Niantic wants to make its augmented reality apps more realistic

Niantic — the company behind Pokémon Go and the upcoming Harry Potter: Wizards Unite — is on a mission to make augmented reality more realistic. To truly augment reality, computer systems need to be able to understand the real world a little more, and Niantic thinks the technology isn’t quite there yet.

That’s why it’s launching the Niantic Real World Platform, a program that aims to tackle today’s issues with AR on multiple levels. The platform’s launch comes as the company also announces the acquisition of Matrix Mill, a U.K.-based AR research and development firm developing neural networks that can infer information about the world using data from your smartphone’s camera.

The Niantic Real World Platform is first going to attempt to “model reality.” Niantic wants the platform to be able to adapt and change as the real world changes. In the real world, buildings are constructed, parks are formed, roads are closed, and cities expand — if there’s a significant delay in the platform adapting to those changes, it can affect game-play. The digital model of the world that Niantic has needs to be able to adapt almost in real-time, and it requires a combination of computer vision and machine learning.

Niantic also said its platform needs to be able to “understand reality,” meaning it needs to be able to see an object, recognize exactly what it is, and what the object’s place is in a broader environment. Computer vision is key here — Niantic is training its platform to accurately recognize objects based on data from a phone’s camera, and as time goes on, more and more objects will be added to the platforms “AR vocabulary.”

Recognizing objects is only one part of the puzzle, as systems need to learn where those objects are in a 3D space. Simply knowing that an object is a car doesn’t necessarily matter in the context of a game if that car is 50 feet away. That’s why Niantic is working on developing better depth maps, which can understand exactly how far away an object is at any given time. That can help digital elements better interact with the real world.

The platform will also try to cut down latency, which is when you experience delays in multiplayer games thanks to connectivity issues. Latency in multiplayer games can also affect game-play, and Niantic showed off a demo game called “Codename: Neon,” which involved people moving around an environment, collecting balls of light, and launching them at other players to get points. The interactions were smooth and seamless between all the players, and it was a testament to the progress Niantic has made to reduce latency in its platforms.

Niantic is throwing a lot of resources into its AR tech, and it’s work that it won’t be keeping all to itself. The Real World Platform will be available to third-party developers in the future, and while more information will be available in the coming weeks, Niantic said it’s selecting a few developers to work with later this year. Hopefully, this means we’ll start seeing better-looking and better-performing AR games in the future.

Niantic’s CEO John Hanke said games like Pokémon Go “never have to end.” Hanke envisions continuously improving games that are such a huge part of people’s lives, that they pass them on to their children.

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Best Battery Cases for Samsung Galaxy S9 and S9+

Double the battery life of your phone with a battery case!

The Samsung Galaxy S9 and the larger Galaxy S9+ are some of the best phones you can buy in 2018 — if you own one you know this.

With a great camera and a brilliant display, both the Galaxy S9 and S9+ make for a great digital companion when you’re traveling this summer and want to document everything with photos and videos — the only thing holding you back might be battery life. Wireless charging and other battery packs are convenient, but you may want to opt for a battery case which lets you keep using your phone normally while recharging the internal battery.

Note: Usually, we’d recommend a Mophie case because they’re such a popular brand for this style of case, but we cannot reasonably recommend its case model for the Galaxy S9 or S9+ given its paltry battery size (only 2070mAh) and high price ($100).

• Alpatronix BX440 battery case (4000mAh)
• ZeroLemon Slim Power battery case (4700mAh)
• ZeroLemon ZeroShock battery case (8000mAh)
• Powerman Slim battery case (4700mAh)

Alpatronix BX440 battery case (4000mAh)

We’ll start out with a slim (for a battery case) option from Alpatronix that’s well reviewed on Amazon and offers a good combination of bonus battery life (4000mAh) while keeping your phone protected while keeping all the functionality of your phone intact. There’s a front lip around the display to defend against screen damage when you place your phone screen down, and there’s a USB-C port at the bottom that can be used for both charging and data transfer purposes.

