News: Google Charts Course for Location-Based AR Apps via Maps API
Franchises left and right are releasing Pokémon Go-style augmented reality games, and Google is making it even easier to churn out the apps.
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News: Volume Buttons in Android 9.0 Pie Actually Control Media by Default Now
In stock Android Oreo and below, the volume rockers change ringer volume by default unless audio is currently playing. In order to adjust media volume when media isn't playing, you have to tap the down arrow next to the ringer volume slider that appears at the top of the screen to see the option. Now, Android 9.0 Pie has flipped things around, giving media volume the limelight.
News: Blippar Adds Landmark Recognition to Its Bag of AR Tricks
Mobile augmented reality developer Blippar's mission is to construct a computer vision map the world, with visual recognition of thousands of notable buildings, bridges, castles, holy places. A major step toward that goal has been taken by the company this month with the announcement of its landmark recognition API.
News: The New Web-Based Snap Map Lets Anyone Watch Public Snaps, No Account Needed
When first released, Snap Map made a lot of users uneasy. Beaming their location to the world at all times isn't necessarily the definition of privacy, but Snapchat's map is nonetheless intriguing, offering users a view into the lives of people across the globe. Now, you don't even need to have an account to access Snap Map — you can view it right from your web browser.
How To: Get Snapchat's Super Bowl Filters & Show Your Eagles or Patriots Pride
Snapchat has been known to jazz it up for big events. They went deep on the Grammys, taking you behind the scenes — and adding a James Corden lens to boot. So when Snapchat had a super cool filter up their sleeve for Super Bowl LII, we weren't exactly shocked.
News: This Winter Olympics App Will Use Augmented Reality to Help Fans Navigate PyeongChang 2018
If navigating a new city for a sporting event, such as the upcoming Super Bowl LII in Minneapolis, Minnesota, is a daunting task, then making your way through a foreign country to a series of venues may seem like an impossible mission.
News: Airbnb Thinks an Augmented Reality Feature Will Make Your Next Stay Less Awkward
Just as the modern travel experience has improved thanks to the internet, Airbnb wants to make your stay in a stranger's home easier by way of augmented and virtual reality.
News: Into the Dead 2 Is Already One of the Best Free Action Games for Android & iPhone
The release of Into the Dead 2 has given fans of the zombie bashing genre a fresh game to enjoy, but it's also given us the opportunity to revisit our roundup for the best free action games for mobile. Not only did it replace its predecessor in our charts, it managed to surpass it. Here's what made the game shine through.
News: Hitman Sniper Topped Our Chart for the Best Paid Shooting Game — Get It Free on Android Right Now
Hitman Sniper topped our roundup for the best premium shooting games, and it's easy to see why. Straightforward yet intense story. Awesome visuals. Stealthy action. Strategic gameplay. Hitman Sniper is easily the best sniper game available for your smartphone, and it's currently free on Android for a limited time, as well as discounted for iPhone.
News: OnePlus CEO Possibly Confirms Pricing for the OnePlus 5T
It was a good weekend for OnePlus 5T rumors — it looks likely the 5T will be first appearing in New York, and we got a spec leak that supports the rumors we've already heard. However, perhaps the best 5T news came from OnePlus' CEO himself: The OnePlus 5T may cost $600 or less.
News: Mind Map AR Moving from Tango to ARCore
When Google announced its ARCore augmented reality toolkit for Android as its answer to Apple's ARKit for iPhones and iPads, the question from many observers was, "What about Tango?"
Apple AR: There's Really No Point to Playing StackAR in AR
When explaining augmented reality to the uninitiated, Pokémon Go is often cited as an example. For all its popularity, though, many players would recommend disabling the AR capabilities in catching Pokémon.
Apple AR: Move the AR World with Your Gestures in New Demo
The future is here with a new demo made with Apple's ARKit and LeapMotion. Typically, since ARKit works through your iPhone, in order to move augmented reality objects that are appearing on your screen, you have to drag them with your finger. However, developer Arthur Schiller is now playing around with how you can move augmented reality objects on your phone with gesture recognition, rather than by touching.
