Google and Mattel reinvent the View-Master and turn it into a VR headset filled with wonder
If you are an 80’s kid they you are probably very familiar with the View-Master. While it is much older than that with its first show of sorts appearing at the 1939 New York’s World Fair. The history of the product is pretty interesting and rather exciting to know it got its start in Portland Oregon. […]
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Watch Google’s Android Chorus bring 300 devices together in tinny harmony
In the hope of drawing attention to its Androidify app (and the fact that you’ve been able to make your own for almost four years now), Google programmed 300 devices (and their Android character) to ‘sing’ (and flail the limbs around, roughly in time, in the middle of a classy shopping center in upscale Omotesando, Tokyo, Japan. Like a bonafide real chorus, the devices were separated out into parts, though we could also pick out a smattering of beatboxing droids too. If you have entirely not enough pride, you could even take a turn as a conductor, with a gesture sensor conveying your hand movements to your Google singing group. For such overtly public shaming, you were rewarded with a free Android t-shirt. The performances will continue through this Valentine Day weekend, and it will all sound a little something like this:
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Filed under: Cellphones, Tablets, Software, Mobile, Google
Source: Google Japan (Japanese)
Amazon handing out over $140 in apps in a “Free app of the day bundle”
Looking to save yourself a ton of cash and get your hands on a ton of apps all at the same time? Well, Amazon is doing just that yet again. In the spirit of sharing the love for Valentine’s Day, at least that is what I assume they are doing this for, Amazon is offering […]
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ESPN is getting a brand-wide makeover, starting with its iOS app
Up until now, ESPN has had two separate apps on iOS for news and scores, one designed for iPhone (SportsCenter) and another for iPad (ScoreCenter). Well, starting today, that’s about to change. The Worldwide Leader in Sports announced that it is, finally, unifying its apps on Apple’s platform, mashing them into a single application that’ll be dubbed simply as “ESPN.” The newly consolidated app doesn’t just bring a rebranding, however — it’s also completely redesigned and developed to take advantage of iOS 8, which you’ll need to have on your device in order to download it. As such, you can expect the ESPN app to support the bigger, higher-res screens of the iPhone 6 and iPhone 6 Plus, a feature that’s been long overdue.
Aside from that, the home screen now shows you more content that you want to see, namely from sports and teams that you follow closely, while the new article viewer does a great job at putting images and videos front and center. On the iPad, ESPN’s app takes advantage of the larger display by letting you view the three main tabs — Favorites, News and Now — all at once, making sure that you don’t miss a beat in what’s happening across the sports bubble. One of the best things about the iPad version of the app is the icon carousel on the bottom right corner, which gives you quick access to your favorite teams with a simple tap — even better, it does so by letting you click on the logos for each, and you can swipe across to see more teams that you’ve added to your list.
The app’s rebranding is also making its way to Android today, but the aforementioned features will have to wait, unfortunately. ESPN says an overhauled app is coming to Google’s mobile OS in “a few months,” adding that it will be “miles better” than the current version. Similarly, as it prepares to celebrate its 20th anniversary in April, ESPN.com is set to get redesigned too, following a similar design scheme to that of the the new iOS app and a fully responsive website that’ll adjust its content for any screen, desktop or mobile.
“We are trying to bring these experiences together in a package that’s personalized,” says John Kosner, ESPN’s executive vice president of digital and print media. “The ambition here is really global. We want the same look and feel rolling out over the next 12 to 18 months.” ESPN’s iOS app is expected to roll out today, so keep an eye out for it.
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[Image credits: ESPN]
Filed under: Home Entertainment, Internet, Software, HD, Mobile
Heads-up: Apple will pull Aperture once Photos arrives
If you’re determined to snag Aperture before Apple rides it into the sunset, you’d better do it quickly. Cupertino is now warning photo editing mavens that it’s pulling Aperture from the Mac App Store once Photos is available this spring. You should still have the option of restoring your Aperture copy if you lose it, but there won’t be a way to buy it if you decide that neither Photos nor Adobe Lightroom are your cups of tea. While the cutoff isn’t all that shocking given Apple’s historical eagerness to ditch older software as new versions roll out, it’s not cheerful news if you were hoping that Aperture would stick around for a little while longer.
Via: MacGeneration (translated), MacRumors
Source: Apple
YouTube experiments with new non-stop music with YouTube Radio
Looks like YouTube is continuing its evolving nature and with a new experiment into YouTube Radio. This expands on the current YouTube Mix and YouTube Music Key. YouTube Mix is the nifty little playlist function that creates a mix of music videos based on the video that is currently playing. It is pretty cool and […]
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Police are using software to predict where crime will happen
Police are unlikely to ever have a Minority Report-like ability to get inside would-be criminals’ heads, but they may already have the next-best thing. Developers like PredPol are offering “predictive policing” software that tells cops where and when crimes are likely to happen based on the location, the nature of the crime and the time of day. The software knows that there’s a good chance that a burglary or gang slaying will lead to similar activity in a given area, or that you’ll see drunken fights outside of a dive bar in the early morning. Theoretically, police just have to patrol these areas more often to stop crime before it starts.
There are some signs that the strategy may be working; as Forbes notes, early results in cities like Atlanta, Los Angeles and Santa Cruz saw both reduced crime rates and better prediction compared to conventional analysts. However, the jury’s still out. Without more extensive studies, it’s hard to know whether the drops are directly related to predictive software or can be chalked up to other factors, such as crooks moving to other areas. Also, the tools could tempt police departments into leaning too much on code instead of understanding neighborhoods and tackling deep-seated problems. If the software is both proven effective and used wisely, though, it could cut back on unnecessary tragedies and familiarize rookie cops with known trouble spots.
Filed under: Software
Android 5.0.1 for the Samsung Galaxy Note 4 has rolled out in Poland
Many of Samsung‘s latest software builds are first released in Poland before they are rolled out around the world, so it is that Android 5.0.1 for the Samsung Galaxy Note 4 has just been rolled out in Poland. There’s actually probably not much about it that will surprise us considering that we have seen the new […]
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Android 5.0 Lollipop rolling out for AT&T LG G3
Typically Wednesdays are reserved for Google app updates, but it would appear a number of devices are seeing updates today that brings Android 5.0 Lollipop to users. AT&T is in the process of shipping out the update to the LG G3 through typical FOTA updates. The update will come through carrying Android 5.0.1 with a […]
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2014 Motorola Moto X getting Android 5.0 Lollipop update on US Cellular
Moments ago I shared that Lollipop is rolling out for the LG G3 on AT&T. Following suit today is an update to Android 5.0 Lollipop for the Moto X (2nd Gen, 2014) on US Cellular. The update is reportedly going out now in a staged roll out fashion and not everyone will have it appearing […]
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