Hacking Emperor

Okay, so you rooted your Android phone .... now what? There are a few ducks you need to get into a row, like backing up your stock boot image, getting SafetyNet sorted, and improving security with biometrics. But there are also awesome root mods waiting for you — just don't get ahead of yourself. Now that you've achieved superuser status, you have new responsibilities. But perhaps more importantly, you no longer have to put up with any of the minor annoyances from your phone's stock ROM, because you can uninstall all the bloat, block ads better, and add cool functionality with all sorts of... more http://dlvr.it/RphRgk

The iPhone has a setting that will obfuscate the content of notifications on its lock screen until you're recognized by Face ID. Google implemented this same feature in its Pixel phones, but many Android devices have no such option. At least, not by default. If you use Android's Smart Lock feature to keep your device unlocked when it's in a trusted environment for easy access, you probably wouldn't mind having the full content of notifications appear on your lock screen in these situations. But when you're at work or out and about, your phone's fully locked down, so your notifications should... more http://dlvr.it/Rpf0dV

We often discuss the augmented reality efforts coming from the biggest players in Silicon Valley like Google, Facebook, Apple, and others, but one name that keeps coming up when you really begin to dig into the AR space is Vuzix. Since the late '90s, the company has quietly but deliberately worked to build itself into a viable competitor in the enterprise space via its wearable display technology. But as the AR industry gradually spreads into the mainstream, Vuzix has subtly shifted its product designs to meet a future where AR isn't outlier tech but standard operating gear on the factory... more http://dlvr.it/RpdMJ1

A lot of digital ink has been spilled heaping scorn on Magic Leap. Much of that media schadenfreude was due to what some believed were unmet promises versus some of the early hype around the product. Others just seemed to be rubbed the wrong way by the startup's Apple-esque secrecy and penchant for attempting to coin new terms and frameworks for things that were, mostly, already in play. But amid the fog of all of the negative headlines, something was lost. Namely, a lot of the great work delivered by a group of incredibly talented people within the company. Specifically, the Magic Leap... more http://dlvr.it/RpYxlf

Just because 2020 has been rough for most of the planet, there's no reason you can't enjoy a bit of holiday cheer as you prepare to say goodbye to this year using the power of augmented reality. If you're living in an area that's warm, but you'd still like to experience "a white Christmas," that's now possible thanks to the Adobe Aero app. • Don't Miss: Welcome Baby Yoda into Your Personal Space with Google Search AR Adobe and partner game studio, San Francisco-based Rolling Heads, have published an animated AR snowman and ice reindeer scene that effectively puts a virtual life-sized snow... more http://dlvr.it/RpYTYv

Bloatware is a problem on Android, and it's not just a Samsung thing. Removing apps that have the Uninstall or Disable button grayed out in Settings has always involved sending complicated ADB commands to your phone from a computer, which itself was always such a pain to set up. Thankfully, that has finally changed. Using the Wireless Debugging feature Google added to Android 9.0 Pie back in August 2018, Android apps can now access your phone's ADB server. In other words, you can now send ADB commands to your own phone. One app, LADB by developer Tyler Nijmeh, was purpose-built for this task... more http://dlvr.it/RpWDcN

Just because 2020 has been rough for most of the planet, there's no reason you can't enjoy a bit of holiday cheer as you prepare to say goodbye to this year using the power of augmented reality. If you're living in an area that's warm, but you'd still like to experience "a white Christmas," that's now possible thanks to the Adobe Aero app. • Don't Miss: Welcome Baby Yoda into Your Personal Space with Google Search AR Adobe and partner game studio, San Francisco-based Rolling Heads, have published an animated AR snowman and ice reindeer scene that effectively puts a virtual life-sized snow... more http://dlvr.it/RpJ5fd

There are modded Spofity APKs floating around that essentially give you a Spotify Premium account for free, but the music streaming giant has been aggressively banning users who go this route. So if you're tired of listening to ads, but you don't want to do anything illegal, you'll want to know about this new app. Developer Teekam Suthar's new app, Mutify, looks at what Spotify is currently playing, and when an ad is in the playback notification, it mutes your phone. When an actual song comes back on, it will unmute. So you're not stealing anything, you're just using an app that automatically... more http://dlvr.it/RpJ5bd