Apple AR: Mobile App Lets You Organize Your Meal Options with Event Planner
If you've ever organized an event, you know how chaotic it can be. Event planners are essential, but even so, taking the time to make sure it's organized and everyone is getting what they want can be stressful. Especially when you have to account for what every person is eating at the event, what their toppings are, and how they'd like their meal cooked.
Market Reality: Who Are the Most Active Investors in AR/VR?
While many analysts predict that the market for augmented and virtual reality will continue to grow over the next five years, now is the time for investors to get in on the ground floor.
How To: This Simple Trick Will Significantly Boost Multitasking on Your S8
Android Nougat included a feature that made it significantly easier for users to switch between recent apps, giving them the ability to quickly go to and fro like never before. This relatively unknown feature has carried over to the Galaxy S8, and it's sure to make multitasking on Samsung's flagship a whole lot more convenient.
News: Stop Trump from Building THAT Wall Using This App
Now, you can prevent Donald Trump from building that idiotic wall from the comfort of your smartphone. Well, in theory, you can, thanks to a hilarious new gaming app called — wait for it — Trump's Great Wall.
News: Google Introduces AI for Its Android Services That Learns from You Without Compromising Privacy
Google, the company that rules the internet, is now testing a method to leverage its machine learning with its ubiquitous presence on mobile devices. The new model they're employing is called Federated Learning, and it hopes to apply artificial intelligence to Google's services on Android without compromising user privacy.
News: Shazam Sets Sights on AR Advertising with iPhone & Android App Updates
The company that pioneered music scanning for mobile devices is moving into the augmented reality advertising arena. Included in an update of their iOS and Android apps last week, Shazam can now scan special codes to immerse users in 3D animations, 360-degree videos, mini-games, and other AR content.
How To: Turn on Google Pixel's Fingerprint Swipe Notification Gesture
For some strange reason, Google left several of the Pixel's best software features disabled by default. One of the more interesting tweaks that fall into this category is a gesture that puts your fingerprint scanner to use after you've unlocked your phone.
How To: StepLock Makes You Exercise to Use Your Favorite Android Apps
Most newer Android devices manufactured in 2014 or later have a built-in pedometer for tracking your fitness activity. This step counter is a great way to keep yourself in shape and motivated, but developer Leonardo Cavaletti has come up with an even better way to put it to use.
News: Apple Music Gets a Complete, More Intuitive Redesign in iOS 10
iPhone and iPad users are getting a huge update with iOS 10, and one of the biggest (and most sought after) redesigns is to the Music app, as shown at Apple's WWDC '16. The redesign essentially makes the user interface easier to navigate, which was something that was fairly clunky starting in iOS 8.4 when Apple Music was first released.
How To: iOS App Store Not Loading or Working on Your iPhone? Here's the Quick Fix
You find and update all of your apps using the iOS App Store, and if you have updates scheduled automatically, it could be working hard on a daily basis. With all of that work, it can lose its footing from time to time and cause things not to work as they should.
How To: 5 Soda Pranks You Must Try!
Video: . ?The following are 5 practical jokes you can set up on your friends and family, All these pranks involve sodas so make sure you have a few handy if you want to try out these pranks. Just a little warning, 4 out of the 5 pranks showcased in this intractable are pretty messy so prank at your own risk.
How To: Having Trouble Picking a New Phone? This Chart Will Help You Choose
When it comes time to buy a new smartphone, the sheer amount of options on the market can make you feel overwhelmed. There are Android devices of all shapes and sizes with different functionalities and price points, and now, even Apple has three unique iPhone models to fit various budgets.
How To: Get Back the Old YouTube Player if You Hate the New Transparent Design
YouTube has officially rolled out their new video player design, featuring transparent controls floating above the video, replacing the opaque ones. While you've been able to enable this player for a while now, YouTube finally flipped the switch and enabled it site-wide. Problem is, there's no way to turn it off, and that has quite a few people miffed. While the redesign is sleeker, it isn't everyone's cup of tea. Many users are complaining about everything from the idle progress being remove...
