Xiaomi will launch its first drone on May 25th
Chinese consumer electronics maker Xiaomi looks set to add a drone to its range of products next week. The company has already begun teasing a May 25th launch event on its official forum, posting what appears to be a first look its new quadcopter and asking users to guess what the product will be called. Given the forum post has the title “Mi Drone,” Xiaomi may have already given the game away.
Rumors of a Xiaomi drone have swirled for some time, with early reports suggesting that the UAV may use the company’s Mi Band as a beacon for a possible “follow me” feature. Xiaomi has confirmed “something wonderful and cool is flying to us very soon,” but is keeping quiet on any possible features before next week.
May marks a big month for Xiaomi. It’s already unveiled its huge 6.44-inch Mi Max smartphone and earlier this week announced the US release of its 4K-ready Mi Box streamer. The company also confirmed at Google I/O that it will work with search giant to build a VR phone that will support the new Android Daydream virtual reality technology.
If you’re interested to see what the Mi Drone will look like, Xiaomi will livestream its May 25th event at 7am ET/12pm BST on Mi.com.
Via: 9to5Google
Source: Mi Forums
Amazon’s screenwriting tool lets you easily share scripts
We all have at least one great story to tell, and Amazon’s free screenplay writing software is intended to help you spin that tale. Like other screenwriting tools, Amazon Storywriter auto-formats your work to the required industry standard, with the added benefit of letting you submit your script directly to Amazon Studios if you think you’ve created the next Prime Video original. Before you get to that point, though, you might want a second opinion. Which is why Amazon’s added a new quick-sharing feature to Storywriter that lets you easily put your script in front of reliable critics (aka Mom and Dad).
This mean you no longer have to export a script and attach it to an email or upload it to a file-sharing service. Simply open the sharing menu within the browser-based version or Chrome app, plug in an email address, and the recipient will receive a link to a read-only version of your draft — though they’ll need an Amazon account to view it. You can also head back into that menu at any time and remove permissions, just in case you get tired of Dad’s opinions on how your zombie vampire romance screenplay is taking shape.
Source: Amazon Studios (Facebook)
OS X update could use iPhone’s Touch ID to unlock Macs
As we approach Apple’s annual WWDC event that starts June 13th, the rumors about upcoming iOS and OS X features are sure to ramp up. This week, MacRumors is reporting that the company is working on a way for you to unlock a Mac using your iPhone’s Touch ID feature. The security measure is said to bypass a typed log-in using Bluetooth when the phone is “in close proximity” to a computer running OS X. As MacRumors notes, there’s a similar feature on the Apple Watch that allows an unlocked iPhone to provide access to the wearable without the need to enter a second password.
If this Touch ID to unlock a Mac functionality sounds familiar, the third party Knock app for iOS and Apple Watch unlocks a nearby computer with those devices rather than having to key in a password. Back in March, Recode reported that Apple Pay was on its way to the browser for making purchases on the web. This new report suggests that the Touch ID interaction with Macs will be used to confirm those transactions as well. As is the case with any rumor, it pays to be a bit skeptical. However, we won’t have to wait long to see if this news is indeed true.
In terms of other rumors for OS X 10.12, reports indicate that Siri could finally make its debut on the desktop. This week, rumblings surfaced about the design of the dock icon, but we’ll have to wait a few more weeks to see if that virtual assistant or Touch ID unlocking will be a part of this fall’s software update.
Source: MacRumors
Google’s plans for VR are even more ambitious than we thought
In 2014, Google introduced Cardboard. It was literally just a cut-out piece of cardboard outfitted with Velcro strips, a pair of lenses and magnets. Insert your smartphone and voila, you got your very own VR View-Master. Though it seemed pretty silly at the time, Cardboard was Google’s very first foray into virtual reality. Fast forward two years, and there’s a whole cottage industry of Cardboard-compatible viewers — not to mention lots of content made just for it. More than 5 million viewers have shipped and over 50 million Cardboard apps have been installed, as Google said at its keynote yesterday. Now, however, the company is ready for the next stage in its grand plan. Yesterday, Google announced Daydream, a platform that represents its most serious push yet into VR.
