Magic Leap partners with messaging startup Twilio
We still don’t know all that much about super-secret mixed-reality startup Magic Leap. But today we learned that it will be partnering with communications company Twilio to make chatting with holographic-looking versions of your friends and family eventually happen.
Twilio CEO, Jeff Lawson was joined onstage via telepresence robot by Magic Leap CEO, Rony Abovitz who said that the companies will be “working to integrate what I think are amazing services and components for communication.” The two companies also announced that 10 lucky developer teams in the Twilio community will have a chance to build for the mixed-reality hardware via an SDK.
The companies and developers will have to deal with some pretty expectations. For example, while addressing the Twilio Signal conference audience, Abovitz talked about an image that shows a mother virtually wishing her child a happy birthday. He said it’s “almost like the spiritual essence of your mom is there. You can look her in the eye. You’re talking in real time. This is absolutely the kind of thing we’re going to be enabling at Magic Leap.”
Of course like the actual release date of the yet-to-be-seen-by-the-public device, there’s no word on when these developers will get to see Magic Leap. When asked by Lawson if device would be available to show off at next year’s Signal conference Abovitz grinned and used both hands to switch between a thumbs up and thumbs down.
‘Pokemon Go’ beta arrives on mobile devices
Pokemon Go, the real-world equivalent to kicking off your own journey to becoming a Pokemon master, is finally available for beta testers in the US as of today.
After opening signups to users earlier this month, beta testers will be chosen and allowed into the program today to begin roaming the world capturing Pokemon, battling other trainers, and making those who weren’t chosen for the field test feel bad.
Along with revealing the field test is commencing today, The Pokemon Company and Niantic have also revealed several new tidbits about Pokemon Go as a whole. There will be more than a hundred different Pokemon to capture out in the wild. When one is near a player out in the wild, there’ll be a notification sent via phone to use the device’s touch screen to throw a Poke Ball, which may be purchased at PokeStops, or real-world monuments, historical locales, or public art installations.
Battling is an important and obvious centerpiece to the game as well, and players can use their captured monsters to assume control of Gyms out in the world. Attacking the Pokemon defending particular Gyms will reduce its Prestige level, and when it’s been taken out completely the player will take control of a Gym. The higher the Gym’s level, the more Pokemon that can be left to defend it. leading to several real-world turf battles that could grow to pretty impressive proportions.
If you signed up to participate in the field test, you should be receiving a notification that you were chosen for the beta. The signup page is still live, however, so if you missed out on doing so before you may want to hurry over and give it a try. You could be strutting around outside the office today catching your very own Pokemon.
Microsoft kills what’s left of the old Nokia
Last week, Microsoft sold off what remained of Nokia’s feature phone business while Windows Phone’s market share slid below a single percent. Now, the company has taken what’s clearly the last step in correcting Steve Ballmer’s decision to purchase the mobile world’s former number one. The Verge has secured an internal memo from Microsoft’s Terry Myerson saying that the company will cull 1,850 jobs, 1,350 of which are in Finland. The company has also recorded a $950 million impairment and restructuring charge on its balance sheet, of which $200 million will be severance payouts to those employees.
The job cuts are, essentially, rinsing the company of almost all of its obligations towards the smoldering remains of Nokia. Microsoft went to pains to state that the firm’s Finnish sales vision are protected, with the cuts entirely focused on Microsoft Mobile Oy. As CEO Satya Nadella says, the company is focusing its phone efforts where it has “differentiation — with enterprises that value security, manageability and our Continuum capability.”
When Microsoft sold off its feature phone business, it put out a weirdly-worded statement that only affirmed a commitment to “support” Windows Phone devices. The implication being that it was done actually building handsets itself, and will instead let third parties like Acer, HP and VAIO take over. Alternatively, it’s rumored that Lumia as a brand is done, and the company will instead build a mobile device from its more successful Surface division.
“This in fact describes what we are doing (we’re scaling back, but we’re not out!), but at the same time I don’t love it because it lacks the emotional impact of this decision.”
Recode has published a copy of the internal memo, in which Terry Myerson explains that the company is scaling back, but is refusing to abandon mobile altogether. He also mentions that Microsoft will continue to “develop great new devices,” although that’s no indication that it’ll manufacture them off its own back. A bigger part of the firm’s focus, however, will be to “embrace other mobile platforms with our productivity services,” or getting its apps and services available on Android and iOS devices.
Via: The Verge
Source: Microsoft, Recode
AT&T’s prepaid GoPhone plans get 1GB of extra data
AT&T definitely isn’t being stingy with data on GoPhone these days. In the wake of healthy improvements over the past year, the carrier is raising its data caps by 1GB across the board as of May 27th. If you’re on the $45 plan, you’ll get 3GB of full-speed data to play with instead of 2GB; roll with the $60 plan and you’ll get 6GB instead of the current 5GB. You’ll still get $5 off your bill if you agree to automatic refills, to boot. While this isn’t the absolute lowest price you can pay for gigs’ worth of data (just ask T-Mobile users on the coveted $30/5GB plan), it’s a solid bargain if you need unlimited calls and texts at the same time.
