Oreo is officially the next name for Android

Google loves to make a big splash when it reveals the name for the latest version of Android. But the company is going all out this year, using the solar eclipse as an opportunity to reveal that Android O will henceforth be referred to as Oreo. It makes at least a little sense to tie this reveal in to the eclipse — those iconic photos of the solar event are a bit evocative of Oreos, after all.

As we’ve already covered, Android O doesn’t have a ton of flashy features, although Google is highlighting some of the consumer-facing tweaks today. Those include picture-in-picture multitasking, notification “dots” on your most-used apps, improved battery management, support for Android instant apps and a host of redesigned emoji.

That’s not the only news Google dropped today. Perhaps more crucially to smartphone buyers, Android Oreo is complete. Google announced that as of today, the latest version of Android is available for access through the Android Open Source Project (AOSP). Additionally, builds for the Pixel, Nexus 5X and Nexus 6P are in carrier testing and should start rolling out soon; the semi-forgotten Pixel C tablet and Nexus Player set-top box will also receive these updates before long. Lastly, if you don’t feel like waiting, any device enrolled in the Android beta program will receive this update. In fact, that’s probably the fastest way to try this finalized software.

This isn’t the first time Google has used a brand to announce a new version of Android. Back in 2013, Android 4.4 was dubbed KitKat thanks to a partnership with Hershey. That included some giveaways of Nexus 7 tablets and Google Play store credit; whether or not Oreo cookie buyers will have a chance to get their hands on some goodies from Google remains to be seen.

Usually, the finalization of a new version of Android coincides with new phone hardware, but in recent years Google has altered that schedule a bit. New Nexus (and now Pixel) phones have arrived in the fall for years now, and it seems that Google is sticking to that plan this year as well. Given all the leaks we’re seeing that point to new Pixels on the horizon, we should have a complete view of Google’s Android hardware and software for the next year before very long.

Source: Google

Cyberpunk shooter ‘Ruiner’ hits PC and consoles September 26th

When we played Ruiner during the Xbox showcase at GDC back in February, we compared it to a 3D, highly polished version of Hotline Miami. The cyberpunk-themed, top-down action game sets you up to kill the boss while taking out enemies who swarm in from doorways and narrow hallways. Ruiner is now ready to launch on September 26th on PC, Xbox and PlayStation. The team has also released a teaser trailer to whet your appetite and show off the rapid-fire gameplay and dystopian setting.

The developer describes Ruiner as “a brutal action shooter set in the year 2091 in the cyber metropolis Rengkok.” You’ll play as a wired-up psychopath, apparently, who’s trying to save his kidnapped brother with the help of a mysterious hacker friend, while trying to take down the corporations that rule the world.

It’s all about quick reflexes, a sweet video-helmet, and a full complement of weapons. You’ll notice the various implements of death in the above trailer: the Storm V plasma rifle, the one-handed Katana, the Fury pulse railgun, the Electra high-voltage cannon, a Sonic-XR ultrasonic gun, and the Shock EMP grenade. That’s just a start of course, with a laser cannon, automatic shooter, splitter gun, deployable force field, rotary machine gun, lightning bolt generator, submachine gun, and basic pipe rounding out the arsenal at your disposal.

Source: Devolver Digital

Facebook makes Safety Check a permanent feature

Facebook is acting on its promise to make Safety Check a permanent feature. The social network is rolling out a dedicated Safety Check hub that helps you find any ongoing crisis without first being prompted to declare yourself as safe. It’s not exactly a prominent feature (you’ll have to dig into Facebook’s large list of secondary features to find it), but it’ll help you find emergency information and potentially help others in need.

The feature will take a few weeks to reach everyone.

You could call it a commentary on the state of the world that Facebook sees enough reason to make Safety Check a fixture of its site — it means that natural disasters, terrorism and conflict are frequent enough that the on-demand approach might not be enough. At the same time, it’s good to know that you can seek (or offer) help whenever you want, not just in special circumstances.

Via: The Verge

Source: Facebook

Cute and creepy adventure game ‘Fe’ hits Switch in 2018

A year ago, Electronic Arts kicked off its indie publishing program EA Originals by announcing an intriguing gem: Fe, created by studio Zoink from Gothenberg, Sweden. The wordless adventure game follows a woodland creature as it roams a geometric, stylized wonderland. Today at Gamescom, we got another trailer and great news for Switch fans: The game is coming to Nintendo’s console in early 2018.

