Avis Now lets you pick your rental car from your phone

To keep up with with the growing proliferation of car sharing services (and their own sister company Zipcar), Avis will now let you pick your ride, extend your rental or just breeze through the car pick up process right from your phone. The updates are all part of the new Avis Now features, which launched today at 50 locations across the US and will expand to select international markets in the near future.

To take advantage of Avis Now, drivers have to be enrolled in the free Avis Preferred loyalty program and have the Avis app installed on their iOS or Android device. From there, users can book a car, view real-time availability and even switch cars in the lot if they spot something they’d rather be driving. Like other car sharing services, the app lets you flash the lights, lock or unlock the doors and return the car without the need for human interaction. (Added bonus: you can leave those bulky rental car keys in the car during your vacation and unlock your car with TouchID.) On a more mundane note, the app also lets drivers check their mileage, fuel and rental agreement. It’s all here in Avis’s slick new commercial:

First ‘Pokemon Go’ Update Locks Some Users Out of the Game

Pokemon Go received its first update earlier today, fixing several bugs players had experienced since the app’s release. Some users on Reddit (via The Verge) are now claiming that the update (1.01) includes a game-breaking bug that locks them out of the app.

Users who sign into the app via a Pokemon Trainer Club account rather than a Google account are now unable to access the game and its servers. Dogecoin founder Jackson Palmer debugged the network traffic and found that the app no longer sends an HTTP request when you log in with a Pokemon Trainer Club account. This indicates that the problem is with the app itself, rather than being a server issue.

Currently, the only way for users with Pokemon Trainer Club accounts to bypass the bug is to avoid updating the app to version 1.01. Due to Apple’s App Store regulatory policies, it’s unclear how long it will take for developer Niantic to deliver a fix.

Since its launch last week, Pokemon Go has quickly become a worldwide phenomenon, sending Nintendo’s stock soaring and earning an estimated $1.6 million in daily revenue with approximately 7.5 million downloads in the United States alone.

Pokemon Go is available in the App Store for free. [Direct Link]

Tag: Pokémon GO
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Juno sends back first photos from Jupiter’s orbit

With Jupiter being some 365 million miles from Earth at its closest point, it can take awhile to send information from beyond the asteroid belt and back to Earth. On July 10th, just six days after arriving in Jupiter’s orbit, NASA flipped on Juno’s main visible light camera “JunoCam” and started snapping pictures. Now, just a couple days later, and we’ve got JunoCam’s first shots of the largest planet in the solar system.

The shot above is a something like a proof-of-life photo, indicating Juno made it through the planet’s extreme radiation zone unharmed. At the time, the spacecraft was still 2.7 million miles away from the planet and just beginning its 53.5 day orbit, but these early images show distinct features like the infamous Great Red Spot and three of Jupiter’s largest moons — (left to right) Io, Europa and Ganymede*. Over the next 20 months, Juno will circle the planet 37 times taking photos of the planet’s poles and dramatic auroras. According to NASA, on its closest passes Juno will be about 2,600 miles above the planet, allowing it to probe beneath the cloud cover to “learn more about the planet’s origins, structure, atmosphere and magnetosphere.”

While this first image is a little fuzzy, NASA says high-resolution images are still a few weeks away. In the meantime, the spacecraft also captured a timelapse video of Jupiter’s moons over a two-week period in June, starting from about 10 million miles from the planet and ending about 3 million miles away:

*In a fun piece of cosmic trivia, Jupiter’s moons are all named after the Roman god’s lovers and mistresses. The spacecraft, meanwhile was named after Jupiter’s wife. Thus: NASA sent Jupiter’s wife to check up on Jupiter and his lovers.

Apple Posts Developer Casting Call for ‘Planet of the Apps’ TV Show

Apple has posted an open casting call (via Cult of Mac) for its upcoming original TV show Planet of the Apps, an unscripted program about apps and the people who make them. The show is currently looking for developers from San Francisco, Austin, New York and Los Angeles to participate.

Executive producers will.i.am, Ben Silverman, and Howard Owens are teaming up for an unscripted series about the world of apps and the talented people that drive its innovation. They’re looking for developers with the vision to shape the future, solve real problems, and inspire change within our daily lives. “We can really tell their stories as we explore how apps are developed and created and incubated,” says Silverman.

