OnePlus 3 flagship might come with ‘Dash Charge’ speedy refueling mode

OnePlus may have developed a Qualcomm Quick Charge-like technology.

The phone maker has introduced three smartphones so far, including the OnePlus One, OnePlus 2 and OnePlus X, but it is expected to introduce a fourth phone in the coming months. It’ll be the company’s latest flagship, following the OnePlus 2 and OnePlus One (the OnePlus X is a midrange handset). We’ve already seen many rumours regarding specs, but now we’ve learned it could come with a new charging technology.

OnePlus has patented a charging technology called Dash Charge. Now, the US Patent and Trademark Office filing doesn’t mention anything specific, such as “fast charging” etc, but reports have looked at the patented name and assumed it must be similar to Quick Charge 3.0, the latest version of Qualcomm’s fast-charging technology. That standard can refuel devices up to four times faster than conventional charging.

Last year’s OnePlus 2 flagship notably lacked a wireless charging option as well as a quick-charge mode. The next OnePlus flagship might come with Qualcomm’s Snapdragon 820 on board, meaning it might also support Quick Charge 3.0, but OnePlus’ new trademark filing has left us all wondering if the company might actually use its own technology for speedy charging.

We won’t know for sure until the OnePlus 3 – the presumed name of OnePlus’ next flagship – launches in the second quarter of this year. Until then, check out Pocket-lint’s round-up of all the latest OnePlus 3 rumours and leaks.

UK’s proposed nuclear plant is one of the costliest things on Earth

Nuclear power has been around for decades, but it still isn’t cheap… in fact, it may result in one of the most expensive objects on the planet. Cost estimates for the UK’s proposed Hinkley Point C reactor have crept up to £24 billion (about $35 billion), making even some of humanity’s more ambitious construction projects seem like small potatoes. The Large Hadron Collider cost “just” $5.8 billion to build, the BBC notes. About the only thing that rivals Hinkley on Earth is Chevron’s recently completed $54 billion natural gas plant in Australia. If you’re not picky, the International Space Station’s collective modules top everything at a total of $110 billion.

As for why it would be so absurdly pricey? Greenwich University professor Steve Thomas says it’s due to not just the inherent complexity of nuclear power, but the safety concerns. Tragedies like Chernobyl and Fukushima have made it clear that disasters are far more costly than getting it right the first time.

Not that this is going to assuage critics of the plant, which has spent several years on ice. Greenpeace contends that it’s not just audacious in an era of budget cuts, but that the money could be better-spent on renewable energy sources like solar and wind farms. And it’s not just because they’re safer, either. They’d likely be finished much sooner, Greenpeace claims, and falling renewable energy prices could make these options more affordable. There’s no certainty that the government will listen to calls for change, but it’s clear that Hinkley Point C is the product of an era when nuclear tech still seemed like the most cost-effective way of powering the population.

Via: Boing Boing

Source: BBC, Greenpeace

‘Dark Souls’ developer eyes possible PlayStation VR release

From Software has made it very clear that Dark Souls is over, so that means it’s time to look forward to a new franchise. This could very well include a new IP to be released on the upcoming PlayStation VR.

The studio’s lineup reel has allegedly surfaced on Reddit, featuring all of the company’s releases to date from Armored Core in 1997 to March’s Dark Souls 3. After that, however, there’s an entry for 2017 that reads “FromSoftware, Inc. Next Title on PlayStation 4, Xbox One, PC, PlayStation VR…” and the video ends there. Given Dark Souls 3 director Hidetaka Miyazaki has already confirmed the studio is working on a new IP, this could very well be that same one.

There are no further details as to what the new IP might cover, but Miyazaki’s previous comments to GameSpot indicate that it could feature “sci-fi themes.”

The video itself is unlisted and has garnered about 55,000 views following its Reddit posting. It’s possible we could hear something official about the upcoming release as E3 draws nearer, especially with the ending of Dark Souls still fresh in our minds.

