Chanoatx

Zilla van den Born, a 25-year-old from The Netherlands, decided to trick her friends and family into thinking that she was on a five-week vacation in South-East Asia, when, in reality, she was at home in Amsterdam the whole time, uploading what appeared to be authentic holiday photographs onto Facebook. This was all for a University project in which she wanted to show how social media messages and photographs are not accurate indicators of real life. "I did this to show people that we filter and manipulate what we show on social media. Thereby we create an online ideal world which reality can no longer meet. My goal was to prove how common and easy it is to distort reality," says Born. Continue reading for videos showing her fake trip and a reaction video.

A real-life Batman has been spotted on the streets of Japan, and he's been dubbed "Chibatman", due to the Chiba prefecture sightings. The residents seem to know as much about Chibatman's real identity as your average Gothamite knows about Batman's, but that hasn't stopped them from making him an internet sensation. Unlike other real-life superheroes that loiter in Times Square, there have been no reports of "Chibatman" attempting to fight crime. On the other hand, unlike the real Batman, there have been several pictures and videos posted where he's seen waiting patiently (like any good citizen) in traffic. Continue reading for another video and more information.

It was back in February we told you guys about Qualcomm’s Quick Charge 2.0 technology, a new feature that was said to be soon arriving on Snapdragon powered devices allowing them to charge up to 75% faster than the other guys. A lot of time has passed since then, with Qualcomm promising the first Quick Charge 2.0 devices would hit early this year. True to their word, we watched as the first Quick Charge 2.0 devices began trickling in, as devices like the Sony Xperia Z2 and HTC One M8 all launched with the technology baked in.

With today’s Motorola announcement, it looks like you can add another device to that list, with the all new Motorola Moto X (2nd Gen) officially supporting the new technology. Not only does the device support Quick Change 2.0 out of the box, but Motorola will actually soon make available their own Quick Charge 2.0 capable wall plug dubbed the Turbo Charger.

According to Motorola, it only takes the new Moto X (2nd Gen) 15 minutes reach an additional 8 hours of battery life. While you’d assume another 15 minutes would bring it to a full charge, that’s not exactly how Quick Charge 2.0 works. The quick battery boost is only provided when the device is completely empty, after which it brings charging to more normal levels (we’re sure this has to do with battery health).

At $35, the Motorola Turbo Charger isn’t exactly light on the wallet, but could prove invaluable when you’re in a tight spot. The best part about the charger is it’s backwards compatible, meaning it can deliver up to 15 watts of power to larger devices like tablets. You can learn more about Quick Charge 2.0 in Qualcomm’s video below. The Motorola Turbo Charger doesn’t have a firm street date, but you can find it on Motorola’s site via the link below.

[Motorola]

This may look like a weapon from The Walking Dead (and probably should be), but it's a real-life folding long bow, called the "Compact Folding Survival Bow" from Primal Gear Unlimited. This long bow folds down into a 23 inch short riser, making it a cinch to store when on the go. It's made from aircraft-grade aluminum, fiberglass, and weighs just 2.25-pounds, coming complete with its own compact and durable carrying case. Continue reading for more images and information.

Photo credit: The Meta

We've featured the DoubleBack before, but it's always nice to see something that makes great use of space. DoubleBack basically took a standard Volkswagen T5 Transporter van and then added an exclusive pod package, which stays tucked up inside the back of the vehicle when on the road. However, once the driver decides to settle down someplace, it electrically extends out of the rear in under 45 seconds, adding approximately two meters (6.5 feet) of useable interior space. There are also two legs that fold out from the bottom of the pod, enabling it to support up 600 kilograms (1,323 lbs). Continue reading for more cool products.

Welcome to Throwback Tunesday, where Mashable amplifies the echoes of music past. With genre trends and throwbacks, we synthesize music and nostalgia.

