Apple iPhone to get OLED upgrade sooner than expected

Rumours of Apple getting an OLED screen upgrade have been floating around with a release from 2018, but it looks like that’s not the case. According to more recent murmurings the iPhone 7S will get the first OLED display to hit an Apple smartphone.

While it doesn’t look like OLED will make it to the iPhone 7, expected to appear later this summer, it should be hot on its heels in the iPhone 7S release later next year, according to Chinese site Nikkei.

Currently Apple uses IPS LCD displays in its iPhones. Upgrading to OLED will mean it can make thinner and more flexible displays which are also able to be more power efficient. On top of that OLED can display better blacks and richer colours than LCD. It’s good all round and has already appeared in the Apple Watch.

The delay from Apple has likely been thanks to competitors LG and Samsung being the main manufacturers of OLED displays. Apple is reportedly near to closing a $12 billion deal with the two companies for mass production of these OLED screens.

Apart from all the advantages mentioned above, the OLED could allow Apple to create a more flexible phone and also offer an always-on display for at-a-glance notifications, without chewing up power. Even if this simply offers better iPhone battery life it’ll be worth it.

Expect the iPhone 7S to appear around September 2017.

READ: Apple iPhone could be in for an OLED flexible display upgrade

Google wants you to go Hands Free to pay for things, trial starting in South Bay

Mobile payments are on the up, and Google is already looking to the future and how it can make an already convenient service like Android Pay even better. That’s where Hands Free comes in, a new payment app and service that’s going into trial in the South Bay area of California. And it does exactly what it says on the tin: You can pay for things without touching your phone.

” Imagine if you could rush through a drive-thru without reaching for your wallet, or pick up a hot dog at the ballpark without fumbling to pass coins or your credit card to the cashier. This prompted us to build a pilot app called Hands Free that we’re now in the early stages of testing. It lets you pay in stores quickly, easily, and completely hands-free.”

It uses a combination of Bluetooth LE, WiFi and location services to determine whether you’re around a participating store. When it’s time to pay up, all you have to do is say “I’ll pay with Google,” hand over your initials and the cashier will use the photo you added to your Hands Free profile as collateral to make sure it’s actually you spending your money.

At some stores, in-store cameras will be used to recognize you, making it even faster. Sounds pretty neat.

The trial is taking place at select McDonald’s, Papa John’s, and local eateries, and if you’re local and want to take part you can grab the app from the Play Store right now.

Source: Google Commerce

Samsung Upgrade Program for Galaxy S7 live in the UK: What you need to know

Samsung’s own upgrade program is live in the UK for the launch of the Galaxy S7. Here’s what you need to know.

It’s been rumored before but ahead of the launch of the new Galaxy S7, the Samsung Upgrade Program has gone live, in the UK at least.

Essentially it means you can spread the cost of the new, quite expensive phone, over 24-months without having to sign a carrier contract. But as the clue in the name would hint, you’re also given a path to upgrade to, presumably the Galaxy S8, in 12-months time.

Let’s break it down.

The cost of a new Galaxy S7 starts at £24.58 per month for 24-months based on the regular Galaxy S7. It will be more than this for the more expensive Galaxy S7 Edge. You pay a one-off deposit followed by 24 regular installments.

After 12-months you’re given the option to upgrade, but you’re not obliged to. If you’re happy to keep your S7, then keep it. This is where there are a couple of things to note.

• Samsung will pay the outstanding balance on your current phone providing it is returned to them in “good working condition.” Terms and conditions apply on that so make sure you brush up first.
• You then enter into a brand new 24-month term for the new phone.
• You can only leave the program once you’ve paid up in full for a phone.

You can pay up your outstanding balance at any time without penalty. It’s important also to note that by paying for your Galaxy S7 this way you’re also subject to paying 14.9% APR (interest per year) which makes the total cost of the phone £646.82.

