Science confirms that gravitational waves exist
At last, scientists have validated a key part of Einstein’s general theory of relativity. The National Science Foundation, Caltech and MIT have confirmed the existence of gravitational waves, or ripples in spacetime. Their two LIGO (Laser Interferometer Gravitational-wave Observatory) detectors measured atomic-scale differences on September 14th, 2015 that point to the collision of black holes (also a new discovery) 1.3 billion years ago, triggering gravity ripples that only just reached Earth. There have long been hints of these waves, but hard evidence has proven elusive until now.
You should see more breakthroughs like this in the future, too. The existing gear is likely to find more evidence, especially since researchers can up the sensitivity. Also, there are plans for an additional LIGO detector in India that will make it easier to pinpoint where waves are coming from.
Besides proving that Einstein had a solid idea, the findings promise to change how we study the universe. To date, researchers have had to observe the cosmos through light and other forms of electromagnetic radiation, which can only tell you so much about what’s going on. Gravitational waves can reveal a lot about cataclysmic events in the universe, such as collisions between black holes, neutron stars being torn apart, supernovae and even traces of early expansion following the Big Bang. Effectively, scientists are removing a blindfold — they could soon have a much more complete picture of space that answers some longstanding questions.
Source: National Science Foundation
Immersit’s crazy 4D motion sofa kit hits Kickstarter
Immersit thinks that your gaming, virtual reality or home cinema experience could be a little more dynamic. To fix that, it just launched its Immersit 4D motion sim for your sofa on Kickstarter. The device consists of four hydraulic pads that lift the corners of your couch or chair via a central controlling “brain.” By moving the pads, it can make your couch tilt, rotate, or vibrate with up to a thousand different motions. All of that is powered by another box that connects to a PC, game console or AV device.
I experienced Immersit myself in Paris last year and enjoyed it, though I found the movements a bit too mild. However, we had another look at the device last month at CES and actually thought it overly rough, so the company seems to have jacked up the power a bit (it can be dialed down, luckily). Immersit has also addressed safety concerns and promised that it won’t wreck your sofa.
The team has pre-programmed a number of movies so that the visuals corresponds with the movement, but it hasn’t said which titles, exactly. It’s obviously best suited to action movies, where it can make a car chase or flying scene a bit more thrilling. As we found out at CES, the best way to use it may be with a virtual reality headset, as it makes it more real and less virtual. The company hasn’t tested the incoming HTC Vive or Oculus Rift models yet, but said compatibility shouldn’t be a problem, considering that it works with the Oculus DK2. As for games, the device supports over 120 titles on the current and last-gen Xbox and Playstation consoles and PCs, though again, it hasn’t listed which ones yet.
Immersit has tested couches and chairs weighing up to 1,100 pounds, and even x-rayed one to make sure it wasn’t stressed too much. There’s also a built-in safety feature that will deactivate it a person or animal crawls under the sofa. The company doesn’t specify the range of motion on its Kickstarter page, but last year CEO Valentin Fage told Engadget it would be around four inches. It now has the final design after building three prototypes, and will start manufacturing it soon, with the early bird units set to ship by September or October.
As for the price, it won’t be an impulse buy. The €449 early bird special has sold out, so the cheapest deal is the €649 special (around $735). That’s obviously not cheap, so most folks will no doubt want to try before they buy. We’ll try to get our hands on a prototype to do our own tests, and Fage said the company would organize demo days in Paris (and hopefully elsewhere) later this year. The campaign went live earlier today, and is nearly halfway to its €85,000 ($96,000) goal.
Source: Kickstarter
Time Inc buys… MySpace?
MySpace still exists. Crazy, right? The once monolithic social network had been fading into irrelevancy until it was relaunched with a little help from Justin Timberlake back in 2013. The fresh coat of paint wasn’t enough to reinvigorate the platform, however, and it’s now being sold as part of its parent company Viant to Time Inc. Yep, that’s the same Time Inc that publishes Time, Fortune, Entertainment Weekly and a whole bunch of other magazines. The company described the acquisition as “game changing,” most likely in reference to Viant’s broader ad-tech business. MySpace does, supposedly, still have a part to play in that offering, but it’s notable the site was barely mentioned in the footnote of today’s press release.
