Redfern residents are enjoying more of the great outdoors thanks to a new playground, picnic shelter and community gardens in a park upgraded by the City of Sydney.
Once a patchy turf strip between Chelsea and Charles streets, Chelsea St Park has been transformed into a well-lit community meeting point with a range of quality facilities for locals.
It features a new slippery dip, swings, climbing structure and cubby houses that are divided from a dog-friendly area by a timber picnic shelter and planter boxes built from sleepers in the middle of the 1,100sqm park.
Lord Mayor Clover Moore will officially open the park on Saturday 7 November.
“Many of the ideas for the Chelsea St Park came from Bourke Street Public School pupils and the local community,” the Lord Mayor said.
“Cleverly designed parks are becoming increasingly important as the City grows and more people live in dwellings without a backyard. Working with the community through the design process means the final park really matches their needs.
“There are more than 330 small parks and playgrounds throughout the City of Sydney area, and Chelsea Street is the latest in our updated program of works.”
More seating and places to relax, a barbecue, bike racks, water fountain and new plantings are part of the re-invented park, where a new path crosses between Chelsea and Rennie streets.
Six new garden boxes included in the $850,000 improvements are now beckoning green thumbs to grow vegetables, flowers and other plants.
“We are interested to talk to local residents who are interested in developing a community garden,” the City’s Community Garden and Volunteer Coordinator Raewyn Broadfoot said.
“There is a great opportunity to grow herbs and vegies and show their kids how food is grown.”
A Jacaranda tree was relocated within Redfern and four other trees that overshadowed the park were removed to improve pedestrian access, sight lines and ambient light levels so that parents can keep tabs on little ones.
The City will provide food and refreshments and entertainment to mark Chelsea Street Park’s re-opening from 11am to 2pm on Saturday.
The more and more that smart devices can do, the more important it is to make sure your device is functioning at its best. This means preserving the battery life, but also managing storage and RAM and keeping everything safe from security threats.
In the beginning of the year, Samsung introduced the Smart Manager, which helps users scan and optimize their smartphone, all at once. Available since the launch of the Galaxy S6 and S6 edge, the performance of Smart Manager and the devices that support it has been improving. The Galaxy S6 edge+ and Note5 come preloaded with improved battery usage, including app optimization, and security features.
Opening the Smart Manager app shows its four main components: Battery, Storage, RAM and Security. You can view and optimize your device through closing running apps and uninstalling unnecessary apps. The Security menu scans your phone for malware and other security threats. My Knox is also available to download for even more security. To boost your device’s speed and performance in a single click, use “Clean All.”
Long Live Your Battery
Smartphone users don’t always realize they can remove apps which are infrequently or never used. Sometimes apps are running in the background, consuming battery power. After selecting Battery within the Smart Manager, users can prevent wasting battery power through “App Optimization.”
For each app, users can choose between “Always Optimizing,” “Automatically Optimizing” or “Disable For.” “Always Optimizing” stops the app from using battery power. You can also select how often the apps will be optimized (every 3, 5 or 7 days). If you choose the “Automatically Optimizing” for every 3 days, the app will stop using battery power from the last usage for three days. Once the app is set for “Disable For,” you will stop receiving alerts from the app. If you don’t want to miss notifications from instant messaging apps, it’s best not to select “Disable For.”
The Battery screen also displays the percentage of remaining battery power and how long it is expected to last. By selecting Battery Usage, you can view the processes that have been running since your last full charge. Power Saving Mode and Ultra Power Saving Mode also display expected length of battery life if you need to conserve battery power. To view battery consumption of each application, select Detail.
Clean Up
To free up storage space from temporarily stored files, Smart Manager automatically scans and deletes any unnecessary data. After opening the Smart Manager app, select Storage. You can see how much of your available storage has been used. The Details button at the top of the screen shows more information about your device’s total space, available space, system memory, used space, cache data and miscellaneous files.
You can also manually delete data stored on your device. Users can check the current storage status by selecting “User Data” within the Storage menu. This displays how much space each type of files is using. If you choose the applications, you can find which apps are used more frequently. Viewing by frequency of use makes it easy to disable or uninstall unnecessary applications.
RAM
RAM is where temporary files are stored when your device runs an application. Clearing the RAM on your device will improve your device’s performance, freeing space so your device can run faster.
The RAM screen displays the percentage of used RAM, the active applications and how much RAM they are currently using. You can see how many background apps are currently using RAM space, so it helps you choose which applications to close. You can also select “End All”.
Protect Yourself
It’s possible for users to install apps or viruses unknowingly. This could lead to a breach of personal information or damage of the device. In less extreme cases, the unauthorized apps could slow down the device performance or use too much battery power.
