Motorola Shamu gets spotted again, this time hiding in the dark but showing us its software details
The Motorola Shamu – original image (left), enhanced image (right)
We’ve had some very good looks at what is allegedly the next Nexus device, the Motorola Shamu, or Nexus 6, of Nexus X, or whatever else you want to call it. We’ve had photos which compare the Shamu’s size versus the equally large LG G3 as well as what looks like press renders of the device. Today, we have another leak to share which allegedly comes from someone in possession of a Shamu and has taken a photo of it while presumably in the dark. The details on the screen tell quite a story – apart from the distinctive Android L soft keys at the bottom of the screen, the details confirm the Shamu is running Android L and the build it is running is from late August.
Unfortunately for the original poster, when the image is enhanced, it reveals the Motorola logo with a SnapTag arrangement, which is presumably unique for testers of the device and may have compromised their identity (it’s been blurred out where the black box is in the above image). Oversight aside, it’s seeming increasingly likely that this Motorola Shamu is definitely a Nexus device that will see its release in the next month or so, rumoured to be around October 15th or 16th.
What do you make of this latest leak? Is the Shamu a device you’re looking forward to? Let us know your opinion.
Source: Droid-life via Android Police
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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.
[Photo credit: Bernt Rostad/Flickr]
Filed under: Transportation
Source: Het Nieuwsbladsaid (Dutch)
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Uber driver allegedly bashed passenger in the head with a hammer
Uber rides just got a lot more dangerous. Patrick Karajah, a 26-year-old Uber X driver, has been accused of attacking a passenger with a hammer and leaving him by the side of the road in San Francisco’s Bernal Heights district. SF Gate reports that the victim and a couple of friends were picked up at a bar around 2 a.m., and along the way they got into a fight over the route Karajah was taking. Karajah then allegedly kicked them out of the car and proceeded to repeatedly bash the victim in the head with a hammer. The victim is currently in recovery but is suffering serious injuries and head trauma. Karajah pled not guilty to the charge of assault and is currently free on $125,000 bail.
There’ve been past incidents with Uber drivers as well — one was accused of kidnapping a club-goer in Los Angeles, while another in San Francisco was apparently physically and verbally abusive. All of this adds credence to the recent report by San Francisco and Los Angeles district attorneys that alleges Uber, Lyft and other ridesharing services have not been compliant about driver background checks. It looks like that $1 Safe Rides Fee isn’t worth it at all.
[Image: Bloomberg via Getty Images]
Filed under: Misc
Source: SF Gate
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TomTom has a new watch designed specifically for golfers
In perfect conjunction with the start of the Ryder Cup, TomTom couldn’t have found a better time to introduce its new GPS-powered wearable. The watch, simply, and fittingly, named TomTom Golfer, is similar to Garmin’s Approach line, featuring data for more than 34,000 courses. 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.”
Filed under: Misc, Peripherals, Wearables
Source: TomTom
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Playdate: We’re livestreaming ‘Forza Horizon 2’ on Xbox One!
Welcome, ladygeeks and gentlenerds, to the new era of gaming. The one where you get to watch, and comment, as other people livestream gameplay from next-gen consoles. Because games! They’re fun!
What do you do when there’s many hundreds of horsepower under your foot? Bounce on the pedal and put the devil to the floor, naturally. And that’s just what Microsoft’s latest racer allows you to do. We’re talking about Forza Horizon 2 on Xbox One, of course. The game that lets you live out nearly any auto-fantasy you might have, so long as it includes picturesque European landscapes, pristine cliff sides and electronic dance music. We’re just kidding on the last part — you can totally turn the radio off. Join us right here at 7:00 p.m. Eastern / 4:00 p.m. Pacific as we bring you a taste of what you can expect from the open-world arcade racer when it hits store shelves (or your console) next week.
Watch live video from Engadget on www.twitch.tv
Filed under: Gaming, Home Entertainment, Transportation, HD, Microsoft
Source: Twitch
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iPhone 6 and 6 Plus Equipped With Two Accelerometers for Power Management, Improved User Experience
Apple has opted to equip the iPhone 6 and 6 Plus with two separate accelerometers, as discovered in Chipworks’ comprehensive iPhone 6 and 6 Plus teardown. There’s a three-axis Bosch BMA280 accelerometer and what Chipworks believes is a MPU-6700 six-axis accelerometer from InvenSense.
According to Chipworks, Apple may have decided to incorporate two accelerometers into the iPhone 6 and 6 Plus to both minimize power consumption and “improve the overall user experience.”
The InvenSense accelerometer has a range of functions, allowing it to operate in several different modes, but it can draw more power than the Bosch accelerometer due to its higher sensitivity. The maximum sensitivity of the InvenSense is at 16684 LSB/g, much higher than the Bosch’s 4096.
