Relive the ’80s with the Korg Volca FM synthesizer
Synths are great. You push a key, turn a few knobs and suddenly you’re making “music.” So when keyboard maker Korg realized it had a hit with its low-cost, entry-level Monotron series, it was only natural to follow it up with something that had a little more bite. Enter the Volca line keyboards. At $160, they’re not in the same impulse-purchase range as the $50 Monotrons, but at least one of these synthesizers is a welcome addition for would-be Kraftwerk disciples workings toward converting their garage into sprawling mess of wires and flashing lights.
Of the highly focused new Volca models (bass, loops, beats, etc.) I tested the Volca FM, which is based on the wildly influential Yamaha DX7 digital synth. Both use frequency modulation to create a “metallic” sound — sort of as if your keyboard were attached to a piece of aluminum siding. It’s a crisp timbre that was used extensively in the 1980s by artists like Depeche Mode, Kenny Loggins (DANGER ZONE!), Phil Collins, Tears for Fears, both Janet and Michael Jackson, and really anyone you’d find on a “totally ’80s!” playlist.
Sure, the pedigree is impressive (DANGER ZONE!), but what really matters is that the Volca FM is a powerful little synth you can pick up for $160.
Similar to the Monotron line, the Volca FM has a ribbon keyboard so you’re not going to be hammering out complex songs in real time on the touch-sensitive layout. Still, thanks to the step sequencer that can link as many as 16 sequences of 16 steps together, so you can build incredibly elaborate patterns. It even records knob twists. So if you want to crank up the modular decay during a certain hit that’s part of your final loop, go for it.
It’s all great until you try to edit a sequence. While building out your steps, going back to correct a mistake or just make an adjustment is frustrating, and I usually ended up starting over. For simple patterns it’s not that big a deal. But if you’re creating something complex, get ready for a long night of throwing your hands in the air.
But the Volca is so crammed with features that any minor frustration is quickly eclipsed when you’re playing the arpeggiator, LFO, chorus and the choice of three voice polyphonic sounds, monophonic or mono setting. It even supports the file formats of the DX7 so you can add additional sound patches. The deeper you dive into this keyboard, the better the value.
The electronics are housed in a smoky translucent case that feels solid enough to handle being transported to gigs. There’s a tiny speaker on the bottom that’s serviceable but won’t replace headphones for the best sounds. But thanks to the addition of battery power, the Volca FM quickly became the go-to test bed for off-the-cuff ideas at my house. Why dig a synth out of its storage case, plug it into the wall and find some headphones when I can have this tiny synth in my lap right when the mood hits me?
Another pleasant surprise was that in the studio it didn’t exhibit the line noise that makes the Monotrons less than ideal for live performances. And while there’s no tap tempo button, you can sync it via MIDI to devices so you’re not trying to line up your beats on the fly while on stage.
Throw in an old-school seven-segment LED display and the Volca FM is a fun and surprisingly powerful synth that should be equally at home on stage and in your living room.
Clean up iTunes by hiding Apple Music – CNET
Not every iTunes user is an Apple Music subscriber.
If you purchase music through iTunes instead of subscribing to a streaming music service or subscribe to Spotify or a streaming service other than Apple Music, you can streamline the iTunes interface and hide the four Apple Music-related buttons — For You, New, Radio and Connect — that sit between the My Music and iTunes Store bookends.
To hide these four Apple Music buttons, open iTunes and from go to iTunes > Preferences. Click on the Restrictions tab and check the boxes to disable Apple Music and Connect.
More iTunes tips
- Apple makes a house call after iTunes zaps 122GB of customer’s music
- iTunes 12.4 is here, but there’s no word on that music deletion issue
- How to get an App Store refund from Apple
The Apple Music checkbox removes the For You, New and Radio buttons, while the Connect checkbox removes the Connect button. Click OK to save your changes, which leaves you with only the My Music and iTunes Store buttons at the top of iTunes.
And if you use Spotify or another streaming service other than Apple Music and use iTunes only to listen to an old music library and rarely if ever make iTunes purchases, check the box to disable iTunes Store on the Restrictions page.
This hides all four of the Apple Music-related buttons and the iTunes Store button, for a blissfully streamlined iTunes design with only the My Music button at the top.
Screenshot by Matt Elliott/CNET
Simplify the iOS Music app
Similarly, you can hide Apple Music-related buttons in the iOS Music app. Go to Settings > Music and tap to turn off the toggle switch for Show Apple Music. With this setting turned off, the For You and New buttons are removed from the Music app. You can also remove the Connect button by going to Settings > General > Restrictions and toggling off Apple Music Connect.
