The NSA wants to identify phone users by their finger swipes
For the National Security Agency, the fingerprint reader on your smartphone just isn’t secure enough. Lockheed Martin has confirmed to Nextgov that the intelligence outfit is testing Mandrake, an identification system that verifies who you are based on the way you swipe your finger across the screen. The technology measures not only the shape of your movements, but the acceleration and speed. It can tell whether you draw in broad, fast strokes or tend to be cautious. Lockheed doesn’t know whether or not the NSA is deploying Mandrake in the field, but it wouldn’t be shocking. Given that it’s possible to fake fingerprints, gesture-based authentication may the best way of proving that the right person really is present.
Filed under: Cellphones, Software, Mobile
Source: Nextgov
Korg brings its classic M1 synthesizer to the iPad
If you’re fond making classic synth sounds with your iPad, Korg offers quite the library of apps that’ll do just that. As of this week, there’s a new addition: the M1 digital synthesizer and music workstation. The “complete reproduction” of the instrument is available for Apple slates as the iM1 app, and thanks to detailed circuit analysis by its engineers, Korg says the software carries the sound of the original and then some. These are sounds you’ve likely heard from Depeche Mode, The Cure and others. The included effects were bumped from two up to 18 and there’s a Kaoss pad for adjusting audio with swipe — both of which are new items absent on the original M1. If you’re familiar with synthesizers, the Kaoss feature mimics that touch-friendly surface for tweaking sounds found other other synths like the Moog Voyager XL.
The iM1 app also plays nice with MIDI controllers like Korg’s own compact keyboards. You’ll need to be serious about your mobile production habit, though, as the iOS software costs $20/£15. There are a couple of card expansion packs too, which bring tones of the M1EX and T-series synths to the party. Sound too good to pass up? iM1 is available at iTunes now.
Filed under: Misc
Via: Fact Magazine
Source: Korg
Microsoft unveils Cortana voice assistant for Android and iPhone
Yes, it’s official: Microsoft is bringing Windows’ Cortana voice assistant to Android and iPhone. Both platforms will get a dedicated app that, much like you see on Windows Phone today, will let you dictate reminders, track flights and otherwise keep your life organized. Cortana’s Notebook, which remembers what you like, will also sync across all your platforms. This won’t be a one-for-one recreation of what you get right now, though — since Microsoft can’t tap directly into the operating system like it can on Windows devices, you won’t get hands-free activation through “hey Cortana” or options to launch apps or settings. Still, it’ll be worth seeing what this Halo-inspired helper can do when it reaches Android in late June, and iPhones sometime later this year — and we’d add that it’s not the only treat Microsoft has in store for your smartphone, either.
The Redmond crew is also unveiling Phone Companion, a Windows 10 app (due in the OS preview within a few weeks) that helps you sync your Android, iOS or Windows handset with your PC. It’ll mostly entail loading apps for Microsoft’s services if you’re using non-Windows hardware, but it should take the challenge out of accessing your computer’s content when you’re on the road. And yes, this includes music on all platforms. The company is promising an updated version of Xbox Music for Android and iOS that, like on Windows, will stream your OneDrive music for free. This doesn’t arrive in beta form until July, but it’ll be worthwhile if you thrive in Microsoft’s ecosystem.
Filed under: Cellphones, Internet, Software, Mobile, Microsoft
Source: Blogging Windows
Twitter finally launches Periscope for Android
Periscope for Android is here. Twitter’s new streaming app contains many of the same features found in the iOS version, but with a few Android exclusives. In addition to more granular notification controls than found in the iPhone version, there’s a new “return to broadcast” feature that helps get viewers back to a stream after being interrupted by a phone call, text or other pesky distraction.
The notification setting includes the ability to opt in or out of alerts when a followed user goes live, shares a broadcast or when a user gets a new follower. The alert settings are global instead of on an individual user basis. So if you turn off alert for when followed users go live, you won’t be alerted if any of the folks you follow start broadcasting.
The Return to Broadcasts feature places a notification on the Android home screen when viewing a feed is interrupted by a call or other item. When the viewer is done doing what ever it is that stopped them from watching a feed, they tap the alert and the app loads the feed they were previously watching.
The development of the Android app was led by former Secret and Twitter Android lead, Sara Haider. Haider returned to the flock in March and immediately started building the Periscope for Android app. The team had to deal with the usual fragmentation issues that comes with dealing with the multitude of screen sizes out there. “It’s been a jam packed last couple of months,” said Haider. “I dealt with a lot of those challenges on Vine, so I’m not a stranger to them.”
