SpaceX chooses Texas for its futuristic launch complex
SpaceX has been launching rockets in Florida or California for quite some time, but Texas will likely see most of the action once the company finishes building its new spaceport in Cameron County. While SpaceX CEO Elon Musk hasn’t made an official announcement yet, a Florida official (who’s understandably disappointed by the development) confirmed that the Lone Star State has indeed landed the contract. In fact, the Federal Aviation Administration already gave SpaceX its blessing to do 12 launches per year (mostly of its Falcon 9 and upcoming Falcon Heavy rockets) from the 56.5 acre site. Musk plans to make it the main launching site for space tourists and missions funded by companies and foreign governments in the future, while still sending NASA-funded rockets off to space from Cape Canaveral in Florida.
We’re still in the dark when it comes to the complex’s details, but Bloomberg believes that it’ll have an “ultrafuturistic design.” Its launchpads might also have a number of automated implements to make transitions from one launch to the next a lot faster. You see, Musk might be content with 12 launches per year for now, but he ultimately wants to do several per day once traveling to Mars isn’t but a science fiction plotline. He wants to be able to quickly send off people and equipment to the red planet to make building colonies possible by letting machines set up, refuel and ultimately, launch rockets with limited human input. We’ve yet to hear when the site’s expected to become operational, but we’ll inform you when we find out.
Filed under: Science
Source: Bloomberg Businessweek, Statesman, FAA
iOS 7 Adoption Hits 90% Ten Months After Release [iOS Blog]
Apple’s iOS 7 adoption rate continues to grow, even as the release of iOS 8 approaches. As of yesterday, 90 percent of devices connected to the App Store are running iOS 7, according to new numbers posted on Apple’s App Store developer support page.
The new milestone, which comes 10 months after the operating system’s original release, is a three percent increase from installation numbers of 87 percent back in April.
As adoption of iOS 7 has climbed, iOS 6 installation rates have dropped slightly, going from 11 percent in April to 9 percent on July 13. Earlier operating systems continue to run on two percent of devices.
Apple’s mobile operating systems have traditionally seen quick adoption rates due to the company’s easy over-the-air updates, and just three months after being released, iOS 7 was on 74 percent of devices. iOS 8, coming this fall, will undoubtedly see a similarly rapid adoption rate, overtaking iOS 7 in a matter of weeks.
iOS 8 includes a number of new features that will be highly appealing to consumers, including interactive notifications, third-party keyboard support, and several new Continuity features that allow an unprecedented level of integration between iOS devices and Macs.
Watch an AlphaDog robot venture into (simulated) battle for the first time
They grow up so fast, don’t they? It seems like only yesterday that Boston Dynamics’ AlphaDog (aka LS3) robot was finding its legs, and yet it has already gone out on training exercises with the US Marine Corps for the first time. The cargo-hauling machine dutifully trotted behind a Marine squad traversing a simulated combat zone in Hawaii, proving that it could both navigate rough terrain and resupply other platoons that would otherwise have to wait for an ATV.
As you can see in the clip below, this mechanized pup is still going through some growing pains. There are occasionally places LS3 can’t go, and it’s still pretty noisy. It won’t be jogging around the front line any time soon. However, the semi-realistic test run will help Boston Dynamics refine the ‘bot and get it truly battle-ready. And besides, it’s clear that the Marines are already warming up to their new companion — they’ve affectionately nicknamed it “Cujo.”
[Image credit: Sgt. Sarah Dietz, US Marine Corps]
Via: Sploid
Source: DVIDS
Seattle votes to legalize ridesharing services like Lyft and Uber
It’s official: following an earlier agreement, Seattle council members have voted eight to one in favor of legalizing transportation network companies. The move lets ridesharing outfits like Lyft and UberX operate in the West coast city without fear of bans or driver caps, so long as they get the appropriate license and otherwise obey relatively light regulations. Conventional cab drivers, meanwhile, get a break through 200 additional taxi licenses. The council is expected to take a second look at ridesharing during its next legislative session to see if there’s a need for stricter requirements. For now, though, you shouldn’t have any trouble hailing a private driver in Washington state’s biggest burg.
[Image credits: Jeff Blucher, Flickr]
Filed under: Transportation, Internet
Source: GeekWire
Netflix already stopped mailing DVDs on Saturdays, but you probably didn’t notice
The USPS may not have gone forward with its plans to kill Saturday mail delivery, but Netflix isn’t waiting. A few customers have noticed it’s no longer processing shipments on Saturdays, opting for a five day schedule instead. Company spokesman Joris Evers tells Engadget that it’s been transitioning in that direction over the past year and ended Saturday processing (usually a low volume day) entirely in early June. Longtime subscribers may remember that originally Netflix was a five day operation, and it only shipped or received DVDs and Blu-ray discs on the weekend over the past five years. These days, most of us are streaming so with all those options there’s less pressure to get an item in the mail, but of course not everyone is happy. When weekend mail delivery came close to ending last year (various government committees have opted to keep it going), an AP article noted that it could actually save Netflix money by reducing the number of deliveries for heavy users — because of its flat rate, they’re actually less profitable. Now that competitors like Blockbuster are out of the way, there aren’t many other options which is probably also a factor. Of course, we can’t blame Saturday deliveries (or the lack thereof) for this Hot Rod DVD that’s been sitting on the coffee table for as long as we can remember.
