Orbital rocket ready to launch its biggest ISS cargo ever

A resupply ship from Orbital ATK is ready to launch its largest cargo ever to the International Space Station. The newly redesigned Cygnus craft, first launched in December, is capable of carrying 25 percent more payload than before, and today’s weighs nearly four tons. “It’s like opening a box of goodies and finding some stuff you’ve been wanting and some surprises you didn’t know about,” says Orbital’s Dan Tani, a former ISS astronaut. Along with the supplies, Cygnus will carry a 3D printer from Made in Space, two dozen nanosatellites and Saffire, an experiment to test the effects of fire in space.

The Saffire experiments are scheduled to run after all the cargo is unloaded. Fire is obviously a serious hazard in space, so the goal is to safely study how it propagates in zero-gravity. Normally, the crew would just load Cygnus with trash and lets it burn up on re-entry into the atmosphere. This time, however, it will remotely ignite a piece of cloth inside a five-foot-wide module to study how fire behaves in a micro-gravity environment.

If all goes well, Cygnus will launch today at 11:05 PM eastern time, with a 30 minute launch window extension. It will dock with the ISS on March 26th and the Saffire experiment will happen at some point after that, though NASA hasn’t said when yet, exactly. Once the experiment is complete, it will remain in orbit seven days while scientists download data from sensors and video cameras. After that, they’ll send Cygnus off to burn up on re-entry as usual.

Source: NASA

Tesla drops its largest consumer Powerwall model

If you’re thinking about buying Tesla’s Powerwall home energy storage battery, you’re down to one option. The company tells Greentech Media that it will discontinue the larger $3,500 10kWh model due to lack of demand. “We have decided to focus entirely on building and deploying the 7kWh Daily Powerwall at this time,” a spokeperson says. While the larger model was able to store more energy, it’s rated for just 500 cycles, while the smaller $3,000 model is for daily use and has a 10-year guarantee.

On its website, Tesla now says “each Powerwall has a 6.4 kWh energy storage capacity, sufficient to power most homes during the evening using electricity generated by solar panels during the day. Multiple batteries may be installed together for homes with greater energy needs.” The larger model, on the other hand, was marketed as a “home backup” system that was only for weekly charging — something most folks apparently don’t need.

However, Tesla is likely also clearing the way for new Powerwall models that could arrive this summer, as it recently hinted at a private gathering. If that proves accurate, you can probably expect more daily charging Powerwall models with even higher capacity and durability.

Via: Autoblog

Source: Greentech Media

‘Star Fox 64’ lands on the Wii U Virtual Console this week

Star Fox 64 is an unequivocal classic that introduced Fox McCloud to a new generation of Nintendo fans. Now, with a fresh Star Fox game headed to the Wii U, Nintendo has decided to re-release the beloved space shooter on its latest home console. It’ll be available in Europe from March 24th through the Wii U Virtual Console, with a 50 percent discount up until the release of Star Fox Zero on April 21st. So whether you’re new to the franchise or returning after a long Lylat Wars hiatus (as the game was known in Australia and Europe), this should be a good way to dive back in.

#StarFox 64 blasts onto #WiiU Virtual Console on Thursday and will be 50% off until 21/04! pic.twitter.com/Z7cvyZWbym

— Nintendo of Europe (@NintendoEurope) March 21, 2016

It’s not the first time Star Fox 64 has been re-released. A modified version was developed for the 3DS in 2011, taking advantage of the handheld’s 3D slider and dual-screen design. It was a faithful remake, although we suspect many would prefer to play Star Fox on their living room TV.

For Nintendo, the Wii U re-release is an opportunity to remind people about the Star Fox franchise, which has been fairly dormant in recent years. Star Fox: Assault was the last entry on home consoles, debuting on the Gamecube in 2005, before the portable spin-off Star Fox Command arrived on the Nintendo DS in 2006. Save for the aforementioned 3DS remake, Fox McCloud and the gang have been limited to Amiibos and playable characters in Super Smash Bros. Star Fox Zero is, therefore, a pretty important title in order to make the series feel relevant again.

Via: Eurogamer

Source: Nintendo of Europe (Twitter)

Oppo gearing up to manufacture one million 4G smartphones a month in India

Oppo is looking to increase its manufacturing capabilities in India. The Chinese vendor is setting up a plant in Noida, with plans to produce one million 4G-enabled smartphones monthly.

In an interview with Economic Times, Oppo India CEO Mike Wang stated that the vendor will be producing devices aimed at the ₹10,000 to ₹20,000 segment, although specific models were not revealed.

