Spotify’s new animated series takes you inside music history

Spotify has big plans for original content as part of its video push, including a Metallica documentary and an animated series that explains genres. The streaming service debuted its latest project today. “Drawn & Recorded” is another animated series that takes a look at important moments in music history. Those illustrated visuals are accompanied by narration from Grammy-Award winning producer, artist and songwriter T Bone Burnett.

The series is a collection of 10 episodes that give a brief (around 3 minutes) backstory on an important event in music history. We’re talking about things like the inspiration for Nirvana’s “Smells Like Teen Spirit,” what Ol’ Dirty Bastard meant to one girl in Brooklyn and Johnny Cash’s influence on Merle Haggard. There are also episodes on Blind Willie Johnson, The Allman Brothers and how rapper T.I. may have helped save Creed frontman Scott Stapp’s life.

“Drawn & Recorded” is available now inside Spotify’s mobile apps and on the desktop. All 10 installments can be viewed in about half an hour, so you can see the whole series in a short amount of time. The video below has a preview of what you can expect and we’ve included the Kurt Cobain episode as well.

Source: Spotify

A true ‘Night Mode’ may return to older Nexus devices

Will Night Mode be returning to Nougat? Time will tell.

Nexus 6P users who were miffed to find Night Mode removed when they installed the Android 7.1 Nougat OS update might have received an optimistic hint from Google of its eventual return. Night Mode acts as a blue light filter that helps reduce eye strain when looking at your phone late at night, and can be set to turn on automatically at sundown.

Once Nexus users realized Night Mode had been removed, some of the more snarky users resorted to reporting the lack of Night Mode in the latest Nougat release as a bug. Curiously, one such report has been closed with its status set to “FutureRelease”. Without an official statement or blog post confirming its eventual return, it’s still unclear exactly what this report status means. But it could be an encouraging sign that it might eventually make a return to Nexus devices.

Night Mode as part of the Nougat OS is currently exclusively available on Pixel and Pixel XL devices, found in the Display settings and referred to as Night Light. If you haven’t upgraded to a Pixel and just want Night Mode back on your Nexus, there is a workaround available that you might want to check out.

Were you bummed out by the removal of Night Mode? Or is this a feature you’re more than happy to live without?

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How to sign up for the Samsung Galaxy Beta Program

Samsung wants to give you an early look at Nougat.

If you have a Galaxy S7 or S7 edge, you can sign up for the Galaxy Beta Program and get an early look at Samsung’s latest software. All it takes is installing an app, registering and then receiving an update to check out Android 7.0 Nougat right on your Galaxy phone. Here’s how you get it done.

To get started, you’ll have to get the Galaxy Beta Program app installed on your Galaxy S7 or S7 edge. The app is available in the Galaxy Apps store, not the Play Store. Just open up Galaxy Apps and search for “Galaxy Beta Program” — it’ll be the first result. If you’re reading this on your phone, you can also tap this link to be taken to the listing.

Open the Galaxy Beta Program app and tap Start
Tap the menu button in the top-right corner and tap Registration
Read the FAQ and then tap Registration at the bottom
Tap the checkbox next to I agree and then tap Agree at the bottom

Once you’re registered, it may take a little bit of time for your account to be selected to receive the update. Once the update is available, you’ll receive a software update notification to download the latest beta update. If you’re unsure about the status of your software, you can always go to Settings, About device and tap Download updates manually. An update will only download once your registration has been selected for the Beta Program.

The Galaxy Beta Program is understandably in high demand, so you may find at the time of registering that all beta spots are full — but keep checking back! Spots can open up at any time.

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Jeremy Scott Live Cases now available at the Google Store

Live Cases with a fashion twist.

Live Cases from noted fashion designer Jeremy Scott are now available for the Nexus 5X, Nexus 6P, Pixel and Pixel XL from the Google Store in the US, UK, Australia, Canada, and Germany. The available cases include nine different canvases featuring Scott’s emoji characters, and during the buying process you can crop and zoom to make sure your Live Case is one of a kind.

Your case will also come with a unique Jeremy Scott GIF keyboard so your messages can match your case, as well as a live wallpaper and a programmable shortcut button. The Live Case Editions app is required to use these features. You can build your own at the Google Store for $40.

Google crushes EU regulator’s antitrust arguments against Android

The Google strikes back.

Google is hitting back against European Commission claims that by bundling all of its apps and services with most Android phones, Google is exhibiting antitrust tendencies.

On its blog today, Google’s SVP and General Counsel, Kent Walker, penned a four-step rebuttal, claiming that not only is Android competitive in Europe, but it has made the market more so since its release in 2008. Says Walker:

Android means manufacturers don’t have to buy or build expensive mobile operating systems. As a result, smartphones are now available at dramatically lower prices — as little as 45 euros — and have become much more accessible to many more people. Today, more than 24,000 devices from over 1,300 brands run on Android. And European developers are able to distribute their apps to over a billion people around the world. Android is not a ‘one way street’; it’s a multi-lane highway of choice.

