DJI’s adding autopilot features to Phantom 3 drones next week
DJI pleased Phantom owners recently when it announced that much-needed autopilot features would be coming to its most popular series of quadcopters, and the Inspire 1. Today, we learn when (September 7th) and how (via a good ole’ firmware update). The new flight features include Waypoints (map out a path in advance, and the quad will follow it), Point of Interest (the quad flies around a set object with the camera remaining fixed on it) and Follow Me (you can guess what that does — only coming to Phantom 3, not Inspire 1). There are also two features specific for the Phantom 3 Standard which make it easier to fly the quadcopter back to you should you lose your orientation — these are already available on DJI’s other craft. Finally, Phantom 3 Advance owners get a nice bonus, with the addition of a 2.7K (2704×1520) camera recording option — a solid bump up from 1080p.
Filed under:
Misc
Tags: autopilot, dji, drone, followme, inspire1, phantom3, quadcopter, waypoint
Snapdragon 820 processor has 2x performance and 2x power efficiency
Qualcomm announced today that their newest processor the Snapdragon 820 would feature their newest CPU Kryo. Kryo is Qualcomm’s first custom designed 64-bit quad-core CPU (Central Processing Unit). The 820 will combine the new powerful Kryo CPU and tightly integrate it with the Adreno 530 GPU (Graphics Processing Unit) and the Hexagon 680 DSP (Digital Signal Processor)
The Snapdragon 820 optimizes the different cores through a process called heterogeneous computing, which combines the different functional cores of the system-on-chip (SoC), like the CPU, GPU and DSP cores, to achieve previously unattainable performance and power savings, rather than using the same core for different tasks.
Another area which allows it to obtain better performance and efficiency is 14nm FinFET technology and it’s designed to reach speeds up to 2.2 GHz.
Along with the new Kryo CPU, Qualcomm is debuting their new Symphony System Manager. Symphony will manage the various cores to maximize efficiency. It will make sure that the right components are powered up and running at the right frequencies for the task that it is handling.
The post Snapdragon 820 processor has 2x performance and 2x power efficiency appeared first on AndroidGuys.
Bluetooth substitute can send data through your body
The king of close range communications between mobile devices continues to be Bluetooth. This technology has served us very well – its energy efficiency is hard to eclipse, and it can cover pretty good distances. UCSD (University of California San Diego) researchers have found a solution that may be better for some implementations, though.
So far it’s only a proof of concept, but this wireless transmission system could change the way we use accessories that are within immediate contact to our bodies. The engineering team discovered a way to transmit signals through a human’s natural magnetic field. To make matters even more interesting, this technology could prove to be more secure and energy efficient than today’s Bluetooth systems.
Bluetooth happens to be a great solution, but it still holds true that it is only optimal when there is a clean space between connected devices. Put something in between them and the handsets will have a harder time keeping communications, hence sacrificing battery life. It’s worth mentioning one of these obstacles could be the human body; why not take advantage of our mass, instead?
This technology is reported to work similarly to MRI scans, but with a much lower use of energy. Does it work? According to the team, path loss (the interference between devices) is about 10 million times better than with Bluetooth. This means connected devices would be able to avoid working as hard, allowing them to save more battery life.
“A problem with wearable devices like smart watches is that they have short operating times because they are limited to using small batteries. With this magnetic field human body communication system, we hope to significantly reduce power consumption as well as how frequently users need to recharge their devices.” -Jiwoong Park, UCSD Ph.D student and lead author
It may not be good for wireless speakers and other similar Bluetooth devices that require longer distances between products. I do see it possibly coming to smart watches, head phones and other wearables, though. The team also reassures that this is actually more secure, as possible attackers would need to get awfully close to you in order to tap into your connection.
Just keep in mind this is wireless transmission system is still in its infancy. It will be a while before we see it being used. That is, if the industry even decides to adopt this technology and make it a standard. Now, that is that complicated part of the equation!
Check out the first Moto 360 (2015) ad here!
