Google Photos will animate your videos too
The latest AI-powered upgrade for Google Photos brings four tricks. In a blog post today, we learned about four new features for the service, including the simplest one, which autodetects sideways pictures and prompts you to correct them. Two others dig into its talent for facial recognition, as it will detect people in your new photos, and offer to “rediscover old memories” of those same people in older pics, or, it can pop up a highlight reel showcasing the best pictures of a frequent subject.
Finally, the Assistant could already animate series of similar photographs, but now it’s ready to loop up repeating segments from videos too. You should see the new features available on Android, iOS and the web, and if it’s just a little too creepy, you can go into settings to disable face grouping or its assistant prompts.
Source: Google Blog
Space rocks form more craters on the moon than we expected
We might see the moon every night, but we still don’t know everything about our planet’s faithful companion. For instance, a team of Arizona State University astronomers have discovered that it has around 33 percent more craters than scientists predicted. The team compared 14,000 before-and-after photos of the same sites taken by the Lunar Reconnaissance Orbiter in different periods of time and found 222 craters over 33 feet wide that they didn’t expect. They also found 47,000 new splotches, which are splatter-like stains on the satellite’s surface.
Since space rocks crash into the moon more often than we thought, it means that lunar soil also gets kicked up more often. Based on their observation, the researchers now believe that the first inch of the moon’s surface changes every 80,000 years, not every million years. This could impact how we date samples taken from the satellite and could change the plans of anyone who wants to mine resources from the rock in the future. Team leader Emerson Speyerer said, however, that if ever you get the chance to fly to the moon someday, you don’t have to worry about getting crashed to death by a meteorite:
“If you are an astronaut sitting on the surface, you don’t necessarily have to worry about being directly hit by a meteorite, but you would have to worry about all these secondaries (lunar dust and rock getting kicked up after impact), that are coming from kilometres and kilometres away.”
Via: New Scientist
Source: Nature
First season of ‘Hitman’ ends on Halloween, in Japan
The first season of Hitman’s episodic experiment comes to a close on October 31st — no tricks. This final installment takes place in Hokkaido, Japan and according to publisher Square Enix, it’s “the culmination of everything players will have learnt in terms of both gameplay and story.” So hopefully you’ve been paying attention. The mission takes place in a remote compound replete with Zen gardens, an organic sushi restaurant (fingers crossed you can poison the shashimi) and a Japanese hot spring.
If you’re holding out for a physical version, that won’t be out until next January. Earlier this year, the publisher told Polygon that the reason for the gap was to ensure “we have enough time after the season concludes to dedicate to getting the best disc version of the game out.”
Source: Square Enix
Apple’s New Ad Explores the Redesigned Apple Music
Apple today debuted a new ad aimed at exploring some of the new features in the redesigned Apple Music. The full ad functions as a basic overview of the service, letting potential users know what they can expect from it.
The ad is built around the five tabs on the bottom of the app. It starts out showing off that users can build a library of their own music, segueing into Apple Music’s “For You” section. The ad showcases how the service will recommend music users currently love while also introducing them to music they will love.
From there, the ad quickly shows users that they can share playlists and easily add music to their libraries before mentioning that Apple Music receives the newest music from major artists. Finally, the ad moves toward the radio component of Apple Music, letting users know that they can listen to live or on-demand radio shows. It also shows highlights from some of the Beats 1 programming available on Apple Music, including content from Zane Lowe, other DJs and artists.
The new ad is a part of Apple’s campaign to push iOS 10’s redesigned Apple Music. Last month, the company debuted an ad starring “Late Late Show” host and “Carpool Karaoke” producer James Corden pitching commercial ideas for the service.
Tags: Ads, Apple Music
Discuss this article in our forums
Apple’s Tim Cook Meets Nintendo’s Shigeru Miyamoto During Japan Visit
While on a visit to Japan, Apple CEO Tim Cook met with Nintendo’s legendary game designer Shigeru Miyamoto. Earlier this morning, Cook posted a good morning greeting from the county alongside a picture of him walking through torii, traditional Japanese gates that are often posted outside of shrines.
Photo via Tim Cook
Cook tweeted that he was learning how to play the upcoming Super Mario Run as he met with Miyamoto and his team at Nintendo’s Kyoto headquarters. Miyamoto appeared at Apple’s September special event and announced that the new game would appear on iOS by the end of the year.
