client device that connects directly to an HDTV. Typically sold for $50, the box initiates the Big Picture mode on the host PC gaming machine to provide a streamed, console-like interface. It’s compatible with a mouse and keyboard-based input, Valve’s Steam Controller, and third-party game controllers.

Steam Link first hit the market in early 2015 as part of Valve Software’s Steam Machines initiative. The company wanted to compete directly with consoles in the living room arena by getting computer manufacturers to create powerful, compact desktops capable of high-resolution PC gaming. That initiative also included the creation of a unique controller and a set-top box for extending a Steam Machine’s reach–– or any capable gaming PC for that matter — to other TVs in the house.

Talk about a dedicated app for Samsung smart TVs surfaced in October 2016 that would eliminate the need for Valve’s set-top box. Now that the app has arrived in beta, Valve states that a Steam Controller is required even though the Samsung app seems to work just fine with an Xbox 360 controller. Steam’s in-home streaming service is completely free to use.

This isn’t the first time we have seen a marriage between streaming game services and smart TVs. LG once signed a deal with game streaming subscription service OnLive to include an app for LG-branded Android TV-based HDTVs. Sony includes an app for its PlayStation Now game streaming service on its Bravia-branded HDTVs along with its TV streaming app, PlayStation Vue.

As for Samsung customers owning a smart TV prior to 2016, a Steam Link app may not be in the cards presumably due to the older components within. Valve’s Steam Link set-top box is powered by a Marvell DE3005-A1 processor and a Vivante GC1000 graphics chip along with memory, storage, and networking components. An older Samsung smart TV would presumably need equal or better components to handle the Steam Link game streaming.

Ever wanted to grow your own lamp out of mushrooms? Now you can

Why it matters to you

Objects made out of upscaled fungi not only look unique, they’re good for the planet, too.

Want to inspire envy at your local makerspace, while also showing off your eco-friendly credentials? No problem: New York-based company Ecovative Design is here to help.

Founded by friends Eben Bayer and Gavin McIntyre, the company has created mushroom-based materials for use in everything from packaging to furniture. Having previously “grown” everything from packaging to furniture, Ecovative recently launched a new “Grow It Yourself” initiative — designed to use the same mycelium (that’s the vegetative part of a fungus) technology to give customers at home the chance to create their own projects and products.

“The creativity has been amazing,” co-founder and chief scientist Gavin McIntyre told Digital Trends. “College design students [have] created everything from a piggybank to jewelry to a guitar. Makers have created chairs, clocks and even a wedding dress — and a designer, Daniele Trofe, one of the earliest adopters of our Mushroom Material — [has even] created a full scale business.”

If you want an introduction to Ecovative’s GIY project you can order items including planters, table lamps and more. All of these come as kits, which you can then easily assemble from the comfort of your own home; requiring no more equipment than an oven (or, if you’re without that, a basic house fan), the kit, and a bit of patience.

If you’re a step beyond that, you can also order a bag of the mushroom stuff to start creating your own innovative creations from scratch.

While it might sound like a gimmick, with Ecovative having recently signed a $9.1 million contract with DARPA to develop the next generation of biomaterials, clearly this is an area with a whole lot of interest!

“In the twentieth century, we saw the dawn of plastics, derived from fossil fuel resources,” McIntyre continued. “Those materials are found everywhere: in durable goods such as insulation, and in nondurable goods such as protective packaging. We sought to create a material that fit within nature’s recycling system.  That is why we looked to mushrooms. In nature, fungi and mushrooms are nature’s recyclers. With Ecovative’s patented Mushroom Material, we can take any regional waste stream and upcycle it into a higher value product.  At the end of that product’s life cycle, it will passively return to the earth.”

And, hey, even without doing a good thing for the Earth, isn’t it kind of cool to own a lamp or other furniture made out of upcycled fungi?

They’re perfect for the apartment without mushroom. Get it? Much room? We’ll show ourselves out…

Want to 3D print your own marijuana edibles? Check out Potent Rope

Why it matters to you

Edible cannabis filament for 3D printing lets you 3D print marijuana-based snacks customized for you.

Like 3D printing? Have an appetite? Enjoy smoking the occasional doobie? Then you’re the perfect target audience for Potent Rope: a new edible cannabis filament for 3D printing.

Produced in two standard sizes of filament (3mm and 1.75mm) and usable in any standard consumer 3D printer, Potent Rope is made with an FDA-approved water-soluble thermoplastic. Eating thermoplastic might not sound your idea of a good time, but this particular material is one that the average person reportedly consumes around 44 pounds of every year — in products like beer, wine, and teeth whitening strips. This thermoplastic is combined with pharmaceutical-grade excipients and active cannabis extract, before being extruded into a standard-sized filament.

Impressively, the cannabis extract can be custom tailored with differing levels of cannabinoids, as well as terpenes — thereby expediting the years-long processes of genetic selective breeding to create a strain that answers the needs of each consumer.

“With 28 states and the District of Columbia, as well as over 20 other countries, having already introduced some form of legal cannabis laws, cannabis and the people who use it — whether medically or recreationally — are starting to see the negative stigma associated with its use decreased,” Paige Colen, chief operating officer of Potent Rope, told Digital Trends. “Whether the consumer is printing their own dosage, or a dispensary is doing the printing for direct sale to consumers, the consumers will fall into either the medical or recreational category. As far as what consumers can create, we are hoping to launch our dosage specific CAD designs by the end of the year, but there are also a growing number of 3D printers that offer open-source software. The world is [really] their oyster, or poodle, or Eiffel Tower!”

There is, of course, the challenge that because other filaments used in 3D printers — such as PLA or ABS — are not edible, the possibility of contamination is an issue. However, Colen said she predicts that, as home 3D printing becomes a prominent and widespread solution for many household needs, having more than one printer at home isn’t out of the realms of possibility.

“We are currently in negotiations with a few state-licensed processors to make Potent Rope available in Maryland, Nevada, Massachusetts, and California in the coming months,” she said. “The legal cannabis industry is always changing and the need to produce Potent Rope on a state-by-state basis, due to the federal nature of the plant, is a whole feat in itself.”

Hey, it’s just another example of an innovative and savvy startup racing to meet the newly-legal demand for weed-based products!