Admit it, you love to save a few bucks if the opportunity comes along, especially if it requires almost no effort. That should make Amazon's latest promotion pretty attractive to most of our readers. All you have to do is install the Amazon 1Button App for Chrome, and the next time you spend $25 or more, you will receive an automatic $5 discount on the purchase price. How can you pass this up?
The Chrome Remote Desktop app was long overdue when Google finally launched it a few weeks back, and already there's a much requested feature addition. As of the newest update, which started rolling out yesterday, the app supports immersive mode on Android 4.4.
What’s New
Before this update, the 'X' button in the action bar would hide only the action bar. That was certainly better than nothing, but it wasn't true immersive mode.
You can pretty much think of it as the same technology being used in Google’s self-driving vehicles, except in tablet and smartphone form. We’re not sure what their ultimate vision is for these devices just yet, though we imagine Google will want developers to help shape that vision.
The goal of Project Tango is to give mobile devices a human-scale understanding of space and motion
That’s why this device isn’t necessarily meant for consumers. It’s a developers’ kit — one that costs $1,024, funnily enough — and comes packed with a suite of specs that we wish we could have in today’s flagship tablets and / or smartphones.
Here’s what developers will be looking forward to inside the body of this thing:
NVIDIA Tegra K1 chipset with 192 GPU cores
4GB of RAM
7-inch display
128GB of internal storage
4G LTE (availability depends on region and carrier)
Bluetooth 4.0 LE
WiFi
Motion tracking camera
Integrated depth sensor
Android 4.4 KitKat
Again, this is for serious developers who want to help Google decide how this technology can fit into modern society and help change the way our devices work for us. You can sign up for a chance to receive a kit at Google’s site right now, though if you’re going to Google I/O later this month we hear these will be up for grabs as part of the annual freebie parade. Let’s hope Google gives us a better sense of how these devices can help us when they take the stage in San Francisco June 25th.
There's no better father-son bonding experience than watching a train smash a semi-truck full of melons to bits.
Austin Broderick, 15, and his dad, Dean Broderick, 46, captured the crash, which occurred near a retirement community in Orlando, Florida, according to the Orlando Sentinel
"It's like it was in slow-motion," Dean Broderick told the Sentinel. "You hear the train, then it's dead silence, and then wham! I've never seen anything like it. It was breathtaking."
Fortunately, there were no injuries in the crash, the Sentinel reports — apparently, the truck's driver had already exited the vehicle and crossed the street before the CSX train hit. The train conductor also said he saw the truck but was unable to stop in time Read more...
On June 6, 1944, 160,000 Allied troops landed on the beaches of Normandy in the coordinated invasion of occupied France known as D-Day.
Friday marks the 70th anniversary of the largest seaborne invasion in history — more than 5,000 ships and 13,000 aircraft were sent to infiltrate the heavily German-fortified French coastline.
D-Day, or Operation Neptune, was the first move in Operation Overlord, the codename for the Battle of Normandy. Nine thousand Allied soldiers were killed or wounded, but 100,000 went on to march against the Axis forces — in what would eventually lead to the successful Allied invasion of western Europe occupied by Nazi Germany. Read more...
Rumors of an impending Sprint acquisition of T-Mobile have swirled for months as America's two underdog carriers have engaged in a not-so-private courtship, and it appears an announcement may be close, if you're inclined to believe Bloomberg.
The deal would allegedly value T-Mobile around $30 billion ($31.3 billion to be precise), though an exact agreement hasn't been reached as to a number. T-Mobile carries a little under $15 billion in debt and over $5 billion in cash, meaning Sprint's new parent firm Softbank will take on even more debt in an attempt to fortify a position against American wireless heavyweights AT&T and Verizon.
Update Wednesday isn't over until Google says it is over. Hell, we might even get an update Thursday and update Friday if Mountain View feels like it. The newest update from Google is the YouTube app, which has hit v5.7 with at least one much needed improvement.
What’s New
This version of YouTube finally lets you manually select the quality level when a video is playing. Before, pressing the menu button would let you choose between HD/HQ and off.
Former UCLA guard Zach LaVine worked out for the Lakers today, and it appears that he was out to prove that Andrew Wiggins isn't the only prospect in this year's draft who can jump really damn high.
by Hamilton Nolan on Gawker, shared by Tom Ley to Deadspin
Well well well, the secret is out. U.S. President Barack Obama's secret workout is finally declassified and caught on tape for all the world to see. Mister President, you got some problems.