Nintendo had consistently refused to license its intellectual property to other platforms, fearing that it would threaten its console and handheld-based business model. However, in early 2015 it changed its mind, announcing that it would partner with Japanese mobile game make DeNA to release 5 mobile games by March 2017.
Miyamoto says the Japanese game maker had realized that most children’s first interaction with technology is more likely to be a parent’s smartphone than one of its game consoles. By putting simple games based on its biggest characters, like Mario, on mobile devices the company hopes that it can convince players to migrate over to its first-party hardware for more complex experiences.
In addition to Super Mario Run, Nintendo and DeNA plan to release Animal Crossing and Fire Emblem this fall, though details for the latter two games have been scarce thus far.
Cook’s Japan trip comes shortly after the CEO made a stop in Shenzhen, China, announcing that Apple would be opening a new research and development center in the city. It’s unclear what else Cook has planned during his Japan trip.
Tags: Tim Cook, Nintendo
Discuss this article in our forums
Terahertz radiation could speed up computer memory by 1000 times
One area limiting speed in personal computing speed is memory — specifically, how quickly individual memory cells can be switched, which is currently done using an external magnetic field. European and Russian scientists have proposed a new method using much more rapid terahertz radiation, aka “T-rays,” the same things used in airport body scanners. According to their research, published in the journal Nature, swapping out magnetic fields for T-rays could crank up the rate of the cell-resetting process by a factor of 1000, which could be used to create ultrafast memory.
The radiation is actually a series of short electromagnetic pulses pinging the cells at terahertz frequencies (which have wavelengths of about 0.1 millimeter, lying between microwaves and infrared light, according to the scientists’ press release). Most of the recent T-ray experiments have dealt with quick, precise inspections of organic and mechanical material. Aside from quickly scanning you for contraband and awkward bulges at airports, other proposals have involved using terahertz radiation to look into broken microchip innards, peer into fragile texts and even comb airport luggage for bombs.
But similar to those hypothetical applications, you won’t see T-rays in your PCs any time soon. The scientists have successfully demonstrated the concept on a weak ferromagnet, thulium orthoferrite (TmFeO₃), and even found that the terahertz radiation’s effect was ten times greater than a traditional external magnetic field, meaning the new method is both far faster and more efficient. But the scientists have yet to publish tests on actual computer memory cells, so it’s unknown when, or if, T-rays will buzz around inside your machine.
Source: Nature
What is Amazon Music Unlimited and how does it work?
Amazon has launched its long-rumored on-demand music streaming service.
It’s called Amazon Music Unlimited, and it is meant to take on Spotify and Apple Music and other similar streaming services. Here’s everything you need to know about it, including how much it costs, where it’s available, whether it’s ad-free, how it works, and more.
Amazon
What is Amazon Music Unlimited?
There are two different types of music streaming services: internet radio-like ones that randomly play music for you based on your preferences (example: Pandora), and on-demand ones that let you find and play specific tunes (examples: Spotify and Apple Music). Amazon Music Unlimited is the latter type, but it comes with a number of different things, including a low-cost price, that make it stand out from rivals.
Who can use Amazon Music Unlimited?
Amazon Music Unlimited is available everyone, including Amazon Prime members – but it costs extra on top of the Prime membership fee, which is $99 per year (students can get a price discount). The first 30 days of Prime are free, and you can cancel at any time. As a Prime member, you get free two-day shipping on eligible purchases, unlimited streaming of movies and TV shows with Prime Video, and more.
- Go here to sign up for Amazon Prime
How much does Amazon Music Unlimited cost?
Amazon Music Unlimited is available to Amazon Prime members for $79 per year (or $7.99 per month). That’s cheaper than the $9.99-per-month Apple Music and the $9.99 premium option for Spotify. If you own an Amazon Echo device, you can get the service for just $3.99 per month. Amazon currently offers three different Amazon Echo models (you can read about there differences via Pocket-lint’s comparison guide).
If you’re not a Prime member and don’t own an Echo, you can use Amazon Music Unlimited for $9.99 a month. Amazon also said it will soon offer a $14.99-per-month family plan for up to six family members. That’s the same price as Apple Music’s family plan option.
How do you sign up for Amazon Music Unlimited?
Go to the Amazon Music Unlimited website to get started with the free trial. You will have to sign up using your Amazon login credentials and authorise Amazon to charge your default card or another card on file after your trial ends. Your subscription renews monthly, but you can cancel the renewal at any time by visiting Your Amazon Music Settings. If you use Echo, simply ask Alexa to start your trial to Amazon Music Unlimited.
