Apple Hired Former Google Employee Experienced in Electric Vehicle Charging

Google today applied for a patent for an electric vehicle charging system and, as spotted by Quartz, one of the inventors listed on the patent application is Kurt Adelberger, who left Google for Apple in July 2015. The hire marks yet another potential addition to Apple’s rumored electric car team.

Adelberger, according to his LinkedIn page, has been serving as a Product Designer at Apple. At Google, he was focused on reducing the Mountain View company’s EV charging by 34%, energy storage and energy management. The Google patent he was working on is for a device that would “manage the connections between an electric vehicle and a charging station.” This device would communicate with an optimization service that would provide data to allow the device to optimize charge based on outside factors like energy price and grid demands.

While Adelberger has experience working with electric vehicles and their charging systems, he’s also experienced in managing electricity use for buildings and working with energy derived from solar panels. He led a team that procured and installed large-scale energy storage for Google’s campus. Although Adelberger could be a Product Designer on Apple’s Project Titan car project, it’s also possible he’s working on other projects that need help with energy management.

Multiple Apple hires with automotive backgrounds have been reported in the past month, with Tesla employees David Masiukiewicz and Chris Porritt joining as a “Senior Model Maker” and as a member of Apple’s Special Projects group, respectively. Apple also hired Kevin Harvey, who worked at the CNC machine shop at Andretti Autosport.

Related Roundup: Apple Car
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Apple Seeking ‘Large Expanses of Real Estate’ for Autonomous Car Project

Apple is looking to purchase “large expanses of real estate” in the San Francisco Bay Area for its much-rumored car project, codenamed Project Titan, according to The Wall Street Journal. Google parent company Alphabet and several car manufacturers, such as Tesla and Mercedes Benz, are also on the hunt for more space, according to Hudson Pacific, one of the Bay Area’s largest landlords.

Map of Apple’s newly-purchased real estate in San Jose

“We’re seeing the Toyotas of the world, the Teslas of the world, BMWs, Mercedes. Ford now is out in the marketplace looking for space,” [Hudson Pacific Properties CEO Victor Coleman] said on the landlord’s quarterly investor call. “I haven’t even mentioned the 400,000 square feet that Google’s looking to take down and the 800,000 square feet that Apple’s looking to take down for their autonomous cars as well.”

While the size Coleman references is fairly big, car production plants tend to be even larger. Tesla’s Fremont, California factory is 5.3 million square feet while Ford’s Flat Rock, Michigan plant, one of its smaller factories, is 2.9 million square feet. For comparison, Apple’s new headquarters is 2.8 million square feet while Google’s Mountain View campus is 4.8 million square feet.

In recent months Apple has been leasing more space repeatedly for its car project in the Bay Area. In March, Apple leased a former Pepsi bottling plant in Sunnyvale, California. The Cupertino company has also leased and purchased several smaller, secret buildings likely being used to develop Apple Car technologies. In January, Apple gained approval from the San Jose city council to develop a 4.15 million-square-foot campus in the city.

The WSJ also notes that Apple is in the process of growing its Apple Car team, which had 600 employees last year. Earlier today, it was reported that Apple had hired a former Google employee with experience in electric vehicle charging.

Related Roundup: Apple Car
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Netflix orders a series based on the movie ‘Dear White People’

As Netflix’s store of original content continues to grow by leaps and bounds, The Hollywood Reporter notes it is adding another new series: Dear White People. It’s based on 2014 film with the same name that took a satirical look at the experiences of minority students in a majority white Ivy League environment. Its creator Justin Simien made a trailer for the flick with his tax return to promote an Indiegogo campaign that funded the movie, which went on to win the Special Jury Award for Breakthrough Talent at the Sundance Film Festival.

Lionsgate’s Roadside Attractions released the original movie (which was available on Netflix streaming for a time before it left as the service’s deal with Epix expired), and Lionsgate TV is producing the series, its second deal with Netflix after Orange is the New Black. According to Deadline, Simien is writing the 10 episode series adaptation, and will direct the first episode.

Simien had previously said he pictured the movie as a series, similar to something like A Different World. That’s particularly notable given The Washington Post’s recent report on the dearth of black TV shows on Netflix and other streaming services (it added ADW in March 2015), and slightly lower adoption among minority groups. It’s also only the second Netflix original I can think of to feature a black writer and (presumably, if it follows the casting of the movie) lead characters, after Cheo Hodari Coker on Marvel’s Luke Cage series. That’s not for lack of trying of course, as it lost out to a lower bid for Nate Parker’s Birth of a Nation at the Sundance festival earlier this year.

Source: Deadline, Variety, The Hollywood Reporter, Shadow and Act

Google and Honeywell put Nest patent dispute to rest

Google and Honeywell have agreed to settle an ongoing patent dispute between the two companies. Prior to the agreement, Google and Honeywell, which is best known for its line of thermostats, were at odds over patents relating to the former’s Nest Labs division.

