This is the first public demonstration of Augmental’s retainer-like MouthPad accessibility gadget. It can be used to control devices that support a Bluetooth mouse, including phones, tablets, computers, and even sex toys, without significantly impairing speech.
Engadget said it’s “one of the most elegant and sophisticated” tongue-operated controllers to date after seeing a live demo at CES.
There’s no way lightning will strike three times for Tom Cruise and the franchise that’s already struck gold twice, but the man currently filming the eighth (!) Mission: Impossible is reportedly reuniting with Maverick co-writer Ehren Kruger, director Joe Kosinski, and sinewy actors Miles Teller and Glen Powell. The film has quietly been in development since late fall, according to The Hollywood Reporter.
MacRumors spotted that Apple added the figure to a support page recently, confirming an increase that has reportedly been in effect since 2022’s iOS 16. The previous limit was apparently 16. Compatible items include AirTags and other first-party headphones and accessories from Apple and Beats, and a range of third-party products.
I totally believe TVs should also be smart displays for controlling your smart home; it just makes sense. So, I was intrigued to check out the new Now Plus dashboard screen, Map View, and Quick Access controls for SmartThings on Samsung TVs at CES this week.
The three new interfaces were colorful and responsive in the demo (you control them with the TV remote). And the Quick Access Panel looks super handy. (It will also look very familiar to Apple TV users.)
This year, Google is going to let developers offer games and apps on Play that aren’t “covered by an existing licensing framework,” according to a new blog post. Google has already been piloting this in India and Mexico with Rummy and daily fantasy sports apps.
[Android Developers Blog]
The company announced it sold out of its second round of 10,000 devices, 24 hours after the first batch sold out and barely 48 since it launched to the world. Something about the mix of ambitious AI, Teenage Engineering style, and that attainable $199 price just seems to be working for people.
The third batch is up for preorder now, but you won’t get your R1 until at least May.
Tom Coates was recently at a meeting with Meta’s Threads team talking about ActivityPub, the fediverse, and the future of social. He took a lot of interesting notes! And in those notes he has a near-future roadmap for Threads’ decentralization plans:
• Early 2024 (Part One) – the Like counts on the Threads app would combine likes from Mastodon and Threads users
• Early 2024 (Part Two) – replies posted on Mastodon servers would be visible in the Threads application
• Late 2024 – A “mixed” Fediverse and Threads experience where you will be able to follow Mastodon users within Threads, and reply to them and like them
[plasticbag.org]