What we’re seeing here is a very real attempt to democratize virtual reality in a way we have not seen before. It all started with Cardboard, of course, but Daydream is so much more. Google is essentially doing for VR what Android did for smartphones: It’s offering a basic set of specifications that other companies can use. There’s no need for them to come up with their own software or spend precious resources to come up with the right hardware design; all of that is already taken care of. Hell, Google’s even making its own Daydream headset just like it did with its Nexus devices.
In contrast to Cardboard, which is just a low-cost viewer, the Daydream platform encompasses designs for an actual headset, with the build quality of a Samsung Gear VR or Oculus Rift. It has headstraps and looks like it’s made to be worn hands-free. There are even designs for a Wiimote-like motion controller. While Samsung’s Gear VR works only with Samsung’s own phones, a Daydream headset would be compatible with many more handsets. The potential here is huge.
While Cardboard could be used with pretty much any phone that could run the Cardboard app, Daydream’s hardware requirements seem to be stricter, though Google hasn’t released many details there. The company says it’s working with a variety of manufacturers to make sure their handsets include “key components” such as “specific sensors and screens” required for Daydream. Samsung, Alcatel, HTC and LG are just a few hardware makers that have already committed to building Daydream-compatible phones, and they could also be designing Daydream-ready headsets too.
This is definitely a departure from Cardboard, which wasn’t really meant for high-fidelity content or graphics-intensive games. Clay Bavor, Google’s head of VR, once told me that Cardboard was purposefully designed without any headstraps. It was to encourage quick “snackable” moments of VR, like using it for a few minutes to check out a Mars field trip or to see what a neighborhood looks like on VR Streetview. Cardboard was made to be affordable and accessible — a way to introduce VR to everyday people.
But if Cardboard is for VR snacks, Daydream is for meals. You can play serious games on Daydream and watch full-length movies. Electronic Arts, Ubisoft and Epic Games have already pledged to have games on the Daydream platform and content providers like HBO and Netflix have jumped on board as well.
Daydream, then, is designed for a world in which escaping into virtual fantasies is the norm. Seeing as 2016 is the debut year for consumer editions of all the three major VR headsets — Oculus Rift, HTC Vive and Playstation VR — it’s not too much of a leap to say that world is already upon us. Additionally, Oculus reported recently that there are now over one million monthly active users of Samsung’s Gear VR. This proves that mobile VR is a viable category in its own right. Sure, Oculus has had a few years’ head start, but Google’s vast reach could be enough to give the Gear VR some stiff competition.
Of course, we’ve yet to see if these Daydream headsets are any good. But if Cardboard’s success is any indication, I’d say Daydream has an even better shot at propagating VR to the masses.
The best USB battery packs
By Mark Smirniotis
This post was done in partnership with The Wirecutter, a buyer’s guide to the best technology. Read the full article here.
We brought in almost 50 pounds of batteries and tested them in a specialist lab in Vancouver, British Columbia, to find the best USB battery pack for any situation.
If you need a pocketable pack to get through an evening out, we recommend the TravelCard Charger because our previous top pocketable pick, the AmazonBasics Portable Power Bank with Micro USB Cable 2,000 mAh, is inconsistently available. If you need a unit to leave in your bag to keep your device going for a busy day of meetings, pick up the EasyAcc 6000mAh Ultra Slim Power Bank. If you need to charge your phone repeatedly, grab the larger AmazonBasics Portable Power Bank 16,100 mAh, and if you require a pack that can power a bagful of devices for a full day, buy the RAVPower 26800 mAh Xtreme Portable Charger.
How we picked and tested
Cadex devoted a corner of its lab to testing almost 60 batteries.
When it comes to USB battery packs, someone who wants a pocketable model for occasionally topping off a phone has different needs than a business traveler who wants to keep a tablet and two phones charged for back-to-back international flights. For each scenario, we set out to find the best balance of capacity, charging speed, size, and features. A hulking, heavy, cheap pack, for instance, isn’t as good as a moderately priced one you’ll actually use. We also looked for models that can cut down the clutter in your bag or pockets through the inclusion of convenience features such as multiple ports and integrated cables.
Once we established our test lineup, we worked with Cadex Electronics to put the packs through an exhaustive series of technical tests. We hooked up three samples of each model to Cadex’s lab gear to get insight into voltage curves, amperage, and how close the batteries’ actual capacities came to matching what their makers claimed on the box. With the help of Cadex engineers, we sifted through and analyzed all of that data and came up with solid recommendations for whatever amount of juice your power-hungry devices may need.
