Google Translate Quick Visual Translation
Features, including instant visual translation between English (or German) and Arabic.
5 Superfood Cocktail Recipes
You can indulge with a bit less guilt and experience a fun new way to incorporate some of these superfoods into your life
How To Safe iOS 8.2 Battery Life on iPhone and iPad
Many users have been complaining of battery life issues after upgrading to iOS 8.2
Tuesday, September 30, 2014
A Super-Yacht With A Garage For Smaller Boats Is Luxuriously Obscene
New web service prevents spies from easily intercepting your data
The encryption that protects your email and social updates is far from flawless -- it's relatively easy for spies to intercept your data using spoofs and hacked servers. If Greg Slepak has his way, though, there will soon be a safer way to send your info.
His okTurtles project uses blockchains (the transaction databases you see in virtual currencies like Bitcoin) to let you communicate over the web without the risk of a man-in-the-middle attack. Rather than rely on website security certificates that could easily be compromised, it gives individual users public keys that unlock data within blockchains. There's no centralized authority, and you can even run one of the necessary servers yourself if you don't trust others.
When complete, okTurtles will have a browser add-on that lets you use this authentication on virtually any site. You could talk to a fellow okTurtles user through Gmail without worrying that someone besides your recipient could easily read the message, for example.
The underlying technology (DNSChain) is already available, but you'll have to wait a while for something that's easy to use; Slepak is launching a crowdfunding campaign "soon" to help get things moving. He's also quick to acknowledge that the system works only so long as both the software and keys aren't compromised.
If either of those are cracked, you're just as vulnerable as anyone else. As long as they remain safe, though, okTurtles could easily reduce the chances that snoops and thieves will pry into your business.
Think tank hires 'Call of Duty' game director to predict the future of war
If you felt that Call of Duty: Black Ops II presented an eerily plausible vision of war in the years ahead, you're not alone. The Atlantic Council, a political think tank, has asked Black Ops II director Dave Anthony to contribute to an "Art of Future Warfare" project that looks at fiction as a possible insight into next-generation conflicts.
As he explains, the next big threat to the US probably doesn't fit into conventional definitions of war -- a game developer can imagine fantastic scenarios that might just come true, such as Black Ops II's drone assault on a G20 meeting. This isn't the same as directly guiding US policy, so Anthony's effect will likely be limited.
However, it won't be surprising if the country is eventually better prepared for high-tech terrorists and other dangers that it otherwise wouldn't have anticipated.
Photoshop for Chromebooks begins long-awaited beta test
If you've been eyeing a Chromebook to replace that Windows or Mac machine, Google's OS is about to get a massive boost in productivity. Starting today, Photoshop is headed to the machines thanks to a partnership with Adobe -- if you meet certain criteria.
A cloud-based streaming version of the creative software will be available for Adobe Creative Cloud education customers in beta form, and for now, there's no word on when regular folk will be able to opt in. This version of Photoshop is designed to run on Chromebooks straight from the cloud and packs in Google Drive integration for easy file management.
The rest of Creative Cloud is said to follow, however this trial run only includes the popular photo-editing app. As is usually the case with testing phases, there's no clear indication as to when this version of Photoshop will see its widespread release.
Parrot brings big color and big comfort to its touch-controlled headphones
The Zik 2.0 isn't just about weight reduction and updated looks, though. These cans come with eight microphones -- and you thought five was already a lot on the original model -- for their new adaptive noise reduction feature, which can be adjusted via the companion iOS or Android app to best suit your listening environment. And its new "Street Mode" lets you control how much of the outside world you let in -- ideal for staying aware of your surroundings while still enjoying some tunes. Speaking of which, the app also comes with an increased variety of audio tuning presets from Parrot's artist buddies (including the late Lou Reed) so you can enjoy their songs just the way they intended. You can even create and share your own presets with other users.
For those who already have HD Voice on their phones and networks, we have good news: The Zik 2.0 supports it as well. As for music playback quality, we expect no less than what we got from the original Zik, which has worked well for us on iPhones and HTC phones. There are also new settings on board to help extend your battery life depending on your situation. Turn on the "Flight" mode and we're told you'll eek out 18 hours of wired listening while noise cancellation is still engaged, although you'll have to do without some of the special audio features. "Eco" aims to provide about seven with a wired connection, while still providing spatialization effects, and "Normal" should get you about six hours of Bluetooth listening with all the extras.
The Parrot Zik 2.0 headphones are expected to arrive in November and will cost $399, just like their predecessor. If you'd like to snag a pair, they'll be available at Apple and Brookstone stores at launch time.
HP's $199 Windows laptop arrives alongside a pair of tablets
Contrary to earlier rumors, HP's Chromebook-like Stream 14 turned out to be more expensive than people had hoped for when it was announced a few weeks ago. Having said that, today HP is finally introducing its $199 laptop with Windows, staying in line with what a company representative had told us before in regards to the Stream line expanding beyond the 14-inch machine.