According to the terms of the agreement, the two companies have agreed to cross-license patents as part of the deal.

Google Inc. and Honeywell today announced that they have reached a long-term patent cross-license agreement reflecting the respective strength of the companies’ patent portfolios. Google and Honeywell believe that this patent accord promotes product innovation and consumer choice in the market for smart home products. The agreement fully resolves pending patent litigation between Honeywell and Nest Labs. Terms of the agreement are otherwise confidential.

The agreement comes after Honeywell initially filed a patent infringement case against now Google-owned Nest in 2012 over technology used in its Learning Thermostat. Any financial terms of the deal were not disclosed.

Best accessories for the Moto 360

From screen protectors, to straps, to storage — here’s a roundup of the best Moto 360 accessories!

You’ve got yourself a smartwatch, sweet! You chose the Moto 360, awesome! Immediately you start tapping and swiping and customizing the Moto 360 to work exactly the way you want. But once that’s done a hollow feeling begins to settle … is there no more customization to do with your brand new watch? Not at all! Customize your Moto 360 from the inside out by pairing it with the absolute best accessories.

• Moto 360 replacement bands
• Watch strap display case
• ArmorSuit screen protector

Moto 360 Replacement Bands

From leather, to steel, to whatever that rubbery sport stuff is, the world of Moto 360 watch straps is wide and deep! Between Motorola-created designs and the big world of third party styles you have a lot to choose from. We created a list of the best third-party watch straps for the Moto 360, but for the time being, here’s a recommendation for great replacement band.

From Motorola itself, you can choose from a nice variety of leather or metal bands in different colors to give yourself some more variety instead of just using the one that came with your watch. The main advantage of choosing a strap for Motorola is so you can choose a second generation strap (assuming you have the latest model) with the quick release button. This was not available on the first-gen line of Moto 360 and is hard to find with most third party straps. If you use a third party strap, you usually need a small tool to
swap your straps, but using straps designed with the quick-release button allows you to simply switch between sporty and classy strips with minimal effort.

See at Amazon

Watch Strap Display Case

As you amass a large collection of straps in a full pallet of colors and materials you’re going to have this stylish rainbow of accessories to choose from. The problem is, when these straps aren’t organized nicely, you forget what you have, top and bottoms can get separated, and ultimately you stop harnessing the full power of your stylish accessories and default to always wearing your favorite all the time.

Prevent this dilemma by picking up a handsome watch strap case. These don’t have to be smart-watch specific so this gives you more shopping options. Moto 360 straps are generally 22mm in size so keep that in mind when checking out cases. Swiss Watch International has slots for 24 straps held inside of a velvet interior to protect your straps from damage. It can be zipped shut and tossed in a drawer or propped open to display your lovely collection.

See at Amazon

ArmorSuit Screen Protector

You interact with your Moto 360 by tapping and swiping on your phone. The interface is designed to very intuitive; however, oil from your fingers can smudge up the screen pretty quick. Choosing a great screen protector for your Moto 360 can help reduce screen glare, hide fingerprints, and even add some durability to your Moto 360’s screen.

The [ArmorSuit] screen protector is a great third-party option, specifically tailored to your Moto 360. Remember, the Moto 360 comes in two display sizes (46mm and 42mm), so whichever screen protector you choose, make sure you get the right size for your model. ArmorSuit has made protectors for each generation and size of the Moto 360, each designed to prevent glare and reduce the appearance of fingerprints. One additional feature that is pretty cool is ArmorSuit’s self-healing screen protectors which automatically repair themselves from minor surface scratches.

See at Amazon

Moto 360 Charger

Generally your Moto 360 should last you through the entire day, but if you’re sitting at your desk for extended periods of time, a frequent traveller, or want to have an extra option to charge and display your smartwatch picking up an additional charger might be worth the money.

Whatever charger you decide to go with, make sure it works with the generation of Moto 360 you’re on (as the charging points on the Gen 1 and Gen 2 chargers are slightly different). If you order the genuine Motorola charger for the second generation of this smartwatch you can count on it to function exactly like the one that came in the box. While your watch rests in the cradle, it will automatically display the time, which is a handy feature if you want to use this as a bedside clock.

See at Motorola

To accessorize, or not?

Aside from straps, screen protectors, and maybe an extra charging dock for work, you’re Moto 360 is ready to go right out of the box. What do you do to dress up or your Moto 360? Do you have any accessories you can’t live without? Make sure to let us know in the comments!

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Civil War breaks out in Marvel Avengers Academy

To coincide with the release of Captain America: Civil War in theaters, a limited-time event has kicked off in Marvel’s Avengers Academy mobile game. Like the movie, this event sees a civil war of sorts breaking out on the Avengers Academy campus.

As the conflict kicks off, players will have to pick a side: Captain America or Iron Man. Both iconic heroes have opposing views on how to best defend the Academy, and you’ll get to choose who to side with. During the event, you’ll get a chance to unlock more bits of the Civil War story as you battle former friends and prepare to face Hydra.

