Next-gen Gear VR may feature eye and face tracking

The first consumer generation of virtual reality headsets are now settling in, and it's about time manufacturers start turning their attention to next generation technologies. A patent application filed by Samsung last May reveals that the company may have some new wearing tracking technologies planned for its next Gear VR headset.

According to the document, the major new feature in Samsung's next headset will quite possible be eye tracking and facial monitoring capabilities, in addition to new headset position tracking sensors to follow the headset through a 3D space. This could allow the next Gear VR to take users walking through 3D virtual environments without a controller, rather than being a mostly motionless experience. The Gear VR's physical position tracking technology uses LED lights and an external camera, while the wearer's face and eyes are monitored by cameras built into the inside of the headset.

110: head mounted device, 115a: tracking camera

It's not quite clear what the patent's facial expression monitoring feature would be especially useful for. Perhaps it will allow for virtual social interactions to be more lifelike? Eye tracking can be especially useful in virtual reality though, as it can allow for the use of advanced accurate foveated rendering by following the wearer's eye, which reduced the GPU load, a limiting factor in mobile devices.

1605: EOG sensor, 1610: IR LED, 1615: IR sensor

Of course, a patent application is no guarantee that Samsung will implement any of these technologies into its next-gen Gear VR, although it does give us an indication of the types of technologies that the company is working on. Even so, we're hopefully looking at an interesting headset release perhaps sometime in 2017.

This article first appeared on VRSource.

from Android Authority http://ift.tt/2fQG4yT
via IFTTT

Leap of Fate is a cyberpunk, Roguelike, twin-stick shooter coming to Android tomorrow

Isometric shooter Leap of Fate is headed to Android tomorrow following its launch on PC in March and iOS in August. Developed by Clever-Plays, Leap of Fate is set in a fantasy cyberpunk version of New York and features hundreds of enemy types and magic abilities.

You play as one of four "technomages" who must blast their way through six stages, taking down hordes of enemies, finding loot and battling bosses. It houses Roguelike elements such as procedurally generated levels and permadeath (which means when you die you lose your character and all of its progress), though there are some lasting unlocks, meaning each death won't be entirely in vain.

See also:

The latest Humble Mobile Bundle has 15 HandyGames titles (Update: 5 more games!)

2 days ago

Leap of Fate will cost $3.99 like on iOS and it has received a number of positive reviews – and award nominations – from its PC release earlier in the year. Look out for it in the Google Play Store on December 1 and check out the launch trailer below.

from Android Authority http://ift.tt/2fQIfCo
via IFTTT

Twitter enforces controversial new ‘comment ranking’ system

Some of you will have noticed a new Direct Reply count in Twitter, conveniently letting you know how many folks have replied to a tweet directly. This is good. But alongside this change, Twitter has also implemented a controversial new comment ranking system that discards the old chronological approach in favor of a popularity algorithm.

See also:

Best Twitter apps for Android

January 22, 2016

Unlike Twitter's previous introduction of a Facebook-like 'relevancy algorithm' to your feed, the new comment ranking system is not opt-in (or opt-out for that matter). From now on, Twitter will sort the order of the comments on your tweets according to those it deems 'the most interesting content in the conversation'.

Here's what Twitter had to say about the new system:

"You may notice that some replies in a conversation are not shown in chronological order. Replies are grouped by sub-conversations because we strive to show you the best content first, and what we think you'd be most interested in. For example, when ranking a reply higher, we consider factors such as if the original Tweet author has replied, or if a reply is from someone you follow."

Direct Reply count (left) and comments not in chronological order (right)

Ultimately, what Twitter is trying to do is ensure the comments you're most likely to want to read first are the ones you see first. This isn't necessarily a bad thing, as most of us would prefer to see comments from our friends and follow-backers before random commenters in chronological order. This is the same theory applied to the 'best tweets first' option in your Twitter settings.

The problem lies in the fact that you can't opt out of comment ranking if you prefer the existing chronological approach.

The problem lies in the fact that you can't opt out of comment ranking if you prefer the existing chronological approach. This detail alone is sure to irk more than a few users, and perhaps justifiably so.

As is well known, a large part of Twitter's immense popularity is(was) based on its real-time chronological flow. Shifting to a more Facebook-like popularity contest is a big sea change for the platform. But it's one that seems to be working.

At this point it's not clear if Twitter will eventually allow users to choose whether or not to use the comment ranking system, but as always, if you want the choice to be yours, be sure to let Twitter know your thoughts. Maybe your tweet will get enough likes and replies to rise to the top where it'll actually be visible.