Following the Moto 360’s (2015) unveiling earlier today, Motorola has just released its first promotional advertisement for the brand new smartwatch. In the minute-long clip, the Lenovo-owned company shows off the beautiful wrist adornment from all angles and demonstrates its notification and fitness tracking functionality.
Check it out after the break.
Click here to view the embedded video.
If you like the look of the Moto 360 (2015) and would like to pre-order either a 42mm or 46mm variant — hit the source link below.
Come comment on this article: Check out the first Moto 360 (2015) ad here!
You can now pick up a Galaxy Tab S2 9.7 from Sprint for $648
We previously reported that the Galaxy Tab S2 9.7 would be heading to Sprint this month and now the slate is available to purchase from the carrier. The device is up for grabs in either Black or White colorways and has a price tag of $648 off-contract or for 24 equal monthly payments of $27 on the operator’s Easy Pay Plan.
In terms of specifications, the Galaxy Tab S2 features a 9.7-inch QXGA Super AMOLED display, a 64-bit Exynos 5433 octa-core processor with four cores running at 1.9GHz and the other four at 1.3GHz, 3GB of LPDDR3 RAM, 32GB internal storage (expandable up to 128GB via microSD), an 8MP rear-facing camera and a 5,870mAh battery.
The slate runs the latest build of Android 5.1 Lollipop straight out of the box, skinned with Samsung’s TouchWiz custom user interface. It also comes pre-loaded with the South Korean company’s Galaxy Gifts application, which provides customers with exclusive access to a plethora of premium applications and services, including three months of Evernote Premium, 6 free months of Endomondo Premium and much, much more.
If you like the sound of the Galaxy Tab S2 9.7 and would like to pick one up from Sprint — hit the source link below.
Source: Sprint
Come comment on this article: You can now pick up a Galaxy Tab S2 9.7 from Sprint for $648
Better late than never: Alto’s Adventure is coming to Android and Kindle Fire
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By now, it should be no longer surprising when games are released on iOS before they come to Android. That’s exactly the case with Alto’s Adventure, which came out in February on iOS and has since sauntered along towards and Android release. Well, thanks to Noodlecake Studios, Alto’s Adventure is coming to Android and Kindle Fire, though an exact date for the escapade has yet to be defined.
According to the reviews, Alto’s Adventure is quite a tranquil, unique title in its depiction of snowboarding, which is something we’d love to see on Android. Of course, we’ll be seeing it soon enough – all we need to do is wait, as usual.
Are you excited for Alto’s Adventure on Android and Kindle Fire? Let us know your thoughts in the comments below.
Source: Noodlecake via engadget
The post Better late than never: Alto’s Adventure is coming to Android and Kindle Fire appeared first on AndroidSPIN.
Qualcomm introducing Kryo CPU with the Snapdragon 820 – 2x performance and power efficiency
Qualcomm likes to tease us with periodic updates on its upcoming processors. This is why they usually don’t have a solid announcement for their chipsets; they just tell us the new SoC is on its way and then give us all the details as we approach the release date. Today we get an idea of how powerful the upcoming Snapdragon 820 processor will be, thanks to new details on the all-new Kryo CPU.
Kryo is the company’s first custom 64-bit quad-core CPU. It will be tightly integrated with the Adreno 530 GPU and Hexagon 680 DSP, which we have recently learnt more about. It’s important to note the Kryo chip is made on the 14 nm FinFET technology and can achieve clock speeds of up to 2.2 GHz.
But what does all this tech talk even mean? Well, this processor is optimized for heterogeneous computing and will be tightly integrated with other parts of the system. Ultimately, this makes for a significant bump in performance and power efficiency. In fact, Qualcomm claims Snapdragon 820 performance will double when compared to the Snapdragon 810, at least in those two specific fields.
Qualcomm then goes on to introduce their new Symphony System Manager. What this does is organize tasks and assign them to either the CPU, GPU or the DSP. It can determine which component should perform any function better and more efficiently. This will help the Snapdragon 820 chipset reach performance levels and power efficiency at much higher levels.