Phantogram’s Sarah Barthel and Josh Carter go back; back before the legions of devoted fans, before the headlining shows, before Barthel’s (on-point) asymmetrical haircut. In fact, the Greenwich, New York, pair met in middle school — Barthel’s older sister was good friends with Carter. Although they didn't create music together until their 20s, they did a number of other things: Embraced the grunge look (“I tried to have the grunge look but I was too gross looking I think,” says Barthel), skateboarded (“Josh was a big skateboarder and I wanted to be cool, so I tried to skateboard and accomplished an ollie once, but that’s not that rad,” recalls Barthel) and smoked in a graveyard behind school. Read more...

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Katniss Everdeen looks prepared to take down the Capitol in the latest teaser poster for The Hunger Games: Mockingjay, Part 1.

The symbol of the revolution stands with her back to the audience, dressed in dark leather armor, her hair pulled into a tight coil and her trusted bow and arrow strapped to her back.

Image: Lionsgate

The latest poster comes after a series of teaser images starring a few of District 13's fiercest revolutionaries, including President Coin (Julianne Moore), Haymitch Abernathy (Woody Harrelson) and Plutarch Heavensbee (the late Philip Seymour Hoffman). This is the first poster for the film that features Jennifer Lawrence as Everdeen Read more...

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Hodor? Nodor.

It seems Game of Thrones' Bran Stark (Isaac Hempstead Wright) and his beloved duo-syllabled protector Hodor (Kristian Nairn) will not be appearing in the show's fifth season.

Nairn mentioned his and Wright's season 5 hiatus in a recent interview with the Australian Broadcasting Commission.

"We have a season off and we have a year's hiatus, solely because I imagine our storyline is up to the end of the books," Nairn said.

By the end of the fourth season of the HBO show, Bran and Hodor have traveled north of The Wall to meet the Three-Eyed Raven. Read more...

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SYDNEY — A 26-year-old Australian man was killed on Tuesday while attempting to jump in a wingsuit in the rugged Swiss Alps.

Alex Duncan from Manly in Sydney jumped from 20 metres below the summit of the 2,243-metre Croix de Fer peak at 5 p.m. local time with another daredevil, local media reported.

Things went wrong when the extreme sportsman went off course during the descent and hit a rock 300 metres down the mountain, police said. Emergency workers declared the man deceased at the scene.

The special jumpsuit Duncan was wearing at the time of his death enables the wearer to add surface area to the body, increasing the lift of the jump. It opens to a regular parachute after the jump. The sport is known for its high-risk factor. Read more...

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Switzerland tends to lean neutral most of the time, but it might not have a choice in this one: Apple's Jony Ive is ready to bring a war to the country's doorstep.

Ive, Apple's lead designer, reportedly boasted that the company's rumored iWatch will be so popular that Switzerland, a country known for its high-quality watches, could be in trouble.

The sentiment, reported by The New York Times, adds to the already feverish anticipation that Apple could release the iWatch at its upcoming event on Sept. 9.

Entry into the watch market would be Apple's first new product line since rolling out the iPad in 2010. And it appears it is taking some tips from the Swiss; Apple hired a luxury watch executive that worked on Swiss brand TAG Heuer Read more...

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This might not have been a great summer for movies (Boyhood and Guardians of the Galaxy excluded), but upcoming blockbusters likes of Interstellar and Mockingjay - Part 1 should be pretty enticing. If you have any films on your wishlist that will be out before the end of November, this deal's for you.

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Early this morning we saw both Samsung and Sony take the wraps off their latest Android devices, the Samsung Galaxy Note 4, Samsung Galaxy Edge, and Sony Xperia Z3.

Although Sony made mention that Sony Xperia Z3 would be headed to North America later this year, they weren’t clear on exactly specific carriers we should be expecting the device to land on. It shouldn’t come as too much of a surprise, but you can count T-Mobile as one of the device’s early launch partners.

T-Mobile senior product manager Desmond Smith took to YouTube with an unboxing of the T-Mobile Sony Xperia Z3, showing off some of the goodies that will come inside the box (although failed to mention exactly when we can pick one up for ourselves). Check it out below.

