SpaceX’s manned Dragon capsule gets its first real test on May 6th

You won’t have to wait much longer to see what SpaceX’s manned Dragon capsule is like in action. SpaceX now expects to conduct its promised Crew Dragon launch pad abort test (the craft’s first major test) on May 6th, with things kicking off as early as 7AM Eastern. The point of the system i to make sure the crew and spacecraft have a way to escape if there’s a problem with the rocket, and according to SpaceX, is an option from launch all the way up to orbit. This might be as dramatic as some of the company’s other tests, but it will give you a sense of what would happen if the vehicle had to abandon its host rocket in a hurry. One thing’s for sure: with NASA streaming the whole thing live, it won’t take long to find out whether or not SpaceX’s orbital courier is on the right track.

Filed under: Transportation, Science

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Via: Phys.org

Source: NASA, SpaceX

Nikola Labs’ case uses stray radio waves to charge your iPhone

To hear Nikola Labs co-founder Dr. Rob Lee tell the tale, some 97 percent of the energy a smartphone expends to forge data and voice connections using radio frequencies is lost to the ether. Rather than let it all go to waste, this Ohio-based startup claims to have cooked up a way to harness that power and redirect it using a a humble-looking, $99 iPhone case. Unlike more involved solutions like the ultrasound power transmission system that uBeam has raised over $13 million to help build, there aren’t any transmitters you need to stand in range of. The end result? A case that silently, slowly captures your iPhone’s wasted power and uses it for recharging.

Hold on, we’re right there with you — this all sounds a little magical for our liking too. Let’s take a moment to reset some expectations. It’s not like slapping this case on your phone will bring it from bone dry to fully charged. The harvesting antenna and DC power-converting rectifier circuit that make up Nikola Labs’ secret sauce can only extend an iPhone’s battery life by about thirty percent… and it does so sloooooowly. On the plus side, it’s a passive process that’ll continue as long the case is connected to the phone, so you’d theoretically see slower battery depletion over time instead of a sudden burst of charging activity. The lack of an internal battery or capacitors to store some of the energy being recaptured by the rest of the case also means we’re looking at a total package that looks and feels significantly smaller than a normal, Mophie’d iPhone.

Dr. Lee’s reputation as the former chair of Ohio State’s Electrical and Computer Engineering gives this seemingly kooky outfit some much-needed credibility. The technology comes straight from the depths of Ohio State’s engineering department, for that matter, and Nikola Labs has an exclusive license from the university to turn it into an actual, money-making product. A demo version of the case splayed open and connected to a live voltmeter caused power fluctuations when placed near an old Linksys WiFi router here at TechCrunch Disrupt. We can’t say with absolute certainty that this isn’t all some terribly elaborate troll, but from what we’ve seen, the chances of this being some modern day, technological snake-oil are pretty low. In any case, we’ll find out for sure before long — the startup is gearing up for a Kickstarter launch next month and promised us a much closer look at the hardware that could make this improbably wonderful phone accessory a serious must-have.

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Optimize your lockscreen with Cover (Monday Makeover)

T

here is a plethora of apps out there that allow you to customize just about every single thing on your android smartphone without even rooting. That is why we have started the weekly series “Monday Makeover.” Each week we will take one of these customization apps and talk about setting it up, discuss the features of it, and show you how you can make your android device truly one of a kind. Last week we talked about Dashclock Widget. This week we are taking a look at Cover.

What is Cover?

Cover is a lock screen replacement that attempts to learn which apps you use where. It has different settings for when you are at home, at work, in the car, and just out. After using Cover for a few days, it figures out which apps you use most often and displays them on the left of the homescreen for quick and easy access. There is also an app switcher included in Cover that is accessible while your phone is unlocked by swiping down from the top right. The apps available in the app switcher also change based on your location.

Why should I use Cover?

If you are tired of having a normal lock screen and want to change things up, Cover will give you a different look while also adding some functionality. Also, if you find yourself constantly opening the same apps, Cover can help you get to those apps even faster. Many people do not think about their lock screen, but it is something that they look at daily and Cover changes their lockscreen into something useable.

How do I use Cover?