The site says the show isn’t just a show, but a “launchpad” and “accelerator” that’ll offer developers three unique opportunities. Developers on Planet of the Apps will receive mentorship from the “world’s best experts” in tech and entertainment, up to $10 million in funding if they reach the final round of the show, and featured placement in the App Store at the end of the show.

Participation will be limited to 100 developers. Apps must be for either iOS, macOS, tvOS or watchOS and the app must be in a functional state or beta by October 21, so that developers have something to share on the show. Developers are allowed to submit multiple apps and individuals can apply with multiple development teams. Developers have until August 26, 2016 to apply. Filming will take place in Los Angeles in late 2016 and early 2017.

Planet of the Apps is part of Apple’s push into original television programming. The show was first announced in March, and other original content will include Vital Signs, a show about and starring Beats co-founder and Apple executive Dr. Dre. While Vital Signs will help promote Apple Music, Planet of the Apps will help promote the App Store.

Interested developers can apply on the show’s website.

Related Roundups: Apple TV, tvOS 10
Tags: App Store, Planet of the Apps
Buyer’s Guide: Apple TV (Neutral)
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Pokémon Go passes 10 million total installs on Android

Need any more evidence as to just how damn popular Pokémon Go is? How about this — we’re a week out from the game graduating from beta status. And today it crossed the 10 million downloads threshold on Google Play. That puts it in the 10 million-to-50 million category. So it could be a little while before we see it jump to the next level. Or it may come sooner than we think, especially once it starts opening up to more people in more countries.

And the 10 million number doesn’t mean that 10 million people are actively playing it on Android. That’s the total number of downloads, and is the only number (well, the range anyway) that Google presents publicly. Only the developer knows the number of current installations.

But in any event, that’s a big milestone that was reached very quickly.

Pokémon Go

• Join our Pokémon Go forums!
• How to deal with GPS errors in-game
• Which team should you choose?
• How to play without killing your battery
• The Ultimate Pokémon Go Game Guide!

These are the Pokémon Go tips, tricks, and cheats you need right now!

It’s dangerous to go alone. Wait, what game are we talking about again?

Welcome to the life after level 5, Pokémon Trainer. It doesn’t matter if you’re Instinct, Mystic, or Valor right now, it’s a war zone out there. There has never been a game to receive quite as much 24/7/365 action as Pokémon Go. You can take over a Gym in most areas right now and have it reclaimed for another team before you make it down the street. It’s intense, exciting, and if you’re not constantly playing you could find yourself at a very real disadvantage.

Unless, of course, you have this guide helping you out. We’ve collected a great list of tips, tricks, and sneaky little cheats to give you the upper hand when playing against other high level players out in the world. Are you ready for this?

Focus on throw bonuses

It doesn’t matter how high your level is, scoring Great Throw and Curveball bonuses add up quickly. If you know you’re going to sit in a Lure Module and capture for a while, activate a Lucky Egg and practice your throws. The double XP is a big deal, and in no time you’ll be getting those bonuses with nearly every throw.

If you find yourself unable to hit a Pokémon because the ball keeps sparkling and flying off to the left or right, you know the only way to reliably hit that Pokémon is with a curveball. So get good at it!

Play to your type

Every Pokémon has a type. That type has a natural strength, a natural weakness, and in some situations a type that completely nullifies attack and defense. You don’t want to head to a gym only to have it end in a stalemate, nor do you want to get crushed by something a much lower level than you because you weren’t paying attention.

Look at the Pokémon protecting a Gym before you attack. Look for their type, and make sure you have Pokémon in your starting six that will do as much damage as possible to that type. When leaving multiple Pokémon as a team, make sure your team isn’t leaving a lot of the same type to guard the gym. There’s a great chart here if you need some additional help.

Always dodge first

Gym battles in Pokémon Go offer you three types of moves — basic attack, special attack, and dodge. Your first move in a Gym battle, even if your Pokémon has a higher power level and is strong against the Pokémon you’re fighting, should always be a dodge. Slower Pokémon take a second or two to launch their initial attack, but you will almost always dodge that initial assault and be ready for a counter-attack before the Pokémon in the center of the ring can catch up. This is especially useful if you’re using super fast Pokémon, for example any of the Eevee evolution.