As far as the Samsung Galaxy Note 4 and Samsung Galaxy Note Edge, T-Mobile wasted no time in throwing up a quick press release announcing availability of both these devices on their network for later this fall. For those interested, you can pre-register for both devices on T-Mobile by going here which, aside from simply being notified when the phones become officially available, will enter you into T-Mobile’s “Gear-A-Day” sweepstakes.

Winners will get their choice of a Samsung Gear 2 Neo, Samsung Gear 2, Samsung Gear Fit, or the upcoming Samsung Gear Circle. You’ll have a chance to win a device every single day starting today and ending on September 11th and there’s even a grand prize pack of a variety of Samsung Mobile products — so get to registering.

[T-Mobile]

 

 

 

 

 

 

https://explore.t-mobile.com/new-samsung-devices-note-4-gear

Somewhere along the line manufacturers decided flagship phones should be big and mid-range phones should be small. Frankly, this sucks. Especially if you have small hands or tight pockets. Sony abides by this unwritten rule with their 5.2-inch Xperia Z3, but they buck the trend with the newly announced Z3 compact. It’s the perfect combination of reasonable size and flagship features

There are three major differences between the Z3 and the Compact: 4.6-inch display, 720p resolution, and plastic frame. That’s it. A 720p display at this size is perfectly adequate, and the plastic frame has a very nice translucent effect. Almost everything else about the Compact is pretty much the same as the Z3, which is a really big deal.

Most notably is the same great 20MP camera. Usually when you buy a device of this stature you have to sacrifice a flagship camera. That’s not the case with the Z3 Compact. It also supports Sony’s PS4 Remote Play feature. Other specs include the Snapdragon 801 processor. !P86 waterproofing, and 2600mAh battery. If you’re looking for a phone that doesn’t require two hands to use, this is the one for you.

The Xperia Z3 Compact will be released this Fall. Sony did not mention carriers or pricing. We hope it comes to the U.S. Would you buy one?

Being single isn't all that bad, especially if you're stuck in one of these amazing bachelor pads. They many not be large, but all space is used extremely well - except for maybe the bottom one, which has a breathtaking pool overlooking the Los Angeles skyline. Click here to view the first image in this week's geek life gallery. Continue reading for a viral video of Linkin Park's "In The End" sung in 20 different styles.

Waking up and looking out your window to see a LaFerrari or Porsche 918 Spyder may be nice, but being greeted with a mountain sunrise is something that even money can't buy. Russian photographer Oleg Grigoryev wanted to capture all of this for his "Morning Views from the Tent" series, in which he takes us into the wild outdoors with his outstretched legs and his tent flap. Continue reading for more.

Sony turned heads last year when it introduced the QX family of add-on lenses, which claimed to add DSLR-style high-resolution photography to any Android smartphone. The QX10 and QX100 lenses were met with a bit of skepticism on release thanks to their high price and strange form factor, but the core idea is still intriguing. Intriguing enough for the company to give it another go-round, anyway, and come out swinging with a new mounting system in addition to a new all-in-one lens.

[IFA 2014] Sony Officially Reveals The QX1 E-Series Lens Mount And QX30 Zoom Lens For Smartphones was written by the awesome team at Android Police.

It’s hard to believe that just 25 years ago, nobody had ever drunk from a hydration pack. Learn how it was invented as CamelBak hits the quarter century milestone.

Small and inexpensive, these six little Survival Pucks contain essentials to start fires, purify water, treat a wound, navigate the wilderness, or build a shelter in a time of need.

There is a new Note in town. Samsung has just announced the Galaxy Note 4 at IFA, and like previous models, this one is sure to be a hit. Many people were skeptical about a smartphone with such a large display, but history has shown that people love big phones. You can blame Samsung for the phone in your pocket being so big. So what does the Note 4 offer compared to the previous iteration? Let’s take a look.

Display

For the first time in the history of the Note series Samsung has not increased the display size. The Samsung Galaxy Note 4 has the same 5.7-inch display as the Note 3, but the big difference is the resolution. The Note 4 comes in at 1440 x 2560, compared to the 1080p display on the Note 3. A big improvement for such a large device. Pixel geeks will love the improved ppi.