So, should you use it? If you want a Galaxy S7 but don’t have a spare £569+ lying around it’s certainly a viable option. Looking at UK contract prices for the phone, the sub £25 a month price plus a SIM only contract from virtually any of the carriers could save you money over signing in to a new contract. And you don’t need to pay off more than the price of the phone should you decide to quit and go to something else.

If you’re interested in taking a look, hit the Samsung Store at the link below.

Samsung Upgrade Program for Galaxy S7 and S7 Edge

Samsung Galaxy S7

• Galaxy S7 and S7 edge hands-on
• Galaxy S7 and S7 edge specs
• Here are all four Galaxy S7 colors
• Details on the Galaxy S7’s camera
• The SD card is back on the GS7
• Join our Galaxy S7 forums

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Mini Cooper Convertible (2016) first drive: Topless fun

It’s almost hard to believe that the BMW-reimagined Mini is now in its 15th year. Call it a birthday, if you will, that the Cooper Convertible arrives this month in its third-generation and best-looking guise to date; a little puppy fat, cute looks, bags of adolescent vigour and tireless energy are embodied in this coming-of-age convertible.

Ahead of the official launch we got behind the wheel of both Cooper and pepped-up Cooper S Convertible models. Having blown out those imaginary birthday candles, we dropped the soft top, slotted the sunnies over face and, in attempting our best Brits-in-Portugal equivalent of Spring Break – hey a German manufacturer reimagined a British car, so we can think big too – to see whether this soft-top is a splash hit to drive.

Mini Cooper Convertible preview: Haven’t you grown?

To paraphrase grandma: “my, haven’t you grown?”. Sitting in the Convertible is nothing like squeezing into the near-floor-level 1961 original Cooper. Indeed, this 2016 car is more spacious up front than older generations of Ford Fiesta. There’s plenty of room for two, without legs knocking gearstick, or feet being contorted in the foot-wells.

Pocket-lint

But theoretically the Cooper Convertible isn’t a car for just two people. The three-door hatch does actually have four seats, making it, well, a car all out on its own. Because you simply don’t get other small four-seater soft-tops; the closest competition in our mind is the Fiat 500 or Mazda MX-5, which are different prospects.

We say theoretically too because, aside from working a treat for bag space, getting into the back might only be feasible for “mini people” (yes, we’re going with that pun). Not that Mini hasn’t made some progress here: the third-gen cars have 4cm more knee room than the second-gen models. Yep, a whole four centimetres; the kind of thing a budget airline might brag about, eh? Still, it’s manageable space for the kids and more room is better than none.

Which isn’t to scoff at the size difference, because the new Mini Cooper Convertible is the largest yet; it’s 10cm longer than its predecessor. That’s down to a new BMW platform, meaning a longer wheelbase – and even a larger boot, at 160-litres top-down (215-litres top-up).

Mini Cooper Convertible preview: The BMW influence

Over the years we’ve watched BMW’s iDrive interface, on-board technology and media capabilities progress. This has obviously influenced in the Mini, which utilises an adapted iDrive controller to the centre console, positioned behind the gear stick. That means touchpad controls, and four main quick-access buttons for media, radio, navigation and telephone.

Pocket-lint

Now there’s great potential in this system, but the actual controller is poorly positioned in the manual Cooper Convertible, the same for the S Convertible. It’s a bit too much of a bend-the-wrist-back position, especially when toying with the back and option buttons. That’s not so much the case in the automatic, which better places this controller thanks to more available space – making it much more comfortable to use.

As the centre LCD screen – which is surrounded by a light-up circular LED strip for some added Mini flare – is fairly sparse on control buttons, you’ll need to be reaching to this lower iDrive-style control panel. As the centre screen surround isn’t absent of buttons we often twirled the centre-positioned volume dial thinking it would cycle through options, when that’s not the case.

But, and as with anything, the more you get used to it the easier it becomes to use. And we were soon toggling between navigation and phone-synced music via the Bluetooth connection. Shame the basic on-board sound system really isn’t all that special – it does the job, but it’s nothing to write home about.