[Image credit: Andrew Harrer/Bloomberg via Getty Images]
Filed under: Home Entertainment, HD
Via: r/Netflix (Reddit)
Source: Movie Fans Netflix Community (Ning), Netflix Support
Apple Expands iPhone and iPad Trade-In Program to Australia [iOS Blog]
Apple today expanded its iPhone and iPad trade-in program to Australia, giving customers who trade in an older device credit towards the purchase of a new device. Users who trade in an iPhone can earn up to A$250, while users who trade in an iPad can get up to A$215.
According to Apple, its latest models, including the iPhone 5s, 5c, and iPad Air are not eligible for the credit, nor are first-generation devices like the iPhone 3GS or the original iPad. All other devices are eligible, however, and Apple will still recycle original models for free.
Apple’s trade-in program first debuted in the United States prior to the launch of the iPhone 5s/5c, and expanded to the U.K. a few months later. It has also been brought to several other countries, including Germany, France, Canada, and Italy.
In addition to its in-store recycling program, Apple has a similar online mail-in program that requires users to send in their old iPhones before receiving credit. While the mail-in program often offers a greater value for a used iPhone, Apple’s in-store program is more convenient for many customers.
Shazam for iOS Gains Ability to Play Songs Directly in App via Rdio [iOS Blog]
Shazam today updated both its free and paid iOS apps to version 7.7.0, adding Rdio integration. When a Shazam user identifies a song with the app, the recognized song can then be played directly within the Shazam app via Rdio.
While it was previously possible to listen to songs identified within Shazam in the Rdio app, users are now able to listen to songs from Rdio without having to switch apps.
What’s new
This release brings full track playback in Shazam, powered by Rdio. Once you’re connected, you can play any track and carry on listening to the music as you discover more in the app. Shazam a song to get started.
Songs identified within Shazam can be added to the playlist of a user’s choice or an automatic playlist of all Shazamed songs within the Rdio app. Taking advantage of Rdio integration within Shazam requires the Rdio app to be installed and it also requires a Rdio account to be set up.
Shazam has been long known as one of the major song recognition apps and as of iOS 8, its song identifying capabilities are built directly into Apple’s operating system.
Shazam can be downloaded from the App Store for free. [Direct Link]
Shazam Encore can be downloaded from the App Store for $6.99. [Direct Link]
Apple Considering Former White House Press Secretary Jay Carney for PR Chief Position
Former White House Press Secretary Jay Carney is one of the candidates being considered to replace Katie Cotton as Apple’s new PR head, reports Re/code. In a piece on Uber, Re/Code‘s Kara Swisher suggests that Carney’s name is “being bandied about” for the position.
Carney served as White House Press Secretary from 2011 until June of 2014, when he officially resigned. Prior to that, Carney served as director of communications for Vice President Joe Biden and before that, he was the Washington bureau chief for Time magazine.
Katie Cotton, who was Apple’s VP of worldwide corporate communications before retiring back in May, served for more than 20 years under both Steve Jobs and Tim Cook. Cotton was known for being fiercely protective of Apple executives, serving as the gatekeeper for media access and keeping a tight rein on the company’s PR operations.
Since Cotton’s retirement, Apple has been actively searching for her replacement. Tim Cook is reportedly overseeing the search and hoping to find an external candidate with a “friendly, more approachable face” to replace Cotton as the company strives for greater openness under its new leadership.
Alleged Sony Xperia Z3 sized up next to the original Samsung Galaxy Note
In past few weeks, we have seen the Sony Xperia Z3 a few times, and according to the information we have so far, it looks like a worthy successor to the Sony Z series. Xperia Z3 will be running a Snapdragon 801 chip with the latest version of Android. However, folks over at XperiaBlog managed to get their hands on some new pictures of the Xperia Z3, alongside the Samsung Galaxy Note.
The picture above gives us an idea about the dimensions of the Z3, it’s almost equal to the original Galaxy Note, but a little less wider. Also, another picture is shared below which shows that Xperia Z3 will have slightly round edges unlike the predecessors.
Do you think the Xperia Z3 will be the best ‘Z’ yet? Let us know in the comment box below.
Source: XperiaBlog
The post Alleged Sony Xperia Z3 sized up next to the original Samsung Galaxy Note appeared first on AndroidGuys.
MIT’s flying robot keeps moving photo subjects bathed in light
Pro photographers can spend ages setting up lighting for a shoot. That work may quickly go out the window if the subject moves, however, and an assistant won’t always be there to help. Thankfully, MIT researchers have devised a clever solution to the problem: meet Litrobot, an aerial lighting drone. The unmanned craft uses a combination of LIDAR and the main camera’s imagery to track subjects and keep them bathed in just the right amount of rim lighting, whether they’ve stepped across the room or are just striking a new pose. The robot also adapts to the photographer’s movements, and there’s even an “aggressive” mode that automatically takes a shot the moment the drone is in position — potentially perfect for action scenes. Litrobot is just a proof of concept at this stage, but it’s easy to see future light-bearing UAVs helping out in the studio.
Filed under: Cameras, Robots, Science
Source: Manohar Srikanth (MIT)
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