Record-breaking Rubik’s Cube isn’t a puzzle — it’s practically a torture device

If you’re anything like 99.9 percent of the population, you’ve never looked at a Rubik’s cube and thought, “wow, I sure wish that thing was a whole lot harder to complete.” If, on the other hand, you’re one of the 0.01 percent of folks who like their Rubik’s cubes tougher than Chuck Norris’ steak, you may want to consider ordering the new world-record Rubik’s cube created by Greg’s Puzzles entrepreneur Grégoire Pfennig.

In contrast to your boring old 9 x 9 x 9 Rubik’s Cube, this 3D-printed monstrosity (and we mean that in the best possible way) measures in at an intimidating 33 x 33 x 33 of twisting cubiness. To put that figure in perspective, it’s significantly larger than the previous world records, which involved 22 x 22 x 22 cubes and, before that, a 17 x 17 x 17 version. As Pfennig points out, its 6,153 parts — which took him approximately 202 hours of work to build — represents the most parts of any puzzle ever made. It will take anyone who dares try and solve it, “multiple hundred hours” to do so.

“I’ve had a lot of fun in the past seven year designing twisty puzzles, because they’re always a nice challenge to solve,” Pfennig told Digital Trends. “Ever since Rubik’s cubes have become increasingly popular, with hundred of thousands of competitors, and millions of people who share this hobby throughout the world, there have been a lot of YouTube channels revolving around cubing as a hobby. Some has reached a hundred thousand subscribers, and one has even reached 1.2 million. I decided to make my channel more popular, because I love sharing my designs with people who have similar interests. What better way to do that than to break a world record? This is the idea that started it all.”

Pfennig says that, as far as his puzzles go, this one isn’t the most difficult, although it takes the longest amount of time to complete. If you simply can’t live without having a go for yourself, you can place an order for a custom-built replica yourself from Olivier’s Sticker Shop — where the price is set at a not-insignificant 15,200 euros ($18,000). You’ll have to wait three months while Pfennig finishes building it and sends it off to you, though.

Good luck! We’ll keep our fingers crossed that your efforts don’t end like this poor fellow’s! (Skip to the end of the video to see what we’re talking about.)

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Tinder tests new ‘Feed’ feature, providing real-time updates on matches

Sometimes, sending the first message on a dating app can be tough. In an effort to provide users with more information to pull from when crafting that first message, Tinder is testing a new feature called “Feed.”

Located within your Match List, Feed allows you to see what your matches are up to in real time. As you scroll through Feed, you are able to see recent Tinder photos uploaded to their profile, new top artists and anthems they’ve set, and Instagram posts.

Once you’re on the Feed, you can double tap on the Instagram post to send a message pertaining to the content. It will then start a separate message thread where you can continue the conversation. Other information will simply show up on the Feed so that you’re always up to date on what your matches are up to in terms of their profiles.

While the feature is new for Tinder, it’s certainly not new to the dating app scene. Matchmaking app Hinge includes a similar concept to break the ice. Rather than live updates, users can find out more about potential matches through a series of questions and answers featured on their profile.

On Hinge, the questions are quirky — ranging from what your last meal would be to what makes you happy. You can select different prompts for your own profile through the ones offered on the app. When you’re on other people’s profiles, you can send a “like” by tapping on the heart icon next to any of the answers listed on their profile and have the option of adding a comment in response.

Essentially, both features attempt to make the experience of dating apps less serious and a bit more effortless. By having substance right in front of you, it’s more likely your conversations will be more interesting.

But with Tinder ,your activity is only limited to those you have matched with, so it isn’t completely out there for everyone on the app to see. You’re able to control what you share based on what you connect to your Tinder account. By going into your settings or edit your profile, you can manage exactly what your matches will see from you in the Feed.

Feed is currently being tested in New Zealand, Canada, and Australia. For now, there are no further details about rolling out the feature elsewhere.

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Retro Gaming Gift Guide

Retro gaming is in after the recently released SNES and NES consoles left everyone searching like mad for the mini vintage throwbacks. Gift nostalgia this year with Team Thrifter’s list of rad gaming presents like Rose Colored game displays and the Atari Flashback 8.

