The impressive, and free, Android app FaceLock (or FaceLock for apps, to give its full title) got a significant update this week that adds another new feature, more on that shortly but for those who haven't tried it yet just what is FaceLock?
FaceLock lets you protect your Android device using facial recognition, say you don't want anyone using a particular app - tell FaceLock to protect it and any time the app is asked to run it will check it's you using it and not someone else. The new update adds an experimental feature, allowing it to unlock the phone itself by recognising your face. Although this feature is only in the Pro version, which is the basis of this review, I'm happy to say both the free and pro versions work well on an Android device running gingerbread (Android version 2.3) or higher.
The facial recognition itself is impressive, after taking ten different images to train it (you can take less or more but ten is recommended) the app performed flawlessly never mistaking one person for another and if for any reason it cannot identify someone, for example in a dark environment, it can revert to asking for a pin, password or pattern to verify it's really you.
FaceLock is great for protecting apps you don't want others to run, perhaps you have private data you want protected (such as a banking app) or want to restrict say a son or daughter from accidentally using something such as facebook or netflix. With this they could only use protected apps or devices when you are present.
The newly added screen lock feature is equally impressive and a welcome addition. There is a brief moment when your Android is first switched on (or rebooted) when, because your device has not yet loaded in third party apps, the FaceLock is not active.
It is a short period but you needn't be worried about it because if someone were to steal your device and reboot it to try bypassing the lock they would have to be very quick indeed because that window of opportunity is very small (seconds) and as soon as FaceLock runs the phone locks, preventing any unauthorised access.
Can it be circumvented with a photograph of the recognised user? In theory you would think so but during my testing I tried using several recent photographs of myself including one taken the same day as testing and was unable to have it unlock anything although I would have expected it to be able to as it seems unlikely the app can tell if the face it sees is real or just a still image.
It is of course great fun to just hold your phone in front of you and have it automatically unlock, but the app does have a very real use as a security feature and indeed security is a key factor here with FaceLock being able to be set to one of three security levels. These levels change the level of certainty that the app requires before unlocking. I tried only the highest level, which means it will only unlock when it is 100% sure it's you, but you can alter the setting should you require it to be a little less precise.
Are there any bugs or flaws in the app? Not that I have noticed, it would be nice if before the app reverts to asking for a password it would offer to retry facial recognition but then this isn't a problem as you can tell FaceLock to wait for a longer period of time before deciding a face cannot be recognised.
You can of course have the screen locked with your Androids pin security lock as well as FaceLock, providing double security for those who feel they need it, something that may appeal to those after the highest level of security possible but however you use it FaceLock is one of those useful apps that just happen to also have that side to them where its fun to show people just what it can do.
In a bold move the developer has no adverts in FaceLock, instead relying on the quality of the app itself to attract customers to buy the pro version which of course has additional features such as the screen lock.
The app certainly gets my vote, it's a useful security application that brings an added layer of protection to Android. Some may ask why, when Android 4 has a face unlock feature of its own, we should use this and the reasons are obvious.
Only seven percent of Androids currently run version 4 of the operating system and so, for the majority of devices, this is the only real alternative to that which actually works, and aside from the fact that a lot of new devices are shipped without face recognition being one of the included features FaceLock allows you to do more than simply unlock your phone or tablet, it also allows selective protection of only specified applications as well as having additional settings that help improve upon the alternatives such as that offered by Google for Android 4.0 (more popularly known as Ice Cream Sandwich, or ICS).
With useful settings that aid its performance, a good level of accuracy and a high rating on the Play store this is one app definitely worth a look.
Sequels and reboots. Two words guaranteed to strike fear into the fans of a decent movie, so it may come as a surprise to learn that several sequels and reboots that come out soon might actually be worth watching when they hit the big screen.
For those who just want the titles they are Dredd, Expendables 2, Man of steel, RoboCop, Total Recall, Die Hard 5, Resident Evil : Retribution, Taken 2, Iron Man 3, The Dark Knight Rises, Skyfall and Star Trek 2. There are of course also a number of sequels currently in the planning or pre production stages including a sequel to eighties hit Twins, the return of Bill and Ted, the sequel to X-Men First Class and Ryan Reynolds taking over as the Highlander. A warning in advance, there are a lot of action films in here....