Our pick for your pocket
The TravelCard Charger comes in both Micro-USB and Lightning flavors.
If you need the absolute smallest battery to keep your phone going when you can’t get to an outlet, the TravelCard Charger is the most convenient and reliable option. A little longer and wider than a credit card and roughly three times as thick, the TravelCard stands out from other small batteries because it has two integrated cables–one with a Micro-USB or Lightning-connector plug (depending on the version you buy) to charge your device, and one with a standard USB plug to recharge the battery itself.
That said, even the best batteries at this size have limitations. And although the TravelCard charges at only 1 amp, and has an average of 1,049 milliamp hours, we still think it’s a better choice because of the integrated recharging cable that other similar-size models lack. An extra 100 mAh probably won’t make a huge difference in how you use one of these batteries day to day, but never wanting for an extra cable is more than just a convenience—it’s a relief.
The best battery for everyday use
Our top pick from EasyAcc feels like a midsize smartphone in your hand.
If you can make just a little more room in your pocket or bag, you can upgrade to a lot more power and a better value. The EasyAcc 6000mAh Ultra Slim Power Bank is about the size and thickness of an average smartphone, and it’s the best-performing model in this class—standing out thanks to its integrated Micro-USB cable and high-speed charging port (at least 2 amps).
Measuring at 5,500 mAh in our tests, this EasyAcc model had the most available power, enough to fully charge a smartphone—depending on size—two or three times. You could even charge a tablet more than halfway from this unit’s high-speed port.
Our pick for your briefcase or bag
Our alternate pick from AmazonBasics is about the size of a large portable hard drive.
The AmazonBasics Portable Power Bank 16,100 mAh is our pick if you have to charge a phone repeatedly, want to keep a full-size tablet and phone topped up through a week of commuting, or need to keep your gadgets going on a long flight. It had 15,280 mAh available in our tests—not the highest in the group, but enough power to charge an average smartphone almost every day of the work week or fill a full-size tablet twice.
Now that Amazon has upgraded the USB ports on its offering, this pack puts out enough juice to charge two devices at or near their full speed. Our meters found that the loads balanced to no more than 4 amps combined, or 2.4 amps per port—high enough for this battery to slide into the top spot for this size category. This battery is the most flexible of all our picks, and it’s the one to get if you want something that can work for commuting and for travel.
Our pick for your luggage
The RAVPower is closer to the size of a paperback, but it packs a big punch.
If you require a lot of power, you should get the RAVPower 26800mAh Xtreme Portable Charger. Next to the other large contenders in our test group, it offers more power, more ports, and faster charging, all at a reasonable price.
After charging and draining our three RAVPower test units, we found they averaged an actual capacity of of 19,107 mAh—about 70 percent of what the company advertises, but still enough power to both fully charge a large tablet and a fill a smartphone a few times.
Its three ports are rated at 2.4 amps, 2.1 amps, and 1 amp, and the RAVPower model can output at full speed to all three ports simultaneously. You’ll have to remember which port is which, though, to make sure your device is plugged into the port that supplies its maximum charging potential.
A drawback of this pack is its heft: This model weighs 21 ounces, and it takes up the space of a large paperback. If you need the power, though, this is how you should get it.
This guide may have been updated by The Wirecutter. To see the current recommendation, please go here.
Nintendo’s 2DS is now cheaper than ever. Play these games.
Who needs stereoscopic 3D, or a hinge? Nintendo’s cheaper, flatter 2DS is now a mere $80. It even includes a free digital copy of Mario Kart 7. That’s a bargain for a current-generation handheld, but where should you start your games collection? How about here, with Engadget’s favorites. (And remember, the console plays DS games, so there’s over ten years of hits to pick from.) We’d still advise starting with some of the most recent titles, which include animal villages, a particularly weird Zelda title, Square Enix’s resurrection of the JRPG, and Mario, somewhere, along the way.
‘Minecraft’ is making its way to China
Players around the world log hundreds of hours in Minecraft each day, but not gamers in China. Today, Minecraft developer Mojang announced it’s creating a whole new version of the game created specifically for Chinese consumers.
Partnering with Chinese internet company NetEase is what’s made this development possible, the very same NetEase that operates games like World of Warcraft and Hearthstone in China already.
