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Thứ Tư, 15 tháng 7, 2015

Moto G (2015) to come with 2GB option and MotoMaker customization

The Moto G never ceases to amaze us. Ever since its birth back in 2013, the affordable handset has been pushing the envelope on what can be achieved within a tight budget. The original model was among the first devices that proved an Android phone doesn’t need to break the bank to work fluently.
The second generation brought even more goodies to the table, while still preserving the attractive price tag. Now that industry sources hint of a third installment heading our way, all eyes are on Motorola and expectations are clear - cram even more value in the Moto G (2015).

Today brings the latest in a long line of leaks about the phone and this one might be the most-exciting yet. Allegedly, the Moto G (2015) will feature a 2GB RAM variant, as well as the traditional 1GB. This could potentially be big news, especially if the markup is reasonable enough.

The other new piece of info is that the new Moto G might be the first of the series to be eligible for MotoMaker customization. If you are not familiar with the program - it is basically a customization hub in which you can customize your device, before ordering it form Motorola.

Possibilities vary from device to device and it appears that the Moto G will be eligible for a wide array of colorful back plate options, as well as some color accent customizations. However, button modifications are said to be unavailable. The aforementioned RAM as well as DTV options might also be part of the program.

Bear in mind that even if the Moto G makes it into the MotoMaker, it will only be available on select markets.

Source

Thứ Ba, 14 tháng 7, 2015

Facebook might be working on a human-powered virtual assistant

Facebook is reportedly working on its own virtual assistant project that will work via Messenger.

The virtual assistant, which is apparently internally named 'Moneypenny' (yes, from the James Bond films), will be powered by humans, unlike virtual assistants like Microsoft's Cortana, Apple's Siri and Amazon's Alexa, according to The Information, .

It's not been made clear exactly what kind of features Moneypenny will have, but it's said it will allow users "to ask real people for help researching and ordering products and services, among other tasks."

The report cites three sources briefed about Moneypenny, and they say that the new feature is being tested internally by employees. The whole thing is said to work via Facebook's Messenger app.

This is another rumor to spring up recently surrounding new projects that Facebook may be working on. With no confirmations or announcements, we'll just have to wait and see if Moneypenny will end up being a real human-powered virtual assistant that Facebook releases.

Luckily, if Moneypenny is real, you won't need Facebook to use Messenger

Google is bringing back Map Maker edits, but it wants you to behave

Google plans to enlist the help of volunteer moderators
A few months ago, Google was having some problems with vandalism on its Maps getting through the Map Maker auto-approval process
"We have been experiencing escalated attacks to spam Google Maps over the past few months," Pavithra Kanakarajan, Google product manager, had said at the time.

It led to the search giant turning off the custom map editing feature, or Map Maker, back in May, but it has now announced that Google will reopen it in August.

A call for help

In a post on Google's product forum page, Kanakarajan explained that as they open up Map Maker again, their new method of capturing vandals will be the use of volunteer moderators.

"The reason for this change is that every time we observed someone attempting to vandalize the map, many of you acted quickly to remove the offending feature and demonstrated real ownership for maps within your region," she said.

"We have come to the conclusion that of all the defenses available to keeping our maps clean, the interest of a community of well-intentioned users, is among the most reliable and fast."

With the new system, edits will take longer to be approved, as regional Leads will be in charge of approving the majority of edits in their region, while Google's own moderators will jump in occasionally.

Google is hoping this will help will their vandalism issue, but only time will tell.

How to take a screenshot on an Android device

Capture those moments that are too important (or too silly) to forget
An increasing amount of people are using their Android smartphones and tablets in place of, or at least as a capable supplement to, their laptops or desktop PCs. As the Android platform continues to receive several desktop-grade applications and functionality, it's easy to see why.

One of the cooler, more understated functions packed into Android devices is the ability to take a screenshot of its display. The process, while simple, isn't the same across every Android smartphone or tablet. For instance, the button combination on an HTC One M9 differs slightly from taking a screenshot of the screen of a Samsung Galaxy S6. Regardless of which Android phone you have, we'll break down all the different ways you can capture a screenshot.

