Google Play Surprise Calendar Countdown: Christmas offers, dares to U.S. only

You just started an interesting promotion at Play Store, although the flavor of US-only , but perhaps not the last word. Explanation: as you can see this page on Play Store , Google announced the beginning of a sort of countdown full of surprises, in the form of a new offer daily, that will take us from now until the New Year . That today, for example, offers $35 discount, if you book a hotel with the app  Hotel Tonight , but we have tried to use the code and does not work.

They are, however, promises more surprises in the two weeks that separate us from 1.1.2013, with offers on app, books, movies, TV series and music: it is obvious that when it concerns everything.

Snapseed: perfection in a few clicks

Released a few days ago also on Google Play Android, Snapseed was one of App which until now had remained exclusive platform Apple.  Release for Android follows the recent acquisition of Nik Software by Google.

Say immediately that it is an application of imaging expected in the arsenal Software User Android because alongside with the simplicity of use disarming, potency and efficacy unique. I downloaded the beginning (on iOS) but I was not able to fully understand the power. The fact that they operate fully with the fingers “touching”the image (without sliders and controls to be set numerically) me made her seem very professional. Nothing could be more wrong. The application (which shows very few differences between iOS and Android) is very effective and very fast.

Snapseed Application is not just editing, but it is also an excellent application for posting photos around the social world. In this there is a difference between iOS and Android. The iOS App menu shows a “share” where you can choose the social to the post, including those configured on the device, while Android on the button “share” mail directly to Google (and it indeed shows the icon). To post to other social networks by Android, you must select “share” from the main menu of the application. Less instinctive and also awful, but he understands the purpose as an additional means (by Google) to push their own social network.

The sub-editing is very rich. You can apply different filters; frames include several creative filters and use details. There are plenty of filters more retro classics such as drama, vintage black and white. Complete settings of the image brightness, contrast, sharpness, and color temperature.

What makes Snapseed truly effective is its mode of interaction and application filters through control point. With this feature, you can quickly select (and with your fingers) whole areas of the image to apply filters and corrections.

KegDroid: the mobile phone with Android dispenses beer with Arduino

Maybe the phones of the future "will also make the coffee," but right now we have to make the technology available that allows up to us to drink beer. How? Simple, with KegDroid, a beer dispenser automatically controlled by an Android tablet.

The project combines three of the passions of the geek world: Android, Arduino, and, of course, beer! To create the KegDroid developers have created a mega android which is placed inside the controller Arduino programmed for the occasion.

The interface used is the one with the Android tablet that scans information from an NFC reader (using a card that enables the machine) and give us a screen selection of beers of the day and allows you to set the amount delivered.

The beer "flows" from the foot of the droid (connected to the refrigeration machine with the barrels) and the spilling of the mount arms. Then simply place the glass, open the tap and choose the amount of beer to be dispensed with progress shown in real time on screen.

Obviously the system can be used with any drink and micro payments via NFC-enabled ... we will see the birth Android bars in the future?