Do you like the relevancy approach or would you prefer to be able to opt-in or out?

from Android Authority http://ift.tt/2fLiuQM
via IFTTT

LG V20 launches in India today for Rs. 54,999

LG may have been relatively quiet on the matter, but India-based retailer Mahesh Telecom has revealed that the LG V20 will be going on sale in India from today. The handset will be priced at Rs. 54,999 ($800) at launch, with a recommended retail price set at Rs. 60,000 ($875), according to the Tweet.

Mahesh Telecom is also offering a selection of buyback (trade-in) schemes, if you want to pick up the handset a little cheaper. The complimentary Bang & Olufsen headphones will also be thrown in for free for those who pick up a LG V20 early.

New Launch #LGV20 – Best buy Rs.54999/- ( MRP Rs.60000/-)
check the below image for exciting Buyback offers.
(stocks by tomorrow) http://pic.twitter.com/6Klac6OqE8

— Mahesh Telecom (@MAHESHTELECOM) November 29, 2016

The LG V20 wasn't expected to launch at such a high price point in India, a cost more in the region of Rs. 50,000 was anticipated. Unfortunately a sharp decline in the value of the rupee in the past three weeks is likely having an impact on import costs, and LG has apparently been having problems lining up retailer partnerships in the country as well.

For a quick recap, the V20 comes equipped with a QHD 5.7-inch display with a 2.1-inch secondary ticker panel, a Snapdragon 820 processor, 4GB of RAM, and 32/64GB of internal memory. There's a dual rear camera configuration with a 16MP main sensor and 8MP wide angle lens, a 5MP front facing camera, 3,200mAh battery, Quick Charge 3.0 support, and an impressive DAC for high fidelity audio playback.

For everything else that you need to know about the V20, be sure to check out our in-depth review below. Will you be buying one?

Videos

LG V20 review

LG V20 vs LG V10

LG V20 Camera Comparison vs Galaxy...

LG V20 vs Samsung Galaxy Note 7

from Android Authority http://ift.tt/2fLetM2
via IFTTT

Despite being fast, the HTC Bolt won’t sell like hotcakes

HTC Bolt, the Sprint-exclusive device, was announced a few weeks ago. Thanks to Sprint's LTE Plus network, the smartphone can reach very fast download speeds of up to 450 million bits per second. But is speed enough to consumers users to buy?

The Bolt, named after the fastest man on earth — Usain Bolt — is clearly targeted at users looking for a snappy Android experience. At least in terms of download speeds, with HTC telling Forbes that "network speeds, not the processor, are the most common speed bump". This is notable because the HTC Bolt uses the ageing —and much maligned — Snapdragon 810 chipset.

But according to Forbes, the Taiwanese manufacturer is setting itself up for failure. Citing market analysts, Forbes doubts the Bolt will be able to increase HTC's market share, for rather obvious reasons: it doesn't provide what users want.

See also:

HTC Bolt buyers can now get a free USB-C to 3.5mm headphone adapter

6 days ago

IDC did a survey across the Asian continent earlier this year asking people what the most important factor for them was when looking for a new smartphone. The data shows that both download speed and processor speed are simply not a priority for most consumers. Users (at least in Asia) care more about the screen size and the brand than they do about speed.

Price also plays an important role when buying a new smartphone. And with the Bolt retailing for 600 bucks, analysts believe that it is overpriced. Eddie Han, an analyst with the research organization Market Intelligence & Consulting Institute in Taipei said, "To our knowledge, owing to the relatively high price tag, the HTC Bolt is not going to have high levels of shipments."

Owing to the relatively high price tag, the HTC Bolt is not going to have high levels of shipments.

The fact that HTC has used the older Snapdragon 810 processor in the Bolt won't help it boost sales either. Even though the company highlighted the importance of network speed over processor speed, it's still hard to sell a year-old chipset as anything other than a year-old chipset. Especially when the device it's in has a very contemporary price tag.

If Forbes is right, the HTC Bolt won't propel HTC across the finish line like its namesake, which means even more trouble for the already-struggling manufacturer. Market analysts may think that HTC should focus on other factors than speed when marketing their devices and lower their prices at the same time, but what do you think?

What is your top priority when buying a new smartphone? Is is the brand, design, camera…?

from Android Authority http://ift.tt/2gIkhIo
via IFTTT

Samsung share price soars to a record high

Despite the Galaxy Note 7 recall and witnessing the biggest drop in its smartphone market share and sales this year, the stock price for Samsung Electronics hit a record high earlier today at 1.747 million won, or just under $1,500 a piece. The surge came after the company announced a list of measures to boost shareholder value in the short term, which added $9 billion to the company's market valuation.

Earlier, Samsung announced up to $3.6 billion in dividend payouts this year, which could add up to $256 per share. This marks a 36 percent increase in payouts over last year, and the company has committed to returning 50 percent of its free cash flow to shareholders through dividends and treasury share buybacks in 2017 as well. While this strategy is good news for investors in the short term, Samsung is burning through around $10 billion in its cash reserve to keep shareholders happy.

