Los Angeles police don’t want you flying drones over their stations
The cops may be eager to experiment with drones for tracking bombs and (possibly) suspects, but they’re apparently not that keen on people turning the tables. The LAPD claims that activist Daniel Saulmon was trespassing when he flew a machine over a Hollywood police station’s parking lot. He was spying on “private property,” Lieutenant Michael Ling claims. As you might imagine, Saulmon (who has a history of recording officers on the ground) disagrees. He didn’t step inside, after all, and he contends that law enforcement doesn’t have the same privacy rights as individuals.
Saulmon wasn’t busted for his drone flight, and it’s not clear that the LAPD can do much at this stage. It’s a public institution, and the Hollywood location has a see-through fence — it’s not as if the police were guarding a secret operation. He wasn’t interfering with their activities, either. There’s a chance that California and other states will draft rules limiting what both civilians and cops can do with unmanned craft, but it looks like these confrontations between cops and accountability advocates could continue so long as a gray area exists.
Filed under: Robots
Via: Ars Technica
Source: LA Times, Tom Zebra (YouTube)
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Gadget Rewind: Fitness and activity trackers
Tools for tracking and fine-tuning our fitness regimens are more abundant today than ever. And they’re getting smarter, too. From the simplicity of mechanical step counters to ultra-smart digital devices that pack accelerometers and GPS radios to follow our every move, it’s clear the wearable category has grown. These devices now collect data, provide a soundtrack, prod us when we’re lazy and reward us when we’ve achieved our goals. They’ve also considerably scaled down in size, so we no longer resemble gadget-laden test subjects when tracking our workouts. In fact, wearables have become rather stylish. Join us in the gallery below then as we take a brief look at the evolution of the activity tracker.
Filed under: Wearables, Samsung
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Microsoft has a new NFL app for Xbox One and Windows 8
The start of a new NFL season is just around the corner, and Microsoft’s been working hard to improve the experience for football fans on the Xbox One. What’s different now, among other things, is that the company’s NFL application is expected to be ready by Week 1; as opposed to last year, when it showed up in Week 12 because of the timing of the Xbox One’s launch. This time out, there are a lot more features too, with Fantasy Football and NFL Now, the league’s upcoming online video service, playing a huge role in the refreshed version. First and foremost, Microsoft wants its NFL app to feel like your own, which is why it lets you personalize it with content from team and players you’re interested in, as well as different media provided by NFL Network, NFL RedZone, NFL Sunday Ticket and, of course, NFL Now.
As far as Fantasy Football goes, the Xbox One now gives you quick access to a ton of stuff, including a feed of recent events (such as a touchdown catch by one of your receivers), exclusive in-game highlights and the ability to manage teams, all right from inside the app. At the moment, fantasy data is still only integrating with NFL.com leagues, but Microsoft did tell Engadget it’s constantly working to bring more services into the fold — think Yahoo Sports or ESPN’s fantasy offerings. Not surprisingly, the NFL League Feed (pictured above) takes advantage of core Xbox One features like Snap, allowing you to easily keep track of your Fantasy Football stats, even while you’re playing a game or, you know, watching an actual NFL matchup.
Furthermore, the very same application is also coming to Windows 8 devices for the first time. And although differences between platforms do exist, like no HDMI-in TV signal on tablets or PCs, a Microsoft representative told us that the NFL for Windows 8 and Xbox One apps are indeed the same, a universal one, if you will. Conversely, Xbox 360 owners can expect similar functionality to what’s available already — though there is going to be the addition of NFL Now, which brings more on-demand content from the National Football League to the aging console.
Microsoft has promised that its NFL-rich app will arrive in time for the regular season, both on Xbox One and Windows 8, but a “late August” delivery is what it is willing to commit to for now. Don’t you worry, it’ll be here soon enough.
Filed under: Gaming, Home Entertainment, Internet, HD, Microsoft
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Here’s how Microsoft plans to take over NFL sidelines
Are you ready for some football? Because Microsoft most certainly is. To go along with the introduction of a new NFL app for Xbox One and Windows 8, the software giant has also revealed how it plans to help professional coaches and players during games. As part of an ongoing partnership with the National Football League, which began last year and was reportedly worth $400 million over five years, Microsoft created what it calls a Sideline Viewing System. Naturally, the company’s own hardware is a key component to this; the new system is powered by Surface Pro 2 tablets, and it allows NFL teams to review plays instantly on the sidelines and up in the booths. For instance, say the quarterback goes back to the bench, the Surface can then be used to see the opposing team’s defensive formation during the most recent drive — and the same goes for the coaching staff that keeps an eye on the game from higher ground. Players are also able to draw on these images, making it easier for other members of the team to see something which stands out and needs to be checked.
