Google and MIT can take reflection-free photos through windows
Who knew that reflection-free window photos were suddenly in vogue? Google and MIT do, apparently. Some of their researchers have developed an algorithm that eliminates unwanted visuals by using frames from a short video to separate the foreground from the background. Unlike an earlier MIT-only technique, this works with nearly any kind of obstruction. It’ll remove rain drops and chain link fences, for instance. And in an odd twist, it can also capture an uncannily clear image of any reflections — you know, in case you want to remember what shirt you were wearing when you took that shot.
There’s no word on whether or not the algorithm will reach shipping devices you can buy. However, it’s easy to see this technology wending its way into just about any camera, including smartphones. You could take that scenic instagram shot from your airplane window without having to apologize for the picture quality.
[Image credit: Tianfan Xue]
Filed under:
Cameras, Science, Google
Via:
TechCrunch
Source:
Google
Tags: camera, google, googleresearch, mit, photography, reflection, reflections, science, video
This is what the Nexus 6 would have looked like with a fingerprint sensor
It may have been a while since the Nexus 6 was ‘new’ news having been on the market already for around 9 months, but recent pictures of the device show that the original plan was to incorporate a fingerprint sensor into the Nexus 6 and got scrapped last minute.
You know that dimple where the Motorola symbol sits? That’s not just cosmetic design; that’s where the fingerprint sensor originally was positioned, and the recessed button housed the necessary sensors. However, at the time of the Nexus 6 being manufactured, Apple had lock down on the best fingerprint sensor on the market, forcing Motorola to go with a sensor that had a significantly worse user experience. As such, Motorola was forced to scrap their plans for a fingerprint sensor in the Nexus 6.
Nexus 6 Fingerprint Sensor
Here’s some pictures of a Nexus 6 prototype with the fingerprint sensor positioned clearly underneath that Motorola logo on the back.
So ignoring the fact that Android Lollipop doesn’t come with native fingerprint support, and I suppose if the Nexus 6 had a fingerprint sensor this would’ve changed, but would such a feature have changed the success story of the Nexus 6 as a device? Drop us a comment below and let us know.
Source: GforGames
The post This is what the Nexus 6 would have looked like with a fingerprint sensor appeared first on AndroidGuys.
Google and MIT showcase photography algorithm that eliminates reflections
If you’ve ever watched an episode of Law & Order or CSI, you have probably noticed some outlandish forensic work involving photographs being used to aid the show’s team of detectives in furthering their investigation. Sometimes it’s clearing up pixelations or using a minute reflection in a window to read some perp’s name tag, which are all things that’s mostly cooked up in fantasy.
Until now…
In a partnership between Google and the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT), breakthrough work in photography algorithms has allowed researchers to eliminate, or mostly eliminate, occlusions and reflections from photographs. This is the part that’s great for consumers taking photographs at zoos and out of windows.
In order to do this, the image separates the background from the occlusion or reflection. This means that by the camera isolating the obstruction, it’s able to render that as a completely separate image with amazing clarity. This is the part good for law enforcement.
To get a better understanding of how all of this works, MIT researcher Tianfan Xue has uploaded an awesome YouTube video demonstrating the algorithm, which you can view below.
Click here to view the embedded video.
Xue will be joined by his fellow research partners in presenting a paper over their work at Siggraph 2015 this month.
Source: Google
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Samsung and LG now account for most Android smartphone sales in the US
A new report from Kantar WorldPanel is showing that Korean tech giants Samsung and LG now account for 78 percent of Android sales in the United States. Despite the huge figure, LG isn’t actually making much off of these sales.
Furthermore, LG has been able to double its market share in the US, and has surpassed Samsung as far as attracting first time smartphone buyers, goes. The report notes that the real success here is LG, not Samsung, as you might think.
“While the Android ecosystem in Europe and China continues to offer several brands to choose from, Android in the U.S. is undergoing its strongest consolidation yet, with Samsung and LG now accounting for 78% of all Android sales,” Milanesi added. “LG is the real success story of the quarter. Not only did it double its share of the U.S. smartphone market once again, but it was also able, for the first time, to acquire more first-time smartphone buyers than Samsung.”
Android holds quite the crown in China, as well. It accounted for 79 percent of smartphones sales during Q2 2015, and Huawei has actually taken the lead among some top smartphone vendors. Three of its smartphones, the Honor 4X, Honor 6, and Honor 6 Plus all made it into the top 10 smartphones league.
All of this goes to show that Android is doing extremely well across the globe. As Google and other manufactures continue to innovate, it will no doubt see a continued rise in popularity.