With these two settings, you are left with but three buttons at the bottom of the Music app: My Music, Playlists and Radio.
(OS X Daily via Lifehacker)
Apple iPod Nano review – CNET
The Good The Apple iPod Nano has a sleek aluminum design, FM radio, Bluetooth and long battery life.
The Bad With no Wi-Fi, you’re stuck syncing music via USB from a PC or Mac running iTunes. It doesn’t work with Apple Music subscriptions, and the low-res screen is tiny.
The Bottom Line The iPod Nano is an aging music player that’s hurt by its outdated reliance on iTunes and lack of subscription music compatibility.
Yes, the iPod Nano still exists. It’s one of the last MP3 players standing in Apple’s lineup, next to the gym-friendly, small-as-a-button iPod Shuffle and the basically-an-iPhone-with-no-cell-service iPod Touch.
The current seventh-generation Nano was introduced way back in 2012, but still lists for $150 (£tk, AU$tk). Even with Apple’s built-in pricing premium, it feels like it should cost about 40 percent less at this point.
On the surface, there’s a lot to like here. The Nano is like a shrunken-down iPhone with 16GB of storage, a touchscreen and a little home button. And while it doesn’t have a full app store, it does offer far more than music: you can also listen to podcasts, watch videos and scroll through photos. There’s an FM radio and Nike+ fitness tracking too, and the Nano offers Bluetooth support for streaming audio to all of the latest wireless speakers and headphones. (One snag: that radio requires wired headphones, which double as the antenna.) It’s battery also averaged well over a day in our CNET Lab battery test. Can you say that about your phone?
Motorola Moto Z vs Samsung Galaxy S7 vs HTC 10 vs LG G5: What’s the difference?
Motorola took to the stage at Lenovo Tech World 2016 to unveil the new Moto Z. This new super smartphone replaces the Moto X as the flagship Moto device. It’s packed with flagship specs and innovation, looking to offer you something a little different, with a range of Moto Mod accessories.
There are two versions, the Moto Z and the Moto Z Force, the biggest difference between them being the battery capacity.
But with 2016 already throwing up some of the best handsets we’ve ever seen, does the Moto Z have what it takes to make its case? Can the Moto Z compete with the likes of Samsung and HTC, and how does it compare to LG’s own modular phone, the LG G5?
We’ve crunched through all the essential specs to bring you the lowdown on these flagship handsets.
Moto Z vs Samsung Galaxy S7 vs HTC 10 vs LG G5: Design
The Moto Z has a metal unibody design using aluminium and stainless steel for a premium result. The Moto Z measures 153.3 x 75.3 x 5.19mm, so it’s super slim. It weighs 136g. Its sibling, the Moto Z Force, is slightly larger measuring 155.9 x 75.8 x 6.99mm and weighing 163g. Both have a fingerprint sensor on the front, a protruding camera on the rear and customisation from Moto Maker, for plenty of design options. It has a nano-coating for water resistance, but has no 3.5mm headphone socket, using USB Type-C instead, with an adapter in the box.
The Samsung Galaxy S7 has a metal and glass body that measures 142.4 x 69.6 x 7.9mm and weighs 152g, so it’s fatter than the Moto Z. It is available in white, gold, black and silver colour options and offers a waterproof rating of IP68.
The HTC 10 offers a premium anodised metal unibody with a deep chamfer on the rear edge for an interesting design. The curved back results in a handset that measures 145.9 x 71.9, but varies in thickness from 3-9mm, so it feels fatter than it’s rivals. The HTC 10 is likely the most substantial with that solid body, but weighs in at 161g. Then there’s BoomSound, giving HTC the best speakers of all the devices here.
The LG G5 features a painted metal body with a modular element that allows for a removable battery – something that is not found on other metal devices. The G5 measures 149.4 x 73.9 x 7.7mm and weighs 159g so a little fatter and heavier than the Galaxy S7 and Moto Z. It has a fingerprint sensor on the rear and it comes in silver, gold, titan and pink colour options, although it doesn’t feel as premium as the other devices on this list.
The big differentiator for the Moto Z is the seamless integration with Moto Mods. These accessories magnetically attach to the rear of the phones to expand the feature set. The LG G5 offers modular accessories too, although these involve more fiddling around, removing the bottom section of the phone to attach them. In that sense, the Moto has the edge.
Moto Z vs Samsung Galaxy S7 vs HTC 10 vs LG G5: Display
The Moto Z offers a 5.5-inch 2560 x 1440-pixel resolution display. It is an AMOLED display offering a pixel density of 535ppi. The regular Moto Z is topped with Gorilla Glass, but the Moto Z Force is protected with ShatterShield, so it’s virtually unbreakable. It offers the largest display of the flagship devices.