Dredd - this certificate 18 (r rated) reboot of Judge Dredd promises plenty of dark action when released in September as Dredd (Karl Urban) takes on the evil Madrigal (Lena Headey) responsible for a new drug called slo-mo that alters reality itself.
The plot sounds interesting but as long there is lots of action and Dredd utters that classic line "I AM the law" no doubt fans of the comic will enjoy it and as befits a film based on a violent heavy handed hero it will be released with a rating that ensures it won't, as many modern movies are, be heavily cut in order to reach a family friendly audience.
Adults only rating, Karl Urban, Lena Headey, lots of violence, big budget scif fi action and (apparently) true to the comic book....this should be fun.
The Expendables 2 - this sequel sees pretty much every action hero you can imagine (Jason Statham, Chuck Norris, Jet Li, Sylvester Stallone, Dolph Lundgren, Jean Claude Van Damme, Bruce Willis and Arnold Schwartzenneger) in a plot that sees one of the heroes being murdered and the expendables going all out for revenge while trapped in enemy territory.
The original was fun, if not quite up to the hype, but the addition of Van Damme and Chuck Norris almost guarantees that anyone who grew up with eighties action films is going to go out and see this. Will it be worth the wait? It has what the best action movies need to have, lots of great action stars, lots of action, a plot that gives the heroes an excuse to blow things up, good one liners and of course a big budget for all those explosions and stunts.
Will it be great? Probably not, but will it be a fun two hours? For action fans that's pretty much guaranteed.
Total Recall - the remake of the Schwartzenneger hit stars Colin Farrell as Quaid along with Kate Beckinsale, Jessica Biel and Bill Nighy. It hits cinemas in August and while the trailer which can be seen here looks a little too over the top the original wasn't exactly oscar material and it does promise a rollercoaster ride.
Farrell does have what it takes to be the action hero and though it's likely die hard fans of the original will be a little dissapointed in the remake it could work. Here's hoping his performance is better than in the not so good Fright Night remake.
A good day to die hard (Die Hard 5) - with Die Hard 4 surprising people by being a pretty good sequel hopes are high for the latest installment which hits the big screen in February. Bruce Willis and Patrick Stewart are the big names headlining the action in which McClane and his son take on Russian terrorists.
Man of steel - this Superman reboot sees Kevin Costner and Russell Crowe play Supermans respective fathers (Costner plays Jonathan Kent while Crowe plays Jor El) with British actor Henry Cavill donning the iconic suit in a film that hits the big screen next June.
Director Zack Snyders previous work (including Sucker Punch, Watchmen and 300) show he handles stylised action well and suggests a more traditional rather than, as seems to be common recently, gritty reworking of the Superman story focusing on the story but packing in some memorable action sequences along the way. Star Henry Caville seemed a surprising choice but looks the part and judging from publicity photos will undoubtedly be popular with female fans, the big budget and addition of more well known stars along with a good director should ensure that the film is watchable, and likely a big hit when it comes out.
RoboCop - the Robocop reboot, scheduled for release next year, stars Samuel L Jackson and Gary Oldman with Joel Kinnaman playing the title role of Robocop. The hundred million dollar budget should guarantee some impressive big budget action scenes and the acting talent of Jackson and Oldman suggest the film will be more serious than the original which while great fun had a deliberately cheesey comedic element running through it. More in the style of the rebooted batman franchise, this will be more dark and gritty than the original but likely still manage a PG-13 rating to make sure it reaches the widest possible audience. No word yet on the new look robocop outfit but hopefully they won't change the appearance too much from the original which was pretty near perfect.
The Dark Knight Rises - Christopher Nolans final installment in the new look Batman series sees Batman taking on a new enemy eight years after being blamed for the crimes committed by Two Face the Dark Knight returns to protect Gotham. Now seen as the enemy Batman faces his greatest challenge as he tries to save the city from Bane. Dark and gritty (sequels seem to use that description a lot in recent years) the film sees Christian Bale and Michael Caine back for one last outing as Bruce Wayne / The caped crusader and Alfred in what promises to be a strong finish for the series.