The app supports KitKat 4.4 and later which made development “significantly easier” since it surfaces more of the hardware encoding and video APIs. It also has Material Design elements of Lollipop 5.0 including a dedicated broadcast button instead of a the broadcast tab found in iOS. In fact, on the Android version of the app you can swipe back and forth between tabs.
While the two apps are similar and will continue to work towards parity, Haider said, “we also have the opportunity to do some experiments on both platforms.”
Filed under: Software
Source: Periscope
Side scrolling puzzle adventure title, Epic Eric, headed to the Play Store June 4th
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232 Studios is gearing up to launch a side scrolling one-touch puzzle title called Epic Eric to the Play Store on June th. The title was originally released for iOS back in August of 2014 and has seen some pretty great reviews since then. On launch day Epic Eric will land with 60 levels that will span 8 unique worlds. The basic story line is that you are the Knight Eric and you are out to save the princess. There is a roll reversal side to the story also where you can prance around as Princess Erica and save the troubled knight too.
The title is sitting at $0.99 on iTunes and I expect it to launch on Android for a similar price. It is possible they go with ads or in-app purchases though. When I get more details I will be sure to let you all know.
The post Side scrolling puzzle adventure title, Epic Eric, headed to the Play Store June 4th appeared first on AndroidSPIN.
Android M is known as Macadamia Nut Cookie at Google, probably means nothing for us
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One thing that fascinates Android media websites, including us, just before Google I/O is what the name of the next version of Android is going to be called. With Android Lollipop done and dusted, the focus has turned to Android M, the provisional codename while we work out what dessert Google has in mind. In the meantime, we’ve got a tidbit of information that is saying that Android M is known as Macadamia Nut Cookie internally at Google, or at the very least, “mnc”, though unfortunately that probably means nothing for us.
If history has taught us anything the last few years, Google’s internal codenames never translate into commercial product names – Key Lime Pie ended up being KitKat and Lemon Meringue Pie became Lollipop. So even though references to “mnc” have been spotted in AOSP, that name will almost certainly never see the light of day unless Google decides to play a prank on us at some point. If anything, Google is more likely to cut a deal with Mars Inc. and call their next version of Android, Android Malteaser.
What do you think the official name of Android M is going to be? Let us know your thoughts in the comments below.
Source: Android Police via Phone Arena
The post Android M is known as Macadamia Nut Cookie at Google, probably means nothing for us appeared first on AndroidSPIN.
Skully debuts AR helmet app while navigating delays
Skully CEO Marcus Weller stood in front of an crowd of customers that shelled out $1,500 to be one of the first recipients of the company’s helmet with a heads up display and rear-facing camera to answer their questions. A few weeks ago Weller sent those backers a video message explaining that their helmets would be delayed until the fall. Now he was about to talk to those people face to face to address their concerns and show off the helmet’s companion app for the first time. It’s a talk he’s prepared to give in multiple cities around the world.
It’s hard to point to a crowdfunding campaign that’s shipped on time. Pebble and Oculus Rift were both late. Regardless of the reasons why something is delayed, backers get angry and sometimes those running the campaign disappear behind updates, mass emails and Facebook posts. Weller didn’t do that, he told Engadget, “people online chewed me a new one and rightfully so.”
Weller decided to explain why the Skully was being delayed directly to his customers with a two week world tour traveling to seven cities including New York, Boston, London and Sydney. “You know what, these people backed us. They put $1,500 down a significant amount of time in advance and I want to go meet them. I want to thank them for that.” Weller said. “If they have complaints or are upset about the shipping, I want to address it face-to-face.”
The first event was in San francisco. After answering a bunch of technical questions about the camera, display and battery a backer finally asked the question every had on their mind, “when will it ship?” After the laughter died down, Weller told the room, “I don’t want to tell you something that will make you feel warm and fuzzy.” The helmet will ship to all backers by the end of the year. Weller told Engadget that those shipments will begin in the fall.
Weller says that part of the reason the for the delay is that the company has invested in manufacturing. The helmets will be built in the Flextronics factory in Milpitas in Silicon Valley. But there’s also this desire to make to keep making it better.
