U.S. Department of Transportation confirms the creation of a registration process for drones
U.S. Transportation Secretary Anthony Foxx announced today the creation of a task force responsible to develop recommendations for the registering process of drones, also known as unmanned aircraft systems (UAS). The registration process will be mandatory for anyone wishing to operate drones or unmanned aircrafts.
Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) Administrator Michael Huerta sees the regulation of drones as a crucial issue to be solved for the safety of us all. He mentioned that the FAA receives complaints concerning the unsafe operation of drones on a daily basis. These complaints include near-misses with manned aircraft and interference with firefighter operations. According to Huerta, the registration process will ensure that drone operators know the rules and their responsibilities when flying unmanned aircrafts.
“Registering unmanned aircraft will help build a culture of accountability and responsibility, especially with new users who have no experience operating in the U.S. aviation system“
The task force will consist of 25 to 30 diverse representatives from unmanned and manned aviation industries, federal government and other stakeholders. The task force will be responsible for generating the recommendations, and outlining which aircraft with low safety risks should be excluded from registration (such as toys and other small UAS). The task force will also explore a way of creating a streamlined registration system that would make the process less of hassle for commercial UAS operators.
Although the recommendations are not finalized yet, the department of transportation expects to deliver them by November 20th.
Source: Engadget
Via: U.S. Department of Transportation
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Kyocera DuraForce XD coming soon: a rugged phablet
Although based in Japan, it’s surprisingly shocking how few mobile offerings from Kyocera are actually released here. In the USA, meanwhile, customers have been getting product potential for ages now, including the interesting Echo from long ago. AT&T has just announced its plans to carry a new 5.7-inch rugged phablet, the Kyocera DuraForce XD.
The phone is the company’s “first rugged 4G LTE-ready big-screen smartphone” and “is ideal for workers who are constantly mobile and need a larger smartphone display that can sustain harsh weather and work environments…It’s tested and approved to support AT&T Mobile Device Management (MDM), Enterprise Data Management (EDM), Workforce Automation (WFA), and Sales Force Automation (SFA) solutions. And it’s Android for Work enabled, so you can customize it to meet most any industry needs.”
The XD supports IP68 certification, which means means the it is both dust and waterproof (up to 30 minutes and 6 feet) and has Military Standard 810G certification for “protection against dust, drops, shock, vibration, temperature extremes, blowing rain, low pressure, high altitude, solar radiation, salt fog, humidity, and water immersion.”
Although rugged, Samsung’s Galaxy S6 Edge Active is decidedly not a phablet, thus a potential win for Kyocera.
It is also “Certified Non-Incendive, Class I, Division 2. With this certification, you can take your DuraForce XD with you to work sites where concentrations of flammable gases, vapors, or mists aren’t normally present in an explosive concentration, but might accidentally exist.”
Push-To-Talk support is included, along with extra-loud dual speakers capable of 110dB at peak volume, and enhanced support for use with both gloves and when the screen is wet.
In terms of core specs, the XD has an impact-resistant, 5.7-inch HD panel and a removable 3700mAh battery as well as “external charging contacts for multi-bay charging.”
Specs beyond those provided above (i.e. SoC, RAM, storage, cameras, Android version) are pending with AT&T indicating that they, along with pricing and availability, will be announced in the next few weeks.
While the DuraForce XD may not appeal to mainstream consumers, it is likely to catch the attention of those who work in more rugged environments. The large screen in particular will no doubt be a welcomed presence, especially amid the smaller display sized used in possible rivals such as the Samsung Galaxy S6 Active.
We will update this piece in time, as more specs and details are provided.
New HP Chromebook 14: cheaper, better battery life and different processor
Chrome OS is known for its light software, snappy performance and simplicity, but we can probably thank the platform’s affordable prices for most of its success. Gone are the days when you had to spend hundreds of dollars just to get a half decent computer. There’s plenty of accessible Chromebooks around, and HP is adding a new one to the list today.
Well, they aren’t exactly making a brand new one; it’s more of a refreshed version of last year’s HP Chromebook 14. But there are enough changes in the new model to make this a newsworthy event.
The refreshed HP Chromebook 14 is improved in a few key ways. Let’s start with the best news: it’s much cheaper at only $249.99 (to start). The base version features a 14-inch 1366×768 display, but you can upgrade to a 1080p screen by paying $30 more (not sure if the higher resolution will affect battery life much).
HP is promising 9 hours and 15 minutes of battery life. This is definitely an improvement on the last generation Chromebook, which could go for about 8 hours. Also an important change is the switch to an Intel Celeron N2840 processor, instead of last gen’s NVIDIA K1 SoC. Other specs include the usual 2 GB of RAM, 16 GB of internal storage, USB 3.0, USB 2.0, HDMI, microSD support and more.
And of course, you get your freebies, which encompass 12 free Gogo in-flight internet passes, 3 free Google Play movie rentals and 90 days of free Google Play Music (assuming you haven’t used your free trial yet).