How to screenshot on Android phones and tablets

When you have the content you'd like to capture within the frame of the display, press and hold the Power button first and then press the volume down button. Make sure not to release your finger from the Power button before you push the volume down button, or else your screen might shut off. If you've done this correctly, you'll see a brief flash indicating that the photo has been saved to your photo gallery. The HTC One that I'm using shows the saved photo in a miniature frame to indicate a successful screen capture. Your phone or tablet could do something totally different.

Take a snapshot by holding down power and pressing the volume down button

This button combination might not work for every phone out there, so don't fret if nothing is happening at this point.

Some phones or tablets require a slightly different combination of button presses to trigger a screen capture. If the above steps didn't work, try holding down the Power button first and then tap the home button on the screen. Whether the home button on your device is capacitive, meaning touch sensitive, or a physical button, this will work like a charm. This shortcut even works on Android devices that can snap photos with the Power + volume down button combo.

Press and hold power, then give the home button a tap

This function is perfect if you want to take a screen capture of Snapchat, or if you want to show your friends the high score you achieved in a game. For all matters serious or just for fun, commit these shortcuts to memory.

Reddit to host AMA about its policy on offensive posts

Reddit has been a bit of a mess lately. With the firing of a popular employee Victoria Taylor, unpaid moderators shutting down subreddits, and interim CEO Ellen Pao "leaving" and being replaced by co-founder Steve Huffman, it's not exactly business as usual at the self-proclaimed "front page of the internet." Now the company is trying to figure out how to deal with some of the more horrible portions of the site with an AMA set for July 16th at 4PM ET. In the announcement about the upcoming event co-founder Steve Huffman talked about some of the more loathsome portions of the site, "there is also a dark side, communities whose purpose is reprehensible, and we don't have any obligation to support them. And we also believe that some communities currently on the platform should not be here at all." Considering how touchy the community can be when faced with changes, this should be interesting.

Google's Eddystone serves up location-based info via Bluetooth beacons

Using low-energy Bluetooth beacons to serve up location-based info to customers isn't a new development. We've seen more than a few implementations of Apple's iBeacon tech. Google has a new project that employs a similar setup, and it's called Eddystone.

How does it differ from Apple's Bluetooth initiative? The effort is a "new and open format" that "anyone" can implement. In addition to working alongside a mobile app to beam info to your phone or tablet when you're in a specified location, Eddystone can also broadcast a URL when an app isn't an option. Rather than missing out, a company can choose to send a web link instead. And it works with both Android and iOS devices, too. There are also two location options, meaning developers can choose one of two APIs that will either find and ping a nearby beacon (like in a museum) or send info when you visit a specific location (e.g., latitude/longitude).

Google's already using the beacons to bolster its own apps and services. The company leverages the platform for real-time transit info in Portland, Oregon, and it plans to employ the tech to prioritize Google Now cards based on your location as well. Of course, privacy is a concern when you're letting a company access your whereabouts, and Eddystone uses Ephemeral Identifiers (EIDs) for security. The EIDs can only be decoded by "authorized clients," so activities like tracking luggage can be done securely. Google isn't offering too much info on how the whole system is locked down just yet, so we'll keep an eye out for additional details as it gets more use.

For companies with existing Bluetooth beacons, Google says Eddystone can be installed with a firmware update. This means that they won't have to invest more money to replace a current setup. What's more, Google's tech keeps tabs on a fleet of the beacons, pointing out when one isn't working properly and other issues that may arise. This is particularly important in places like sports stadiums, where a team will likely blanket the facility with the Bluetooth devices for all spectators. Eddystone is available for interested parties now, and we're curious to see how companies choose to leverage it.

SOURCE: Google

[En] Some things you might not know about Nintendo's Satoru Iwata

Some things you might not know about Nintendo's Satoru Iwata

Satoru Iwata, Nintendo's long-standing and incredibly smart CEO, has passed away. It's news that has brought tributes from both companions and competitors of Iwata's, not to mention an outpouring of heartfelt condolences from the gaming community at large.

After taking over from the Yamauchi dynasty and becoming its president in 2002, Iwata turned Nintendo into an immeasurable force for gaming that stood for fun and innovation. Iwata's humility, ability to accept responsibility for mistakes, and genuine love for gaming made him one of the greats - not to mention that almost anyone with some interest in gaming will have enjoyed an experience that was at least partly thanks to Iwata.

