Google Play Store finally has separate charts for apps and games

Finding the most popular games on the Google Play Store has always been pretty easy, thanks to the charts for free and paid software. Now, finally, this feature has appeared on the Play Store for regular apps too, making it easier to keep track of the most popular apps around. And it's only taken 8 years.

Importantly, the new chart completely sifts out games from the app list, so each of the two have their very own segregated categories without any cross over. No more trawling past Pokemon GO or Angry Birds to find decent apps. Google has decided to keep the useful separate lists for free and paid for apps, but the paid for options arenow moved lower down the page. However, to keep things from becoming completely cluttered, the "Top new free" and "Top new paid" charts have disappeared, so keeping on top of the latest releases is going to be tougher. To sum up, now you can view individual Top Charts for free apps, free games, trending, paid for apps, and paid for games.

For those who really don't like to play games on their phone or tablet, one of the few ways to keep on top of apps and filter out the games has been to use a an app/shortcut to the Play Store that removes games entirely. Basically, this app launches the Plat Store to a hidden "Apps Only" page. If you want, you can still download this app from the Play Store, although hopefully Google's latest changes have helped eliminate the need for such workarounds.

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Nexus Sailfish images confirm metal and glass design, fingerprint sensor

The last few days have been quite eventful for Nexus fans waiting to hear more about Google's upcoming device in 2016. After all the excitement generated by its leaked specs, features, and renders surfacing over the past several weeks, eager fans yesterday got to see the smartphone in the flesh for the first time. A blurred close-up image claiming to be that of the 2016 HTC Nexus featuring a glass and a fingerprint sensor on the rear was posted on an anonymous Twitter account.

The 2016 HTC Nexus looks like a cross between the Nexus 4 & iPhone with glass and fingerprint scanner on the back. http://pic.twitter.com/7pm9fhszki

— nexus (@usbfl) August 14, 2016

Now, more new images of the device have surfaced online, courtesy of Android Police, confirming its previously leaked metal and glass design and suggesting that it could be the smaller of the two Nexus devices, Sailfish slated for launch this year.

The image of a purported 2016 Nexus that appeared on Twitter matched its previous descriptions and mockups, showing the device with a glass and metal body, and a rear fingerprint sensor. In the image, a camera and flash were visible in the top left corner, along with a headphone port on the top right edge of the handset.

The latest leaked images now confirm the glass panel and fingerprint sensor on the back, and the same camera and sensor layout, though the device appears to be much thinner in comparison to the previous image on Twitter. The "G" logo on the rear bottom is also missing, but is likely to feature on the final device when it arrives in the market.

There's no official word yet on when the 2016 Nexus will arrive, but rumors point to an October 4 launch. With the number of leaks only increasing of late, what we can certainly confirm is that an official announcement should be forthcoming very soon.

Are you excited about the upcoming Nexus 2016? Hit the comments below to let us know!

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Samsung uses IBM “brain chip” to build a digital eye

Samsung might be best known for its Galaxy smartphones, but the company is also busy working away on some less conventional ideas. The company has just unveiled a new prototype digital eye that is built on IBM's neuron inspired TrueNorth processors.

IBM's TrueNorth chips don't work like traditional CPUs found inside today's electronics. Instead the processor is built from 4,096 computing cores that are all interlinked by some 256 million connections. This design more closely represents the way that the human brain works, with each core sending short messages to one another to help process data.

Neuromorphic chip designs like this are optimized for processing large amounts of data, while consuming less power than traditional processors. Samsung had adapted TrueNorth into its Dynamic Vision Sensor, which uses the processor to analyze each individual camera pixel for changes at a lightening fast speed of 2,000 frames per second. This high frame rate enables the digital eye to accurately track movement in a 3D space.

Samsung showcased its brain-like digital eye in the form of a motion gesture controlled TV.

Samsung showed off its system in the form of a TV system that could recognize hand gestures, finger waves, and even finger pinches from up to 10 feet away. There are plenty of other potential uses for Neuromorphic processors though, ranging from AI to self-driving cars. The Air Force Research Laboratory is investigating how successful the processors are at detecting computer attacks, turning text and audio in searchable data, and allowing for autonomous drone flights.  The Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory has successfully used the processor to pick out vehicles in cluttered overhead video surveillance simulations.

What's particularly impressive about Samsung's digital eye is that it only consumes around 300 milliwatts of power, about a tenth of your typical smartphone processor. This means that this chip or similar designs could be implemented as an assistant processor alongside today's CPUs, even in relatively low power systems. TrueNorth is also suitable for use in higher-end systems and AI research. IBM already combines its processors in 16-chip packages.

See also: New AI chip could bring artificial intelligence to your smartphone7

There's clearly a lot more research to be done into areas of computer learning and new Neuromorphic processors, but this emerging field is already moving along quite quickly. We've already seen what can be done with ideas like Google's Tango and Intel's RealSense, not to mention that modular smartphone components are now being trialled in the market, so there's certainly a lot of potential here that might not be too far away.

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Do not pass Pokemon Go: cheaters now getting perma-banned

As a microcosm of the world at large, Pokemon GO has become a seething hotbed of inequality, jacked-up competition and crafty scammers. The kind of place where some folks think the only way to get ahead is to bend the rules or flat out cheat. Well, not anymore: Niantic is now permanently banning those that use location spoofers, optimization tools and Pokemon maps or that otherwise hack and cheat their way to the top.