At first glance, it may not sound like there's much value in doing a crossword puzzle in augmented reality, but The New York Times has managed to revamp the pastime as an immersive game. On Tuesday, the media company published its December 22 mini-crossword puzzle via the Spark AR platform for Instagram as Shattered Crossword. Don't Miss: New York Times Debuts Location-Based Air Pollution AR Visualization for Apple iOS Devices Rather than view the puzzle in AR and fill in the blanks, the potential letters are splintered and scattered about in the space above the puzzle, with the pieces of... more http://dlvr.it/Rp9gxp

There are three tiers to Android customization: things you can do by default, things you can do with ADB, and things you can do with root. While root is still pretty tricky to get, ADB mods just got a lot easier. Back in Android 9, Google added a feature that allowed you to wirelessly send ADB commands from a computer to your phone over a Wi-Fi network. Not particularly groundbreaking, but it laid the groundwork. Enter developer Tyler Nijmeh and his new app, LADB. It creates a local host entirely on-phone, then acts as if it's a computer on your network. From there, it's just a matter of... more http://dlvr.it/Rp9gxj

The economic impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic have been felt in practically every business sector. Now, as we look back at the top augmented reality investments of 2020, the AR industry has been no exception. While the overall dollar value of this year's top 10 investments was higher than any year since we began tracking AR funding in 2017, the results are a bit skewed by an astronomical funding round at the top of the 2020 list. • Don't Miss: Next Reality's 30 People to Watch in Augmented Reality for 2020 After discounting the top funding round of each year, the average funding round in... more http://dlvr.it/Rp9gwC

Help me, George Clooney. You're my only hope. If that mash-up of cultural references doesn't make sense, it will momentarily. To promote The Midnight Sky, the new film starring George Clooney and dropping via Netflix on December 23 (Happy Festivus), the streaming studio is launching an augmented reality experience that gives consumers the ability to record and send holographic messages, not unlike the iconic plea for help sent by Princess Leia in Star Wars: A New Hope. Don't Miss: Netflix Film 'Anon' Paints Dystopian View of Augmented Reality That Obliterates Privacy The web-based AR... more http://dlvr.it/Rp5W1f

The team over at Spatial isn't done innovating its way through augmented reality in 2020. Just days after adding a mobile option to its groundbreaking Spatial virtual collaboration product, the company is releasing Tele, a new app geared toward more casual, AR-powered video chats. • Don't Miss: Next Reality's 30 People to Watch in Augmented Reality for 2020 The Tele app uses the same easy avatar creation process as Spatial, which can take an existing face photo on your phone and wrap it around an avatar. Alternatively, you can simply snap a selfie and use that photo for your avatar. Once... more http://dlvr.it/Rnz9L2

The two primary design paradigms in Samsung's One UI Android skin are vertical padding and rounded UI elements. The extra empty space at the top of most menus moves touchable elements closer to your thumb, and the rounded UI elements match the curved corners of modern smartphone screens. While you can't add the vertical padding on other Android phones, you can now get the rounded corners. As with most things that modify Android's system UI, you'll need to be rooted to make this drastic change. You'll also need to have Magisk Manager installed, but you can get squared away on both fronts using... more http://dlvr.it/Rnx4Ns

Everyone raves about Gboard and SwiftKey, but the stock Samsung Keyboard on Galaxy devices is awesome in its own right. It's preloaded, so you don't have to do anything to get it, but at the same time, it's packed with features — even some you might not know about. CTRL+Z on Windows or CMD+Z on Mac is a central function if you're editing text — executing this shortcut will always undo the last changes you made, then adding SHIFT to the mix will redo what you undid. But even though text tools on mobile are more cumbersome than on PC, Android doesn't have a system-wide "Undo" or "Redo" function... more http://dlvr.it/RnwfkM

You won't have to ask Santa for holiday-themed augmented reality experiences, because practically any social and shopping app that offers AR effects has them available now. Despite the relative ubiquity, a new set of seasonal AR Lenses in Snapchat (iOS | Android) stand out, as they also showcase the app's powerful machine learning chops. Don't Miss: Next Reality Snap Spectacles 3 Holiday Giveaway! For example, the Family Portrait Lens leverages the aging and gender-shifting effects from the Time Machine and Gender Swap Lenses to create a virtual family based on your likeness, with yourself... more http://dlvr.it/Rnw8Fp