There’s no official release date yet and no further information on what kind of alterations to the main game are even warranted for the Chinese market. What we do know is the Chinese version will only launch for PC and mobile devices, not consoles, when it finally makes an appearance.
“We are excited to bring Minecraft to Chinese audiences, and expect our large online community to embrace this preeminent game,” William Ding, CEO and founder of NetEase, Inc. announced. “With our deep understanding of the Chinese market and our ability to successfully launch world-renowned online and mobile games, we offer a strong platform for the introduction of Minecraft to China’s vast user base.”
Source: Mojang
The Post Office is shutting down its year-old mobile network
Competition among mobile providers in the UK is fierce, with four major carriers and many, many more mobile virtual network operators (MVNOs) beneath them. On a battlefield that busy, casualties are inevitable, and already this year we’ve seen Mobile by Sainsbury’s put out to pasture. And now we have another fatality, with the Post Office confirming the closure of its mobile service on August 8th. According to the online notice, the Post Office “decided to conclude the trial as the results did not give us sufficient confidence that mobile will contribute to our goal of commercial sustainability.”
In other words, it’s not making any money. It’s interesting that the Post Office is now referring to its mobile business as a “trial,” which isn’t how we remember it being communicated at launch less than a year ago. The service never grew beyond offering a single pay-as-you-go SIM, though, and only 263 of some 11,600 branches ended up stocking SIMs in-store.
If you happen to be among the undoubtedly small customer base, know that June 22nd will be the last day you can top up. And should you have grown particularly attached to your Post Office Mobile number, then make sure to request a PAC code soon to port it across to your next provider.
Via: Mobile Today
Source: Post Office Mobile
IMAX plans to bring virtual reality into theaters
In a move that we should have seen coming, IMAX announced that it’ll be rolling out virtual reality experiences in multiplex theaters, malls and similar locations later this year. The news comes on the heels of Google’s announcement yesterday that it’s building a cinema-quality virtual reality camera with IMAX. Given that it’s been delivering immersive theatrical experiences with giant screens for decades, it makes sense for IMAX to do something similar with smaller VR displays.
IMAX is tapping Swedish developer Starbreeze (who made the The Chronicles of Riddick and Payday games) to use its software platform and StarVR headset, which is notable for offering a 210-degree field of view (twice as much as the Oculus Rift). Earlier this week, Starbreeze also announced that Acer will be helping it build those VR headsets.
Naturally, IMAX also hopes to tap into its Hollywood connections to create VR experiences tied to major films. Richard Gelfond, the company’s CEO, tells the WSJ that he could see charging around $7 to $10 for a 10-minute long VR experience. That might sound a bit much, but given all the hardware and maintenance that VR requires, I wouldn’t be surprised if the final pricing ends up close to that range.
IMAX plans to launch its VR experiences in six locations globally by the end of the year. Ultimately, it will license the technology similar to how it handles screens today: Theater owners will license the VR experiences and pay IMAX a part of the revenue.
Source: IMAX (PR)
Moog’s Minimoog Model D reissue revives a classic synthesizer
To properly celebrate this year’s Moogfest, the synth maker is giving synth collectors the chance to own a piece of history. The company set up a temporary “pop-up factory” during this weekend’s event where the iconic Minimoog Model D is going back into what Moog is calling pilot production. The Model D, the first Minimoog instrument made available to the public (A through C were prototypes), was built between 1970 and 1980, serving as the precursor to the popular Minimoog Voyager synthesizer that was discontinued last year.
While most Moog gear carries a vintage look, these new Model Ds keep their retro flair with a wood frame and orange rocker switches. And, of course, there’s plenty of that classic Moog analog sound. Between now and Sunday, the Minimoog Model D will be assembled on-site at Moogfest in Durham, North Carolina. Yes, the units will be available for sale, but you’ll have to make the trip if you’re looking to empty your savings account for one as there’s no indication of a longer production run. There’s no word on pricing just yet either, but you can likely expect the investment to be substantial.
Moog has been on a bit of a revival kick over the last few months. The company announced last year that its massive (and much less portable) modular synths — the System 55, System 35 and Model 15 — were going back into production in limited quantities and with hefty price tags. Of course, there’s a much cheaper option if you’re looking to tap into the sonic possibilities of the Model 15: Moog’s latest iOS app.
Source: Moog
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