While the new system has the potential to replace paper-printed materials on the sidelines, that’s not what the Redmond-based company hopes to accomplish, not yet at least. The Sideline Viewing System won’t be required to be utilized by NFL teams, but they will all have it at their disposal week in and week out, should they choose to want to integrate it into their workflow. A representative from Microsoft told Engadget the company doesn’t “want to force anything,” adding that, ultimately, it is up to individual players and coaches to figure out what they want to do and use the methods best suited for them.
Moreover, Microsoft says the Surface Pro 2s are owned by the NFL and not the teams, telling us that the tablets were heavily modified inside and out. Sure, these devices are capable of handling water, snow and extreme heat temperatures, but here’s one thing they can’t handle: third-party apps. In other words, don’t expect Johnny Football to be Instagramming while he’s warming up on the bench. Along those same lines, the Surface tablets on the field operate under a private network created by the NFL, which is how the league plans to keep the sensitive photo-viewing app closed off and away from any potential intruders.
It’s worth noting this isn’t the first time Microsoft has made its way to NFL sidelines, as it had done so in the past through the placement of really, really big Surface logos everywhere, as well as many other things behind the scenes. For now, we’d say this is much better. The Sideline Viewing System is making its debut tonight, during this year’s preseason opener game, between the Buffalo Bills and New York Giants.
[Image credits: Microsoft]
Filed under: Misc, Home Entertainment, Tablets, HD, Microsoft
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Inhabitat’s Week in Green: concrete honey, hybridized fruit tree and a $3,500 house
Trees are the most efficient oxygen-producing mechanisms known to man, so researchers have been trying to replicate them in order to produce breathable air in outer space. Julian Melchiorri, a student at the Royal College of Art, has created an artificial leaf that can produce endless oxygen using nothing more than light and water. The manmade leaves could be a game changer for space exploration, and they could also be used as biological air filters or oxygen producers back here on Earth. Trees do more than create oxygen; many of them also bear fruit. Artist Sam Van Aken has produced an amazing hybridized fruit tree that grows more than 40 different kinds of fruit, including peaches, apricots and almonds.
Bees already do a lot of work for humans by pollinating crops and producing honey, but could they build our cities too? A pair of designers suggests that bees’ honey-making glands could be used to produce concrete instead, enabling them to 3D print structures. Even if that plan doesn’t work out, there’s still plenty to be learned from bees. Take honeycomb, for example: A team from the Stanford School of Engineering has made a breakthrough honeycomb lithium-ion battery design that could lead to more stable batteries for electric vehicles. And speaking of electric vehicles, this week Tesla and Panasonic signed a multimillion dollar deal for the world’s first battery-producing Gigafactory.
What if you could build an entire house for just $3,500? Architect Nicoló Bini, has developed a novel technique for doing just that — and it involves covering an inflatable balloon with concrete! In other green design news, Turkish architecture firm Autoban recently designed a set of futuristic wooden cocoons for Azerbaijan’s Baku Airport, lending the space a cozy, natural atmosphere. Cozier still, the Hanging Tent Company just unveiled a portable tent that hangs high in the treetops. The spherical tent features circular windows and a wood floor. And a 13-year-old from Georgia successfully built her own tiny house. The mini mansion features a kitchen, a lofted bed and a bathroom with a composting toilet. Looking ahead, Vo Trong Nghia has been selected to design the Vietnam Pavilion at the World Expo 2015 in Milan. The pavilion will be modeled after Vietnam’s national flower, the lotus. And filmmaker George Lucas has hired Studio Gang and MAD Architects to design a museum of narrative art in Chicago.
In other green tech and innovation news, Amazon has launched an online store for 3D-printed objects. So far, the store offers 250 products, including pendants, toys, nylon wallets, cookie cutters and bobbleheads. A team from Australia obliterated a 26-year-old record for the world’s fastest long-range electric vehicle last week, traveling over 310 miles at an average speed of 62MPH. (The previous record was 45MPH.) Students from Goldsmiths, University of London created a pair of sneakers that are made entirely from plastic trash found on the beach. The Montreal-based media and entertainment studio Moment Studio has created a luminous forest wonderland in Quebec. A team from MIT has developed a simple graphite sponge that soaks up water and converts it to steam using solar energy. And digital tattoos could soon become a reality: The Silicon Valley firm VivaLnk has partnered with Motorola to offer up temporary tattoos that enable you to unlock your phone with a simple tap. And in case you still need a reason to say goodbye to your incandescent light bulbs, this infographic makes a bulletproof case.