This case also supports wireless charging using the Alpatronix wireless charger ($25) or any other Qi wireless charging pad so you can maintain the convenience of wireless charging with or without the battery case on.

Get yours for just $50 and buy with confidence knowing it’s supported by a lifetime warranty and a 30-day money-back guarantee.

Also available for the Galaxy S9+ with a 4600mAh battery for $60.

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ZeroLemon Slim Power battery case (4700mAh)

ZeroLemon is another brand that’s known for making some beefy battery cases, but we’ll start off with their slim case option first.

Featuring a 4700mAh battery, this case is capable of providing a full charge to your Galaxy S9 and features all the protection you’d expect from a case, too. On the back is an LED indicator that used different colors to let you know how much bonus battery life you have remaining. This case also supports passthrough data transfer and charging via USB-C and will let you get way more out of your phone for a pretty reasonable price.

Get your own Slim ZeroLemon case for just $30.

Also available for the Galaxy S9+ with a larger 5700mAh battery for $30.

See at Amazon

ZeroLemon ZeroShock battery case (8000mAh)

Battery cases are sometimes considered to be too bulky — and it’s totally understandable if you think this case is way too bulky. The ZeroLemon ZeroShock case is a behemoth. It’s nearly an inch thick and designed to combine a massive 8000mAh battery with a rugged phone case design that’s perfect for the outdoorsy type who love to go on long hikes but also want to have your phone available for photos and videos, or for emergency situations.

With a case this big, you may be interested in the optional belt clip accessory because this case might not actually fit in your pocket.

Get this case for just $60 and know that it’s backed with a one-year warranty along with a 30-day money-back guarantee.

Also available for the Galaxy S9+ with a 8000mAh battery for $60.

See at Amazon

Powerman Slim battery case (4700mAh)

Finally, we’ll highlight this case from Powerman that’s slim at just 18 mm thick but is capable of delivering a full charge for your phone. The case supports Qualcomm Quick Charge 3.0 so you can top it up right fast, and it keeps the case bezels really slim around the edge so it’s comfortable to hold in your hand. With a 4700mAh Li-Polymer battery, you’ll be able to keep your phone charged throughout the day.

Get your’s for just $33 knowing that it’s backed by a 24-month warranty.

Also available for the Galaxy S9+ with a 5200mAh battery for $34.

See at Amazon

Do you love the functionality of a battery case?

Have you used a battery case on your phone before? Let us know what your experience was like in the comments!

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OnePlus promises 2 years of software updates for all phones going forward

The company also confirmed plans to work with U.S. carriers and build a 5G phone.

OnePlus is finally addressing one of the biggest concerns surrounding its phones since the company’s inception — the longevity of software support. Per the OnePlus forums, we now have official details on the new OnePlus Software Maintenance Schedule.

Under this schedule, all OnePlus phones (including T variants) will receive 2 years of “regular software updates” from the date of release.

Regular software updates include the likes of Android version upgrades and new OnePlus-specific features, and along with this, all phones are also getting 3 years of Android Security patch updates that will be pushed out every two months.

OnePlus’s 5G phone will be released at some point next year.

The OnePlus Software Maintenance Schedule goes into effect right now and applies to the OnePlus 3/3T, 5/5T, 6, and all future phones.

On a similar note, OnePlus announced that the Open Beta program for the 3 and 3T will be ending this week. In early-July, users that are in the Open Beta will receive an OTA update to go back to the current stable build of OxygenOS.

In other OnePlus news, CEO Pete Lau recently took the stage at Mobile World Congress Shanghai to confirm that the company plans on releasing a 5G-compatible phone next year and that it’s still in talks to bring OnePlus phones to U.S. carriers (something we first heard about in January at CES).

With OnePlus’s new commitment to software support, are you more likely to buy a OnePlus phone for yourself and/or recommend them to people you know?

OnePlus 6 review, a second opinion: The best Android phone under $550

Samsung Chromebook Plus V2 announced, available at Best Buy for $499.99

Samsung’s latest Chromebook has an upgraded design and faster processor.