Other top quirks include the red start-stop button to fire-up the engine, which has a fighter jet aesthetic, surrounding which are the as-standard air-con controls. We even had heated seats that, in the absence of super-hot sunshine, toasted our rears to near egg-cooking levels (best to go for the low rather than medium or high settings).

Mini Cooper Convertible preview: Topless fun

The whole point of a convertible is that it can be driven with the top down, taking in the open road, wind catching your face, messing up your hair. If you’re contemplating buying a two-wheeled escape for your mid-life crisis then why not try a four-wheeled soft-top instead instead? We jest.

Pocket-lint

Opening up the fabric roof of the Cooper Convertible is a doddle: press-and-hold the silver roof switch, positioned top and centre in front of the rearview mirror, and it’ll whip back the roof into its stowed position (if the boot is setup right, as with any soft-top) in 18-seconds. Which is an appropriate figure to keep in mind: because anything faster than 18mph and you won’t be able to move the roof when on the go.

The motion of the top coming down happens in three stages, where it can “hang” a little between them if you don’t keep your finger firmly pressed on the button. On-screen feedback will ensure you that everything is secure so it won’t go flapping about like a broken sail as you scoot off down the road. The actual motion is nice and quiet too; we tested it a number of times and wouldn’t fear doing so in the dead of night during a zombie apocalypse – it really won’t attract unwanted attention.

But you’ll need to keep your personal attention firmly fixed on the road. Although the third-gen Convertible has better visibility than its predecessor, it’s still really not great visibility to the rear by any means, making motorway blind spots less than ideal. Even the A-pillars are chunky, so you may have to head-bob to keep them out of view around sharp corners. However, driving right-hand-drive cars on right-hand-drive roads likely enhanced this issue.

The saving grace to rear view comes in the form of parking, as every UK Mini Cooper Convertible will come with a rear parking camera as standard, which displays in real-time on the centre LCD display to aid you when in reverse. There are directional lines based on the position of the wheels and everything (just like any other typical rear parking camera; not quite as swanky as the newer 3D modelling systems found in Audi or BMW, for example).

Pocket-lint

Mini Cooper Convertible preview: Go-kart handling

Let’s not spend too much time talking about going backwards, though, because – and like with any Mini we’ve driven – it’s all about the go-kart-like fun of zipping around, front-facing (hopefully), and taking in your surroundings.

Under the hood we drove the 1.5-litre three-cylinder 134bhp Cooper Convertible, bettered by the 2.0-litre four-cylinder 189bhp Cooper S Convertible. The added growl and exhaust pops from the S add a smile to the face, but then it does cost more (base £18,475 for the Cooper, vs £22,430 for the S).

One shortcoming of the driving experience is a fairly long-throw gear stick. There’s not the deft movement between, say, fourth and fifth from this 6-speed box. You’ll be in and out of first gear in about half a second too, as second is the one that really gives the revs. The auto eradicated this problem obviously, but simultaneously extracted some of the fun that makes Mini, well, quintessentially Mini.

The Convertible is nippy, fun, cornering is a breeze – but it’s certainly not always the most comfortable ride you’ll ever have experienced. Maybe that was all the cobbled streets we encountered, or the slip-sliding on drain lids as we slunk around tight corners, but there’s a rigidity to this Mini Convertible that you’ll feel right up through the wheels. Good job the leather seats are comfy.

Pocket-lint

There are multiple driving modes too: Sport, which ups the throttle response aplenty, roars all the more when you fail to downshift properly, and spits aplenty in third gear; Mid, which, despite its un-Mini-like somewhat boring name, gives a more casual ride; and Green, which is all about economy, with less whizz bang than the other settings. Jostling between the three is actioned via a toggle wheel surrounding the gear stick – the kind of place where the hand falls naturally (unlike that iDrive-style controller).