Camera & Battery

Samsung has made similar improvements all around the device. The camera has been bumped up to 16MP, and they have made big improvements in the “Selfie” cam. You can take panorama “wefies” when you take selfies with groups of people. The battery is only 20mAh bigger than the Note 3, but Samsung says it gets considerably more life. They’ve also added “Fast Charging” so you can go from 0-50% in 30 minutes. Samsung made a big deal about the improvements they have made in battery life.

Software

Software is another big focus for the Note 4, especially on the S Pen side of things. They’ve made multi-window much easier, and added mouse-like features to the S Pen. It’s easier than ever to copy text and take multiple screenshots. Samsung is trying to make the S Pen an essential accessory. All of the presenters have used the S Pen instead of their fingers.

What do you think of the Note 4? Is it a worthy successor to the Note 3? Will you be picking one up this October?

In an email to the Denver Post, Broncos receiver Wes Welker has denied that his four-game suspension after testing positive for amphetamines was due to consuming adulterated MDMA at the Kentucky Derby, a story reported by Pro Football Talk.

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Samsung has dropped their big bomb today: the Samsung Galaxy Note 4 is official. Of immediate noteworthy mention in the specs department is the 5.7-inch 2560 x 1440 Super AMOLED HD display, a resolution and size combination that should deliver some pretty remarkable results for those who place the most importance on the device’s display.

Samsung Galaxy Note 4 specs

Let’s jump into the full spec sheet for this thing:

• 5.7-inch 2560 x 1440 Super AMOLED HD display
• 2.7GHz quad-core processor OR 1.9GHz Octa-core processor (depending on market)
• 3GB of RAM and 32GB of internal storage, microSD up to 64GB
• 16 megapixel rear camera with optical image stabilizer, 3.7 megapixel front camera with f/1.9 aperture
• Dual-band WiFi ac MIMI, Bluetooth 4.1, NFC, GPS w/ GLONASS, IR blaster, USB 2.0 and MHL 3.0
• 153.5 x 78.6 x 8.5mm, 176g
• 3,220mAh battery
• Improved S-Pen
• Android 4.4 KitKat

The Note 4′s design language is classic Samsung — nothing funky going on here (you’ll want the Note Edge if you’re looking for something new). It features Samsung’s typical “premium leather” backing that comes in a variety of different colors. The device seems to strike a comfortable balance between being rectangular and round — not sharp enough to be dangerous, and not soft enough to be seen as a children’s toy.

Samsung Galaxy Note 4 software and features

Samsung has done work to improve the S Pen and bring even more ridiculous new features. The biggest change is more accurate pressure sensitive, as well as increased levels of sensitivity to simulate writing with an actual pen more realistically. The pen seems to be a bit more thick than usual — big enough to be more comfortable to write with, yet small enough to stow into the phone itself.

One of the big new features Samsung’s added for the S Pen is Smart Select. This allows you to select multiple lines of text or photos at a time and store them into a clipboard. You can then take the contents of that clipboard and insert them into a scrapbook, email and more without having to click more than a couple of quick button.

They’ve also added a neat multiple selection tool that allows you to select multiple photos at the same time by simply dragging the pen over them. It’s not unlike what you’d do to select multiple files and folders on a desktop computer — should be great for those of you needing to clear out the ol’ photo gallery every now and then.

Everything else is as you’ve always known it — Samsung’s latest TouchWiz experience sitting atop Android 4.4 KitKat. Much of the same features that were introduced in this year’s Galaxy S5 have made their return, including S Health, a fingerprint scanner embedded within the home button (said to be improved over the Galaxy S5 version), and more. Samsung’s also boasting the world’s first UV sensor inside of a device, though they didn’t tell us why they threw that in. Guess we’ll know in due time.