One of the great things about Cover is that is basically sets itself up. After installing, it will give you a little walkthrough of how everything works, and it will ask you for the address of your home and work. You do not have to fill these out, but you will not get app recommendations when you arrive at the places. Other than that and signing in with an email, you are done and will be taken to your new lock screen. As you go through your daily routine, you will find that the apps on the left will change to reflect the apps you use the most. You can also swipe up on Cover to reveal more apps. Holding a certain app and swiping right will open that app immediately, allowing you to get into certain apps quickly. If you want, you can simply leave Cover like this and not mess with anything, but if you are feeling daring, you can follow us into the customization settings of Cover.

At the top right of your lock screen, there is a drop-down menu that lists your different locations (Home, Work, Car, Out), but there are two other options for Wallpapers and Settings. Wallpapers let you change what photos are displayed on your lockscreen. The wallpaper changes depending on where you are and the time of day, and you can have up to five different wallpapers. You can choose between wallpapers that come with Cover, or you can choose your own photo by selecting “Custom.”

“Settings” lets you dive further into Cover and change a few things around. Here, you will find where to enable or disable Cover as your lock screen. You can also edit you home and work addresses as well as some extra features. For Home and Work, you can associate a certain WiFi network with each location so that Cover can do a better job telling when you are at those places. For Car mode, you can change how it is detected plus your ringer preference. For all four modes, you can also change your ringer preference to settings like ringer on, vibrate, silent, etc. “Preferences” brings up a few more options that may be useful. You can choose what side the app switching tray is on or disable it altogether. You can also restrict certain apps from showing up on Cover. Music controls can be configured in this menu, but they require Android 4.4 KitKat. I have a Nexus 6 running 5.1 Lollipop, and do not have the option for music controls, so this may be a bug.

Where do I get Cover?

Cover is available for free in the Google Play Store. It is still in beta so there will be some bugs, but it is definitely an app to look into downloading.

Cover is a fantastic app that adds some great functionality to your lock screen. One drawback to Cover is that it disables any sort of lock you have on your device (pattern, PIN, password, etc.) which may be a drawback to some users. However, if you are looking to change up your lock screen and gain some features, you should put Cover at the top of your list. Are you going to use Cover or have used it in the past, tell us what you think about it in the comments. While you are down there, leave some suggestions for apps you would like to see featured on future Monday Makeovers. Have a great week!

The post Optimize your lockscreen with Cover (Monday Makeover) appeared first on AndroidGuys.

What’s on your HDTV: ‘Project Cars’, ‘Grace and Frankie’

The NBA and NHL playoffs have moved on to round two, and Formula E is racing in Monaco. Of course, if you prefer virtual racing, this week PC gamers will finally get to experience the release of Project Cars (consoles wait until next week). Netflix debuts its new series Grace and Frankie that reunites stars Lily Tomlin and Jane Fonda, as HBO premieres a new Kurt Cobain documentary tonight. On Blu-ray, the acclaimed movie Selma is joined by several old-but-goodies, with new editions of Mad Max, Duel, Ladyhawke, Goodfellas and The Terminator. Look after the break to check out each day’s highlights, including trailers and let us know what you think (or what we missed).

Blu-ray & Games

• Selma
• Mad Max (Collector’s Edition)
• Goodfellas
• The Terminator
• Ladyhawke
• Munich
• Duel
• Wolfenstein: The Old Blood (PS4, Xbox One, PC)
• Ether One (PS4)
• Project Cars (PC)
• High Strangeness (PC, Wii U)

Monday

• NBA Playoffs: Cavaliers/Bulls Game 1, TNT, 7PM
• NHL Playoffs: Rangers/Senators Game 3, NBC Sports Network, 7:30PM
• The Voice, NBC, 8PM
• 2 Broke Girls, CBS, 8PM
• The Originals, CW, 8PM
• Gotham (season finale), Fox, 8PM
• Dancing with the Stars, ABC, 8PM
• WWE Raw, USA, 8PM
• Mike & Molly, CBS, 8:30PM
• Kurt Cobain: Montage of Heck, HBO, 9PM
• The Following, Fox, 9PM
• Jane the Virgin, CW, 9PM
• Bates Motel, A&E, 9PM
• David Letterman: A Life on Television, CBS, 9:30PM
• NBA Playoffs: Clippers/Rockets Game 1, TNT, 9:30PM
• Turn, AMC, 10PM
• The Night Shift, NBC, 10PM
• Castle, ABC, 10PM
• The Returned, A&E, 10PM
• StarTalk, National Geographic Channel, 11PM