Specifically, he points to the success of the iPhone and iOS as a primary reason Google and Android should be cleared of any wrongdoing, saying that despite claims to the contrary Apple considers Android its primary competition in the mobile space.

He points to the success of the iPhone and iOS as a primary reason Android should be cleared of any wrongdoing.

He also points out that Google has to constantly balance the openness of Android as a platform with its promise to developers in maintaining a hearty and healthy marketplace for apps, which the European Commission accuses of being too Google-centric and controlled.

We give phone makers wide latitude to build devices that go above that baseline, which is why you see such a varied universe of Android devices. That’s the key: our voluntary compatibility agreements enable variety while giving developers confidence to create apps that run seamlessly across thousands of different phones and tablets. This balance stimulates competition between Android devices as well as between Android and Apple’s iPhone.

Walker also disputes that claim that Google preloads too many of its own apps, saying that its app licensing agreement with hardware manufacturers is much more flexible than, say, Microsoft’s. Apple, too, loads a number of its own apps on the iPhone and iPad, and encourages users to download its own productivity suite like Pages and Numbers the first time they open the App Store.

He also brings up an important point: Google is able to offer its entire software suite for free to phone makers because of the process of bundling:

Distributing products like Google Search together with Google Play permits us to offer our entire suite for free — as opposed to, for example, charging upfront licensing fees. This free distribution is an efficient solution for everyone — it lowers prices for phone makers and consumers, while still letting us sustain our substantial investment in Android and Play.

The blog post was written in tandem with a filing handed over to the European Commission in response to charges of antitrust and monopolistic behavior. Now, the EC must go back and review the filing and choose whether it wants to pursue fines, which could amount to $7.5 billion, or drop the charges altogether.

Addictive game Burrito Bison: Launcha Libre crashes onto Android

A new way to crush candy.

Smash your way through Candy Land in Burrito Bison: Launcha Libre, a fun and colorful new title developed by the 4-man indie developer team at Juicy Beast.

Launcha Libre is equal parts goofy fun and addictive grinding.

This is actually the third game in the Burrito Bison franchise, but the first developed for mobile platforms (it’s also available for iOS). The format seems to have been optimized for mobile, as the touch controls are a significant improvement over the mouse-click controls from its web-based predecessors. The core gameplay is simple, and remains the same from the previous titles — you launch your luchador off the ropes into a main enemy, then try to maintain your momentum as you hurtle out of the ring and bounce off of waves of gummi bears running for their sweet lives.

Keeping your momentum is key, as hitting the ground or running into a cop gummi will significantly hinder your speed, and you need all the speed you can muster to break through the cake doors. Still following along? Getting a little hungry?

Whether you’ve played the previous Burrito Bison game, or are simply a fan of the launch game genre, you’ll be happy to know that Launcha Libre is equal parts goofy fun and addictive grinding. Much like other games that require you to crush candy, this game is a simple premise that will absolutely hook you in if you let it — but unlike other mobile games that use time-restrictions or lives to limit your play time, you can just keep launching your luchadores over and over again, collecting Pesos which can be spent on valuable upgrades to take your next launch that much further. You’re also able to spend coins to unlock and upgrade new luchadores, enemies, and power-ups.

There are some in-app purchases available, but you shouldn’t need to spend a dime as long as you’re fine with watching a 30 second ad to unlock the occasional Pinata, which are filled with more coins and power-ups.

Burrito Bison: Launcha Libre is a free download in the Google Play Store.

Download: Burrito Bison: Launcha Libre (Free)

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YouTube VR app: How does it work and when can you try it?

Google is ramping up its virtual reality efforts, with YouTube VR.

The company, which owns YouTube, has been working with YouTube creators, recording artists, and partners to produce VR videos, all with the purpose of loading up the website with tonnes of immersive content so that you’d have plenty to watch and experience when YouTube VR launches. Well, launch day has arrived. On 10 November, Google launched the YouTube VR app. Here’s everything you need to know.

• YouTube VR app for Daydream now available  

What is YouTube VR?

Ever want to take a tour of your favourite beauty vlogger’s apartment? Or maybe learn a new recipe from a TV chef? Or watch your news as if you were in the middle of the action? No? Just us? Anyway, YouTube VR app lets you experience that sort of content.

YouTube VR is a standalone app built from the ground up and optimised for VR. With it, you can watch any video on YouTube. All videos provide an immersive VR experience, whether it’s 360-degree video or a standard video shown in a cinema-style mode. The app, which is launching first for the Daydream View headset, also features voice search and the ability to subscribe to channels.

• Google Daydream View review: A Pixel-perfect VR experience?

How does YouTube VR work?