However, Google will no doubt see some competition with iOS 9 and the next big iPhone release this year.
source: Kantar
via: Android Central
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Google Apps admins get new controls over YouTube content
As Google continues to extend their reach into the corporate, education and enterprise environments by providing a full stack of services through their Google Apps platforms, they have rolled out a new tool today to help admin achieve a little more control over content accessible by their users. The latest update involves YouTube and gives Google Apps admins the ability to restrict YouTube content their users can access.
Google Apps admins already have several controls and options available to them to manage what Google services may be available to users on their networks. The ability to manage content and access is being pushed down into the YouTube app with this update instead of a simple on/off dichotomy for access to YouTube. The update appears to not only affect what videos can be viewed, but will even shape search results and the “recommendations” list.
YouTube does provide a way for admins to tag certain users as “unrestricted” which will let them bypass any network-level restrictions imposed on YouTube content that can be accessed. These superusers and admins will also have the ability to “whitelist” videos so they can be accessed by users who might otherwise be blocked. Admins can also set up different groups or units which may have differing levels of access to content.
Google says the update started rolling out on Monday and should take 1-3 days to appear as an option for administrators.
source: Google
via: VentureBeat
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Google and AT&T join in Apple iMessage lawsuit
After users discovered Apple’s iMessage platform contained an alleged “bug” that prevented users from receiving some text messages after switching to an Android phone, some former Apple customers filed a lawsuit alleging Apple’s actions were illegal. Apple has been fighting off the claims, mostly in secret, even as they launched a tool to help customers make the transition from iPhones to Android smartphones. The stakes may have ratcheted up a bit recently as both Google and AT&T have filed motions with the federal courts to access materials being filed during the lawsuit’s discovery phase.
AT&T’s involvement is noteworthy as previous reports from Apple and AT&T employees have claimed Android phones were returned by customers so they could go back to an iPhone after trying to switch. Depending on how well this can be proved, Apple could be facing some additional claims related to interfering with the market and consumer protections. Thus far the claimants in the lawsuit are focused on showing Apple accessed text messages improperly or illegally and violated laws like the Stored Communications Act and the Federal Wiretap Act.
Court watchers have noted the tech giants have specifically requested an email sent to CEO Tim Cook on April 28, 2013, amongst a group of internal communications. The list of individuals who have provided affidavits, depositions or other information includes lots of engineers and software experts and these are the individuals Google and AT&T are focused on thus far, suggesting the companies are not only seeking to figure out who knew what and when, but technically how Apple was identifying and stopping messages intended for Android phone users.
source: Business Insider
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Google and MIT researchers demo their photo reflection removal algorithm
I’m sure we have all witnessed those pesky reflections while trying to grab a photograph through a window, but those days may soon be behind us, thanks to research conducted by Google and MIT. The group presented a paper at Siggraph 2015 and has published a video demonstrating its algorithm for removing reflections from your pictures.
The software isn’t just good for reflections though, it can also be used to analyse and remove other obstacles from your pictures, such as raindrops on the glass and even a chain-link fence that partially obstructs your view. It’s not 100 percent perfect, but seems to do a pretty good job at mostly removing these annoyances in a wide range of scenarios, include tough low-light scenes.
The developers state that the algorithm works using a short video clip that could, for example, be capture from your phone. At this stage, the algorithm sorts out the depth of the scene using edge detection differences in the successive frames and can figure out any obstructions in the foreground. A somewhat similar idea is used for techniques like post processing depth of field adjustments and 3D parallax images, which rely on multiple points of view.
From here, the software can fill in the obstructed space with information from other frames, resulting in a clearer final picture. One creepy “side effect” of the technology is that it can also quite accurately recreate a clear image of whatever is contained within a reflection or occlusion.
The video below has a really detailed explanation about how this is accomplished and a few more examples, which is well worth a watch if you’re keen on details.
This type of technique has been tried before, but previous result have been rather mixed. Google and MIT’s implementation seems the best so far. Unfortunately we don’t know if or when this type of technology will become available for smartphone cameras. Here’s hoping that someone picks up the idea and brings it to consumers.
How to restore an Android phone when you forget the unlock code
We need codes for everything nowadays. It’s good to keep all our data secure, but this cluster of random words, letters and characters makes it hard to keep track of all our security credentials. I can’t tell you how often I have to reset my passwords, and I have even been known to forget my smartphone unlock code from time to time. It may seem hard to believe, but it happens, and I am sure I am not the only one!
