Save up to 70% on select Crucial and Lexar storage products at Amazon

Amazon’s Deal of the Day can score you up to 70% savings on various hard drives, memory cards, memory and more from Lexar and Crucial. Whether you need a new hard drive for your computer, some RAM to speed it up a bit, or a new memory card for your phone, you won’t want to miss out on this deal. Some of the deals include:

• Crucial 480GB Internal SSD – $100
• Crucial 960GB Internal SSD – $200
• Crucial 16GB DDR3 RAM Kit – $46
• Crucial 8GB DDR3 RAM – $22
• Lexar 64GB microSD card – $20
• Lexar 128GB microSD card – $43

Remember, these deals are only good for today, April 11, so don’t wait too long to pick one up. For a full list of products on sale, hit the link below.

See at Amazon

Festo’s flying sphere makes the creepiest drone deliveries

Festo is known for drones modeled on animals, like the Seagull-inspired SmartBird and 3D-printed BionicANTs. We’re not sure what animal the “FreeMotionHandling” sphere is supposed to be — some kind of flying jellyfish, maybe? Regardless, it’s one of company’s most useful drones so far. Filled with helium, it can soar autonomously in any direction thanks to eight on-board propellers. Guided by indoor GPS and a pair of cameras, it can then grab an object using using the company’s tongue-like FlexShapeGripper and absorb it into the body of the balloon.

From there, it seeks the intended recipient and gently delivers the object by oozing it back out. The process looks pretty bizarre, but the company sees it as useful for future workplaces, where “both man and machine can interact with each other easily and safely.” It could, for instance, smoothly pass you a tool if you’re working in a high up, difficult-to-access spot. It’s unlikely to be commercialized any time soon, but that doesn’t mean you can’t enjoy the video (below).

Via: CNET

Source: Festo

Tesco now lets you automate your shopping with IFTTT

Now we’re at the point where shopping for groceries no longer requires you to trudge down to the local supermarket, retailers are constantly working on new ways to make filling our baskets a little bit easier. For its latest trial, Tesco — still the UK’s largest supermarket despite mega financial setbacks — has launched a new platform that lets you automate some of your shopping. It’s teamed up with task-managing service IFTTT to roll out a bunch of new “recipes” that can automatically add items to your basket when prices drop or even when the weather is unexpectedly favourable.

On its blog, the Tesco Labs team (the R&D people behind the new channel) explain that once you’ve connected your Tesco account to IFTTT, you can set it to monitor when the price of a product changes or drops below a preset price and add it to your basket for later checkout. Tesco’s own recipes are useful but some enterprising users have already had a little fun and added their own. Notable inclusions are the “Push for beer” recipe or getting Alexa (the Amazon Echo voice assistant) to put milk in your basket with a spoken command.

Although IFTTT (which is short for If This Then That) is considered pretty nerdy, its iOS and Android apps make setting up recipes pretty simple. Maybe not as simple as Amazon’s Dash buttons, but easy enough that you could save yourself some hassle when it comes to remembering exactly what you need on your weekly shop.

Via: Tesco Labs Blog

Source: Tesco on IFTTT

Layer3 vows to fix cable TV, not replace it

The prevailing wisdom among the internet literati is that old-school TV is on the way out. When even the incumbents are catering to cord-cutters, surely internet-only video will be the way of the future, isn’t it? Don’t tell that to Layer3 TV. It’s revealing plans for an upcoming cable TV service that, theoretically, tackles some of the biggest problems you run into with conventional providers like Comcast or Time Warner Cable. For a start, Layer3 wants to avoid the overly compressed video that you typically endure — it’s using efficient HEVC (H.265) encoding and a fiber optic backbone to keep bandwidth use in check and maintain the highest quality possible. You’re also promised very precise service appointment windows (within one hour) and set-top box installation so simple that you’ll eventually get to do it yourself.

However, the biggest deal may be Layer3’s willingness to embrace the internet and other modern technology rather than fight it. It’ll include internet services like Amazon Prime and Netflix among regular TV options, and browsing for movies will show you those services in addition to any broadcasts. Also, the days of constantly flipping through channels might be over: the channel guide uses a blend of demographics, time and your preferences to prioritize channels. If you regularly tune into sports, for instance, you may see that channel first.

The service should arrive in Chicago and a few other cities in the next few months, with prices ranging between $80 to $150 depending on the number of TVs you need to hook up. Importantly, Layer3 suggests that it’ll keep its set-tops relatively current, rather than make you wait several years.

Whether or not Layer3 succeeds is another matter. Although it’s eliminating many of the headaches of cable and satellite TV, it’s not changing the basic business model — cord-cutting happens precisely because people don’t want to pay $80-plus per month for hundreds of channels they don’t watch. Also, Layer3 TV co-creator Dave Fellows (formerly of Comcast) ironically created one of the business strategies that might do the company in: the triple play bundle. Rivals frequently give you an incentive to subscribe to multiple services, and jumping ship isn’t trivial even if you can replace all of those services in one shot. Layer3 will have to both convince you that cable TV is worth saving and show that you’re not better off sticking with familiar names.