The Samsung Galaxy S7 also features an AMOLED display, but it is smaller at 5.1-inches (unless you take the S7 edge at 5.5 inches). It also offers a Quad HD resolution for a pixel density of 577ppi, which in theory means sharper and crisper images than the Moto Z. Samsung’s display is seriously impressive but it’s too soon to determine if the Moto Z is as lustworthy.
The HTC 10 plumps for a 5.2-inch LCD display, again with 2560 x 1440 pixels for 564ppi, offering great performance, although not as adept as the Samsung offering.
The LG G5 also has a Quad HD resolution on board. It sits in the middle at 5.3-inches at 554ppi, offering a great display with lovely deep blacks and its always on function.
Across all these flagship phones there’s certainly no shortage of pixels: Samsung’s AMOLED displays have been great performers, however.
Moto Z vs Samsung Galaxy S7 vs HTC 10 vs LG G5: Camera
The Moto Z and Z Force differ in the camera departments. Both have a front 5-megapixel camera, but the normal Z has a 13-megapixel rear camera and the Z Force has a 21-megapixel rear camera. Both offer optical image stabilisation (OIS) and laser autofocus, both have 1.12µm pixels, although the Z Force declares that it has deep trench isolation on its sensor, as well as phase detection AF.
The Samsung Galaxy S7 features a 12-megapixel rear camera with 1.4µm pixels, OIS and an aperture of f/1.7 for better performance in low light. It features dual pixel technology for quicker auto-focusing using phase detection, while the front facing camera is 5-megapixels, which also has an f/1.7 aperture. The Samsung is regarded as one of the best cameras available.
The HTC 10 opts for a 12-megapixel camera with 1.55µm pixels, OIS and an f/1.8 aperture. It also offers laser autofocus on the rear. The front camera is 5-megapixels, but also offers OIS and autofocus. HTC’s main camera doesn’t perform quite as well as Samsung’s, but the selfie camera is excellent.
The LG G5 has a 16-megapixel main rear camera, along with a secondary 8-megapixel 135-degree wide-angle sensor for when you want a wider field of view that is closer to the human eye than a regular smartphone camera. There is also an 8-megapixel front-facing camera on board.
The LG G5 offers some wonderful results and that secondary rear camera is a lot of fun with that wide angle, but for simple consistency and performance, Samsung is one of the best around. It’s too soon the judge the performance of the Moto Z, however.
Moto Z vs Samsung Galaxy S7 vs HTC 10 vs LG G5: Hardware
Both Moto Z models are powered by a Qualcomm Snapdragon 820 chipset with 4GB of RAM. Options for 32 or 64GB storage with microSD expansion are offered. The Moto Z has a 2600mAh battery, which is a little on the small side, but the Moto Z Force boosts this to 3500mAh, giving it the biggest capacity on this list, although it matches the capacity of the Samsung Galaxy S7 edge. The Moto Z offers USB Type-C.
The Samsung Galaxy S7 comes in two models – one has the Qualcomm Snapdragon 820 chip too, while the other has the Exynos 8 Octa processor. Both have 4GB of RAM though and 32GB and 64GB storage options, with microSD support for further storage expansion. The Galaxy S7 has a 3000mAh battery, and sticks with Micro-USB.
The HTC 10 is also a Snapdragon 820 device with 4GB of RAM and 32GB storage with microSD card expansion. It features USB Type-C and offers a 3000mAh battery.
The LG G5 has the Qualcomm Snapdragon 820 chip, 4GB of RAM and 32GB of internal storage with microSD support. It has a smaller 2800mAh battery than many of the devices on this list, but as we mentioned previously, it is removable. There’s USB Type-C for charging and accessories.
Moto offers two very different devices in the sense of battery power; the Z Force is likely to be an endurance star, but we’re still some way from knowing how the Moto Z performs in daily use.
Moto Z vs Samsung Galaxy S7 vs HTC 10 vs LG G5: Software
Moto is known for taking a minimal stance when it comes to software. Offering a virtually unsullied version of Android Marshmallow, the Moto is as close to a Nexus as you’ll get without buying a Nexus.
The HTC 10 offers Android Marshmallow and has also reduced the bulk, removing many elements of HTC Sense that used to add bloat, for a lovely slick experience.
The Samsung Galaxy S7 also comes with Android Marshmallow, as does the LG G5, but both have their individual software. The Galaxy S7 has Samsung’s TouchWiz skin placed on top, while the G5 has LG’s Optimus UX on top, changing just about every element of Android visually, and bundling in a number of extra apps and services.
