Light-based data transmission can replace wires in hospitals
It’s not unusual to see patients in hospitals with wires sticking out of their bodies — it’s just something you expect, especially in ICUs. A group of South Korean researchers, however, believe there’s a better alternative: lights. The team from Pukyong National University in Busan is suggesting the use of visible light-based communications or LiFi for some machines, according to IEEE. For instance, it could be used to transmit signals from an EEG, so a patient’s head doesn’t have to be tethered to an obscene number of wires.
During their tests, they found that EEG signals are weak and tend to be distorted when transmitted through red, green and blue LEDs. But, they managed to amplify them and to counter the distortion using color filters. Another team from Pukyong already managed to demonstrate ECG signal transmission through LiFi, upping the count of hospital machines that could get rid of wires to two. This particular group led by Yeon Ho Chung also wants to use LiFi for electrooculography, though, which measures the movement of one’s eye. If successful, LiFi could be used to transmit signals when controlling computers through eye movements — something that could be invaluable for quadriplegics.
[Image credit: springm / Markus Spring/Flickr]
Filed under:
Science
Via:
IEEE Spectrum
Source:
IEEE Explore
Tags: hospital, li-fi, medicine
Smartisan U1 announced: modest specs and hip design for only $140
Chinese startup Smartisan (featured as one of our top up-and-coming Chinese brands) has been a bit quiet since last year, when they launched their very first handset – the T1. The phone was great. Its design was hard to beat and internals were comparable to those of the big guys. Fast forward over a year and the small company has once again come out of its hiding spot, this time showcasing an enticing new smartphone.
Unlike the Smartisan T1, this new handset is meant for the masses. The new Smartisan U1 is only 899 yuan ($140 USD)! And you are not getting crumbs for this little money either, which is usually the case with most super affordable smartphones.
This device sports a respectable 5.5-inch 1080p display, a Snapdragon 615 processor, 2 GB of RAM, 16-32 GB of internal storage, dual SIM slots, a 13 MP rear camera, a 5 MP front-facing shooter and a 2900 mAh battery.
The phone is also quite the looker. Yes, it’s mostly made of cheap materials like plastic, but the U1 doesn’t look ugly or flimsy. In fact, its bright colors and clean design may appeal to a younger demographic, which is likely the market Smartisan is targeting with this new phone.
The OS is quite different from what most of us are used to. These phones run Smartisan OS, which is pretty much another Android ROM. The interface is super simple, but in its own manner; It looks nothing like vanilla Android. Everything is in the form of tiles. There’s no app drawer, but you can zoom out to see multiple home pages at once, keeping all your apps within reach. I believe it’s a fun UI, and it should get better with the 2.0 update set to launch on September 15th.
Pricing will start at 899 yuan, as stated above, but those who want to upgrade to the 32 GB version will have to pay 999 yuan (about $156 USD). The Smartisan U1 launches on September 1st, but only in China. We have no details on when (or if) the phone is coming to other markets. We sure hope it does! I would definitely recommend this one to casual users. The Snapdragon 615 is a pretty good mid-range processor, and the other specs are more than decent for the price point!
Would you buy a Smartisan U1 if it came to your market and you were looking for an affordable handset?
Samsung has a solution for the S-Pen issues: read the manual
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Yesterday, we covered the story of how some users were finding that their Samsung Galaxy Note 5 S-Pen functionality could be irreversibly broken if it were to be inserted backwards into the device. While the chance of this occurring is low and it seemed almost ludicrous to be concerned about this happening, Samsung has a solution for the S-Pen issues and it’s as simple as they come: read the manual.
“We highly recommend our Galaxy Note 5 users follow the instructions in the user guide to ensure they do not experience such an unexpected scenario caused by reinserting the S-Pen in the other way around.”
This will likely be Samsung’s get-out-of-jail card if any users try to get a refund for their now defective Note 5, however I’m sure many people would have a bone to pick if this happens. Personally, I’m surprised that this happened at all – this isn’t Samsung’s first Galaxy Note device and changing what is arguably its defining feature should have gotten more attention than just just putting a note in the manual. Vijay Michalik, analyst of Frost & Sullivan words it even more strongly:
“It seems like the sort of thing that shouldn’t be overlooked… If they lose their brand equity by pushing out these sub-standard handsets then that could be disastrous for them.”
What do you think about Samsung’s response?
The post Samsung has a solution for the S-Pen issues: read the manual appeared first on AndroidSPIN.
