Using Google Cardboard to watch 360-degree videos on YouTube
Google announced 360-degree videos for YouTube a few months ago along with Cardboard support. What this means is you can now watch certain videos in a 360-degree setting or have a 3D experience with a VR headset, all from within the standard YouTube app.
The setup is quite easy and anyone can experience it right away. The most important thing to remember is this done through the YouTube app on your phone.
Step 1
You have two options for step one. You can either open the YouTube app on your phone and search for this crazy long title, [360 VR] 서울호서예술전문학교(HAC) 실용무용학부 댄스(Dance) Teaser, or read this article on your phone and click the link supplied. Remember to open the link in the YouTube app if it ask you.
Step 2
Launch the video you want to watch. In this case I suggest this Japanese dance group. It gives you a great 360-degree experience as there are multiple people around you to look at. The video is kind of short, so you may need to watch it twice if your eyes don’t adjust the first time around. Also, with all 360-degree videos, move your head slowly to look around. This makes the video easier to watch and minimizes any motion sickness people sometimes get.
Click here to view the embedded video.
The video above is the test video we are using. It must be watched on the YouTube website or mobile app for this to work. The video above will not be able to do anything special on our site. If you press play the video will look flattened and not at all 360 degrees. Click the YouTube button in the bottom corner to be directed to it on YouTube’s site. If you are on a computer, drag the screen around with the mouse. You should see everything moving around and be able to see all the people.
Also, remember to set the resolution to the max for the best possible viewing experience. On your mobile phone, click the three dots in the top right corner. Mine is at 1440s as I am using the Samsung Galaxy S6 Edge. Obviously, the higher the resolution your phone is, the better the video will look.
If you don’t have a Google Cardboard or compatible virtual reality device, you are done here. Physically move your phone around and watch the view change. It’s pretty cool already, but the next step is where it gets awesome. You must have a Google Cardboard for this to work. I am using this one that is only $16.99 (currently), but Google also gives you many other options. They are all the same basically and offer very slight differences.
Step 3
Get your Google Cardboard or equivalent device and hit the Cardboard icon at the bottom right.
You will notice the video spits in two.
At this point, put your phone inside the viewer and press play by flicking the switch on your Cardboard or just touch the screen before you put your phone in.
Enjoy!
If you have never experienced 360-degree video before, I’m sure your mind exploded. And it’s much easier for users to find content just as it is for creators to share videos. A win-win all around? I think so.
The popular television show Mythubusters also tested out diving with sharks in their own virtual reality video. It’s a little unstable and harder to watch than other videos but still very cool to see actual sharks all around you.
I definitely suggest buying a Google Cardboard viewer to watch these videos as the experience is much better; plus, it’s usually under $20 and works with both Android or iOS devices. There are many other dedicated virtual reality apps out there as well. Whether you have one already or not, we would love to hear your thoughts on 360-degree videos in the comments below.
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Chrome shows sites with minor security issues as totally insecure
Google has just launched Chrome 46, and there’s a significant change in how it notifies you about web security. If you’re on an HTTPS site that’s 100 percent secure, you’ll still see a green lock icon, and broken sites show a red “X” symbol, as before. However, when you hit a protected site with minor issues, you’ll see absolutely no symbol, as if you were on a regular, unencrypted HTTP site (below). That’s a big change from Chrome 45, when Google showed a lock symbol with a yellow triangle on such “mixed” sites.
Google said it made the change to give Chrome users “fewer security states to learn. We’ve come to understand that our yellow ‘caution triangle’ badge can be confusing compared to the HTTP page icon.” In other words, users might feel that a protected HTTPS site with minor errors is less secure than an HTTP site with no security, which is obviously not the case.
More importantly, Google said that “this change is a better visual indication of the security state of the page relative to HTTP.” The search giant’s theory is that the lack of any warning won’t discourage folks from browsing sites that are in the middle of migrating to HTTPS encryption. That in turn will encourage sites, it hopes, to make the switch, knowing they won’t turn users off during the transition.
In a separate post, Google said that number of HTTPS sites significantly increased, with 63 percent now secure compared to 58 percent last year. It plans to eventually reduce the number of states to two, either “secure,” or “not secure.” It likely won’t do that until the internet reaches a certain threshold of HTTPS sites, however. In other words, if you’re the webmaster of an insecure HTTP site, you may want to get ahead of that before you get a big, red “X.”