Source: Layer3 TV, Wired

Netflix’s first UK show, ‘The Crown,’ arrives November 4

If you need more lavish British dramas on your Netflix queue, you’ll have the company’s first UK series to binge watch on November 4. The Crown comes from Peter Morgan (The Queen, Frost/Nixon), and it’ll focus on the reign of Queen Elizabeth II and the royal family. It’s an ambitious project by Netflix — the first season reportedly cost $156 million to produce, its most expensive series yet. Claire Foy (Wolf Hall) will play the young queen, and former Doctor Who star Matt Smith will co-star as Prince Philip.

Netflix doesn’t give away much with its release announcement teaser below, but check out the longer sizzle real for a better sense of what to expect from The Crown.

UK competition watchdog slams Three and O2 merger

The UK’s competition watchdog has called on the European Commission to block a proposed acquisition of Telefonica UK, which runs O2, by Hutchison Whampoa, the company behind Three UK, unless both companies agree to a series of strong concessions. In a letter, Alex Chisholm, CEO for the Competition and Markets Authority (CMA), says he will only approve if Hutchison Whampoa agrees to sell Three or O2 after the acquisition. Such a move is the only way, he argues, to retain adequate competition in the UK mobile industry. If this isn’t possible, Chisholm suggests breaking off one of the networks and facilitating smaller sell-offs.

“Absent such structural remedies, the only option available to the Commission is prohibition.”

Hutchison Whampoa announced its intention to buy Telefonica’s O2 business in March 2015. A combined subscriber base would make both more competitive with their two British rivals, Vodafone and EE. Seven months later, the CMA asked the European Commission if it could lead the investigation into its potential market impact. The concern is that, with three major carriers rather than four, the acquisition will reduce competition in the UK and lead to higher prices. The CMA argued that its experience investigating telecoms mergers made it ideal for the job.

The European Commission refused the offer and pressed ahead with its own research. No assessment has been published publicly, however today’s letter from the CMA references a “statement of objections” that was sent by the Commission to Hutchison Whampoa in February. A closed-door hearing was then held in early March, with Three UK and a bunch of its rivals, including Sky, Virgin Media, Vodafone and BT, in attendance.

A couple of weeks later, reports emerged that Hutchison had proposed its own concessions. These included selling 30 percent of its network capacity. It could be sold to the highest bidder or in fragments to companies interested in managing their own infrastructure. In addition, it promised to sell back the 50 percent stake it currently has in Tesco Mobile, a virtual mobile network operator run by the popular supermarket.

The European Commission has until May 19th to decide whether these concessions go far enough. Clearly, the CMA doesn’t think so. The fast-approaching deadline is why it’s come forward today and urged the Commission to demand more from Hutchison Whampoa. “The proposed remedies are materially deficient as they will not lead to the creation of a fourth mobile network operator (MNO) capable of competing effectively and in the long-term with the remaining three MNOs,” Chisholm says.

Hutchison Whampoa is “very disappointed” with the CMA’s letter, claiming it has “no legitimate status” in the Commission’s investigation. In a statement, the company says the CMA has put forward an “entirely one-sided argument” which doesn’t address its own proposals. “The divestiture of Three or O2 to a new MNO to gain approval of the merger is a red herring,” it said. “There is no taker for such a remedy. It would also undermine the whole economic rationale of the merger and reinforce the spectrum inferiority and capacity constraints of both companies.”

Tom Mockridge, CEO of Virgin Media, has also criticised the CMA. It believes the BT and EE merger , which the CMA approved “without remedies,” has created a company with an unfair amount of spectrum. That’s why it’s now so hard for regulators to create a fourth mobile network operator in the UK. “A combined O2/Three would provide a counter balance to the strength of BT/EE, offering an alternative source of capacity to other providers who will drive competition in their own right.”

Source: Competition & Markets Authority

Lytro’s first pro movie camera is designed for visual effects magic

While there are plenty of advanced digital movie cameras, most of them aren’t really designed for the modern realities of movie making, where computer-generated effects are seemingly ubiquitous. You’ll still have to bust out the green screen if you want to put those real actors in a digital world. Lytro might have a better way, though. It’s introducing the Lytro Cinema, a movie camera built with digital effects in mind. Since Lytro’s light field technology captures a massive, 3D picture of the environment (755 RAW megapixels at up to 300FPS), you might never need a green screen again — you can accurately determine the objects you want to keep in a given scene.