Source: Time Inc. (Press Release)
Music Video Service Vevo Launches New Apple TV App
Vevo today announced that it has brought its popular music video streaming service to the new Apple TV in a tailor-made native tvOS experience. Available to download right now, Vevo says that the app will act as “an extension of the company’s product-driven strategy to deliver the best cross-platform music video and entertainment experience.”
“Artists and audiences deserve great music video experiences, whether on mobile devices or connected TVs,” said Erik Huggers, CEO, Vevo. “The launch of our new Apple TV app represents an important milestone for Vevo. We continue to invest in what we believe is the premium platform for music videos and related original content.”
Customized for the living room setting of the Apple TV, Vevo’s app will let users seamlessly sync their music video favorites and playlists between the company’s other applications, browse current trending videos, and specify searches through the service’s back catalogue of genres and artists. The Spotlight section will let Vevo users stream a personally curated selection of videos on autoplay as a method of discovery for potentially finding new favorite songs.
Those interested can download the new Vevo Apple TV app on the tvOS app store beginning today. The company also has an app for iOS devices. [Direct Link]
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Samsung Galaxy S7 may signal launch of Samsung Pay in UK, Spain
Samsung Pay has only rolled out to a couple countries so far, the U.S. and Korea. Samsung clearly wants to see that list expand, but making that happen has proven to be a long, slow process. A couple new markets appear to be ready with a launch just over the horizon as signs point to Samsung Pay coming to the U.K. and Spain markets in conjunction with the launch of the Galaxy S7 and Galaxy S7 Edge.
This development surfaced thanks to comments made by Nathalie Oestmann at a Samsung company event, the European Forum 2016. Oestmann, the Head of Samsung Pay Europe, said Samsung Pay will be “coming to the UK and Spain very soon this year. More details [will follow] at MWC in a few weeks time.” MWC 2016 will take place later this month and Samsung is planning to unveil their new smartphones on February 21 in conjunction with MWC 2016.
Oestmann did not give any clues as to an actual “go live” date for Samsung Pay in the U.K. and Spain. If Samsung is ready to say something at the same time they launch their new Galaxy smartphones, the odds are good the mobile payment platform will be launched in those new markets along with the phones.
Currently Samsung Pay only works with certain smartphones including Samsung Galaxy S devices produced during the past year and the Galaxy Note 5. There does not seem to be any reason the Galaxy S7 and Galaxy S7 Edge would not join the portfolio of devices that support the app. One issue for U.S. customers has been the limitation to certain carriers, so we will have to watch to see if a similar restriction is put in place in the U.K. and Spain.
source: Pocket-lint
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Qualcomm’s newest processor is made just for Android Wear
This morning, Qualcomm introduced two new products to give the company a stronger push into the wearables industry. Snapdragon Wear and the Snapdragon Wear 2100 processor are both made to enhance the overall experience of using a devices like smartwatches by improving functionality and decreasing power consumption. All of this is while the platform and processor enable wearables to have an energy-efficient 4G LTE connection. Previously, Android Wear devices with 4G LTE connections utilized Qualcomm’s Snapdragon 400 processor, which really couldn’t manage battery life and maintain high performance. That’s why Qualcomm calls its new products the “next era of wearables.”
Qualcomm says Snapdragon Wear and the Snapdragon Wear 2100 is positioned to allow hardware manufacturers to create smaller devices, lengthen battery laugh, and implement additional sensors for a true always-connected experience. Raj Talluri, SVP of Product Management at Qualcomm Technologies, said it is “expected to have widespread appeal across the mobile, fashion and sports ecosystems in the wearables space.”