Source: Google
Speaker found in ZenWatch 2, fuels speculations of audio support in new Android Wear update
Recently there was a lot of buzz about the discovery of an uncredited speaker inside the Huawei Watch, fueling speculation that Google may provide a speaker support in the new Android Wear update. Now, even the ASUS ZenWatch 2 has been found to feature an unused speaker, indicating that the speculations may not be far fetched.
A Google+ user, David Sears, laid bare his ZenWatch 2 and found that his wearable discreetly housed a speaker just like the Huawei Watch. He, along with a number of smartwatch owners, is now hoping that the new software update will make his ZenWatch capable of making phone calls.
“Asus ZenWatch 2 has a speaker like the Huawei Watch so I think Google is going to include speaker support in a future update. There is talk that Android 6.0 Marshmallow will support phone calls from the watch,” David said in his Google+ post.
Google has a history of surprising Android Wear smartwatch users with its frequent updates. A software update, earlier this year, enabled Wi-Fi for a number of already available wearables. So far, it has been a matter of pushing software support for devices that feature compatible hardware. In fact, there are many smartwatches available in the market with hardware features which are yet to get Android Wear support.
If Google decides to support speakers in the next Android Wear update, it is likely to bring audio notifications, telephony and even playing music on board.
Source: David Sears (Google+)
Via: 9To5Google
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PSA: You will soon be able to gift Play Music All Access subscriptions to friends and family
According to a new report, Google is in the midst of developing a pretty neat new feature for Play Music All Access users. The functionality is expected to bear the name “Music Gifts” and will furnish customers with the ability to pay for either a 1, 3 or 6-month subscription of the service for their friends and family.
Music Gifts already has its own support page over on the Google Forums, entitled “Gifting & Lending Digital Content”. Unfortunately, the page simply presents a “403 Forbidden” error when searched for, but the presence of the domain adds credibility to this leak.
Would you be interested in this feature? Be sure to let us know your thoughts in the comments section below.
Source: Google
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Alphabet’s Schmidt talks about new companies to join the conglomerate
During a recent closed-door conference, Alphabet chairman Eric Schmidt spent some time talking about the future of the conglomerate and the companies it may eventually cover with its umbrella. Although most of the organization of the former Google entities is still largely unchanged with the transition to Alphabet, Schmidt suggested that there are many more subsidiary companies that will be coming on board.
At one point during the discussion, Schmidt noted that “after 26, we’re going to probably transcendental numbers like pi.” He also indicated that he has not only been meeting with the CEO’s of existing Alphabet companies, but with “proposed ones” as well, so that is a good indication we should be seeing some announcements coming up. However, Schmidt did not provide any hints about which companies those may be. Many people have their eyes on Google’s self-driving car project as emerging from underneath Google X. There is also the possibility of companies being added to the fold from outside, like Uber, a company that Schmidt appears to be high on.
In addition to discussing the future of Alphabet companies, Schmidt spent some time talking about other policy topics like encryption, bandwidth, and the sharing economy. He also spent considerable time talking about developments in Europe and the threat that he sees coming from rulings there like the “right to be forgotten” and a new safe harbor ruling regarding data privacy. Schmidt went so far as to say the path that Europe appears to be on is one that could cause the loss of “one of the greatest achievements of humanity.”
source: Re/code
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Magic Leap’s moving into Motorola’s old campus
We don’t specifically know what Magic Leap is doing, but we do know where all of this unknown stuff is going to happen. The augmented reality / VR startup is renovating a 260,000 square foot building on Florida’s West Sunrise Boulevard. It’s not the first time that the location will serve as the home to a tech firm with ties to Google — since it was Motorola’s campus until earlier this year. Magic Leap, which has raised around half a billion dollars for its HoloLens/Minority Report/Neal Stephenson-style endeavors, is seen as the next big thing in merging the real and virtual worlds. According to the Miami Herald, the firm will begin moving in towards the end of the year, so be prepared for plenty of stories about how enterprising journalists tried, and failed, to gain access to its secrets.