First Impressions

The Mini Convertible is already the top selling convertible in the UK. And it’s easy to see why in its third-generation guise: those quirky looks meet the mood swings of an adolescent when it comes to drive handling, cornering and comfort. It keeps you on your toes.

The lack of a touchscreen, the sometimes rigid ride, some irks with the gearstick, and the interface control positioning don’t add-up to entirely matured perfection though. But then we’re looking for more of a pool party, not a dinner party. And that’s exactly what Mini gets right: the fun factor.

Apple iPhone SE vs iPhone 6 vs iPhone 6S: What’s the rumoured difference?

Apple is expected to hold an event sometime in March for the launch of a new iPad, new Watch and a new 4-inch iPhone, or that’s what the rumours are claiming anyway.

The new 4-inch iPhone is said to be replacing the iPhone 5S and it is going by name of iPhone SE at the moment. Until recently it was called the iPhone 5SE however and before that the iPhone 6C, just to confuse things a little.

We will be calling it the iPhone SE for the sake of this feature, where we are comparing it to the latest iPhone 6S and 2014’s iPhone 6 to see what the differences could be, based on the speculation. If you want to know how the rumoured iPhone SE differs to the iPhone 5S and iPhone 5C, you can read our separate feature.

Apple iPhone SE vs iPhone 6 vs iPhone 6 design

The Apple iPhone 6 measures 138.1 x 67 x 6.9mm and weighs 129g. The iPhone 6S measures 138.3 x 67.1 x 7.1mm and hits the scales at 143g. Both offer aluminium bodies, although the iPhone 6S is made from a different metal to the iPhone 6. 

The design is almost identical however with curved edges, slim builds and a fingerprint sensor within the Home button. The iPhone 6S has the second-generation of Touch ID, which is a little faster than the iPhone 6 but both have Touch ID nonetheless.

The iPhone SE is expected to take some of its design cues from the iPhone 5S but with the curves of the iPhone 6 and 6S and Touch ID. An aluminium body is rumoured and it is thought to be slimmer than the iPhone 5S, which measures 7.6mm. This could suggest we can expect a similar slimness to the iPhone 6S along with the same generation of fingerprint sensor as it wouldn’t make sense to put a older version in.

Rumours also suggest the iPhone SE will come in silver, space grey, gold and rose gold like the iPhone 6S. The iPhone 6 is now only available in silver and space grey colour options. 

Apple iPhone SE vs iPhone 6 vs iPhone 6 display

The Apple iPhone 6 and iPhone 6S both have 4.7-inch Retina HD displays. Both their resolutions sit at 1334 x 750, delivering pixel densities of 326ppi. The only difference between the two devices is the iPhone 6S has 3D Touch, which is Apple’s version of a pressure sensitive display allowing for different actions based on the force with which you press.

The iPhone SE is expected to offer a smaller 4-inch display, appealing to those who don’t want a larger smartphone. Those who have stuck with their iPhone 5S or iPhone 5C. The resolution is rumoured to be the same as the iPhone 5S, which puts it at 1336 x 640. Because of the size difference, it means the iPhone SE will still offer a pixel density of 326ppi if this is the case however.

Other reports have suggested the iPhone SE will come with the 2D curved glass that is present on the iPhone 6 and iPhone 6S so the display experience should be very similar to the iPhone 6, aside from the size. The SE isn’t expected to come with 3D Touch however, so it will offer a different experience to the iPhone 6S.

Apple iPhone SE vs iPhone 6 vs iPhone 6 camera

The Apple iPhone 6 offers an 8-megapixel rear camera with 1.5µm pixels and an aperture of f/2.2. It is capable of 1080p video recording and there is a True Tone flash on board. The front camera is 1.2-megapixel, also with an f/2.2 aperture.