Taken 2 - Liam Neeson returns in a sequel to the impressive Taken that hits UK screens in October. Here he takes on associates of the men he killed in the first film but the fact that his daughter is enlisted to help him suggests that this may end up being more a by the numbers sequel. Still it's one to keep an eye on if you enjoyed the original and if it can live up to the original it will likely be another hit, and possibly the start of a new franchise.
Resident Evil: Retribution - September sees the release of another resident evil film. This one promises a twist in the plot as Alice finds out that things are not as they seem, along with the usual over the top action as she takes on the Umbrella corporation. This follows on from the previous installment in the franchise and while it may not be a thought provoking movie it will undoubtedly be a fast paced action horror with as always good special effects and a serviceable plot although this time male fans may be pleased to know Milla Jovovitch is joined by another female lead, Michelle Rodriguez.
Iron Man 3 - the month of May next year sees Robert Downey Junior return as Iron Man battling amongst others the villainous Mandarin (played by Ben Kingsley), though despite being a major character in the comics and cartoon series Mandarin will apparently not be the main opposition in this sequel presumably instead returning as main villain in a future installment of the franchise.
Guy Pearce, Paul Bettany and Hong Kong legend Andy Lau round up the cast with of course Don Cheadle as War Machine and Gwyneth Paltrow as Pepper in what promises to be a better sequel than its slightly lacklustre predecessor. Written and directed by Shane Black the man who wrote action films Lethal Weapon and The Last Boy Scout his scripting talent coupled with an impressive supporting cast should make this a sequel well worth watching.
Skyfall - the new James Bond sequel hits UK cinemas this October. Bonds loyalties are tested as the past of M (Judi Dench) comes back to haunt her when MI6 is attacked and Bond (Daniel Craig) must find and stop the threat no matter what the personal cost. Ralph Fiennes and Javier Bardem head up the main cast in what should be a more traditional action filled excursion for Bond with a richer plot than the more recent Bond films have provided.
Star Trek 2 - hitting the big screen in May next year this sequel to the popular reboot stars among others the star of British tv series Sherlock, Benedict Cumberpatch, as the villain Khan and will also feature (allegedly) Section 31, the "secret police" of Starfleet who appeared as the enemy nine times in episodes of the tv series Enterprise and Deep Space Nine where they were the evil side of starfleet, willing to do anything (even committing genocide) to protect its interests.
The same cast return including Chris Pine as Kirk and Karl Urban as Bones, and J J Abrams sequel looks set to surpass its predecessor with a reworking of traditional trek villains and a story that delves deeper into the trek universe. And no this is not the official poster for the movie but the poster for the reboot.
Future sequels and reboots that aren't in production yet but are in final stages of development include the reboot of Highlander with Ryan Reynolds in final talks to take the lead role (something he would be well suited for), Harrison Ford is in talks to star in Ridley Scotts sequel to Blade Runner, the sequel to X-Men first class has a cast and begins filming next year for a 2014 release, Mad Max: Fury Road is a Mad Max reboot filming later this year starring Charlize Theron with Tom Hardy playing Mad Max rather than Mel Gibson, Chris Evans returns as Captain America in Captain America 2 to be released in 2014 and on a more tentative note Keannu Reeves and Alex Winter have agreed to star in a third Bill and Ted movie if studios accept the recently finished script which sees the pair travel through time again in what would surely be a popular sequel.
And last but not least Triplets - the sequel to eighties comedy hit Twins will pair up original stars Arnold Shwartzenneger and Dany DeVito with Eddie Murphy. The three actors have already agreed to star but as Universal are currently looking for writers to script it this one won't hit the big screen until at least 2014 although Schwartzenneger has already indicated the plot will be that the brothers find they have a third brother, Murphy, and are in fact triplets. Fans of the original would no doubt enjoy seeing the twins return and it could be the vehicle Eddie Murphy needs to resurrect his career after a string of not so great movies.