• Download the Daydream app on a compatible Android phone (currently, that’s just the Pixel and Pixel XL smartphones by Google). You may be asked to update your software, as it requires the Daydream support included in the Android 7.1 Nougat update. You can read more about how the Daydream platform works from here.
• Download the YouTube VR app for Android.
• Open the Daydream app, then go to the slide-out menu from the right, and tap library. There, you will see the YouTube VR app. Tap it to launch the app. You’ll be asked to place your compatible phone into the Daydream headset. Keep in mind you can also just slip your compatible phone into the headset to automatically launch the Daydream interface, where you’ll see your installed apps. Use the Daydream View controller to select an app.
• Once you’ve entered the YouTube app and signed into your account, you will see suggested videos and options to search. Again, use your controller to navigate and turn up volume (to turn up the volume, use the rocker on the side of the Daydream controller). And that’s it.

What does YouTube VR feature?

Full YouTube experience

YouTube VR provides the full, signed-in experience of YouTube. You can view subscriptions, playlists, watch history, and more.

Search

YouTube VR let’s you switch between voice and keyboard controls so you can browse and search with ease. Also, the app provides the same browsing experience as the YouTube mobile app; the player controls let you watch a video and browse at the same time.

Spacial Audio

Google has included spacial audio tech, meaning you’ll be able to hear real-world sound, “where depth, distance, and intensity all play a role depending on where you look with spatial audio,” according to the company.

Theater mode

Whether you’re watching a 360-degree video or a standard one, the YouTube VR app will enter a “theater mode” that mimics a big-screen experience. It’ll feel like you’re boxed in, with no outside light, so when combined with spacial audio, it should feel like going to the cinema.

360-degree videos

YouTube VR is launching for Daydream View first, so you can launch the app on a Google Pixel smartphone, slot your phone in the headset, and begin watching 360-degree videos. To move around, just use the controller to grab the screen and move it. There’s no need for you to stand and spin. The screen can also be repositioned so you can have the most comfortable experience possible.

• YouTube introduces live streaming for 360-degree videos, spatial audio

Partnerships

Several content providers have partnered with the video streaming service, including the Natural History Museum, StyleHaul, Curiscope, Tastemade, Buzzfeed, CollegeHumor, NBA, and SWooZie. They each made VR content that will be available soon or immediately.

When will YouTube VR be available?

YouTube VR is available now for iOS and Android. It’s free to download.

Europe rules that libraries can lend e-books like normal ones

Europe has ruled (PDF) that e-books can be lent out just like their physical counterparts. That is, as noticed by Ars Technica, one copy can be “checked out” by one person at a time. After the lending period expires, that user can no longer use the book and it goes to the next person who wants it. This might sound kind of expected, but you have to remember that it took until 2014 for the European Union to approve digitizing library books in the first place. And even then, you could only use them within the library’s walls and at dedicated terminals.

The sticking point was between the Dutch library association (Vereniging Openbare Bibliotheken) and Stichting Leenrecht, a group that works to ensure authors are compensated for their work. The Court of Justice of the European Union — essentially Europe’s Supreme Court — is okay with the traditional approach for digital lending assuming that the books were lawfully purchased in the first place.

Source: Ars Techinca

Scientists developed a USB stick that can perform an HIV test

When is comes to HIV tests, a drop of blood and a USB stick may be all patients need in the near future. Scientists at the Imperial College London developed a device with the help of medical testing company DNA Electronics that detects HIV levels in the bloodstream and creates a signal that can be read using a computer or handheld gadget. The disposable testing units could be used to help HIV patients monitor their treatment as well as improve how doctors manage the virus in remote locations.

The compact device monitors the amount of the HIV virus that’s present in a patient’s bloodstream, a measurement that’s essential in keeping tabs on how effective treatment is battling the virus. Monitoring the amount of the virus that’s present in a blood sample can let doctors know if a patient stops taking their medication or if the current course of action has stopped working. Researchers are also hoping that the technology can be used to test for hepatitis and other viruses. DNA Electronics is already using the setup to develop a testing method for sepsis and antibiotic resistance.

The USB stick is not only very accurate, but it can offer results on HIV levels in less than 30 minutes. In fact, the average wait time for results was just over 20 minutes during the research phase. That’s a huge improvement from the current wait time of about three days, mostly due to the fact that a blood sample has to be sent to a lab for analysis. As you might expect, those types of labs don’t exist in certain parts of the world where HIV rates are highest.

Driven by a mobile phone chip, the gadget only needs a small amount of blood to perform its analysis. When the HIV virus is detected in the blood sample, the USB stick triggers a change in acidity which the aforementioned chip transforms into an electric signal. That signal is then translated into a reading for a program on either a computer or other electronic device. During the latest round of trials, the setup tested nearly 1,000 samples with 95 percent accuracy. In the meantime, scientists are hard at work on a cure for HIV, but a solution there could still be a long way off.

Via: Phys.org

Source: Imperial College London