But there's more, since HP's new, budget-friendly, 11.6-inch laptop isn't the only fresh announcement. There's a 13.3-inch model as well, priced at $230, which, along with the $199 Stream, features an Intel Celeron processor and 32GB of flash storage.
In addition to this pair of notebooks, HP is also introducing two Windows 8.1 tablets: the HP Stream 7 and HP Stream 8. If the moniker for each didn't give it away, they are 7- and 8-inch slates, respectively, with the former costing a mere $99 and the latter going for $149.
Cortana makes sure you don't miss nearby concerts
Now, thanks to a hand from SeatGeek's ticket engine, Cortana will alert you when bands you listen to on the regular have a tour stop close by.
As you might expect, in addition to date and venue info, the add-on will also provide you with ticket prices and a handy link to purchase.
A Concert Watch option is rolling out to the Music section of Cortana's Notebook, and toggling the option on will keep you informed about performances in your area. Google Now does something similar for the Android faithful, displaying concert dates based on artists from your search queries. If you're unable to see the new feature, sit tight: it appears to be on its way to handsets.
Test code hints at future iPads with Touch ID and Apple Pay
There have been photos and vague rumors
hinting that Apple's next iPads will involve more than just a speed
bump, but there hasn't been much in the way of hard evidence until
today, that is.Hamza Sood has uncovered code in the iOS 8.1 developer beta that alludes to unannounced iPads with Touch ID fingerprint readers and, appropriately, Apple Pay support.
Don't think that you'll be tapping your iPad to pay for goods at the local shop, however. From all indications, this is just for in-app transactions; there's no mention of NFC. It's also unclear when this new iOS version will arrive, although history suggests that the new iPads (and thus the finished 8.1 update) could surface in October.
'Doctor Who' skins for 'Minecraft' hit Xbox 360 this Friday
Fancy yourself a master of the Sonic Screwdriver? Well, in a few days you can put those skills to the test... in Minecraft, that is. Whether you're a timelord fanperson or a Dalek-sympathizer, you'll be able to show it off once the Doctor Who skin pack hits the Xbox 360 version of the pixely build-your-own-adventure on Friday.
As if you needed another reason to look forward to this weekend, yeah? PlayXBLA (Microsoft's official blog for Xbox Live Arcade news) still doesn't mention any word of an Xbox One release, but considering that the company recently paid $2.5 billion for the game's developer, Mojang, we expect to hear it break the, ahem, silence on that soon.
Monday, September 29, 2014
Radio in a jar plays your favorite station, and only your favorite station
Despite all the proof that we basically live in a sci-fi future, there's still something a little magical about flipping a switch and hearing a story or a song wafting out of a box. Radio is sort of steadfast that way, but that also means people are prone to taking it for granted.
Enter the Public Radio, a Kickstarter project developed by two guys in Brooklyn that both celebrates and severely limits the traditional FM radio. To call this thing minimalist is an understatement par excellence. There's just one antenna, one knob, one station, and not a speck of wood grain to be found -- just a tiny mason jar to house it all.
$48 will net you a fully assembled unit that's pre-tuned to a station of your choice, but really -- where's the fun in that? There are slightly cheaper DIY models to be had, and you can peer at the team's CAD files on Github in case you want to try building your own from scratch.
You'll need that same sort of can-do attitude to change that one preset station, too, though creators Zach Dunham and Spencer Wright have promised to walk you through the promise in the event of a radio station divorce. In the end, the Public Radio is plenty silly (some would accuse it of being downright hipster), but it's just a bit wonderful too.
TomTom has a new watch designed specifically for golfers
In addition to that, TomTom's Golfer is waterproof and can keep track of distance, score and time for every whole -- so long as the course you're playing at is supported. It can also send detailed information from the green areas right to your wrist, which could potentially lessen the chances of you taking a bad swing.
It's available now on pre-order for £200 (around $325), with shipping on both models (black or white strap) expected to begin "within 30 days.
Belgian brewery to reduce truck use with underground beer pipeline
In order to cut down on the number of trucks it puts on the streets, Brouwerij De Halve Maan is working with the city of Bruges to construct an underground beer pipeline. While the brewing still happens at its original site, filtration, bottling and shipping operations were moved outside of town in 2010.
To get the tasty beverages from point A to point B, dozens of trucks go back and forth each day, but not for much longer. Folks familiar with the Cleveland, Ohio-based Great Lakes Brewing Company may recall that it uses an underground system to send its suds from a production facility to a taproom/pub across the street.
The effort in Belgium will be much more elaborate though, replacing the 3-mile tanker route with 1.8 miles of polyethylene pipe, and cutting transit time to between 15 and 20 minutes. De Halve Maan claims the system can send out 6,000 liters per hour -- on top of cutting traffic and reducing emissions. What's more, the brewery (er, brouwerij) will foot the bill for installation and road repairs, reducing the financial burden on the city.