The iPhone 6S takes things up a notch in the camera department offering a 12-megapixel rear snapper with 1.22µm pixels and a f/2.2 aperture. Video recording capabilities increase to 4K, but the True Tone flash remains intact. The front camera also sees a bump to 5-megapixels but the aperture remains at f/2.2.

The iPhone SE is rumoured to come with the same camera capabilities as the iPhone 6. If this is the case, we can expect an 8-megapixel rear snapper and 1.2-megapixel front snapper with Apple leaving its best camera to the flagship.

Apple iPhone SE vs iPhone 6 vs iPhone 6 hardware and specs

The Apple iPhone 6 comes with the A8 chip and M8 motion co-processor, supported by 1GB of RAM. It is thought to have a 1810mAh battery on board and it is available in 16GB and 64GB storage options.

The iPhone 6S has a newer and faster chip on board with the A9 and M9 motion co-processor, supported by double the RAM at 2GB. The battery is said to be 1715mAh, which is a little smaller than the iPhone 6.

Rumours claim the iPhone SE will feature the A9 chip and M9 motion co-processor like the iPhone 6S. It is also expected to come with 2GB of RAM and the battery capacity is speculated at 1642mAh, which would make it just shy of the iPhone 6S.

Apple Pay is supported on both the iPhone 6 and iPhone 6S but not on the iPhone 5S. Reports claim the iPhone SE will support Apple Pay, which makes complete sense.

Apple iPhone SE vs iPhone 6 vs iPhone 6 software

The Apple iPhone 6 and iPhone 6S both come with iOS 9 and this will be the case for the iPhone SE too, if it arrives at all. Apple tends not to even preview the new build of its iOS software until WWDC in June, releasing it with the next iPhone flagship in September. 

Therefore, if the iPhone SE is released in March, it will more than likely run on iOS 9, offering an identical experience to the iPhone 6. The iPhone 6S has a couple of extra features like Live Photos, as well as the 3D Touch functionality but other than that, the SE will be very familiar to the current iPhone offering.

Apple iPhone SE vs iPhone 6 vs iPhone 6 conclusion

The Apple iPhone SE is rumoured to have some pretty interesting specs, which if they all come true, should make it a powerful little handset. 

This is all speculation for now, but it based on the rumours, it looks like the iPhone SE could offer a similar design to the iPhone 6 and 6S. It also looks like it could come with the iPhone 6’s camera and the iPhone 6S’s hardware but in a smaller form.

We will be updating this feature as more leaks appear and when/if the official specs come in. If you want to read more on the iPhone SE, you can read our rumour round up.

24K gold Samsung Galaxy S7 and S7 edge aren’t as pricey as you’d expect

When a new Samsung Galaxy S7 edge landed it was inevitable someone would be close behind, eager to throw liquid gold all over it. That’s happened and you can now lay your bling-craving hands on 24 carat gold Galaxy S7 and S7 edge handsets.

So far no surprises then. The price, however, may shock you. What do you think a solid 24K gold Galaxy S7 would cost? Thousands and thousands, right? Nope. You can snap one up for £1700 plus VAT. That includes a fancy wooden box, a Samsung Gear VR and a Samsung wireless charging plate.

Considering the normal version is of the S7 is £569, Gear VR is £99 and charging plate is £45, that mark-up isn’t crazy for enough gold to cover the 5.1-inch display size of the handset. The Galaxy S7 edge is normally £639 and the 24K gold version will be £1800 plus VAT.

But the liquid metal covering doesn’t stop there, Truly Exquisite also offers platinum and 8K rose gold versions for, you guessed it, even more money. The S7 in platinum is £1800 plus VAT and in 8K rose gold is £1750 plus VAT, while the S7 edge is £1900 plus VAT in platinum and £1850 plus VAT in 8K rose gold.

Since the site makes a point of saying the VAT is added, if applicable, we imagine this is going to target markets like Dubai where there’s plenty of cash floating about.

