Google keeps rolling out new and shiny things, but it also has this habit of only rolling it out slowly among its users. Some people get it early and others have to wait. That was the case with the new channel pages for YouTube, for example. If you’ve been itching for the new full-screen experience for Google Maps on the web, you don’t have to wait until you get that invite.

There is a clever little trick that’s actually really easy to implement, as well as really easy to revert if you decide you like the current Google Maps web interface better. The easiest way to do this is to use Google Chrome as your web browser. Then, head over to the Chrome Web Store and download a web cookie editor extension. Android Police recommends this one.

Then, head on over to maps.google.com in your web browser and let it load normally. You can ignore that “Get the new Google Maps” box in the left sidebar, because all that’s going to do is send you to a page where you can request an invite. You don’t need that. Instead, click the button for your cookie editing extension and look for the cookie labeled as “NID.” Select the contents of that cookie and replace it with this text:

67=MzRdy0T16I7lw9REhtIF5N5lkuoSy1s7cJGFa24wZ6pRK0kRpU9SqiTWy9r_DQ4UxdmHjSeMImvsqgrVUbC0T9FhuESvl__dlkZwRBTxkzxWcdq8vDcpuvnuve6yI78LeqFFK21yc0_6Bp3cHS4Z3a6nwwBQm_fW8DfHF7lv6OrkDosmMa-GaDOLVXR2ewK5-xAk

Click submit, refresh the page, and bathe in the glory of the new Google Maps web interface. If and when you want to revert, just clear out your cookies.

[Source]

The post Get the New Web Interface for Google Maps Now appeared first on Mobile Magazine.

While some map solutions might have a reputation for inaccuracy, Google Maps seems to be a pretty solid choice when it comes to getting up-to-date directions and maps. This couldn’t be any truer in the case of the Washington state bridge collapse that occurred yesterday.

Apparently a four-lane bridge partially collapsed and fell into the Skagit River about a half-day ago now and yet Google has already rushed to make sure people know that the bridge won’t be waiting for them if they head in that direction.

For those wondering, the bridge gave way with no real warning, sending two caries into the water, passengers included. Authorities were able to rescue three people, two of which ended up in the hospital due to hypothermia. The reason for the collapse is currently unknown – or at least not being revealed.

Anyhow, the big takeway is that Google Maps does good work. That doesn’t mean other solutions aren’t great and I’m not saying you should switch over to it if you prefer Apple Maps, Nokia Maps or another map program. It’s just nice to know that if you do choose Google Maps – you can rest assured that things are up to date.

[ source ]

The post Bridge in Washington State Completely Collapses, Google Maps Already Updated appeared first on Mobile Magazine.

The Xbox One continues to create quite a buzz.. and not just because of its announced features. A lot of the talk is about used games and how they will work going forward. Microsoft might have told us that they would allow used games – but the details were fuzzy at best.

Shortly after this, rumors started surfacing suggesting that MS would require us to pay some kind of fee in order to sell a game or even let a friend borrow it. Is there any truth to this? According to MCV, retailers have already been briefed on how X-One used games will work and reports that any company that wants to take a trade-in game will need to be hooked up to Microsoft’s database so that access to the game can be removed from the previous owner’s account and transferred to a new one.

The idea is that publishers currently don’t make a cent off used games, and so both the publisher and Microsoft will now get a cut of the fee paid by game stores that resell titles. This also brings up new questions and concerns, however.

First – what does this mean for those of us that want to sell a game on Ebay or Amazon? Is there a way to access Microsoft’s deactivation database, and if so, how much will it cost us to free our games? It also makes use wonder what will happen in 10 years when the servers are down – will it be impossible to use the Xbox One and used games?

There is also the possibility that already very LOW trade-in credits from places like EBgames will shrink even more in order to compensate for fees associated with hooking to Microsoft’s database. Unfortunately, the retailer’s unofficial ‘clarification’ doesn’t really seem to clarify the situation at all.

What do you think of the whole situation? If all these rumors are true, will you still consider buying an Xbox One or not?

[ source ]

The post Xbox One Used Games Situation: Fee or No Fee? appeared first on Mobile Magazine.

The popular 7-inch Android tablets currently out there such as the Google Nexus 7 are quite affordable. But here’s something that’s for those of you who are on a very, very tight budget. The Maxwest TAB-7155DC (aka Ippo Y88) is an Android 4.1.1 tablet which costs just $65, and it’s being shown off at CTIA 2013.