Corvette's 'valet mode' is illegal depending on where you live
When we took the Corvette Performance Data Recorder for a spin at CES this year we'd never have guessed that the system could cause a run-in with Johnny Law. As it turns out, the system's audio recording feature that activates when the car's put into valet mode doesn't jive with privacy statutes in a handful of states.
In fact, using it could be a felony depending where you live. Chevrolet, for its part, is apparently attempting to skirt any legal issues that may arise by notifying dealerships and giving them letters to pass out to customers. The correspondence alerts owners about the possible privacy issue, as noticed by Jalopnik when a sample was posted to Corvette Forum.
The letter to owners, embedded below and via CorvetteBlogger, urges them to not use the mode until a fix is implemented that would bring Chevy back on the right side of the law. Should you still want to use the feature, the Bow-tie Company advises owners to let the temporary driver know in advance. For now, we can think of at least two car-hops who're probably ecstatic about this development.
[Image credit: Chevrolet]
Nixie is a wearable drone that captures your activities on the fly
Remember the dronie? If not, it's a self-taken photograph (sigh, selfie) from a UAV like the Parrot AR Drone 2.0 that provides a bit more creativity than your arm reach allows. Imagine that you can attach that drone to your wrist and launch it instantly, and you have some idea about how the Nixie works.
Once aloft, it's designed to detect your presence and fly around you, pointing its camera to film your exploits -- ranging from tourism to mountain climbing, as the video below shows. The project is part of Intel's Make it Wearable contest, and uses an Edison chip to track you and avoid obstacles.
For now, it's just a delicate prototype that can fly off your wrist and not do much else. But it's scored a $50,000 finalist prize from Intel, meaning our dream of having aerial footage of all our hum-drum activities could finally come true -- yes, we are that vain.
How would you change Huawei's Ascend Mate?
The handset offered a lot of things that did impress him, including a staggering battery life, big display and the company's Emotion UI. On the downside, the old(er) internals, 3G-only modem and modest storage meant that the device had "niche proposition" stamped all over it.
But, what about you, out there? Did you buy one? If so, what did you like, what did you hate and what, if anything, would you change?
Tiny Hamster Eats Tiny Hot Dogs Faster Than Any Human Can
It’s kind of funny how our favourite tiny hamster looks exactly like Kobayashi, the famous competitive eater, while mowing down hot dogs. They’re using the same method! The hamster looks much cuter though. Much cuter.
Don’t worry, the tiny hamster was fed healthy mini dogs made out of grapes, dates and carrots. Kobayashi had to deal with regular hot dogs
Verry Funny!!!!!!!
Forget Smartwatches, You Can Strap This Bendable Phablet Onto Your Wrist
Speaking to CNET, the founder of Arubixs, the company behind the the Portal, had this to say: “Current wearable offerings and even the new Apple Watch are just too small to text on or do anything really practical. This is not just a wearable. It’s a smartphone you can wear. So when the phone is not in the cradle its just a thin 6-inch smartphone that’s flexible, water resistant, and shatterproof.”
Ok so this is a phone that you wear, that must be the gimmick, right? Surely the specs aren’t brilliant? Well you’d be wrong. The phone itself runs on a skinned version of Android and comes with a 6-inch display, 64GB of storage, 2GB of RAM, a 3,200 mAh battery, 4G, NFC, and wireless charging. The whole phone seems to be flexible as well, so you should be able to mould it to the shape of your arm.
The Portal is currently seeking funds up on Indiegogo, and pledging $349 (£214) will get you one of the phones sometime next September. But if 6 inches is just too big for you, the company is apparently working on a version of the phone with a 4-inch display, due for release in early 2016.
Even if you wouldn’t want to wear it on your wrist it’d be nice to have a phone that is supposed to bend when you leave it in your pocket all day
Man Sees Jesus In Tree Trunk
What WOOD Jesus do?
A Tennessee lumber yard owner is stumped with what to do with a split-open tree trunk that appears to bear the image of Jesus Christ
If somebody wanted it I would sell it, but I do think it would be best served if it were in a church or it'd be nice in a pastor's office," Daniel Turbeville, owner of Mid-South Sawmilling in Millington, told WMC last week.
Turbeville also noted that when he’s asked others what they thought of the grain pattern, “about 70 per cent.. agree that it looks like the image of Christ.” If you’re more in agreement with the 30 per cent who are skeptical about Tree Jesus, maybe you’d be more impressed with alleged Jesus sightings in a taco, on a stingray, or on a dog’s butt. Then again, maybe not.
A Tennessee lumber yard owner is stumped with what to do with a split-open tree trunk that appears to bear the image of Jesus Christ
If somebody wanted it I would sell it, but I do think it would be best served if it were in a church or it'd be nice in a pastor's office," Daniel Turbeville, owner of Mid-South Sawmilling in Millington, told WMC last week.
Turbeville also noted that when he’s asked others what they thought of the grain pattern, “about 70 per cent.. agree that it looks like the image of Christ.” If you’re more in agreement with the 30 per cent who are skeptical about Tree Jesus, maybe you’d be more impressed with alleged Jesus sightings in a taco, on a stingray, or on a dog’s butt. Then again, maybe not.
