Energy USB : January 2016

Monday, January 25, 2016

Samsung will open a VR studio in NY to produce content

We knew that 2016 was probably the year when OEMs will really make the big push for virtual reality headsets. And in order to do that, of course you would need a lot of content to attract people to actually watch and enjoy on their headsets. That’s precisely what Samsung is aiming to do for its Gear VR as they announced during the Sundance Film Festival that they will be opening a VR studio in New York.

Aside from the fact that said studio will be housed in an already existing Samsung office that has its marketing department there, there isn’t much information that they shared after the announcement. But they also did announce a year-long partnership with the Sundance Institute that will supposedly "nurture filmmaking and creative talent”. Again, not much information about this partnership except that they want to “help people tell stories”, according Marc Mathieu, chief marketing officer of Samsung USA.

Samsung also had a pop-up showcase at the festival, as they premiered a virtual reality sketch from Funny or Die, a comedy website, and starring Rob Heubel (The League) and Paul Scheer (Children’s Hospital). People got the chance to experience this show though the Gear VR headset at their booth. Heubel said that VR is the "most fun way to blow people's minds."

It’s about time that VR tech come in to its own, especially when it comes to the consumer market. And it looks like Samsung and its competitors like the Oculus VR company (owned by Facebook of course) are stepping up their game. Let’s see if the public will finally bite.

VIA: CNet

Tuesday, January 19, 2016

Soon you can install apps directly from the Google results

We always appreciate it when new features or new apps take one step away from our usual tasks because we have too many things to do and so little time. The convenience it gives us, no matter how small, is still something. So it looks like Google wants to help us out when it comes to installing apps because it is reportedly testing out a feature that would let you install an app directly from the search results, if you use the Google app on your Android smartphone or tablet.

Some users say that they’ve had this feature for some months but it’s only now that the testing has become wider. Basically what happens is that when you search for an app using the Google search bar on your Android device (and not through the Chrome browser), when you get your search results and you click on the specific app, you see an Install button already. It will pop up like the permission pop ups when you’re actually at the GPS. Here you’ll still see the permission dialogue box as well.

Previously, if you clicked on an app, you’ll be redirected to the Google Play Store and that’s where you can install the app. But now, they plan to remove that extra step and just get you to install from the Google app itself. This is good if you already know the app that you want to install. But if you want to know more about it, of course you’d still need to see its actual page.

If you don’t see it happening yet, then this probably means you’re not part of the testing group. But if all goes well, this will probably be a permanent feature on the Google app for Android devices.

VIA: Android Police