Source: VG247

Kindle Oasis review: The perfect e-reader for the 1 percent

Amazon’s Kindle Oasis is like a feast with the world’s finest caviar. It’s an all-you-can eat Wagyu steak dinner. It’s an $80 cup of coffee. Simply put, the Oasis is a $290 extravagance meant only for the few who can afford it. For the rest of us, it’s just something to lust after. We called the $200 Kindle Voyage the “Rolls Royce of e-readers” two years ago, but instead of going cheaper (the standard Kindle is currently $60, and the backlit Paperwhite model is $100), Amazon pushed even further into luxury status. For $290 you get an e-reader so light, it almost feels like you’re holding nothing at all. Unfortunately, Amazon still hasn’t made a strong argument for why anyone actually needs a high-end reading device.

Hardware

I’ve held plenty of e-readers, tablets, smartphones and other gadgets over the years, and few were as remarkable as the Oasis. When you look at it head-on, it’s unmistakably a Kindle, even though its 6-inch E-Ink display is pushed to the side to make room for two physical page changing buttons (answering the prayers of Engadget’s Chris Velazco). But tilt it slightly and you’ll notice that it’s, well… sort of funky. Most of the device is insanely thin — a mere 3.4 mm — while the rest is a slightly thicker hump meant for gripping one-handed.

Its asymmetric design looks weird at first, but it only takes a few seconds to get used to it. That’s mostly because it’s light — crazy light, at just 4.6 ounces. To compare, the Voyage weighs 6.3 ounces, and the Paperwhite clocks in at 7.2 ounces. Those don’t sound like huge differences, but they’re noticeable when you’re holding something for hours on end. The Voyage and Paperwhite are close to the weight of a typical paperback. The Oasis, on the other hand, is so featherweight it almost feels alien as a reading device.

“We’re not going to be happy until we’ve got this magic sheet of paper that contains all the books in the world,” said Chris Green, VP of industrial design at Amazon’s Lab126, during our initial demo of the Oasis. “Edge-to-edge, all content, no device. And when we get there, I might be out of a job.”

Despite being so thin, Amazon’s latest Kindle is also surprisingly sturdy. Amazon says it electroplated a metal alloy over a plastic case to make that happen. You won’t feel or hear any creaking when using the Oasis, and it barely even flexes when you try to bend it. The edges and thin portion of the Oasis feel cool and smooth, while the hand grip portion has a slightly softer touch.

Once again, Amazon used micro-etched glass for the Oasis’s screen, which should make it even more resistant to glare (it’s also stronger than the Voyage’s). The Oasis’ screen still packs in a sharp 300 pixels per inch, which looks about as good as text on paper. That’s the same resolution you get with the Voyage and Paperwhite, though you do get 60 percent more LED lights here than on the Voyage. That’s nothing big, but it makes for an overall more uniform lighting presentation. I know plenty of Kindle fans who were irked by the Voyage’s slightly uneven lighting, which was particularly annoying given the price.

There’s also a leather case included with the Oasis (available in black, walnut and merlot), which doubles as an extra battery pack to make up for the Kinde’s reduced battery size. Amazon had to give up something to make the Oasis so thin, after all. The case snaps right onto the angled portion of the Oasis’s back, and adds another 3.8 ounces to the Kindle’s weight when connected. Thankfully, you can charge the Kindle and case together.

Software

Not surprisingly, the Oasis ships with Amazon’s most recent Kindle operating system, which hit its existing devices back in February. It’s mostly an organizational facelift. Now, the home screen shows the most recent books you’ve been reading on the top left; a selection of titles added to your wish list (which is a seriously great addition); and some suggested books on the bottom. You can also access settings like airplane mode (a great way to save battery life) and data syncing from the Oasis’s toolbar, which saves you from hopping into the settings page like previous versions of the Kindle OS.

In use

It’s no surprise that books and black and white comics look great on the Kindle Oasis: Amazon pretty much mastered that with the Voyage’s 300-ppi E-Ink screen. For lack of a better word, there’s an “inkiness” to the display that makes text and line art appealing to your eyes. It’s completely different from a backlit smartphone or tablet, which can be just as sharp, but can also feel like they’re attacking your eyes with light. Reading on the Kindle Oasis (along with the Voyage and Paperwhite), is more like settling in with a book right next to a gentle lamp. There’s something soothing about it.