These are a few of the benefits unlocked by the Snapdragon 2100:
- Smaller Size – 30 percent smaller than the popular Snapdragon 400, Snapdragon Wear 2100 can help enable new, thinner, sleeker designs
- Lower Power – 25 percent lower power than the Snapdragon 400 across both tethered and connected use cases, allowing for longer day of use battery life
- Smarter Sensors – With an integrated, ultra-low power sensor hub, Snapdragon 2100 enables richer algorithms with greater accuracy than the Snapdragon 400
- Always Connected – Next-generation LTE modem with integrated GNSS, along with low power Wi-Fi and Bluetooth delivers an always connected experience
Snapdragon Wear and the Snapdragon Wear 2100 have already been made available to companies interested in using the technology, so it shouldn’t be long before new Android Wear devices backed by it start hitting the market. The first smartwatch with a Snapdragon Wear 2100 processor will likely come from LG because the company was named in Qualcomm’s press release and the two have a relationship with roots in wearables.
Qualcomm Announces Next Era of Wearables with New Snapdragon Wear Platform
SAN DIEGO, Feb. 11, 2016 /PRNewswire/ — Qualcomm Incorporated (NASDAQ: QCOM) today announced that its subsidiary, Qualcomm Technologies, Inc., has introduced Qualcomm® Snapdragon™ Wear, a new platform for next generation wearable devices, and the Snapdragon Wear 2100 system-on-chip (SoC), the first in a new product family designed to bring new and enhanced wearable experiences to consumers.
“Qualcomm Technologies is a technology leader in the wearables space with its breadth of product offerings including the Snapdragon™ 400 processor, which powers the vast majority of current Android Wear™ smartwatches,” said Raj Talluri, senior vice president, product management, Qualcomm Technologies, Inc. “With the introduction of the Snapdragon Wear platform and Snapdragon Wear 2100 SoC, Qualcomm Technologies is well-positioned to extend its progress in wearables technology by enabling sleek designs, long battery life, smart sensing, and always- connected experiences in the next generation of wearable devices. These benefits are expected to have widespread appeal across the mobile, fashion and sports ecosystems in the wearables space.”
“LG and Qualcomm Technologies have led the wearable technology space with close collaboration over the last two years and have launched multiple smartwatches and kid watches,” said David Yoon, vice president, wearables, LG Electronics. “We are delighted about Qualcomm Technologies’ next generation wearable plans, are planning to extend our collaboration with the new Qualcomm Snapdragon Wear 2100 processor, and look forward to launching new smartwatches and other wearable devices that bring new and innovative use cases to consumers later this year.”
Utilizing Qualcomm Technologies’ expertise in connectivity and compute, the Snapdragon Wear platform consists of a full suite of silicon, software, support tools, and reference designs to allow mobile, fashion, and sports customers to bring a diverse range of full-featured wearables to customers quickly. Available in both tethered (Bluetooth® and Wi-Fi®) and connected (4G/LTE and 3G) versions, Snapdragon Wear 2100 innovates along four wearables core vectors:
- Smaller Size – 30 percent smaller than the popular Snapdragon 400, Snapdragon Wear 2100 can help enable new, thinner, sleeker designs
- Lower Power – 25 percent lower power than the Snapdragon 400 across both tethered and connected use cases, allowing for longer day of use battery life
- Smarter Sensors – With an integrated, ultra-low power sensor hub, Snapdragon Wear 2100 enables richer algorithms with greater accuracy than the Snapdragon 400
- Always Connected – Next-generation LTE modem with integrated GNSS, along with low power Wi-Fi and Bluetooth delivers an always connected experience
Additionally, customers can develop both tethered and connected SKUs using the same PCB design, thus reducing development costs. Snapdragon Wear 2100 supports both Android Wear, and Android and is targeted for next generation connected and tethered smartwatches, kid and elderly watches, smart bands, and smart eyewear and smart headset segments.
Qualcomm Technologies’ Snapdragon processors already power the majority of Android Wear smartwatches. Earlier this year, Qualcomm Technologies announced that its technologies are used in 65 wearable devices across 30 countries with 50 more expected to launch later this year.
