You may have heard that two self-driving cars had a "close call" on a California road this week. Don't be alarmed.
One of Google's self-driving Lexus RX450h's (incorrectly reported as a RX400h) cut in front of an Audi Q5 equipped with Delphi's self-driving technology on the streets of Palo Alto, California, Reuters reported. It characterized the incident as a "close call," but representatives for the companies say it was simply normal, everyday driving. Delphi's Audi was attempting a lane change at the time of the encounter.
SEE ALSO: Get out of the driver's seat, human
"Our car saw the Google car move into the same lane as our car was planning to move into, but upon detecting that the lane was no longer open it decided to terminate the move and wait until it was clear again," a Delphi representative told Mashable in an email.
"Our car did exactly what it was supposed to."
"Our car did exactly what it was supposed to."
The report came about when a Delphi executive visited a Reuters office and described the scenario to a reporter as an example of "an actual interaction that we encounter all the time in real-world driving situations," according to the company.
"The headline here is that two self-driving cars did what they were supposed to do in an ordinary everyday driving scenario — one car yielded to another," a Google spokesperson toldMashable.
In an email sent to Mashable a company spokesperson said "Reuters stands by the accuracy of its story."
The incident comes just weeks after Google launched a website with the aim of educating the public about its self-driving car research. Google is now issuing monthly reports on any accidents that have occurred involving its self-driving cars.
Since starting the program in 2009, Google's cars have been involved in 12 accidents, none of which were the fault of the autonomous cars, according to a May 2015 report conducted by Google. The report also notes that the company averages around 10,000 miles of testing per week on public roads.
What updates should Android developers focus on from Google I/O?
In this video, Android Engineer Kris Pena picks out the most important pieces of information that came out of this year's Google I/Oconference.
She dissects all the changes to Android app permissions, like prompting users just to allow ccess to location services or cameras in real time, versus presenting them with a long list of permissions before an install.
She also discusses some of the exciting new APIs released with the Android M preview, as well as Google's new Design Support Library, which makes it easier for designers to implement many of the features of material design without a lot of extra work.
Enjoy, and don't forget to subscribe to our Ask a Dev YouTube channel to catch more videos like this.
The $129 Polaroid Zip Instant Photoprinter is a pocket digital printer that prints up sticker pics from your smartphone or tablet. It's possibly Polaroid's most exciting product in years.
Mashable Choice highlights the products and services we've tested and would recommend to others. Consider it Liked, Favorited, +1'ed and Pinned.
I love being able to hold pictures in my hands, but I love being able to stick my pictures on things even more.
Sticker pictures are back, and they're more fun to print out than they were before thanks toPolaroid's $130 pocket-sized Zip Instant Photoprinter.
Before digital cameras, before cellphone cameras and before Facebook and Instagram, there was the photo booth. And then for a short period of time in the mid to late 1990s, photo booths from Asia that printed "sticker pics" became really popular worldwide.
SEE ALSO: Can Fujifilm Bring Instant Film Cameras Into the Selfie Era?
It was a much simpler time. Sticker pics let you express yourself and show off your goofy side. They were a precursor to selfies, if you will.
You and a few friends would cram into a tiny photo booth and select frames and borders and make faces into the camera. Afterwards, you'd divvy the stickers up and slap them onto your notebook, CD player, pager (if you were so lucky to own one) or other personal items.
In recent years, instant film cameras have seen somewhat of a resurgence in popularity. Despite the unlimited number of digital photos we can now snap and share immediately with our phones,
people are falling in love with pictures that they can hold in their hands again
people are falling in love with pictures that they can hold in their hands again.
I'm as guilty as everyone else. Since I bought my Fujifilm Instax Mini 90 last year, I've taken hundreds of instant pictures. I bring it with me whenever there's a party, wedding or social event. There's still something delightful about watching instant pics develop and then giving them out to people as gifts. Look in my wallet and you'll find around six instant pics tucked inside that are rotated with new ones every couple of months.
But as great as instant film cameras are, they're still analog gadgets. Polaroid's Zip Instant Photoprinter takes your most used camera — your phone — and lets you print your pics out on the fly.
Ink-less prints
The digital printer is no larger than a small portable hard drive or battery pack and weighs only 0.41 pounds. I tested the white model (it also comes in black, magenta and cyan), and it's sleek with rounded corners and edges. Polaroid's iconic rainbow stripe runs down the front and back. There's a single power button and Micro USB port for charging and that's it. If not for the rainbow stripe, it could pass for an Apple product.
Slide the top cover off and you'll gain access to the paper tray. The Photoprinter prints pics using Polaroid's ZINK Zero Ink paper (2- x 3-inch stickers). ZINK paper comes in packs of 50 for $25, which works out to 50 cents per shot. It sounds like a lot, but compare that to Fujifilm Instax mini film, which is anywhere from $1 to $1.50 a shot, and it's peanuts.