The Samsung Chromebook Plus was one of the better grown-up Chromebooks of last year, and to follow up its success, we now have the Samsung Chromebook Plus (V2).

The V2 looks mostly the same compared to the 2017 Chromebook Plus, but there are a few important changes inside and out that should make it a much better experience for everyone — one of the most notable being the silicon that powers everything.

Samsung’s ditching ARM processors and switching to the much more capable Intel Celeron 3965Y. From running Android apps, having multiple tabs open in Chrome, and more, this will allow the V2 to be considerably faster with just about every task. That Celeron processor is also paired with 4GB RAM, Intel HD Graphics 615, 32GB of expandable storage (up to 400GB via microSD), and a 39Wh battery.

As much as we love seeing the upgraded internals, the Chromebook Plus V2’s screen is actually a downgrade compared to its predecessor. The 16:10 1920 x 1080 panel should be fine, but it’s quite a bit different from the 3:2 2400 x 1600 screen on last year’s model.

In regards to ports, we’re looking at two USB-C ports, a 3.5mm headphone jack, microSD card reader, and one full-sized USB-A 3.0 port. There’s also a 1MP front-facing camera for video calls and a 13MP camera next to the keyboard that can act as a rear-camera when using the Chromebook Plus V2 in tablet mode.

If you’re interested, the Chromebook Plus V2 is available both in-store and online at Best Buy right now for $499.99.

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Updated June 28, 2018: Updated this article now that the V2 has been released.

Save $100 when pre-ordering two of Amazon’s new Fire HD 10 Kids Edition tablets

Get the latest and save while doing it!

Amazon just announced an all-new Fire HD 10 Kids Edition and now the company is already offering a pre-order discount. This seems to be a new trend for Amazon, the company announces a new product and then begins offering some bundles that help you save some cash on the purchase. For a limited time, when you pre-order two of the new tablets you can save $100 on the purchase, dropping the price of both 10-inch tablets down to $299.98.

If you have multiple kids at home, this bundle is the way to go. You can order it with one pink and one blue tablet, one blue and one yellow, or one yellow and one pink tablet at this price. Each tablet has a 10-inch display, 32GB of internal storage, a kid-proof case, and one year of Amazon’s Free-Time Unlimited service.

Each tablet is backed by a two-year worry-free guarantee, so if your kids manage to break it you can simply contact Amazon and get it replaced for free, no questions asked. These are set to begin shipping on July 11, so be sure to get your order in now so you can have it when it launches.

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This $20 Helping Hand deluxe stair climber cart will make your life easier

Work smarter, not harder.

Amazon is offering this Helping Hand Deluxe Stair Climber Folding Cart for only $19.97 right now. It typically sells for about $15 more.

This cart lives up to its name. It’ll help you out with grocery shopping, laundry, events, camping, rearranging, and more. Plus, the innovative design can handle not only smooth surfaces, but curbs and steps. If you live in a walk-up or frequently take the bus, this thing is going to be your new best friend. I personally live in a walk-up, and as much as I love feeling like Superwoman when I lug 45 bags of groceries up in one trip, there’s no doubt that this would make my day-to-day routine easier.

It’s durable, lightweight, and folds flat when not in use. Users gave it 3.9 out of 5 stars from a total of 445 testimonials.

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How to move from a Windows laptop to a Chromebook

Moving operating systems is easier than you think.

Chromebooks are the perfect computer for most people: they’re easy to operate, all your data is backed up automatically, and set up is a breeze. But, if you’re already in another ecosystem, it can be a little daunting when you think about moving.

Here’s how to move from a Windows laptop to a Chromebook!

• Sign up for a Google account
• Move your bookmarks to Google Chrome
• Backup all of your data
• Set up your new Chromebook
• Grab some accessories
• What to do with your old computer

Sign up for a Google account

All of the magic of a Chromebook’s data backups and synchronizing settings happens through your Google account. It’s entirely possible to use a Chromebook without a Google account by sticking to guest mode, but you’ll get so much more out of your Chromebook with an account.