The InvenSense device can operate as a six axis inertial sensor, or as either a three-axis gyroscope or a three-axis accelerometer. It is rated to consume 3.4 mA in the six-axis mode, 3.2 mA in the gyroscope mode and 450 µA in the accelerometer normal mode. By contrast, the Bosch device operates as a 3-axis accelerometer only and it consumes 130 µA of current in the accelerometer normal mode. Both devices offer two low power levels of operation for the accelerometer function. The InvenSense device actually consumes less current in its lowest power mode, with a 1 Hz update rate.
The main benefit of the InvenSense is full six-axis integration of the data by the on-chip digital motion processor (DMP). This will provide a direct benefit for gaming and other applications that need sophisticated inertial sensing capabilities. In addition the InvenSense provides significantly higher sensitivity than the Bosch device. The price however, is higher power consumption.
The Bosch accelerometer is able to operate at a lower power than the InvenSense and it has a “much faster” cold start up time, at 3ms compared to 30ms, allowing it to be used when complete six-axis integration is unnecessary. Chipworks speculates that it may be used for tasks where higher sensitivity is unneeded, perhaps for rotating the screen from landscape to portrait mode or for pedometer functionality.
According to Chipworks, the inclusion of two accelerometers in the iPhone 6 and 6 Plus is an example of Apple’s “elegant engineering.” A single InvenSense accelerometer would have enabled the device to work perfectly well, but the addition of the Bosch accelerometer allows for lower power consumption in the appropriate situations.
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iOS 8’s WiFi location privacy isn’t as powerful as you might think
If you were hoping that iOS 8’s ability to hide your device ID from nearby WiFi networks would render you invisible to nosy hotspot operators, you’ll want to dial back your expectations a bit. AirTight Networks’ Bhupinder Misra has found that Apple’s hardware address randomization only kicks in under a very narrow set of circumstances. You not only have to put your device to sleep and turn off location services, you have to turn off cellular data as well — in short, your iPhone has to become a paperweight. Even then, the masking only appears to work with iOS devices using at least an A7 processor, like the iPhone 5s.
As such, it’s business as usual for institutions and stores that want to track your phone for the sake of stats and marketing. The only way to avoid giving out your hardware’s real ID is to… well, stop using your hardware. The risk of revealing anything truly personal is relatively slim, but you’re not going to be happy if you were hoping to go incognito around public WiFi access points. Not that companies would necessarily be deterred even if the location privacy feature was more useful. As AirTight’s Hemant Chaskar notes to The Verge, it’s possible for those monitoring WiFi data to toss out fake device info. Although they won’t get a complete view of the people wandering near their networks, they can still make use of whatever data is left.
Filed under: Cellphones, Tablets, Software, Mobile, Apple
Via: The Verge
Source: AirTight Networks Blog (1), (2)
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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.
Via: NPR
Source: The Public Radio
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Apple Pay Roundup: Everything We Know, Coming in October
Apple Pay is Apple’s new mobile payments service, which it first debuted in September alongside the iPhone 6, the iPhone 6 Plus, and the Apple Watch. Apple Pay is expected to become widely available to consumers beginning in October, and ahead of its official release, we’ve gathered everything that’s currently known about the service into a roundup so users can get an idea of what to expect.
With Apple Pay, iPhone 6 and 6 Plus owners will be able to make payments for goods and services with their iPhones, both in stores and within participating apps, using the NFC chip built into the devices. While Apple Pay will initially be restricted to iPhone 6 and 6 Plus owners, iPhone 5, 5c, and 5s users will also be able to take advantage of the service if they purchase an Apple Watch after it is released.
Apple has described Apple Pay as the most secure payment solution available, as it uses Device Account Numbers rather than storing credit card numbers and keeps all payment information in a dedicated chip on the iPhone, called the Secure Element.
All payments are verified using Touch ID, which prevents someone who has stolen a device to make unauthorized purchases. Furthermore, if an iPhone 6 or 6 Plus is stolen, its ability to make payments can be disabled through Find My iPhone.
Apple has said that Apple Pay will be available beginning in October, enabled through an upcoming update to iOS 8.
The Apple Pay roundup, like all of our other roundups is accessible through a dedicated index page that shows a full list of all available roundups ordered by most recent update. The roundup is also accessible directly through the “Roundups” tab in the top navigation bar on all MacRumors pages.
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Buyer’s Guide: Deals on Civilization V for Mac, iPhone 6 and 6 Plus Cases, and More [Mac Blog]
We’ve partnered with GameAgent this week to offer MacRumors readers a great deal on one of the best Mac games around — Civilization V. From now until Sunday, readers can get Sid Meier’s Civilization V: The Complete Edition for just $12.50, which is 75% off the standard price of $49.99.
The Civilization V Complete Edition includes the original game plus two expansion packs: Gods & Kings and Brave New World, along with the released add-on content.
As for Macs, there are a few limited deals this week, including a low price on the newest low-cost 21.5-inch iMac and some ongoing deals for the 2013 Retina MacBook Pro and MacBook Air. There are also some discounts on select models of the iPad Air and the Retina iPad mini from Best Buy, and finally, we have an array of iPhone 6 cases that can be purchased at low prices, along with a few other iPhone accessories.
iMac
The 1.4GHz/8GB/500GB iMac, which is Apple’s newest iMac, is available from Best Buy for $979.99, down from the original price of $1,099. Best Buy has some modest discounts on other iMacs, including the 21.5-inch 2.7Ghz/8GB/1TB model, which is priced at $1,179.99, and the 21.5-inch 2.9Ghz/8GB/1TB model, priced at $1,379.99.