George Clooney & Amal Alamuddin Step Out For First Time Post-Wedding
Here are George Clooney and Amal Alamuddin causing quite the stir as
they step out and boldly continue to exist following their wedding
ceremony.
It's weird how something momentous can happen -- you turn a year older or you marry some actor from "ER" -- and you still look pretty much exactly the same! Oh well, here they are:
It's weird how something momentous can happen -- you turn a year older or you marry some actor from "ER" -- and you still look pretty much exactly the same! Oh well, here they are:
Apple smart watch set for Valentine’s Day release?
Apple has launched other products around that time before, such as iOS device storage capacities and pink coloured models. However The Information claims that someone briefed by the Apple department involved in shipping the watch was joking that the tech giant would be “lucky to ship it by Valentine’s Day”.
The Information continued that the smart watch was expected to come out in time for the holidays, but it wasn’t ready. In an interview with Bloomberg BusinessWeek, Cook and Apple Senior VP of Operations Jeff Williams confirmed they missed their 2014 target. “We want to make the best product in the world,” said Williams.
One of our competitors is on their fourth or fifth attempt, but nobody is wearing them. Cook added: “We could have done the watch much earlier, honestly, but not at the fit and finish and quality and integration of these products. And so we are willing to wait.” Apple’s smart watch will be its newest category since the Steve Jobs era, which puts a lot of pressure on the company to get it right.
This will be somewhat of a risk for the Cupertino firm.
Only 11 percent of consumers want an Apple smart watch.Perhaps they’re turned off by the price, which is estimated to be as high as $1200 (around £739). Or maybe they’re not so keen on having to charge it every night.
Samsung shows off battery-sharing cable for your mobile devices
In terms of Samsung, that means it's good for all the latest category flagships like the Samsung Galaxy S5, the Galaxy Tab S, and the Galaxy Gear smartwatch. The new Power Sharing cable gives multi-device users a versatile way to charge their devices - it lets users share the power of their Galaxy battery with either thei own devices or a friend's no matter where they are," says the Korean tech firm.
The Power Sharing cable ships in two colours, namely black or white, and retails for £15 - although Samsung says it's nearly out of stock, so get your bids in quick if you're keen.
Friday, September 26, 2014
Gadgets Monster Machines: This Mobile Dialysis Machine Will Clean Your Blood On The Go
Dubbed the Wearable Artificial Kidney (the WAK), this device is the result of more than a decade of development by teams at Cedars-Sinai Medical Center, Los Angeles, and the David Geffen School of Medicine at UCLA, led by Victor Gura. It is, quite simply, a miniaturised dialysis machine small enough to wear on a toolbelt, simple enough to port in with a standard catheter, and light enough to wear all day. It works just like a conventional dialysis machine — dirty blood is sucked out of your body, pressed through a series of molecular filters to sieve out the waste, then pumped back in — and on the same schedule as a conventional dialysis machine — three four-hour sessions every week — except instead of weighing 90kg and resembling a filing cabinet, the WAK weighs 4.5kg and fits around your waist.
Watch YouTube:
OnePlus Has $US15 Earbuds To Match Its Fantastic Phone
Yesterday, OnePlus announced on its forums its first foray into audio equipment with the new $US15 Silver Bullet Earphone. Continuing the “half the price of Apple” trend, they look like they’d fit in just fine alongside the company’s OnePlus One wonderphone.
While it’s unlikely that any $US15 pair of earbuds can produce sound worth crowing about, the Silver Bullets at least look lovely, with a brushed aluminium finish that’s the same texture as OnePlus’s Sandstone Black handset. They also come with a built-in controller that acts as a camera key and a volume rocker and call also answer phone calls without needing to pull a phone out of your pocket.
OnePlus says the earbuds will be available starting next week, though it’s uncertain whether they will follow OnePlus’ infamous invite system. The company hints but doesn’t officially state if the headphones will be included with the OnePlus One phone shipments in the future. We’ve reached out to OnePlus for clarification.
Update: The earbuds will require no invite for purchase, although the company has no plans to include the headphones with One shipments, according to a OnePlus spokesperson.
At this point all we know until we test for ourselves is that they look pretty nice, and for only $US15, that may be as much of a selling point as you need. [OnePlus]
This Spectacular Shot Was Not Grabbed From Some New Movie
News Argentina Is Using Drones To Hunt Down Tax-Evading Mansions
Officials in Argentina had a sneaking suspicion about property tax evasion, so they sent sent out some camera-equipped drones to look at a mostly vacant part of town. What’d they find? Oh, just 200 luxury houses that hadn’t been registered, according to the Telegraph.
That’s pretty flagrant. The $US10,000 unmanned aircraft, often used by security forces, were flown over an area near Buenos Aires, and judging by what they found, the dragnet was a winner. Authorities say 200 large homes, built with “premium materials”, were pinpointed on properties that had been registered with the tax office as “vacant lots”. The investigation also found 100 swimming pools that hadn’t been noted on tax forms.
