Robot hand learns to twirl objects on its own

Robots can (usually) walk or roll around just fine, but hand control has often proven elusive: it’s hard to give them the same kind of finger dexterity as a human. However, University of Washington researchers just got much closer to fulfilling that dream. They’ve built a robot hand that is not only dextrous enough to spin objects (such as the tube of coffee beans you see above), but learns how to do this on its own. Its algorithm gradually discovers what works and what doesn’t — give it enough time and it’ll go from clumsy to reasonably skilled.

As you’ll notice in the clip below, the hand isn’t very quick right now. You’re not about to see robot band leaders twirling batons. There’s also a big difference between a disembodied hand and dealing with a whole body that requires much more coordination. This beats old-school claws and pincers any day, though, and it’s an important step toward robots that adapt to their environments instead of mimicking existing behavior.

Via: Wired

Source: Vikash Kumar

Best cases for the Samsung Galaxy Tab S2

Cases to keep your Galaxy Tab S2 protected from both light wear and tear, and heavy-duty use.

Whether you’re looking for a simple and sleek case to fit into your bag, or a tough shell to protect your tablet, there’s no shortage of styles and brands to choose from. We’ve sorted through product reviews and manufacturers to share our picks for the best cases for your Samsung Galaxy Tab S2. All of our choices are available for both the 8 inch and 9.7 inch versions.

• Best basic cases
• Best rugged and heavy use cases
• Best original and unique cases

Best basic cases

For everyday use, your case should be reasonably priced, durable, and take up minimal space.

Fintie Ultra Slim Smart Case

Fintie offers a case with the largest variety of color options, hands down. It lives up to the title “ultra slim,” taking up very little space in your bag or on your desk. The PU leather cover is scratch resistant, and the microfiber interior protects your screen with a snug fit, so odds and ends can’t make their way in to do damage.

The one-piece case is ideal for landscape viewing and keyboard use and clips on easily. Fintie’s products have a loyal following, and this case is a crowd favorite for a reason.

See at Amazon

rooCASE Dual View

There’s nothing like a quality two-for-one, and this cover is just that. rooCASE gives you a wide range of options with its basic, streamlined case.

The outer cover is durable synthetic leather, and the interior is soft microfiber. The inner sleeve can be removed and still offers corner and edge protection against accidental bumps. You can also use your Galaxy S2 in either landscape or portrait view, with three angles available for each.

Other included features, like the interior card holder and the stylus loop, are handy when you’re travelling and need to keep track of things. rooCASE also offers a similar model in an expanded portfolio style, with extra interior pockets and slots that don’t take up any extra space. For the avid traveler, rooCASE is a solid investment.

See at Amazon

Best rugged and heavy use cases

If your Galaxy S2 will be tagging along on some rough terrain, there are cases made to keep it safe and sound.

SUPCASE Shell Cover and Protector

Well-reviewed and tested, this offering from SUPCASE is a solid choice. It comes with a built-in screen protector that won’t hinder sensitivity, so there’s no need to make an additional purchase. It’s easy to snap on and comes in a range of colors. Fans of Otterbox cases will find that SUPCASE is a quality rival.

This case nearly doubles the thickness of the Galaxy S2 but manages not to become overly bulky. That extra thickness comes in handy if you’re looking for additional grip and is helpful for young tablet users who may accidentally drop or bump it. Meanwhile, the case’s port covers will prevent dirt and dust from collecting in small spaces if you’re using your tablet outdoors.

See at Amazon

DWay Armor Hard Case

This hard case from DWay is ideal for those not interested in a thicker shell design. The back case is a combination of hard and flexible polycarbonate materials and withstands unexpected drops well. The texture of the case offers additional grip for users who are constantly in motion. While the secondary color is always black, there are several primary color options to choose from.

The case does not come with a screen protector, but it does have a significant advantage over other cases in this category: a kickstand. This comes in handy if your tablet is joining you on a camping trip or similar adventure; watch downloaded movies without worrying if (or when) the tablet’s going to get knocked off the picnic table.