The phones will be designed in China, and manufactured in India following “local level customization for the India market.” Initially, all phones manufactured in India will be sold locally, but a portion of the production will be dedicated for export to South Asian markets in the future.

Foxconn currently manufactures all Oppo handsets that are sold in India, but Wang mentioned that its partnership with the vendor will not be affected by upcoming plant in Noida. With Oppo re-doubling its efforts in the country with the launch of devices like the F1, it is likely the Chinese manufacturer is looking to its factory to augment production.

Samsung is rolling out Marshmallow to the Galaxy S5 in South Korea

Samsung is rolling out Android 6.0.1 Marshmallow to the Galaxy S5 in South Korea. Should you be rocking the smartphone in the region on LG Uplus, you’ll be able to take full advantage of latest features and improvements included in a more advanced version of Android. As noted by SamMobile, the update roll out appears to be hitting unlocked variations of the Galaxy S5.

If you haven’t yet received the update yet, don’t worry. You can check manually by heading into your settings area and checking for any available updates. There’s also the flashing path if you’re simply unable to sit and wait. Hit us up in the comments if you’re already rocking the update on your Galaxy S5 in South Korea.

79 of the worst Photoshop errors ever, you won’t believe your eyes

Technology has really changed the way we interact with the world. It can even change our perceptions of things in it.

That’s extremely true when it comes to Adobe’s Photoshop software, which has become the buzzword for digital image manipulation. You can’t pick up a magazine nowadays without seeing images designers have altered to make models skinnier, cars shinier or dull urban cities turned into sunny, vibrant places you’d like to live.

And for the most part, the pictures look flawless. Sometimes though they go wrong. Very, very wrong indeed.

That’s why we’ve compiled 79 of the funniest Photoshop errors we’ve found on the internet to show just how badly a Photoshop job can go. While the software is an amazing tool with depth of function to allow almost any creation the human running it can imagine, it takes skill.

From extra hands to missing limbs, this collection of what can only be described as Photoshop cock-ups should make you chuckle. While some are actually almost good, it’s the fine attention to detail that counts when using a tool like this which you might spot on a second viewing. Of course, some are just downright ridiculous. We had to include some magazine covers just to show how top professionals can get it wrong too.

Check out our gallery above to see all the attempts at Photoshop edits that have gone wrong. Adobe Photoshop has now been around for over 26 years and yet people still need lessons in how to use it correctly. Perhaps in 24 years time, by the software’s 50th birthday, these will be all cleared up. For comedy’s sake we hope not though.

Which iPhone is best for you? iPhone SE, iPhone 6, iPhone 6S, iPhone 6 Plus or iPhone 6S Plus?

There is plenty of choice when it comes to smartphones, almost too much in fact. Chances are if you are reading this feature however, you have at least narrowed your options down to the iPhone.

So as you have discarded Android, Windows Phone and BlackBerry, as well as the other lesser-known options in favour of Apple, we are here to help you decide which iPhone is best for you.

Apple offers the iPhone SE, the iPhone 6, the iPhone 6S, the iPhone 6 Plus and the iPhone 6S Plus, so which one is the one for you? Let us explain the differences to help you figure out which you should spend your cash on.

Apple

Apple iPhone SE

The Apple iPhone SE is the cheapest way to get your hands on an iPhone, despite being the newest in the line-up. It succeeds the iPhone 5S and like its predecessor, it will be the perfect device for some because its smaller size has the potential to make it a more practical option.

The iPhone SE has a 4-inch Retina display with a 1136 x 640 pixel resolution making it quite a bit smaller than its siblings. It measures 123.8 x 58.6 x 7.6mm and it weighs just 113g so it’s the smallest and lightest iPhone available.

Storage wise, you get the same as the iPhone 6 and 6 Plus with the SE available in 16GB and 64GB models. This is something to consider if you take a lot of snaps or download a lot of apps. Colour options are silver, space grey, gold and rose gold, while the battery life is claimed to offer up to 14 hours talk time.

You’ll find an 12-megapixel rear camera with all same features as the flagship iPhone 6S including 4K video recording, a True Tone flash and Live Photos. The front-facing camera has a lower resolution than the flagship at 1.2-megapixels but it does offer the Retina flash like the iPhone 6S. Touch ID and NFC are also both on board the iPhone SE meaning Apple Pay support, something which the replaced iPhone 5S didn’t offer.

The iPhone SE might be small but it is powerful with the A9 chip under the hood along with the M9 co-processor which is the element that allows your phone to act as a step tracker, among other things. In a nutshell, the iPhone SE is a smaller and more compact version of the iPhone 6S with a slightly different design and a few missing features.

WHY BUY?

