Droid Bionic soak test coming; probably won’t be Ice Cream Sandwich
Word around the inter webs says that Motorola is prepping a soak test for an upcoming update to the Droid Bionic. But don’t go jumping around just yet, as we do not yet know if this is a minor update or not.
While we surely hope that this update is somehow related to Android 4.0, it just somehow seems unlikely. As our friends from Droid-Life mentioned, it is very likely that the Droid RAZR will see an Ice Cream Sandwich update before any other Motorola device. This is not something that we are sure of, though.
This soak test could also be related to an update that was being tested last month, which includes very minor fixes. For now, let’s just sit tight and wait for more details to show up.
[Via Droid-Life]
Google hires Apple Senior Director for “secret project”
While Eric Schmidt and Steve Jobs may have had a “no poaching” agreement before, it seems like it is no longer in place. According to Venture Beat, Google has just hired Simon Prakash, Apple Senior Director of product integrity.
Prakash worked with Apple for eight years, and most recently was in charge of quality control for all Apple products. We do not yet know what Simon will be bringing to the table, though, or if it will be related to Android. Google has hired him to work in a “secret project.”
It is said that this “secret project” is ran by Google co-founder Sergey Brin. Sergey has worked with Google on multiple secret projects. With Android being one of the main products for Google, though, we hope this man can work on something related to our favorite mobile OS.
Apple is very well known for product quality, probably making Simon a great asset to the company. Who knows, he might be getting involved in the Nexus program.
Either way, the Department of Justice is investigating both companies, since it seems they might have agreed on not “poaching” each other’s employees (along with other companies). We will have to wait and see how things work out, and what this “secret project” is all about.
We love speculation, though. So hit the comments! What do you guys think this project is all about?
[Source: Venture Beat Via: The Verge]
Aviary gives you yet another photo-editing option
There are dozens of photo-editing options available in the Android Market (I probably have 7-8 installed in my phone). So when I learnt of Aviary releasing an Android version of their app, I wasn’t too interested in checking it out.
I’ve only used it to edit one picture so far, and I’ll come back to share a proper opinion about it after some serious usage. But I felt it deserved some attention over the weekend. So here are my earlier impressions.
The first thing to note is that it isn’t really an app – it’s a plugin. This is the reason why you won’t find it in your app tray.
So, how do you use it? As you browse your photos in your gallery app, choose the image you want to edit, click share and choose Aviary from the options available.The image is now open in the app, from where you can edit using an interface that isn’t very different from competing applications.
The approach is interesting. And I believe it’s the right way to go about it, considering it allows you to quickly jump to the image editor as you browse your photos.
The UI is a beauty, too. There are quite a few filters available in the free version. However, the lack of options to share the image (once fully edited) from the app itself is disappointing. Once you finish, you’re taken back to the gallery with your edited image in focus. All it needs is another tap on “share” to pass it on from there, but the option should be available in the app, itself.
Maybe I’m nitpicking, but I’m hoping they have it planned in their update. To click share once, edit the app, and require another click on share doesn’t seem right to me.
Find those pesky Ad-pushing apps with Lookout
I never use ad-blocks. Not on my phone, or my computer. I completely understand that a developer has put in a ton of effort to create something that I’m using for free, and the least I can do is let them try to make money through advertisements.
But I have one golden rule: Keep those ads out of my notifications. I don’t care how good the app is, if you do that, I am going to uninstall you and give you a 1-star rating.
Only problem is, it can at times get extremely difficult to realize which app, in particular, is sending those notifications. Especially after downloading a substantial amount of them. Luckily enough, Lookout has us covered with their new Push Ad Detector.
The process is quite simple – just install the Detector and run a scan. It’ll give you a list of which apps use push-ad networks. the service also lists the networks used and helps you opt-out of these networks.
However, I don’t opt-out of them. I simply uninstall them. I’m not going to give a service private information, such as my IMEI, to stop them from spamming me.
Could Google’s new Privacy Policy have something to do with Majel?
DISCLAIMER: This bit of news is based from a post on the forums over at The Verge. It is based entirely on rumors. But it just seems worth sharing.
December of 2011 was a very exciting month for Android – No, not because of the availability of the Galaxy Nexus, or the roll-out of Ice Cream Sandwich. Rather, the rumors of a secret project inside of the secret Google X lab, called Majel: a voice-action technology said to be far more advanced than anything we’ve seen so far.
If a post on Reddit by an alleged former Google employee is to be believed, the artificial intelligence behind Majel is so powerful, that it passes the Turing Test (which rates a machine’s capability to exhibit intelligent behavior) 93% of the time. But to make it work accurately at a personal level, it needs a great degree of data.
Where is this data available? Why, with Google of course! Only issue was, Google’s individual services kept their data about a user independent from other services. As is suggested in the forum post on The Verge, this posed as a hindrance for Majel. It would require the provision of permission to Majel explicitly by the user for each and every service.
Now, I’m not going to say this is the only reason behind the new policy. I was honestly surprised that Google hadn’t brought the personal data together earlier, itself. For a company that makes its revenues by an understanding of our nature and our needs, it seemed foolish to have the data separate for so long.
Yet, despite spending quite some time thinking, I couldn’t come up with any current Google service that would benefit from the new policy to the degree Majel would. Maybe Google has something else up its sleeve. I might help them improve their search algorithm or ads.
But I’d like to dream that it’s about Majel. I personally can’t wait to have such technology available soon.