See at Amazon

Best original and unique cases

Your case can be as unique as you can imagine. Think outside the box and stand out from the crowd with something completely different.

Werktat’s Fachwork Sleeve

Crafted in Germany and shipped worldwide, this leather and felt sleeve is simple and artistic at the same time. Your order is also completely customizable, so no one in the world will have a case like yours.

The vintage look will only get better as time goes by, as the leather starts to show wear. There’s something refined and professional about this case that buyers love, and Werktat’s designs are becoming a favorite on Pinterest. We absolutely understand why.

See at etsy

Huyen Ngoc Handmade

This is one of the best-reviewed portfolio cases we’ve seen. That’s because it fits your tablet and just about everything else. The pockets fit money, cards, an additional device (like a phone or camera), and paperwork.

These genuine leather cases are handmade, and the stitching is beautifully done. This small company out of Vietnam makes cases for many gadgets and ships worldwide, so you may find yourself needing some matching cases for every device you own.

See at etsy

Got a favorite?

Do you own one of the cases on our list? Have a favorite you want to share? Make sure you tell us about it in the comments section!

Samsung Galaxy Tab S2

• Read our Galaxy Tab S2 review
• Galaxy Tab S2 specs
• The latest Tab S2 news
• Join the forum discussion!

9.7-inch model:

Amazon
Samsung
Best Buy

8-inch model:

Amazon
Samsung
Best Buy

Google releases new Now on Tap commercial to remind us the feature still exists

Even though we’re several months removed from the launch of Android Marshmallow and Android N is already in a Developer Preview status, Google is just now getting around to releasing a commercial touting its Google Now on Tap feature.

As most of us know, Google Now on Tap was introduced to further extend the reaches of Google Now into your phone experience, giving you access to a wealth of knowledge from Google by simply long-pressing on your home button to get information on whatever is on your screen. Unfortunately, anyone who has used Now on Tap for any length of time will tell you the feature just … doesn’t work all that well, despite how nice it may look in a commercial where it’s helping you find an obscure restaurant or score tickets to a concert.

Interestingly enough, the name “Google Now on Tap” (or just Google Now) isn’t even mentioned, and the branding of the commercial seems to be more of a sales pitch for Android 6.0 itself.

Let’s just hope that Google is working to improve Google Now on Tap a bit more now that it’s choosing to tout the feature on its official YouTube page.

Where do you charge your phone at night?

We use our phones to help us navigate our day with ease. We use them to get from place to place, figure out what we’re eating for lunch, and talk to friends and family members. To say that our phones have become a necessary tool in our day-to-day lives isn’t an exaggeration. So when you get home at the end of the day, and are getting ready for bed, what happens to your phone?

Whether you have an awesome battery on your new Samsung Galaxy S7 or you constantly need to top up the battery, charging your phone is inevitable. That’s where this week’s poll question comes in. We want to know where you plug your phone in to charge at night. You’ve got four options this week: “Next to the bed,” “Next to the computer,” “Across the room from me,” or “Anywhere but the bedroom.”

Where do you charge your phone at night?

Where do you leave your phone at night to charge? Do you only charge during the day? Pop into the comments and let us know about it!

WhatsApp introduces new desktop app for Windows and Mac

Following the release of leaked documents showing a WhatsApp desktop client being in the works, WhatsApp has now officially introduced the offering for Windows and Mac via their company blog.

From WhatsApp:

Today we’re introducing a desktop app so you have a new way to stay in touch anytime and anywhere – whether on your phone or computer at home or work. Like WhatsApp Web, our desktop app is simply an extension of your phone: the app mirrors conversations and messages from your mobile device.

The new desktop app is available for Windows 8+ and Mac OS 10.9+ and is synced with WhatsApp on your mobile device. Because the app runs natively on your desktop, you’ll have support for native desktop notifications, better keyboard shortcuts, and more.