Tuesday

• Community, Yahoo Screen, 3AM
• NBA Playoffs: Wizards/Hawks Game 2, TNT, 8PM
• NHL Playoffs: Blackhawks/Wild Game 2, 8PM
• The Flash, CW, 8PM
• The Voice, NBC, 8PM
• Dancing with the Stars, ABC, 8PM
• Deadliest Catch, Discovery, 9PM
• New Girl (season finale), Fox, 9PM
• Undateable (live), NBC, 9PM
• iZombie, CW, 9PM
• Marvel’s Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D., ABC, 9PM
• NCIS: New Orleans, CBS, 9PM
• NHL Playoffs: Ducks/Flames, USA, 9:30PM
• Weird Loners (season finale), Fox, 9:30PM
• Forever (season finale), ABC, 10PM
• Your Family or Mine, TBS, 10PM
• Chicago Fire, NBC, 10PM
• Tosh.0, Comedy Central, 10PM
• Person of Interest (season finale), CBS, 10PM
• NBA Playoffs: Grizzlies/Warriors, Game 2, TNT, 10:30PM
• Inside Amy Schumer, Comedy Central, 10:30PM

Wednesday

• NBA Playoffs: Bulls/Cavaliers, Game 2, TNT, 7PM
• NHL Playoffs: Canucks/Lightning, USA, 7PM
• Survivor, CBS, 8PM
• Arrow, CW, 8PM
• American Idol, Fox, 8PM
• The Middle, ABC, 8PM
• Young & Hungry, ABC Family, 8PM
• The Goldbergs, ABC, 8:30PM
• Chicago PD, NBC, 9PM
• Criminal Minds (season finale), CBS, 9PM
• Modern Family, ABC, 9PM
• Supernatural, CW, 9PM
• Jim Rome, Showtime, 9PM
• NBA Playoffs: Clippers/Rockets, TNT, 9:30PM
• Black-ish, ABC, 9:30PM
• CSI: Cyber, CBS, 10PM
• Nashville, ABC, 10PM
• Catfish, MTV, 10PM
• Law & Order: SVU, NBC, 10PM
• Ripper Street, BBC America, 10PM
• Freak Out, ABC Family, 10:30PM
• Big Time in Hollywood, FL, Comedy Central, 10:30PM

Thursday

• Bones, Fox, 8 & 9PM
• Grey’s Anatomy, ABC, 8PM
• The Big Bang Theory (season finale), CBS, 8PM
• The Vampire Diaries, CW, 8PM
• WWE Smackdown, Syfy, 8PM
• The Odd Couple, CBS, 8:30 & 9PM
• The Blacklist, NBC, 9PM
• Scandal, ABC, 9PM
• Reign, CW, 9PM
• NHL Playoffs: Blackhawks/Wild Game 4, NBC Sports Network, 9:30PM
• Elementary, CBS, 10PM
• The Comedians, FX, 10PM
• Dig (season finale), USA, 10PM
• American Crime, ABC, 10PM
• 8 Minutes, A&E, 10PM
• Olympus, Syfy, 10PM
• Louie, FX, 10:30PM
• Major Lazer, FXX, 12AM
• Axe Cop, FXX, 12:15AM

Friday

• Grace and Frankie S1, Netflix, 3AM
• Puss in Boots (5 more episodes), Netflix, 3AM
• NBA Playoffs: Cavaliers/Chicago, ESPN, 8PM
• Grimm, NBC, 8PM
• Cold Justice, TNT, 8PM
• Shark Tank, ABC, 8PM
• Whose Line is it Anyway?, CW, 8:30PM
• The Amazing Race, CBS, 8PM
• Beyond the Tank, ABC, 9PM
• Bitten, Syfy, 9PM
• The Messengers, CW, 9PM
• Hawaii Five-0 (season finale), CBS, 9PM
• Meet the Smiths, TBS, 9PM
• Lost Girl, Syfy, 10PM
• NBA Playoffs: Rockets/Clippers, ESPN, 10:30PM
• Vice, HBO, 11PM
• Comedy Bang! Bang!, IFC, 11PM

