Paul McCartney adopts VR so your grandparents don’t have to

For his latest release, Sir Paul McCartney is diving headfirst into virtual reality. As The Hollywood Reporter notes today, the 73-year-old former Beatle has filmed a six-part VR documentary series with Grammy winner Tony Kaye, who also directed American History X and the music video for Soul Asylum’s 1993 breakout hit “Runaway Train.”

Although he’s never been a fan of streaming services, Sir Paul has been quick to embrace new technology when it suits him. He re-released classic Wings albums as iPad apps with bonus material and even wrote tiny songs to bring Skype’s emoji to life. For Pure McCartney VR, the artist teamed up with Kaye, the British Tourist Authority’s “GREAT Britain” campaign and Palo Alto-based VR company Jaunt. For the six short pieces, Kaye filmed McCartney recounting memories from the new album and mixed in some never-before-seen archive footage, so the whole thing comes out looking like an oddly futuristic, hyper-real version of VH1’s Storytellers. The first two episodes “Dance Tonight” and “Coming Up” are already available on Jaunt VR’s app, or 360-degree desktop video.

The partnership is also not McCartney’s first step into virtual reality. In 2014, Jaunt filmed a live VR concert clip of McCartney performing “Live and Let Die” during the final show at San Francisco’s Candlestick Park.

E Ink announces a color breakthrough, but it’s only for signs

There’s a small glimmer of hope for the seemingly doomed dream of color electronic paper. E Ink, which helped pioneer ePaper by providing the technology for Amazon’s Kindle, announced today that it’s finally developed a display that can show up to 32,000 colors. Dubbed Advanced Color ePaper (ACeP), it’s a huge leap above the company’s aging Triton tech, which could only display around 4,000 colors. Basically, it’ll be clear enough to be practically indistinguishable from color printed onto real paper. But don’t get your hopes up for an e-reader with ACeP just yet — for now, E Ink is positioning it for in-store signage as 20-inch panels.

While it’s just as low-power as you’d expect, ACeP isn’t as sharp as E Ink’s black and white technology yet, which can reach up to 300 pixels per inch. ACeP only has a resolution of 1600 x 2500 pixels, which clocks in at 150ppi. It also takes a full two seconds for the display to refresh. Still, ACeP is a significant move for E Ink, which for years has been struggling to develop color displays that can go against increasingly sharp OLED and LCD screens. With Qualcomm’s Mirasol technology floundering, ACeP could end up being the color ePaper solution we’ve been waiting for.

Source: E Ink (PR)

Apple Rehires Security and Encryption Expert Jon Callas Following FBI Dispute

Following its very public encryption battle with the FBI, Apple has rehired software engineer and and security expert Jon Callas, reports Reuters. Callas, who has previously worked at Apple, is known for co-founding encrypted communications services Silent Circle, Blackphone, and PGP Corporation.

Apple’s decision to rehire Callas comes amid rumors the company is working on improving the security of its iOS devices. Apple has said it will continually improve security to keep ahead of hackers, and its dispute with the FBI is said to have spurred the company begin work on implementing security measures “even it can’t hack.”

Earlier this year, Apple was ordered to assist the FBI in the unlocking of the iPhone 5c used by San Bernardino shooter Syed Farook, an order it fought because the FBI was asking for new software that would bypass iPhone passcode security measures. Apple insisted the software was “too dangerous to create,” setting dangerous precedents that could lead to a weakening of overall device encryption. The FBI eventually dropped the case after finding an alternate method to breach the iPhone, but the fight over encryption is far from over.

According to Reuters, Callas supports Apple’s position and is opposed to companies being compelled to break their own encryption by the government, but he believes law enforcement officials should be able to take advantage of software vulnerabilities, the method the FBI ultimately used to get into Farook’s iPhone 5c.

Callas has said he is against companies being compelled by law enforcement to break into their own encrypted products. But he has also said he supports a compromise proposal under which law enforcement officials with a court order can take advantage of undisclosed software vulnerabilities to hack into tech systems, as long as they disclose the vulnerabilities afterwards so they can be patched.