Given that Amazon has been using the same E-Ink panel for years now, it’s hard not to think that this will be as good as it gets for black and white E-Ink displays. Sure, it could try to stuff in a larger screen (the DX was a failed attempt at that), and of course, color E-Ink could happen eventually (though the improvement of tablet screens have made that less pressing).

The most noticeable improvement with the Kindle Oasis is the way it feels while you’re reading. Its lightweight, asymmetric design makes it ideal for holding with one hand and lounging on the couch or in bed. In my first few days with the Oasis, I easily dove into several titles that were gathering digital dust in my Kindle library, including Nick Bostrom’s Superintelligence: Paths, Dangers and Strategies, Ashlee Vance’s Elon Musk biography and Daniel O’Malley’s The Rook. It may have just been the shininess of a new gadget compelling me, but I noticed that my reading sessions with the Oasis were much longer than with the Voyage. The anal retentive side of me also appreciated its more uniform backlight; there’s none of the splotchiness from cheaper Kindles.

I was so enamored with the Oasis’s design that I only used its included leather case for traveling. It’s not exactly heavy when the case is connected — I had no problem keeping it on during crowded subway rides — but the Oasis feels so good on its own that there’s no reason to have any extra burden unless your really need it. The case itself feels like a high-quality piece of leather, and does a good job protecting the Kindle’s precious screen.

It’s also a great travel companion since it has its own battery and extends the Oasis’s runtime to around eight weeks on standby. (Amazon says the Kindle should last around two weeks by itself.) From full charge, the Oasis and its case lost around 20 percent of battery life after a week of heavy reading. Basically, it should last so long that you probably won’t have to worry about charging it for a while.

As great as the Oasis feels, be prepared to wipe off plenty of fingerprints if you want to keep it looking pristine. It attracts far more oil and smudges than any previous models — so much so that it’s even worse than the Voyage, which has a glossy rear case.

Other options

Here’s where things get muddy for the Oasis. I’ve been a dedicated Kindle fan since the Kindle 2 launched in 2009, and I’ve followed along with Amazon as it steadily improved its lineup. The Oasis, for all of its design flourishes, isn’t that much better than Amazon’s current batch of Kindles. And it’s certainly not worth a $90 premium over the Kindle Voyage, which was already overpriced since it launched at $199.

With the Kindle Paperwhite available for $100, which also packs in a sharp screen and backlight, there’s simply no reason for most people to even consider the Oasis. It would have made more sense for Amazon to nix the Voyage and price the Oasis at $200 (or even slightly more). Asking $290 ($20 more than an iPad Mini 2), is simply madness.

Wrap-up

I get it. Amazon wants to prove that its Kindle brand has a place in the premium gadget market. But that’s an idea that seems dramatically out of step with reality, as more people are getting used to reading books on their phones and tablets. The Kindle Oasis is indeed the best Kindle ever made. But instead of making the case for expensive e-readers, it makes clear that they just don’t make sense today.

I’m certainly intrigued by how Amazon plans to evolve the Kindle, but it also needs to do so in a way that’s practical. I can’t wait for the “magic sheet of paper” that the company apparently dreams of. I just want it to do much more than the existing Kindle lineup. And of course, I’d want it to be affordable, too.

Tesla puts its extreme air pollution filter to the test

When Tesla revealed that the Model X (and eventually, the Model S) would have a HEPA filter so effective that it could protect against bioweapons, people were understandably skeptical. Can it really save you from terrorists? Apparently, it just might. Tesla has revealed some of the in-house testing it conducted for the filter’s Bioweapon Defense Mode, and its ability to clean the air borders on overkill. The electric car maker put a Model X into a bubble with extremely dangerous air quality levels (83 times dirtier than the EPA’s “good” rating) and watched as the filtration system rendered the air so clean that sensors couldn’t even detect what pollution was left. You could drive through a “military grade” attack and not even notice, Tesla claims.

The company adds that its filter also reduces some of the pollution outside of the car, and that it’s constantly tweaking the filter technology. Replace your filters down the line and your EV might be even more of a clean room than it was brand new.

It’s impressive stuff, although the test is more about bragging than real-world practicality (which Tesla also checked, to be fair). You don’t need a near-sterile car even in pollution-heavy cities like Beijing, and the odds are that you aren’t going to be in your vehicle should someone ever unleash a bioweapon on your home turf. Think of this more as a proof that Tesla’s over-the-top engineering really works.