Via: Magic Leap (Twitter)
Source: Miami Herald, Florida Sun-Sentinel
Alphabet to expand its language: Eric Schmidt sees dozens of companies in the future
Mountain View surprised the world when it announced the creation of and restructuring into Alphabet, a holdings company of which Google is now just a part of. Indeed the name seemed both amusing and surprisingly logical. In addition to being official, Google even registered its full-alphabet domain. The company is still in it’s very early stages however, and Eric Schmidt is now promising it’s about to get bigger. A lot bigger.
Earlier today, at the Virtuous Circle conference held in Menlo Park, California, Mr. Schmidt offered a rather candid take on the whole situation: “I wake up, and I’m the chairman of Alphabet…We sort of announced it without actually knowing which companies it would be. So we’re still working the details.” The idea, of course, is that the company is going to be expanding.
To give an idea of just how many holdings that might entail, the Chairman suggested that, “After 26, we’re going to probably transcendental numbers” (like π) which prompted laughter and his follow-up: “You think I’m kidding?” Schmidt continued by indicating “I’ve been meeting with the current CEOs of the Alphabet companies and the proposed ones. So you’ll see a lot coming.”
Alphabet as it currently exists.
For the love of letters
Given that the alphabet literally is 26 letters, it would logically make sense for the Company to hold as many subsidiaries. It would be even more incredible if each could actually have a unique letter thus truly embodying the namesake. At the very least, Mr. Schmidt’s remarks indicate that we are likely to see more announcements in the near future. Whether these may be new ventures started by Alphabet itself or else the results of external acquisitions – like Nest was – it will likely mean that Mountain View will begin to enter other industries.
Some may have reservations about what this could entail, especially amid ongoing allegations that Google has created not only a search monopoly, but an Android-related one as well. That the company could now venture into wholly independent or unchallenged territory means there is both ample room for growth and for domination, the latter of which becomes easier given the fact that Google-related services are already deeply integrated into many aspects of our digital lives.
At the same time, Alphabet seems to be focused on not just changing the future, but improving it as well. Calico for example, is related to healthcare and could theoretically produce treatments or cures for conditions that even existing big name players like Pfizer of GSK have yet to. And as always, the presence of a major new player shakes things up for all those involved, often resulting in improvements that benefit society, the general public, or at the very least consumers.
Some Nexus 6 users have already noticed the positive changes Google has brought to the “carrier relationship” situation with its Project Fi initiative, something that looks to be expanding in a major way later this month. Why wouldn’t the company be eager to try this approach on a much larger scale
And Android?
What this whole situation means for Android is somewhat of a mystery. The mobile OS has now been reduced to a segment of Google which is, itself, now a segment of Alphabet. Ultimately what Google does is Google’s business, and that may – or may not – mean that Alphabet inadvertently winds up doing something counterproductive via another subsidiary or acquisition. While it would logically follow that Mr. Schmidt and the various Alphabet CEOs would want to keep things organized and compartmentalized, Google has for years been charged with becoming more of a slow moving entity given its growing size instead of the once agile player it was in the early days.
This could mean that Android might indirectly benefit from another sibling company’s work or IP, but it could also mean something much less productive. At the very least, it will be of interest to see how Alphabet can manage its various subsidiaries in the long term, as even established players like Sony have been saddled with fiscal problems and been forced to sell off or spin off key parts of their corporate empire.
Clearly there is more to be “unveiled” about Alphabet as time progresses.
Today’s news serves to strengthen the confidence people like Eric Schmidt have in his organization’s future, and offers a glimpse into just what kind of ongoing plans are being discussed. The future will be, shall we say, “M’m! M’m! Good.”
Most Android phones are vulnerable due to lack of security patches
A study partly funded by Google and conducted by University of Cambridge researchers found that a whopping 87 percent of Android devices are vulnerable to known flaws. According to a post by Alastair R. Beresford, one of the team members, it’s because a lot of manufacturers don’t issue security patches regularly, leaving their devices exposed to malware. The researchers got that percentage from the 20,000 users who’ve installed their Device Analyzer app and ran it in the background. Thanks to the data the app gathered, they were able to score manufacturers based on the number of their phones/tablets free from critical vulnerabilities, the proportion of their hardware updated to the latest version of the platform, and the number of devices still waiting for security patches.