More: How to set up a new Google account

If you have your favorite websites saved in Microsoft Edge, Mozilla Firefox or another browser, you’ll want to move these to Google Chrome. You’ll also want to be signed into the Chrome browser with your Google account so everything synchronizes over when you sign into your Chromebook.

More: How to transfer your bookmarks and favorites to Google Chrome

Backup all of your data

A cloud backup is a good idea no matter what ecosystem you’re in. All of your documents, music, photos, movies and other files can be uploaded to Google Drive. If you want to make things easier for yourself, you can upload your music to Google Play Music for later listening, and upload your photos to Google Photos to have everything neatly organized for you.

You get 15GB for free with your Google account. Everything you upload to Google Drive and Google Photos will count against this limit, but music in Google Play Music will not. If you need more space, consider purchasing a microSD card or external hard drive for your files.

More: Google Drive: How to upload, download, view and share files and documents

More: How to upload and download music on Google Play Music

More: Running out of space on your Chromebook? Try these tips

Set up your new Chromebook

Once you’ve purchased the best Chromebook for you, it’s time to set it up. The whole set up process takes less than five minutes once you plug the Chromebook in and sign in with your Google account. All the data you backed up earlier will still be there in Google’s cloud services, and your web bookmarks will be there to let you get to your favorite sites.

More: How to set up a new Chromebook

Grab some accessories

Once you’ve got settled in with your Chromebook, you can look at some accessories to make the experience even better. If you had an external keyboard and mouse for your old laptop, those will still work with your Chromebook. Most external webcams and microphones will as well. And there are plenty of great hubs available to only require one plug from your Chromebook.

More: Best USB-C hubs for Chromebooks

More: How to pair Bluetooth accessories with your Chromebook

What to do with your old laptop

Just because you moved onto a new laptop doesn’t mean your old one stops being useful. If there’s a specific application you don’t use much that isn’t available on a Chromebook, you can use your old laptop for that — either directly or by remoting in with Chrome Remote Desktop.

If you’re totally done with your old laptop, you’ll want to factory reset to get rid of all the data you had on it. From there, you can sell it, recycle it, or donate it.

More: Chrome Remote Desktop: Everything you need to know

What about you?

Did you run into any troubles moving to a Chromebook? Let us know down below!

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Samsung Health’s new ‘Symptom Checker’ wants to help diagnose your medical problems using AI

It isn’t going to save your life, but it sure could ease your worries when things don’t feel right.

The Samsung Health app is about more than just tracking steps and bike rides — it’s actually more than just an app, as it’s also backed up by some super-useful services. The latest to debut on the platform is a feature called “Symptom Checker,” which aims to help you get started with diagnosing medical problems you’re having and getting you set in the right direction to finding help.

It’s pretty simple: just relay whatever symptoms you’re experiencing into Samsung Health, and using artificial intelligence powered by Babylon Health the app can get you on track toward understanding what’s wrong (or not). Now of course the goal isn’t to try and pinpoint a specific problem in response to a basic set of questions, but it can provide you with some insight and give you further information and related symptoms to look for. After pulling in extra information about you, the AI-powered service will give you a range of likely causes. After reading up on each one, you can connect to a doctor online right away and get an expert opinion.

Samsung Health isn’t going to be able to do much to fix your medical issues, but this sure seems like a better course of action than tossing some disparate symptoms into a Google search and finding results for all sorts of horrible things that aren’t actually the problem. Because Samsung Health knows quite a bit about you already (assuming you’re using it regularly), and has a connection to real medical professionals, this could be a great tool for people who regularly use the platform and can be just a few taps away from interfacing with a doctor.

And just as a reminder, Samsung Health isn’t limited to Samsung phones — you can download it on just about any Android phone, and use it to its fullest extent. You’ll just need to use (or create) a Samsung Account for syncing purposes. Symptom Checker is rolling out to the Samsung Health app right away.