Google, you have something that I want. You may think you have some idea of what you are in possession of, but you do not. In a few moments, it will be mine...and it can be yours, too, dear readers. That something, of course, is Baby Yoda...er, Grogu...from the Disney+ Star Wars series The Mandalorian. But you won't have to fight Mando or Moff Gideon to obtain him. Don't Miss: Star Wars Baby Yoda Unofficially Comes to Magic Leap via This Developer Experiment Now, if you search Google for either his colloquial label or his proper canon name, or even "The Child" as he was previously referred... more http://dlvr.it/RnsNV4

This year, as part of the Next Reality 30, in partnership with Snap, we're spotlighting an up-and-coming innovator in augmented reality. Specifically, we were searching for an independent developer or creator who embodies the bleeding edge spirit of AR and its ability to leverage machine learning. This year's honoree is Aidan Wolf. • Don't Miss: Next Reality's 30 People to Watch in Augmented Reality for 2020 When Magic Leap first made its way into the hands of developers, an informal posse known as the Leap Squad quickly formed around the platform. One of its members was Aidan Wolf, an indie... more http://dlvr.it/RnrxrK

Everyone raves about Gboard and SwiftKey, but the stock Samsung keyboard on Galaxy devices is awesome in its own right. It's preloaded, so you don't have to do anything to get it, but at the same time, it's packed with features — even some you might not know about. CTRL+Z on Windows or CMD+Z on Mac is a central function if you're editing text — executing this shortcut will always undo the last changes you made, then adding SHIFT to the mix will redo what you undid. But even though text tools on mobile are more cumbersome than on PC, Android doesn't have a system-wide "Undo" or "Redo" function... more http://dlvr.it/RnnxDB

Google dropped several of the Pixel 4's more gimmicky features in favor of perfecting the basics on the Pixel 5. While you probably won't miss Motion Sense or the Assistant squeeze gesture, you'll definitely like the extra battery they packed into the space those features once occupied. Almost 50% more battery, actually. By bumping the battery from 2,800 to 4,080 mAh, Google afforded themselves the opportunity to include a feature Samsung has made popular with its recent phones: wireless battery sharing. Using the Pixel 5's Qi charging coil, you can charge any other device that supports the... more http://dlvr.it/RnkBZC

The virtual collaboration tool known as Spatial has consistently been one of our favorites due to its ability to leverage high-end augmented reality headsets to more easily facilitate remote meetings. Well, now the product just took a massive leap forward by allowing anyone with a smartphone to join in on these virtual meetings. Don't Miss: Next Reality's 30 People to Watch in Augmented Reality for 2020 On Tuesday, Spatial rolled out iOS (iPhone and iPad) and Android versions of the Spatial app. So now, a group of users can meet across devices including the HoloLens, the Magic Leap 1, a... more http://dlvr.it/RnhvMJ

The year 2020 was a pivotal span of time during which the word "virtual" took on a brand new meaning. Instead of referring to VR or augmented reality, the term was hijacked to describe meeting across long distances through a variety of software tools, most often through video. But while the dominance of the term as a way to describe video meetings has been irritating to some within the AR and VR space, I would argue that this is exactly the kind of mainstreaming shift that AR needed to begin to enter the minds of those who have never truly investigated immersive computing. Although the story... more http://dlvr.it/Rnccjv

There are at least 24,000 different Android devices, and they all have varying hardware components. This is why many developers publish several unique variants of their apps, which, among other things, helps accommodate all of the different display sizes and resolutions on Android phones and tablets. When there are multiple variants of an app, the Play Store automatically serves up the correct version for your particular device. But if you're sideloading an app from a site like APKMirror, you'll have to find the right version manually. Most of these types of APKs are categorized by either... more http://dlvr.it/RnXpLg

There are at least 24,000 different Android devices, and they all have varying hardware components. This is why many developers publish several unique variants of their apps, which, among other things, helps accommodate all of the different display sizes and resolutions on Android phones and tablets. When there are multiple variants of an app, the Play Store automatically serves up the correct version for your particular device. But if you're sideloading an app from a site like APKMirror, you'll have to find the right version manually. Most of these types of APKs are categorized by either... more http://dlvr.it/RnTWCQ

The iPhone has a setting that will obfuscate the content of notifications on its lock screen until you're recognized by Face ID. Google implemented this same feature in its Pixel phones, but many Android devices have no such option. At least, not by default. If you use Android's Smart Lock feature to keep your device unlocked when it's in a trusted environment for easy access, you probably wouldn't mind having the full content of notifications appear on your lock screen in these situations. But when you're at work or out and about, your phone's fully locked down, so your notifications should... more http://dlvr.it/RnTB1W