You probably know that Iwata oversaw the launch of the Wii, and you might know that he launched the DS, a handheld console that was predicted to be outpaced by its technologically superior rival, the PSP. Both of these things turned out to be huge successes, proving that innovation can always triumph over power - and that Nintendo definitely had the right guy at the top.

But there's plenty more to Iwata that you might not know about.

1. He valued employees highly, sometimes at his own expense

Iwata was never one to shy away from the company's mistakes, and following a profit slump in 2013 he announced that he would slash his pay in half for five months. He was also not a fan of reducing staff. During the 73rd annual shareholders meeting, he was asked why the company hadn't restructured to account for operating losses. His response was spot on:

"If we reduce the number of employees for better short-term financial results, however, employee morale will decrease, and I sincerely doubt employees who fear that they may be laid off will be able to develop software titles that could impress people around the world."

"I also know that some employers publicise their restructuring plan to improve their financial performance by letting a number of their employees go, but at Nintendo, employees make valuable contributions in their respective fields, so I believe that laying off a group of employees will not help to strengthen Nintendo's business in the long run."

2. He was an exceptional programmer who saved Earthbound

At the time that Mother 2 (aka Earthbound) was being developed, Iwata was working as a programmer and the head of HAL Laboratories. When he saw the difficulties that the development team were having with Mother 2, he voiced his doubts that the game could be completed on time. "If we used what you have now and fix it, it will take 2 years," he told them. "If we can start fresh, it'll take half a year."

Iwata then took over development of Mother 2, and returned a month later having got the game's map scrolling feature to work. Once he'd joined the team, the game only took another year of development thanks to Iwata's programming magic.

3. He managed to cram a country into a game cartridge

When Gamefreak made Pokemon Gold and Silver, only the Johto region was included in the game. Iwata thought that players deserved more, so he spent some of his spare time squeezing in the entirety of Kanto (the region from Pokemon Blue and Red) using some very heavy compression. He essentially fit in a whole extra game like it was no big deal.

4. Then he ported over the Pokemon battle logic without reference documents

...which is a big deal. The first step in creating Pokemon Stadium was to analyse the battle logic from Pokemon Red and Green and carry it over for the Nintendo 64. But in the absence of any reference documents, Iwata read through the Game Boy source code directly and managed to rework it for the 64. Oh yeah, and he did it in a week.

5. He announced Super Smash Bros. Brawl before telling the development team

Iwata knew that the Wii needed a Super Smash Bros. game, so at E3 2005 he confirmed that a game would be coming. His plan was clever: he would then approach HAL and ask them to make a new Super Smash Bros. title, and if they refused, he would have Super Smash Bros. Melee (the GameCube's entry in the series) ported over to the Wii with Wi-Fi support. Luckily, HAL agreed to make Brawl.

6. The Miiverse integration in Super Mario 3D World was his idea

Nintendo's often been criticised for being slow to adopt online gaming, but the integration of the Miiverse in Super Mario 3D World truly let you feel like you were part of a bigger community. The game's map would be populated by the Miis of players around the world, whose messages would pop up as you passed them. A small but effective feature.

7. He actually went out and bought Ocarina of Time when it launched

The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time was launched in November 1998, when Iwata was finishing up Super Smash Bros for the N64. " I was at the Nintendo Kyoto headquarters for a meeting to prepare for its launch, and I bought Ocarina of Time on my way home," he said.

8. His first published game was Super Billiards

Iwata coded his first commercial game during the time of his college education in Tokyo. The game was published by HAL and launched for the MSX home computer. You can see it in action below.

9. Iwata updated his Mii character to reflect his illness

Iwata's health problems were well documented, but it seemed that everything was under control - which made the news of his death even more tragic. Much like Steve Jobs, Iwata lost a lot of weight in lead-up to his death. He updated his Mii avatar to reflect this, along with the message shown below.
10. The NX will likely be an embodiment of Iwata's ideals

We don't know much about Nintendo's next console, but we do know it will be different to what we've seen before. Last time Nintendo shook things up we got the incredibly successful Wii - so we're understandably excited to see what it has in store this time. Iwata was a big believer in bridging the gap between handheld and console, and there's a good chance the NX will reflect this philosophy.