It’s the difference between a close call and a guaranteed win almost every time. Swipe to the left or right as soon as the fight starts, and then lay in to your opponent.

Sneaky Swap Out

At some point in your career as a Pokémon Trainer, you’re going to be standing next to a gym you control as it goes down. Maybe it’s because you’re outnumbered and can’t maintain gym prestige, or maybe you just weren’t paying attention. It’s going to happen, but it doesn’t have to be a moment of defeat.

If it looks like you’re going to lose a gym, let it happen. Make sure your best Pokémon are healed up, and keep an eye on the map. The second you see the Gym turn from your team color to plain white, recapture it by putting your freshly healed Pokémon there. The Gym prestige will immediately jump up, and it will take at least another two battles for your opponents to try reclaiming that gym again. With quick enough fingers, you can repeat this over and over again, frustrating your opponents to no end.

Travel with a diverse crew

Don’t let yourself get lured into this trap where you can only play with members of your own team. It’s a load of crap, and will actually slow down your leveling process. Ideally, you want to travel with at least one of each faction, and that way you can all take turns setting up and taking down gyms, as you cycle through that process, everyone will level up quickly and become more capable of playing solo.

It also means when you finally do travel with only the same team as yours, everyone on your team is better equipped to leave a wide variety of Pokémon at a gym. Variety and diversity are important in this game!

Pokémon Go

• Join our Pokémon Go forums!
• How to deal with GPS errors in-game
• Which team should you choose?
• How to play without killing your battery
• The Ultimate Pokémon Go Game Guide!

Google Cardboard mention in Pokémon Go may be a sign of things to come

As if the world wasn’t already hyped enough over Pokémon Go, it looks like there may be another reason to push the excitement further: Google Cardboard. While far from a confirmation, the settings and licenses portion of the Pokémon Go app mentions Google Cardboard, possibly hinting at future VR plans.

The mention itself was first noted in the iOS version of the app by @PokeSteal on Twitter:

Version 1.0.1 in the settings & licenses option in #PokemonGO mentions Google Cardboard. Possible VR integration…. pic.twitter.com/najvh7GBpd

— PokéSteal (@PokeSteal) July 12, 2016

It’s certainly no confirmation of future VR integration, but it does present and interesting prospect for the future of Pokémon Go. And given the success the game has already seen with its AR focus, it’s likely that any future VR gameplay would prove to be quite the popular addition.

What do you think? Would you like to give Pokémon Go a shot in VR? Let us know in the comments!

Pokémon Go

• Join our Pokémon Go forums!
• How to deal with GPS errors in-game
• Which team should you choose?
• How to play without killing your battery
• The Ultimate Pokémon Go Game Guide!

Prime Day can save you 30% on a variety of phone cases right now!

Looking for a new case to keep your phone protected but don’t want to spend a ton of money? Well, Amazon is currently offering 30% off various cases as part of its Prime Day deals, so you’ll want to check these out. Whether you have a Galaxy S7, LG V10 or Nexus 6P there are several options to choose from.

You will need to be a Prime member in order to take advantage of these discounts. If you aren’t already a Prime member, you can sign up right now for a 30-day free trial so you don’t have to miss out. Remember, these deals are only good for today, July 12.

See at Amazon

10 perfect Pokémon catches to blow your Pokémind

When you combine Pokémon and the real world, you conjure up all kinds of weird, wonderful, awkward and hilarious possibilities. Here are just a few doing the rounds right now.

The beauty of Pokémon Go is how it combines beloved, familiar virtual monsters with the real world. Through augmented reality, it’s possible to snag shots of Pokémon in unusual, hilarious or otherwise ridiculous locations before scooping them up into your Pokéball.

Drowzee crashes your movie premiere

We’ve all been there. You’re at the premiere of a major summer blockbuster, only for a large, inherently sleepy Pokémon to appear blocking your path. Pocket-Lint editor Chris Hall encountered just this problem at the Star Trek Beyond London premiere, where Drowzee gatecrashed the white carpet. Presumably before being entombed for all eternity in a cold, spherical dungeon.