Availability

As you’d expect, Samsung is looking to make the Galaxy Note 4 available in any market they can get it in. The global launch begins this October, with color options being Charcoal Black, Frost White, Bronze Gold and Blossom Pink (and we’re sure more will be on the way shortly after launch). There will also be a Swarovski-backed edition for those who like sparkly things. No pricing information just yet, but expect the standard $600 to $700 range with contract prices coming in at $200 to $300.

Developing…

While the rumors leading up to today’s Samsung Unpacked event centered on the newly announced Galaxy Note 4, it wasn’t the only smartphone to debut on stage. Samsung surprised us with a second Note handset, the Galaxy Note Edge.

The Note Edge is Samsung’s second smartphone to utilize their curved AMOLED technology, following the proof-of-concept Galaxy Round and taking advantage of a unique new form factor. The Note Edge presents users with a side view created by a display that curves down toward one edge (get it?). If the Edge looks familiar, it bares a striking resemblance to a Samsung prototype handset we saw back at CES 2013.

The crux of the Note Edge is Edge Screen, the name for both the actual secondary portion of the display as well as the ecosystem that makes it a reality. The Note Edge and its Edge Screen are comprised of a Super AMOLED display with Quad HD resolution, and offer added functionality on top of what the normal Note 4 can do. Shortcuts are housed with Edge Screen to free up more space on the main display, plus this secondary display offers a plethora of functions including acting as a notification display without waking the entire screen and more. Samsung is also making an SDK available to developers to add third-party functionality to Edge Screen.

The Note Edge is being touted as a special edition version of the Galaxy Note 4, and likewise features all the same features you can expect from the standard version of the handset. This includes 2.7GHz quad-core processing, 3GB RAM, a 16MP camera, and 3220mAh battery. The Note Edge also takes advantage of the S Pen stylus and software multitasking capabilities.

Both the Note 4 and Note Edge will be coming to US carriers including AT&T, Verizon, Sprint, and T-Mobile later this fall. Specific details on pricing and release date are forthcoming.

Steve Austin dropped by the College GameDay set this morning and did typically Stone Cold things.

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As summer winds down we are once again ranking our favorite Android phones. Some familiar names made our list, but which handset came out on top? Will the fall’s big announcements shake things up in the coming weeks? Read on to find out.

Previously: August | July | June | May | April | March | February

5. Sony Xperia Z2

When a phone spends six weeks at the bottom of the ocean and somehow emerges with only cosmetic damage it makes it pretty hard to leave it off of our best phones list. Alright, we weren’t planning on dropping the Z2 from the rankings, ocean floor adventures or not, but it is a testament to this phone’s strong design. It looks great, it’s waterproof, and it packs the hardware (HD display, quad-core processing, etc.) to match up with any other device on this list.

4. Nexus 5

If you want to own a smartphone that will be among the first to see the Android L update, the Nexus 5 remains the best option currently on the market. While we anticipate some new Nexus hardware from Google and its partners, the N5 remains a solid workhorse device, and you can’t really complain about the $350 price tag, either. If you’re savvy, this one has been going on sale plenty lately and could see a price drop in the coming months during the lead up to the rumored Nexus 6.

3. Samsung Galaxy S5

While the whole Ice Bucket Challenge thing might have been in poor taste, we won’t hold it against the Galaxy S5. This handset remains perhaps the most popular Android smartphone in the court of public opinion and is a great buy for those looking for top-notch hardware in a universally supported device. It also boasts a few features other smartphones have slacked on, including a fingerprint scanner and hear rate sensor.

2. HTC One M8

The One M8 features great design and the hardware to compliment it, so much so that HTC decided to double-down and release a Windows Phone version of the device. We’ll stick with the original, Android-infused version, though, with its sleek Sense software UltraPixel camera, and more.

1. LG G3

We love the LG G3, but don’t take our word for it. The phone is on track to be LG’s first ever handset to break the 10 million units sold mark. There’s good reason for it, to. The G3’s focus on simplicity brings its sheer power to the forefront and highlights features like a Quad HD display, laser autofocus, and much more.

Honorable Mentions

We don’t have room for ever phone in our top five. Here are the devices that barely missed the cut.