What's ZINK paper, you ask? It's special paper with colored crystals embedded inside. When heat from the printer is applied onto it, the crystals activate and the photos develop. ZINK paper is the digital equivalent of instant film, without the downsides of having to keep it stored in the dark for fear of accidental exposure. And since the technology is not like an inkjet printer that applies ink on top of paper, you'll never have to buy ink cartridges or deal with smudges.
The Photoprinter isn't Polaroid's first stab at digital printing. A few years ago, I tried Polaroid's Z2300 instant digital camera, which has a built-in ZINK printer, but I thought the quality of the prints was crummy.
This time around, instead of a camera with a built-in printer, the company's simply selling a printer that connects to your smartphone or tablet and prints out pictures from there.
So easy to use
IMAGE: MASHABLE, MILES GOSCHA
The Photoprinter connects to iOS devices with Bluetooth and to Android devices with either Bluetooth or NFC. I tested the Photoprinter with an iPhone 6, HTC One M9 and Galaxy S6, and I had no real troubles pairing them to the printer.
Printing pictures is very easy to do. Everything is handled through the free Polaroid Zip app. The app itself isn't the best-designed one, though. It looks a little dated with its brushed metal aesthetic, kind of like something circa 1999 when the brushed metal look was all the rage.
The Polaroid Zip app works, but it's not the easiest to use.
IMAGE: MASHABLE, SCREENSHOT BY RAYMOND WONG
With the app, you can make a quick print either by taking a pic or selecting one from your photo gallery; make collages; create a quick business card; and edit pictures by adding filters, text, fun frames/borders and other icons and emoji.
The editing process can be tricky; it's not fully thought out. For instance, you can't use a pinch gesture to shrink and enlarge text or emoji, and you can't turn them to rotate. Several Mashableeditors kept trying to use gestures until I explained to them the correct way to make edits. You have to press and hold on these tool icons that pop in the corner like so:
Imperfect prints full of charm
ZINK paper prints aren't going to blow you away with crispness or clarity — actually, the color is pretty off and is darker than what you see in the app before printing — but it's really good for a pocket printer.
It's tough to notice, but there are some subtle differences in print quality depending on what smartphone/tablet you use. Here's a case where
having more megapixels and a better camera that takes pictures with less image noise is desirable
having more megapixels and a better camera that takes pictures with less image noise is desirable.
Print quality is especially noticeable when you print out selfies; prints from the iPhone 6's 2-megapixel front-facing camera look worse than selfies from the 5-megapixel front camera on the GS6.
It's not a deal-breaker at all, to tell you the truth. In fact, I quite like the somewhat lower resolution for some prints; it feels like you're getting something as imperfect as a picture developed from film. The grain in some pics actually gives them more charm and character.
It takes a little over a minute for pictures to print out — 30 seconds or so to send the data to the printer and another 30 seconds or so for the printer to warm up and print. Yes, I know, a whole minute, but it's not like instant film doesn't take a minute or two to develop; there's that same sort of excitement in waiting for the unknown.
More fun than Instagram
If my headline didn't clue you in from the start, the Photoprinter is just so much fun to use. It's a little pricey at $130, the battery lasts only about an hour for around 25 prints, and the app can make me grind my teeth a few times, but the overall product is delightful.
We all take hundreds (or like me, thousands) of pictures with our smartphones, but how many of those do we actually look at again? The value of a smartphone pic posted to Instagram is quickly lost to the sands of time. That selfie you posted 15 minutes ago is only memorable until you post your next one.
ZINK paper includes sticker adhesives on the back — perfect for personalizing your stuff like how I did to this MacBook.
IMAGE: MASHABLE, RAYMOND WONG
Not only does the Photoprinter give your smartphone pics tangibility, but it also increases the value of each pic printed. Stick them on the back of your phone or on your laptop lid or on your fridge and you'll remember those moments and cherish them more. They're daily reminders of the good times.
In today's ephemeral digital lifestyle, a physical photo is worth more than a million digital ones.
Polaroid Zip Instant Photoprinter
The Good
Sleek, lightweight design • Cheap ZINK sticker paper • Works with iOS and Android •Lots of funky frames, emoji and images to overlay on pics
The Bad
Occasional connectivity issues • Weak battery
The Bottom Line
The Polaroid Zip Instant Photoprinter is a little pricey at $130, but damn it if it's not a whole lot of fun to print your smartphone pics.
5 can't-miss apps: Kiwi for Gmail, Disney Gif, Medium and more
Between iTunes showcasing LGBT pride and Facebook's rainbow-filtered profile photos, you may have missed some of this week's best new apps.
