Students can make self-driving cars with littleBits’ STEAM kit

littleBits designed its latest kit with both students and teachers in mind. Its new STEAM Student set is meant to help educators teach kids grades 3 to 8 Science, Technology, Engineering, Art/Design and Math subjects by having them invent little gizmos. Each set includes 19 electronic pieces, including various sensors and motors, as well as 38 accessories that kids can use. Plus, it comes with guides both students and teachers can consult if they want to see specific instructions on how to make small self-driving cars, a robot that can draw or even a security device for backpacks.

The projects were designed to help students learn various lessons taught in the classroom. For instance, if they follow the instructions on how to make a projectile launcher, they’ll learn about forces and motion along the way, as well as use it for experiments. littleBits said it made sure that even teachers who don’t consider themselves tech-savvy can use the kit as a learning tool.

NYC’s Department of Education already distributed kits to its schools as part of the city’s STEM enrichment program, but everyone else can preorder it through the company’s website or education retailers for $300. Now, if you want to invent little doohickeys yourself, don’t worry: littleBits sells various sets, some with more electronic building blocks than this one has. You can even test the various components available before buying any if you visit its retail store in New York City.

Source: littleBits Education

PlayStation VR has a lower age limit than Oculus Rift

With the VR revolution almost upon us, would-be early adopters are sizing up which headset is right for them. Do they back the Oculus Rift headset, the motion-tracking Vive, the smartphone-centric Gear VR or the gaming-focused PlayStation VR? What about their suitability for children: is that even a consideration? We know that Samsung and Oculus have set an age rating of 13 for their head-mounted displays, with Oculus noting that younger children are in “a critical period in visual development,” and now Sony has come forward to say that its VR headset “is not for use by children under age 12.”

Sony’s confirmation comes by way of the PlayStation 4’s incoming 3.50 software update, which appears to be preparing the console for the future launch of PlayStation VR. As well as an age warning, the company offers standard recommendations like clearing your VR area and taking steps “to prevent pets, children, or other obstacles entering the area during use.”

Image credit: KGrizzly, Reddit.

For the Vive, there’s no age restriction on the headset yet, but we’ve asked HTC what its guidance will be on the VR headset once it begins shipping pre-orders.

As virtual reality becomes more widespread, headsets will become key instruments inside schools and other educational establishments. But right now VR companies are being cautious. Oculus CEO Palmer Luckey, when he isn’t mocking Macs for their mediocre gaming capabilities, has repeatedly talked up the benefits of VR in the classroom, but is waiting for the public to become accustomed to virtual reality experiences before relaxing its age ratings.

That won’t stop some people from letting their children use PlayStation VR, of course, and rightly so. Even the early VR experiences show the merits of strapping on a headset and immersing yourself in another world. The bigger issue might be trying to stop kids from encountering content rated for adults, which could do a lot more emotional damage than a little bit of motion sickness.

Source: VR Focus

Fox Sports will stream the Big East hoops tournament in VR

Between the news that March Madness Live will be available on more devices than ever this year and TuneIn partnering with the NBA to host live game audio, it’s been a pretty interesting week for hoops fans already. But Fox Sports isn’t content to sit on the bench while others boost their draft prospects, announcing it’ll be broadcasting the last seven games of this year’s Big East Men’s Basketball Tournament in virtual reality.

The VR streams will put viewers in center court seats at Madison Square Garden, let them eavesdrop on the player huddles and show them dramatic “under the basket” shots when those clutch threes hit nothing but net. Also, accompanying audio and graphics will detail stats, scores and updates, so you shouldn’t have much reason to unmask once the action starts. NextVR is in charge of filming the games — it’s worked with Fox Sports to broadcast boxing, golf and motorsports in VR already — but therein lies the catch.

NextVR’s app, through which the Big East games will be streamed beginning March 10th, requires a compatible Samsung smartphone and Gear VR headset. If you have the hardware, though, getting involved couldn’t be easier, since the streams are available worldwide and free of charge. At last, you can stop watching LeBron warm up and see some actual basketball in VR once again.

Source: Fox Sports

Some Olympic events will air in 8K and VR this year

Even though 4K content is only now arriving, parts of the 2016 Rio games in August will be shot in 8K video and virtual reality. The Olympic Broadcasting Services (OBS) confirmed that it will air around 130 hours of the Super Hi-Vision video (7,680 x 4,320) with 22.2 channel surround sound in Japan only. Coverage will include the opening and closing ceremonies, along with sports including judo, football, swimming and basketball. However, VR footage, including the opening and closing ceremonies and select sports, will be available to viewers around the world, whether they have headsets or not.

The purpose of 8K is not to make us jealous of Japan (again); in fact there’s only one consumer 8K TV available, Sharp’s LV-85001. Rather, the nation intends to broadcast its 2020 Tokyo Olympics in Super Hi-vision, so it’s using the Rio event as a trial run. OBS will also be testing 4K downscaling, high dynamic range and hi-color gamuts as well; by 2020, a lot more folks will have access to those features. However, it won’t air any 4K footage for Rio; instead the games will be broadcast in 1080p video with 5.1 surround sound around the world. All told, there will be 7,000 hours of coverage broadcast to 220 countries and more than 5 billion viewers.

Via: CNET

Source: Advanced Television

Eye-tracking app lets you make music hands-free

Eye- and face-tracking systems already help you communicate when your hands aren’t an option, but what if you want to have some fun? You’re covered there, too. Andreas Refsgaard has built Eye Conductor, an app designed to help the paralyzed (and virtually anyone else) make music. All you need is a computer, an off-the-shelf eye tracker and a willingness to look slightly goofy as you twitch your eyes and open your mouth. Unlike some previous attempts, it’s all about having an accessible, flexible interface — you know exactly what sounds you’ll make, whether it’s an experimental piece or a slick dance track.

This is a research project that’s still in development, so you can’t use it right away. However, it’s not just a theoretical exercise. Refsgaard is hoping to release a web version of Eye Conductor sometime in 2016, and he wants to support alternative trackers like head-mounted mice. If all goes well, it could do a lot to enable creativity among those who normally have to sit on the sidelines.

Source: Andreas Refsgaard

Toymail reimagines the walkie-talkie as a plush creature

You might remember Toymail from its successful 2013 Kickstarter campaign. The idea connected kids to their parents via a range of plastic toys, and later hit regular stores like Amazon and even went international. Now the concept has been reimagined as a range of adorable plushies called Talkies.

Talkies build on the basic functionality of the original line with a number of new features. As before, you connect the toy to WiFi, download an app, and you can then send messages between the two. But now it’s opened up a bit. You can send messages to multiple contacts through a Talkie, play back the last 10 messages you’ve received, and record messages offline for sending later. Also new is the ability to talk to other kids (provided they’re approved contacts) toy-to-toy, without going through an app.

There are four designs to choose from — a bat, a shark, a mouse and a dinosaur. Pre-orders start today for North America and parts of Europe. The regular price will be $79 but early birds get a $20 discount. Shipments are expected to roll out next month.

Source: Toymail

Engadget giveaway: Win a pair of GoTenna off-the-grid communicators!

Camping and hiking trips can be doubly relaxing since you’re often left without cell service and have no choice but to enjoy nature undistracted. If you get separated from fellow travelers and need to communicate, though, having a tool like GoTenna can be a lifesaver. This radio transmitter and receiver connects via Bluetooth to the GoTenna app on mobile devices (iOS or Android). You can send private one-to-one or group messages and even share GPS coordinates with other users in the area. For most outdoor terrains, the range is between one and four miles. If you’re using them in urban areas, it’s around one mile or less, but that’s still useful for finding nearby friends at crowded events where cell service is overloaded. The company has provided us with two pairs of GoTennas for a couple of lucky readers this week. All you need to do is head to the Rafflecopter widget below for up to three chances at winning.

a Rafflecopter giveaway

• Entries are handled through the Rafflecopter widget above. Comments are no longer accepted as valid methods of entry. You may enter without any obligation to social media accounts, though we may offer them as opportunities for extra entries. Your email address is required so we can get in touch with you if you win, but it will not be given to third parties.
• Contest is open to all residents of the 50 States, the District of Columbia, and Canada (excluding Quebec), 18 or older! Sorry, we don’t make this rule (we hate excluding anyone), so direct your anger at our lawyers and contest laws if you have to be mad.
• Winners will be chosen randomly. Two (2) winners will each receive one (1) set of two goTennas.
• If you are chosen, you will be notified by email. Winners must respond within three days of being contacted. If you do not respond within that period, another winner will be chosen. Make sure that the account you use to enter the contest includes your real name and a contact email or Facebook login. We do not track any of this information for marketing or third-party purposes.
• This unit is purely for promotional giveaway. Engadget and AOL are not held liable to honor warranties, exchanges or customer service.
• The full list of rules, in all its legalese glory, can be found here.
• Entries can be submitted until March 9th at 11:59PM ET. Good luck!

Apple Obsoletes Mid 2010 15-Inch and 17-Inch MacBook Pros

Apple has updated its vintage and obsolete products list with three new products: MacBook Pro (15-inch, Mid 2010), MacBook Pro (17-inch, Mid 2010), and Xserve (Early 2009).

The older notebooks and server rack hardware are now classified as vintage in the United States and Turkey, and obsolete in the rest of the world, according to Apple.

Macs and other products on the vintage and obsolete list are generally no longer eligible for hardware service. Apple defines vintage products as those that have not been manufactured for more than five but less than seven years ago, while obsolete products are those that were discontinued more than seven years ago.