I can’t wait to test a Snapdragon 820 device! It will still be a while before we see one, though. Let’s sit tight and keep waiting for more details to come from Qualcomm!
Sony settles with employees affected by massive data breach
Sony Entertainment has reached a deal with its employees affected by the security breach that rocked its world in 2014. If you recall, that incident led to several waves of data leaks, including unreleased movies and juicy emails between its execs. Turns out the hackers also snatched present and previous employees’ information in the process, because some of the affected individuals reported seeing their info for sale on the internet. Others claimed that someone tried to use their credit cards to make purchases — in short, the data breach made them easy targets to identity thieves and credit card fraudsters.
A number of people brought their complaints to court, and since there were quite a few of them, their attorneys proposed filing a class action lawsuit against the company. Sony attempted to block the lawsuit by claiming that none of the complainants suffered financial loss. Since the judge denied the request for dismissal, the company probably decided that settling the issue out of court would be the better option. It might take a while before we hear the settlement details, however, since both parties still need to prepare and submit documents for approval.
It’s still unclear who’s exactly responsible for the attack, but investigators suspect North Korea, as the hackers specifically demanded Sony to cancel The Interview’s showing, among other reasons. That’s the same Seth Rogen and James Franco starrer about a plot to assassinate North Korean leader Kim Jong-un.
[Image credit: AFP/Getty Images]
Source:
Bloomberg, Variety, The Hollywood Reporter
Tags: databreach, hack, law, lawsuit, sony, sonyentertainment
IFTTT updates its Do Button application with support for Android Wear
IFTTT has now updated its extremely-popular Do Button application in the Play Store. In terms of added functionality, this upgrade transports compatibility for Android Wear which enables users to control tasks from their list, as well as the standard multitude of bug fixes and stability improvements.
The full changelog can be seen below:
- Introducing DO Button for Android Wear
- Designed for simplicity and ease of use, DO for Android Wear places the control of hundreds of apps right on your wrist.
- New Channels include: Adafruit, Amazon Cloud Drive, Camio, dondeEsta Family, iSecurity+, Wattio, Wolfram Data Drop
- A few wrinkles were ironed out
To install the update on your smartphone, simply open up the Play Store, toggle the hamburger menu by swiping in from the left-hand side of the screen, select ‘My Apps’ and click on ‘Do Button’. Then all that’s left for you to do is hit the update button.
Come comment on this article: IFTTT updates its Do Button application with support for Android Wear
Deal: Amazon Fire Phone only $125 from eBay, includes warranty and 1 year of Prime
Looking for a good deal on a smartphone? Nevermind that the Amazon Fire Phone is already an affordable alternative, we have seen this handset drop to prices as low as $159 lately. Today we have an even better deal for you. You can get yourself a new Fire Phone for only $125. If that wasn’t enough, customers also get a whole year of Prime membership and a full manufacturer warranty.
The phone can be purchased straight from eBay, but try to act quickly. The sale may be ending in 27 more days, but there are limited quantities and over 92% of all available units have been sold. You will be out of luck if their inventory empties out!
Just in case you have forgotten all about the Amazon Fire Phone, the handset comes with a 4.7-inch 720p screen, a 2.2 GHz Snapdragon 800 processor, 2 GB of RAM, 32 GB of internal storage, a 13 MP rear camera, a 2.1 MP front shooter and a 2400 mAh battery.
It certainly wasn’t a bad phone, but its operating system made it a bit limited, not to mention the fact that it was an AT&T-exclusive and there were definitely better options out there. Even Amazon admitted that pricing was their biggest mistake and later reduced the tag to $200. Now, at $125 and with Prime included, the Fire Phone sounds like a much better offer.
Who is signing up for one of these? I mean, you are pretty much getting a phone for $26, as Prime memberships cost $99 a year. I say that is definitely a steal!
Buy the Amazon Fire Phone for only $125!
AIVAnet 