If you ever wanted a digital compendium of your entire activity on a device, then you should try installing the new Atlas Recall app. The service has recently launched in open beta and it will allow users to index everything they do and see on the device the app is installed on.

Atlas Recall manages to combine different services like internet searches, browsing through your personal information, photos and files found on your computer or any other site you’ve visited, play any music you ever listened to on the device, and much more. The app will enable users to have a perfect digital memory of their entire activity.

According to the company which developed the app, Atlas Informatics and its CEO, Jordan Ritter, there are two types of searches in the internet era. One is meant to find you the things you haven’t seen or those you don’t know yet and the other is offering you the things you have seen but can’t find. Atlas Recall has been developed with fulfilling the latter function and do it in a superior way than any other app currently available.

It’s able to memorize and categorize everything you see and do on the device of your choice, be it a computer, tablet or smartphone. It will even record your activities on sites like Facebook, or apps like Outlook.

As useful as this may be, some people may be quite reticent in using this type of service, especially so when privacy leaks tend to be commonplace in our day and age. However, Atlas will not require access to any of the services your use or their APIs. The indexed information will always be encrypted no matter what you do. Also, to keep users peace of mind, they will always be in control of what type of activities and information the app remembers, as well as block and delete anything you want to.

At the core of the service lies the search engine capable of providing relevant results even with vague terms. It will also include a wide variety of filters such as time, content type or keyword. The open beta of Atlas Recall is currently available only for Mac and iOS, with a Windows 10 version available soon.

Image source: Atlas Informatics

If you like creating music as much as you like listening to it but you could never get a handle on the whole music notes and other aspects involved in the process, then you should try the new Roli Blocks. The technology consists of a wireless modular Lightpad and a specialized app. With these, anyone can create a tune after a little practice.

Roli is a British company known for creating music technologies such as the Seaboard, meant to be a reimaging of the classic piano. However, with the cheapest version starting at $800, not many music aficionados could afford one. Their new Roli Blocks is an entirely different story, as the main controllers known as the Lightpad, costs only $179.

In order to start creating the music of your choice, you first have to install the freely available Noise app, which at the moment is only on iOS , with an Android version coming soon. After installing the app and connected the Lightpad to an iOS device like an iPhone or an iPad, then you’re set to go.

The app allows users to customize the controller in up to 128 different ways so that it creates music from instruments such as pianos, guitars, flutes, drums, and a whole lot more. Additionally, the company has announced plans to release future updates with more instruments for free. They will also sell specific instruments developed by musicians such as RZA, Grimes, and Steve Aoki.

To start creating quality music you will have to master the Lightpad, which has a touch-sensitive and pressure-sensitive rubber surface. Behind it, there a high number of colorful LED Lights that can form different patterns and grids depending on the instrument you chose from the app. The sounds it emits depends on how you move your finger across its surface and how hard you push with your finger, the harder the louder the initial tone will be.

Additionally, you can connect multiple Lightpads to one another to form a portable studio. If you’re not convinced, you can try the new Roli Blocks in select Apple Stores before you buy them. The app is available now for free but won’t do you much good without any controllers.

Are you planning on trying the new Roli Blocks?

Image source: Roli

At the recently held Unity developers conference in Los Angeles, Facebook Gameroom has finally been revealed as a Windows desktop gaming platform where you can find all social media games in one place. The app is currently in the beta version and can be downloaded on Windows 7 and above.

The Facebook Gameroom is a stand-alone platform that combines the social media connectivity in games with the dedicated gaming service like Steam. It allows users to play games from a variety of sources be it web, ported mobile or just native Gameroom games.

The new gaming platform is Facebook’s attempt to recapture the glory days of its business built on games wildly popular browser games like Farmville and to developers like Zynga. However, this all changed when users moved on to mobile games. Facebook is determined to bring back the casual gamer from mobile back to PC and its gaming app.

However, it has an uphill battle ahead of it. There are already major competitors on the market such as Valve’s steam with over 125 million active users, which features both a high number of high-budget and casual games.  There are also other, slightly, less popular platforms like GOG and EA’s Origin that offer a great but limited casual experience, which Facebook Gameroom hopes to capitalize on.