Microsoft curbs sign-ups for Xbox One previews
Xbox Preview Programs have long been popular. They’re easy ways to get sneak peeks at features that won’t reach the masses for weeks, if not longer. Unfortunately, though, they’re now proving to be too popular — Microsoft is warning that it’s “slowing” the number of people it lets into the Xbox One Preview Program now that it’s “near-capacity.” The tech giant needs to “optimize” its pre-release user base for testing, according to a forum note. The timing of this move isn’t all that surprising, mind you. This year represents the first time that Microsoft will overhaul the Xbox One interface, rolling in big features like backwards compatibility and the Cortana voice assistant. It’s only logical that gamers would want an early look at these upgrades, especially when this portal could stick around for a good, long while.
Filed under:
Gaming, Microsoft
Source:
CNET
Tags: gaming, microsoft, preview, previewprogram, videogames, xbox, xboxone
Intel chips to help pinpoint cause of bee colonies’ deaths
Researchers from Australia’s Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organisation (CSIRO) want to pinpoint the factors that lead to the mass death of honey bees everywhere, in what’s being called as colony collapse disorder. In order to do so, it teamed up with Intel earlier this year to outfit healthy bees with a “backpack” that’s a third of their weight. That backpack is actually Intel’s Edison wearables computing platform, comprised of an Atom processor, 1GB of memory, 5GB of storage, dual-band wireless WiFi, Bluetooth and a battery that can generate energy using vibration. They’ve already managed to attach chips to 10,000 bees in Tasmania, and the research is now ongoing.
CSIRO’s Professor Paulo de Souza compares the bee backpack to an airplane’s “black box flight recorder.” He says the system can help them monitor and analyze “the effects of stress factors including disease, pesticides, air pollution, water contamination, diet and extreme weather on the movements of bees and their ability to pollinate.” Since bees are pretty predictable, a device that can track their movements could lead researchers to identify what stressor makes them act weirdly and ultimately cause their death.
Wild bee colonies around the world are dying at an alarming rate. Since they’re responsible for pollinating around 33 percent of our food sources, vegetable and fruit prices could go through the roof without their help. Australia’s the ideal place to look at CCD more closely, since the country’s bees aren’t affected by a parasite called the Varroa mite yet, which has already killed numerous colonies elsewhere. While Australia’s population will serve as a good control due to the absence of Varroa mites, researchers from Brazil, Mexico, New Zealand and the UK have joined CSIRO’s Global Initiative for Honey bee Health in the past few months. The scientists plan to release their findings sometime next year and will share it with the global scientific community, because honey bee deaths affect everyone on Earth.
Filed under:
Science
Via:
BBC
Source:
CSIRO
Tags: bees, honeybees, research
Link Bubble Browser takes their premium features and makes them free
Only earlier this month did we see Link Bubble Browser add some new features and sell to an unnamed buyer. Today we see that the once premium app will now be free for everyone.
There was always a free version, but now it will include the premium features. The premium features that are now free are things like:
- An infinite number of bubbles (tabs)
- Themes base on website color
- Article mode
- Article mode for Android wear
Those of you who already purchased the premium version are probably pretty mad that it is now free. However, no need to be angry because anyone who bought the premium version after August 4th, 2015, will receive a full refund. Just email support@linkbubble.com with your transaction ID.
Source: Brian Bondy
Come comment on this article: Link Bubble Browser takes their premium features and makes them free
Etsy updates their mobile app to show you local content
Although everyone mainly knows Etsy as an online platform, they are also a network of offline communities. Their “shop local” feature let’s you find products or craftsmen close by.
The problem is that feature is only available on the desktop. Yes, I know that seemed weird and so did Etsy, which is why they have added Etsy Local to their iOS and Android app. Users will now be able to find local items or sellers near them.
The app will also make automatic recommendations for retailers and items near you that you might want to check out. It does this all based on your previous history, things like what shops and items liked when using the site. Also, if you will be traveling soon and want to see local sellers in other locations, just switch to the map to see other areas.