Smart Manager automatically scans for malicious software, apps that use unusually high amounts of battery power, apps that make unusual errors and provide solutions for these issues. Users can ensure comfort and security by removing or closing unwanted apps. Samsung devices with Smart Manager provide anti-malware solutions through a partnership with Intel Security.
Take Control
With Smart Manager, Galaxy smartphone users can feel reassured that their devices are safe and secure, and running optimally. By having access to usage, storage, memory and security data, users can take matters into their own hands to know that they have a safe and comfortable space to work and play. Smart Manager is currently available for the S6, S6 edge, S6 edge+, S5, S4, Note5, Note4 and Note3, and the available devices will be expanded.
We have known for a while now that the Galaxy J3 is coming out in the near future, a couple of weeks back the handset was spotted on GFXBench and just earlier this week the Galaxy J3 got its FCC certification which is always a big indication that a launch isn’t that far off. Today photos of the Galaxy J3 have appeared online and they show that it’s business as usual, the new handset doesn’t bring any major changes as far as the design is concerned against its predecessor the Galaxy J2.
The photos have been published by TENAA, China’s Telecommunications Equipment Certification Center, it’s version of the FCC basically. Given that the handset has now sailed through TENNA as well it most certainly is only a matter of time before Samsung officially announces the Galaxy J3. The handset (SM-J3109) is powered by a Snapdragon 410 processor with Adreno 306 GPU, it has 1GB RAM and 8GB internal storage. An 8-megapixel rear and 5-megapixel camera are likely to be onboard alongside Android 5.1.1. No word as yet on how much the Galaxy J3 will cost when it does arrive.
The best of Latin American culture will be celebrated in Sydney Park this Saturday during a folk festival supported by the City of Sydney.
The Urban Latin Folk Festival will showcase art and cuisine in exhibitions, cultural displays, workshops and live performances at Sydney Park Pavilion thanks to grants from the City.
The inaugural event will include the launch of an original music single and video clip, Latin foods, wines and accessories presented by renowned Sydney-based suppliers.
“The City is delighted to support the Emigro Festival and help it bring the best of Latin America to Sydneysiders,” Lord Mayor Clover Moore said.
“The surrounding communities of Erskineville, Alexandria, Newtown and Marrickville are renowned for their unique character, and I’m sure they will enjoy the colour and rhythm of Latin folk.”
Latin American band Libelle, which will release its new single Emigro during the Saturday night event, will get hips swinging with folkloric rhythms, while folk band Pukara will combine guitars, bamboo flutes, Andean pipes and Latin percussion.
Music students from Concord West Public School will also play original Latin songs when their school band performs with professional Sydney-based musicians.
The Latin Store from Sydney’s Queen Victoria Building will exhibit colourful products from Chile, Peru, Argentina, Ecuador and Mexico as painter Tamara Martinez and fellow visual artist Anton Olea display their works.
“We will be showcasing upcoming artists to educate Sydneysiders about the urban Latin folk cultural movement in Sydney and around the world,” event organiser Olga Vega said. “The festival is a great night for people of all ages to come along and get a big taste of Latin America.”
Angove Wines is sponsoring the event and Dubology studios, directed by Ivan Ordenes, is the producer.
The grant is part of the City’s latest $1.2 million funding program, which in 2015 is supporting 57 projects that meet the City’s long-term social, economic, cultural and environmental goals. It is part of a $13 million grants program linked to the 10 directions of the City’s community-supported 2030 program.
Over the past 10 years, the City has supported thousands of projects through the Community Grants program valued at $11 million.
Where and when: Sydney Park Pavilion on Saturday 7 November from 5.30pm to 11pm.
Tickets: $15 on the night or contact Olga Vega olga.vega@live.com or phone 0405 537 173.
Apple and GT Advanced Technologies Inc. agreed to part ways back in 2014, after the latter filed for bankruptcy. Now the two have reached a deal that will eradicate GT’s $439 million loan from Cupertino, according to The Wall Street Journal. Apple originally tapped GT to make sapphire screens for its devices, but it became obvious that trouble was brewing when the iPhone 6 launched without one. It’s unclear what really happened behind the scenes, but GT accused Apple of shifting specs and requiring the company to manufacture millions of units the iPhone-maker wasn’t obligated to buy. Apple, on the other hand, said GT couldn’t meet its goals. Either way, GT ended up not having any clients that can sustain its business. Under the terms of the deal, the manufacturer will have to auction pieces of equipment, including some of its 600 sapphire-making furnaces, by November 23rd. It will then hand everything it couldn’t sell to Apple, which promised to nuke its debt completely
From the dawn of electronic music right up to the current digital DJing age of today, artists around the world have continuously sought out the best tools and equipment to fine-tune their skills and produce inventive tracks to excite music lovers everywhere. Samsung’s Soundcamp makes achieving these goals not only possible, but easy, too. And with the app’s new features and compatible third party apps, musicians—both amateurs and professionals—can play, compose, mix and “spin” right from the screen of their Samsung smart devices without any additional equipment.