The Cinema also gives cinematographers the rare chance to adjust camera settings after the fact. You can choose the focal point, of course (possible even in the original Lytro cam), but you can also adjust depth of field, dynamic range (up to 16 stops) and shutter speed. In short, you won’t have to reshoot just because you weren’t quite happy with the output. The master footage also makes it comparatively easy to adapt to different frame rates and video formats, like IMAX and TV broadcasts.

Don’t plan on using one to produce your fan film any time soon. Rental packages start at $125,000, and there aren’t mentions of plans to sell the camera directly. The Cinema is really meant for top-tier studios with giant budgets, not indies getting their first production off the ground. Even so, it might be a big deal — it could not only save valuable post-production time, but give creators more freedom to experiment with and perfect their shots.

Via: TechCrunch

Source: Lytro (1), (2), BusinessWire

Ratchet & Clank (2016) review: Platformer perfection on PS4?

Timed to coincide with the Ratchet & Clank movie, this is the first time two of Sony’s most-loved platform-exclusive heroes have officially appeared in their own game on PlayStation 4. And although fans might be bemused at first with how familiar it all seems, newcomers couldn’t have hoped for a better current-gen debut.

That’s because it is stunning – easily the best-looking platformer on the PS4. It is also packed with content, providing plenty of blasting, puzzling and leaping action. And it offers enough of a challenge for experienced and casual gamers alike.

The catch, for Ratchet & Clank fans, is that even though it looks fresh and up-to-date with its visuals and presentation, it’s actually a remake of the very first game, released on the PlayStation 2 in 2002. As such, those who played that or the HD version on PS3 as part of the Ratchet & Clank Trilogy collection, will be taken down memory lane throughout.

So is Ratchet & Clank in 2016 a wonderful trip down memory lane, or just a yawnsome rehash of same-old content?

Ratchet & Clank PS4 review: Rebuilt from the ground up

Because it’s re-worked content isn’t necessarily a reason to dismiss this game though. Seasoned Clankers can take great heart in the fact that developer Insomniac hasn’t just slapped on a new coat of paint, as with many other remasters or reissues. It has almost rebuilt the game from the ground up.

Not only does it look a million dollars, it also has tonnes of new content, tweaked original gameplay, and all-new cut scenes – many of which have been taken from the movie.

In short, it serves as both a great introduction to the characters for newfound fans of the movie, while providing plenty of extra elements to keep the old guard happy. Win-win.

Like the new movie, the story starts at the beginning, when Lombax mechanic and Galactic Ranger wannabe Ratchet meets his robot buddy Clank for the first time. And it’s refreshing to revisit that tale with a fresh look, better animation, new voice acting and a keener sense of humour (although some of the jokes are clangers).

It’s also great to encounter their first dalliances with the always funny superhero buffoon that is Captain Quark. Not all the comedy in Ratchet & Clank (or the many previous games) works, and some of it is simply puerile for anyone over the age of 13, but it’s harmless and capable of raising a titter here and there.

Sony Computer Entertainment / Insomniac Games

Some of the best gags are self-referential, such as an opening joke about playing a game based on a movie based on a game. And having recently revisited the original Ratchet & Clank, there has clearly been some deft script editing and extra work done on bringing some of the themes and mirth up to date.

Ratchet & Clank 2016 review: Familiar gameplay

The menu systems are similar to before, although updated in style and functionality to match more recent PS3 remake efforts. You can buy new weapons and upgrade existing ones from Gadgetron Vendors scattered around the many visitable levels and worlds, which open into their own user interfaces.

Through these you can now beef-up weaponry through individual upgrade grids, by spending the reasonably-hard-to-come-by Raritanium (which almost sounds like an Avatar joke – only it wasn’t a joke in that movie). This feature wasn’t available in the original game and was introduced in later sequels. Favourite blasters and the like from later games have also been added, and can be bought in exchange for blots collected throughout the game.

Sony Computer Entertainment / Insomniac Games

We have always been big fans of Mr Zurkon, the floating robot helper with a psychotic demeanour, so we’re thrilled that he’s as feisty and useful as always.

The mission and travel menu systems are refreshed more than a little too. Throughout the game, the story will continually point you in new directions, to new planets where plot points will play out. However, as each is discovered and unlocked they are added to a galactic map list so you can choose to revisit previous levels whenever you like.

This is important as each level doesn’t just feature elements of the story missions, but there are secrets and optional side quests too. Some of these cannot be completed on the first visit either because, as the story progresses, Ratchet and Clank’s abilities are enhanced, meaning tricky-to-reach areas on early landscapes might be suddenly accessible thanks to a rocket pack or magnetic boots picked up later down the line. This encourages further exploration and expands the game’s running time somewhat.

Ratchet & Clank 2016 review: New additions

There are also sections on planets that divert from the action-platforming gameplay. There is a hoverboard race segment, for example, that plays like a cross between Wipeout and Mario Kart. A new flying sequence has been added. And there are even all-new planets that didn’t feature in the first game at all.