When it comes down to gaming platforms, all that matters is the content it offers. In this regard, Gameroom has a variety of games from different genres but it will need to add more on a constant basis. For this purpose, it will have to convince developers that the gaming platform is worth it, as it may benefit from Facebook’s already massive user base.

Unfortunately, the Gameroom will be limited to small, casual games only, at least for now. Currently, games on the platform can’t be any larger than 200 MB, but it will consider larger games of up 500 MB on a case-by-case basis. This means that mode advanced games are automatically ruled out.

Facebook will earn 30 percent as revenue from in-game payments. The company will very likely use its social media platform to promote certain games, and customers can use Facebook’s features like Live video to stream their gameplay.

What do you think about the Facebook Gameroom? Will you try it out?

Image source: Facebook 

Samsung launched earlier this year six new mobile accessories for its line of smartphones in South Korea. In a recent announcement, the company has decided to bring those new gadgets to the rest of the world. The accessories will be available, however, only as online exclusives.

Samsung, the world’s largest smartphone producer, wants to offer consumers more options when it comes to mobile accessories. As such, they plan to start releasing the until now South-Korean exclusive gadgets to the rest of the world. For this purpose, Samsung has announced that it will form partnerships with major online retailers around the world to bring the devices to interested consumers.

Samsung’s line of mobile accessories has always been somewhat limited but these six new devices plan to address this problem. The first and the most expensive accessory is called the Wireless Speaker Bottle. As the name implies it a speaker designed to look like a bottle, which offers 360-degree surround support, it charges wirelessly and supports the Samsung Lux Manager. An interesting feature is that it changes color depending on what position it is. The bottle is the most expensive among Samsung new line of mobile accessories, being priced at $80.

However, if you want a cheaper Samsung portable speaker, then you should try Wireless Speaker Scoop which only costs $50. It has a circular design; it comes with a microphone and a strap which allows it to be attached to bags or clothing. Another wireless device is the Charger Tray, which allows users to simultaneously charge two devices while offering a stylish, minimalistic design, at a $60 price tag.

If you prefer classic, wired mobile accessories, then Samsung offers a Battery Pack Kettle which you can use to charge a variety of devices. This accessory will come in two versions, a 5,100mAh one costing around $26, and a larger 10,200 mAh battery pack priced at $35. One way to use these “kettle” is to power Samsung’s upcoming USB LED Light, a portable lamp costing only $10.

The last accessory is the In-ear Headphone Rectangle which claims It has tangle-proof cable besides offering a great sound experience.  All the showcased mobile accessories will be available starting in the early days of November.

Image source: Samsung

Google has recently announced that they will add a new system of metrics to Project Fi. It will allow users to monitor the amount of data they use every month for every app. The new software update will also include the ability to track data use in real time.

If you are not familiar with Google’s Project Fi and what it does, then you should know that it’s a wireless service not unlike any other mobile data provider, but Google’s service offers users a variety of features such as automatically change to the best network available.

Unfortunately, a major downside of Project Fi is that the service only supports a handful of devices, with the newest ones added being Google’s flagship device, the Pixel, and Pixel XL. Nonetheless, despite the low support, Google is keen to improve the service by making it easier for current and future subscribers to monitor their data use.

One of the more advanced features is the ability to see a detailed list of how your data is actually spent on every app. You can access the feature by simply scrolling down to the section which shows your current amount of data for the month in question. The “view details” button will lead to a comprehensive list of each app and their data usage. Additionally, live updates on data usage will also be displayed on the app’s main screen as well as on its widget. It allows users to easily and constantly track the amount of data they use.

This type of features will surely have the highest benefit to users who have a low amount of data available to them each month and want to make sure they will not exceed their limit. For example, the lowest data option on Project Fi is $30 a month, which includes the $20 base costs and the minimum of 1GB of DATA.

With already a limited number of supported device, the new Project Fi features will also be available to devices running Android 7.0 Nougat and future versions. To receive the feature, the app also needs to be on K.2.7.20 version or newer.

Are you using Google’s Project Fi? If so, what do you think about the new features?

Image source: Flickr

Facebook has recently been trying to improve their service by adding new and exciting features, which some have been more or less inspired by Snapchat. After the company wasn’t able to buy Snapchat for $3 billion three years ago, they have been looking for other players on the market that offer a similar experience. As such, Facebook recently attempted to acquire the Asian Snapchat clone, Snow.