SEE ALSO: Breakup app delivers the ugly truth so you don't have to
Luckily, each weekend, we round up a few of our favorite new and updated apps. This week's list includes a GIF keyboard app from Disney, a new Gmail app for Mac, Dropbox's redesigned Android app and more.
Check out the gallery, below, to see our top picks. If you're looking for more, take a look at ourlast roundup of can't-miss apps.
Disney Gif
Disney now has a way for you to easily find animated GIFs from all your favorite Disney and Pixar titles, including Star Wars. Disney Gif puts some of Disney’s best moments right on your keyboard.
Keep an eye on: The app, along with the vast majority of its GIFs, are free, though there are some additional GIFs available through in-app purchases from the main Disney GIF app.
Pro-tip: Like all iOS keyboard apps, you have to enable Disney Gif through your device’s settings menu. To preview an individual GIF, hold down on a thumbnail to see the full version play out.
Free: iOS
IMAGE: DISNEY
Dropbox
Dropbox’s Android app got a major overhaul this week, with a new update that brings the app in line with Google’s Material Design language. The latest version of the app has also improved its search and made it easier to navigate between files.
Keep an eye on: The app now lets you snap photos from within the app and it automatically saves the image to that folder.
Pro-tip: The app’s search function also allows you to search within the text of documents stored on your account.
Free: iOS and Android
IMAGE: DROPBOX, INC.
Kiwi for Gmail
The Kickstarter-backed desktop Gmail client finally landed on the Mac App Store this week. With support for multiple email accounts (including Google Apps), notifications, Hangouts, Google Drive attachments, it comes pretty darn close to feeling like a native app from Google itself.
Keep an eye on: The company says it will be adding support for popular Gmail extensions like Boomerang in a future update.
Pro-tip: For when you want to get away from your inbox for a bit, the “Zen” switch helps you tune it all out by disabling notifications and email accounts to reduce distraction.
$9.99: Mac (Lite version; free)
IMAGE: ZIVE, INC.
Medium
Medium has finally released the official version of its Android app. It allows you to browse posts published on the platform, check out your reading list and write and publish new posts of your own.
Keep an eye on: Your regular reading list is still available within the app and you can search for new content, though right now search is limited to specific stories, though Medium says it’s working on new options.
Pro-tip: Drafts you write in the app can’t be viewed or published from the web so make sure to fine tune your text within the app as much as possible.
Free: iOS and Android
IMAGE: A MEDIUM CORPORATION
Stack Heroes
Part Jenga, part physics game, the goal of Stack heroes is to perfectly place the falling blocks into a perfect stack.
Keep an eye on: As the game progresses, blocks fall faster and faster and become much more difficult to control.
Pro-tip: Knocking over a few blocks at a time can sometimes work in your favor: A well-placed block can sometimes knock over problematic areas of the structure.
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SARA MCCORD for The Muse
Before those who read this title think I've abandoned everything I stand for: Don't worry, I still love coffee. I am the stereotypical remote worker who seeks refuge from writer's block in a coffee shop. I drink nearly as much as Lorelai Gilmore, and whenever I want to catch up with a friend I suggest we meet for coffee.
However, I'll admit that this isn't always an effective networking strategy. As the writer Deborah Copaken Kogan includes on her contact page "but please refrain from asking her to…go on a coffee date…it's hard enough to find an hour to have coffee with a friend."
Therein lies the problem in asking networking contacts to meet for coffee: There's a good chance they'll respond that they're "too pressed for time." And, it's no doubt true. (Seriously, look no further than here, here, and here). So, if you're hoping to connect with someone new or particularly busy, try moving your requests online. You'll get the same results (new connections!) without all those the back-and-forth "when and where" emails.
1. Use Twitter to share your work
As the resident Twitter evangelist on The Daily Muse team Lily Herman writes, "...Twitter is one of the best networking tools (if not the best) out there...Without exerting too much energy, you can put a plan in place and start to see your networking connections — and professional opportunities — rack up."
Herman goes on to explain how you can
use hashtags, questions, and your current network to foster connections over Twitter.
use hashtags, questions, and your current network to foster connections over Twitter.The idea here is that while someone may be hard-pressed to find 30 minutes (or more!) to meet for coffee, he or she probably has time to tweet you back. And, if you tweet with someone more regularly —andshe's responding — you'll start to build a relationship. Once someone follows you, you can then DM him or her to continue the conversation over email.
Need proof this approach works? Just last week, someone tweeted me that he scored a 100% on the Grammar Quiz I shared. He then asked if that was worth me reviewing his infographic. I was impressed — with the score and the tweet — and asked him to DM me a link to it. If he'd asked me for coffee to discuss the possibility of collaborating, I would've said no — but this 10-second request was easy to say yes to.