Adobe Audition, Audacity, and other audio editing software have tools to isolate vocals and instruments in regular songs so that you can get an instrumental track for karaoke, vocals for an a capella version, or solo drums, bass, keys, etc. that you can use to learn the song yourself. The software is mostly for desktop computers, and it doesn't always do a good job, but that's where Moises comes in. In 2019, the research team at Deezer, the popular music streaming service, created Spleeter. It's an open-source, MIT-licensed tool to help with music information retrieval (MIR). In Deezer's own... more http://dlvr.it/RnT9wz

In recent weeks, Google managed to capitalize on the hype surrounding the Star Wars streaming series The Mandalorian with an AR app that was not only exclusive to Android but also available only for 5G-equipped devices. Now, Google has partnered with Red Bull to launch an AR experience that syncs with The Last Ascent, a documentary film about Canadian climber Will Gadd's 2014 expedition on Mt. Kilimanjaro. While the experience runs on ARKit-capable iPhones and iPads as well as Android devices that support ARCore, in this case, you'll need either a Chromecast with Google TV or some other... more http://dlvr.it/RnPXbZ

Android 11 made a pretty significant UI change to the menu that appears when you press and hold your power button. Google created an entirely new system that apps can use to populate quick toggles in this menu, but the trouble is, not many apps are using this system yet. Really, the only supported app so far has been Google Home. It's great for smart home controls, but what if you could put other useful toggles in this menu that control your phone's various functions? Developer SayantanRC wondered the same thing when he created the first app that gives you truly custom control over Android... more http://dlvr.it/RnL0Cl

For the first time in twenty years, Apple created its own custom font in late 2014. Dubbed "San Francisco," it combined elements from Helvetica and FF DIN to create a crisp, elegant, and highly legible font that is now used in iOS, macOS, and tvOS. With an open source Magisk module from developer Nong Thai Hoang, you can now use Apple's San Francisco as your system-wide font on Android. This works independently from any built-in font management system on your phone, so you don't even have to worry about setting anything up just flash the module and go! Don't Miss: How to Get Custom Fonts on... more http://dlvr.it/RnKdVq

Next Reality is where we help you literally 'see' into the future of augmented reality, and to help with that mission we're offering three free pairs of Snap Spectacles 3 to three lucky readers who sign up for the Next Reality daily AR email newsletter. Look into the new year with fresh eyes, courtesy of the most fashionable wearable camera on the planet, brought to you by the brilliant minds at Snapchat. Scroll to the very bottom of this page to sign up for our daily email newsletter or CLICK HERE to ENTER NOW! Video: . __ One more thing… While you're here, if you want to learn how to... more http://dlvr.it/RnKBrP

At the opening of its virtual Lens Fest, taking place Dec. 8-10 and open to the public, Snap is furthering its facilitation of AR development with new tools for Lens Studio version 3.3 and a planned investment into its AR creator community. The unifying theme for Lens Studio 3.3 is making the creation of AR experiences easier for developers and artists with a pair of new features. First, the addition of a Visual Scripting tool enables users to build AR interactions without coding with a graphical interface and node-based scripting. Second, the Building Blocks tool provides prefabricated... more http://dlvr.it/RnFvgr

At the opening keynote of its virtual Lens Fest, taking place Dec. 8-10 and open to the public, Snap furthered its facilitation of AR development with new tools for Lens Studio version 3.3 and a planned investment into its AR creator community. The unifying theme for Lens Studio 3.3 is making the creation of AR experiences easier for developers and artists with a pair of new features. First, the addition of a Visual Scripting tool enables users to build AR interactions without coding with a graphical interface and node-based scripting. Second, the Building Blocks tool provides prefabricated... more http://dlvr.it/RnDwW6

We're still awaiting the arrival of consumer-grade AR smartglasses from the likes of Apple and Facebook. But that doesn't mean there aren't AR products out there to try this holiday season. The year 2020 marked the arrival of mobile devices equipped with sensors that are designed for augmented reality. That's right, 3D displays that make the holograms of science fiction a reality are now priced to move. Even the AR toys have gotten better, bringing video game classics from the screen to your living room. Then again, 2020 has been a rough year, so no one will blame you if you just decide to... more http://dlvr.it/RnBDlx