Source: AT&T
Foursquare’s new bot texts food suggestions before you’re hungry
Foursquare is more than a friendly food finder and gentrification-tracking app — the company is now in the bot business with its latest tool, Marsbot. The bot analyzes users’ locations and past preferences to make proactive recommendations via text on where to eat or grab a drink next. Marsbot isn’t a chatbot, meaning users won’t ask it for suggestions; instead (and ideally), Marsbot will predict when you’re ready to try something new and nudge you toward places you should enjoy.
“Like my bestie, Marsbot learns that I’m into pistachio gelato and I spend most of my time in The Mission,” Foursquare product manager Marissa Chacko writes. “Like my bestie, Marsbot texts me when it discovers a new chai spot opening around the corner from my office. And like my bestie, Marsbot isn’t perfect, but is always full of good intentions.”
Marsbot is available for iOS devices, but only in New York City and San Francisco for now. Marsbot is still a work-in-progress, but as it’s tweaked and updated, Foursquare will slowly open up the app to people on the waitlist.
Foursquare decided to build Marsbot as a separate service, rather than integrate it into the main app, so it wouldn’t get lost among Foursquare’s other features, Chacko says.
“We wanted to try out a new app and a new communication style,” she says. “Notifications (esp on iOS) tend to go into a black hole, plus there is little interaction you can have with them.”
Marsbot is a nickname and the character is me as a child. It’s cool to see a part of my legacy live on in Foursquare.
— Mari Sheibley (@mari18) May 24, 2016
Source: Foursquare
Huawei sues Samsung over cellphone patents
No, the fighting between top smartphone makers isn’t done just yet. Huawei has sued Samsung in both China and the US for allegedly violating its patents on cellular technology and software through its cellphones. Unlike what you see in many such lawsuits, though, the Chinese tech leader isn’t demanding a straight financial penalty — it wants a cross-licensing deal where the two sides share patents, much like the ones it has with “dozens” of other partners.
Samsung hasn’t commented yet (we’ve reached out for its take). However, you might not see this turn into a knock-down-drag-out courtroom battle. Huawei’s demands hint that the lawsuit is more of a bargaining chip than an attempt to punish a competitor. Unless Samsung outright refuses to make a deal, it’s entirely possible that the mobile rivals will settle this out of court.
Via: 9to5Google
Source: BBC
Apple reportedly working on a rival to Amazon’s Echo
While much of Silicon Valley has been duking it out with each other in the artificial intelligence wars, Apple has been strangely silent. But it might not be for much longer. The Information has just reported that Apple is working on two bold new moves to broaden its AI strategy. First, the Cupertino firm will supposedly open up Siri to third-party developers, so that the voice assistant can be used with anyone’s apps, not just Apple’s own. More interestingly, however, Apple is also apparently working on a smart Bluetooth speaker not unlike Amazon’s Echo or Google Home. It’ll have a microphone and is supposedly Siri-powered, so you’d be able to use it to turn on music, get headlines or do a variety of other tasks, like turning on the lights. According to a source for The Information, Apple has been working on this device long before the Echo launched last year.
Artificial intelligence has been a focus for Apple’s rivals for quite awhile now; Google, Facebook, Amazon and even Microsoft have invested heavily in AI to improve the quality of digital assistants (which are sometimes referred to as bots). Siri, on the other hand, has remained fairly stagnant and limited in scope when compared to the competition. There’s no official word from Apple on how much more it plans to invest in AI, but we’re betting we’ll hear more about it at Apple’s WWDC event in a couple of weeks.
Pebble’s first non-watch is basically a next-gen iPod Shuffle
One of Pebble’s big goals for 2016 was to focus its efforts on health and fitness. It updated its Health app to provide more meaningful stats and, just today, it announced two new smartwatches with built-in heart rate monitors. But that wasn’t quite enough. The company also wanted to make something that would let people run without their phones — it needed to have GPS and be able to play music. Unfortunately, bundling all of that functionality into a watch would make it very expensive, so Pebble didn’t want to go that route. Instead, it built something entirely different. This is the Pebble Core, the company’s first-ever non-smartwatch. It’s an Android-powered wearable designed for runners. It has GPS so you can track your runs and, here’s the interesting part, a built-in 3G modem that lets you stream music over Spotify. Think of it as a next-generation iPod Shuffle.
That’s not all. That same 3G modem can be used to send emergency SOS notifications if you’re in trouble. It has WiFi for syncing your running stats with apps like Runkeeper, Strava, MapMyRun, Google Fit and Under Armour. You can map the Core’s buttons — there’s a big one and a small one — to activate certain apps or actions, like ordering an Uber or calling your spouse. There’s a 3.5mm headset jack for earbuds but it also has Bluetooth if you prefer to go wireless. On its back is a magnetic clip, which can be clipped on to your shirt or your pocket.