Snow is a messaging service app developed by Naver, a South-Korean company currently valued at $25-billion. Facebook interest in the app has been revealed by Tech Crunch via a source close to the company. However, Facebook is not alone in expressing interest in the Snapchat clone. The app has attracted offers Tencent, the developer of WeChat, Alibaba, and other companies.

However, Naver has declined all offers, including Facebook’s. The company might have been inspired by Snapchat’s success after it refused to sell, who is preparing to go public and might be valued at $25 billion. Snow isn’t doing too bad either. The app has over 80 million downloads at the moment and seems to add another 10 million every month.

Snow seems to have tapped a market left wide open by Snapchat obvious lack of interest in the Asian region. After Facebook saw its emerging success, Mark Zuckerberg decided to call Naver’s CEO, Hae-Jin Lee, to express his interest in acquiring the app. However, they didn’t reach any deal as Naver hopes to build on Snow’s potential and make it an app that meets the same consumer needs as Snapchat and more.

Although the apps are similar in nature, Snow does have some features that differentiate it from Snapchat. Naver is closely working with celebrities in Japan and South-Korea, markets with the highest interest in the app, to include their stories in the app. This makes users return to the app for more reasons than just to message their friends.Snow also has a considerably larger selection of customization options including over 36 filters and more than 200 masks, localized to the culture of the regions.

The future of Snow looks bright but it’s relatively early to determine if it will be able to build on its potential and become an app that will make Facebook rue its inability to acquire it.

Facebook has added a new feature for its Live Video streaming. It has launched filters which add Halloween masks during a Live video streaming session. Similar filters already exist for various apps like Snapchat.

In a move that manages to capitalize on an idea first promoted by Snapchat and Facebook’s acquisition of MSQRD, the company has launched a new augmented reality selfie filters called Masks, just in time for Halloween. Some of the many types of Halloween masks include skeleton, witch, and even pumpkin. Users can try out the new filters as soon as they start their Live video session.

The new feature has already started to roll out today to iOS users in select regions such as the UK, US, and New Zealand. The feature will see a gradual global release for all platforms in the coming months.

Capitalizing on the growing trend of celebrating the American holiday of Halloween, Facebook has also added new variants of the reactions buttons. For example, instead of the Haha button, users will see a laughing witch reaction. Unfortunately, the new Halloween reactions are available for a limited time only.

The new Live video features revitalize Facebook as it has grown stale over the years as no design and interesting tools were added in recent memory. However, Snapchat and other messaging app tools have always innovated with creative features meant to keep users interested and amused.

To start using the new Halloween Masks and more, users will have to start a Live video broadcast from the button found on their News Feed, Timeline, or Page. Afterward, tap the magic wand found in the upper left corner of the window to reveal the entire variety of special effects offered by Facebook. After selecting the masks icon, scroll through the options and select whichever mask you want to show up on your face. The masks will be instantly applied as you film without any complicated process being required.

In the app industry, it’s a common practice for companies to copy a certain idea from a competitor and apply it to their own app using their own code. Although augmented reality filters aren’t anything new, Facebook manages to pull them off quite well as they look relatively realistic.

Image source: Facebook

Emporio Armani, the famous clothing company, has recently decided to join the already crowded market of wearable devices. They have recently announced a new line of hybrid smartwatches called Emporio Armani Connected. The devices will be built by Fossil.

The first thing you have to know about this new device from Armani is that it only have limited features compared to standard smartwatches. Nonetheless, the few smart functions it has are bound to be among the most useful for users. For example, every new hybrid smartwatch in their line of devices will feature Bluetooth. This is a way to connect it to a smartphone, which will allow users to option to control their music from their watch, as well as remotely taking photos with their smartphone.

Other interesting and useful features of the Emporio Armani hybrid smartwatches include the function to monitor the sleep pattern of users, set alarms, find a lost smartphone to which it is connected to. Unfortunately, it won’t display notifications or messages but will vibrate every time your phone receives one.

One last feature and probably the most important and useful one for a watch is the ability to keep telling time at 100 percent precision, according to Emporio Armani. Additionally, it will also be able to switch between time zones easily.To power it all up, the watch will have a quartz battery which provides more autonomy than most smartwatches have. According to some reports, the battery can last up to six months on a single charge.