The act of typing on a smartphone has come a long way since the days of tiny physical keys at the bottom of a BlackBerry, but there are still quirks that can make it frustrating. Luckily, if you know a few hidden tricks, things do get easier. All of these tricks will work on Gboard, Android's de facto default keyboard that can be installed on any phone. Even better, the first couple tips work on Samsung's default keyboard and SwiftKey by Microsoft, so there should be something in here to help everyone type a little faster. Don't Miss: Type Faster with One Hand Thanks to This Hidden Gboard... more http://dlvr.it/Rn1PVf

For the first time in twenty years, Apple created its own custom font in late 2014. Dubbed "San Francisco," it combined elements from Helvetica and FF DIN to create a crisp, elegant, and highly legible font that is now used in iOS, macOS, and tvOS. With an open source Magisk module from developer Nong Thai Hoang, you can now use Apple's San Francisco as your system-wide font on Android. This works independently from any built-in font management system on your phone, so you don't even have to worry about setting anything up just flash the module and go! Don't Miss: How to Get Custom Fonts on... more http://dlvr.it/Rn1PTg

The latest generation of Spectacles aren't AR smartglasses per se, but Snap is intent on demonstrating that the wearables are capable of storytelling powered by augmented reality. On Thursday, Snap released a short film by artist Lauren Halsey that she shot entirely with Spectacles 3, with some AR effects thrown in for good measure. Don't Miss: Snap Finally Enters AR Smartglasses Territory with Spectacles 3 The film Summaeverythang documents Halsey and other members of the South Central Los Angeles community as they deliver fresh produce to the neighborhood. Video: . "Shooting with... more http://dlvr.it/Rn0VkL

The Pixel 5's beautifully slim and symmetric bezels don't leave much room for extra hardware like a notification LED. But with the Ambient Display feature and an inventive app, you can turn the display cutout for the front-facing camera into an animated notification indicator. Some people don't like the punch-hole screen, deeming it an eyesore. But why not flaunt what you have? Embrace the cutout by putting a ring around it, all while adding functionality, with this useful little app that I'll outline below. Don't Miss: Bring Back the Squeeze Gesture for Google Assistant on the Pixel 5 Step... more http://dlvr.it/RmxG6V

One of WhatsApp's best features is being able to change the default wallpaper for all chats. There's no reason to stick to the default WhatsApp backgrounds when you can be texting over an image of literally anything. In a newer WhatsApp update, you can go a step beyond that by setting custom wallpapers for individual chats, personalizing every text thread you have. You'll find the individual chat wallpapers in WhatsApp version 2.20.130 for iOS, which was released on Nov. 30, 2020. So if you use an iPhone, make sure your app is updated to the latest version to get this new customization... more http://dlvr.it/Rmwjnw

If you're like me, you enjoy using your phone's dark theme at night and light theme during the day. When switching from dark to light and vice versa, many of the UI elements in supported apps adjust accordingly, but you have no control over what does and doesn't change. WhatsApp, on the other hand, does give you some granular control by letting you pick a chat wallpaper for each theme. The feature is new to WhatsApp as of version 2.20.130 on iOS, released on Nov. 30, 2020, so make sure to update WhatsApp in the App Store to take advantage of the dark and light theme customization. If you're... more http://dlvr.it/Rmsxj6

Apple no longer has an exclusive province to LiDAR for the purposes of augmented reality. This week, headset maker Varjo unveiled its new VR-3 and XR-3 headsets, the latter of which includes LiDAR sensors and stereo RGB cameras to enable depth sensing and inside-out tracking of real-world environments for "pass-through" mixed reality experiences. Don't Miss: Hands-On: The Varjo XR-1 Developer Edition has Seamless AR to VR Imaging & Low-Latency Both the XR-3 and VR-3 are capable of 115 degrees field of view, "human-eye resolution" (more than 70 pixels per degree, or 8K resolution), and color... more http://dlvr.it/RmsVgw

In response to Sony unveiling its own holographic display back in October, Looking Glass Factory CEO Shawn Frayne quickly penned a letter welcoming the electronics mainstay to the field, with a post-script teasing the reveal of their own for December of 2020. That day is finally here, and so is the Looking Glass Portrait, the latest iteration of the company's holographic display technology, which is now priced for the consumer market. Don't Miss: Hands-On with the Looking Glass Pro, An Easy Alternative to AR for Interacting With Virtual Content Weighing 1.3 pounds, or about an ounce lighter... more http://dlvr.it/Rmrxpm