To download the app, visit https://www.whatsapp.com/download from your desktop browser. Then, open the app and scan the QR code using the WhatsApp app on your phone (look for WhatsApp Web menu under Settings).

The app itself is similar to that of WhatsApp web, so if you’ve used that previously, setting up the desktop client should be a breeze. It’s available for Windows 8 and higher, and Mac OS X 10.9 and higher.

When it comes to supported devices, it all remains the same as WhatsApp as well, meaning there’s now support for Android, iOS, Windows Phone, BlackBerry, BlackBerry 10, Nokia S60 and now both Windows and Mac.

Download: WhatsApp Desktop for Windows 8+ and Mac OS 10.9+

Kepler telescope finds its largest-ever batch of planets

If you think the Kepler space telescope has already spotted a lot of exoplanets, you haven’t seen the half of it… almost literally. After a lot of hype, NASA’s Kepler team has verified the existence of 1,284 new planets. That’s more than twice as many confirmed planets as before. Almost 550 from the new batch are big enough to be Earth-like rocky planets, while nine of them are in their host star’s habitable zone and have the potential to support life.

The key, the agency says, is the first-ever large-scale use of automated computation to determine the likelihood that candidates really are planets. If the chances are higher than 99 percent, a candidate makes the cut. It’s possible that some of the under-99 crowd includes planets, but researchers will have to conduct follow-up investigations to make sure.

Kepler and other telescopes are nowhere near making a comprehensive survey of the observable planets in our galaxy, and it’s not certain that you’ll get these kinds of bumper crops in the future. However, the data increasingly suggests that planets are abundant — there could even be “more planets than stars,” if you ask NASA’s Paul Hertz. Although the possibility of life-bearing planets appears to be much smaller, this at least raises the chances of locating another Earth-like world.

Source: NASA

Walgreens to launch web-based mental health assesments

Walgreens is taking an unprecedented step in combating America’s critical shortage of mental health professionals. The company announced on Tuesday that it is partnering with nonprofit Mental Health America will offer screenings through its website. The service will evaluate for depression, bipolar disorder, PTSD and a host of other mental illnesses. If any issues surface as a result of the screening, an MHA representative will be available to help the user find and schedule follow-up treatment nearby. The company is also working on a system to automatically upload notes from these conversations to the electronic records system at your primary care physician’s office. And, if there’s no qualified medical practitioner in their area, users will also have the option to discuss the matter with one of 1,000 state-licensed professional therapists or psychiatrists over the phone.

Take note, however, you’ll need to make sure this follow-up conversation is covered by your insurance otherwise it’ll run you about $60 on average. Still, that seems a small price to pay to get a handle on your mental health.

Source: Chicago Business

Uber lets New York City drivers organize, with limits

Although Uber drivers have been organizing for a while, getting Uber to play along with those organizations has been difficult when it doesn’t even want to treat workers as full-fledged employees. At last, though, there’s some progress. Uber has partnered with the International Association of Machinists and Aerospace Workers to create the Independent Drivers Guild, the first labor group the ridesharing company officially recognizes. The Guild gives New York City’s Uber drivers a collective voice in some issues, particularly when Uber kicks them out. It’ll also reduce rates on everything from insurance to legal services.

This victory comes at a steep cost. The Guild can’t actually unionize drivers (or have them treated as employees) for the next 5 years. That takes important labor issues off the table, including pay and workers’ compensation. Moreover, the Guild has agreed to help push for state law changes that would lower taxes on hired rides and shrink Uber’s expenses.

All the same, it’s a big win for drivers that rarely have much recourse outside of lawsuits or jumping ship to work for rivals like Lyft. They’ll get to communicate with Uber’s management more often, and the firm says that savings from the reduced taxes would go into a benefits fund. While it’s far from a perfect deal, it could make all the difference for regular drivers who have to fret over time off and lost wages.

Via: Wired

Source: Uber Newsroom, Independent Drivers Guild