5G was the real star of Mobile World Congress

Expect 2016 to be the year when all of the talk around 5G starts to feel like more than hype. It seemed as if the big tech companies couldn’t shut up about it at Mobile World Congress this week — and for good reason. It’s been over six years since LTE 4G started rolling out, and a finalized 5G standard is expected to arrive around 2018. Now’s the time to start exploring the new frontier if you’ve got a stake in mobile. Naturally, there were plenty of demos and jargon-filled press releases around 5G during the show. But there were also some impressive demos and a palpable excitement in the air for what’s to come next.

So what is 5G, exactly? Right now, for lack of a genuine standard, it’s mainly just a concept. Broadly, it describes the next generation of wireless networks that will reach speeds at least ten times faster than LTE, with near instant latency in some cases. Most companies are looking into millimeter wave technology to achieve faster network speeds, but they’re still looking into uses for the spectrum below 6 GHz, which we’re already using today. LTE won’t be going away anytime soon — it’ll be backwards compatible with 5G, and some implementations might still rely on it for data. (LTE speeds will continually improve over the next few years before 5G actually gets into action.)

For the most part, the big advantage with 5G will be its flexibility, as carriers will be able to adapt it to suit specific needs. Things like smart home devices and connected cars, for example, might tap into a portion of the network with slower data speeds, but which makes up for that with incredibly low latency of under a millisecond. 5G could also be used to deploy broadband more easily to rural areas using millimeter wave technology. The wireless internet provider Starry is using the same technology, and some people I’ve talked to in the industry consider it to be a sort of proto-5G network.

One of Intel’s millimeter wave chips.

None of this is exactly new, but at MWC there was far more commitment to 5G than ever before. Intel announced that it’s lined up a bunch of new partners — including AT&T, Verizon and Ericsson — and it’s also working closely with standards groups. The big takeaway: Intel will actually be working with the rest of the industry, rather than trying to push it’s own technology (which would have been a repeat of the WiMax 4G fiasco).

“I think companies like Intel and Samsung, they learned a lesson [with 4G’s rollout] that… doing something that doesn’t have big ecosystem is not something that operators want,” said Ozge Koymen, principal engineer at Qualcomm. “They want to be able to buy Nokia, Ericsson and other vendors and have them talk to different vendors.”

At its booth, Intel demoed several 360-degree videos running at once on its testbed 5G platform, using around 2 Gbps worth of bandwidth. There was also a “Massive MIMO” demo, an evolution of existing MIMO (multiple input multiple output) networking tech, which lets up to 64 antennas push data to a single access point. That’s what will keep 5G networks from feeling too congested — you’ll basically be guaranteed faster speeds. One longtime Intel engineer, who wouldn’t go on record, said there was plenty more excitement at the company around the launch of 5G, compared to what it went through with 4G.

Intel was’t the only 5G star of the show (though it had one the largest and most elaborate booths). Samsung and Deutsche Telekom built an elaborate setup with a robot arm to show off the benefits of low-latency 5G. You can see that in action in the video above, but basically the arm was only able to catch a falling ball that was tracked by a 5G network, while it continually missed another ball tracked by a higher latency 4G LTE network.

When will we actually see 5G networks rolling out? Based on discussions with people from several companies, nobody is expecting much until around 2020. While plenty of companies are testing out their wares now, they’re still just prototype implementations. They can’t really get into gear until 5G standards are settled, and that’s not going to happen for at least another two years.

Nokia used autonomous toy cars to show off 5G.

Even if 5G lives up to all the hype, it’ll likely still be limited by wireless data caps. Which, basically, is like having a Ferrari that you can only drive around the block once a day. None of the carriers I talked to at the show had much to say about 5G plans, but Qualcomm’s Koymen expects them to expand their data limits. Really though, that’s the least they could do. With 3G and 4G, carriers learned that it was simply very hard (and expensive) to offer unlimited data. But 5G might actually make that dream a reality.

Security Update Breaks Ethernet Port on iMacs and MacBook Pros

As reported on the MacRumors forums and Reddit, a recent Apple security update has disabled the ethernet port on some iMacs and MacBook Pros. zorinlynx writes:

This software update was pushed via the silent “security updates” to my iMac today:

031-51913 | Incompatible Kernel Extension Configuration Data 3.28.1

After rebooting my ethernet didn’t work. Turns out that it added an exclusion for the stock AppleBCM5701Ethernet driver! This breaks ethernet and you have to use WiFi to get online.

The experience was mirrored by several other readers. Apple appears to have already replaced the faulty update, but there doesn’t appear to be an obvious solution for those affected.
Discuss this article in our forums

Samsung Level U Pro review – CNET

The Good The Samsung Level U Pro is a lightweight, sweat-resistant wireless Bluetooth headphone offers offers a comfortable fit and is one of the better sounding Bluetooth headphones with an around-the-neck design. It vibrates when a call comes in and has well-placed buttons.

The Bad Buds look and feel a little cheap. It would have been nice if Samsung had included its Stabilizing Wing Ear Gels to lock the ‘buds in your ears while running. There’s a bit of treble push.

The Bottom Line Despite a few small downsides, the Samsung Level U Pro is one of the better sounding collar-style Bluetooth headphones and offers a comfortable fit.

LG remains the sales leader in collar-style “neckband” wireless Bluetooth headphones, but plenty of competitors are available, including Samsung’s Level U Pro ($100; £120; AU$130). This is a noise-isolating headphone, which means you jam the tips into your ear canal and seal out the outside world. That’s different from the more affordable Level U, which has buds that sit loosely in your ears, like Bose’s SoundTrue In-Ear wired headphone.

As with all Bluetooth headphones, the Level U Pro connects wirelessly to your smartphone (or tablet), doubling up for enjoying music and as a headset for taking calls.

The Level U Pro features a noise-isolating design (you jam the tips into your ear canal).

Joshua Goldman/CNET

A set of buttons on the right side of the neck band allow you to pause and play your music, answer/end calls, skip tracks forward and back and raise and lower the volume. The buttons are well placed and easy enough to operate by feel alone.

Like the aforementioned LG Tone headphones, the Level U Pro’s earbuds are magnetic and clasp together to help “reduce clutter when not in use.” However, they don’t retract like they do on some LG collar-style headphones. When I wasn’t using them, I often left the buds dangling on my chest, unclasped, and sometimes forgot I was wearing the headphone (it’s lightweight). And that’s why people like this type of Bluetooth headphone: You simply leave it around your neck and stick the earbuds — or often just a single bud if you’re taking a call — in your ears when you need to.

The ‘buds adhere magnetically.

Joshua Goldman/CNET

If you do have a Samsung phone, this does support Samsung’s UHQ Audio standard, which is supposed to provide (wait for it) “Ultra-High Quality” Audio over Bluetooth. The jury’s out on how much of a difference it actually makes, but it’s a small plus to use the headset with one of Samsung’s latest Galaxy phones that support UHQ Audio.

It’s also worth noting that if you have an Android phone, you can download the free Level App to access and control advanced settings of the headphones which include the ability to have the headphones read text notifications to you. There’s also a volume monitor and an equalizer that allows you to tweak the sound.

As for other extras, the headset is water-resistant (the standard Level U isn’t). Battery life is rated at 9 hours for music playback at moderate volume levels. That’s decent though not exceptionally good.

Gourmia GKM9000 Multi-Cooker Kitchen Machine Release Date, Price and Specs – CNET

In a case of “more is more,” a small appliance company has created countertop multicooker with more than nine functions, Wi-Fi connectivity and an Android-powered operating system in a bid to connect the kitchen to the Internet of Things.

The Gourmia GKM9000 multicooker kitchen machine includes a 7-inch LCD display that will play video instructions for recipes.

Gourmia

Gourmia will debut the GKM9000 multicooker kitchen machine next month at the International Home + Housewares Show, a trade show dedicated to home goods. The Gourmia GKM9000 will include a 7-inch LCD screen that displays step-by-step video instructions to guide you through recipes and provides update on the progress of your meal. The $600 appliance also connects to a mobile app that keeps an eye on what’s happening in the cooker, along with letting you download and create recipes and shopping lists. The multicooker will be available in the spring.

Small, countertop appliances have become the first step in getting the kitchen connected. They’re a lot cheaper than smart large appliances such as ovens or refrigerators, and there’s a larger variety of products available. Though smart large appliances are on the cusp of being the next big thing, connected countertop devices such as Wi-Fi sous vide machines and app-enabled kitchen scales have become an easy access point for folks who want a smart cooking experience.

Other Smart Small Appliances

• Paragon Induction Cooktop puts sous-vide power in every pot (hands-on)
• Anova Precision Cooker Bluetooth + Wi-Fi review
• Perfect Bake Pro review

The Gourmia GKM9000 will run on an Android operating system, so the appliance can connect with other platform, Gourmia says. The company is still working on partnerships with other platforms.

You can get a multicooker for much less than this $600 device, so the Gourmia needs successful integration with other Internet of Things devices to convince home cooks that this is a product worth having. I’ll get hands-on with the product at the International Home + Housewares Show on March 5, so check back for updates on the Gourmia.

Features

• Includes built-in scale that can track how much of an ingredient you’re adding to walk you through recipes
• Functions include: steam, blend, puree, chop, grind, knead, whip, grate, crunch
• Can also cook pasta and rice
• 3.5-quart capacity
• Includes blade and whisk attachments

Vivo X6Plus review

The chances are that you haven’t heard of Vivo, it is a Chinese smartphone manufacturer that makes quite a large range of smartphones, but until now it has focused on the main Asian markets. However, like so many Chinese OEMs, the company is looking to gain more recognition in the west. As part of its push westwards, Vivo recently released two high-end smartphones: the Vivo X6 and Vivo X6Plus. Ash has done a fantastic unboxing/first look/travelogue for the X6 and now it is my turn to take a look at the X6Plus.

Design

Like the Vivo X6, when you take a quick look at the Vivo X6Plus and you will probably think it looks much like another well-known phone, one which bears a fruity motif. That said, the device does look good, it seems well-made and thanks to the metal frame it has a premium feel to it. The buttons are responsive yet firm, however it is worth mentioning that the capacitive keys on the front aren’t back lit.

The device is quite big, due to its 5.7 inch display, however if you are used to handling large screen phones then it won’t feel out of place. For some context the Vivo X6Plus is narrower than the Huawei Mate 8 (which has a 6 inch display) and narrower than the Samsung Galaxy Note Edge (AKA Note 4 Edge), however it is wider than the Samsung Galaxy Note 5.

Going around the phone, the volume rocker and power button are on the right, while the dual-SIM tray is on the left. At the top is the 3.5mm headphone jack and on the bottom is the micro-USB port and single speaker. On the back is the rear facing camera along with its flash LED, plus the finger print reader. It is the two bands that run across the back, near the top and bottom, that give the Vivo X6Plus a certain iPhone-esque look.

Display

Face the Vivo X6 and you will be looking right into a 5.7-inch 1080p Super AMOLED panel. Sure, it’s lacking that QHD resolution, but I must say this display is very good. It looks beautiful and has great viewing angles. I really have nothing to complain about here.

See also: AMOLED vs LCD – What is the difference?129

Hardware and performance

As well as the crisp Full HD AMOLED display the Vivo X6Plus also boasts 4GB of RAM, a finger print reader and quick charging. The only slight let down is the choice of processor. The X6Plus uses the Qualcomm Snapdragon 615. The 615 is an octa-core processor with 8 Cortex-A53 cores, with four cores clocked at 1.2GHz and four cores clocked at 1.7GHz. Accompanying the CPU is the Adreno 405 GPU.

In terms of every day use these specs are adequate and most users won’t find themselves wishing for more CPU power, and because of the 4GB of RAM even some power users will find the X6Plus more than sufficient. However if you play a lot of 3D games, use CPU intensive apps or visit a lot of complex websites then the Snapdragon 615 will be under powered for you.

The use of a Cortex-A53 octa-core SoC is also reflected in the benchmarks. The Vivo X6Plus scored 780 on Geekbench’s single-core test and 3143 for the multi-core test. For some context, those scores are lower than the octa-core Cortex-A53 Kirin 935 found in the Huawei Mate S, lower than the octa-core Cortex-A53 MediaTek Helio X10 found in the Redmi Note 2 and lower than the quad-core 32-bit Snapdragon 801. If you want to see more benchmark scores for some of 2015’s leading processors then check out my SoC showdown: Snapdragon 810 vs Exynos 7420 vs MediaTek Helio X10 vs Kirin 935.

I ran my custom written Terrain 4 benchmark and the Vivo X6Plus scored 8.96 frames per second and managed to display a total of 2225 frames during the test run. By comparison the Vivo X6 (with its octa-core Cortex-A53 MediaTek MT6752 and ARM Mali-T760 GPU) managed 10.07 fps and 2355 total frames. A faster, next generation phone like the Huawei Mate 8 manages 20.72 fps and 3348 total frames at the same Full HD resolution.

The fingerprint reader on the X6Plus is first class. It is fast, accurate and is certainly comparable with the lightning fast and reliable fingerprint scanner on the Huawei Mate 8. Like the Mate 8, you can wake and unlock your phone just by putting your finger on the reader.

The X6Plus has a 3000 mAh battery which delivers a great battery experience. Although it has a 5.7 inch 1080p display, the processor is quite conservative in its power usage, the result is that you will get all-day battery life, easily. Unfortunately Funtouch OS doesn’t include a battery usage page of any kind. So instead I did some battery tests. First I ran Goat Simulator to test the battery life while playing 3D games. According to my calculations you will be able to play 3D games for over 4.5 hours on the Vivo X6Plus. That is quite an impressive number as some phones fail to give you a lesser screen-on time without doing any 3D (i.e. GPU) work. Turning to simpler tasks like watching YouTube over Wi-Fi or web browsing, I found that you will get at least 15 hours of both from this device. What that translates to is in fact a two day battery life (of course depending on your usage). So a big thumbs up for Vivo for the battery life of the X6Plus.

When it comes to the fast charging the Vivo X6Plus supports what Vivo calls “dual-engine quick charging.” The charger is rated at 5V/2A and 9V/2A. That means at 9V it can charge the phone at 18 watts. To fully charge the 3000 mAh battery takes two hours, which isn’t that quick, however to get to 50% only takes 23 minutes, which is quite impressive. If you want to charge the battery to 80% then that takes 55 minutes. To go from 80% to 100% takes over an hour. If you are interested to find out why smartphones charge quickly to 50% or 80%, but can take over half of the charge cycle to add the last 20% then I recommend that you read my test: Qualcomm Quick Charge vs Oppo VOOC vs MediaTek PumpExpress+ vs Motorola TurboPower vs the others.

Software

On the software side, we have Vivo’s Funtouch OS, which although it is based on Android 5.0.2, is really heavily skinned. As with many of the Android variants from Chinese manufacturers, there is no app drawer which means you are left to organize everything into folders on the home screens. Unfortunately Google’s services like Google Play, YouTube and Gmail don’t come pre-installed. I was able to install Amazon’s Appstore without any problem and that got me access to a lot of apps. I then discovered that you can actually install Google Play from the Vivo App Store. That gave me access to a bunch more app and services, however I often came across errors about apps not being compatible with the current device, sadly even Chrome wouldn’t install because Google Play says it isn’t compatible.

When you get over the non-standard Android  look-and-feel, learn to speak Chinese for the apps that don’t work in English, and ignore the iOS aesthetic, then you will find that Vivo did manage to add in some cool functionality. You can save screen shots with voice recordings; use smart motion actions (gestures) like draw ‘M’ for music or cover the phone with your hand to mute it when it is ringing; or shrink the screen or keyboard for one handed use. There are also quite a few options for the dual-SIM functions including setting a different ringtone to each SIM and setting which SIM is the default.

Camera

The camera app that comes with the Vivo X6Plus is excellent. As well as offering a range of automatic modes including Night mode and Child portrait mode, there is also a comprehensive manual mode (which Vivo calls Professional mode). You can change the white balance, ISO, and shutter speed, but most importantly you can do manual focusing. The camera is quite quick and there is a burst mode which allows you to take consecutive pictures. According to my crude timing you can take about 10 shots a second. The only limitation is that it stops after 20 shots, so that it can save the images.

As for the camera itself, I am undecided. The 13MP resolution is good, the noise levels aren’t bad for a mobile phone and the touch to set the exposure functionality works well. However I found that the colors in the photos are lacking in vibrancy. I say I am undecided in that I am prepared to give the camera the benefit of the doubt because it has been very cloudy and dull here while I have been taking my test shots and it could be the lack of clear sunlight that has dulled the images, however maybe I am just being too kind.

Anyway, here are some samples photos so that you can judge for yourself:

See also: 15 best camera apps for Android89

Just as I was preparing to publish this review, the sun came out, so I went out and took a few more sample photos. Here is an additional gallery of sample shots:

Specifications

Gallery

Wrapping up

The Vivo X6Plus is certainly an interesting device. The large 5.7 inch Super AMOLED display is very cool, but the overall skew towards mimicking Apple is a big negative and leaves me with a desire for some originality. Having said that if you are able to look past the design aspects then features like the 4GB of RAM and the fingerprint reader are solid positives for this device, the only thing I would want to change on the hardware side is the processor, something better than the Snapdragon 615 would seem appropriate for this device. As for the software, well, for Asia it is probably perfect, however those in the West will likely struggle with it.

The Vivo X6Plus will initially be available in Asia for a price that should be around $550, however that pricing hasn’t yet been confirmed.

Why #StandWithApple misses the point

Rational arguments — not cheerleading — is what’s going protect the integrity of our pocket-sized computers.

It’s still not just about Apple. And it’s still not just about the iPhone. And it’s infinitely more important than hashtags and T-shirts. Apple’s opposition to the FBI’s demand that it create an alternative operating system that would aid in the unlocking of a smartphone connected to the San Bernardino terrorist attack may well be the most important legal fight since the development of the smartphone.

Because it’s not just about Apple. And it’s not just about the iPhone. It’s about all our phones, and all the operating systems that run them — and all of our data contained therein.

The introduction of Apple’s Motion to Dismiss, signed by seven lawyers on behalf of Apple, shows that Apple understands this pretty clearly.

This is not a case about one isolated iPhone. Rather, this case is about the Department of Justice and the FBI seeking through the courts a dangerous power that Congress and the American people have withheld: the ability to force companies like Apple to undermine the basic security and privacy interests of hundreds of millions of individuals around the globe.

“Not a case about one isolated iPhone.” … “The ability to force companies like Apple.” …

It’s about all the companies. And all our phones.

And that’s where reducing precedent-setting cases like this (and there’s virtually no way this doesn’t set some sort of legal precedent) to slogans and battle cries does little good. And #StandWithApple in particular ignores the argument — that the government can not and should not compel a private company to make a product that safeguards our digital lives less safe — and makes it a with-us-or-against-us popularity contest. There’s no place in a courtroom for fanboyism. A judge isn’t going to be swayed by a hashtag or a T-shirt or an online petition. Lawyers aren’t going to admit evidence showing how many times “#StandWithApple” appears online. Or how many “likes” a blog post gets. Or how many T-shirts are sold. A phone giveaway? Please.

If you stand with Apple, you must also stand with us all. Otherwise what’s the point?

That’s not to say that raising awareness about this case isn’t a good thing. Everyone should have a basic understanding of how smartphones and the services we connect with work. That our private information isn’t nearly as private as we like to think it is. And that the FBI — the government, really — is looking to force Apple to play a part in setting a very dangerous precedent, one that could compel other companies to do the same should it lose. Google. Microsoft. BlackBerry. Samsung. LG. Anyone who manufacturers phones and holds the keys to the code on which it runs would be next. Everyone needs to be aware of this case.

Apple and Google take very different directions in their products, of course, and Apple’s led the way in helping users keep their data safe, all but requiring PIN codes in the setup process. (Android still needs to be more forceful about that.) Android devices have been slow to adopt full-disk encryption, but that’s finally starting to get a little better. And all devices should require a code before booting. (That’s still not required or necessarily presented as an option on initial setup, either.)

But one constant in all the differences between Apple and Google — between iOS and Android — is the users, and our data. Our contacts. Our photos. Our private messages of love and hurt and heartache and celebration. A ridiculous amount of our data already is available to law enforcement via other means, including through the iCloud backups of iOS, to say nothing of all the other services used — and of course the network providers themselves. That’s true on iOS, and it’s true on Android.

So stand with Apple if you like. I do, too, in this case. But that’s a woefully myopic position of what may well be this generation’s most important legal case regarding hardware and privacy. If you stand with Apple here, you also must stand with us all.

Put that on T-shirt.

Recommended Reading: The Super Bowl MVP is a huge nerd

Nerd
Von Miller,
The Players’ Tribune

You may not be able to tell by his on-field dominance, but Super Bowl MVP and Denver Broncos linebacker Von Miller is a huge nerd. Miller, some fellow players and friends discussed his geekiness for The Players’ Tribune recently. The stories are quite entertaining, and yes, he used to wear Rec Specs.

Google DeepDream experiment takes you on a trippy VR journey

Google’s latest VR experiment involves feeding footage captured by its 360-degree camera rig through the DeepDream machine. Since the company’s DeepDream program uses a neural network to transform ordinary images into surrealistic, dream-like artwork, the result is a psychedelic virtual reality experience. If you’ll recall, the big G’s 360-degree VR platform is called Jump, and it uses a 16-camera circular rig co-designed by GoPro. Google has been uploading videos taken with the rig on YouTube for a while now, but this particular experiment is something new.

Jessica Brillhart, the tech corp’s Principal Filmmaker for VR, has uploaded the project’s first video on YouTube. As you can see below, it’s a bit headache-inducing when seen with the naked eye. You’ll have to use a VR headset — Google, of course, recommends Cardboard — if you want to be swept away into a world of mind-bending colors and patterns.

Source: Research at Google, Google Research (Twitter)

ICYMI: Rogue wave detection, exo-glove and more

Today on In Case You Missed It: Researchers at Seoul National University developed the Exo-Glove Poly, which can help wearer’s perform difficult tasks like opening doors or grasping delicate objects. MIT built an algorithm to help detect rogue waves and warn sailors about them. And the Leidenfrost effect of a water droplet landing on a hot griddle and hovering above steam had never been captured on video, until now.

We also covered a bunch of news in TL;DR but most urge you to dive into the latest on Apple vs. FBI, or for fun, read about what algae injections can do to vision.

As always, please share any interesting science or tech videos, anytime! Just tweet us with the #ICYMI hashtag to @mskerryd.

New ‘Shenmue 3’ screenshots give you a glimpse of the game

If you need any more proof that Yu Suzuki really is making a new Shenmue game two decades after the last one, look above and below the fold. Yes, these are actual Shenmue 3 screenshots (and even a little video) that Suzuki’s team showed off at the Monaco Anime Game International Conferences. They’re still just a work-in-progress, true, but they’re enough to give you an idea of what the sequel will look like. Suzuki started working on the classic franchise’s third entry after his Kickstarter campaign last year breezed through its $2 million goal. It ended up raising over $6 million, enabling the team to go through with the game’s development for both PS4 and PC. Shenmue 3 won’t be out until December 2017 or later, but the team will likely release more tidbits of info (and more photos!) to tide us over until then.

Breaking: new, early screenshots for Shenmue III revealed. More information and updates: https://t.co/AXOgsiTZwY pic.twitter.com/gtq1uPMmAc

— PlayStation (@PlayStation) February 27, 2016

Fishing spot in video #magicmonaco #Shenmue3 pic.twitter.com/Tm6tSlnHlC

— Shenmue Dojo (@Shenmue_Dojo) February 27, 2016

Source: Kickstarter, PlayStation (Twitter)