The company is also reviewing the proposal to split its corporate structure into two separate businesses, a move that could be another boon for its stock price and simplify the company's structure in the longer term. The new structure would see Samsung reorganized into one holding and one operating company, however a decision isn't expected to be made for another six months. The split was initially proposed by US hedge fund and Samsung shareholder Elliott Management, which is keeping up the pressure for a split.

The day hasn't all gone perfectly for the electronics giant though. The US Court of Appeals has rejected Samsung's bid for a second hearing regarding its long running case over three iOS patent infringements. Samsung originally lost the case back in 2014, which related to auto-correct, quick links, and slide-to-unlock patents held by Apple for use with iOS. Samsung was ordered to pay $119.6 million at the time, which is a lot less than the $2.2 billion that Apple requested.

Samsung didn't receive much support from the industry on the matter, with only the Computer & Communications Industry Association filing an amicus curiae brief in support. The brief suggested that blogger conspiracy theories and political gamesmanship influenced a previous reinstatement decision, which the court doesn't appear to have taken to kindly to.

from Android Authority http://ift.tt/2gUOXt3
via IFTTT

Meizu PRO 6 Plus and Meizu M3X announced

Meizu has announced a pair of new smartphones at an event in China. The M3X (above right) is the latest in Meizu's midrange lineup while the Pro 6 Plus (above left) is the Chinese company's new flagship. Find out all the details below.

Beginning with the Meizu M3X, this handset features a metal unibody with a 5.5-inch 1080p display and Helio P20 16 nm processor. It comes in 3 GB or 4 GB RAM variants running Flyme OS software, based on Android Marshmallow, and packs a 3,200 mAh battery with fast charging.

The Meizu M3X will cost CNY 1,699 (~$247) for the 3 GB/32 GB model and CNY 1,999 (~290) for the 4 GB/64 GB version. Check out the rest of the specs below:

• 5.5-inch Full-HD (1920 x 1080 pixels) LCD display
• 2.3 GHz MediaTek Helio P20 octa-core processor with Mali T880 GPU
• 3 GB RAM with 32 GB internal storage / 4 GB RAM with 64 GB internal storage
• Flyme OS based on Android 6.0 Marshmallow
• Dual SIM support
• 12 MP rear camera with dual tone LED flash, Sony IMX386 sensor, f/2.0 aperture, 4K video recording
• 5 MP front-facing camera with f/2.0 aperture
• Fingerprint scanner
• Dimensions: 153.8 x 76 x 7.4 mm;
• Weight: 165 g
• 4G VoLTE, WiFi 802.11 a/b/g/n (2.4/5 GHz), Bluetooth 4.1 LE, GPS, USB Type-C
• 3,200 mAh battery with fast charging

The Pro 6 Plus is an upgraded version of Meizu's Pro 6 phablet, featuring a 5.7-inch QHD display, 3D touch display and Exynos 8890 processor (the same found in the Galaxy S7). It features a Sony IMX386 sensor like the M3X but also provides a few additional camera features such as a dual-tone 10-LED ring flash, laser autofocus and 4-axis optical image stabilisation.

The 64 GB version comes in at CNY 2,999 (~$435) while the 128 GB variant – which also has higher processing power – arrives at CNY 3,299 (~$479). The vital specs include:

• 5.7-inch QHD (2560 x 1440 pixels) Super AMOLED display with 3D Touch, Corning Gorilla Glass 4 protection
• 2 GHz (64 GB variant) / 2.3 GHz (128 GB variant) Exynos 8890 octa-core processor with Mali-T880 MP10 GPU
• 4 GB LPDDR4 RAM, 64 GB / 128 GB (UFS 2.0) internal storage
• Flyme OS based on Android 6.0 Marshmallow
• Dual SIM support
• 12 MP rear camera with dual-tone 10-LED ring flash, laser autofocus, 4-axis OIS, f/2.0 aperture, 4K video recording
• 5 MP front-facing camera with f/2.0 aperture
• Fingerprint scanner, heart rate monitor
• Dimensions: 155.6 × 77.3 x 7.3 mm
• Weight: 158 g
• 4G VoLTE , WiFi 802.11 ac (2.4/5 GHz), Bluetooth 4.1, GPS, USB 3.1 Type-C, NFC
• 3400 mAh battery with fast charging

Both devices are up for pre-order right now at Meizu.com and will be released in China soon but there's no word on an international release just yet.

Are you interested in either of these handsets? Let us know in the comments.

from Android Authority http://ift.tt/2fKRCjV
via IFTTT