Moto X burned and lives to tell the tale

We've different experiments and antics that try to test the resilience of mobile devices, but sometimes the true tests lie not in controlled settings but in real-world accidents. And as a certain Digital Dragon from Google+ discovered, the Moto X seems pretty capable of performing with grace under fire. Literally.

The exact sequence of events that lead to this otherwise horrifying incident wasn't fully recounted. Only a mention of a campfire, which should be more than enough to spark the imagination, pun unintended. According to Digital Dragon, the Moto X was pulled out of the flames still on fire. But lo and behold, the smartphone still booted up and worked as normal. Of course, presumably after the fire was put out.

The owner was definitely lucky. The rear cover, of course made of wood, bears the traumatic scars of the scorching brush with death. That would have been the least of his worries however. Fires and batteries make for an even more lethal combination. Not just for the phone but for anyone unfortunate enough to be holding it at the moment of combustion. There is sage wisdom in most stress tests staying away from playing with fire.

That said, it is indeed impressive testament to the Moto X's build, but one that should not be attempted again. Hopefully the Moto X+1 will likewise be tough, but hopefully no one will have to go through that same incident just to find out.

Blek game app brings your scribbles to life

The newest kid in the Android gaming world is less Angry Bird and more Picasso. Blek is one of the more unique games out there which really takes advantage of the touch-screen nature of the smartphones and tablets out there. You can watch the scribbles and patterns that you draw cooly come to life in simple animation that nevertheless captures your attention.

But it’s not just about drawing abstract lines and swirls. There is actually a point to the game. The object is to draw a pattern that will be repeated throughout the screen. Your reason for doing this is to hit the coloured balls that are also on the screen, but avoid the black holes. The genius is that there are no specific moves that you have to master in order to win the game, but you can be as imaginative and playful as you can. Each of the “puzzles” that you have to beat can be solved by different patterns that you have to think of.

The game has already worn several awards in European award-giving bodies, including Best Mobile Game in Casual Connect Europe and Content Award Vienna. It also received an Excellence in Innovation Award from the International Mobile Gaming Awards. It is very simply designed, minimalist in fact, but the moment you start playing with it, it becomes your personal work of art. More than a game of skill, this is more of a game for the imagination.

The game used to be available for iOS only, but now it has come to the Android platform. You can download Blek from the Google Play Store.

Benches in Massachusetts to charge gadgets through solar power

It’s a beautiful day outside and you want to just sit on a bench, marvel at nature and post on social media how wonderful it is to be not inside the four corners of your office or school. But alas, your mobile phone doesn’t have enough juice anymore to take a picture and post it on Instagram (#smartphonebatteryproblems). A project from Changing Environments, a company associated with the MIT Media Lab will help you avoid that kind of situation by building solar-powered benches that can charge your gadgets.

Called Soofa, the benches will be equipped with USB ports that can be used by benchwarmers to power their phones or tablets as they read a newspaper or book, whether physically or digitally. The first few benches will be installed in Boston and Cambridge, Massachusetts, and is funded by Cisco Systems. But the company is looking at building a network of Soofas all over the state not just for the convenience of passers-by in need of a quick charging fix, but even more so, to encourage people to at least go outside, even while glued to their gadgets.

More than just a charging station, the benches will also become data hubs, to check on the noise and air quality levels of the places where they’re installed. People will be able to access the data online when they visit the Soofa website, so they know where is the perfect spot to enjoy a few minutes of quiet, away from the crowds and the pollution. Other data that will be gathered would be how many people go to each bench everyday and how many hours of solar power charging it was able to provide that day.

According to Jutta Friedrichs, the co-founder of Changing Environments, they are looking at reversing the idea that computers “took people off the streets” and now using technology to actually make people come outside and play. "We want to reactivate the city and create a new shared social experience,” she said.

VIA: CNet

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