Soundcamp, a mobile DAW and MIDI sequencer application, functions as an easy-to-use studio recording system that gives musicians access to an ensemble of built-in virtual instruments, including keyboards and drums, as well as an audio recorder equipped with sound effects. The app’s plug-in style, open-concept structure also gives users the option to connect to and record with various third-party music apps.
Tracks are then edited from the mobile workstation’s soundboard. Soundcamp’s well-organized and straightforward Multitrack View lets users record up to eight tracks in MIDI or stereo audio. In other words, they can add five additional components, such as Unique’s synth patches, even after recording their tunes on the drums, classic guitar and keyboard, to create a richer sound. For more advanced users, MIDI Editor View allows for PC-level MIDI editing. Likewise, Soundcamp’s Mixer View resembles the mixing consoles used in recording studios, so users can easily combine, route and change the level and dynamics of audio signals from one screen.
New Features for a New Sound
Nowadays, more and more people are opting to create their own music and DJing their own events. As such, Samsung has responded to the growing demand for professional grade music editing tools by adding two new features to Soundcamp, specifically in conjunction with the launch of the Galaxy S6 edge+ and Galaxy Note5, thus making it easier for musicians to achieve the sound they desire.
Looper, the first new feature, lets users create loops, short sections of tracks that have been edited to repeat seamlessly, which are commonly used in a number of genres, including hip hop, trip hop, techno and contemporary dub. Users can select from over 250 free, studio-quality audio loops from Loopmasters, the world’s leading producer of sample libraries; download a number of compatible, paid extension loop kits to create unique tracks in a variety of styles; or incorporate and mix their own sources.
The function utilizes an easy-to-use XY-pad with controllable effects that can be used to enhance live performances, while the Galaxy Gear app, when used in conjunction with the Gear S2, provides gestural control of the effects and loop arrangements. The end result is one that is sure to impress audiences, just as it did at IFA earlier this year, when DJ Raik showcased Looper. Check out his performance below.
Originally developed by experimental musicians, sampling is the act of taking a portion, or sample, of one sound recording and reusing it as an instrument or a sound recording in a different song or piece. The Sampler function allows for sound sample import, record and playback functions, converting any sound—including the human voice—into a custom instrument.
Along with the addition of the Sampler and Looper features, new third-party apps have been made compatible with Soundcamp for the Galaxy S6 edge+ and Note5. Among these are the Unique synthesizer and WOW2 filter by Sugar Bytes, as well as the Phase84 phase synthesizer by Retronyms and iLectric Piano and iGrand Piano by IK Multimedia.
In an age when just about anyone can be a run-of-the-mill digital DJ, Soundcamp offers all the tools an artist needs to unleash their creativity and create unconventional tracks that go above and beyond the expectations of the music world. Soundcamp is now available for the Galaxy S6 edge+, S6 edge, S6, S5, Note5, Note4, Note edge, Tab S2, S and Galaxy View. Download Soundcamp in Galaxy Apps or the Google Play store.
Tizen developers should be interested to hear that Samsung has released the source code for the Tizen Z3 (Z300HDDU0AOJ4), which reveals all the internals of the device’s software. In a world with growing privacy concerns, this is very good as it allows a developer to take a look at what exactly happens behind the closed doors in the Tizen OS.
This move will help developers in releasing more apps, putting aside the fact that Samsung is also offering 100 percent of their app revenue to developers. It looks like Tizen is truly gaining traction as Samsung declares that its OS is the 2nd largest smartphone operating system in the budget segment in India.
It’s important that Samsung keeps an open source approach to things, and this is a good step forward. If you plan on downloading the source code then prepare for a hefty download as all the files weigh in at about 1.8GB.
It hasn’t really been a secret that carriers in the United States will offer the cellular version of the Gear S2 smartwatch, the Gear S2 itself went on sale in the country last month and today the second largest carrier in the United States has confirmed when it’s going to start taking pre-orders for Samsung’s new smartwatch. Mark your calendars for November 6.
The Gear S2 happens to be one of the two smartwatches that are going to get support for AT&T’s NumberSync feature which it launches in early 2016, the feature will allow subscribers to share their smartphone number across multiple devices which includes smartwatches. So users will easily be able to receive and make calls/texts from the Gear S2 on AT&T without having to carry the smartphone with them. Pre-orders for the Gear S2 being November 6 on AT&T, the carrier is selling it for $199.99 with a two year contract or for $0 down with equal monthly installments of $15 per month for 20 months. It will be available from AT&T retail stores from November 20.