In regards to design, Emporio Armani proves that it’s expertise in the design of clothing has been useful in the development of the watch. The devices will be very stylish with a silvery stainless steel casing encompassing the analog display, with three small buttons on the left. It will come in a variety of colors such as black, rose gold, and gunmetal. Potential customers can choose to have either a leather or a metal three-piece link strap.

The watch is already available for purchase on the website of Emporio Armani or in their shops around the world. The starting price is $250 but it can go up to $400 depending on the model. It remains to be seen how the devices will perform in the declining market of smartwatches.

Are you interested in buying an Emporio Armani Watch?

Image source: Emporio Armani

A team of scientists discovered a strange formation of hexagonal clouds at one of the tips of the triangle and immediately attributed the Bermuda Triangle mystery to air bombs created by the strange clouds. The scientific community does not agree with the scientists and believes that there is much more to the disappearances than strong winds. Officially, the Bermuda Triangle is still puzzling researchers, no complete explanation for the phenomenon being provided.

A recent documentary that was aired on the Science Channel attributed the eerie nature of the Bermuda Triangle to hexagonal cloud formations. The peculiar clouds were spotted by meteorological satellites over the Bahamas area.

The strange shape of the clouds attracted the attention of both scientists and meteorologists. Normally, the edges of a cloud are irregular, as they are formed out of gaseous matter that easily gets dispersed in thinner areas. However, the hexagonal cloud formations presented straight edges, a very bizarre trait.

The clouds in question measured up to fifty miles in diameter and had also been spotted through time across Europe and the North Sea. Scientists believe that the formations can create air bombs, a sort of air microbursts that originate from the bottom of the clouds and travel towards the ground at impressive speeds. When the clouds are located over a water mass, the air bombs can generate colossal waves and increase the speed of winds at up to 170 miles per hour.

The Science Channel documentary claimed to have solved the Bermuda Triangle mystery with the discovery of the hexagonal clouds. However, most members of the scientific community do not agree with the theory.

Meteorologists declared that the hexagonal clouds occur on a global scale and they were never linked to aircraft or boat disappearings.

Others stated that the way in which the air bomb phenomenon was explained made it look like it was a major scientific breakthrough when, in fact, they were not new occurrences for meteorologists.

Kevin Corriveau, a meteorologist at NBC, stated that the hexagonal clouds that were photographed on top of the Bahamas were not capable of producing air bombs. According to him, the air bombs only occur during a sizeable thunderstorm. Moreover, the clouds should not present an opening in the middle.

Unfortunately, the Bermuda Triangle mystery remains unsolved.

Image source: Wikipedia 

A nine-years-old bug has finally been found on Linux. Despite being an open-source system which would allow for more scrutiny over its security standards by more users, the Dirty Cow exploit has only been recently discovered. It allows an attacker to gain full access to the system in a very short time

The Dirty Cow bug gets its name from the fact that it simply exploits a Linux mechanism called copy-on-write (COW). However, its official name is CVE-2016-5195 and it was initially introduced into the Linux kernel 9 years ago. It was unnoticed by both users with well-meaning intentions who want to address any possible security weakness in the system and by possible intruders as well, until now that is.

If you’re not familiar with Linux, it’s important to know that it’s a free open-source OS, used by a high number of applications.  Some of the most well-known uses of the OS are in web servers such as Ubuntu, Red Hat, and Debian. The Linux kernel is also at the core of the Google’s smartphone OS, Android.

Being a free open-source OS means that anyone can contribute and modify their license as they want. This feature would allow enhanced security since more people would track and fix bugs and other security exploits. However, according to a recently published study, a typical Linux bug can manage to be unnoticed for about five years before it’s fixed.

In this regard, Dirty Cow is a record breaker and according to Phil Oester, the researcher who managed to find the bug, users have already found an attempt to take advantage of the bug. The threat posed by Dirty Cow is serious, as the exploit is considered to be part of a class of vulnerabilities known as privilege escalation bugs. This means that any intruder who has already managed to get some measure of control over a device is able to leverage their access to gain full control.

The fact that the bug is nine-years-old means that it will be on a lot of computers and other devices. Fortunately, it’s already getting patched in some of the major applications of Linux such as Red Hat, Ubuntu, and Debian. Other devices running embedded versions of the OS will have a difficult time getting the security fix if at all.

Image source: Pixabay