Fe arrives to the Nintendo Switch in Early 2018 and is being developed by @EA Originals! #NintendoSwitch pic.twitter.com/e41PyxjnFX

— Nintendo Switch (@NintendoSwitchC) August 21, 2017

While the first footage we saw at E3 2016 showed promise, today’s video threatened some seriously heartwarming adventure. The game’s furry, polygonal protagonist ‘sings’ to different animals and entities it meets along the way, which coo and yelp in response. Let’s be honest: This game looks tailor-made for the Switch’s demographic. Folks who embraced Zelda: Breath of the Wild’s lush, vibrant landscape and adventure will lunge for Fe’s odd yet endearing gameplay, which also seems chill enough for the console’s younger players.

Follow all the latest news live from Gamescom here!

Source: Nintendo Switch (Twitter)

Plex says recent policy changes don’t mean it’s sharing your data

Last week, the makers of media player software Plex sent an email to users informing them of a privacy policy. In effect, the new terms would remove the ability to opt-out of the software’s data collection. Predictably, there was some pushback over the weekend, with subscribers worried about two things: that Plex would sell their data and also be able to see into their media libraries. That’s a big deal if you’ve got a ton of illegally-downloaded movies or music on your media drive. On Monday, however, the company’s CEO promised that Plex would update its policies for better clarity and user privacy.

“We definitely hear and understand your concerns and really appreciate all the thoughtful feedback we’ve received over the last 24 hours,” writes CEO Keith Valory on the website. “We’ve been working on this for weeks and many of us who use Plex every day have had to work through this carefully to get ourselves comfortable. That said, many of you have raised good points that (somehow!) we didn’t consider, so we are going to make some important changes to address those.”

Valory points out that Section F of its Use of Information portion of its privacy policy already prohibits the company from selling your data. “We’ve updated the summary to make this more clear,” says Valory, “but I will state unequivocally here, we will NEVER sell any data, anonymous or otherwise, about your own personal library.

Further, while Valory thinks it would be tough to identify any media file based on the information Plex must have to properly function, his company is going to do three things to help assure his users. First, the playback stats will be “generalized” so that they are less specific; e.g. rounding out playback durations to further obscure the specific file, yet still use the information to manage its servers. Second, Plex will now allow users to opt out of sharing this type of data. Finally, Plex will let you see what data is being collected and how to opt out of it.

“We hope this allays the concerns many of you have expressed,” Valory concludes. “We’ll work on getting the Privacy Policy and summary page updated over the next few days. We’d do it today, but…lawyers. Again, thank you for all your thoughtful feedback and recommendations!”

Via: TechCrunch

Source: PLex

High-powered microscope can scan cells without destroying them

Confocal microscopes are pretty wild. The instruments can capture cell division in realtime, but the downside is the lasers in existing ones tend to fry the cells they’re studying. Researchers from the Hong Kong University of Science and Technology may have found a way around that, though. Phys.org explains that professors Du Shenwang and Michael Loy have developed a microscope that’s “1,000 times less photo-toxic” than what’s available currently.

The laser used on previous ‘scopes was a million times the strength of summer sunlight, Phys.org says, which had a fatal effect on cells. Kind of like if you’d spent too much time staring at the eclipse today without protective eyewear.

In addition to being around 1,000 times faster than previous models, Shenwang said that this could grant scientists the ability to see how certain diseases are formed at the cellular level. This has been your confocal microscope update for the day.

Source: Phys.org

Walmart is slowly expanding its Uber-powered grocery delivery

Walmart has been testing a grocery delivery service since 2013, when it expanded from San Francisco and San Jose to the Denver market. It’s been using ride-sharing companies like Uber and Lyft to deliver the goods since last year, in Denver and Phoenix. The company is now expanding the delivery service to two new cities: Customers in Dallas or Orlando can now order groceries from Walmart.com and have them delivered via an Uber ride.

The process is pretty simple, which is what you want when you’re grabbing groceries online. You can order online on your desktop or mobile browser, place an order and then arrange a time for delivery. Then Walmart’s “personal shoppers” grab your items, scan them and request an Uber delivery car to come get it from the local Walmart store.

Walmart is testing various ways to get your groceries to you, including deliveries by actual Walmart associates and Walmart trucks and drivers. Still, these are only the third and fourth cities that Walmart has moved into with Uber delivery. That’s a seriously slow roll out, especially as compared to the faster pace shown by Amazon, Target and other retailers.

Via: CNBC

Source: Walmart

New tvOS 11 Beta References ‘J105a,’ Code Name for Upcoming Apple TV with 4K Support

Apple today released the seventh beta of an upcoming tvOS 11 update for the fourth-generation Apple TV, and within the beta, there appear to be assets for “J105a,” previously revealed as the code name for an upcoming 4K Apple TV.