The iPhone SE is the perfect iPhone for those that want a smaller, cheaper iPhone and for those that aren’t interested in the larger models.

You get many of latest features and some powerful specs, but in a smaller and more compact format. It’s the iPhone to buy if you want to stay small but still want a great camera and good hardware.

PRICE: From £359

READ MORE Apple iPhone SE everything you need to know

Amazon

Apple iPhone 6

The Apple iPhone 6 makes a jump in display size to 4.7 inches and offers a slight bump in resolution to 1334 x 750 pixels, meaning the same pixel density as the iPhone SE. Apple offers a couple of other features in this area too though, like display zoom, which isn’t available on the new iPhone SE.

Under the hood is the A8 processor, supported by the M8 co-processor and although the iPhone 6 introduced a new and improved camera over the iPhone 5S, it is just 8-megapixels compared to the smaller iPhone SE. In terms of physical size and weight, you’re looking at 138.1 x 67 x 6.9mm and 129g so it’s lovely and slim, as well as light, despite its larger footprint.

The storage capacities for the iPhone 6 comprise 16GB and 64GB, meaning the same as the iPhone SE and the iPhone 6 is the device Apple first introduced NFC functionality to, meaning like its siblings, it can be used to pay for items under £20 in a number of retail stores using Apple Pay.

Battery life took a leap from the iPhone 5S’s 10 hours to up to 14 hours talk time on the iPhone 6, but as the iPhone 6 is now the oldest iPhone offered through Apple, it only comes in silver and space grey colour options.

The design of the iPhone 6 is more elegant, rounded and streamlined than the iPhone SE however, so for those that don’t mind a slightly larger smartphone and those happy to pay a little more, you’ll find yourself with a beautiful device opting for the iPhone 6.

WHY BUY?

The iPhone 6 is the perfect iPhone for those who want a stunning device that looks like the latest iPhone but doesn’t have all the latest features. Its size won’t suit everyone, as while Samsung and LG have had large phones for years, Apple only caught up here last year and some fans will take a little longer to adjust, or decide they don’t want to adjust at all.

If you want a premium, powerful and slightly larger smartphone running iOS, but you don’t want to pay the price of the newest, the iPhone 6 is your one.

PRICE: From £459

READ MORE Apple iPhone 6 review

Apple

Apple iPhone 6S

The Apple iPhone 6S is the successor to the iPhone 6 with an almost identical design but it brings in more powerful specs and a few additional features, making it the flagship iPhone. You’ll still find a 4.7-inch display with a 1334 x 750 pixel resolution so you’ll get much of the same experience as the iPhone 6, but the iPhone 6S introduces a technology called 3D Touch.

In terms of build, the iPhone 6S is ever so slightly larger and heavier than the iPhone 6 measuring 138.3 x 67.1 x 7.1mm and hitting the scales at 143g, but you get the latest A9 processor and M9 motion coprocessor, along with storage options of 16GB, 64GB or 128GB. 

It comes in four colours like the iPhone SE, including rose gold and the gold that was originally available on the iPhone 6 before the iPhone 6S was announced and the gold option on the iPhone 6 was dropped. Battery remains the same, as do many of the other features including Touch ID.

It’s the camera capabilities that see one of the biggest differences between the iPhone 6 and the iPhone 6S. This flagship iPhone sports the 12-megapixel rear snapper like the iPhone SE, but it ups the front-facing snapper to 5-megapixels. There is also a feature called Live Photos on board and support for 4K video recording too, like the smaller iPhone SE. 

If you want the top-of-the-range iPhone but you aren’t looking for a phablet, the 6S is the best option. It has all the latest specs and features Apple has to offer in a slim, premium design.

WHY BUY?

The iPhone 6S is the flagship iPhone at a more manageable size than the Plus models.

It’s the model for those that are after the latest and greatest specs, most recent features and more colour choices but with a 4.7-inch display rather than a 5.5-inch.

PRICE: From £539

READ MORE Apple iPhone 6S review

Amazon

Apple iPhone 6 Plus

The iPhone 6 Plus is one of the big friendly giants of the iPhone world. If you have even considered the iPhone SE, chances are you won’t even be looking at the iPhone 6 Plus, but for those after an Apple phablet – this is one of two options.

The iPhone 6 Plus has a 5.5-inch display with a 1920 x 1080 resolution that delivers a pixel density of 401ppi so slightly crisper and sharper than the smaller iPhones available. Of course, a larger screen means a larger and heavier body so you can expect a 158.1 x 77.8 x 7.1mm footprint, and a weight of 172g for the iPhone 6 Plus. Let’s just say it isn’t as pocket-friendly as the iPhone SE, iPhone 6 or iPhone 6S.