Retro Game-style boxesWhen did publishers stop caring about boxes? Protect your gaming favorites with some custom designed retro-style cartridge boxes from Fix & Play Games.eBayVarious PricesWishlistRose Colored retro game displaysLove your collection of classic gaming cartridges? Rose Colored Gaming has stands and mounts that’ll be sure to make your friends envious.Rose Colored GamingVarious PricesWishlistPlaying with Super Power: Nintendo Super NES ClassicsThis book has tons of information about the games you remember so fondly. Learn about more than just the games themselves. Read about their histories and legacies.Amazon$26.94WishlistNESPI CASE NES Style for Raspberry Pi 3The Raspberry Pi has made a name for itself as a gaming emulator. If you want to get one and set it up, you can basically use this inexpensive case to create your own version of the NES Classic.Amazon$24.09WishlistArcade Games on AndroidWhether you like run-and-gun arcade shooters or classics like Pac-Man, there are plenty of simple apps already producing your favorites right on your Android phone.Google PlayVarious PricesWishlistArcade Games on iOSYou could buy one of the new retro console or invest in a giant arcade machine someone in your house will be annoyed you bought, or you could download some of your favorite arcade games for a buck or two on iOS.iTunes App StoreVarious PricesWishlistAtari Flashback 8 Gold DeluxeNintendo isn’t the only one making retro gaming consoles these days! This console has 120 games from the heyday of the 2600, including Night Driver, Swordquest, and Chopper Command.Amazon$89.99WishlistEarthworm Jim Anthology – Soundtrack on VinylDid you know it’s been more than 20 years since we received a proper Earthworm Jim game? Now that I’ve really bummed you out, check out this anthology of the soundtrack by man whose studio made the music.Amazon$39.89WishlistRetro T-Shirts from Amazon’s Retro ZoneSonic, Atari, Asteroids, Pong… let the world know you’re still living in the past with these retro-style gamer t-shirts from Amazon.AmazonVarious PricesWishlistN64 controller patent posterYou’re a gamer who scoffs at modern controller design. The N64 was legendary, and if you had your way every controller would be a variation of it. Remember the patent that led to greatness with this frame-ready print.Amazon$12.50WishlistTravel case for NES and SNES ClassicsYou stood in line for eight weeks and payed twice the price for that Classic. Don’t get dirt on it! This travel case will protect your precious on the go.Amazon$19.99WishlistNintendo 64 Cartridge SoapNintendo 64 games made out of soap. I feel like the name pretty much describes itself.Firebox$16.09WishlistArcade button light switchRegular light switches are for boring people. Turn your lights on with the press of a button you know very well.Amazon$7.95WishlistVideo Game Controllers posterThis poster from Etsy features video game controllers of all shapes and sizes, retro and modern. How many have you owned over the years?Etsy$20.00Wishlist007 Goldeneye WatchKeep an eye on your health bar using this minimalist watch designed with Goldeneye’s user interface for a face.Etsy$25.00Wishlist8Bitdo Retro Receiver for SNES ClassicIf you’ve bought one of Nintendo’s retro consoles, you know the biggest problem with them is the controller wires are about three centimeters long. This receiver lets you play wirelessly, even with some controllers you might already have lying around the house.Amazon$13.00WishlistCrash Bandicoot N. Sane Trilogy for PS4The N. Sane trilogy doesn’t just let you relive the nostolgia of Crash Bandicoot games, it enhances the games and gives you more incentive to play them all over again.Amazon$30.00WishlistNintendo New 3DS XL – Super NES EditionIf all Nintendo did from now until the end of time was come out with new versions of the DS, I don’t think I’d mind all that much. It’s already an awesome system with a huge library, and this one looks like a Super Nintendo when it’s closed. More, please.Amazon$200.00WishlistRare Replay for Xbox OneRare has an amazing history of video games, from the eternally frustrating Battletoads to shooter Perfect Dark. Play them all with this collection celebrating 30 years of fun.Amazon$18.00Wishlist

Avis is testing a system that unlocks a rental car with your phone

Avis announced today that it has teamed up with Continental to bring keyless car rental to its customers, Roadshow reports. As part of a pilot program taking place in Kansas City, the company has equipped some of its cars with Continental’s Key-as-a-Service technology, which allows users to lock, unlock and start their rentals with just a smartphone and the Avis app.