Sony’s ModNation Racers on PS Vita already on sale at Walmart
You won’t be able to do anything with it for nearly three weeks, but if you feel so inclined you might be able to go down to your local Walmart and pick up a PlayStation Vita game. There are reports of the launch title ModNation Racers: Road Trip already being stocked on the shelves of the discount retailer. Unfortunately, you shouldn’t count on being able to find an actual Vita until it goes on sale on February 22.
This isn’t necessarily retailer error, though with Walmart we wouldn’t automatically give them the benefit of the doubt. It’s possible Sony didn’t put an embargo on the game because giving out early units isn’t that big of a threat (you still need the Vita before you can play it). Or perhaps it’s a way to grab some early sales from customers who would otherwise have had no interest in ModNation Racers but jump are too anxious for their Vita to turn away an early copy.
A third possibility is that the early copies are only available to Walmart. Game publishers have been known to give special bonuses or perks to the world’s biggest retailer because it is such an important part of any game company’s bottom line. In any event, it doesn’t really matter *why* it’s there, just that it is there. So if you absolutely positively need to hold something Vita-related in your hand before February 22, head down to Wally World.
[via Kotaku]
Sony’s ModNation Racers on PS Vita already on sale at Walmart is written by Mark Raby & originally posted on SlashGear.
© 2005 - 2012, SlashGear. All right reserved.
The Pirate Bay makes good on 3D pirated content
The Pirate Bay is literally taking digital piracy to the next dimension, and the process has already begun. The online downloading company told users last month that in addition to the requisite slate of movies, music, and TV show content it offered through means of copyright infringement, it wanted to add files that could be used for 3D printers. So in essence, users are now able to swap physical products in addition to digital products, without recognizing the original owner of the content.
The first item available through The Pirate Bay’s 3D printable content section, known as “Physibles,” is the iconic pirate ship that serves as Pirate Bay’s logo. There have already been several downloads of the file, and users have actually uploaded it to 3D printing websites to get their own piece of pirating history. Of course, while the file of the pirate ship is free, users still need to pay for the cost of 3D printing.
For the most part, 3D printers are still not marketed for home use and costs thousands of dollars. Instead, the market is such that users can send a file to a company that offers to turn that digital file into a physical product. These companies generally charge around $100+ for simple requests, most of which is for the cost of the material. So it’s still kind of expensive in the world of piracy, where everything is supposed to be free, but this will change as 3D printing grows and becomes more accessible, and The Pirate Bay will have hit the ground running.
[via TorrentFreak]
The Pirate Bay makes good on 3D pirated content is written by Mark Raby & originally posted on SlashGear.
© 2005 - 2012, SlashGear. All right reserved.
Drugs are addictive? Try social networks
A recent Chicago University study is proving that people are more likely to resist their desire to consume alcohol, coffee and tobacco, than to resist their desire to check social media.
Not only that, but according to the study, people are more likely to give in to social media urges than to sexual and sleeping urges, as well as spending and sports. Basically, the only one that was harder to resist was the urge to work.
The results to this study have a good explanation, though. Social networks/media are not expensive, are very accessible and available, and do not harm your health (most of the time). As Wilhelm Hofmann (study leader) mentions, there is no direct downside to social media use. Smokers and drinkers has reasons to want to stop – both health-wise and financial. But most of the time, there is no direct downside to checking Twitter, Facebook or your e-mail. And it only takes a minute.
I have to say, though, the fact that some of the other urges can be more controlled than social networks is surprising. Urges like sleeping and sex are part of our biology. Not only a habit, but inscribed into our very core and DNA. The study states that while these urges were much stronger, people were much more able to control them.
If you want to learn more about the study, you should wait for the full research paper to be published soon. It will be featured in Psychological Science.
Let us know what you think. Are you ready for Social Networkers Anonymous?
[Source: The Guardian Via: The Verge]
Video: The future in the eyes of Corning (Part 2)
Corning has gained immense popularity among Android users. Their fortified glass keeps many of our devices’ screen scratch-less. Surely, you have seen those beat up devices with perfect screens. Well, Corning is not stopping there. In fact, they see great things for the future of glass use in technology.
It is always fun to see how companies envision the future of technology. You may recall the video “A Day Made of Glass,” which was released last year. This video is its continuation, and is named “A Day Made of Glass 2: Same Day.”
The video displays how technology will improve our lives. From entertainment to the classroom or office, companies envision us doing things that we currently only see in sci-fi movies. But we guess the day is not too far, right? We did see the Samsung Smart Window at CES, which was quite unbelievable, as well.
We will go ahead and post both videos below. So check the first one, as well, if you haven’t yet. Enjoy!
[Via Engadget]
A few fun facts from Staples’ new tablet infographic
Staples has just released a brand new infographic on tablets, filling our weekend with a bit of fun facts. Many of us have tablets, and many of us love our tablets, but how do we interact with our tablets on a daily basis?
According to Staples, the average tablet user uses these devices for about 90 minutes a day, and that most users own 10″ devices. And whether you are in the road (88.3%) or sitting in the throne (35%), tablets seem to be improving our experience greatly.
80% of tablet users mentioned that tablets have improved their work life. Also, it seems like many of us are switching to electronic books, since about 25% of the surveyed users are reading less printed material, as compared to before. And that makes sense, purchasing a tablet might be more convenient than purchasing an e-book reader. Tablets have much more functionality, so you hit two birds with one stone.
It is also mentioned that there will be about 82.1 million tablet users by 2015, which makes for a rather impressive number. As we know, tablets are currently taking over, even threatening the PC market (depending on your personal needs). And with the average user purchasing about $34 in apps (per year?), the Android market should be getting that much better.
Check out the infographic and let us know how you relate to these statistics. Are most of these statements true, in your experience?
[Source: Staples Via:Droid-Life]