Stunning new Japanese arts & culture book releases from PIE International

Some of the most famous Japanese artists have had their artwork featured in PIE International Inc.'s roster of books since 1971. Originally founded as a graphic design firm, PIE is known to created titles that are not only visually stunning but also keepsakes for collectors and admirers of Japanese arts and culture lovers globally. The publisher also has a guiding philosophy to create titles that are "sweet and fresh" -- so much so, these have become essential in the company's daily practice in its Tokyo headquarters and apparent in their latest releases. Two out of the five brilliant new releases include Beautiful Scenes From A Fantasy World and Yokai Wonderland: More from Yumoto Koichi Collections: Supernatural Beings in Japanese Art. 

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Microsoft News takes on Google News and Apple News

Microsoft is joining its close rivals in unveiling its own news aggregator aptly called Microsoft News. It’s a news engine that’s populating MSN.com and the Microsoft Edge start page. There are also apps for iOS and Android. Microsoft is no stranger to news curation. They have been doing this since MSN launched in 1995. But with the shift in how people consume news, Microsoft had to adapt. Microsoft News uses a combination of human editors, artificial intelligence, and publishing partnerships to find stories from over 3,000 publications. It’s rolling out worldwide and is available in 28 languages.

Source: CNET

You can soon text on desktop with Android Messages

An update coming to Android Messages brings with it a highly requested feature: the support for web browsers. Google has begun rolling out the ability for users to sync their messages between their Android devices and web browsers. This means you can send text, images, stickers, emojis, and the like right from your computer. And you will also be notified when a new message comes in. To pair, you just need to head to the Android Messages website and there you will need to scan the QR code to pair your phone with your computer. There is a “Remember this computer” option, which should make pairing easier in the future.

At the moment though, while the website is up, the QR code scanner on the phone isn’t live yet. You should see in the More options menu the option “Messages for web.” Google has begun rolling out the new feature and will do so in the coming week so keep an eye out for that. On top of this, other new features for Android Messages include new GIF search capabilities, previews for links of articles and videos, and the ability to copy one-time passwords with a single tap.

The OPPO Find X has a very expensive Lamborghini limited edition version

If Huawei has Porsche as its partner, then its Chinese rival OPPO has Lamborghini. Announced at the tail-end of the Find X’s launch in Paris, the premium smartphone gets a big boost (especially in terms of price) with the Find X Automobili Lamborghini Edition. This special model costs a whopping 1,699 euros (around CA$2,600) and will be coming to Europe in August. It shares most of the specs of the Find X but what sets it apart is new packaging and design, even faster charging, and more storage.

The Find X Automobili Lamborghini Edition has things like Super VOOC charging, which fast charges this phone’s 3,400mAh battery from 0 to 100 percent within 35 minutes; a carbon fiber textured rear engraved with a 3D-like engraving of Lambo’s logo; and 512GB of onboard storage. The phone’s packaging has “Y” design on the box, which comes from the shape of the Lamborghini Aventador’s car light and its charging cable features a woven pattern similar to the ignition coil of the Aventador’s V12 engine.