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Netflix’s ‘Project Rumble Pak’ tests vibrating mobile movies

Jun21
by on June 21, 2019 at 6:45 am
Posted In: Around the Web, Insider


We’re all used to our console controllers vibrating during intense gaming sequences. Some movie theaters incorporate vibration motors into their chairs for a more immersive experience. Now, a new Netflix experiment considers combining the two ideas, essentially adding haptic feedback to movies and TV shows you watch on your phone. The idea isn’t a feature Netflix is testing widely, but rather it came about through one of the company’s ‘Hack Days,’ in which employees get to mess around with new ideas and technologies. The bulk of these experiments don’t come to fruition, but sometimes they make their way into your…

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Google will no longer make tablets, but Chrome OS lives on

Jun21
by on June 21, 2019 at 6:20 am
Posted In: Around the Web, Plugged


In case you were holding out for a Google or Pixel-branded tablet, I’ve got some bad news: the company is no longer interested in building these devices in-house. Computerworld reported that Google reportedly just killed off its plans to make two tablets to follow the Pixel Slate from 2018. In addition, its chief of hardware, Rick Osterloh, noted that the company is shifting focus to laptops: Hey, it’s true…Google’s HARDWARE team will be solely focused on building laptops moving forward, but make no mistake, Android & Chrome OS teams are 100% committed for the long-run on working with our partners…

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Harry Potter: Wizards Unite launches early — here are our first impressions

Jun21
by on June 21, 2019 at 1:04 am
Posted In: Around the Web, gaming


Niantic‘s latest AR-based walking-encouragement app, Harry Potter: Wizards Unite, launched unexpectedly today. It was supposed to roll out Friday, but hey, we’re not complaining. Here’s what we thought after the first few hours using the app. I discovered the app was live during a routine trip to get my car inspected — sitting in the Toyota waiting room isn’t a terribly enriching experience, so I consulted my phone. I immediately tried to download it and begin looking for Nifflers in the rubberized mat display, but I to wait until I got back to my home Wi-Fi connection before it would reliably…

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