“Wearables have captured the public’s imagination, but a lack of connectivity can lead to frustration,” said Chris Penrose, senior vice president, Internet of Things, AT&T Mobility. “With Snapdragon Wear’s new platform, it’s clear that AT&T and Qualcomm Technologies share a vision for independently connected wearables that create a seamless experience for those who wear them. AT&T’s own NumberSyncSM technology links compatible smartwatches to your primary phone number, creating one number for all your devices.”
Availability
Snapdragon Wear 2100 and other products within the Snapdragon Wear platform are available today.
About Qualcomm Incorporated
Qualcomm Incorporated (NASDAQ: QCOM) is a world leader in 3G, 4G and next-generation wireless technologies. Qualcomm Incorporated includes Qualcomm’s licensing business, QTL, and the vast majority of its patent portfolio. Qualcomm Technologies, Inc., a wholly-owned subsidiary of Qualcomm Incorporated, operates, along with its subsidiaries, substantially all of Qualcomm’s engineering, research and development functions, and substantially all of its products and services businesses, including its semiconductor business, QCT. For more than 30 years, Qualcomm ideas and inventions have driven the evolution of digital communications, linking people everywhere more closely to information, entertainment and each other. For more information, visit Qualcomm’s website,OnQ blog, Twitter and Facebook pages.
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[Deal] AT&T hosting BOGO promotion with Samsung’s high-end phones
Samsung’s next two flagships are on the way, and that means carriers and retailers want to burn through existing inventory of last year’s devices. First up to start dumping Samsung phones is AT&T with a new promotion that includes the Galaxy S6, Galaxy S6 Edge, Galaxy S6 Edge+, Galaxy S6 Active, and even the Galaxy Note 5.
AT&T customers can purchase any of the aforementioned Samsung phones through an AT&T Next installment plan before picking up a Galaxy S6 or Galaxy S6 Active with 32GB of internal storage for free. Since AT&T Next is part of the promotion and you’re not buying devices outright, the carrier will issue credit within three billing cycles. However, the credit will be spread across thirty months.
The deal expires on March 31, and select locations are not eligible to redeem the offer. AT&T says the deal is a no-go in Connecticut, Rhode Island, and Florida’s Miami-Dade County.
Source: AT&T
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Chrome for Android to get Physical Web support
After lagging behind Chrome for iOS for several months, the Chrome for Android app is finally getting support for the Physical Web. Google announced that starting in version 49 of the browser, the app will be able to detect and interact with the Eddystone-URL scheme that Google is supporting along with Eddystone low-energy Bluetooth beacons.
Google’s addition of the Physical Web features to Chrome for Android will start with the Beta channel, but developers indicate support with be “rolling out more widely soon.” For app developers and content providers, they can continue to make web content discoverable on the Physical Web using the same Eddystone-URL framework and beacons that work with the Chrome for iOS browser. The expansion to support the Android ecosystem will bring Physical Web benefits to a much larger audience.
The Physical Web is a way for users to interact with content and services without having to install a separate, standalone app. When a user gets within range of a Bluetooth beacon that is configured for the Physical Web, they can access sites or cloud-based applications through the browser. One of the benefits is that the beacons will transmit the availability of Physical Web content whose presence is then pushed to end users. This means people do not have to search for content.
Google indicates the first time a user is close to a beacon, they will receive a notification asking if they want to enable the Physical Web for that point. If they do, users will be presented with a list of available content via URLs that is nearby. Future visits will create a similar list that is displayed as a non-vibrating notification on their device.
Google noted that attendees at CES 2016 were able to tap into 1,500 beacons that were deployed to help navigate the showrooms. Organizers also setup a scavenger hunt for attendees that made use of the beacons. The Golden State Warriors basketball team is using the Physical Web to deliver video highlights and other content to fans in attendance at Oracle Arena.
source: Chromium Blog
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Sony expands its ‘Xperia Beta Program’ to new regions, adds Xperia Z2 support
Sony just expanded its ‘Xperia Beta Program.’ In case you don’t know, it’s designed for users to test the latest version of Android on Sony devices before the official public rollout. The program will help Sony discover bugs and issues that may be embedded in the operating system. This ultimately spotts the issues so that Sony can fix what needs to be fixed before rolling the update out to the public.