But, as you might have guessed by now, that very low price tag certainly doesn’t mean a high end machine. It features a 7-inch 1024 x 600-pixel capacitive multitouch LCD screen, which apparently is coming with poor viewing angles and is not covered with glass but a scratch prone acrylic cover.

There’s a 1GHz dual-core Cortex A5 CPU with Mali 400 GPU, 512MB of RAM, 4GB of built-in storage (microSD support is there), front and back VGA cameras, WiFi b/g/n and a 2800mAh battery. But no Bluetooth or GPS radios. And you will also find micro-USB port (with on-the-go), mini-HDMI output, and a 3.5mm headphone jack, along with microphone and speaker. The device will be available in black, white, silver, red, blue and pink.

The slate will give you access to the Play Store and its build quality and performance appear to be quite decent for that much money. But these very cheap tablets usually arrive with a ton of problems. We suggest going for the 7-inchers from Acer or Asus. There are also really cheap Hisense tablets that have beefier specs for around $99 and $150 (depending on model) that are soon making their way over to Walmart.

[Source]

The post Do You Want To Play With Maxwest’s $65 7-inch Android Tablet? appeared first on Mobile Magazine.

There are good and bad sides for everything, and 3D printing is no exception. The new printing technology, which is quickly becoming more popular these days has brought out some questionable ideas, but it also looks to have the potential to actually save lives in the future.

The little guy you see in the image above is Kaiba Gionfriddo. When he was just six weeks old, his parents found out that he had a severe form of tracheobronchomalacia, which makes his trachea collapse due to loosely supporting cartilage. This meant that he would stop breathing on a regular basis. But luckily for him, a 3D-printed tracheal support splint was already being developed by Dr. Glenn Green, University of Michigan associate professor of pediatric otolaryngology, and Dr. Scott Hollister, professor of biomedical engineering and mechanical engineering.

They had to get permission from the US Food and Drug Administration to implant it into young Kaiba as the device wasn’t tested on humans before. After getting emergency clearance they created a computer model of the splint based of a CT scan of Kaiba’s trachea. Then they 3D printed it into a physical object made of a biopolymer called polycaprolactone and implanted it around Kaiba’s airway. He hasn’t had any breathing problems ever since and is now 20 months old. The polymer will be dissolved into his body within two to three years, and by that time more rigid cartilage will be present to prevent the tracheal collapse.

But 3D printing is going to be a blessing not just for children suffering from tracheobronchomalacia. The possibilities of the tech are endless.

As you might know, thousands of people in the US alone are in need for a kidney transplant. But the available number of kidneys are not even enough for half of the number of people in need. Close to 4000 people die in the US every year due to this reason. The answer to this issue could be bio printed kidneys. This is something that is being researched by a team led by Dr. Ibrahim Ozbolat at the University of Iowa.

Their long term goal is to develop “functioning human organs some five or 10 years from now”, according to Ozbolat. This means that patients suffering from other conditions as well could get help from 3D printing done with bio-ink, a solution made of bio materials and living cells. Ozbolat says, “One of the most promising research activities is bioprinting a glucose-sensitive pancreatic organ that can be grown in a lab and transplanted anywhere inside the body to regulate the glucose level of blood“. That could indeed be a great help for the millions of diabetic patients around the world.

Other possibilities include 3D printed skins and prosthetics. The list goes on. How about a 3D printed jaw implant, it’s here. Or how about a 3D printed skull piece, it’s also here. As you can see, the technology of 3D printing is certainly going to play a big part in the medical field in the future, or should we say from now on. It seems to have the potential to save lives while improving the living standards of many others.

What are your thoughts about 3D printing? Do you think that it’s going to play an important in the future of medical science?

The post 3D Printing Going To Save Many Lives In The Future (Video) appeared first on Mobile Magazine.

Yes, IBM Watson has a new job in customer service as the “IBM Watson Engagement Advisor” and he can be the size of four pizza boxes. The idea here is that there is just so much unorganized data (90% of the world’s data was created in the last two years) and information available to human CSRs who are usually trained to follow scripts. We’ve all been frustrated with phone support at one time or another. What Watson can do is sift through this mountain of data, utilize its advancing natural language processing capabilities and provide you with a suitable solution to your customer service problem. Companies are motivated to keep you happy and Watson could do a better job at that than an outsourced agent at an overseas call center.

Given the current generation that prefers more self-service and interactive options, Watson accessible as a mobile app could make a lot of sense too. Watson can successfully resolve more issues and do it faster, whether he’s doing it himself or if he is just made available to that human help desk CSR.

“Customer engagement is a natural fit for Watson,” said IBM Watson Solitions GM Manoj Saxena, “which can instantly create a strong bond between who customers are as individuals, and what types of information will help them reach their goals.”

In addition to Royal Bank of Canada, IBM Watson Engagement Advisor is initially being hired by ANZ bank, Celcom of Malaysia, IHS Inc. and Nielsen.

[Source]

The post Canada’s Royal Bank Hires IBM Watson for Customer Service Job appeared first on Mobile Magazine.

Yet another Friday has arrived… the weeks fly by don’t they? It is once again time for another chapter of “Best of Apps of the Week” here at Mobile Mag.

The format is pretty simple here. I look at 5 Android apps that I consider some of the “best” for the week. Directly after, I also take a look at 5 iOS apps. Pretty simple, right? Okay, so let’s jump right in ladies and gents:

Best Apps of the Week – Android

Best Apps of the Week – iPhone & iPad

Summing it all up….

That’s all folks! Did you agree with our picks, or did we live out a vital new app that you feel should have made the cut? Let us and other readers know about them through the comments below.

The post Best Apps of the Week (5/24): A Look at New Apps for iOS and Android appeared first on Mobile Magazine.

When Facebook unveiled its “Facebook Home” launcher for Android – everyone us were wondering: Do we even want or need this? The answer to that question seems to be a “no”, at least in its current form.

The Home-equipped HTC First isn’t a bad handset, but already there has been reports of poor sales and AT&T even cut the price after just a month from $99 with contract to just $.99 with contract. There are even rumors that AT&T is preparing to discontinue the First.

In light of mixed to poor reception for Facebook Home, the HTC First is now being delayed from its expected UK launch.

It was supposed to arrive this summer through EE and Orange, but is indefinitely delaying the launch. Here’s Facebook’s official statement:

We’ve listened to feedback from users on their experience using Home. While many people love it, we’ve heard a lot of great feedback about how to make Home substantially better. As a result we’re focusing the next few months on adding customization features that address the feedback we received. While we focus on making Home better, we are going to limit supporting new devices and think it makes a lot of sense for EE and Orange to hold off deploying the HTC First in Europe.

The question is whether this delay means that Facebook Home is dead or not. Personally, I think that Facebook invested enough time and money into Home that they will keep working on it, adding more improvements that help it become more useful. Will it be enough for them to find success? I have strong doubts, but you never know.

[ source ]

The post HTC First UK Launch Delayed as Facebook Home Continues to Receive Mixed Reception appeared first on Mobile Magazine.

On Tuesday, Microsoft revealed to the world its latest gaming system, the Xbox One. While we currently only know a limited amount of information about the PS4 and X-One, that doesn’t stop instant comparisons between the two consoles that will compete for your living room later this year.

It is too early to have a true “Versus” article, as too much is unknown. We can however take a deeper look at the currently known hardware and features to help you better decide which system you believe is right for you.

So let’s jump right in:

The Hardware specs

Honestly, the hardware between the Xbox One and Sony PS4 seem rather comparable, at least based on what we currently know. Both run on 8-core x86 processors, with Sony’s PS4 confirmed to have an AMD Jaguar chip. Both systems also have Blu-ray optical drives.

The PS4 does one-up the Xbox One when it comes to RAM, though. Both have 8GB, but the Playstation 4 equips GDDR5 RAM, as opposed to the X-One’s DDR3. Will this make a noticeable “real world” difference? Maybe, maybe not.

As far as the HDD is concerned, we only know the Xbox One will have 500GB of storage space. No word on the PS4 yet. It’s also worth noting that Xbox One will REQUIRE all your discs to be copied over to the drive. This is nice because you can simply store away the game disc. It’s also annoying because it makes lending and selling games harder (though there will still be a way..).

Motion Control

Both the PS4 and Xbox One make next-gen motion technology a major part of the console experience, they just go about it in very different ways.

For the Xbox One, you get the next-gen Kinect that can recognize heartbeats, tons of different joints and has extremely accurate voice control technology (or so the demo leads us to believe).

As for the PS4? It ships with a new Playstation Eye that will work with the DualShock 4 controller to allow special tracking and motion features.

Which method is better? Honestly, that depends on your own tastes.