Source: Etsy
Come comment on this article: Etsy updates their mobile app to show you local content
Verizon makes it easier to bring (some) phones to its network
As a CDMA-based carrier (until LTE takes over), Verizon isn’t nearly as friendly to the bring-your-own-phone trend as the likes of AT&T or T-Mobile. You can’t usually swap SIM cards and expect your unlocked phone to work. Thankfully, the carrier recently made the process a whole lot easier… provided you have the right device, that is. It’ll now activate compatible, unlocked versions of the iPhone 6 and Nexus 6. So long as you can find your device’s ID and pick up a Verizon SIM, you can jump over to Big Red without having to ditch your existing hardware. You’ll likely be stuck if you own another device, but that’s more due to technology (few unlocked phones have full Verizon CDMA and LTE support at present) than anything else.
Of course, Verizon isn’t opening up strictly out of kindness. Allowing outside phones helps Verizon honor the voluntary code of conduct for American carriers, which is meant to simplify jumping between providers and stay on the government’s good side. Also, this is simply wise from a business perspective. Few people relish the thought of buying a brand new phone (or waiting for a promotional credit) to switch networks — eliminating that hurdle potentially gets more customers, whether they’re unhappy with their old service or wary of owning a carrier-locked handset.
Photo by Will Lipman.
Filed under:
Cellphones, Wireless, Mobile, Apple, Google, Verizon
Via:
9to5Mac
Source:
Verizon
Tags: apple, byop, google, iphone6, mobilepostcross, nexus6, smartphone, unlocked, verizon, wireless
VMware Fusion is ready to put Windows 10 on your Mac
Parallels may have been the first to bring Windows 10 virtualization to the Mac, but its rival VMware isn’t far behind. Its newly released VMware Fusion 8 has full support for Microsoft’s latest platform, including Cortana — you can ask it questions whenever the virtual machine is open, even if it’s in the background. Graphics also get a big helping hand this year, with faster overall performance, support for DirectX 10-only software (read: some games) and compatibility with super high-resolution 5K iMacs.
Whether or not you’ll want to pick VMware’s offering over Parallels will likely depend on how you like the finer points of their interfaces, such as their attempts to blend Windows into OS X (such as Fusion’s Unity mode). The regular edition of Fusion 8 is even priced similarly, at $80 for a fresh copy or $50 if you’re upgrading from version 6 or 7. Developers and other high-end users can shell out $200 to get Fusion 8 Pro. If you do choose VMware, though, be prepared for a hiccup — Ars Technica notes that the initial release has a bug that sometimes deprives you of the Start screen with Unity mode turned on. The flaw should be fixed soon, though, so don’t let that deter you if you prefer VMware’s approach.
Filed under:
Software
Via:
Ars Technica
Source:
VMware Fusion Blog
Tags: mac, osx, software, virtualization, virtualmachine, vmware, vmwarefusion, vmwarefusion8, windows, windows10
Motorola, LG, ASUS and Huawei reportedly introducing new Android Wear watches at IFA
It has been a bit quiet around the Android Wear realm. Is Apple stealing all the thunder? The Cupertino giant did sell more smart watches in a day than the Android Wear manufacturers shipped in 2014, collectively. In fact, Strategy Analytics’ studies suggest about 75% of all Q2, 2015 smart watches came from the iPhone maker. The Apple Watch is a force to be reckoned with, and the silence among Android Wear manufacturers may simply signify they’re getting ready for a battle to come.
According to sources familiar with upcoming Android Wear launches, multiple companies are planning to take the stage and introduce their new Android-based wearables at IFA 2015. next week. These sources couldn’t tell us much about the upcoming products, but they did give us a few hints on the general plans.
Motorola is said to launch a successor to the Moto 360, which managed to be among the most popular devices during the first Android Wear wave, thanks to its circular screen and enticing design. Meanwhile, LG is said to be planning a device similar to the LG Watch Urbane LTE. And don’t worry, it seems this time around LG is opting to use Android Wear instead of WebOS.
We have already seen the upcoming Huawei and ASUS Android Wear products, so all we can hope for is to see more details in Berlin. The Huawei Watch (yes, that’s the name) is meant to be a “timeless” piece of technology with a classic design. It’s actually quite gorgeous, but some of you will prefer the ASUS ZenWatch 2, which was unveiled at Computex last June.
Will these new Android Wear devices be able to compete against Apple’s mighty watch? Most of us will side with Google’s partners, but the truth is it’s very hard to go against the Apple Watch – those guys have the numbers! And with Samsung possibly getting rid of Google’s software on the Gear S2 in exchange of their own Tizen platform, things are looking pretty tough.
All we can do is wait and see what happens at IFA. You can be sure we will be there catching all the goodies, so keep it tuned to Android Authority for all your wearable coverage!
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AIVAnet 