Interested? Look forward to seeing the new HP Chromebook 14 in store shelves by November 8th, while the $279 iteration is set to hit the USA later this month. We will have to wait and see how well the new processor and improved battery do, but so far this is certainly looking like a good option for those in need of a Chromebook, and the reduced price sure is nice. Are any of you getting one?
Chrome OS videos
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Apple Music has 15 million users, but free trials count for over half
After informing the audience at WSJ Live that the Apple TV arrives next week, Tim Cook went on to talk / praise Apple Music, which now has 15 million listeners. The generous free three-month trial still encompasses the majority of these, with 8.5 million people still feeling the service out. However, that means around 6.5 million iPhone, iPad and Mac owners that are paying the monthly subscription fee. Or forgot to cancel it.
Tim Cook mentioning Apple Music subscription numbers reminds me I need to cancel the subscription I’ve never, ever used.
— Richard Lawler (@rjcc) October 20, 2015
Tim Cook Talks Apple Watch, iPhone 6s, Apple TV, Cars, Privacy, and More at WSJDLive
Apple CEO Tim Cook is on stage for the opening night of the WSJDLive conference in Palm Springs, California, with Wall Street Journal editor Gerry Baker interviewing Cook about a variety of topics. Live coverage of the interview is being offered by publications including WSJ.D and The Verge, and we’ll be updating this post with highlights from the session.
Photo via The Verge
– On whether Apple wants to control every facet of our lives: Apple does very few products, and puts a lot of care into them, but Apple does want you to have a seamless experience throughout your home and work life.
– Citing competitive reasons, Cook once again declines to share Apple Watch sales numbers. “We shipped a lot the first quarter, then last quarter we shipped even more. And I can predict this quarter we will ship even more.” Addressing Baker’s skepticism about the device, Cook refers to customer satisfaction being “off the charts.”
– Talking now about iPhone 6s and the iPhone Upgrade Program, Cook insists it’s not meant to compete with carriers. It’s simply a plan for people who want to get a new iPhone every year. Addressing the need to keep innovating on iPhone and whether Apple is on a two-year cycle as it appears to many people, Cook stresses all of the new features included on the iPhone 6s.
– Cook says Apple Music has 6.5 million paying customers and 8.5 million more still on free trials. Cook stresses the human curation aspect of Apple Music and notes the company feels “fantastic” about customer uptake so far.
– Regarding Apple TV, Cook sees it as a “foundation” for a new type of experience as Apple tries to fix the “broken” experience of watching television. With Apple TV, providers like HBO can sell directly to consumers. The current system of “linear TV” with channels needs to be “brought up and modernized” and apps will help do that.
– Apple TV orders will kick off on Monday, October 26 with shipments beginning by the end of that week.
– Baker asks about Apple’s car project, but Cook hesitates to say much. He does admit that software becomes increasingly important, and that enables other shifts like electrification and autonomous control. But in the short term, Apple wants people to have the iPhone experience in the car. “We’ll see what we do in the future.”
– On the retail front, Cook notes Apple will have 40 stores in China by the end of next year, and China currently provided in the “mid-20s” percentage of Apple’s revenue. Angela Ahrendts has also been focused on integrating online and in-store shopping experiences.
– Cook and Baker talking about user privacy, with Cook giving his usual comments about how privacy is a key value for Apple but that the company believes it can still provide an excellent customer experience and services while maintaining that privacy. In response to a question about Apple’s relationship to national security organizations, Cook says he is “very” comfortable with it and he shares the company’s views that any software backdoors are unacceptable and encryption is a necessity. A rather tense debate about the tradeoff between privacy and national security ensues.
– Final question of the interview is about Apple increasing its willingness to speak out on issues and take leadership roles, and Cook notes Apple has a “responsibility to be a great global citizen.” Cook points to the environment, human rights, and education as areas where it can lead. Cook says Apple has stepped up its efforts to “leave the world better than we found it” because “government isn’t working well.” Cook says Apple isn’t worried about alienating customers with its stances, noting the company isn’t forcing its views on anyone, and he hopes people who may be upset with Apple’s positions in these areas can still think Apple makes great products and respect Apple for making efforts to put its values into practice.
Tim Cook Says New Apple TV Will Ship ‘Next Week’, Orders Begin Monday
While speaking at tonight’s WSJDLive conference, Apple CEO Tim Cook revealed that the new Apple TV will begin shipping next week. Orders will begin taking orders for the new set-top box on Monday, October 26 with shipments beginning at the end of the week.
The new Apple TV, which Cook also said is the “foundation” for a new type of TV experience, features an A8 processor and either 32 or 64 GB of storage. It also has support for a full App Store, which Apple says will help “modernize” the “linear TV” experience that most consumers are familiar with. The new Apple TV also comes with the brand new Siri Remote, which allows users to use Siri to easily sort and find their favorite TV shows and movies.