All told, the newly-discovered property improvements add up to more than $US2 million in missing taxes. The property owners involved now face some serious fines. Remember kids, crime doesn’t pay — especially when you’re flouting the law with something as big as a house and hoping that nobody sees it.
BlackBerry inches towards safety despite smartphone slump
The reason for the healthier spreadsheet is thanks to growth in the company's services arm, which managed to sell 3.4 million licenses of its BlackBerry Enterprise Service in three months - nearly three times the amount sold during the previous three months. BlackBerry's quiet revolution comes at the expense of its smartphone business, however, where sales dipped down to 2.1 million for the quarter, down from 2.6 million in June.
The way the business is split now, it's a near 50-50 split between devices and services, although we imagine that balance to tip in favor of the latter over time. That is, unless the company's new hip-to-be-square Passport phone rejuvenates BlackBerry's standing with the business community. There's even good news to be found in the corporate piggy-bank, since the cash and investment balance increased, albeit only by $11 million.
Still, given that investors were expecting BlackBerry to post a loss-per-share of $0.16, the fact that the actual figure was $0.02 shows that some (small) celebration is in order. It's also a sign that the company is still on course to actually start making money at some point next year.
Intel plots a mobile coup with $1.5 billion investment in Chinese chipmakers
The deal will see Spreadtrum jointly create and sell a range of Intel-based system-on-chips (SoCs), which Intel says will power devices from the middle of next year. It gives Intel the boost it needs to begin competing against its more established rivals, but also offers the chance of cracking the world's biggest smartphone market (where Qualcomm is currently facing an antitrust probe).
While Spreadtrum is known for low-cost chips that power Mozilla's Firefox OS smartphones, there's every chance this deal could see Intel make more of a splash in the booming Android market.
Online dating leads to more break-ups than meeting in real life
A recent joint-study (PDF) conducted by Michigan State University and Stanford found that people who met online weren't as likely to stay together for the long haul as their offline-matched counterparts. The separation and divorce rates for folks who'd paired up online was much higher than their offline compatriots, and more online-founded relationships tended to end within a year after the survey. Is Online Better Than Offline For Meeting Partners? states that those who met on the web were more likely to date than actually marry compared to people that'd met IRL, too -- by more than double.
As Playboy noticed, the paper states that perhaps the lack of thought that goes into online relationships is what has a malignant effect on them. Need a feel-good aspect to this story? The research also states that the keys to lasting relationships and marriages differs differ quite a bit. The trick to a long marriage, it says, is having a higher relationship quality, meaning, according to the paper, it's fulfilling and gratifying, irrespective of how long the relationship has existed.
For daters, the success factor wasn't entirely surprising: partners being able to spend more time together to develop a relationship were less likely to call it quits. Maybe staying in with your significant other tonight instead of going out with your buddies could have long-term benefits -- call it a hunch.
Korean smartphone also-ran Pantech goes up for sale
Being sat behind two of the world's biggest smartphone outfits has hurt the comparatively small business, which has recorded losses for six consecutive quarters. According to ZDNet Korea, the company decided to put itself up for sale because it's worth a lot more as a going concern than it is being broken up and sold-off for scrap. Ouch.
As we reported a few years ago, Korea's mobile market is fiercely patriotic, with consumers opting for a homegrown handset around 90 percent of the time. CNET believes that mobile manufacturers from China and India could all buy the struggling business as an easy way into the country's highly valued, but closed-off market.
Unfortunately, given that Pantech's biggest owners are Korea's state-owned bank, Samsung, and Qualcomm, it's not particularly likely that an outside rival would be given a fair shake. ZDNet Korea believes that the most likely buyer is national carrier SK Telecom, although whoever did make a splash would have to deal with Pantech's biggest issue: warehouse upon warehouse full of unsold smartphones.
Apple smart watch set for Valentine’s Day release?
There have been rumours that Apple could be targeting V-day to release its smart watch.Although it’s slated for early 2015, no date has been confirmed yet. February isn’t exactly prime time for shopping like the December holidays, but people will still be on the hunt for fashionable and expensive gifts.
Apple has launched other products around that time before, such as iOS device storage capacities and pink coloured models. However The Information claims that someone briefed by the Apple department involved in shipping the watch was joking that the tech giant would be “lucky to ship it by Valentine’s Day”.
The Information continued that the smart watch was expected to come out in time for the holidays, but it wasn’t ready. In an interview with Bloomberg BusinessWeek, Cook and Apple Senior VP of Operations Jeff Williams confirmed they missed their 2014 target.
“We want to make the best product in the world,” said Williams. “One of our competitors is on their fourth or fifth attempt, but nobody is wearing them.” Cook added: “We could have done the watch much earlier, honestly, but not at the fit and finish and quality and integration of these products.
“And so we are willing to wait.”
Apple’s smart watch will be its newest category since the Steve Jobs era, which puts a lot of pressure on the company to get it right. This will be somewhat of a risk for the Cupertino firm.