Stuck with a locked Android smartphone? Don’t you worry! There are multiple ways to restore usability after forgetting your unlock code. In this post we will cover the best ways to get out of these unpleasant situations and regain control over your phone.
Reset your unlock pattern using your Google account
Those running Android 4.4 KitKat or below will have it pretty easy. Android used to come with a built-in security measure that allowed you to bypass and reset your unlock pattern by simply accessing your Google account. Here’s how it’s done!
- Your device will need to be connected to the internet. If it is, keep reading.
- Enter a wrong pattern a few times.
- After some failed attempts, a new option labeled “Forgot pattern” will appear. Tap on it.
- Enter the username and password previously entered in the handset.
Restore the device to factory settings
Sadly, the rest of us will have to opt for more drastic measures, as there is really no other way to recover from a forgotten unlock code with the latest software versions. You will need to wipe the phone (otherwise known as performing a factory data reset). There’s a few ways to do this, so let’s take you through some of them.
Failed password attempt limits
Some of you are lucky enough to have a phone that will automatically perform a factory data reset if the password, PIN or unlock code (or whatever you are using) is entered incorrectly a set amount of times – usually 10 attempts. HTC and LG’s latest flagship phones are known to do this. If your phone has this features, just go at it trying to unlock it and eventually the handset will be automatically wiped.
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Using Android Device Manager
Android Device Manager is a life-saver. This is Google’s security tool, and it allows you to locate, ring, lock and wipe your device remotely. The only downside is that you have to set it up before-hand. If you were cautious and took care of business prior to getting locked out of your handset, just go to the Android Device Manager website and locate the device. After this, you will be given the “Erase” option. Simply select it and follow instructions. Your phone will then be completely wiped and you can set it up as if it was new.
Perform a hard data reset
If all else fails go ahead and perform a hard data reset on the phone. This will also wipe your device, but you will need to perform a series of button combinations and enter recovery mode. We can’t exactly give you step-by-step instructions on how to do this, though, as the process varies per device. Google is your friend!
Wrapping up
So there you have it, guys. These are the best solutions for gaining access to your smartphone after forgetting your password or unlock code. We know some of these are not the best solutions around, but keep in mind this is the best we can work with. We also have a guide for bypassing the unlock code using ADB, but that also takes a lot of work!
Let’s hear from you, though – what do you prefer to do when you forget your security credentials? Thank the tech gods for bio-metric solutions! We sure can’t forget those.
Google Project Tango now available in Canada and South Korea
The whole industry was impressed when Google revealed Project Tango tablet, a device with multiple cameras that can map its surroundings. It’s a unique product with a focus in future mobile applications, but it’s not exactly for everyone just yet. It was only recently made available without an invite, as a developer kit. And even though it can be purchased by anyone now, it’s not the best buy at $512. Regardless, developers around the world can find great use for this technology, and the current price is better than the initial $1024 invite-only customers had to pay in the past.
Google continues to break down boundaries and borders by taking Project Tango outside the USA for the first time. The Search Giant’s nifty 3D-mapping tablet can now be purchased in Canada and South Korea. Furthermore, added regions will be included to the party come August 26th, including Denmark, Finland, France, Germany, Ireland, Italy, Norway, Sweden, Switzerland and the United Kingdom.
While the price may not exactly be justified, those who do purchase the Project Tango tablet will receive nothing short of a great device. This developer-focused product comes with a powerful NVIDIA Tegra K1 processor, 4 GB of RAM, 128 GB of internal storage, a 7.02-inch 1920x1200p display, a 4960 mAh battery, NFC, 4G LTE data speeds and a full set of sensors/cameras that make 3D-mapping possible.
The tablet is as full-featured as they get, really. If you want more details on it, you can always watch our interview and demo, which we have embedded right below.
To sign up for one, just head over to your respective Google Store pages. Are any of our fellow Canadian and South Korean Android enthusiasts signing up for one? Mostly for developing? Hit the comments and let us know!
Google Play Music celebrates Barack Obama’s birthday with curated radio station
In celebration of Barack Obama’s 54th birthday, Google Play Music is offering a curated radio station of the President’s favorite songs. There’s a decent bit of variety on the station, ranging from Jay-Z to The Temptation, so if you’re interested in getting some insight into Obama’s musical tastes, this is the best way to do it.
This is a pretty unique way of driving engagement and awareness to Google’s Play Music offering, and while it isn’t as involved as a curated playlist, it shows off Play Music’s strong radio stations. Personally, I’ve been a big fan of the customized radio on All Access, and I think seeing more stations based off of celebrity music choices would be a pretty cool thing to do on a regular basis.
source: Google Play Music (Twitter)
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