Developer Guilherme Rambo, who has made a name for himself delving into the HomePod firmware, shared a screenshot depicting HDR image assets with a file name that includes “J105a.”

tvOS 11 Beta 7 contains some HDR assets for model J105A 😇 pic.twitter.com/IH2XdDfrrW

— Guilherme Rambo (@_inside) August 21, 2017

The “J105a” name was first shared by Bloomberg in February, in a report that suggested Apple was working on a fifth-generation Apple TV capable of streaming Ultra HD 4K video.

That report said Apple could release a new fifth-generation 4K Apple TV as early as this year, and since then, we’ve seen continued references to the new model, suggesting a release could actually happen in the near future.

Along with the “J105a” assets found in today’s tvOS 11 beta, references to the code name were also discovered in the HomePod firmware. That information suggested the device could support Dolby Vision and HDR10 color formats.

In March, evidence of an Apple TV identified as AppleTV 6,2 was found in developer logs with a Cupertino IP, and AppleTV 6,2 does not correspond to an existing Apple TV model. The current fourth-generation Apple TV is known as AppleTV 5,2.

Apple has also started listing select movies as 4K and HDR in iTunes purchase history, leading to speculation that a new Apple TV is imminent.

Aside from Bloomberg’s report earlier this year, there has been no concrete confirmation that Apple plans to introduce a new Apple TV soon, but the continued mentions of J105a both in the HomePod firmware and in the tvOS 11 beta suggest we could perhaps see a new Apple TV announced this fall alongside new iPhone models.

Related Roundups: Apple TV, tvOS 10
Buyer’s Guide: Apple TV (Don’t Buy)
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Apple Seeds Seventh Beta of New watchOS 4 Operating System to Developers

Apple today seeded the seventh beta of an upcoming watchOS 4 update to developers, one week after seeding the sixth beta and more than two months after introducing the watchOS 4 update at its 2017 Worldwide Developers Conference.

Once the proper configuration profile has been installed from the Apple Developer Center, the new watchOS 4 beta can be downloaded through the dedicated Apple Watch app on the iPhone by going to General > Software update.

To install the update, the Apple Watch needs to have at least 50 percent battery, it must be placed on the charger, and it has to be in range of the iPhone.

watchOS 4 introduces three new watch faces, including a dedicated Siri watch face that displays dynamic information unique to each individual and is perhaps the most significant new feature in the update. There are also new complications for Now Playing and Apple News, and an enhanced Workout app that supports High Intensity Interval Training and new swimming options.

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GymKit, a new technology platform, will let the Apple Watch interface with gym equipment for workout data sharing purposes, and the Activity app will offer up intelligent coaching and tailored workout encouragement along with new monthly activity challenges.

Many other small tweaks and changes have been introduced, all of which are outlined in our dedicated watchOS 4 roundup.

watchOS 4 is only available to developers and will not be provided to public beta testers, so non-developers need to wait until the software sees an official release in the fall to try it out. With September approaching, we are nearing the end of the beta testing period.

Related Roundups: Apple Watch Series 2, watchOS 3, watchOS 4
Buyer’s Guide: Apple Watch (Caution)
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Google Officially Unveils Next-Generation ‘Android Oreo’

Google today announced the next-generation version of its Android operating system, which is named Oreo.

Android Oreo includes dozens of new features, ranging from notification improvements to picture-in-picture support to new emoji.

The update introduces an iOS-like feature called Notification Dots (aka app badges), designed to make it easier to see which apps have new content to display. A long tap on an app icon now displays information like the last notification received and app widgets, much like a 3D Touch does on iOS.

Picture-in-picture support allows users to watch video content while using other apps, while a new autofill feature remembers login information to allow for quicker username and password entry.

Support for new Unicode 10 emoji is included, introducing emoji like exploding head, vampire, zombie, hedgehog, giraffe, fortune cookie, and more. Existing Android emojis have also been redesigned to do away with the iconic Android emoji blobs.

Instant Apps, designed to allow developers to create apps that can run instantly, are now enabled by default, and Google has made improvements to the overall speed of the operating system for faster launch times along as well as introduced security improvements.

A full rundown on the new Android Oreo features is available on Google’s site for those interested. The update is available today through Google’s Android Open Source Project, with Google planning to roll it out to Pixel and Nexus devices in the near future as soon as carrier testing is complete.

Though Pixel and Nexus owners can expect to get access to Android Oreo in the near future, owners of other Android-based smartphones will need to wait much longer, if they get the update at all. The previous version of Android, Android Nougat, is still only installed on 13.5 percent of devices despite the fact that it was released a year ago.

The majority of Android devices continue to run Android 5.0 Lollipop and Android 6.0 Marshmallow, released in 2014 and 2015, respectively.

Tag: Android
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