The NFL has announced that the 2016 Super Bowl, the fiftieth Super Bowl, will be branded as "Super Bowl 50" instead of the extremely dumb-looking "Super Bowl L." This is the first time that the NFL will abandon gladiatorial, perpetually-confusing Roman numerals since they were first used for Super Bowl V in 1971.
As June begins we enter a period of calm during the smartphone release cycle. Flagship handsets from HTC, LG, and Samsung have all been announced and released to some extent while little else remains on our radar. That could all change by the end of the month with Google’s annual I/O conference, but for now we present our picks for best Android phones as of June 2014.
Will the Nexus 5 ever leave our list? It’s unlikely until the next great stock Android flagship comes along. With specs that still hold up despite the onslaught of recent competition — Snapdragon 800 quad-core processing, 1080p display — the Nexus 5 remains a fine choice for buyers seeking a device sure to receive quick Android updates. Even better, it doesn’t cost an arm and a leg at $350 with out a wireless contract. It lacks some of the sophistication and advanced features found in phones higher on our list, but the type of person that favors the Nexus 5’s simple, refined experience doesn’t need them.
The Sony Xperia Z2 remains the best Android phone that you probably won’t be able to get your hands on — at least if you live in the United States. With a stellar camera, crisp and colorful display, and solid performance, the Z2’s internal prowess is matched only by its exquisite Sony design. Sony insists a US release isn’t on their slate, but rumors (and leaks) persist that the flagship could see a Verizon launch in due time.
Samsung, arguably the king of Android, sees its 2014 flagship slip to #3 after debuting as the second ranked phone on last month’s list. We’ll find out why a little further down the page, but let’s not ignore the solid device that is the Galaxy S5. Top-notch hardware including a 1080p Super AMOLED display and extras like a fingerprint scanner and heart rate sensor provide plenty of intrigue, but a finicky, complicated TouchWiz interface holds this one back from its full potential.
In recent months, the HTC One M8 quietly established itself as the Android phone to beat. HTC’s brilliant handling of their simplified Sense UI in conjunction with a sharp, classy design and hardware that could go head-to-head with the best of them makes for a phone that is as much a joy to use as it is to look at.
What could knock the HTC One M8 off of its throne? The newly announced LG G3, of course. Currently only available in Korea, time will tell if the G3’s Snapdragon 801 and 5.5-inch Quad HD (1440 x 2560 pixels) display keep it on top, but the early showing has been impressive. LG has upped their game from the G2 with a brushed metal design, improved rear button, and overhauled UI, bringing it more in line with the premium Android experiences we are used to. Look for the G3 to see a global launch in the coming weeks.
Honorable Mention
We only have room for five on our list, but there are plenty of other great phones to consider. Here are five more that barely missed out on being one of our top phones for the month of June.
OnePlus One — There are plenty of reasons to like the OnePlus One — if you can manage to get your hands on one. The phone’s launch has been plagued with issues when it comes to getting the device in users’ hands, but it offers a great mix of affordability and high-end specs.
Oppo Find 7a— Similar to the OnePlus One, and possibly the basis from which that phone was developed, the Oppo Find 7a has the hardware to square off with any phone on this list. Also like the OnePlus One, it remains elusive for buyers.
LG G Pro 2 — LG’s phablet-sized device drops off the main list to make room for the LG G3, but with similar design and features, it remains a great option for those looking for a big big screen.
Samsung Galaxy Note 3 — Speaking of big big screens, Samsung Galaxy Note 3 is another option to consider in the phablet category. Not quite the Galaxy S5 in terms of hardware, the Note 3’s include S Pen stylus offers a refreshingly different method of interacting with your Android device.
Moto X — Customizability, affordable pricing, and a clean, simple Android implementation make the Moto X a phone to consider for Android purists on a budget.
Phones to look forward to
With Samsung, HTC, and LG all pushing their flagship phones for 2014 within the past few months alongside offerings from newer manufacturers like Oppo and OnePlus, our slate of anticipated smartphones has been wiped clean. If we didn’t mention it above or if it’s not mentioned among the rumored devices below, chances are it hasn’t featured as even a blip on our radar. The good news? With so many stellar options on the market and nothing in the pipeline to provide cause for second guessing a purchasing decision, now is a great time to buy an Android smartphone.
Rumor Mill
We know what’s available. We know there hasn’t been much announced that we can’t already get our hands on, but what else is out there. Here are a couple more devices that are starting to gain some buzz in anticipation of their rumored launches.