Saturday

• Stockholm, Pennsylvania, Lifetime, 8PM
• Outlander, Starz, 9PM
• Orphan Black, BBC America, 9PM
• The Universe, History, 9PM
• Inside Mayweather vs. Pacquiao, Showtime, 10:15PM
• Tatau, BBC America, 10PM
• Saturday Night Live: Reese Witherspoon/Florence + The Machine, NBC, 11:30PM

Sunday

• 60 Minutes, CBS, 7PM
• Once Upon a Time (season finale), ABC, 8PM
• The Simpsons, Fox, 8PM
• Royals/Tigers, ESPN, 8PM
• Brooklyn Nine-nine, Fox, 8:30PM
• Game of Thrones, HBO, 9PM
• Nurse Jackie, Showtime 9PM
• Family Guy, Fox, 9PM
• A.D. The Bible Continues, NBC, 9PM
• Mr. Selfridge, PBS, 9PM
• The Good Wife (season finale), CBS, 9PM
• Bob’s Burgers, Fox, 9:30PM
• Penny Dreadful, Showtime, 10PM
• Silicon Valley, HBO, 10PM
• Naked & Afraid, Discovery, 10PM
• American Odyssey, NBC, 10PM
• Mad Men, AMC, 10PM
• Lizzie Borden Chronicles, Lifetime, 10PM
• Revenge (season finale), ABC, 10PM
• Battle Creek, CBS, 10PM
• Wolf Hall (season finale), PBS, 10PM
• The Royals, E, 10PM
• Salem, WGN, 10PM
• Veep, HBO, 10:30PM
• Last Week Tonight with John Oliver, HBO, 11PM

Filed under: Home Entertainment, HD

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Kraftwerk’s 3D concerts return to North America in September

Good news if you missed out on Kraftwerk’s 3D concerts the last time the band was in North America: you’re about to get a second chance. The electronic music pioneers have announced a slew of American and Canadian dates that will let you see their immersive visual landscapes first-hand. This stint kicks off in Edmonton on September 16th, and reaches the US with a September 19th gig in Portland; you’ll also get to see these 3D performances in cities like Austin, Boston and Miami. The tickets are likely to sell out quickly when they go on sale May 8th, so you’ll want to act quickly if you just have to witness a spectacle like “The Robots” in person.

[Image credit: John MacDougall/AFP/Getty Images]

Filed under: Home Entertainment, HD

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Via: Okayplayer

Source: Kraftwerk (Facebook 1), (2)

The super-secure ‘Case’ will fit bitcoins in your pocket this summer

There’s no such thing as being too crazy about security, especially when it comes to hoarding mountains and mountains of invisible, digital, volatile money. If that description hits just a little too close to home, you might just have a new friend in the $199 Case, a physical Bitcoin wallet the size of a credit card that secures your nebulous funds and lets you sign off on transactions with just a touch of a finger. There’s a good chance you’ve heard the name before — the team behind it, led by Melanie Shapiro –his has been plugging away on the thing for over a year a now, but it’s finally going to ship to Bitcoin magnates this summer.

It’s taken plenty of time to perfect the formula, but they figure that by setting up a trio of security keys that unlock the Case and scattering them to and fro, no one sketchy will be able to dip into your Bitcoin stash. Once it’s been set up, Case generates a key that lives right on the device, and captures a bit of personal data with a built-in fingerprint reader to ferry along to a secure server where another private key lives. If those fingerprints match up, voila: You can send or request Bitcoin in a jiffy. Another key lives solely in cold storage somewhere, and only comes into play in case you lose your Case. Throw in a teensy global SIM card for international use and you’ve got yourself a gadget that just might do the unthinkable: Making handling bitcoins a breeze.

Thing is, the Case still doesn’t seem perfect for everyone. Consider the company’s global ambitions — it wants Case to become the sort of device that becomes an everyday companion as bitcoin grows in clout and legitimacy, but a $200 price tag puts it out of reach of most developing markets. Still, it’s tough not to look at the Case with a little bit of hope. It’s tiny, it’s smart, it’s secure, and above all, it seems like the sort of thing a decently tech-savvy uncle could handle. Maybe, just maybe it’s the right device to make Bitcoin easy at the right time. We’ll find out in just a few months.

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Via: TechCrunch