Star Trek fans won't be the only people pleased at the arrival of the new must have gadget from Sensorcon. The sensordrone, a small but powerful bluetooth device, puts the power of the starfleet tricorder into your hands for $199 (£128). It connects to your phone or tablet using bluetooth and despite its small size is home to an array of useful and surprisingly advanced sensors all of which can beam information to you on demand.
Currently working with Android powered devices through the use of apps that receive and act on the incoming sensor data the sensordrone will also be compatible with Apple and Blackberry devices when it is released later this year.
The keychain sized gadget can be used to monitor information such as alcohol levels, air quality, proximity, heat temperature of an object (without needing to touch it), light intensity, carbon monoxide levels, humidity, location of studs in walls, air pressure and can even be used as an altimeter.
Worried you're over the limit for drinking? The sensordrone can check if you're drunk, have a child and want to make sure they're comfortable? The sensordrone can tell you if they are warm enough (with app shown in the picture here), if there are any harmful gases in the surrounding environment and even tell you if the weather is going to turn bad so they know to wrap up warm.
Connect a pressure cuff to the device and you can check blood pressure. Worried there is a gas leak? Wave the sensordrone around the suspected area and it will let you know if there really is a leak or not.
Not content with simply sending you the data on demand it can be used to record the data over an extended period of time, useful for getting a picture of changing conditions over time for example, and the device itself is small enough to be put on a key ring or tucked away in a pocket making it a useful but unobtrusive helper for situations where the human senses just aren't enough.
It isn't quite the tricorder of trek fans dreams but a significant step in the right direction and a very useful piece of equipment that could be a lifesaver for some whether it's by stopping you driving home drunk and having an accident, letting you know your blood pressure is consistently too high or too low, warning you that there's a gas leak or that the weather is going to turn bad it's something not only geeks will find of value.
Beta devices have already been shipped to some lucky individuals and the company have a kickstarter project that will get you a pre release version if you can't wait until it's Autumn release or if you just want to help assure it's completion.
The inner geek would love to have a tricorder app for this, and with the api being open source it won't be long after release before some clever trekkie does just that so those of us who grew up watching Kirk and co boldly go can have a piece of our mispent youth made real.
Nippon Systems have unveiled a clever new layer of film that when put on your iPhone makes it a glasses free 3D device. At just $52 (around £30) it looks identical to a typical screen protector but uses parallax technology to show different images to each eye meaning you get true 3D without glasses.
While the effect is not quite as good as a dedicated glasses free 3D device such as the Nintendo 3DS or LG's Optimus 3D the film does bring proper 3D to anyone who wants it without the need for a new phone and the company say they will follow up with the same technology being available for selected Android phones (Galaxy S2 version initially) as well as the PS Vita, MacBook Air, iMac and Panasonic Let's Note laptop soon.
The company also provide an app that can convert 2D content to 3D as well as an app to take 3D pictures. Not speaking Japanese I had to use google translate in order to dig deeper into the details and find that the 3D camera app works by getting the camera to take a picture then has the user move the phone slightly to the right for a second view. The two images are then combined into one 3D image and stored in a 3D format. Combining of the pictures is automatic as is the picture taking process which, if I understand the rather awkward translation correctly, uses the phones sensors to take the pictures for each view rather than depending on the user to align the shots manually.
Here's something for anyone who wants a smart tv, or a large screen Android pc, or both but without spending a fortune to do so.
Imagine your tv becoming smart, with wifi internet access, the ability to use your favourite android apps, being able to plug a webcam or external hard drive into it and even playing the latest games on it and controlling them with a wii like wireless controller.
Pocket TV aims to do just that and more. The clever little adapter turns any tv with a HDMI connection into a smart tv. The adapter, running Android version 4.0 (Ice Cream Sandwich) will retail with a standard remote for around £100 but a clever air remote can be purchased for a little extra which will let you control it by simply moving the remote through the air in the same way you can control a wii games console, which offers interesting possibilities for gamers.