Is it too early to start hyping the Samsung Galaxy Note 4? Not much is currently known about the handset, but if Samsung stays on schedule we should expect a fall release. The Note 4 could incorporate technologies introduced with the Galaxy S5 (namely a fingerprint scanner and health-oriented sensors), feature a Quad HD display, and take on an entirely new form factor (like the concept render above). The handset is also rumored to launch alongside Samsung’s next volley of wearables — a Google Glass competitor could debut among them.
So what are people actually buying? Amazon has the list for us. The retailer’s Best Sellers list reflect many of the same devices we named above, but what about the ones that didn’t grace our rankings? Below are the top-selling smartphones on Amazon that we didn’t already mention above.
Another month, another list. What did we get right? What did we get wrong? Sound off in the comments below and let us know what you consider the best Android phone available as of June 2014!
We're less than a week away from this year's E3 convention in Los Angeles, and publishers will be talking about a slew of games available over the next two years.
This annual conference gets our nerd juices flowing with the new game possibilities, so we rounded up the stuff we're most excited to see. This doesn't even include all the unannounced titles waiting in the wings from many publishers, or the indie breakout hits that might be at the show.
In Mario Kart, there is no room for friends — there are only enemies.
Luigi is apparently taking the recent release of Mario Kart 8 pretty seriously. Typically a light-hearted goofball in a green hat, the character was caught by a player giving other racers the stink-eye after ruthlessly taking them out.
The new 'tude has earned Luigi his own fan club on Reddit. Inspired by the video above, r/LuigiDeathStares is currently featured on Reddit's trending page.
When superheroes aren't saving the world from crime and devastation, they're jamming on stage and partying in the tour bus.
At least that's how it would be if graphic artist Andrés Moncayo had anything to say about it. In a series of illustrations, he's envisioned a world where superheroes trade their spandex for, well, flashier spandex.
Both the Justice League and the Avengers got the rocker treatment. Stripped of the clean-cut paragons of truth and justice, these rock stars are decidedly more of the grunge and glam variety. Moncayo gave each hero their own custom costume to wear on stage at that filthy dive bar, where they're undoubtedly playing a slew of sold out shows Read more...
The Taliban have released a video that reportedly shows the handover of U.S. Sgt. Bowe Bergdahl to U.S. Special Forces
Bergdahl spent five years in captivity after Afghan militants captured him. He was released in eastern Afghanistan on June 1 in a high-stakes exchange for five militants held at Guantanamo Bay. The video shows a visibly nervous Bergdahl sitting in a vehicle guarded by masked, armed men
Sgt. Bowe Bergdahl is seen sitting in a car in the Afghanistan countryside.
He is then shown outside of the vehicle as a U.S. helicopter lands in the dusty mountainside. Unarmed American soldiers jump out, pat down Bergdahl and lead him to the waiting helicopter. Read more...
A YouTube video of a woman's racist outburst was universally condemned on social media Wednesday
The video [NSFW: It contains foul language and racist slurs], titled "Blatant Racism in Cheektowaga, NY" shows a woman with two underage kids upset over an incident that had happened earlier. Alleging the man sitting in a car of "scaring her kids," the woman shouts a bevy of insults towards him, including the n-word, and threatens to have her husband, who "don't like black people either," "whoop his ass"
Here's proof that GoPro cameras can be used for much more than capturing first-person perspectives of extreme sports.
A video uploaded to YouTube on Monday shows alarming footage of an alleged armed robbery of a bicycle on May 31 in Somerset West, South Africa. The bike rider, referred to only as Malcolm, was wearing a GoPro — which was not stolen — that captured the entire incident, including clear images of the faces of the thieves
The YouTube description, which Malcolm posted to his channel Lucky Jakkals, says that he was on the last leg of his bike ride from Ongegund and that "armed gunman and two others" stopped him and took his cellphone, car keys, Oakley sunglasses and bike Read more...
I’ve been a big proponent of Instagram ever since the service first launched. A social network centered around using photos to share your daily life, it was a great way to get a peek into your friends and families lives visually. There’s no question when Instagram first launched, its main draw was that it was easy for the casual smartphone user to make their photos look great using simple filters, or other light edits. But that’s where the photo editing stopped.
New photo editing tools!
Today, Instagram is announcing their all new version 6.0, and it’s as big of an update as they come. Typically, photo perfectionist would go into the photo editing app of their choice (Snapseed, VSCO Came, etc.) and make edits, save those edits, then upload that photo to Instagram. No anymore. With Instagram 6.0′s new photo editing tools, users can now make basic edits to their photographs, adjusting the warmth, brightness, contrast, or saturation of their images before they apply filters. What’s more is the photo filters can now be adjusted on their own, giving users the ability to adjust the intensity for a more subdued filter.
