Android™ 4.0, Ice Cream Sandwich and TouchWiz® Make for a Sweet Experience
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Android™ 4.0, Ice Cream Sandwich and TouchWiz® Make for a Sweet Experience
Share WiFi Networks with QR Codes
WiFi networks are incredibly commonplace in our modern world. We expect networks to be available in hotels, restaurants, and even trains. But most of the time, these networks are well protected with extremely long passwords. It’s okay when only one person wants to use the network, but what do you do when many are to use the network on their own devices?
Smartphones are pretty good QR code readers. All you need is a camera and application capable of decoding the message. XDA Senior Member Stevenator21 created an application to generate a QR code for your currently connected wireless network, which can be easily shared with your friends. You might wonder about WPS, but not every device supports this technology.
The QR code generated by WiFiQR can be shared with other devices, so the result might be printed or displayed on a screen. In future releases, the developer plans to add an option to show the QR code of networks stored on the device in addition to the corrently connected network—hopefully with password already enabled. Of course, you can type the password manually.
Feel free to visit the application thread to get started and learn more about this project.
Qualcomm’s Ultra Sound NotePad is a fresh look at the Tablet/Stylus duo
Styli are a pain. They have these soft, rubbery tips that don’t really do what you want, and they’re kind of expensive. Some even get in the $100-and-up price range, which is just absurd. Sometimes, we just want to draw on paper, and have the image just appear on our tablet or smartphone. Qualcomm is promising something big for styli and tablets, and it’s got our attention.
Noting that they’ll bee at CES next week with one to show off, Qualcomm is touting their Ultra Sound NotePad with stylus as something wholly different. Saying the tablet has “microphones that can hear ultrasonic vibrations”, Qualcomm shows a stylus and tablet combo that is responsive and accurate. More interestingly, the stylus can draw on paper, and the image will appear on the tablet.
From there, it looks as though we can take all the fun we try to have with tablet art and bring it to paper. Selecting colors in the app acts just like it would if you were drawing on-screen, except you’re not. You’re drawing on paper. Mind blown yet? Ours is.
Many have tried to make great styli that outdo the next, but overall, this combo might be onto something. Of course, it’s limited to Qualcomm’s Snapdragon 805 processor, and what looks to be one particular tablet right now. While some like the S Pen have done a great job in their own right, this has the potential to be a widespread hit. Think of filling out paperwork that isn’t even paper.
Via: Android Central
Wikipad Gamevice controller announced for Android
Wikipad has unveiled their latest mobile gaming device, the Gamevice. This is one that appears to have the company shifting from the tablet space like we saw with the Wikipad 7. And instead, the Gamevice will be more a controller with support for multiple mobile operating systems. Along with support for Android, Wikipad has said there will be support for Windows 8.
There was also hints of iOS support, but for now the only two specifically mentioned were Android and Windows. In terms of the actual device, the Gamevice will have controls on both sides with a bridge that connects them. The bridge will expand or collapse so it can work with smartphones of multiple sizes.
As for the game controls — the Gamevice will be sporting dual analog sticks, both L1/R1 and L2/R2 analog buttons, an analog D-pad and four analog action buttons. Or as the folks at Wikipad have said, that means the Gamevice will have “every button gamers already use” and that they will be “in a form factor that will be familiar.”
That said, while we know about the support, and we even know about the button setup and how the controller will attach to devices — there are some key specifics still missing. Wikipad has yet to offer anything solid in terms of when the Gamevice will be available, or how much it will cost. To that point, they haven’t even offered any hints in terms of those missing details.
SOURCE: Gamasutra
Pandora for Android update brings alarm clock functionality
Pandora for Android has been updated once again. This latest brings a feature we saw added for iOS users about a month earlier — a built-in Alarm Clock. In addition to the alarm clock functionality, Pandora users will also have a sleep timer and some other “small improvements and bug fixes.” The key new feature though, is the alarm clock.
Having said that, the alarm clock setup brings the features one would hope and/or expect to see. These include being able to pick the station that begins playing at the alarm time. Assuming you like what you are hearing, the app also gives the option to continue playing. In addition, the alarm offers snooze functionality and also allows the user to set which days the alarm should be active.
Touching back on the snooze, that can be set for either 5, 10, 15 or 20 minute increments. Otherwise, once snoozed you will see the amount of time as it counts down to the next alert. Lastly in terms of alarm clock features, users can set the volume level for each alarm. Bottom line, if you are a Pandora user and also use your smartphone to wake up each day — this seems like an update you may want to grab.
This update has the app sitting at version 5.1. The previous update, or more accurately — updates, came back towards the end of October. We actually saw a two updates within days. The first brought a proper user interface for Android tablets and the second added support for Chromecast streaming. And while this was just a first update for 2014, the team at Pandora is already teasing more throughout the year.
SOURCE: Pandora, Google Play Store
Panono Panoramic Ball Camera finds Indiegogo success
Wrapping an Indiegogo campaign that began back in mid-November, the team behind the Panono Panoramic Ball Camera have surpassed their funding goal. The campaign has a little more than a day remaining, but the pledge amount is currently sitting at $969,768. That is towards and initial funding goal of $900,000.
Or in other words, it looks like those who backed the project will be receiving their ball camera, which now has 108 megapixels. This ball camera is essentially a new way to take panoramic images. The ball can be propped up using a stick, or tall tripod, and it can also be simply thrown up.
Regardless of the path you take to get the Panono up in the air, the result will be the same — a 108 megapixel image that shows views from all around. The Panono Panoramic Ball Camera will capture the image(s) when the ball reaches its highest point. Looking toward the Indiegogo campaign, the pledge amounts (to get the camera as a reward) began at $499 and increased depending on the options and amount you were looking for.
While the recent focus was on the crowdfunding campaign, this is a project that dates back several years. Our sister site SlashGear has been following along since October 2011, a time when it was unsure if the Panono was even going to make it past the prototype stage. That all having been said, for now we will be looking towards the team for further details in terms of when the backers will be able to get hands-on, and beyond that, to a time when those who didn’t back the campaign will be able to make a purchase.
Samsung Chairman wants ‘non stop’ innovation in 2014
Samsung Chairman Lee Kum-hee has urged his company to innovate ‘non stop’ in 2014. At an annual speech on Thursday, Lee noted 2013 was tough, mainly due to rising competition. His directive to his company was to jettison the old methods, and search out a new path for Samsung.
In a statement provided to The Wall Street Journal by Samsung, Lee said “Research & development center(s) should work around the clock, non-stop”, and that the company must “get rid of business models and strategies from five, ten years ago and hardware-focused ways”. As they try to pursue a larger role within the mobile technology sector, it’s worth noting that since 2010, Samsung has spent roughly $1 billion on acquisitions. Google is said to have spent that much on Waze alone.
Acquisitions are the quickest way to R&D fortunes, and Samsung has committed themselves to that front. In November, CFO Lee Sang Hoon noted the company would pursue small to mid-size businesses they felt could help their endeavors. This all comes as Samsung ends their 2013 with shares down 10%, and continues into 2014 with a 4.6% decrease over last year.
Focussing on software versus hardware is probably a smart move for Samsung. With Google becoming increasingly contextual, and Apple having won several lawsuits pertaining to the design of Samsung hardware, Samsung is clearly missing a part of the equation. A move toward software innovation would be a bit of an about face for Samsung, but with their massive resources, there is no reason to thick they can’t adjust accordingly.
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