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UK spy agency gives thumbs up to grad degrees in online security
Good internet security isn’t just about having the right tools to fend off cyber attacks; you need smart people, too. The UK government clearly knows this, as GCHQ has just accredited Master’s degrees in online security that live up to the intelligence agency’s “stringent criteria.” If you pursue the right grad studies at one of six British universities (including London and Oxford), you’ll both be well-equipped to handle digital threats and get an edge when hunting for that first big InfoSec job.
And despite what it looks like, this isn’t primarily meant to grow GCHQ’s candidate pool; it’s part of a broader initiative that could help the economy. The hope is that creating more cybersecurity experts will make the UK “one of the safest places in the world” for online businesses. There’s a degree of irony to that statement given GCHQ’s far-reaching ability to compromise internet services, but the odds are that this certification will help your career more than it hurts.
[Image credit: UK Ministry of Defense, Flickr]
Filed under: Internet
Via: BBC
Source: GCHQ
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You can now try Android L on the LG Optimus G, the second port to a non-Nexus Device
The collective Android community’s jaw dropped when Android L was shown off at Google I/O 2014 and since then, only a select few devices, namely the Nexus devices (and unofficially, the HTC One M7) have had a taste of what Android’s next version is going to feel like. You can now add the LG Optimus G to that very short list as it becomes only the second non-Nexus device to receive a ‘working’ port of the Android L Developer Preview. Thanks to a bunch of clever people over at XDA, you can now install the custom ROM on your device; for the file and installation instructions, you can visit the original forum post below:
Naturally, there are still a few bugs and issues to be figured out: NFC isn’t working and the camera isn’t working exactly as intended. There are also apparently some heat issues, but there are workarounds that hopefully lessen the impact of the issue. All the same, if you have an LG Optimus G, this is a perfect opportunity to try something that a large proportion of the Android community has yet to try, so get on it.
If you could see Android L on another device next, what device would it be? Let us know your pick in the comments below.
Source: XDA via The Android Soul
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LG fixes G Watch charging flaw that can irritate your skin
Whatever you think of LG’s G Watch, it has a flaw that can get under your skin a little too literally. Wearers have noticed that its charging pins maintain a current even when they’re on a sweaty wrist, triggering corrosion, skin irritation and even minor burns. Thankfully, some relief is at hand. Both LG and Google have confirmed to Android Police that they’re rolling out an over-the-air fix which turns the current off unless the Android Wear gadget is sitting in its charging cradle. The companies say that only a “small number” of G Watches have produced this problem, so your arm isn’t likely to be in danger. However, it’s safe to say that the patch can’t come soon enough — it’s not often that code can damage both people and their devices.
Source: Android Police
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XBMC renames its media app as it leaves its Xbox roots behind
XBMC’s name (which stands for Xbox Media Center) isn’t really relevant these days. The media center app only runs on the original Xbox through hacks, and it does a lot more than play your music and videos. Accordingly, it’s getting a long, long overdue rebranding: meet Kodi Entertainment Center, the moniker you’ll see from version 14 onward. The new naming scheme is both more universal and less prone to legal issues. The developers now have control over their trademark, and the move should prevent trouble with “other companies” — no doubt including Microsoft — that might send lawyers after fans or the XBMC team itself. The first Kodi release is a rough alpha, so don’t expect to see the new name everywhere just yet. However, it shouldn’t be long before the XBMC badging is consigned to the history books.
Filed under: Home Entertainment, Software, HD
Source: XBMC
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A new HTC One M8 may be announced on August 19th, but it might not be the phone you’re Expecting
It became known earlier this week that HTC has scheduled an event in New York City that sounds a lot like an announcement for a new device. We’ve heard very little about new devices that might be coming from HTC so soon after the mid-year, but that hasn’t stopped people speculating that HTC could be announcing the rumoured HTC Nexus 8 tablet. Despite the fact that Google Nexus devices have more recently been announced by Google themselves, a leaked image from Verizon‘s website might hold a more substantial answer to that mystery: a HTC One M8 running Windows.
HTC hasn’t dabbled in Windows Phones for some time now, but it has a long association with the mobile platform. And with the HTC One M8 spearheading the way back into the black for the Taiwanese manufacturer, it’s almost a win-win for HTC and Microsoft to be releasing one of the best and most popular phones on the market with the fledgling operating system onboard. It’s expected that this Windows One M8 will make its appearance at the aforementioned HTC event, and we’d be surprised to see any Android announcements at the event.
What do you think about a HTC One M8 running Windows? Do you think this will be announced on August 19th, or something else will be? Let us know your thoughts.
Source: PCMag via TechCrunch
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