Gadget Hacks News

News: Samsung Jumps to Head of Mobile AR Class with Galaxy S10 5G & 3D Depth Sensor, Shows Off AR Concept Video

While augmented reality made more of a cameo appearance during Samsung's official grand unveiling of the Galaxy S10 line-up on Wednesday, it's the company's move into 5G connectivity that has huge implications for AR.

News: Meet Samsung's Crazy, Innovative & Flawed Galaxy Fold

After years of rumors and waiting, Samsung's first foldable smartphone is finally a reality. The phone itself is a bit wild, but with Samsung going so far out of their comfort zone with this one, there were some bumps in the road that caused a delayed release. The launch has been pushed back yet again, but when it does hit stores, it could end up being one of the most influential devices in years.

News: Everything You Need to Know About the Samsung Galaxy S10e

With Apple releasing the iPhone XR, it appears Samsung is looking to challenge this "budget flagship" option head-on. They brought their usual two phone releases this year, but also threw in another three for a total of five phones, including the Samsung Galaxy S10e. And for many, this might be the option to look at.

News: Samsung Galaxy S10 Review, 3 Months Later: All the Little Things to Know

The Galaxy S10 has finally been revealed to the masses, and it certainly doesn't disappoint. As the flagship to herald the tenth anniversary of the venerable Galaxy S line, the S10 has kept popular and familiar design elements like the immersive Infinity Display while employing new features like more advanced cameras to set a new standard for other OEMs to follow.

News: The Galaxy S10 Doesn't Have a Notification LED — Here's Why

Samsung just announced the Galaxy S10 lineup, but we already knew each device's every nook and cranny. Thanks to leaks and hands-on demos, we know the OEM kept the coveted headphone jack, but omitted one treasured feature in its place — the notification LED. Why did Samsung strip the S10 of this light, and can users expect something to replace it?

News: Social VR App vTime Opens a Window to Augmented Reality Users with iOS & Android App

Most of today's mobile augmented reality apps focus on individual experiences, but a new entrant into the space wants to make things a bit more social.

News: Magic Leap Jumps into the Star Wars Universe with Release of Project Porg App

After some social media teasing, the Star Wars universe's Magic Leap debut has finally arrived. On Tuesday, Magic Leap announced the release of Star Wars: Project Prog, which is available for free via Magic Leap World.

News: Apple Just Released iOS 12.2 Public Beta 3 for iPhone, Fixes Group FaceTime & Lock Screen Issue

While developers received iOS 12.2 beta 3 on Feb. 19, public beta testers had to wait one extra day, following suit with previous iOS 12.2 beta releases. The third beta update includes fixes for Group FaceTime and the missing date on the lock screen, as well as a few tiny app updates.

News: Apple Just Released iOS 12.2 Developer Beta 3 for iPhone, Fixes Lock Screen Issue & Restores Group FaceTime

Apple just released the third iOS 12.2 developer beta Tuesday, Feb. 19, fifteen days after the release of iOS 12.2 developer beta 2. Beta 3 fixes an issue with the lock screen, and reintroduces Group FaceTime to beta testers. Overall, iOS 12.2 hosts a wealth of new features as well as bug and security patches.

News: How to Watch the Microsoft Mobile World Congress Event Rumored to Reveal HoloLens 2

We already know that Microsoft has something big planned for later this month, and now we have details on how to watch the company's big reveal.

News: Magic Leap & Three UK Power 5G Augmented Reality Fashion Show at London Fashion Week

While AT&T is gradually showing off the powers of its 5G technology in the US via the Magic Leap One, another major wireless company is doing the same in the UK using the world of fashion.

News: USA Today App Treats Fans with Oscars-Inspired AR Costume Showcase Featuring Black Panther, Mary Poppins, & More

The Oscars are fast approaching, which means that all the most talked about films are getting a second dose of heavy promotion in hopes of winning an Academy Award.

News: Lego Partner Kabooki Builds Virtual Pop-Up Shop with Snapchat's Shoppable AR

Now that Lego Movie 2, a film about an imaginary world made of plastic bricks existing parallel to the real world, is in theaters, it's the perfect time to shop for Lego apparel at a store modeled after that world.

Market Reality: Microsoft's Next HoloLens Close to Arriving, Apple Prepares for Big AR Marketing Push

The hype around augmented reality has risen to a fever pitch over the past two years, and if this week's selection of business news stories are any indication, the din is about to get down right deafening.

News: Google Releases ARCore 1.7 Update, Adds Face Filters & Expands Animation Support

Snapchat made augmented reality selfie effects famous, with Facebook copying the feature across its mobile apps. Of course, others have followed, but their face tracking apps often pale in comparison to the original.

News: Snapchat Lays Up Lens Studio Experience for Nike's Jordan Brand at NBA All-Star Weekend

Nike and Snapchat, having already reigned triumphant with its viral augmented reality ad featuring Lebron James, are teaming up with another basketball legend at NBA All-Star Weekend

News: Warner Bros. & Niantic Release Third Harry Potter Wizards Unite Trailer

Next to Game of Thrones, Harry Potter is one of the most beloved franchises in entertainment today, and now we have another peek at its dive into augmented reality.

News: Lego's Newest Playsets Transform Normal Toys into Augmented Reality Experiences Across Platforms

Beloved toy maker Lego is returning to the realm of augmented reality, this time with an experience that explores supernatural fun.

News: Google Joins Snapchat & Facebook by Adding Augmented Reality Video Effects to Duo App for Valentine's Day

Snapchat and Snap Camera aren't the only augmented reality apps available for couples to use on Valentine's Day.