Source: Tesla Blog

Canon’s new entry-level DSLR is good enough for its target audience

As meaningful as professional cameras like the EOS-1DX Mark II are to Canon’s business, the company knows it has to dominate the beginner market as well. Now, with the new $500 EOS Rebel T6, Canon has designed a DSLR that sits alongside the T6s and T6i — two of its most popular entry-level shooters. Not counting the aging T5, the T6 is the cheapest DSLR in Canon’s lineup. And while its specs won’t blow your mind, they should be decent enough for most aspiring photographers.

Inside, there’s an 18-megapixel CMOS (APS-C) sensor, Digic 4+ image processor, ISO range of up to 12,800 (6,400 native) and a nine-point autofocus system. Not surprisingly, video-recording is limited to 1080p at 24 and 30 fps, or 720p at 60 fps. (It’s going to be a while before Canon puts 4K features on budget-friendly cameras.) That said, the Rebel T6 does come with a respectable, albeit expected, fixed 3-inch, 920,000-dot screen, as well as WiFi and NFC for sharing pictures remotely via Canon’s Camera Connect app (available for iOS and Android).

Given that this is geared toward beginners, I used it differently than I would a higher-end model, such as the EOS 80D DSLR or one of Sony’s mirrorless cameras. Instead of shooting with manual settings, I relied heavily on the Rebel T6’s preset modes. For example, during a food-themed photoshoot, I used the camera’s Food Mode, which locks in AF points and tries to automatically adjust exposure compensation and white balance, based on the subject and lighting around the scene.

While most of my photos looked colorful and sharp, the camera at times tried to do a little too much, resulting in soft, over-exposed shots. Still, I’d say eight out of 10 images produced by the Rebel T6 were satisfactory.S

In particular, I was impressed by how the light the camera is, which weighs less than a pound without a lens attached. It also doesn’t feel cheap: The magnesium and aluminum alloy chassis make it seem as durable as more expensive Canon shooters. For a $500 DSLR, 18-55mm EF glass included, the T6 doesn’t disappoint. Sure, it has its limitations, but it’s an excellent option for people who want to go a step above a point-and-shoot or smartphone camera.

Alternatively, you could go for Nikon’s better-specced D5500 DSLR, but be prepared to spend about $200 more on it. That said, some online retailers appear to be selling it for roughly $500, though that might be a temporary price drop. Either way, if you’re looking for an easy-to-use, high-quality DSLR today, the Rebel T6 is worthy of your attention. And it doesn’t hurt that Canon is known for making solid beginner-friendly cameras, with a strong lens ecosystem to meet most of your photography needs.

To view our sample images in full resolution, click here.

Brazilian government blocks WhatsApp for 72 hours

A Brazilian judge has order local cellphone carriers to block WhatsApp on their networks for 72 hours, effectively locking out over 100 million users from the Facebook-owned messaging service.

The ban, which started Monday afternoon local time, appears to be a result of a dispute over WhatsApp’s move to encrypt 100 percent of messages on its service. As TechCrunch reports, Judge Marcel Montalvo ordered WhatsApp to hand over chat records related to a drug investigation, but the company argued that it does not keep such records and could not decrypt the data even if it did. Therefore, it can’t deliver something it does not have access to.

This is actually the second time the Brazilian government has temporarily shut down WhatsApp. In December of last year, Judge Montalvo ordered the service be shut down for 48 hours, reportedly because it refused to take down illicit photos of minors. That ban only lasted for 12 hours after a different judge ruled it was “not reasonable that millions of users be affected by the inertia of the company.” As Engadget noted at the time, Brazilian telcos have been hemorrhaging subscribers as more and more people ditch their phone lines for services like WhatsApp.

In March, Brazilian authorities attempted again to force Facebook and WhatsApp to hand over user data by arresting Facebook’s Latin America VP Diego Dzodan. Facebook called the move an “extreme and disproportionate measure,” while pointing out again that it cannot access end-to-end encrypted data that it doesn’t keep. (Not to mention, WhatsApp operates as a separate entity from Facebook.) A judge agreed, calling the move “unlawful coercion” and ordered Dzodan’s release just a day after his arrest.

