Mar 23

Apple’s iBooks Could Be Getting A Revamp According To Job Listings

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When it comes to e-books, it’s safe to say that Amazon and its Kindle ecosystem have pretty much got the market cornered. We know that Apple has tried their hand at e-books with the launch of iBooks, but it is clear that it is definitely nowhere near what Amazon has achieved with their platform.

However it looks like thanks to job listings spotted on LinkedIn by Macotakara (via AppleInsider), that could change as it would suggest that Apple could be looking to revamp iBooks. This is actually not the first time we’re hearing about this because according to AppleInsider, they have “confirmed” earlier this year that a revamped iBooks could be in the works and that Apple could simply refer to it as “Books”.

This would be in line with what Apple has been doing in recent times where they have slowly started to drop the “i” in certain products and services. AppleInsider points at evidence in earlier builds of the iOS 11.3 update where in previous betas, “Books” was referenced several times, but this has since been reverted in more recent releases.

It is unclear what kind of revamp we are looking at, but if and when it were to launch, chances are Apple might be announcing it at WWDC later this year where Apple has confirmed that it will be taking place from the 4th to the 8th of March.

Apple’s iBooks Could Be Getting A Revamp According To Job Listings , original content from Ubergizmo. Read our Copyrights and terms of use.

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Mar 23

Concept App Uses Augmented Reality To Help Assemble IKEA Furniture

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With IKEA rolling out its Place app which uses augmented reality (AR) technology where users can place and adjust furniture in their homes virtually to get an idea of the look and feel, it is no doubt a game-changer when it comes to purchasing furniture in the future. However designer Adam Pickard thinks that this could be taken one step further.

He has created a concept app called “AssembleAR” which basically leverages AR technology to help create an interactive IKEA manual. In the concept video above, all users have to do is scan the barcode of their IKEA purchase and an interactive manual will spring to life in front of whatever your phone is pointing it.

It will come with animations and different angles so that users can follow the manual’s instructions while they are putting their furniture together. In all fairness, IKEA’s manuals are pretty well-designed, but sometimes due to the sheer number of components, like screens, bolts, tiny little wooden pegs that can roll away and get lost forever, it can be a daunting process for some. AssembleAR sort of makes it easier with the various step-by-step animations.

Unfortunately the app is only a concept at the moment which is rather unfortunate as we reckon it has a ton of potential. Whether or not IKEA will reach out to Pickard to incorporate his concept into the Place app or maybe launch something of their own is anyone’s guess, but it’s totally got our vote!

Concept App Uses Augmented Reality To Help Assemble IKEA Furniture , original content from Ubergizmo. Read our Copyrights and terms of use.

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Mar 23

U.S. Drops Charges Against Turkish Security Accused Of Attacking Demonstrators

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The vicious D.C. attack was caught on video as Erdogan sat in a car nearby. Now only 4 guards remain charged.

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Mar 23

Last Nun In Property Dispute With Katy Perry Pledges To Continue The Fight

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“Katy Perry is used to getting all she wants,” the defiant Sister Rita Callanan said.

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Mar 23

Electrolux Pure i9 triangular robotic vacuum maps rooms in 3D

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Electrolux is planning to launch a new robotic vacuum in the US market, one said to trump competing models in multiple ways. Called the Pure i9, this vacuum sports a triangular shape that better enables it to clean corners, for example. As with other robotic vacuums, the Pure i9 is equipped with a variety of sensors and software that enable … Continue reading

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Mar 23

Google Confirms Nexus Player Will Not Be Updated To Android P

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The Nexus Player was originally launched in 2014 and has since been discontinued, but despite being discontinued, Google has surprisingly kept the device up to date with new features. For example last year Google updated the Nexus Player with Google Assistant, but it seems that’s as far as the Nexus Player will go.

For those wondering whether or not the device will be updated to Android P when the update is released, it seems that will not be the case. According to a report from Android Police, Google has confirmed to them that the Nexus Player will not be updated to Android P, meaning that the version of Android it is running on now will essentially be the last version.

It is unclear if the Nexus Player is still eligible for software updates to patch security flaws or bugs, but at least in terms of major updates, it will not be getting anymore. However for a device that has been discontinued since 2016, for it to still be somewhat relevant and still updated is surprising.

It was rumored at one point in time that Google could be looking to launch a refreshed version of the device. It was even supposedly spotted at the FCC, but for whatever reason that did not come to pass.

Google Confirms Nexus Player Will Not Be Updated To Android P , original content from Ubergizmo. Read our Copyrights and terms of use.

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Mar 23

RIAA Claims That CDs & Vinyl Are Outselling Digital Music Downloads

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Just like in the case of physical books versus e-books, there are some who will prefer the “old school” version of music, like listening to them through CDs or even vinyl. Perhaps some do it out of nostalgia, while there are some purists who believe that listening to music via these sources produces the best sound.