The pricey metal versions of the Galaxy S7 and S7 edge are available for pre-order now, with half of the deposit paid up front. Delivery is expected “very soon after the official release date” from Samsung which is 11 March.

READ: Samsung Galaxy S7 and Galaxy S7 edge: Release date, specs and everything you need to know

Pull anything into the virtual world for super cheap with this $99 3D laser scanner

Being able to 3D scan objects from the real world into the virtual one has been a relatively expensive process, until now. CowTech Ciclop is a new laser 3D scanner that will cost you only $99.

One of the ways this scanner has been able to remain so affordable is thanks to 3D printing. You’re able to print off parts for the Ciclop using your own 3D printer, making it easy to fix too.

The 3D scanner lets you place any object on the 200mm turntable and it will be moved around as the lasers scan it to create a virtual representation. That makes for a scan volume of 200mm by 200mm. Despite this size the parts can be printed from a 3D printer with a bed size as small as 115mm by 110mm by 65mm.

Despite the price, the scan resolution is still an impressive 0.5mm and minimum scan time is two to eight minutes. That will create a .PLY file, or a point cloud, made up of hundreds of thousands of points that represent the geometry of the object. And it’s all open source Rep Rap friendly so you can tinker with it as much as you want.

The CowTech Ciclop is available to back now on Kickstarter for $99 which is about £70. It ships anywhere in the world and will have an estimated delivery date of April.

READ: Google I/O 2016: Here’s what to expect from the keynote

Everyday carry: What’s in Jerry’s pockets in 2016?

A trip to the grocery store isn’t the same as a jaunt across the country, but you still might wanna carry some stuff.

We’ve talked about gear for the road warrior, and what we carry when we’re away from home for a day or two. As you can imagine, it’s a lot of stuff — all the things we need to do our jobs plus a few things to make it easier. All carefully crammed into something that fits in an overhead compartment. We’re not away from home all of the time. Most days we’re just out doing everyday stuff, like going to the supermarket or getting the oil changed.

So what does a smartphone nerd carry in his pocket? When that nerd is me, all this junk:

The phone: Nexus 6P

Sometimes I switch it up. If I know I’m out for the whole day, I might bring the BlackBerry Priv, because (for me) it’s so much easier to type lots of words about work with that slide out keyboard. But most times I leave the house it’s with a Nexus 6P.

It’s the phone I’m most comfortable using, now that I’ve just accepted the size. Voices in my head still say they wish it were smaller, I just block those out. My 6P is quick, does everything I need a smartphone to do, and I’ve realized that the places I go work really well with Project Fi. Most of the time while I’m away on doing leisurely things, my phone is in my pocket, but for a quick picture or some directions or any other reason to whip it out, the 6P has always done me well.

See at Amazon

Headphones: Samsung Level In earbuds

I don’t much care for earbuds, but they’re handy when I need them. The ones I tolerate best are the Samsung Level In earbuds. They have an inline mic and controls if I need to take a call while I’m wheeling myself around, which is a must-have for me (wheelchairs take both hands) and they sound pretty good for earbuds. If I want to get seriously musical, I just bring my V10 and a big set of headphones.

Also, the little clamshell they come in has a pocket that’s perfect for all my other nerd junk. Right into the cargo pocket on my pants it goes, and I’m golden.

See at Amazon

My gentlemen’s blade: Victorinox Tomo Knife

This has nothing to do with survival or the exotic sport of knife-fighting, and everything to do with needing to cut stuff. We all know some well-mannered and well-groomed gentleman who carries a knife, ready to assist anytime there’s plastic packaging to be cut.

I am that guy. Well met, chap.

Seriously though, having a small knife and a tiny pair of scissors comes in pretty handy.

See at Amazon

Bad memories: A guitar pick and a Quarter

Yes. I used to have a BlackBerry Storm. If you don’t understand, consider yourself lucky.

But I found that carrying these two things was useful for more than “adjusting” the travel on a BB Storm screen. Click. Click. Damn. They are great for prying things, turning big screws, and playing air guitar when an Iron Maiden song comes on. And they are so small I just keep carrying them.