Download: Samsung Health (free)

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Spotify Android app will finally let you reposition songs in a playlist

IT’S HAPPENING!!! 🎉

Spotify is one of the world’s largest music streaming services, but despite this, its Android app isn’t quite up to snuff with its iOS and desktop counterparts. However, the company recently confirmed that it’s finally addressing one of the features Android users have been asking for the most — playlist re-ordering.

As it currently stands, you can use the Spotify Android app to create a playlist and add/remove songs to it. Unfortunately, if you want to change the order those songs appear in, you need to use the Spotify app on an iPhone or your computer.

This implementation is a big pain in the butt, but as noted by the Spotify Community Team for the app’s forums, this is changing:

We’re really excited to announce that the right folks are now working on this idea. An upcoming version of Android will see this feature initially released to a small number of users. We’ll post here again once we have more news to share.

It’s still unclear why a feature as simple as this wasn’t in the Spotify Android app from day one, but in any case, we’re still excited to hear that it’s something we’ll get to check out in the near future.

YouTube Music vs. Spotify: Which is the better streaming music service?

Nioh 2 for PlayStation 4: Everything you need to know

Ninja Gaiden meets Dark Souls in this exciting sequel.

Nioh 2’s announcement couldn’t have started out any more epic, and it couldn’t have ended any more disappointing. We didn’t get much of a trailer or much in the way of info at its E3 2018 debut, but we can already begin to put the puzzle pieces together to learn what’s in store. Here’s everything you need to know about Nioh 2.

What is Nioh 2?

Team Ninja had a bit of a chip on their shoulders preceding the launch of the original Nioh. The company that was responsible for an all-time classic known as Ninja Gaiden hadn’t reached that level of brilliance since.

Nioh was the game they decided to make to shut all that noise up. It was an action RPG title that kind of married what they were known for in Ninja Gaiden with a more methodical fighting system akin to Dark Souls. Nioh 2, naturally, builds on that solid foundation.

The story so far

Details surrounding Nioh 2 are still scarce. The original game was set in Japan during the year 1600. It featured a fictitious story, though there were characters based on the real legends of old. It also featured Queen Elizabeth 1 and her country’s plight to control Spain.

The central plot device was Amrita, a mystical stone found in Japan. Anyone who can absorb the essence and harness the energy of the stone becomes powerful beyond measure. A pirate-turned-sailor-turned-explorer named William is eventually tasked with finding it for people who mean to use it for nefariousness.

As for the new game, we’re not sure where things will go from there. We do know that it’ll stay on the same narrative track, though William may no longer be the focal point of the story. If that’s the case, we can assume that much of the game will still take place in Japan.

Gameplay

The original Nioh combined the tight combat of Ninja Gaiden with Dark Souls-like nuance. That is, you have a stamina bar that’ll dictate how much punishment you can dish out on any given foe. You also don’t want to get hit by their attacks, because death comes about quickly and often at times. And yes, the game prides itself on unforgiving difficulty, and that won’t be changing in the sequel.

You’ll earn XP and new gear over the course of the game to make your character stronger, though, and you’ll be rewarded for your masochism with more rewarding death sequences.

Team Ninja says Nioh 2 will be a natural progression, meaning it’ll build on the first game while adding new gameplay systems, mechanics, and features to make it even more fun than it already was. In fact, they’ve professed that they were intentionally more reserved with the original game, but now that they’ve gotten a good foundation they’ll be taking the gloves off and going all-in for the sequel. We’re still not sure what that means, but it’s safe to expect a better game, period.

One thing we do know is that you’ll be able to customize your character this time around. You’ll be able to choose both your gender and race, as well as other customization options that haven’t yet been revealed.

When can you play it?

We don’t yet have a release date for Nioh 2, but we do know that a PlayStation 4 launch is confirmed. It may also be available for PC if the original release was anything to go by. Team Ninja is planning a demo for players to try out ahead of its launch.

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