The new fourth-generation Apple TV will be available for $149 with 32 GB of storage and $199 with 64 GB of storage.
Android 6.0 Marshmallow factory images now available for the Nexus 5X
Today, Google posted the Android 6.0 Marshmallow factory images for the Nexus 5X. They are available for download to anyone wishing to flash the images to their Nexus device.
There are three images for the three different builds available; MDA89E, MDA89F and MDB08I. If you wish to install the latest version of Android on your nexus device, here‘s a guide that will guide you through the process of flashing one these images to your device.
You can find the download links in the Google Developers website linked below.
Source: Google Developers (Nexus Files for Developers)
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Here are the requirements for fingerprint sensors in Marshmallow
The new Nexus phones are out and everyone seems to be really liking the fingerprint readers in them. However, fingerprint sensors will soon be coming to many other Android phones, but will people find them just as nice to use?
Luckily for other manufactures, Google has laid out all new fingerprint sensor rules for them to make sure everything works correctly with Marshmallow. All they have to do is read Google’s Marshmallow Compatibility Definition Document (CDD). Google does not force manufactures to use fingerprint sensors on their new devices, but they do strongly encourage it.
7.3.10. Fingerprint Sensor
Device implementations with a secure lock screen SHOULD include a fingerprint sensor. If a device implementation includes a fingerprint sensor and has a corresponding API for third-party developers, it:
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MUST declare support for the android.hardware.fingerprint feature.
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MUST fully implement the corresponding API as described in the Android SDK documentation [Resources, 95].
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MUST have a false acceptance rate not higher than 0.002%.
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Is STRONGLY RECOMMENDED to have a false rejection rate not higher than 10%, and a latency from when the fingerprint sensor is touched until the screen is unlocked below 1 second, for 1 enrolled finger.
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MUST rate limit attempts for at least 30 seconds after 5 false trials for fingerprint verification.
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MUST have a hardware-backed keystore implementation, and perform the fingerprint matching in a Trusted Execution Environment (TEE) or on a chip with a secure channel to the TEE.
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MUST have all identifiable fingerprint data encrypted and cryptographically authenticated such that they cannot be acquired, read or altered outside of the Trusted Execution Environment (TEE) as documented in the implementation guidelines on the Android Open Source Project site [Resources, 96].
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MUST prevent adding a fingerprint without first establishing a chain of trust by having the user confirm existing or add a new device credential (PIN/pattern/password) using the TEE as implemented in the Android Open Source project.
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MUST NOT enable 3rd-party applications to distinguish between individual fingerprints.
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MUST honor the DevicePolicyManager.KEYGUARD_DISABLE_FINGERPRINT flag.
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MUST, when upgraded from a version earlier than Android 6.0, have the fingerprint data securely migrated to meet the above requirements or removed.
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SHOULD use the Android Fingerprint icon provided in the Android Open Source Project.
Of course, the most important part is everything stays secure. There are hardware and software that must be used in order to use Google’s fingerprint sensor system. This also includes older versions of Android that move to Android 6.0 Marshmallow updating their fingerprint data or it will be wiped from the device. Possibly meaning current devices with fingerprint sensors might ask you to set it up again after the update.
Source: Android 6.0 Compatibility Definition Document (PDF)
Via: Android Police
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Tiny pneumatic actuator makes soft robots practical
Soft robots that bend and stretch are cool concepts, but there’s usually a lot of clunky hardware involved to make them work, like air compressors and gas generators. They’re seldom practical in real life. However, Okayama University researchers have developed a tiny pneumatic actuator that should make those squishy automatons viable. The machinery changes pressure by turning water into hydrogen and oxygen (through a catalyst) in a matter of seconds, and reversing that process about as quickly. All it needs to get going is some electricity — it doesn’t require moving parts or vents, and it’s effectively silent.
It’s not certain how much progress scientists have made. They first wrote about the concept two years ago, and a recent demo video (below) only shows that it works, not that there’s been significant development. If this advances further, though, you could see soft robots that look less like big blobs and more like the slick, flexible devices they’re meant to be.
Via: IEEE Spectrum
Source: Okayama University, YouTube
Tim Cook says the new Apple TV is coming next week
Apple’s CEO is being interviewed tonight at the WSJ Live event, and Tim Cook revealed that yes, the new Apple TV will arrive this month as promised. The taller, more powerful fourth generation box is due to ship next week, bringing along its touchpad remote and access to the App Store. There were no specifics about in-store purchases or online orders, so those waiting may not have to wait until next month after all. In his comments he explained the TV experience is a decade behind the iPhone, and needs to be modernized. Netflix CEO Reed Hastings recently pondered a future where apps are bundled like channels, but for now Cook is just focusing on how ridiculous the traditional pay TV setup is and where it can be improved upon, saying “Have you ever tried to buy HBO through a cable company?” Good point.
AIVAnet 