As for that Spotify streaming we mentioned earlier, you do need a SIM card for that. Also, Pebble tells us the streaming only works with Spotify Premium thanks to a special partnership between the two companies. But the Core should still be perfectly functional without a SIM card. You won’t be able to stream music, but it does have 4GB of storage that you can load up with songs over WiFi. 4GB isn’t much, but the idea here is that the amount should be enough for an hour-long workout session at least.
“We’ve split up the capabilities that runners want into two products,” says Eric Migicovsky, Pebble’s CEO and founder. “You’ve got the watch for doing heart-rate and a display. And [the Core] is a tiny little computer that you keep in your pocket.” The Core has other potential uses too. Migicovsky says you can clip it to your kid’s backpack and it instantly becomes a kid tracker. It’s also kind of like a Tile — attach it to your keys, for example — and you’ll be able to find it from anywhere thanks to the GPS and 3G modem.
The Core is usable without a Pebble watch, but having one does add a little bit more functionality. The watch essentially adds a display, with which you can use to track your speed, distance and pace in real-time. You’ll also be able to see what song is currently playing and changing tracks would be a little easier too — otherwise, music controls are relegated to the buttons on your headphones. As for its battery life, Migicovsky tells me it should last 9 to 10 hours before needing a recharge. It comes with a wireless charger or you can charge it via an included headphone port cable.
As for the price? It’ll retail for $99, but it’s currently available for preorder on Kickstarter for $69. “We think the Pebble 2 and the Core makes a very compelling combination,” says Migicovsky. Seeing as the Pebble 2 is only $129 retail ($99 on Kickstarter), buying both devices would set you back $228 ($168 on Kickstarter), which he says is still pretty affordable when compared to other smartwatches on the market. That proposition might only be attractive to those already in Pebble’s camp, but if you’re a fitness nerd on a budget, it’s not a bad idea. Still, you’ll have to wait awhile before you can get your very own Core — it’ll start shipping in January of next year.
Source: Pebble
LG G5’s VR headset, 360 camera and other accessories hit the US
When LG announced its modular G5 phone last month, it also revealed a line of “Friends” companion devices to go along with it (See what it did there?). Included in the lineup are the 360 VR headset, 360 Cam, the Harman Kardon-powered Tone Platinum audio headset and the Cam Plus camera grip. While the phone itself is already available in the US, these gadgets that the company intends for you to use with the handset were not until now.
LG says that the major carriers in the States will offer these add-ons or you can purchase them directly from the company. The Cam Plus module that adds a grip, camera controls and takes advantage of the G5’s modular design is the most affordable of the group at $70. If you’re looking to nab the VR headset, Tone wireless audio headset or 360 Cam, be prepared to hand over $200 for each of those. Unfortunately, there’s no mention of the BB-8-like Rolling Ball, but LG did note that more third-party companion devices were on the way.
Source: LG (PR Newswire)
Phones4u execs’ new venture offers loans for phones
After Phones4u lost its remaining carrier partners in quick succession a couple of years ago, the contract reseller had no choice but to go into administration. The folding of the company couldn’t have come at a worst time for a few unlucky customers, who had put down money to preorder the iPhone 6 or 6 Plus without hope of a refund. And while many staff were saved from the bother of job-hunting, plenty of the top brass were left twiddling their thumbs. We now know, however, that several former execs united to work on something new. That something is Unshackled, which promises the best mobile deals by separating handset cost from tariff cost.
The message is pretty simple: If you want a new phone, don’t lock yourself into a subsidised contract that sees you overpaying for the device over two years. Instead, Unshackled recommends you save money by buying it outright — its range features several top- and mid-tier phones, including Apple-certified “like new” iPhones. Plenty of online and bricks-and-mortar retailers offer unlocked handsets, of course, but Unshackled also allows you to pay through monthly instalments. This option is based on you qualifying for a personal loan, though, provided by third-party lender Zopa.
You still end up paying more than the phone is worth then (because interest), but the idea is you save compared to a regular subsidised contract. But Unshackled isn’t just in the business of flogging handsets, as it also offers a long list of SIM-only plans from the big providers right down to some of the more anonymous MVNOs. Somewhat crude calculations on the website suggest going down the route of paying for phone and plan separately could save you hundreds of pounds.
That may or may not be true, based on numerous factors such as loyalty rewards, time-sensitive upgrade incentives and the like. Unshackled is still trying to sell you something after all, but at least it’s being transparent with pricing — something that can’t be said about most other players. The industry is thankfully moving slowly in that direction, though. O2’s Refresh plans show you how much of your monthly payment goes towards the cost of your chosen device, while MVNO giffgaff breaks pricing down in a similar way.
Source: Unshackled
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