Aside from physical size and display however, the iPhone 6 Plus is virtually identical in specs to the iPhone 6 meaning the same 8-megapixel rear iSight camera with the addition of optical image stabilisation for the iPhone 6 Plus, NFC capability for Apple Pay and the A8 processor.

The same colour options as the iPhone 6 apply and the same storage options as both the iPhone 6 and iPhone SE so you can choose between 16GB and 64GB but the battery capacity is larger on the iPhone 6 Plus, as you might expect. Apple claims it will offer up to 24 hours of talk time in comparison to the 14 hours of the iPhone SE and iPhone 6.

The more you get, the more it costs however. The iPhone 6 Plus is one of the more expensive iPhone options, starting at the same price as the iPhone 6S. You need to be both happy to splash the cash, as well as happy to have a smartphone that covers the majority of your head when taking calls if the iPhone 6 Plus is going to be the one for you.

WHY BUY?

The iPhone 6 Plus is the perfect iPhone for those who want the great design aesthetics of the iPhone 6 but on a larger scale. It’s for those that want iOS on a phablet but aren’t too fussed about the latest and greatest specs.

It’s one of the two bigger iPhones but it doesn’t have every feature Apple offers so if you’re down with the size, but you’re looking to spend a little less than the price of the iPhone 6S Plus, the iPhone 6 Plus could be the one for you.

PRICE: From £539

READ MORE Apple iPhone 6 Plus review

Amazon

Apple iPhone 6S Plus

The Apple iPhone 6S Plus is the biggest, heaviest and most expensive iPhone available. It’s the second of the two big friendly giants in the iPhone world but it packs in slightly upgraded specs in comparison to its predecessor.

The iPhone 6S Plus is very similar to the iPhone 6S in terms of specs and it is almost identical to the iPhone 6 Plus in terms of design, like the iPhone 6S is to the iPhone 6. It’s a little larger at 158.2 x 77.9 x 7.3mm and a little heavier at 192g but like the iPhone 6S, it packs in new tech here and there.

The display remains at 5.5-inches with a Full HD resolution for a pixel density of 401ppi, but like the iPhone 6S, the iPhone 6S Plus introduces 3D Touch, as well as a new camera.

There is a 12-megapixel snapper on the rear and a 5-megapixel snapper on the front along with all the same features of the iPhone 6S including Live Photos and 4K video recording. You will also find optical image stabilisation on the iPhone 6S Plus, like the iPhone 6 Plus, which isn’t available on the iPhone 6 or iPhone 6S.

The battery remains the same as the iPhone 6 Plus, but you will get the option of a 128GB storage model for the iPhone 6S Plus, as well as the addition of rose gold and gold colour options.

WHY BUY?

If you want the biggest iPhone available with the latest and greatest specs, the iPhone 6S Plus is the one for you.

It packs in the more powerful specs like the iPhone 6S, but it does so in a bigger format so if 4.7-inches isn’t quite big enough for you and budget isn’t an option, the iPhone 6S Plus is the one you’ll want. 

PRICE: From £619

READ MORE Apple iPhone 6S Plus review

How to get started with the new BBC micro:bit computer

Announced last year, the BBC micro:bit pocket-sized computer is now being delivered to all 11 and 12-year-olds (Year 7) in the UK.

The new computer, which many will see as an alternative to the Raspberry Pi, offers kids the chance to play with dedicated hardware and learn coding at home and in the classroom.

Teachers have already had a couple of months to play with the kit, but to many school children it will be the first time they’ve got their hands on one.

But where should they start? What resources are available? And, as a parent whose child could be about to bring one home, what can you do to get involved?

A number of teachers who have been exploring the BBC micro:bit over the last few months have put together the following top tips to help others get the most out of the device:

BBC micro:bit hardware: Understand what you’ve got

The computer board, which enables you to see all the elements exposed, features a processor, compass, accelerometer, USB power port, a Bluetooth antenna and battery port to connect two AAA batteries.

Kids can also use the five input and output (I/O) rings to connect up to five crocodile clips via the board to hook it up to other devices.

Before you get confused with all the coding elements though, just take some time to have a play with the hardware of the micro:bit. Try getting the lights to light up depending on what you do or how you move the board.

BBC micro:bit teachers guide: Use the “Quick Start Guide for Teachers” to get started

“Start by working through activities in the Quick Start Guide for Teachers,” says Steve Richards, ICT teacher and curriculum team leader at Eastlea Community School. “It’s a really great hands-on introduction to the BBC micro:bit.”