The Cloud and Multiplayer

Next-gen game consoles are going to rely on net connectivity more than ever. In fact, Microsoft’s Xbox One REQUIRES a connection to the net. That said, it does have an offline mode for those times when your net is down for whatever reason.

Both systems will also promote features like cloud saving and syncing. This should also mean that it will be easy to pull up your profile and saves on your friend’s game systems.

As for the online experience, Xbox will continue evolving its Xbox Live and plans to boost its servers from 15,000 to 300,000 by the time its next system launches!

Sony also wishes to continue adding abilities to its own online network, though it will likely continue down the “free to use” model, as opposed to Xbox Live’s charge model.

Second Screen Experience

Almost everyone has a smartphone or tablet these days, at least that is the case for the folks willing to drop big money on a game console from day one. That’s why both consoles will work nicely with mobile devices for controlling some aspects of the menu – or even some games. This is particularly true when it comes to using the PS Vita as a controller on the PS4.

Connectivity

Both consoles have USB 3.0 technology.

The Xbox One, however, seems to ditch RCA components and goes with just an HDMI input and output. The PS4 will still have RCA and optical, though.

Additionally, both consoles will fully support 4K TV signals.

The Big Differences

While we likely don’t have the “full picture” of features for the PS4 or Xbox One – we can tell you that there are a few areas of direction where each system seems to be focused.

PS4 – Social Aspects

For the PS4, there is a dedicated share button on the controller. You can send snippets of recorded video straight to a friend and even invite them to watch your game, or even perhaps participate in it in some minor way (that includes singleplayer games from the sounds of it).

There are likely other big features that we will learn about at E3.

Xbox One – TV Integration

The Xbox One is clearly aimed at bringing TV and the Xbox One together. In their demo, Microsoft showed off how its next-gen system could quickly bring up TV and even change channels, all from the Xbox interface (using HDMI tech).

Even more exciting, the system could change channels through voice. Saying “Switch to MTV” would switch to MTV, for example.

Additionally, the Xbox One has “snap mode”. This makes it easy to multi-task by running more than one app at the same time. Sony’s PS4 also has some of these abilities, but the big difference is that the X-One will also bring this experience to the TV – allowing you to watch a show all while browsing the net in a snapped box on the side of your TV screen.

Backwards Compatibility

Unfortunately backwards compatibility is all-but dead with both consoles. The Xbox One won’t work with Xbox Live arcade titles or Xbox 360 content. The same pretty much goes for the PS4 in regards to the PS3.

Gaming

I don’t want to compare gaming announcements too much right now. Why? Because we really won’t see the whole picture until E3. Sony’s reveal event showed tons of exclusives and special titles.

For the Xbox One event, we were mostly shown off the console and its TV integration features. We do know games like Forza 5 will be a launch title, and the company has promised 15 Xbox One exclusives will be shown at E3.

Really, expect much of the same kinds of games as seen in the last-gen for the two consoles. So if you currently prefer PS3 exclusives – you’ll probably feel the same about the PS4. And same goes for Xbox 360 to Xbox One.

And the winner is….

Again, I’m not talking winners or losers here. Partially because Microsoft or Sony could give us extra “OMG that’s freaking awesome” features at E3 that could change everything. Second, because console preferences play a HUGE part here.

So instead of Mobile Magazine giving out a verdict, it’s up to you, the readers. Which console do you think looks better and why?

The post Sony PS4 versus the Xbox One: How do they compare? appeared first on Mobile Magazine.

Will it be worth the wait? While the exact specs and features are still totally up in the air, the latest rumor says that Apple’s iWatch will come with some interesting biometric technology. Indeed, according KGI Securities analyst Ming-Chi Kuo, biometrics could play a big part in Apple’s invasion of your wrist. This is for both security and health tracking. The prediction lines up with the fact that Apple bought biometric sensor company AuthenTec last year.

Given the rise in popularity of devices like the Nike Fuelband, Fitbit and Jawbone Up, it makes a lot of sense that Apple also wants to capitalize on this biometric fad too.

As far as the other rumors go, Kuo also says that the iWatch will have a 1.5 to 2-inch display, but earlier reports also indicated that this could be the first Apple device to utilize flexible display technology too. It will be interesting to see how something like the iWatch stacks up against Google Glass.

[Source]

The post Next Year’s Apple iWatch Getting Biometric Sensors? appeared first on Mobile Magazine.