Gigabytes: ADATA DashDrive

And this one needs replaced. I’ve been meaning to find the same product with a USB Type-C connector, but I haven’t gotten around to it yet. I know plenty of them are out there, but I need to read a million things before I can make a decision. Eventually, my wife will just reach over my shoulder and buy whatever one I’m looking at on Amazon because she gets tired of me becoming absorbed into stupid things. That’s how I got this one.

This thing is pretty slick. One side has a micro-USB plug and it acts as an OTG flash drive, while the other end pops out and has a standard USB type-A plug to use with a computer. You 32GB of storage if you ever need it in a tiny package.

See at Amazon

A magic button: NFC Tag

Nerd alert. I lock my phones. I used to keep a Moto Skip on my car dash when I was using a Moto X, because if my wife needed to do something — change a song or get directions or search Google for things — it was easier for her to do it with my phone that was paired to the Bluetooth thingy in my car — and she hates my passwords. Now I do the same thing with a trusted NFC tag and my Nexus 6P. And I carry a spare around in my pocket because it’s small and you never know what might happen.

I’ve got a handful of those old Xperia Smart Tags, but any NFC tag will work.

See at Amazon

Power: Limefuel battery pack

And an extra USB Type A to USB Type-C cable.

Never leave home without a way to charge up your phone. Whether it’s a spare battery for phones that still can swap them, or a power pack like this one, carry it because you might need to use your phone and find it dead. That can be an inconvenience, or something more serious. I have a quarter, but pay phones are hard to find nowadays.

I’ve got big honking battery packs for my laptop bag, but this one is fine for my pocket. Even having to carry around a second USB C cable isn’t too bad. While I usually only have one phone in my pocket on a day trip or running errands, I keep both cables together with the charger. That’s how an Eagle Scout rolls.

I got this one from Limefuel at the Big Android BBQ last year, but you can buy one from Amazon minus the BABBQ logo.

See at Amazon

Val.ai watched every movie to figure out which one you want

Alexa is going to the movies. The Finnish folks at Valossa are leveraging the tech behind Amazon’s voice assistant to answer your burning cinematic questions with their Val.ai initiative. As the company tells it, Val.ai can identify over a thousand qualities of a movie from any video stream automatically, including emotions, locations and specific objects. So, for example, asking “what movie has Gwyneth Paltrow head in a box?” will bring back David Fincher’s Se7en. The company says that it was designed for content providers (think Netflix’s upcoming second screen revamp) to “reach down into their video content, identify it and make it searchable in real-time.”

Unlike SceneSkim which analyzes scripts and subtitles for comparatively simple dialogue or scene searches, Val.ai sifts through raw video.

There’s a web-based version to try if you want to put Val.ai through the ringer. It isn’t perfect though. “Ewan McGregor naked” doesn’t return with a listing for Trainspotting and “John Candy with a beard” brings back Charlie and the Chocolate Factory, Bad Santa and the Robert Downey, Jr. vehicle Sherlock Holmes — all which released well after the Canadian comedian’s untimely death. Wagons East, one of Candy’s final roles and a movie where he rocked a beard, isn’t listed whatsoever.

“Ben Affleck broken glass” correctly lists Gone Girl as its first search result, showing off how powerful the AI’s scene-analysis can be, though. But on the other hand, it isn’t the only result: the laughable Devil written by M. Night Shyamalan is listed too — a movie Affleck wasn’t even in.

It’s still early days for the tech, however, and Valossa is quick to point out that the Alexa integration is still in beta.

Source: Valossa, What Is My Movie?

The BlitzWolf VR headset is everything Google Cardboard should have been (Review)

  Virtual reality was definitely a huge hit this year at Mobile World Conference 2016. Facebook, Oculus, Google, Apple and HTC are looking to pioneer the next wave of media