An Apple spokesperson confirmed the hiring, but did not offer details on what Callas is working on. Callas was formerly employed at Apple in the 1990s and from 2009 to 2011, working on cryptographic security products for OS X and iOS.

Prior to its dispute with the FBI, Apple also acquired security company LegbaCore to improve the security of its software.

Tags: Encryption, Apple-FBI, Jon Callas
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Adonit Debuts New ‘Pixel’ Stylus With Pressure Sensitivity, Shortcut Buttons and Palm Rejection

Adonit, known for its line of styluses, today announced the launch of the Pixel, a stylus it’s calling its “most advanced stylus to date.” The Pixel features a 1.9mm Pixelpoint tip that’s been improved with predictive touch technology for better accuracy and responsiveness, and “paper-like drag” to mimic the feeling of writing on paper.

Combining features from the Jot Script and the Jot Touch, the Pixel features Bluetooth 4.0 connectivity with support for 2,048 levels of pressure sensitivity, palm rejection in supported apps, offset correction, and dedicated shortcut buttons that can perform functions like undo, redo, and erase.

“A stylus should do more than just replace a user’s fingertip when working with a tablet, but rather enhance the experience so users can create and work without boundaries,” said Rafael Gomez, Marketing Manager for Adonit. “With the introduction of Pixel in particular, we wanted to make sure we addressed all our users’ needs and incorporated them into a stylus that works with the entire modern line of iPads. Users will be able to take notes, draw, mark finite details, or simply maneuver through their iPad more precisely with Pixel. Whatever their needs may be, Pixel provides consumers with a high performing experience.”

An SDK for the stylus can be used by developers to incorporate support into third-party apps, and a built in sensor feature turns the stylus on when it’s picked up and off when it’s inactive to conserve battery power. The Pixel, which Adonit says is designed to be ergonomic, is available with a Black or Bronze 10.5mm body.

The Adonit Pixel is compatible with Apple’s entire lineup of iPhones and iPads. Apple makes its own stylus, the Apple Pencil, but it is only compatible with the 9.7 and 12.9-inch iPad Pro models. The Pixel cannot be used alongside an Apple Pencil due to the potential for interference and screen protectors are not recommended.

The Pixel stylus can be purchased from the Adonit website or from Amazon.com for $79.99.

Tag: Adonit
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Apple Working on Amazon Echo Competitor, Opening Siri Up to Developers

Apple is actively developing a product that would compete with the Amazon Echo and Google Home, reports The Information. Citing a source with direct knowledge of Apple’s plans, the report suggests Apple is working on a Siri-based device that would include a speaker and microphone that could be used for features like listening to music, getting news headlines, and more.

In addition to developing such a device, Apple is planning to improve Siri by opening the voice assistant up to outside developers. Apple is said to be preparing to release a Siri software development kit that would allow developers to make their apps and their app content accessible through Siri voice commands. Apple plans to require developers to use the tool responsibly.

Opening Siri up to third-party developers will go a long way towards expanding the capabilities of Apple’s virtual assistant. Right now, Siri only works with a handful of apps like OpenTable and Yelp, and Apple has been hesitant to develop a Siri API and improve Siri’s functionality because of privacy concerns.

According to The Information, a Siri SDK could be introduced as soon as WWDC, meaning third-party Siri access would be built into iOS 10 and perhaps OS X 10.12, which is also rumored to be gaining Siri support.

Both Amazon and Google have developed robust in-home personal assistant devices built around their respective AI platforms, which Apple hopes to compete with. The products are able to perform a wide range of features, from giving weather reports and answering queries to controlling smart home devices like light bulbs and thermostats. The Amazon Echo has been well-received, and Google’s Home product, just announced at Google I/O, supports similar features.

Apple has reportedly been working on an Echo competitor since before the Echo debuted last year, and it will perhaps include features like a speaker, Internet access, and the ability to control HomeKit products. It is not known when Apple will be ready to debut its home accessory or how it will fit into the company’s existing product lineup.

Related Roundups: WWDC 2016, iOS 10
Tags: Siri, Amazon Echo
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