The 27-inch 3.2Ghz/8GB/1TB iMac is available from Best Buy for $1,679.99 and the higher-end 27-inch 3.4Ghz/8GB/1TB iMac is available from Best Buy and Amazon for $1,879.99.
iPad Air and Retina iPad mini
Best Buy is currently offering $100 off all of its Wi-Fi + Cellular iPad Air models (with a new two-year contract), and $50 off all of some of its higher-capacity Wi-Fi only iPad Air models. the 32GB Wi-Fi only iPad Air is available for $549.99, while the 64GB Wi-Fi only model is available for $649.99.
With a $100 discount, the entry-level 16GB Wi-Fi + Cellular iPad Air is available for $529.99, with higher capacity versions available for $629.99, $729.99, and $829.99.
Similar to the iPad Air, Best Buy is also offering $50 off of its higher capacity Wi-Fi only Retina iPad mini models, and $100 off all cellular models with a two-year contract. The 32GB Wi-Fi only Retina iPad mini can be purchased for $449.99, and the 64GB version is available for $549.99.
The entry-level 16GB Wi-Fi + Cellular Retina iPad mini is available for $429.99 with Best Buy’s $100 discount, and higher capacity versions are priced at $529.99, $629.99, and $729.99 with the discount.
Best Buy is also currently running a promotion that lets customers trade in older iPads (except for the first-generation model) for a $150 gift card.
Mac Mall has a small selection of Retina iPad minis on sale, offering the 32GB Wi-Fi only model in silver for $399.99, and the 64GB Wi-Fi only model in space gray for $499.99.
MacBook Air
B&H Photo is continuing to offer rock bottom prices on remaining inventory of the 2013 MacBook Air. The 1.3Ghz/4GB/128GB 11-inch MacBook Air is available for $819, while the 1.3Ghz/4GB/256GB 11-inch MacBook Air is available for $889 and the 1.3Ghz/4GB/256GB 13-inch MacBook Air is available for $999.
Retina MacBook Pro
There are some deals on remaining 2013 Retina MacBook Pros. The 2.4Ghz/4GB/128GB 13-inch Retina MacBook Pro is available for $1,099 from Adorama and B&H Photo. The 2.6Ghz/8GB/512GB 13-inch model is available for $1,549 from Adorama and B&H Photo. The 2.0Ghz/8GB/256GB 15-inch model is available for $1,599 Amazon, Adorama, and B&H Photo. The 2.0Ghz/16GB/512GB 15-inch model is available for $2,199 from Amazon, Adorama, and B&H Photo.
The non-Retina 13-inch MacBook Pro is also on sale for $999 from Best Buy, Adorama, and B&H Photo.
Mac Pro
Stock configurations of Apple’s Mac Pro desktop computer are available at slightly discounted prices from several retailers this week. The 6-core 3.5Ghz/16GB/256GB machine can be purchased for $3,739.99 from Best Buy, Adorama, and B&H Photo, while the 4-core 3.7Ghz/12GB/256GB machine for $2,839.99 from Best Buy, Adorama, and B&H Photo.
B&H and Adorama, as always, are a good choice for buyers who live outside of New York and New Jersey, as the sites only charge sales tax in those states.
Apple Accessories
Best Buy is selling leather cases for the new iPhone 6 for $39.99, which is $5 less than the cost directly from Apple. The Urban Armor Gear 5″ Case for iPhone 6 is available for $20 from DealMac.
Groupon has pre-orders available for a range of different iPhone 6 and 6 Plus cases at very low prices. The MogoLife Protective case for iPhone 6 or 6 Plus can be purchased for $9.99 or $11.99, down from $29.95. The Abyss Tough Armor Rugged Case for the iPhone 6 can be purchased for $11.99, down from $29.99. The Prolix Slim Armor Protective Case for the iPhone 6 is also available for $11.99, down from its normal price of $29.99.
The Urge Basics Dual-Layer Protection Cobra Case for iPhone 6 is available for $9.99, regularly $29.99. The iHome Reflex Case for iPhone 6 is available for $12.99, a discount of $7, and the Xentris Soft-Shell Case for iPhone 6 is available for $9.99, a discount of $10.
The Incase Hammered Hardshell Case for the 11-inch MacBook Air is available for $12.99 from Groupon, down from $59.95. Groupon is also offering the Jawbone Jambox Wireless Bluetooth Speaker for $89.99, down from $150. The LifeProof frē Case for the iPad mini is available for $32.99, down from $99.
Kensington Personalized iPad Air and iPad mini Cases are available for $14.99 from Groupon, and the Lifeproof Nuud case for the iPhone 5/5s can be purchased for $49 from DailySteals.
MacRumors is an affiliate partner with some of these vendors.
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