Continental’s keyless system doesn’t require any major changes to the vehicle’s structure or circuitry, meaning it’s easy to incorporate into pretty much any make or model. “Our partnership with Continental helps us deliver the next generation of mobility solutions and lays the foundation for entirely keyless car rental,” Avis CEO Larry De Shon said in a statement.

Avis, which last year introduced a feature that let its customers choose which rental they wanted through the Avis mobile app, hasn’t said how long it plans to run the pilot program or when it might see a larger rollout. But it will be demoing the new feature at the 2018 CES trade show next month.

Via: Roadshow

Source: Avis

Alexa’s latest trick is helping you find Twitch streams

Sure, it’s great that Amazon keeps adding more to Alexa, like the option to wake up with music instead of a shrill alarm or a enabling live BBC programming. But what about newer media platforms? Now Twitch users can bark orders at Alexa to keep up with their favorite channels and search for new content.

It’s not a huge surprise — Amazon owns Twitch — but it’s nice to see audio controls for new media platforms. The skill only enables players to play their channels, get notified when they go live and browse for new ones, which means you can’t use Alexa to stream hands-free…yet. But at least gadget companies are adding functionality for game fans, kind of like SteelSeries’ keyboard that can be keyed to light up when receiving chat messages. The future is coming, streaming fans.

Source: Twitch

Indiegogo makes it easy to hop on the cryptocurrency bandwagon

There’s a frenzy over cryptocurrency at the moment (helped in no small part by bitcoin’s sky-high value), and Indiegogo is determined to milk the trend for all it’s worth. The crowdfunding site has partnered with MicroVentures to enable investments in the initial coin offerings (ICOs) that are all the rage as of late. If you think a new digital cash format is going to be the next big thing, you now have a potentially easier way to pour money into it — and you don’t need to be an accredited investor, which limits the scope of many ICOs. The first offering on tap is the Fan-Controlled Football League, which is running a pre-sale for $5 million tokens for 10 days after this writing.

And before you ask: while Indiegogo has a reputation for occasionally hosting crowdfunding projects that are less than honest, it’s bending over backwards to show that it’s above-board. Indiegogo is making sure that its ICOs honor SEC rules, and MicroVentures is a FINRA-registered broker and dealer. There are also promises that Indiegogo will curate investments to ensure you’re getting trustworthy projects.

Yes, Indiegogo is clearly hoping that it’ll become the go-to destination for ICOs, and it’s counting on their popularity as a way to claim an edge over Kickstarter. However, this could democratize cryptocurrency investment. Instead of having to wait until after the ICO is live to get involved, you can throw your weight behind projects at their early stages. Offerings that might have struggled before could have a real chance of getting off the ground.

Source: Indiegogo

Google finally integrates Duo on Android call screen

Google has been planning to integrate its Duo video chat on Pixel, Nexus and Android One phones for a couple of months. According to a report at Android Police, the company is rolling out Duo video chat in the ordinary phone dialer app, which basically makes the app a kind of Android Facetime. Engadget has also confirmed the feature.

According to a report on Android Police, the Duo button is showing up in some users’ regular phone dialer app. When you tap the video call button, your phone launches the Duo app and activates your camera. The person you’re calling can then accept or decline the incoming video call. Android Police notes that the initial phone call will disconnect when the Duo video chat takes over, and that you’ll have two entries in your call log — one for the initial phone call and one for the video call.

Via: 9to5Google

Source: Android Police

US once again requires that you register your drone

The US’ brief period of registration-free drone flight is over — President Trump has signed the National Defense Authorization Act for 2018, and it revives the registration requirement for civilian drones. Robotic fliers between 0.5lbs and 55lbs need to be submitted to a database if they’re going to remain legal. A Washington, DC appeals court had struck down the FAA’s original requirement in May, arguing that it didn’t have the authority to regulate model aircraft, but that clearly wasn’t a deterrent. The FAA had said said it would rethink its approach to the regulation after its earlier defeat.

Naturally, the FAA is slightly giddy. In a statement to TechCrunch, the agency welcomed the return of registration arguing that it helped “promote safe and responsible drone operation.”