The 32-page guide not only explains in detail what the micro:bit can do, but also gives you a number of tutorials to get you started. And just because it’s aimed at teachers and pupils in class shouldn’t put you off, the tutorials are just as easy to understand at home as they are in the classroom.

Check out the micro:bit website.

The Teachers Guide only features three tutorials to get you started but there are plenty of other things you can do with the small computer. The BBC has created a dedicated micro:bit website with stacks of information videos, tutorials, and more to try out. 

BBC

BBC micro:bit code editors: Get coding with your preferred editor

“Kick off with the Block Editor. It’s a great graphical coding environment to use as you introduce students to the BBC micro:bit, before you start using the text-based programming language” says Jane Waite, Computing at School London regional coordinator (CAS London).

Nic Hughes, head of computing at Latymer Prep School adds, “There are some really effective lesson plans for the Touch Develop code editor, targeted at all skill levels.”

There are different coding editors to try: Code Kingdoms JavaScript, Microsoft Block Editor, Microsoft Touch Developer, and Python. You can use the one that will suit different tasks or your ability. The best option is to probably just play around with what feels better for you. Touch Develop is probably best suited for use with a tablet or smartphone, while Python is really aimed at more advanced programmers.

BBC micro:bit additional projects: Look at the bigger picture

“Look for ways to incorporate the BBC micro:bit into a wider project,” says Steve Richards, ICT teacher and curriculum team leader at Eastlea Community School. “Some of our kids used them as a brain for a self-driving car, a controller for a robotic arm and as part of a fitness strap.”

The People’s Operator now has a super-cheap 4G plan

When The People’s Operator (TPO) launched in the UK in 2012, it stood out for two reasons. On the one hand, a quarter of the company’s profits are piped into a charitable foundation, and 10 percent of subscriber spend goes to a charity of their choice. Kudos where kudos is due, but initially high data costs seriously limited the MVNO’s potential audience. In subsequent years, TPO — which piggybacks on EE’s network — has improved the attractiveness of its tariffs, though they’ve remained 3G-only. Today, however, TPO has finally caught up with the times, announcing its first 4G plan with 2GB of data, 600 minutes and unlimited texts for £7 per month.

We probably don’t need to tell you, but we will anyway: That’s seriously cheap, especially considering you aren’t locking yourself into a lengthy contract. The SIM-only, 4G tariff, like TPO’s 3G options, is available on a 30-day rolling contract, with out-of-allowance charges set at 3p per MB and 10p per minute. The one catch is only new customers can sign up for it at the moment, but TPO plans to release more LTE tariffs for both new and existing customers starting in July this year.

Source: The People’s Operator

Nintendo’s Miitomo app racks up 1 million users in Japan

Nintendo’s first smartphone app is performing well in Japan. Miitomo, which the console maker launched on March 17th, has already snapped up 1 million users on iOS and Android. Of course, Japan is Nintendo’s home turf — so some success was always likely — but the number still bodes well for the app’s international release. While the exact launch date is still unknown, Nintendo has said it plans to launch Miitomo in 38 regions, including Canada, the US and the UK, sometime later this month.

Miitomo(ミートモ)のお客様が、3日で100万人を突破しました！早々のことで私も驚いております。ご利用ありがとうございます！！
Miitomoはたくさんのトモダチとつながることで更に面白くなりますので、引き続きお楽しみください。 #Miitomo

— Miitomo【公式】 (@Miitomo_JP) March 19, 2016

Miitomo is a social app inspired by the Tomodachi Life (known in Japan as Tomodachi Collection) games for Nintendo DS and 3DS. You create a Mii, dress them up and then pick their personality and voice. Nintendo will then ask questions about, well, almost anything, such as your favourite food or what you last bought. The idea is to write some witty or insightful responses, because they’ll later appear in your friends’ feeds. Likewise, your peers’ ramblings will appear in your own Miitomo feed, encouraging further comments and bizarre, possibly heartwarming conversations.

Then there’s Miifoto, a separate feature that lets you poke your Mii into different poses and take pictures with colorful backgrounds. These can be shared on Twitter, Facebook, Instagram and Line — an addictive mechanism that encourages sharing and Mii customisation.

It’s a unique app and one that feels very Nintendo-like. How it will perform over a longer period of time, and in markets outside of Japan, remains a mystery however. The early signs are positive though — 1 million downloads is impressive for any developer these days, especially those fighting for attention in the App Store or Google Play. If Nintendo can monetize Miitomo effectively (how many people will pay for a Splatoon-themed inkling outfit?) the app could become a nice little earner.

Via: CNET

Source: Miitomo (Japan)