The Duvet Burrito: How to Put a Duvet Cover on Your Comforter the Easy Way
Making the bed is a challenging task, but trying to put a duvet cover over top your comforter is a challenge on a whole different level.
How To: TextStats Gives You Detailed Info of Your Text Messaging Habits on Android
With the advent of text messaging, our communication habits have changed drastically. Social niceties are still there, but we budget our words a little more since they have to be typed out rather than spoken. After all, SMS stands for "Short Message Service," so this is the nature of the beast.
How To: Get 'Edge Notifications' Like the Samsung Galaxy S6 Edge Has on Any Android
Samsung's got a pair of beautiful new flagship devices coming out this spring that will surely top the sales charts. The Galaxy S5's successor is truly worthy of that title, but a second variant with a curved display turned heads at Mobile World Congress this weekend.
How To: Unlock This Hidden Setting to Make Your Android's Layout Better for Left-Handed Use
Left-handers only make up about ten percent of the world, which means they typically have to use things made for the majority, i.e., right-handed people. If that wasn't annoying enough, there are studies that show that lefties actually get paid less.
How To: Automatically Lock & Unlock Your Android with Your Pocket
There are those who hold their phone or set it down when they're not using it, and others, like myself, who pocket it. If you're like me and are rocking the pants pocket fade, then you'll love the new Android app I found.
How To: Get Perfectly Composed, High-Res Selfies on Android Using Your Rear Camera
Maybe it is narcissistic to take selfies, but it has become a socially accepted norm, no matter how stupid you might look doing it. Since so many people are seemingly in love with themselves and mobile photography, I thought it was about time to show you how to step up your selfie game.
How To: Cast Videos Directly from Your Mobile Browser to Your Chromecast
With the development kit fully open, the functionality of our Chromecasts seem to expand with each passing day. From a portable gaming system to your own personalized news station, our little gadgets have a lot going for them.
How To: Never Get Another Hanger Bump Again with This Sweater Hanging Secret Tip
I'm one of very few Americans that suffer from TMS syndrome, i.e. Too Much Swag. While there are no current cures for the disease, I'm in no rush to rid myself of the problem.
How To: Remove Ads in Flappy Bird on Both Android & iOS Devices
Flappy Bird is the extremely difficult, overly frustrating, strangely similar, yet highly addictive smartphone game from .GEARS STUDIOS that has catapulted its way to the top of the charts on both Google Play and the iOS App Store—seemingly out of nowhere.
Forget Boring Ringtones: How to Make Your Phone Announce Your Caller's Name Instead
Wouldn't it be cool to know exactly who is calling or messaging you without ever looking at your phone? It'd be a great way to keep you from reaching into your pocket or purse every time you get a message, and an efficient method to ignore people you'd rather not deal with.
How To: Unblock Netflix, Amazon Instant and 60 Other Channels with No Location Restrictions on Xbox 360 & Xbox One
Streaming apps like Netflix, Hulu and Amazon Instant Video have been available on game consoles for a while, but if you're in a country where they're blocked, it can be hard to find a way around. There are apps and extensions like Hola Unblocker and Media Hint and that to bypass location restrictions on your computer, but what about your Xbox?
How To: Unblock Netflix, Amazon Instant and 60 Other Channels with No Location Restrictions on Your PlayStation 3 or 4
There are several ways to get around location restrictions on subscription sites like Netflix and Hulu using apps, extensions and proxies, but they tend to only work on laptops and computers. Users who want to access content from mobile devices and gaming consoles are usually out of luck.
How To: Cook Your Thanksgiving Turkey in Half the Time
I've never been a huge fan of the traditional roasted turkey at Thanksgiving. Different parts of the bird finish cooking at different times, so by the time the legs are cooked through, the breast meat is totally dry. If you don't want to go the deep-frying route, how can you still end up with a moist and delicious turkey?
How To: Reverse the Scrolling Direction on Your Microsoft Surface's Trackpad in Windows 8.1
If you had the original Microsoft Surface with Windows 8 and a Type or Touch cover, you know how big a pain in the ass it was to change the scrolling direction of the trackpad.