The new additions come less than three months after Apple obsoleted select early 2008 to late 2009 Macs, including the iMac (21.5-inch, Late 2009), iMac (27-inch, Late 2009), MacBook Air (Mid 2009), Mac Pro (Early 2009), MacBook (13-inch, Early 2008), MacBook Pro (15-inch, Early 2008), and MacBook Pro (17-inch, Early 2008).

The MacBook Pro models obsoleted today were originally announced on April 13, 2010. Read how to identify your MacBook Pro model.
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Top reasons why you should upgrade from Samsung Galaxy S6 to Galaxy S7

The Samsung Galaxy S6 and Galaxy S6 edge smartphones are great, brilliant in fact. So if you made the decision to buy one of them last April, you’ve probably been patting yourself on the back for the last year.

Their time is up, however, with the Galaxy S7 and Galaxy S7 edge coming in to take pride of place as Samsung’s new flagships. But should you be rushing out to upgrade from your amazing S6 to the S7 or S7 edge, even though they look very similar?

Here are a few reasons why that answer could be yes.

Samsung Galaxy S7 water resistance

The Samsung Galaxy S6 and Galaxy S6 edge aren’t waterproof. Drop either down the toilet or in the bath and it is game over. Our Galaxy S6 hasn’t worked since climbing Scafell Pike in torrential rain last July so a bath or a puddle really would be bad times.

The Samsung Galaxy S7 and Galaxy S7 edge are water resistant to IP68 however. That means you can actually eat the rice in your cupboard rather than save it for when your phone gets an unwanted dunk. IP68 means its also protected again dust ingress.

Samsung Galaxy S7 more storage options

The SGS6 and S6 edge might have won over hearts and minds with beautiful metal and glass designs, but they sacked off a removable battery and microSD support in the process. Not great for anyone who didn’t invest in the 128GB model.

The Samsung Galaxy S7 and S7 edge don’t go down the LG G5 route for a removable battery, but they have reintroduced a microSD slot. Yay. There’s no support for adoptable storage so it’s not seamlessly integrated, but you can move apps to the external storage, as well as deposit your photos and video there.

Samsung Galaxy S7 power

The Samsung Galaxy S6 and S6 edge are both powerful handsets. They both feature octa-core processors under the hood, supported by 3GB of RAM and there is no messing about. You want them to do something and they will do it without hesitating.

The SGS7 and S7 edge are more powerful though. They are supported by 4GB of RAM and have bigger batteries than their predecessors. Think of these devices like Blake and Bolt. Blake is fast, but he isn’t as fast as Bolt, even if the difference to the finish line is milliseconds.

Samsung Galaxy S7 camera improvements

The SGS6 and Galaxy S6 edge both have fantastic cameras. Both smartphones have been praised left, right and centre for their camera capabilities since they launched. You want a decent snap using a phone and the S6 and S6 edge are a safe bet.

The Galaxy S7 and S7 edge improve this already great camera experience though. Firstly, the protruding lens on the rear has been reduced for a more seamless design but more importantly, the new smartphones are all about better low light capabilities. Samsung might have reduced the rear sensor resolution but don’t be fooled into thinking it is all about megapixels. It isn’t and if you want even better snaps, the new flagship devices are there for you.

Still not convinced?

If you want to know more, read our Samsung Galaxy S6 vs Samsung Galaxy S7 feature, or our Samsung Galaxy S6 edge vs Samsung Galaxy S7 edge feature to help you find out exactly what the rest of the differences are and which it the right phone for you.

Or glance over our Galaxy S7 vs S7 edge comparison while you await the full reviews of both devices.

Apple Maps Gains 23 New Flyover Locations Around the World

Apple today updated its iOS feature availability page with 23 new Flyover locations around the world, including cities in the United States, Australia, Belgium, Canada, France, Italy, Mexico, Spain, Taiwan, and the United Kingdom.

Flyover is an Apple Maps feature that provides photo-realistic 3D views of primarily large cities and landmarks. In satellite view, users can zoom, pan, and rotate to get a closer look at notable points of interest in supported regions.

The full list of new Flyover locations is available below, but some areas may only now be reflected on Apple’s website:

• A Coruña, Spain
• Ajaccio, France
• Archon, France
• Bastia, France
• Besançon, France
• Blackpool, England
• Bonifacio, France
• Cabo San Lucas, Mexico
• Calvi, France
• Corte, France
• Ghent, Belgium
• Guaymas, Mexico
• Messina, Italy
• Mobile, AL, United States
• Newcastle, Australia
• Nottingham, England
• Porto-Vecchio, France
• Propriano, France
• Raleigh, NC, United States
• Salamanca, Spain
• San Sebastián, Spain
• Taichung, Taiwan
• Wichita, KS, United States

Apple also confirmed that Maps traffic data is now available in Malaysia and Singapore in southeast Asia.

Apple added 20 new Flyover locations in 12 countries last month.

Tags: Australia, Apple Maps, Flyover, Italy, Canada, Spain, Mexico, United Kingdom, France, Belgium, Taiwan
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