2. Use LinkedIn to share your resume
Some people just aren't into Twitter, so no matter how strategically you tweet at them, they won't respond because they rarely log in. Next stop: LinkedIn.
Before you say, "Duh, everyone's resume is on LinkedIn," remember that there's a difference between a person clicking on your page just to see if you share a past employer or alma mater, and someone actually reading your professional history.
I still remember when Muse career expert Lily Zhang reached out to me over LinkedIn. Not only did she send me a personal note, but as soon as I accepted her request, she went to my profile and endorsed me for some of the skills she had mentioned in the message. This demonstrated to me that she really had read my articles, and naturally, I immediately went to her profile to endorse the skills I knew she had. And while I was there, I read her profile.
This method could work for anyone, and it's a much more strategic — and likely — way to get a contact to view your summary and resume than asking to meet for coffee so that you may discuss your career aspirations.
3. Use Instagram to be in touch
One of the secrets to really connecting over social media is to figure out your contact's preferred platform.
One of the secrets to really connecting over social media is to figure out your contact's preferred platform.While you may think that Instagram is just for personal photos, people now use it in all sorts of ways. From sharing industry-related quotes to using it as another profile to share their work, many people do utilize it for professional purposes — making it a great way to reach them.
As with Twitter, just following someone isn't enough to build a connection. You'll want to interact with the person you'd like to be in touch with. Of course, there are a few things to keep in mind. I shy away from requesting private Instagram profiles unless it's someone I already know. (Because if someone's account is private, odds are this is not a platform he uses to network with new people.)
Also, it's important not to act like you know someone you've never met. Sure if someone posts a photo of a beautiful place or of themselves all dressed up or of a cute child, it's pretty standard for followers to like and comment accordingly. But if you tell a stranger that you notice her husband always poses on her right side or that she has worn her hair the same way to every fancy event lately (a.k.a., things only a BFF or her aunt would say), you're crossing over into creepy territory.
Instead, comment on professional posts — pictures of the office, of that person traveling for work, or of events he or she has attended. A comment that you "also loved the keynote at [ABC event] especially when she mentioned [this cool thing]" is a much better way to go than the comment above. While an influencer might not have time to meet with you for coffee to discuss a recent speaking engagement, through Instagram, you can get on her radar.
You still can ask to meet people for coffee (I know I do). But if you find that you're having troublegetting a "yes" to your networking request, try one of the strategies above. Then, buy yourself that cup of coffee for victory's sake when you hear back from someone you've been dying to connect with.
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Last week, we challenged you to combine everyday objects with doodles to create unique works of art. This theme was inspired by Christoph Niemann, a world renowned artist who specializes in mixed media illustration.
"It was a lot of fun to look at all those different submissions," said Niemann, who hosted our challenge. "I've always found that setting tight rules makes for the best results in series like these, and it's exciting to see such a range of approaches despite the limitations I gave to the artists."
SEE ALSO: 20 splashy photos that reflect your creativity with water
Niemann, known as @abstractsunday on Instagram, has had his work featured in numerous publications. In 2010, he was inducted into the Art Directors Club Hall of Fame.
He uses Instagram to share his art and creative process, and is always impressed with the variety of work he sees on the platform.
"Looking at the world of Instagram for me is proof that the public at large is visually much more savvy than they are given credit for," he said.
Below, scroll through Niemann's favorite submissions, as well as a few of Mashable's picks:
Neimann says:I love how this goes beyond a simple image and tells a story.
Neimann says:I'm obsessed with coffee. Any idea with coffee is a good idea.
Neimann says:The idea comes across as very simple and obvious. But these kind of drawings take a lot of fine tuning to feel so natural and intuitive.
Neimann says:I've tried to come up with a decent idea involving a CD for a while. This artist made it happen. Thank you! Now I can stop obessing over that item.
Neimann says:This is just a lot of fun!
Neimann says:I like this: It's all but impossible to remind yourself as a viewer that the item is actually NOT designed to look like a biker.
Neimann says:I could not have done this: I would have eaten the chocolate long before the drawing would have been done.
Neimann says:I have a very soft spot for this, because I'm a great fan of the legendary George Hardy, who did the prism drawing for Pink Floyd's "Dark Side Of The Moon."
Neimann says:Simple but fun and a great drawing!
Neimann says:I love how the abstraction of Munch's figure is taken to an iconic extreme.
Neimann says:The idea is simple, but the drawing is brilliant.
Neimann says:Nice discovery. Now we only need an NFL team that plays in quilts.
Neimann says:Beautiful composition. It feels very elegant, yet natural.