See also: The new Pokemon Go map staying one step ahead of Niantic36

On a new FAQ page on Pokemon GO's support portal, there is a new section on appealing a ban. Niantic explains that accounts are now being banned permanently for violating Pokemon GO's terms of service rather than temporarily banned as they were previously. In one fell swoop, cheating is now an internecine affair, one even more devastating to the cheaters than their fair-playing friends.

Those being banned are deemed guilty of the following (among other things): "falsifying your location, using emulators, modified or unofficial software and/or accessing Pokémon GO clients or backends in an unauthorized manner including through the use of third party software."

Obviously, all of these crimes fall outside what Niantic would expect from players of their game. Video game culture has always had a healthy undercurrent of cheats, hacks, mods and tricks to get ahead, so it's no surprise that Pokemon GO is not exempt. How Niantic is picking up on cheaters is a still a bit of a mystery though.

Permanently banning cheaters is pretty extreme though – even if it is ultimately fairer to those that play by the rules. As Niantic notes, "Our goal is to provide a fair, fun and legitimate game experience for everyone." If you feel your account has been suspended unfairly, hit the source link for further information on how to appeal a ban.

Have you cheated at Pokemon GO? Do you think a perma-ban for cheaters is fair play?

ICYMI: Niantic testing new Nearby tracker in Pokemon GO

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Some Verizon and T-Mobile Galaxy Note 7 orders have already started shipping

The beautiful Galaxy Note 7 is only supposed to reach customers' hands from August 19, but some lucky Verizon and T-Mobile subscribers are getting early access.

Multiple users on XDA-Developers (via SamMobile) reported that they received charge notifications from their credit cards. The charging of the credit card is the first step in the order shipping process, so these users can expect to receive their Note 7's earlier than August 19.

Some T-Mobile users who pre-ordered the Note 7 also received shipping notifications, as well as parcel tracking numbers, with estimated arrival dates set for as soon as today, August 15.

This isn't the first time T-Mobile jumps the gun when it comes to the delivery of highly anticipated releases – the Magenta network also shipped the Galaxy S7 and S7 Edge ahead of their official launch date, for instance. In Verizon's case, however, early shipping is a pleasant surprise.

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As August 19 approaches, more and more customers who ordered the Galaxy Note 7 should receive their shipping notifications. Friday will bring the availability of the S Pen-equipped flagship in brick-and-mortar stores.

Read more: Galaxy Note 7 hands-on

Anyone here who's gotten their Note 7 shipping notices? Let us know!

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Crowdfunding project of the week: CASE Remote Air helps control a DSLR camera wirelessly

Sunday is back and we are ready to talk about the latest 'Crowdfunding project of the week'. In this article series we weed out the hundreds of campaigns we can live without, showcasing only the hottest projects from sites like Kickstarter and Indiegogo. Shall we get started?

Other featured projects:

• The COWAROBOT R1 is a suitcase that follows you
• The Superbook turns your smartphone into a laptop
• Modobag is a luggage bag you can ride!

Today we are taking a look at the CASE Remote Air. This is a gadget photographers can use to remotely control their DSLR cameras. The concept is pretty simple – this unit can connect to your camera via USB and stay docked in the hot shoe. After being plugged in, the device will create a WiFi hotspot to which your smartphone can connect. This will make it possible for users to control the camera using the included app.

We have seen similar solutions in the past, but CASE Remote Air seems to be more full-featured than usual. Once everything is set up you will be able to control your shutter speed, change the ISO, manage the aperture, select where the camera should focus and check the live view. Furthermore, there are advanced features like HDR, bulb, time-lapse, focus stacking and more.

The CASE Remote Air also supports a wide variety of cameras from Nikon and Canon. Those of you using other brands may be out of luck, though. Then again, that's usually how it goes with most third-party camera accessories.

Interested? The CASE Remote Air is not too expensive if you get it through the Indiegogo campaign, where you can sign up to get one for as low as $119. That's really not a bad price for a tool like this. Remember photography accessories can get very pricey, and this is something that can really take your shots to another level.

Check out the CASE Remote Air on Indiegogo

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It’s A Space Thing: shoot your way through space in this new retro arcade game

Having a boring weekend? A good game is always the right answer. Today we have a recommendation for you. It's A Space Thing is a new game flying into the Google Play Store. It is fast-paced, simple, fun and features a classic look we know plenty of you love.

The game dynamics are pretty easy to understand; it looks like a retro space shooter. Your plane is located at the bottom of the screen and you can shoot upwards. Meanwhile, there is an opponent at the top, trying to take you down. The goal is to get it before it blows you away.

Users can take advantage of power-ups and shields to gain an advantage over the enemy. The game currently has 5 bosses, endless mode and even multiplayer options. The only caveat is that multiplayer only works on a single device, so it's more of a challenge as opposed to a match.

It's A Space Thing features virtual keys, which are pretty straight forward. The left and right buttons are on the left side, while the right side houses the shooting and shield buttons.

It be pretty fun to play around with. Not to mention the fact that it's free, so you should at least give it a try.

Download It's A Space Thing

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