When it comes to hardware the little dongle packs a large punch. A1 gigahertz Cortex A9 cpu, Mali 400 gpu, 512 megabytes of ram, 4 gigabytes of internal memory and a micro sd slot as well as built in wifi are shoehorned into a sleek card shaped adapter that weighs in at just 35 grams and sits nicely in any HDMI slot without attracting undue attention while turning your tv into a powerful large screen Android computer and allowing you to use everything from BBC iPlayer to Netflix or YouTube on any television with a hdmi input along with, of course, your android apps of choice.
iPhone and Android smartphone users can also use their phones to control the pocket tv. The pocket tv supports three output resolutions of 720p, 1080i and 1080p,and will allow users to do anything a new Android tablet can do which means that those without the budget for a new tablet or an internet connected smart tv can now have the best of both worlds on their existing television.
What does the adapter require? A free hdmi connection on your tv and an electrical socket in which to plug in its power adapter ( a small mini usb type). For internet access you will need a wifi modem or router, if you already have broadband then you most likely already have a wireless modem supplied by your internet provider but if not the pocket tv can still be used as a non internet connected android computer without one.
Pocket TV is a kickstarter project. This means although it has working prototypes it still needs additional funding, if you wish to make a pledge the group behind the project, Infinitec, is offering special low prices so if you want to know more check out this link.
If you've ever dreamed of an Android PC, or just wanted to be able to make a decent set top box based around Googles operating system then VIA have probably just made your day with the company announcing a very low cost motherboard that runs Android 2.3 from its 2 gigabyte NAND flash memory, has an 800 mhz cpu with 512 megabytes of DDR3 ram, a built in 2D and 3D graphics chip that can handle 720p H264 high definition video, HDMI and VGA output, has a micro sd card slot and four USB sockets.
The new arrival also has an ethernet connection, microphone input, audio output and at maximum load uses just thirteen and a half watts, making it a very attractive proposition for anyone interested in building a cheap but useful Android media centre.
The pc itself is actually a motherboard in the neo itx form factor, meaning it will fit nicely into a variety of small compact pc cases. Yes you will need to provide the case and any accessories (such as a keyboard) yourself.
VIA plan to begin shipping what they call the APC in early July and will be taking pre orders soon so if you fancy getting one or just want to find out more visit their website. Or for a side on view showing the connections available, check out the following picture.
Die hard fans of Sanctuary, the cult tv series starring Amanda Tapping, may want to skip this and hope it isn't true but unfortunately the popular show was officially cancelled today which means the series will not have a definitive ending and unlike Eureka, another cancelled SyFy channel show which was given an extra episode in its final season to wrap things up, this won't be happening with Sanctuary.
This is the fourth SyFy made series starring Amanda Tapping to be cancelled, the others being Stargate SG-1, Stargate Atlantis and Stargate Universe but fans of the sultry star will no doubt see her back on their screens in the not too distant future with SyFy announcing that they plan to work with Tapping (along with Sanctuary creators Damian Kindler and Martin Wood) on a future project.
Will SyFy do the same with Sanctuary as they did with Stargate SG-1 and continue the series with a tv movie? While it hasn't been announced yet this is always a possibility although in the case of Stargate SG-1 the movies were spurred on by rights holder MGM, unfortunately Sanctuary doesn't have quite the following of that series and so a tv movie could be seen as too big a gamble.
Lovers of mutant themed science fiction need not be too downhearted though, SyFy did renew Alphas last year and this year gave the go ahead for another series of the impressive US version of the BBC's Being Human which means there's still at least two reasons you might want to stick with SyFy.
That being said it may be a good thing if SyFy don't make a tv movie of Sanctuary, given their less than exciting movies featuring everything from flying sharks that eat airplanes to the upcoming Arachnoquake (about killer albino spiders unleashed by an earthquake!) they might make things worse.
The facial recognition itself is impressive, after taking ten different images to train it (you can take less or more but ten is recommended) the app performed flawlessly never mistaking one person for another and if for any reason it cannot identify someone, for example in a dark environment, it can revert to asking for a pin, password or pattern to verify it's really you.
In a bold move the developer has no adverts in FaceLock, instead relying on the quality of the app itself to attract customers to buy the pro version which of course has additional features such as the screen lock.