Only 11 percent of consumers want an Apple smart watch. Perhaps they’re turned off by the price, which is estimated to be as high as $1200 (around £739). Or maybe they’re not so keen on having to charge it every night.
Samsung shows off battery-sharing cable for your mobile devices
In terms of Samsung, that means it's good for all the latest category flagships like the Samsung Galaxy S5, the Galaxy Tab S, and the Galaxy Gear smartwatch. "The new Power Sharing cable gives multi-device users a versatile way to charge their devices - it lets users share the power of their Galaxy battery with either thei own devices or a friend's no matter where they are," says the Korean tech firm.
To work the new wares, you'll first need to download Samsung's Power Sharing app from either Samsung Apps or the Google Play Store. Once that's sorted, you can then select the amount of power you want to shift over, and then plug in both devices. Voila, instant juice. Sammy also says its cable is teeny enough to 'fit in a pocket and purse'.
The Power Sharing cable ships in two colours, namely black or white, and retails for £15 - although Samsung says it's nearly out of stock, so get your bids in quick if you're keen.
Thursday, September 25, 2014
Facebook's Wi-Fi Drones Start Testing Next Year
By this stage, Facebook’s plan to bring internet to the whole world with a fleet of drones and lasers is pretty well documented: what’s a little vague has been the details — until now. Speaking at the Social Good Summit in New York, Yael Maguire, the engineering director at Facebook Connectivity Lab, spilled a few details.
The ‘unmanned planes’ (Facebook seems to be steering clear of the term ‘drone’, given what US-made drones are normally associated with doing over foreign soil) will be about the size of a 747, but far lighter and solar-powered.
In theory, that combination of huge wingspan (and, presumably, quite a few solar panels on top) will let the ‘planes’ fly more or less indefinitely, at high altitudes — 60,000 feet (18,000m) or more, in order to stay above the weather and other aircraft.
In terms of timescale, Maguire wants a prototype aircraft flying sometime in 2015, with actual internet-beaming-goodness following in 3-5 years’ time. As for who will actually deploy these things? That’s still to be determined, in typical Silicon Valley solution: build the technology, and the market will create itself.
News India's Space Probe Successfully Enters Mars Orbit
India just cemented its place as a space power and put NASA’s billions to shame, with the news that its $US74 million space probe just entered Mars orbit. The orbiter, dubbed Mangalyaan, dropped into orbit following a burn at 10.30 EST (12.30am AEST), making India the first country to successfully reach Mars orbit on the first try.
Actually, the history of Mars missions makes for pretty sobering reading: the first three attempts failed to even reach Earth orbit, and it took until Mariner 9 for the USA and NASA to get a probe into successful orbit without anything accidentally blowing up.
By contrast, Mangalyaan has been run on a shoestring budget — just $US74 million — and managed to reach orbit first time round. For a full list of updates, you can follow the Indian Space Research Organisation’s page here.
10 Alternative DIY Wall Decor Ideas
There are such interesting ways to decorate a space without using
regular painted canvas, using a variety of materials and technics the
possibilities are pretty much endless. So this week instead of the top 5
I searched the web for alternative decorations and found these
inspiring ideas. Enjoy!
Wednesday, September 24, 2014
Science A Bunch Of US High-Schoolers Broke The Paper Airplane World Record
To achieve the record-breaking height (96,563 feet), the students attached their one-pound plane to a helium weather balloon, then launched it upwards.
Eventually, the balloon burst, the on-board computer (yes, this paper aeroplane had a computer) severed the tether, and the plane glided 81.9 miles before landing. [ Fox Valley Composite Squadron ]
Gadgets Panasonic Goes Old-School With Its Cassette-Shaped Voice Recorder
To anyone younger, it will simply look like something they vaguely remember seeing in their parent’s garage — or a museum. To help really sell the whole cassette thing, the RR-S30′s LCD display features a pair of faux reels that rotate during recording or playback.
But in terms of more practical functionality, on a pair of AAA batteries the recorder will capture up to 180 hours of audio at its lowest quality setting, from either a set of built-in stereo mics, or an external one that’s been plugged in.
It will be available next month, in Japan at least, for about $US83, so nostalgia seekers should mark their calendars. Panasonic (Japan)
Are There Any Non-Terrible iPhone 6 Cases?
Smartphone cases are the devil’s handiwork. We know that. But that still doesn’t change the fact that, until our phones magically become 100 per cent scratch proof, we’re more or less forced to wrap our phones in the wretched things.
We’ve already looked at the iPhone 6 Plus, and now it’s time to outfit the smaller model. Have you seen any decent iPhone 6 cases out there?
This should (hopefully) be easier than scrounging for a decent iPhone 6 Plus case. Sleeker phones mean sleeker cases, which theoretically means a case less likely to offend our most base senses. So share any gems you may have discovered down below. Hopefully it’s not too bleak out there, and godspeed.