Amazon
Where is Amazon Music Unlimited available?
Amazon Music Unlimited is now available in the US. It will be available for customers in the UK, Germany, and Austria later this year.
Which devices work with Amazon Music Unlimited?
Amazon Music Unlimited is accessible through the Amazon Music app for Fire devices, iOS devices, and Android devices, as well as Mac and PC. You can also access it through a web player in your browser and through the company’s Echo devices. You can play music through a Sonos Multi-Room system or Roku media streamer, as well. Amazon said select BMW, Ford, and Mini cars are even Amazon Music-enabled.
- Go here to access the Amazon Music Unlimited web player
- Go here to access the Amazon Music Unlimited mobile apps
Amazon
How does Amazon Music Unlimited work?
Ad-free listening
Amazon Music Unlimited is similar to Apple Music and Spotify in that it offers “tens of millions” of songs you can listen to on-demand, ad-free. It also serves up recommendations engine through algorithms and hand-picked playlists, and you can access it via mobile apps and the web. Amazon even redesigned its existing Amazon Music app with support the streaming service and an all-new user interface that focuses on album art.
Ask Alexa
Amazon is pushing the service’s integration with Echo and the Alexa voice assistant. Not only do Echo owners have access to a cheaper version of the service (but it’s only available on one Echo device at a time), they can request songs using just their voices. They can stream a specific song, artist, album, or playlist, and Alexa can even pull up the “latest song” from an artist or play music based on mood, time, activity, etc.
Alexa can also find songs from snippets of lyrics. Although the discounted Echo plan is limited to only one device (you cannot use it on your phone, PC, tablet, or even more than one Echo device), it offers all the same features, including the full music catalogue and recommendations. If Echo owners don’t get Music Unlimited, Amazon’s existing Prime Music service will still be available to them with a library of two million songs.
- Go here to learn more about Amazon’s Prime Music service
Side-by-Side
Amazon Music Unlimited is offering a unique feature called Side-by-Side. It syncs artists’ commentary with racks from the their catalogues. This is how Amazon described the feature:
Amazon Music on Alexa also brings fans and artists closer together with behind-the-scenes artist commentary about their music, called Side-by-Sides. Customers can simply ask, “Alexa, play Side-by-Side with OneRepublic” and Ryan Tedder will play and comment on songs from OneRepublic’s latest album Oh My My. Side-by-Sides are available exclusively on Amazon Music from top artists such as The Chainsmokers, Jason Aldean, Lindsey Stirling, Norah Jones, OneRepublic and Kongos – with more being added all the time.
Want to know more?
Check out Amazon’s promo video above, or visit Pocket-lint’s Amazon hub for more related news.
Facebook triggered a spike in US voter registration
How well do those online voter registration campaigns work, really? Better than you might think. Both officials and the Center for Election Innovation & Research report that Facebook’s four-day voter registration campaign, which sent friendly 17-word reminders starting September 23rd, triggered spikes in registrations across the US. These weren’t just moderate bumps, either. Sign-ups in a given state grew anywhere from double to 23 times what they were on the 22nd, sometimes adding tens of thousands of voters.
Many of the registrants were on the younger side. The New York Times observes that 24 percent of California’s registrations during the period came from 17- to 25-year-olds, and almost 30 percent from 26- to 35-year-olds.
The figures aren’t completely surprising when this election marks the first for a generation of young adults that practically grew up using Facebook. Many of them are not only new to voting, but get a lot of their news from social sites. The real question is whether or not the Facebook campaign will have a meaningful impact on the outcome. That could be difficult to quantify, even in battleground states where a few thousand votes could make all the difference. Still, it’s apparent that Facebook’s get-out-the-vote effort is paying some dividends.
Source: CFEIR, New York Times
Buy a Galaxy Note 7 used? Samsung has your back for an exchange
If you bought a used Galaxy Note 7, Samsung will help you out.
We’ve detailed the process for returning your Galaxy Note 7 if you had purchased through a carrier or retailer, but the phone had been out long enough that there were plenty of used and second-hand phones floating around out there as well. Thankfully you won’t be left out in the cold if you bought a used Note 7: Samsung has a process for you to send in the phone and get a replacement.
Here’s the full statement from Samsung on the situation:
Any customer who bought a Note7 [used] should contact us directly at 1-844-365-6197 to exchange their device. We are working as quickly as possible to make the service experience for our customers as quick and smooth as possible and we are grateful to our Note7 customers for their patience during this time.