News: Medical Software Maker Medivis Closes $2.3 Million in Funding to Bring HoloLens to Surgical Platform

The HoloLens has made enough of an impact on the healthcare industry for Microsoft technology partner Medivis to convince investors to pledge $2.3 million in funding for its surgical platform.

News: North Cuts Price of Focals Smartglasses, Launches Prescription Lenses, & Adds Pop-Up Stores to Seattle & San Francisco

With the first pop-up showroom for North's Focals smartglasses opening its doors next week, customers are now able to purchase the smartglasses at a drastically lower price tag.

News: Microsoft's New Light Capture Tool Adds More Realistic Lighting to HoloLens & Mobile AR Apps

We're still weeks away from a probably HoloLens 2 release, but Microsoft's immersive computing team is still hard at work on other aspects of its "mixed reality" ecosystem.

News: Startup Asteroid Aims to Reinvent the Human-Computer Interface with Augmented Reality Software & Hardware Kit

Every step in the evolution of computing brings an in-kind leap forward in user input technology. The personal computer had the mouse, touchscreens made smartphones mainstream consumer devices, and AR headsets like the HoloLens and the Magic Leap One have leveraged gesture recognition.

News: New Pokémon GO Augmented Reality Photo Feature Lets You Strike a Pose with Pikachu

The actual augmented reality portion of Pokémon GO is about to get even more fun for players. On Tuesday, the company revealed GO Snapshot, an extension of AR+ Mode facilitated by ARKit and ARCore that will enable players to pose Pokémon characters in augmented reality for photo capture.

News: All the Latest Leaks & Rumors on the LG G8 ThinQ

Update: The LG G8 ThinQ has been announced. You can read all of the official specs at our full article on the new phone.

News: Apple Appoints Marketing Leader Behind iPhone Launch to Push Augmented Reality Products

While Apple augmented reality smartglasses are not yet official, the tech giant is ramping up its resources by appointing company veteran Frank Casanova to promote its augmented reality offerings.

News: Valentine's Day Lenses for Snapchat & Snap Camera Let You Flirt with Your Crush in Augmented Reality

Mobile augmented reality company Snapchat now has a special option for romantic message exchanging this Valentine's Day, a day which, incidentally, happens to be the first one in 116 years where Sweethearts, the original heart-shaped candy, will be unavailable for purchase.

News: Budget Airline easyJet Packs Augmented Reality Luggage Checking Feature into Its Mobile App

Mobile app publishers are using augmented reality to solve everyday measurement problems from measuring the length or height of items to previewing furniture in the home.

News: Google Preparing AR Walking Navigation via Testing Through Local Guides

The augmented reality walking navigation mode for Google Maps appears to be closer to an upcoming release for the general public.

News: New Video from Microsoft's Alex Kipman Delivers Teaser for HoloLens 2 at Mobile World Congress

If there was a version of the Doomsday Clock for counting down the release of Microsoft's HoloLens 2, then the caretakers of that imaginary clock would move the minute hand to "one minute to midnight."

Market Reality: Magic Leap Draws Comics, Warby Parker Tries AR, Facebook Acquires GrokStyle, & LeBron Dunks via Snapchat

This week, the recurring theme in augmented reality can be summed up fairly succinctly: content is king.

News: Facebook Acquires Visual Search Startup GrokStyle

The recent pitfalls and media fallout hitting Facebook hasn't stopped the social media giant from looking to the future.

News: Google Unleashes the Powers of Childish Gambino aka Donald Glover in AR via New Pixel Playmoji

Although Apple's Animoji game is strong, as recently exampled by its Ariana Grande collaboration, Google isn't slacking either, unleashing a far more immersive music experience for smartphone users.

News: Apple Teams with Ariana Grande for '7 Rings' Animoji Music Video

The last six months have been filled with ups and downs for international music superstar Ariana Grande, but she's starting 2019 on a new, virtual foot, powered by Apple's iPhone TrueDepth camera.

News: Magic Leap Experience Lets Golf Fans Meet Jordan Spieth & PGA App Update Brings Pebble Beach to AR

Unless you're one of the world's top golfers, there's a good chance you are not stepping onto the fairways of Pebble Beach Golf Links this weekend.

News: Everything You Need to Know About the New Moto G7 Power

The Moto G7 Power is a phone that screams battery life. From its display resolution to the massive battery, it was designed for those who hate to recharge each night. But unlike other battery-focused smartphones, it comes at a price almost anyone can afford.

News: Magic Leap Lumin OS Beta Update Delivers Map Merge Feature for Multi-User Experiences

The last few months have delivered some great new Magic Leap releases, but that doesn't mean the development team is resting on its laurels when it comes to the platform itself.

News: ODG's Remaining Inventory & Physical Assets Become Available to Purchase via Auction

While the story of augmented reality headset maker Osterhout Design Group has come to an end, the epilogue of its demise continues.

News: Apple Fixes Group FaceTime Security Bug with Release of iOS 12.1.4, Available Now

Apple found itself in serious trouble last week when a teenager discovered a critical FaceTime bug that threatened the security of nearly every iPhone user. The bug enabled a user using Group FaceTime to access either the microphone or the camera of a recipient before they answered the call. According to Apple, the issues have been fixed in an iOS 12.1.4 update released Thursday, Feb. 7.

News: Everything You Should Know About the Moto G7

With the best selling phone on Amazon in 2018, Lenovo had big shoes to fill when making the successor of the Moto G6. Fortunately, Lenovo was up to the task. The Moto G7 continues to provide a high performance-to-price ratio, offering a worthwhile upgrade for G6 users while remaining budget friendly.