Fitbit will keep Pebble’s services running through 2017
Fitbit might no longer sell Pebble’s devices, but it won’t brick the smartwatches the smaller company already sold. In a blog post today, Pebble developer Jon Barlow has assured fans that Fitbit will keep their e-paper smartwatches running through 2017. Pebble’s apps, app store, firmware and API, among other services, will remain accessible next year. While it sounds like Fitbit will no longer support those services after that, Barlow and his team are already taking steps to make sure they’ll still work in 2018.
Pebble’s developers are tweaking the system’s mobile apps so they can function even if their cloud services are discontinued. They’re planning to release updates in the coming months that’ll allow those apps to work on their own, just like Pebble Health, which isn’t dependent on the cloud. Unfortunately, Barlow can’t say how long the company can keep dictation, messaging, weather and other features dependent on third-party services active. But independent developers are already joining forces in an effort to keep Pebble devices working, so they might serve their owners beyond next year.
Source: Pebble
‘Dishonored 2’ has a good reason to play its New Game Plus mode
If, like me, you’re already deep into the intricate world of Dishonored 2, be prepared to keep playing for a while. Bethesda just revealed that the title’s first free update will include a “New Game Plus” mode, which will give you full access to the skills from its two heroes, Emily and Corvo. Up until now, each character could only use abilities within their specific skill trees. In a New Game Plus playthrough, which is unlocked after beating the game, you’ll be able to use Emily’s “Mesmerize” to stun an enemy and then follow it up with Corvo’s ability to summon man-eating rats. You know, as one does in the Empire of the Isles.
Additionally, playing through Dishonored 2 with New Game Plus will let you carry over the Runes and Bonecharms you’ve already collected. And yes, you’ll be able to re-assign Runes as you see fit. The game’s first update will be released on December 19th for PC, Xbox One and PlayStation 4, and PC users can test out a beta version starting today.
If you’re wondering what’s next for Dishonored 2, Bethesda also announced that its second major update will land in January and will let you choose specific missions (which is useful for gathering all those collectibles you’ve missed), as well as fine-tune the game’s difficulty.
Via: Gamesradar
Source: Bethesda
Apple will pay out $2 million to California retail employees
A long-running class action lawsuit between Apple and employees of its retail stores in California came to a quick conclusion today. The lawsuit was originally filed in 2011 by four former employees but expanded in 2014 to include around 20,000 Apple retail employees in California. The suit alleged that Apple failed to give employees adequate breaks, failed to pay wages in a timely manner after employees left the company and failed to provide accurate wage statements. The case finally went to court in San Diego back in October, and as Apple Insider reports today a jury has now ordered Apple to pay out $2 million in restitution.
The settlement works out to about $95 per employee included in the class, and $2 million is a tiny fraction of the $42.4 billion Apple pulled in during Q3 alone. For its part, Apple claimed it has offered adequate breaks in accordance with California Labor Code for years before the lawsuit was filed. The company has not yet commented on today’s settlement, but the employees who were denied breaks while helping customers pick out new iPhones and iPhones will see their cash as soon as the lawyers get their cut.
Source: Apple Insider
‘1979 Revolution’ lands on Android
1979 Revolution: Black Friday is a powerful adventure game about a photojournalist, Reza, who gets tangled up in the movement to overthrow the Shah of Iran around 1979. And now, the complete game is on Android. 1979 Revolution hit Google Play today for Android devices, following its launch on PC, Mac and iOS earlier this year.
1979 Revolution is all about the decisions that players make during the revolution, and at times it feels more like a documentary than a game. It’s infused with true stories and real photos of the Iranian Revolution, as collected by creator and iNK Stories founder Navid Khonsari. Khonsari lived in Iran until he was 11, and his home videos and personal experiences are scattered throughout the game.
As a former Grand Theft Auto developer, Khonsari is well aware of the impact that video games can have on broader society, he told Engadget in October.
“I’m not saying games can provide world peace because there’s a lot of other parts that need to move, but they can actually start a conversation that goes beyond the single dimension of how countries, regions, people, politics and conflicts are being portrayed in single, five-minute news pieces that generalize an entire nation or group of people,” he said.
The United Nations agrees with Khonsari. The UN Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization highlighted 1979 Revolution in a November paper about the ways video games can support peace education and conflict resolution.
“1979 Revolution: Black Friday is a distinctive example of how a digital game can explore the complex and ambiguous ethical dilemmas faced by individuals in a historically and culturally accurate zone of conflict,” the paper reads.
Iranian authorities banned the sale of 1979 Revolution in the country, claiming it is an “anti-Iranian” game. In response to the ban, iNK Stories translated the entire experience into Farsi. It’s now available in seven languages — English, Spanish, Russian, German, French, Turkish and Farsi — and all of these languages are accessible in the Android version.
Source: Google Play
This Harman Kardon speaker packs Microsoft’s Cortana
The first speaker with Cortana built-in is almost here.
Last week, Microsoft hinted it wanted to compete with devices like Google Home and Amazon Echo, both of which are always-listening, connected speakers packing their own voice assistants. Although Microsoft hadn’t announced any devices, nor are the company’s device partners, it suggested it was ready to allow Cortana to go up against Google’s Assistant and Amazon’s Alexa.
Now, Harman Kardon has revealed it’ll be the first third-party device maker to add Cortana, which is Microsoft’s version of a voice assistant, to a speaker. It published a video to tease the audio hardware, which is launching sometime next year. In a 30-second clip, it’s obvious that the upcoming speaker looks like Amazon Echo, though it appears to feature a display at the top. Keep in mind Amazon is rumoured to be working on a a new Echo device with a display, as well, though there’s been no sign on when we can expect that to debut.