There’s still more work to be done
These new options are much welcomed for sure. But there’s still more work to be done. Despite 1080p smartphones becoming the norm nowadays (and quad HD fast approaching), Instagram still only displays photos in a lower resolution. While this may sound perfect for iOS devices, the world has since moved on from sub-720p. I mean, this is a photo app after all. It’s 2014. Would it kill Instagram to up the resolution even a little bit for full HD devices?
Click image for full view
Also, you may have noticed that no matter how amazing your 15 gigapixel Android camera is, photos you’ve uploaded end up looking like they’ve been snapped with a potato. Turns out the Android version of the app compresses images to a hideous, pixel-ie mess, a problem we should note is not present in the iOS version. The result? Your friends and family gloating over how much better the photos they’ve taken with their iPhone 4 look compared to your Galaxy S5.
We’re not sure entirely sure why the favoritism, but even with countless updates, Instagram has failed to do a damn thing about this issue for years now. Until they do something about this — and it’s possible Instagram 6.0 could have fixed this issue — no amount of photo editing or filters will help your Android photos look like anything more than 16-bit.
We’re anxiously awaiting Instagram 6.0 to hit the Google Play Store. You can update as soon as it goes live via the link below.
It’s been a fair amount of time since we last heard talk of “Android TV.” Back in early April we saw things pick up steam after receiving a few leaked screenshots from the upcoming OS, another effort by Google to bring Android to the living room. There weren’t very many details, but today the folks at GigaOM have obtained new information on Google’s Android TV project, giving us a better idea of what to expect when it’s finally unveiled at this year’s Google I/O 2014.
Once again, Google is banking on creating a platform for television manufacturers to bake into their wares, just like Google’s first effort with Google TV. But aside from pay-TV services and applications, Android TV’s killer feature will be gaming — something the Chromecast simply isn’t equipped for.
Google is calling the user interface “Pano,” and it allows users to scroll horizontally through movies and shows which are linked to apps and services. This means instead of opening an app like Netflix for something to watch, the content from all these apps is already displayed as soon as you turn on the TV. A recently leaked changelog for Android 4.4.3 revealed a ton of references to Pano, so it’s entirely possible we’ll see the new firmware update launch during I/O as well.
There’s a lot of questions that pop up with Android TV and one is why Google is even bothering creating another platform, one that in some ways competes with Chromecast. Apparently, Google wants to cover all their bases, and by offering a more robust platform — one that also includes video gaming — television manufacturers will have a product they can rally behind. But it might be a tough sell considering all those that were burned by Google’s initial Google TV offering.
In the end, exactly who is willing to give Google another chance will likely be revealed at Google I/O, and we’re excited to see Pichai and the Android team put a little heat on Amazon and their newly launched Fire TV.
If you thought last year’s Samsung Galaxy Mega 5.8 and 6.3 were blurring the lines between phone and tablet, the upcoming Samsung Galaxy Mega 7.0 is looking to sh*t all over that. Leaked online for China Mobile thanks to a 3rd party case manufacturer, this Samsung Galaxy Mega followup (SM-T2558 and SM-T2556) is said to feature a whopping 7-inch 720p display, one that is sure to push the limits of your new skinny jeans.
Keep in mind the Mega has never been a power house. It’s merely a way for Samsung to tackle the affordable phablet market, one that is currently left wide open by smartphone OEMs. Other specs for the Mega 7.0 include a quad-core Snapdragon 400 processor, 1.5GB of RAM, and 8GB of internal storage. You can see from the leaked image above that Samsung will once again follow the “faux leather” design language made popular by their Note line.
No word on US availability or pricing, but knowing Samsung — they’ll have a Mega for every market. We’ll keep an eye out.
Apple's OS X Mac software is expected to get a big update next week at the company's WorldWide Developer's Conference, and it's expected to get another California-centric name.
Keeping in line with the state-specific theme that first popped up in OS X 10.9 Mavericks (named after a popular surfing locale), the next-generation desktop operating system could be named after California's Yosemite National Park — if banners at the event space are any indication.
The news comes as workers at the Moscone West center in San Francisco has been hanging banners that feature "X" (for the OS X release) and "8" (for the iOS 8 release) Read more...
The Chrome Remote Desktop app was long overdue when Google finally launched it a few weeks back, and already there's a much requested feature addition. As of the newest update, which started rolling out yesterday, the app supports immersive mode on Android 4.4. 
Update Wednesday isn't over until Google says it is over. Hell, we might even get an update Thursday and update Friday if Mountain View feels like it. The newest update from Google is the YouTube app, which has hit v5.7 with at least one much needed improvement. 