Just yesterday, Sony expanded the program to incorporate its Xperia Z2. Other devices that work on the program consist of the Xperia Z3 and Xperia Z3 Compact. Up until this point, the program has been active in several European countries including Sweden, Ireland, Norway, Denmark, Finland, Latvia, Lithuania, Iceland, the United Kingdom, Estonia, and Germany. The program will also be active in Italy, Spain and Netherlands, which are Sony’s latest additions.
If you live in one of Sony’s newly added countries, and want to be a tester, you’ll need to download the ‘Xperia Beta Program’ app from the Play Store. From there you’ll be able to access a pre-release version of Sony’s software running Marshmallow. This is a smart approach; hopefully it’ll make the interface free of issues time come the official release.
We’re assuming that the official release isn’t too far off. We can’t wait till it arrives!
Source: Xperia Blog
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Qualcomm releases Snapdragon Wear 2100 to enhance the wearable experience
The majority of Android Wear smartwatches use the Qualcomm Snapdragon 400, an ARM based System-on-a-Chip which comes in either dual-core or quad-core configurations. While it is an excellent processor, the truth is that it was designed for smartphones and not wearables. Following the success of the Snapdragon 400 in Android Wear devices, Qualcomm has decided to make a range of chips that will specifically target the wearables market. The new processors will use the Snapdragon Wear moniker and the first chip in the series is the Snapdragon Wear 2100.
The two key features of the Snapdragon 2100 are its reduction in size and an increase in power efficiency. According to Qualcomm the Snapdragon Wear 2100 is 30 percent smaller than the Snapdragon 400, which should help OEMs build thinner and sleeker devices. It also uses less power, 25% less according to Qualcomm. If there is one huge problem with wearables at the moment it is battery life, so any progress in making the battery last longer is very welcome!
Qualcomm is also keen to point out that the Snapdragon Wear 2100 has an integrated, ultra-low power sensor hub, which will allow for the use of more sophisticated algorithms and greater accuracy than the Snapdragon 400.
LG will be releasing new smartwatches and other wearable devices that use the Wear 2100 later this year.
Like some variants of the Snapdragon 400, the Snapdragon Wear 2100 uses four Cortex-A7 cores running at a max clock speed of 1.2 GHz. There is a Adreno 304 GPU which support OpenGL ES 3.0. The choice of GPU is interesting as ARM recently released the Mali 470, which only supports OpenGL ES 2.0, the logic being that smartphones don’t need OpenGL ES 3.0 and the implementing 2.0 needs less space and is more power efficient. However, Qualcomm exclusively uses its own GPUs in its chips, so the 304 is probably the lowest GPU in it current portfolio.
In terms of connectivity the Wear 2100 is available in both wirelessly tethered (Bluetooth and Wi-Fi) and connected (4G/LTE and 3G) versions with the latter supporting LTE FDD & TDD, WCDMA, TD-SCDMA, EV-DO & CDMA 1x, and 2G GSM/EDGE.
Earlier this year, Qualcomm announced that its technologies are used in 65 wearable devices across 30 countries.
LG partnered with Qualcomm for the launch of the Snapdragon Wear 2100 and according to David Yoon, vice president, wearables, LG Electronics, the electronics giant will be releasing new smartwatches and other wearable devices that use the Wear 2100 later this year.
Interestingly, because the Snapdragon Wear 2100 supports normal Android as well as Android Wear, it could start to appear in some low-end smartphones as well! However its intended market is smartwatches, kid and elderly watches, smart bands, smart eyewear and smart headsets.
Overall this is a good move by Qualcomm. It has established an early lead as the de-facto processor supplier for wearables and consolidating this position will be important for Qualcomm’s long term growth into new sectors. Earlier this year, Qualcomm announced that its technologies are used in 65 wearable devices across 30 countries. It also said that at least 50 more wearable devices will launch this year with Qualcomm tech inside.
What do you think, will this new processor make wearables sleeker with longer battery lives?
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