Interested? If so, you can grab Avengers Academy on Google Play and pick your side now. Oh, and if you’re up for even more Avengers fun, be sure to check out our Civil Ware theme guides as well.

Disney platformer Castle of Illusion discounted to just 99 cents on Google Play

Disney fans, heads up: Castle of Illusion, an updated take on the Sega classic starring Mickey Mouse, is currently discounted to just 99 cents on Google Play. If you’re keeping track, that’s a massive drop from the game’s usual price of $9.99.

Throughout the game, you’ll take control of Mickey Mouse as you puzzle and platform your way through the Castle of Illusion in search of Minnie Mouse’s kidnapper Mizrabel. Here’s a look all the game offers:

• Play as Mickey Mouse in this reimagining of the classic Sega Genesis/Mega Drive game!
• Experience a world of wonder, brought to life with all-new graphics and magical adventures!
• Journey across five magical worlds filled with Mizrabel’s powerful minions!
• Complete hidden challenges to customize Mickey with classic costumes!

If you’re interested in snagging this deal, you can grab the game for 99 cents on Google Play now. It looks like this discount also applies to those in the UK as well, dropping the price to just 50 pence.

Here’s the first 360-degree footage from GoPro’s six-camera Omni VR rig

GoPro announced its first quarter earnings today, revealed it will delay the release of its highly-anticipated drone until winter, and published a 360-degree video recorded with its Omni virtual reality camera rig.

The 4-minute clip marks the first time we’ve seen what Omni can do, though GoPro warned that the footage was produced using prototype Omni units, and we should therefore expect “significant improvements to the overall output quality upon the product release”. The Omni is expected to ship later this year. GoPro started taking pre-orders for the rig last month, charging $5,000 for six Hero 4 Black cameras, the frame, and software.

If you just want the frame, you can pay $1,500. Also, GoPro built a more expensive version of the Omni with Google. It features 16 GoPro action cameras and costs $15,000. No matter which option you choose, one thing is clear: recording virtual reality footage isn’t cheap. However, if you’re seriously considering buying the Omni, its frame, or the Google’s Odyssey, watch the video below to see exactly what your money will get you.

The 360-degree clip shows skiers and snowboarders having fun in the Austrian Alps: “Shot on the backdrop of gorgeous Serfaus – Fiss – Ladis in the Tyrolean Alps of Austria, the GoPro Media team showcases Omni, GoPro’s newest 6-camera spherical array. Jesper Tjader, Halldor Helgason, and friends take to the Suzuki Nine Queens course to demonstrate what Omni has to offer,” GoPro explained in the video’s description.

You can navigate around the video using YouTube’s built-in arrow tool. We watched it and noticed some hiccups and visible stitches, but again, GoPro said this is sample footage from a prototype. It’ll definitely be interesting to see what the final product can do when it releases.

Free Windows 10 downloads finishing soon: How to get it before you pay

All good things must come to an end. 

Microsoft launched Windows 10 last summer, and when it did, the company made Windows users an offer they couldn’t refuse: reserve a free copy of the software for your PC, and upgrade from Windows 7 or Windows 8/8.1 at no cost. Well, that was a limited-time offer. Microsoft has confirmed that Windows users who haven’t upgraded yet will soon have to pay up.

“The free upgrade offer to Windows 10 was a first for Microsoft, helping people upgrade faster than ever before. And time is running out. The free upgrade offer will end on 29 July and we want to make sure you don’t miss out. After 29 July, you’ll be able to continue to get Windows 10 on a new device, or purchase a full version of Windows 10 Home for $119,” said Microsoft’s Yusuf Mehdi.

Keep in mind if you’ve already grabbed your free copy of Windows 10, you will still get the Windows 10 Anniversary Update that is due to arrive this summer. But if you haven’t upgraded yet, you will need to pay for Windows 10 and future updates. There’s plenty of time to upgrade at no cost, however. Pocket-lint has detailed exactly how to do update below.

Windows 10 free upgrade: When does the offer end?

Microsoft announced that its free Windows 10 upgrade offer will end 29 July 2016. After that date, Windows 10 Home will cost $119.

Windows 10 free upgrade: How can you update now?

In order to take advantage of the free Windows 10 upgrade offer, ensure Windows Updates is enabled from inside the Control Panel on your device.

From there, watch for your notification to upgrade. You can always check your upgrade status in the Get Windows 10 app. Alternatively, you can manually start the Windows 10 update process from here. Pocket-lint also offers this post with more details about the free Windows 10 upgrade, or you can check out Microsoft’s FAQ page for help with upgrading to Windows 10.

Windows 10 free upgrade: Why should you update?

Microsoft’s Bryan Roper published the video below to warn Windows users that the free Windows 10 upgrade offer is ending soon – and to share the top 10 reasons why he thinks you should upgrade to Windows 10 before 29 July: