Source: http://gizmodo.com/every-river-in-the-u-s-colored-according-to-the-way-i-1674447918
There are over 250,000 rivers in the U.S., some subtly serene, others tremendously tumultuous. But in this visualization you can see them all—and the color shows which way their waters flow.
Source: http://www.engadget.com/2014/12/21/samsung-ultra-widescreen-curved-monitor/
If both ultra-widescreen and curved computer monitors are all the rage these days, then Samsung's new SE790C display is supremely fashionable. The 34-inch, 3,440 x 1,440 LCD has both a super-wide 21:9 aspect ratio and a gentle arc, combining two trends (fads?) in one. Supposedly, this all-encompassing design produces a "3D-like" effect that brings you into the action -- that's a little difficult to believe, but the screen will at least look futuristic sitting on your desk. Just don't expect it to make your photos pop. Although the SE790C covers all of the sRGB color range, it's using a middle-of-the-road VA (vertical alignment) panel rather than something particularly vivid, like IPS (in-plane switching). There's also no mention of US availability or pricing, so it's hard to know if this represents a good deal. So long as the price isn't too outlandish, though, it could be a good way to immerse yourself in games and movies.
Filed under: Displays, Peripherals, Samsung
Source: Samsung Tomorrow
Source: http://www.engadget.com/2014/12/19/amazon-os-update-firefly/
Amazon SVP of Devices David Limp promised back in October that the company will continue releasing updates for the Fire phone despite its rather poor performance -- like this big software upgrade, for instance. The latest version of Fire phone's OS comes with a long list of new features, including the ability to translate text and identify artwork (well, anything included in its 2,000-piece catalog, anyway) in photos using Firefly. Plus, there's a new camera mode called Best Shot that saves three versions of each captured photo, so you can choose the best one.
You can also start blocking phone numbers, selecting more keyboard languages, disabling MMS character count, editing documents in the preloaded WPS Office app and connecting to a VPN. Want to sync calendars across Amazon devices, view more info on the lock screen and scroll through Kindle books using gestures? You can do all those, as well. The update's available for both the AT&T device and the unlocked GSM version, which, by the way, is now priced at half the $449 it used to cost -- just sayin', in case you want to relieve the company of one of the many, many phones it can't sell.Filed under: Cellphones, Mobile, Amazon
Via: Phone Scoop, Android Central
Source: Amazon
Source: http://www.businessinsider.com/robo-adviser-growth-2014-12
In July, research and consulting firm Corporate Insight presented an impressive number: $15.7 billion.
That was the amount of money managed by the online investment platforms known as robo-advisers.
By once again analyzing 11 leaders in the field this December, Corporate Insight has determined that since its last analysis, these robo-advisers have taken more than another $3 billion under management for a total of nearly $19 billion.
This number represents a 21% increase since July, and a 65% increase since the first time the data was collected in April.
"The continued growth of the newcomers and the recent actions of the major players prove that online advice is not a fleeting fad," Corporate Insight analyst Grant Easterbrook wrote in an email to Business Insider. "Human advisers must realize that the disruptive powers of the web and automation are here to stay."
Corporate Insight looked at the influence of online platforms Wealthfront, Betterment, Assetbuilder, Covester, Financial Guard, FutureAdvisor, Jemstep, MarketRiders, Personal Capital, RebalanceIRA, and SigFig.
Easterbrook says the innovative new partnerships and products announced by Fidelity, TD Ameritrade, TradeKing, and Charles Schwab, as well as the $161 million raised in funding rounds by four of these 11 robo-advisers this year, is clear evidence that robo-advice is being welc! omed int o the mainstream.
The growth, segmented into "discretionary control" (money that's directly managed) and "paid investment advice," is shown in the chart below:
SEE ALSO: Here's Why Betterment's CEO Loves That People Call His Investing Website A 'Robo-Adviser'
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Source: http://www.engadget.com/2014/12/18/android-m-cars-rumor/
If Reuters' rumors are true, then apparently the folks at Mountain View think the Android Auto overlays rolling out this year don't go far enough. Citing unnamed sources, it indicates that an Android 'M' able to embed directly into cars -- no smartphone necessary -- is set to roll out in about a year. The idea is to make Android the standard for controlling navigation and entertainment, no matter what phone the driver is holding. Some automakers, like Hyundai and Honda have already announced plans for systems that run their own custom flavors of Android, but it sounds like this could go much further -- if any automakers actually plug it into their vehicles. The Detroit Auto Show rolls around next month right after CES, if any such project is under way then those seem like excellent times to make an announcement, don't you think?
Filed under: Transportation, Google
Source: Reuters
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