The change is going to cause some short-term chaos, since the FAA had already started returning the $5 registration fee. Will you have to re-register if you did before? What if you haven’t had your money refunded yet? It’ll definitely be a bit of a hassle to register a tiny personal drone just so that you can fly around the local park. At the same time, it’s not hard to understand why the FAA would push to keep registration. Drone activity around airports and other areas are quickly becoming overwhelming and could increase the odds of collisions — in theory, at least, registrations keep owners accountable and might discourage them from trying something dangerous.

Via: TechCrunch

Source: White House

Apple Bolsters Video Team With Hires From Hulu and Legendary Entertainment

Apple’s original content video team continues to grow with the addition of two recently hired TV veterans who will handle business affairs for the division, reports Variety.

Philip Matthys, who previously worked for Hulu, and Jennifer Wang Grazier, who was with Legendary Entertainment, have both joined Apple. Matthys was hired last month, and Wang Grazier, who will report to Matthys, will start in January.

Image via Variety
Prior to joining Apple, Matthys was Hulu’s head of business affairs, the same role he has now taken at Apple. At Hulu, where he handled dealmaking and policy, Matthys worked on “The Handmaid’s Tale,” “Marvel’s Runaways,” “The Looming Tower,” “The First,” and “Castle Rock.”

Wang Grazier served as EVP, Business and Legal Affairs at Legendary, overseeing business and legal aspects related to TV and digital studios development. Wang Grazier worked on shows that include USA’s “Colony,” Netflix’s “Love and Lost in Space,” Hulu’s “The Looming Tower,” and Amazon’s “Carnival Row.”

Apple began building its new video division in June of 2017 with the hiring of Jamie Erlicht and Zack Van Amburg, two former Sony executives who now report to Apple senior vice president of internet software and services Eddy Cue. Erlicht and Van Amburg helped produce shows like “Breaking Bad,” “Better Caul Saul,” “The Crown,” and more.

Erlicht and Amburg have made several hires since then, bringing on Matt Cherniss in August and former Amazon Studios executive Morgan Wandell in October, Michelle Lee just this month, and several other experienced TV execs over the last few months.

Apple’s video team is has so far inked deals for two shows, including a reboot of Steven Spielberg’s sci-fi series “Amazing Stories” and an untitled “morning show drama” that will star Reese Witherspoon and Jennifer Aniston.

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Android App ‘weMessage’ Lets You Get iMessages on Your Android Smartphone With a Mac

There’s no official way to get iMessages on a non-iOS device like an Android smartphone, but a new Android app aims to provide a workaround, at least temporarily. weMessage is designed to allow you to get iMessages on an Android device, but for it to work, a Mac is required.

weMessage uses a weServer app on a Mac, which takes iMessages that are delivered to a Mac and forwards them to an Android smartphone or tablet. As described by the developer on reddit, the weServer app acts as a bridge between a Mac and an Android device, using Accessibility features to tap into Apple’s Messages app for the Mac.

weMessage works by using Apple’s developer tools that hook into the Messages app, as well as by turning on Accessibility features that will perform the message sending. There was zero reverse engineering involved in the creation of this app, so all messages being sent are legitimate. In addition, I believe this implementation is fair, as you still need to have an Apple device to use iMessage, but it is merely being extended to all devices.

According to the developer, all iMessage features are supported, including group chats, attachments, notifications, Do Not Disturb, content blocking, and more, with notifications enabled by sending messages to the Google Firebase platform.

Unfortunately, while this appears to be a solid attempt at routing iMessages to an Android device based on reddit comments, this is not an app that’s likely to last. Similar apps and methods of forwarding iMessages to Android devices have popped up in the past, but have been shut down by Apple.

It’s likely Apple will require the developer to shutter the app, and it may soon be removed from the Google Play Store, but in the meantime, it’s available for any Android users who also have a Mac and want to experiment with iMessage.

There have been rumors suggesting Apple has considered an iMessage app for Android devices, and Apple even reportedly created detailed mockups of what such an app might look like, but there has not been concrete evidence that an Android iMessage app has ever been in the works.

Apple execs are said to believe that iMessage, as a “superior messaging platform,” helps to spur iPhone, iPad, and Mac sales, suggesting iMessage is not likely to expand beyond Apple’s devices anytime soon.

The developer behind weMessage was originally charging $2.99, but it’s now available to download for free.

Tags: Android, iMessage
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