Entertainment You Wish You Could Hack Like This
According to CBS, Scorpion “is an American drama television series based on the life of self-proclaimed genius and computer expert Walter O’Brien. In the series, O’Brien recruits other geniuses to help solve complex, global problems.” (O’Brien isn’t a real person, we should clarify. He’s a fictional figure.)
It sounds like standard fare, garden variety prime-time filler in the vein of CSI and The Mentalist. But honestly, if you’re interested in NCIS or any other shows of its ilk, you just might like Scorpion. I’ll reserve my judgment until I can see a complete episode or three. You can find a quick first look at the show here, or watch the official trailer on YouTube.
But wait. Wait until you watch this clip on io9 to make your decision. I wish I could embed it here, but trust me, clicking through and making the effort to load that video is so worth your time. I don’t want to spoil it for you. Suspend your disbelief, leave your preconceptions at the door, and prepare to be wowed.
Checkout the YouTube
Geek Out Learn Just How Crazy Russian Smokejumpers Are
The National Geographic has an in-depth feature following a band of Russian firefighters through their work, and the differences compared to US teams are stark.
Equipment is said to be incredibly simple — hand-made shovels, beating down fires with boughs, and burying it in sand is a far cry from an airliner dropping thousands of kilograms of retardant. It’s definitely worth the read
>> National Geographic
Here's A Guy Bending An iPhone 6 Plus With His Bare Hands
Earlier today, we started hearing reports that a small sampling of iPhone 6 Plus owners have experienced a slight bend
to their phone after putting the device in their front pockets.
And now, here’s what appears to be video proof that — yep, this smartphone sure can bend. Although it sure takes some effort.
Lou from Unbox Therapy puts the rumours to the test with his bare hands, and though it clearly takes quite a bit of force, he is able to give that handset one hell of an angle.
The glass hangs in there, though, so it’s still functional. And while it’s clearly not something that will happen with normal use, the fact that it could happen at all is a bit concerning.
And now, here’s what appears to be video proof that — yep, this smartphone sure can bend. Although it sure takes some effort.
Lou from Unbox Therapy puts the rumours to the test with his bare hands, and though it clearly takes quite a bit of force, he is able to give that handset one hell of an angle.
The glass hangs in there, though, so it’s still functional. And while it’s clearly not something that will happen with normal use, the fact that it could happen at all is a bit concerning.
Watching A Falcon Hunt Down A Crow In The Air Is Pretty Terrifying
Seeing a falcon hunt down a crow from the falcon’s point of view in an aerial pursuit is not unlike seeing an aeroplane dogfight or a crazy aerial chase scene from an action movie.
Only this is happening in nature all the time. And this particular crow has no chance against the falcons. A user found the footage and it’s sort of horrifying to see but also impressive that we can get these sort of POV shots in nature now.
Bend-gate: An Apple iPhone 6 story
Reports have emerged that suggest Apple's supersize iPhone 6 Plus handset is prone to bending in pockets. Irate customers have taken to the MacRumors forum to voice concerns over the fact that the handsets are being damaged under normal use. The first to kick off the Bend-gate furore was a user called 'hanzoh', who posted an image of a clearly warped iPhone 6 Plus handset.
Yesterday, I left at 10am with the iPhone in my left front pocket of my suit pants," wrote Hanzoh, in his post. "I drove 4 hours to a wedding, which also involved a lot of sitting during dinner, but also 2-3 hours of dancing. As I lay it on the coffee table and sat down on the couch to relax from the drive, I saw the reflection of the window in the iPhones slightly distorted. Now I lay it flat with the display side on the table, take a look.
And sure enough, Hanzoh's handset was deformed, with the iPhone unit not lying flush with the table. It's important to note that this isn't an issue of the protruding camera causing a wobble effect - the images posted are display-side down. Since Hanzoh's revelation, many other iPhone users have spoken out about similar issues with their own handsets, launching fierce discussions across Twitter and Reddit.
Some argue that users should be more careful with their handsets, and make sure not to sit on them.
Others suggest that keeping a phone in a front pocket is considered normal usage, and the iPhone should have been designed to withstand minimal pressures.
The reason for the bending issue is pretty clear at this point - Apple's iPhone 6 Plus is made of aluminium, is very large and, most importantly, very thin (at 7.1mm). This makes it incredibly susceptible to warping compared to other handsets.
Apple's yet to comment on the #bendgate debacle, but it's probably wise to use your iPhone 6 Plus with care for the time being. If there is in fact an issue with smartphone warping then this is a huge design oversight on Apple's part, especially considering the phone's are under a week old.
Samsung's putting a stopper on laptop sales in Europe
We quickly adapt to market needs and demands. In Europe, we will be discontinuing sales of laptops including Chromebooks for now," the spokesperson explained. "This is specific to the region - and is not necessarily reflective of conditions in other markets.
The PC and laptop business has been struggling in recent years, notably caused by the rising primacy of smartphones and tablets. Mobile devices have replaced their bulkier forebears for many consumers, and it seems Samsung's got its finger firmly on the pulse of the market.