Now according to the latest report by the RIAA (via Engadget), it seems that even in this day and age with music streaming services supposedly gaining more steam, CD and vinyl sales are apparently outselling those of digital downloads when it comes to music. This isn’t to say that music streaming services are a bust, in fact the RIAA’s stats show that revenue generated by music streaming hit $5.7 billion in 2017, up from $4 billion in 2016.

However it seems that while physical sales do appear to be on a decline of 4%, they still managed to rake in $1.5 billion in revenue versus digital downloads whose revenues fell by 25% to $1.3 billion. It should be noted that digital downloads and music streaming are different, where digital downloads refer to music/albums paid for and download ala carte.

That being said, the RIAA’s stats seem to echo what other music industries around the world are feeling as well. While vinyl is a very old format, the rise in their popularity has seen vinyl factories reopening their doors in Australia and Japan.

RIAA Claims That CDs & Vinyl Are Outselling Digital Music Downloads , original content from Ubergizmo. Read our Copyrights and terms of use.

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Mar 23

Super Smash Bros. Will Be Playable At E3 2018

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Nintendo has recently confirmed that Super Smash Bros. will be coming to the Switch and mentioned that it is expected to arrive later this year. However the question is when in 2018? Could it be towards the end of the year? Or maybe earlier? Unfortunately it seems that there is a chance it could be in the second half of the year.

This is according to an announcement by Nintendo (via Game Rant) in which it was revealed that Nintendo will be hosting a competition during E3 2018 in which players will be able to try out Super Smash Bros. on the Switch. This seems to suggest that the game won’t be available before then, and with E3 2018 taking place in the middle of the year, we guess this means that Super Smash Bros. will be released after.

At the moment save for the teaser trailer that Nintendo released for the game, not much else is known about it. We know that the game will introduce new characters to the roster from the Splatoon franchise, but whether or not Super Smash Bros. will simply be an updated port of the Wii U version of the game, or if it could be a brand new title developed from ground up (we’re hoping it’s the latter).

However in the meantime it seems that Microsoft also wants in on Super Smash Bros. and has recently expressed their interest in letting the Banjo and Kazooie characters be part of the franchise.

Super Smash Bros. Will Be Playable At E3 2018 , original content from Ubergizmo. Read our Copyrights and terms of use.

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Mar 23

Wolfenstein II For Nintendo Switch Will Make Its Playable Debut Next Month

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Last year Bethesda made a surprise announcement in which they revealed that not only would Skyrim be coming onto the Nintendo Switch, but titles such as DOOM and Wolfenstein II: The New Colossus would be as well. DOOM has since been released but according to Bethesda, Wolfenstein II is only set for a release in 2018 but did not mention specifics.

However it seems that we could be inching closer towards a release because according to an announcement on Bethesda’s website, Wolfenstein II for the Switch is expected to make its playable debut at an event called Bethesda Gameplay Day Fan Event which will be held during PAX East.

This is a one day event that will be held on the 7th of April which is where Bethesda will make several of its games available for play, including Wolfenstein II for the Switch which is will be playable to the public for the first time ever. Presumably this means that the game is more or less nearing completion and should be launched in the near future.

Note that Bethesda themselves are not developing the Switch version of the game and that according to Bethesda, the port will be handled by developer Panic Button who was also responsible for bringing DOOM onto the Switch.

Wolfenstein II For Nintendo Switch Will Make Its Playable Debut Next Month , original content from Ubergizmo. Read our Copyrights and terms of use.

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Mar 23

Police Have Been Trying To Unlock iPhones With Dead People’s Fingerprints

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Did you know that in the US it is actually legal to use a dead person’s fingerprints to unlock the phone they own as long as it is not owned by someone else as well? It also turns out that law enforcement has actually been using such methods for a couple of years already, according to a recent report from Forbes.

The report was confirmed by FBI forensics specialist Bob Moledor who detailed a case which was apparently the first known case of police using a deceased person’s fingerprints in an attempt to bypass Apple’s Touch ID security feature, and this is also something that law enforcement has been doing since at least 2016.

Forbes also cites information from separate sources close to local and federal police investigations where it seems that this is now a common practice, especially in cases which might involve a drug overdose and the police are trying to unlock the person’s phone in an attempt to figure out their drug dealer’s number.

In some cases this has been successfully used, while others not so much simply due to the time passing in between. In case you didn’t know, if your phone has not been used for at least 48 hours, users will be prompted to enter their passcode before Touch ID can be used again. This means that if police take too long, the window to use Touch ID has passed and they basically cannot unlock the device.

Police Have Been Trying To Unlock iPhones With Dead People’s Fingerprints , original content from Ubergizmo. Read our Copyrights and terms of use.

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