1. Xiaomi Mi4 — Xiaomi isn’t a household name, but they have caught our attention with their latest Mi4, a powerful handset at a reasonable price.
2. OnePlus One — OnePlus hasn’t made the brightest marketing decisions, but there is a reason that folks are clamoring simply for the chance to receive an invite to buy this elusive smartphone.
3. Oppo Find 7a — On par with the OnePlus One, the Find 7a is another option for folks seeking an affordable off-contract buy.
4. Moto X — The X remains one of the world’s only “customizable” smartphones with factory options like woodgrain and more, but the rumored X+1 threatens its spot on our list.
5. HTC One Remix — This Verizon exclusive is a mini version of the HTC One M8, but it impresses almost as much as its big brother.

Phones to Look Forward To

Perhaps the phone you are looking for hasn’t been released yet. In that case, here are a couple newly announced devices that have yet to make it to store shelves (but should soon).

Sharp Aquos Crystal

A Sprint exclusive announced a few weeks back, the Aquos Crystal makes up for mid-range specs with it’s nearly bezel-free display and sub-$250 off-contract pricing. It won’t compete head-to-head with the flagship devices from other manufacturers, but it looks pretty damn nice (just check out our hands-on) and could be a tempting option for Sprint subscribers. A release should be imminent, though an official date remains unknown.

LG G Stylus

If you didn’t guess already based on the name, the LG G Stylus indeed comes with a stylus and on the surface looks like it is positioned as a Galaxy Note 4 competitor. That’s only partially true, as the G Stylus dials back the specs quite a bit. What it lacks in power we expect it to make up for in pricing, however.

Rumor Mill

Several long-standing rumors will be satisfied in a mere matter of days, and we can’t wait. Here are the upcoming but unannounced phones everyone has been buzzing about.

Moto X+1 & DROID Turbo

The long-rumored Moto X+1 should finally go official as part of an event Motorola has planned for September 4th, finally bringing us answers to all of our burning questions as they pertain to the handset. Will the phone feature 3D recognition and optical zoom? Will it feature even more customization options than its predecessor? We may also get answers in regards to the recently rumored Motorola DROID Turbo for Verizon, but we aren’t holding our breath.

Samsung Galaxy Note 4

IFA 2014 will host one of its biggest launches on September 3rd, when we expect to see the Galaxy Note 4 in all of its glory. Samsung has been steadily teasing this one for the past several weeks, and aside from the typical upgrades we are also expecting new and improved fingerprint scanning capabilities. Will this one have us forgetting about the Galaxy S5?

Nexus 6

The Nexus 6 feels like the Android world’s white whale, only in this case it’s more of an orca. Yes, we’ve been talking for months about when we might catch a glimpse of this Nexus 5 followup, codenamed ‘Shamu,’ but we’re still waiting. At least the leaks keep coming, including a full rundown of specs that claim this Motorola-made handset will feature a Snapdragon 805 SoC, 3GB RAM, and a 13MP camera.

Amazon Best Sellers

As always, we’ve perused Amazon’s list of best selling smartphones for yet even more options. If the phone wasn’t already on our list but has been selling like hot cakes on Amazon, you will find it listed below (often at insane price markdowns).

1. Amazon Fire Phone
2. LG G2
3. Samsung Galaxy S4
4. Samsung Galaxy S3
5. Samsung Galaxy S4 mini
6. Samsung Galaxy S5 Active
7. HTC One M7
8. Samsung Galaxy Mega
9. Samsung Galaxy Note 3
10. Samsung Galaxy Note II

What Say You?

Do you have a bone to pick with our current phone rankings? While September’s big announcements are sure to shake things up, let us know how you would rank things as they sit now. Sound off in the comments below!

We’ve always been suspicious of folks being able to snoop in on phone conversations or intercept data, but there isn’t much we can do to prove that happening or to prevent the foul act. One secure phone seems to have changed that, however.