An online game that tests preschool children’s hearing, a new wifi network that lets parents limit kids’ screen time and an online pet-sitting service are some of the innovative startups that call Sydney home.
To nurture talented entrepreneurs like these, the City has produced a Tech Startups Action Plan, packed with ideas for encouraging the sector – from creating an entrepreneurship centre, to offering ‘how to code’ classes in local libraries and cutting through planning red tape to encourage more co-working spaces.
The plan is on public exhibition until 10 November so the City is calling on the industry to comment before the deadline.
Lord Mayor Clover Moore said Sydney was home to the nation’s highest concentration of tech startups, with a growing reputation for innovation.
“Whether it’s a tablet based game that tests the hearing of preschool children or an online pet-sitting service, these six startups have the potential to reach large global audiences,” the Lord Mayor said.
“The next billion dollar company to follow in the footsteps of success stories like Canva or Atlassian is already being developed, we want to make sure those companies see the benefits of setting up and staying here in Sydney.”
“I’m proud the City is involved in so many initiatives to help these entrepreneurs create innovative products that will make a positive difference in people’s lives.”
Carolyn Mee is the founder of Sound Scouts, a tablet-based game that tests the hearing of preschool children in collaboration with the National Acoustic Laboratories.
Former TV presenter Ms Mee is a graduate of Springboard AUS, an international incubator, a program that helps grow female-led startups sponsored by the City.
“Sound Scouts has already identified a number of children with hearing loss,” Ms Mee said.
“After receiving treatment as a result of the program, one little girl asked her mum why the vacuum was now so noisy. She was hearing properly for the first time!”
Central Sydney currently has the largest concentration of tech startups in Australia. The startup economy2013 reportby PricewaterhouseCoopers found the Australian tech startup sector could generate more than 500,000 jobs by 2033.
The City’s draft Tech Startups Action Plan is available to view and comment on at sydneyyoursay.com.au. You can also join the conversation with #startupsyd
With its first two phones, OnePlus proved that it could deliver flagship-level devices at a cheaper price-point than most of its rivals. Neither were exactly design duds, but for its third handset — and the second to be unwrapped in 2015 — OnePlus is focusing on style in particular. It’s called the OnePlus X and yes, it has a hint of both the iPhone 4 and iPhone 5 about it. There are two models: the $249/£199 Onyx, which sports a sheet of black glass on the back, and a £269 Ceramic version, which won’t be available in the US. In fact, OnePlus is only making 10,000 Ceramic handsets full-stop, so you’ll have to be quick if you want one of the company’s lucrative invites. Yep, you read that correctly. Once again, OnePlus will be using an invite system to carefully manage customer demand and shipments.
So what’s inside? Premium components, but nothing that will give this year’s crop of Android flagships any trouble. Underneath the 5-inch Full HD AMOLED panel is a Snapdragon 801 processor, which was common in 2014 flagships like the Sony Xperia Z3 and LG G3. There’s also 3GB of RAM, a 2,525 mAh battery and a tray for two SIM cards. Space might have been a concern, but thankfully the 16GB of onboard storage is backed up with microSD support up to 128GB. On the reverse you’ll find a 13-megapixel camera — no 4K video recording though — coupled with an 8-megapixel snapper up front. Turn the phone on its side and you’ll find the same alert slider pioneered on the OnePlus 2 — this lets you switch between three different notification profiles on the fly, all without taking the device out of your pocket. That’s not to say the OnePlus X is without some compromises though. There’s no physical home button — so you can forget about fingerprint recognition — and charging is handled over micro-USB, rather than USB-C like the OnePlus 2.
As for the software, OnePlus is sticking with OxygenOS, a mostly clean take on Android 5.1.1. It boasts all of the same software features as the OnePlus 2, save for one new addition — OnePlus Radio. The app lets you connect to FM stations, which is no doubt aimed at users in emerging markets. It’s not exciting, but we’re happy with OnePlus’ approach here — there’s just 16GB of onboard storage after all, so the less bloatware the better.
The OnePlus X isn’t a replacement for the OnePlus 2. The company is treating this as entirely new smartphone line, aimed at people that are happy to sacrifice some power for a little more craftsmanship. At $249 (£199), it doesn’t have much in the way of direct competition — in Europe, its closest rivals will be the Wileyfox Storm, the Honor 7 and possibly the Moto X Play. The OnePlus X is more than a mid-range handset, but it’s not quite another “flagship killer.” It’s somewhere in between, and that makes it all the more interesting. The device is set to launch in Europe and India on November 5th and comes to the US two weeks later. The Ceramic edition will be available from November 24th, although of course, both are dependent on you getting an invite. Even if you manage to snag one, there’s no telling how long it’ll take to actually arrive on your doorstep.