Fortunately for die-hard notebookers, Samsung's spokesperson did add a caveat that suggests all might not be over for the Korean company's PC business. "We will continue to thoroughly evaluate market conditions and will make further adjustments to maintain our competitiveness in emerging PC categories."
Google Now's latest trick is finding you a cheaper flight
Google Now has been showing off alternate info for when your flight's been delayed for a bit, and as of late the app's looking to take another bite out of air transit frustrations: keeping an eye on ticket prices.
Poking around on Google Flights for a trip will drop a card into the search giant's digital assistant now and will alert you when prices change based on your recent destination or itinerary searches. It's sort of like what Airfare Watchdog does, but is possibly more convenient.
As pointed out by by Android Police, however, it doesn't look like searching for a flight on the likes of Kayak or Travelocity will trigger the same activity.
From the looks of it, Mountain View's aiming to provide end-to-end help for your trip, from sidestepping traffic jams en route to the airport to finding diversions at your destination.
Tuesday, September 23, 2014
Google Chrome plugs into iOS 8 app extensions
Enjoy how Chrome and other apps share data back and forth on Android? Now you can get that feeling on iOS, since Google has updated Chrome to take advantage of the app extensions supported by iOS 8.
That doesn't mean you'll be able to install any of Chrome's desktop extensions -- it just means links can be shared directly to any other apps on your iDevice, as long as they also support the feature. The update is rocking "iOS 8 compatibility" but no tweaks for the extra size of the iPhone 6 family have appeared yet
Huawei's just bought an internet-of-things startup
Huawei has announced that it's buying Neul, a Cambridge-based startup that specializes in building low-power wireless sensors for monitoring in various industrial and medical applications. Neul is probably most famous for having built the UK's first smart road, a 50-mile chunk of highway designed to monitor traffic flow and avoid congestion.
Huawei has pledged to use its vast resources to turn Neul's Cambridge HQ into an "internet of things stronghold" which, we're sure, will go down really well with those people who refuse to deal with the company on security grounds.
BlackBerry put a $2,000 smartphone into our pauper's hands
That's why it's no surprise to see the Porsche Design P'9983 getting unveiled here at London's Harrods, a department store where personal submarines and gold-plated Xbox Ones sit side-by-side.
The phone is the latest collaboration with the German design outfit, which crams BlackBerry hardware into its own chassis, and we got some time to find out how this thing feels in our hands.
Apple managed to flog 10 million iPhone 6 and 6 Plus units on launch weekend
The phenomenal initial sales were marked by huge queues around the world, with some die-hard Apple fanatics reportedly camping out for days in advance of the launch. Apple's iPhone 6 and iPhone 6 Plus were officially unveiled on the 9th September at a keynote event in Cupertino, California, with CEO Tim Cook showing off the fruity pair of handsets.
Sales for iPhone 6 and iPhone 6 plus exceeded our expectations for the launch weekend, and we couldn't be happier," says Cook, in response to the sales news. We would like to thank all of our customers for making this our best launch ever, shattering all previous sell-through records by a large margin.
His message, however, came laced with regret and scorn, as Cook subtly slammws supply chains for their part in hindering iPhone sales. While our team managed the manufacturing ramp better than ever before," explains Cook, "we could have sold many more iPhones with greater supply and we are working hard to fill orders as quickly as possible." Ouch, that's cold.
The new iPhones are currently available in the UK, US, Australia, Canada, France, Germany, Hong Kong, Japan, Puerto Rico, and Singapore, with plans to add a further 20 countries to the roster by September 26th. Apple also promises that its latest smartphones will be available in 115 countries 'by the end of the year', which is sure to send the sales figures sky-rocketing in the run-up to Christmas.
The new iPhones ship in two different size models - the iPhone 6, at 4.7-in, and the iPhone 6 Plus, at 5.5-in.
Is Microsoft killing off the Nokia name?
It seems as though the Nokia name isn't long for this world,
as Microsoft rejigs the Nokia home site to point all fingers at its own
domain. Nokia's UK site, although still live, suggests you move across to Microsoft's website, with most pages forcing a redirect anyway.The home page reads 'Step inside our new home', paired with the tagline 'Nokia devices and services have moved to a new website." Although seemingly insignificant, the change could indeed be part of a larger intention to drop the 'Nokia' tag altogether.
Upon following the link, you're taken to the Microsoft Mobile Devices page, where references to 'Nokia' are relatively scarce. Earlier this month, The Verge reported it had confirmed materials that suggested Microsoft would be dropping the name.
"As part of our phased transition, we will drop the manufacturer name [Nokia] from product references during the Holiday campaign," read one of the slides in question. It remains to be seen whether the Nokia website will be booted entirely as we approach the holiday season - we'll keep you posted.
Microsoft's acquisition of Nokia was finalised earlier this year. Since then, Microsoft has announced huge job cuts - 12,500 to be precise - in the Nokia departments, as part of the takeover.