Sony Computer Entertainment / Insomniac Games

The controls, too, are more familiar to those used in later Ratchet & Clank outings, with a customisable quick-select option on the D-pad for the large array of weapons. Certain puzzles on levels have also been enhanced or changed entirely.

But perhaps the biggest addition to the all-new Ratchet & Clank comes in the form of collectable cards. Scattered throughout levels, and often requiring puzzle-solving skills to attain, are holocards. They also sometimes pop-up while defeating waves of aliens and enemies. They aren’t just for show though, as collecting ranges of three will give our hero special boosts and bonuses; they can also be used to obtain some of the game’s more elusive weapons. This further adds to the exploration of each world, and gives extra incentive to return.

Indeed, when a game looks this good and plays as intuitively as any other platformer out there on the market, you’ll want to wring it dry before declaring the game finished. You won’t be satisfied until you search every nook and cranny of the new Ratchet & Clank – and even then you might decide to start again on a harder level.

Verdict

We’ve only recently completed the PS3 HD remaster of the original Ratchet & Clank, but were more than happy to plough through it again on PS4. The levels that overlap are extremely similar in layout and goals, but the amount of extra content added pleasantly threw us off-balance often. The game is so stunningly good-looking that it’s also a joy to complete it again just to see everything in a new light.

It helps that the PlayStation 4 is largely devoid of decent 3D platformers so this now sits happily atop a very small pile. And let’s not forget that it is a movie licensed title, something of a rarity these days. That in itself harks back to the early 2000s, when movie tie-ins where nine-to-the-dozen. There’s one major difference compared to many of those, though: Ratchet & Clank is actually good. Splendid in fact.

Smart umbrella tells you when it’s going to rain

Everything is connected these days, so why not an umbrella? Oombrella is an upscale parasol that alerts you if it’s going to rain before you head outside and reminds you not to leave it behind. That’s a neat idea, but is it worth a $75 (€64) bet on Kickstarter? Clement Guillot (above), the Paris-based entrepreneur behind it certainly thinks so, and was recently at the Hacking Hôtel de Ville event in Paris to find more backers. I was able to check out the device and found it to be a charming use of connected tech, though the price may dissuade many folks.

Oombrella tries hard to be worth it. It has Kevlar ribs to maximize wind resistance, and the “shiny” style canopy is a head-turner. It even has a camera screw on top to double as a GoPro selfie/boom pole. However, similar weather-resistant dumb umbrellas can be had for under $30. So most of what you’re paying for is the “capsule” tucked inside Oombrella’s handle, which can be bought separately for €29. It’s a mini weather station with temperature, pressure, humidity and light sensors on board. Those communicate with a smartphone app via Bluetooth LE to perform a variety of functions.

The company behind Oombrella already has a weather platform called Wezzoo with some 200,000 users. The app uses that system to give you a 15 minute warning when it’s about to rain so you can grab it before heading out. Another feature is “forget me not,” which helps ensure you don’t lose Oombrella by notifying you when you stray too far away from it.

As with other connected devices, there are tracking and social functions. You can see the stats of your last rainy trip, including where you went, how much you used it and what the weather was like. You can also spot other Oombrella users in the area using the social functions. A nice touch is a handle light that blinks when you get a call or message, in case you can’t hear your phone during a torrential downpour. If you let it, Oombrella can also “collect data and share it with the community to make hyperlocal weather data more accurate,” according to Wezzoo.

The idea of a stout umbrella that reminds you to bring it when it’s raining and helps makes sure you don’t leave it behind it is nice use of connected tech. However, the price may be a touch high for many folks. While Oombrella has sold out at the €59 ($67) early-bird pricing on Kickstarter, the €64 ($73) and up offerings are still available. The campaign is €10,000 short of its €59,000 goal, but if you’re a weather nerd or want a high-end umbrella that doubles as unique connected device, there’s a week left to grab one.

Hiring a robot waiter can cost you your business

If you’ve ever whined that employing people means dealing with their personal messes, don’t think hiring robots can make your life any better. Two restaurants in China have been forced to close after replacing their flesh-and-bone waitstaff with robots turned out to be a terrible mistake. According to the Worker’s Daily (translated by Shanghaiist), the expensive droids were incapable of taking orders, carrying soup or pouring water. That means that a sophisticated artificial intelligence is being outdone by a 17-year-old on minimum wage with their head in a cloud of marijuana smoke.

A few years back, we reported on comments made by Song Yugang, the owner of another robot restaurant. At the time, they said that, compared to living employees, robots “can’t get sick or ask for vacation,” although as it turns out, they are able to pour drinks. On the upside, it’s a lot easier to fire a robot: simply tell them to deliver a takeout order to your nearest car crusher and make sure nobody spots the single tear of oil running down their plastic cheek.