It appears as though the display on Harman Kardon’s speaker will provide access to Cortana’s user interface. Microsoft has been explaining lately that it wants to put Cortana on devices with screens, including Internet of Things (IoT) gadgets like smart toasters and thermostats.
So, this speaker should be the first of many products designed to showcase Cortana, but we don’t yet know pricing or availability.
California tells Uber to get a permit for its self-driving cars
You know how Uber was certain that its San Francisco self-driving car test was legal, and didn’t need a permit? It might want to rethink that assessment. California’s Department of Motor Vehicles tells Uber that it must get a permit to try out its autonomous ridesharing vehicles on state roads, just as 20 other companies have done. And the agency isn’t asking nicely. In a letter to Uber, the DMV warns that the firm “must cease” the San Francisco operation and apply for a permit if it wants to avoid “legal action.”
We’ve reached out to Uber for comment and will let you know what it says. However, it previously argued that having a driver ready to take over meant that it didn’t require a permit. That’s supposedly only for cars that are completely capable of driving themselves, which isn’t true here. However, it might not be reading the law correctly. As University of South Carolina law professor Bryant Walker Smith explains to the AP, Uber may be obeying the letter of the law but not the spirit — permits were intended as a “gateway” to public launches, and might be necessary regardless.
As it stands, the state may have solid evidence of why it’s so cautious. Mere hours after the test went live, Charles Rotter posted video of a self-driving Uber clearly running a red light. While there were no dire consequences, and Uber states that it was due to “human error” in a vehicle that wasn’t part of the pilot, there’s no guarantee that the next incident won’t be the fault of the car or won’t be as harmless. A permit isn’t a surefire way of preventing accidents, but it would reassure officials that Uber isn’t taking any dangerous shortcuts. In the meantime, you can read Uber’s full statement on the red light incident below.
“This incident was due to human error. This is why we believe so much in making the roads safer by building self-driving Ubers. This vehicle was not part of the pilot and was not carrying customers. The driver involved has been suspended while we continue to investigate.”
Via: AP
Source: California DMV
Twitter wasn’t at Trump’s tech summit because it’s ‘too small’
President-elect Donald Trump held a summit today with leaders from the tech industry, but there was a key omission: Twitter. Reuters reports the meeting included Amazon CEO Jeff Bezos, Tesla and SpaceX’s Elon Musk, Apple CEO Tim Cook, Facebook COO Sheryl Sandberg and Microsoft CEO Satya Nadella among others. Not at the table? Twitter CEO Jack Dorsey. The transition team’s official reasoning is that “the conference table was only so big” and that with a $13.85 billion market capitalization, Twitter was “too small” to invite.
But one of Reuters’ sources claims otherwise, saying it was a retaliation for the microblogging service’s refusal to allow a sponsored hashtag for #crookedhillary during the first two presidential debates — a decision that apparently came down from Dorsey himself. Twitter’s reasoning was that is might mislead users who wouldn’t be able to tell if the campaign had paid for the emoji (a bag of money with wings) that would automatically append the hashtagged tweets.
Given Trump’s love of the platform as a communications tool, a way to delete things he’s said prior, and his 17.3 million followers’ adoration of using it for abuse, Twitter’s absence raised a few eyebrows. We’ve reached out to the company for more information and will update this post should it arrive.
Source: Reuters
Wear some Android and Chill this holiday!
Wear some Android and Chill, and celebrate all things comfortable!
Whether it’s a t-shirt, sweatshirt, hoodie or mug, we’re celebrating all things Android and Chill here at AC. It’s cold in many parts of the world right now, so what better way is there to get comfy than adorning your favorite piece of Android apparel and cozying up to a show on Netflix?
That’s right, for a limited time, grab some Android and Chill and wear it proudly!
See at Teespring
Or, if that’s not what you’re into, check out AC’s entire lineup of apparel, some holiday-themed and some just generally awesome, for some other ideas!
How to watch porn on Google Daydream [NSFW]
Watching porn on Google Daydream doesn’t take much at all.
Porn in VR is popular for plenty of different reasons, not the least of which is being able to experience your adult entertainment in an immersive way that puts you in the middle of the action. If you’re new to VR, or you’ve just picked up that awesome new Google Daydream headset, you may be wondering how it is you actually get to watch porn. After all, it isn’t as though you can search for it in the Play Store.
Well, have no fear, we’ve got all the details for accessing porn on your Daydream headset.
Read More at VR Heads!
OnVocal is bringing Amazon Alexa to your phone in January
Why leave your digital assistant in just a speaker at home? Bring it with you.
Amazon’s Alexa voice assistant technology can be found in several different Echo products, Fire tablets and hotel rooms. Coming in January, you can add your phone to that list for $400.
OnVocal has announced its wireless headset today that not only does the things any other Bluetooth headset can do through Assistant or Siri when paired with your phone but also brings the power of Amazon’s Alexa through your phone’s Wi-Fi or LTE connection. The video demonstration (see it in the link below) shows a wide array of smart Alexa skills like closing the garage door, listening to Amazon Music and ordering a pizza from Domino’s.
OnVocal has the OV headset up for pre-order right now in black for $399. It’s currently for U.S. residents only, and shipments begin on January 10 of next year.
For folks who prefer Alexa to Google Assistant, this could be what you’ve been looking for.
See more at OnVocal.com
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