So rather than trying to track down the original seller, or go return the phone to a carrier that you didn’t buy it directly from, just go straight to Samsung by calling 1-844-365-6197. The policy stands now as it did from the first hints of a recall back in September: you can turn in your Note 7 to Samsung and get it replaced with a Galaxy S7 or Galaxy S7 edge. Samsung will of course arrange for the return of your Note.
This is the right move from Samsung, for sure, and will help foster a little good will amongst those who bought secondhand phones with no warranty or receipt of sale.
Samsung Galaxy Note 7
- Galaxy Note 7 fires, recall and cancellation: Everything you need to know
- Do not buy a Galaxy Note 7
- Samsung Galaxy Note 7 review
- The latest Galaxy Note 7 news
- Join the Note 7 discussion in the forums!
Daily brief: An Android Experiment in carrier satisfaction
What happened on October 12? You tell me, I was too busy napping.
There’s no question that Google’s decision to go with Verizon as its exclusive U.S. carrier for the Pixel has been divisive, but it’s looking increasingly like the provider understands how passionate people are about the feeling of openness that Google built around its Nexus brand. And we’re happy about that, since there’s nothing worse than a carrier ruining a phone.
And after reporting on another Android Experiment, Paper Planes, I’m glad to see Google maintain its release cadence for these unique and interesting apps. Android was built on quirky experimentation, and I hope the trend continues.
Now, today’s news.
BlackBerry DTEK60 comes up for air again at B&H Photo
According to CrackBerry (hi Bla1ze!), the DTEK60, BlackBerry’s next flagship Android phone sans keyboard, has come and gone from B&H Photo’s website as pre-orders are set to go live any day now. The phone is reportedly based on the TCL 950, which could eventually turn into the Alcatel Idol 4S Pro, but BlackBerry’s version is sure to be security-focused, and relatively affordable at $499. More
Google’s latest Android Experiment is a camera app for VR addicts
Google’s latest Android Experiment is an incredibly neat way to create VR-friendly “photos” that don’t look perfect. It’s weird; you should try it. Dubbed Sprayscape, the app “hacks” the Cardboard SDK by using the phone’s gyroscope to map a camera scene in realtime. It’s fun and easy to share with your friends when you’re done.
Verizon promises it won’t delay Pixel updates
Google and Verizon are going on the offensive in the name of timely Android updates, ensuring customers that they will arrive at the same time as their unlocked, Google-sold counterparts. While we still recommend you buy your phone from Google due to the presence of bloatware and and unlocked bootloader, this is good news for soon-to-be Pixel customers. More
Verizon’s VoLTE and Wi-Fi Calling features will work on unlocked Pixels
On the other side of the coin, Google has confirmed that Pixels purchased unlocked from its online store will work with Verizon’s HD Voice services, which include VoLTE and Wi-Fi Calling.
Huawei’s Mate 9 looks awfully familiar
Not sure I can put my finger on it, but the Huawei Mate 9 — if the leak is accurate — may bear a striking resemblance to a certain 2015 Samsung phone. Huawei’s upcoming flagship is expected to be unveiled in Munich on November 3, and it should usher in the era of not-terrible Huawei software. Can’t wait! More
If you bought a Note 7 used, Samsung has your back
Don’t try to go into a carrier store or contact anyone else — just call up Samsung directly, and it’ll handle an exchange of your Note 7 for a Galaxy S7 or S7 edge. More
Improvements coming to Google Photos
Google has added four new features to the Google Photos service that will help you manage your library and make sure your pictures are orientated correctly. Machine learning is harnessed to help you relive important moments and pick out photos that highlight them best, animations can now be made from videos you’ve taken, and when a picture appears to be sideways or upside-down you’ll have an easy way to correct it. These changes are all done server-side so we don’t have to change anything to see them appear in our Assistant tab. Phew!
HTC Canada knocks $200 off the Red HTC 10
It’s oh-so-red. Now it’s $200 off. The unlocked HTC 10 in red is compatible with Telus, Rogers, Bell, Koodo, Fido, Virgin Mobile, Wind Mobile, Videotron and Sasktel.
Take our survey and win an unlocked Galaxy S7!
Want to win a Galaxy S7? Take our survey about how you think Samsung handled the Note 7 survey!
Have a great evening!
AIVAnet 