Drowzee on the white carpet at the Star Trek Beyond premier in London! pic.twitter.com/HKgKXEamgH

— Chris Hall (@christhall) July 12, 2016

Zubat in your margarita

The Pokémon Go craze means you can’t even relax with a cocktail without some obnoxious, vaguely bat-like creature getting all up in your margarita. Twitter user Rainy Goodin captured this renegate zubat, which we’ll presume was swiftly apprehended and put to work in a gym for the remainder of its natural life.

Wtf?? Found a Zubat in my margarita @Zelicks ????? Please fix this problem!!!!!! pic.twitter.com/oST9rWKrFo

— Rainy Goodin (@Rainylgoodin) July 8, 2016

Drowzee on your beer

Ever wonder why Drowzee is so drowsy? His affinity for imported Dutch beverages may be to blame, as evidenced by this second photo of the sleepy critter from Chris Hall.

Pokemon Go is becoming a pain in the arse. pic.twitter.com/sl7od8UR4w

— Chris Hall (@christhall) July 12, 2016

Charmander steals your chair

Stop, Charmader, in the name of the law! The fiery critter obviously doesn’t realize that a really great way to get arrested is to steal the seat of the Pima County Sheriff. He’ll be doing time — in a Pokéball.

Capt. Ponzio found a #Charmander! Please remember to stay aware of your surroundings while playing #PokemonGo pic.twitter.com/QhsYJHQehs

— Pima County Sheriff (@PimaSheriff) July 12, 2016

Getting pulled over with Rattata

Been pulled over by an officer of the law. Of course you’re going to take a few seconds to scoop up that stray rattata before giving your license and registration. No word on whether Twitter user sethary spent the night in a Pokéball or the country jail.

When you get pulled over but you gotta catch em all #pokemongo pic.twitter.com/ZVosCaaYep

— sethary (@seth_cordaro) July 8, 2016

Oddish getting ready to party

You’ve got a couple of reasonably full bottles of liqor, what else do you need to get the party started? Oddish, of course! This weird blue raddish with legs is sure to be the life of the party — or at least creepily stare at you from across the room all night.

Ayy my boy Oddish just came over! It’s about to be lit b#PokemonGO pic.twitter.com/DnduHQSFgZ

— Joel (@NobodyEpic) July 7, 2016

Apprehending a stray Weedle

We’re not sure what this Sioux Falls police officer found on Weedle to warrant an arrest, but maybe the clue’s in the name.

While out on foot patrol in Pettigrew Heights Recruit Officer Ehler helped chase down this wild Weedle! /774 pic.twitter.com/QEzNoGNUzy

— Sioux Falls Police (@siouxfallspd) July 12, 2016

Pidgey at the birth of your child

Let’s face it: Giving birth to another human can take a while. So if you’re stuck on the sidelines, what better time killer than Pokémon Go. In a now famous story, Pokemaster Jonathan Theriot snapped up a rogue pidgey as his wife gave birth to his daughter.

“She wasn’t mad at all. She just kind of laughed at it,” Theriot told BuzzFeed, “It was primarily an eyeroll once she realised what I was doing.”

Fantominus in the cemetery

Maybe you shouldn’t be surprised to find a spooky Pokémon like malevolent cloud beast Famtominus knocking around your local graveyard. Still doesn’t make it any less shocking when the fanged beast comes flying at you from behind a tombstone.

I FOUND THIS IN THE CEMETERY TIDKDPFJNSSLFL #POKEMONGO pic.twitter.com/Ys5YI4m0IT

— Eunha’s #1 Promoter™ (@deleteitugly) July 12, 2016

Rattata on your toilet

Finally and perhaps most fittingly, Facebook user Rory Oldmate was surprised to find a wild Rattata squatting on his toilet. Then again, surely the little guy is in his element perched atop the crapper.

Pokémon Go

• Join our Pokémon Go forums!
• How to deal with GPS errors in-game
• Which team should you choose?
• How to play without killing your battery
• The Ultimate Pokémon Go Game Guide!

Where’s the wierdest place you’ve run into a Pokémon? Share your finds down in the comments!