Of the latest ban, a WhatsApp exec told TechCrunch, “This decision punishes more than 100 million Brazilians who rely on our service to communicate, run their businesses, and more, in order to force us to turn over information we repeatedly said we don’t have.”

Apple Music for Android adds the videos iOS users already enjoy

Apple Music subscribers with iOS devices have been privy to the service’s music videos as part of the monthly plan. Those visuals haven’t been added the Android version of the app since it arrived last November, despite regular updates to deliver new features. After the additions of offline SD card storage and a handy widget, the Apple Music software for Google’s OS now features videos. When you’re browsing the list of what’s new or looking for a specific artist, you’ll now see the new additions as part of the search results.

Family plans aren’t new to Apple Music either, but with this update to the Android app, you can now sign up for that shared option on your mobile device. If you’re in need of a refresher, $15 a month will open up access for up to six people. That’s the same pricing Google offers for Play Music and the cost of two users on Spotify. Keep in mind that there’s a five user max to stream tunes via a family plan from Spotify, and you’ll have to pay $30/month to do so. If you’ve yet to test drive Apple Music, though, a 3-month trial is available alongside the update that adds those music videos via Google Play.

Via: Techaeris

Source: Google Play

Apple Design Chief Jony Ive Attends ‘Manus x Machina’ MET Exhibition Opening

The Metropolitan Museum of Art today opened its “Manus x Machina” Costume Institute Exhibition, which is being sponsored by Apple. The show focuses on the dichotomy between handmade haute couture and machine-made fashion, featuring pieces that juxtapose traditional hand techniques like embroidery, pleating, and lacework with technologies like laser cutting and thermo shaping.

Apple Design Chief Jony Ive, who is serving as co-chair alongside pop star Taylor Swift and actor Idris Elba, was on hand at the opening and gave an introductory speech, a portion of which was captured on social networking site Periscope.

Image via Jim Shi

We are thrilled at Apple to help bring to life Manus x Machina: Fashion in an Age of Technology. When Anna and Andrew first talked to me about the exhibition, I was particularly intrigued that it would stimulate a conversation exploring the relationship between what is made by man and what is made by machine. That it would challenge the preconception held by some that the former is somehow inherently more valuable. Not only in the context of today, but also the future.

The Chanel dress that Tom mentioned, which was Andrew’s inspiration for the exhibition is a wonderful example of artisan like craft executed with the deepest consideration yet enabled with the very latest technology. The most breakthroughs in craft were once, of course, perceived as truly innovative. Often shockingly so. Once even the simple metal needle challenged the conventional thinking of the time. Now I’m humbled by the innovations of the past in the same way that I am humbled by the work that we can see here today.

It’s easy to think a craft can’t change, but important to remember all craft process was at some point new. At some point, challenged convention. Not to be contrarian, but enabled by some breakthrough. Some newly discovered principle or sometimes some wonderful accident.

The opening of the Costume Institute Exhibition comes ahead of the 2016 MET Gala, a fund raising event that draws hundreds of celebrities. The MET Gala will take place tonight, and along with Jony Ive, Apple CEO Tim Cook is expected to attend, sitting alongside fashion icon and honorary MET Gala chair Anna Wintour.

Tags: Tim Cook, Jony Ive
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Apple CEO Tim Cook to Speak With Jim Cramer on CNBC’s ‘Mad Money’ Tonight

Apple CEO Tim Cook will appear on CNBC’s Mad Money this evening, where he will speak with host Jim Cramer. On the show, Cook is expected to discuss Apple’s future in China, his outlook on innovation, what’s next for the iPhone, Apple Watch, and Apple services, and whether Apple is pursuing any potential acquisitions.

GUESS WHO’S BACK? The man behind the BIG Apple CEO @tim_cook, is here for an exclusive with @JimCramer tonight! pic.twitter.com/ve5VrWPB91

— Mad Money On CNBC (@MadMoneyOnCNBC) May 2, 2016

Cook last spoke with Cramer in March of 2015, where he discussed topics like ResearchKit, health, and the “next frontiers” of development.

Mad Money will air at 6 p.m. Eastern Time.

Tags: Tim Cook, CNBC
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