Google’s Nexus devices got 5.2 out of 10, making them the safest out of all Android handsets available. LG comes in second place with a score of 4.0, while Motorola got a decent 3.1. Other popular Android manufacturers (Samsung, Sony, HTC and Asus) come after Motorola, all with 2.x scores. Beresford says the team hopes that “by quantifying the problem [they] can help people when choosing a device” and, in turn, “provide an incentive for other manufacturers and operators to deliver updates.” The researchers are still looking for new test subjects willing to install the Device Analyzer app from Google Play. We assume that means they’ll update their scores and stats in the future — for now, you can see how manufacturers did on the team’s Android Vulnerabilities website.
Via: ZDNet
Study on Android security shows 87.7% of devices are exposed to at least one critical vulnerability
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The Stagefright vulnerability put the issue of security on Android devices front and centre but it would appear the problems are more dire than just one security hole. According to a new study on Android security conducted at the University of Cambridge (which was apparently funded by Google), it was found that on average 87.7% devices are susceptible to at least one of eleven known “critical vulnerabilities”; the study surveyed 20,400 devices.
Naturally, how secure a device is depends on the manufacturer and how regularly they update their devices – as a whole ecosystem, Android devices only receive 1.26 updates every year. The team behind the survey came up with a scoring system to rate all the Android manufacturers against each other – the systems is called a “FUM” score and uses multiple inputs such as how many devices are vulnerability free, how many devices are on the latest version of Android, and how many vulnerabilities haven’t been fixed.
According to the “FUM” findings in the study, Google predictably top-scored with 5.2, LG was second with 4.0 and Motorola was third with 3.1; Samsung, Sony, HTC and ASUS bring up the rear. Note, however, that the “FUM” score is out of 10, which really puts into perspective the state of security on Android when Google, the fastest out of everyone to update its devices, scores only 5.2 out of 10 on a measure of security.
What do you think about the findings of this study on Android security? Let us know your thoughts in the comments below.
Source: University of Cambridge via ZDNet
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Cloud Chasers: a moving game that tackles issues with immigration while staying fun
There’s plenty of time-killers out there, but very few games manage to spark emotion like the upcoming Cloud Chasers – A Journey of Hope title will. This game comes from Blindflug Studios, which is also responsible for First Strike, a title which encompasses the problems with nuclear warfare. The team is not short on social issues, and this time around they are targeting immigration.
This is an issue that affects plenty of countries and communities, but the topic really hits close to home to us United States residents. Especially for those of us who live along the border, where struggle, laws and sometimes even death are part of the harsh reality we must face on the daily. It’s not an easy conversation… ever. But Cloud Chasers manages to bring consciousness in a very light-hearted manner, and we have to give them props for that.
Cloud Chasers – A Journey of Hope tells the story of Francisco and his daughter Amelia, a couple of immigrants in search of a better life beyond the desert, in a world above the clouds where the privileged live. Of course, just like in real life, this promised land is not easy to reach. There are robots guarding the desert and trying to stop you from reaching their cities. Users must also worry about survival and collect water in order to keep moving. You will depend on Amelia’s fun glider to accomplish that.
Guide a small family through five deadly deserts to reach the gateway to the world above the clouds. It’s a dangerous journey filled with a multitude of unique narrative encounters. Make your decisions wisely, manage your resources, use equipment to your advantage and fill up your precious water reserves by flying through the clouds with your trusty glider.
Explore a randomly generated steampunk world that will not only tell you the story of a wondrous desert planet and its inhabitants, but also show the topic of migration from a completely new perspective.
The game accomplishes a fun experience while keeping a heart-warming story, artistic visuals and engrossing music. It will tingle your senses, make you smile and sometimes even squeeze your heart a little.
Now, let’s get to the real question – when can we get Cloud Chasers? I will be downloading it as soon as it hits the Google Play Store, which will be this Thursday (October 15). You can also get it from the Amazon App Store and the Apple App Store (just in case you are into that kind of stuff).
We haven’t gotten any details on pricing yet, but First Strike is worth $3.99. We assume Cloud Chasers will cost about the same. I say it’s worth the price for such a well elaborated game, though. You will also feel better knowing they will donate a share of the revenue to the MOAS (Migrant Offshore Aid Station).
Who else is downloading Cloud Chasers?!
AIVAnet 