ESD America’s GSMK Cryptophone 500 (which is basically a Samsung Galaxy S3 with custom software and security) is device said to be used by many international and corporate organizations as well as private clients who demand more privacy and security. It was taken on a roadtrip from south Florida to North Carolina. Here’s the sales pitch for the phone to potential buyers:

A truly secure communication device must not only protect its communication links, it must also be able to withstand attacks against the device itself. To achieve this, all GSMK CryptoPhone secure mobile phones are based on a “hardened” operating system with granular security management and streamlined, security-optimized components and communication stacks. The hardened operating system reliably protects the device against outside attacks, thus offering true 360-degree protection when it counts most.

Said “hardened” operating system is Android, and it’s been loaded up with security apps and solutions for those who require more than your elementary PIN number.

Along the way, ESD was able to use a built-in function that allows them to monitor and identify the cellular towers it connects to — they found that they’d encountered 8 of them in that sizable drive, many of which sat upon government buildings. They weren’t able to pinpoint the origin of the interceptors, though considering those things are expensive to acquire and assemble we’re sure they had to come from some pretty authoritative entities.

WLS reports that a phone connected to one of these non-carrier towers could be subject to eavesdropping, as well as vulnerable to malware and/or spyware that can be loaded up remotely. It’s a scary thought, though we’re not sure any of it would be used maliciously if they’re of government origin.

We all know the NSA and Department of Homeland Security have the capability and permission to intercept calls to protect the country from potential terrorist threats, so it’s not at all surprising to learn such devices are in use. The scary part is the fact that you can randomly hop onto said networks at any time for seemingly no reason.

It’s important to note that any phone is susceptible to hopping onto these networks, and not just Android phones like WLS suggests. Android isn’t some security nightmare — it actually seems to be a hero here, as we’re sure no iPhone or Windows Phone has the capability to detect fake towers like the Cryptophone 500 did.

You can't get enough of camping — experiencing nature first-hand, campfires late into the night, access to the great outdoors — but you could probably do without the whole sleeping...

Visit Uncrate for the full post.

So, here's the question: how much worse can these first pitches get? At some point someone is going to do something you never dreamed possible of a ceremonial first pitch, like strike oil, or completely forget to release the ball and fling themselves toward home plate. Either that, or they're just going to have to cancel first pitches altogether because this is getting out of hand.

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Early this afternoon, the world became enamored with Instagram’s latest mobile app since launching Bolt a few weeks ago. It’s called Hyperlapse and the app essentially allows users to create beautiful time lapse videos using nothing but their smartphones. Sure, there are a few apps that already do something similar, but it’s nothing close to the way Hyperlapse handles time lapse video.

Instead of taking photos and later converting them into a video, Hyperlapse simply records video (doesn’t snap photos), showing the real-world time passed and time of the outputted sped up video. Once finished, Hyperlapse is able to stitch together snaps shots into a single, incredibly stabilized video. Really, it’s pretty remarkable and results speak for themselves.

Hyperlapse video in action (click to view)

The only problem is the app, like many others, is only available on iOS, leaving Android users out in the cold. Because we’re sure, like us, many of you are wondering when an Android version will be available you probably shouldn’t hold your breath. Before you get upset, this has less to do with any sort of exclusivity deals or platform favoritism.

In a statement given to Wired earlier today, Instagram says Google will have to make some changes to the camera and gyroscope APIs on Android before Hyperlapse could ever become compatible with our devices. Bummer. The good news (if any) is that Instagram is ready and willing, so the future of Hyperlapse for Android isn’t entirely bleak.

For more info on Hyperlapse, check out the trailer down below and if you want to try it on your iPad, you can find it on iTunes here.

The Islamic State, the radical group which has cut a bloody path through Syria and Iraq in recent months, slaying civilians and security forces, and executing the American journalist James Foley on camera, has even more followers than previously believed, according to Iraqi security sources.

While western diplomats and other observers have estimated the number of militants number between 20,000 to 50,000, Hisham al-Hashimi, a security expert in Baghdad, said that the total membership of the Islamic State in Iraq and Syria may now be closer to 100,000 members Read more...

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