The helmet will now get a carbon fiber inlay on the inside to enhance crash protection. Considering the idea of the helmet was born out of an accident, it’s not hard to see why the team is willing to hold off a launch to safeguard the brains of its customers. The finished device will be DOT and ECE (the MotoGP standard) safety certified. “Our helmet is an extremely safe helmet. It vastly surpasses what we need to do from a shock absorption perspective,” said Weller. “When we ship this, it will be the most complex consumer device on the planet.”
Hyperbole aside, the app demoed at the San Francisco event, like the helmet itself, is still a work in progress. It currently syncs routes you’ve saved in the app to the helmet. If a rider finds themselves outside of cell range, the app will continue to offer turn-by-turn directions. It also works with Spotify and will automatically start playing your favorite playlist when you put on the Skully. The app was shown to people while they demoed the helmet and frankly, they didn’t seem to care that much. They were far more interested in the helmet itself and for good reason.
I tried the helmet this week. As a daily rider on the hectic roads of San Francisco, its benefits are immediately apparent. You can see what’s coming up behind you and that’s amazing. But it’s not quite there yet. When you’re riding a motorcycle, for the sake of safety, any additional element you add to that ride needs to be out of beta. It needs to be ready.
Weller and Skully want to be ready. The company wants to launch the safest and most technologically advanced helmet on the planet in the fall. If not, Weller might be back on the road again.
Filed under: Misc, Peripherals, Wearables, Software
Source: Skully
Microsoft tests cloud-based clipboard app that syncs across platforms
This turned out to be quite the week for unannounced Microsoft apps. News of a “light-weight” email solution broke cover a few days ago, and today another pair of productivity apps were tipped. Thanks to @h0x0d on Twitter — the source of the Flow email news — we now know Microsoft is testing a cloud-based (thanks to OneDrive) clipboard tool that syncs across devices and platforms. The app is called OneClip, and though it’s reportedly in internal beta. While it’s available for download in the Windows Store, it’ll only work for employees with the proper accounts. This means that you can copy a phone number on the desktop and have it immediately available on your Windows, iOS or Android phone.
Another productivity app for contacts, Revolve, was tipped by @hoxod as well. This offering keeps tabs on your contacts and calendar to serve up info on the people you’re going to meet. You know, things like if they prefer bourbon or scotch. As we’ve already mentioned, OneClip and Revolve surface on the heels of Flow and apps for document collaboration (Flip) and task management (Highlander) — all within the span of a week. There’s no word on when the suite will arrive, but one thing’s for sure: Microsoft wants to help you be more productive on several fronts.
Microsoft OneClip, the cross-device cloud clipboard for Windows/WindowsPhone/Android/iOS pic.twitter.com/HdlY8iZ6y6
– WalkingCat (@h0x0d) May 22, 2015
Filed under: Software, Mobile, Microsoft
Via: ZDNet
Source: WalkingCat (@h0x0d)
Google’s Project Fi backlogged, invite requests to take until mid-summer to complete
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Gogole’s Project Fi, the pay-as-you-go Wi-Fi/cell service, was officially announced on April 22nd. At that time would be users had to sign-up and keep their fingers crossed for an invite to use the low-cost alternative. No doubt many of you pushed your details through hoping for a chance to give it a shot. I know I have seen a few people I follow on G+ get in, while many more are checking every email notification intently. It now looks like you can save some battery life, quite refreshing your email account and making sure it didn’t hit the spam folder for some odd reason.
The above image is an email I received last night from Google in regards to my Project Fi submission. As you can see, they are projecting a mid-summer completion. While that is some sad news, there is a small light at the end of the tunnel. They also mentioned that they will be launching a way for you to check on your Project Fi status invite. I am assuming they will list out something like your current position on the list so you can watch the count down. Hopefully it isn’t just a page that say “processing”. That would be irritating.
How many of you that signed up on announcement day already have your invite in?
The post Google’s Project Fi backlogged, invite requests to take until mid-summer to complete appeared first on AndroidSPIN.
Android M might have its own fingerprint login system
Android is getting a TouchID-style system of its own with Android M, according to Buzzfeed‘s sources. Apparently it’ll act a lot like the iOS tool too, bypassing passwords for associated apps in favor of reading your fingerprint. Given that I/O is practically right around the corner (next week!) it shouldn’t be long before this all gets confirmed — Google hasn’t responded to our request for comment just yet.
[Image credit: Getty Images]
Filed under: Cellphones, Software, Mobile, Google
Source: Buzzfeed
AIVAnet 