Although based on the same software, the Moto is going to be the most Androidy, the Samsung distinctly different, but with plnety of character. Of the collection, the LG feels a step behind on the software front.
Moto Z vs Samsung Galaxy S7 vs HTC 10 vs LG G5: Conclusions
Motorola makes a big play with the launch of two handsets that are virtually the same, but with one offering a big draw – a much larger battery.
LG’s Friend accessories for the G5 don’t look as attractive as those that Motorola now offers through Moto Mods, and paired with a small battery and build that lacks the premium feel of these other handsets, LG is really depending on that great wide-angle camera to win the G5 points.
Samsung’s Galaxy S7 and S7 edge (which we’ve mentioned in passing here) are very solidly positioned, offering great performance across the board, with a great build, waterproofing, camera performance and wonderful displays. It’s Samsung that Moto really needs to knock aside – although the S7 has already been on sale for 3 months, and the Note 7 is likely to launch soon too.
HTC’s solid build makes it one of the best designed models on the list, and the software gives a great mature experience, with outstanding audio performance and a great front camera, a real return to form for HTC.
The slick design and the innovation with Moto Mods sees the Moto Z as a real challenger, although September availability sees them many months behind these other devices that are already available. The Moto Z is an innovative proposition, and on paper, at least, Moto could stir-up the flagship handset arena.
ICYMI: Robotank and carbon emissions made into rock
Today on In Case You Missed It: Israel Aerospace Industries has built a combat robot vehicle that is made of modular bits that can be switched out, while environmental scientists created rock out of carbon emissions from a power plant in Iceland, by first pumping the pollutant underground.
Be sure to read up on the flying car competition reportedly happening under Larry Page, and watch this video purely because it’s the strangest cat video we’ve seen in months. As always, please share any great tech or science videos you find by using the #ICYMI hashtag on Twitter for @mskerryd.
Facebook Forcing Users to Install Moments App to Retain Synced Photos
Facebook has begun notifying users with photos uploaded from their iOS devices that their synced albums will be deleted next month (via TechCrunch).
Facebook’s iOS photo syncing feature was launched in 2012, and let users automatically upload all photos on their mobile devices to a private album called ‘Synced’ or ‘Synced from Phone’.
The idea behind the feature was that copying the photos makes it easier to find and share pictures with friends on the social network.
Users are now being informed by email and via app notifications that these albums will cease to exist on July 7, and that they should either download the albums, or install the company’s photo-centric Moments app to retain their uploaded status.
News of the change has seen the Moments app shoot up the App Store’s Top Free Apps chart, where it currently ranks #2 ahead of Facebook’s hugely popular Messenger app, which sits at #3.
The forced adoption of yet another Facebook app has caused consternation among a number of social media account holders, who were subject to a similar heavy-handed approach in early 2014.
I’m gonna delete @facebook from my phone before I install Messenger AND Moments! Facebook is the new MySpace. https://t.co/ewszcNBEGY
— Ray Ulrich (@ulrichray) June 2, 2016
On that occasion, the company pushed all users to download Facebook Messenger after it removed the chat feature from its flagship app. Messenger has held its position in the free apps chart’s top three almost ever since.
This month, the company also announced that it would be removing chat from its mobile web app too, leaving users with no other option but to download Messenger if they want to continue using the feature on their phones or tablets.
In related news, Facebook announced this week that it has begun rolling out a new 360-degree photo feature across the social network, which will let users view uploaded panoramic shots and 360-degree photos in a more immersive way.
Photos compatible with the 360 feature are identified by a compass icon on the right-hand side of the shot once it has been uploaded. Mobile users can explore a photo by tapping and dragging it or by moving their phone, while desktop users can click and drag it with their mouse or trackpad.
Moments is a free download for iPhone and iPad available on the App Store. [Direct Link]
Tag: Facebook
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Solar-powered aircraft completes its flight across the US
Solar Impulse 2 continues its slow creep around the globe, this time completing its journey across the US by landing in New York City. It first arrived in the continental US back in April when the solar-powered aircraft touched down in San Francisco, and now has completed its 14th leg since leaving Abu Dhabi in March of last year. It’s not the fastest way to get around — especially given delays due to battery damage — but it is very green, which is the whole point. Next up is an Atlantic Ocean crossing, with a destination in either southern Europe or Northern Africa. Check below for video of the latest flight.
BREAKING @andreborschberg lands in #NYC after a 5h flight, and completes the crossing of the USA! #futureisclean pic.twitter.com/58I0KxSXIU
— SOLAR IMPULSE (@solarimpulse) June 11, 2016
Source: Solar Impulse
The soccer madness of ‘Rocket League’ goes cyberpunk June 20th
Earlier this week, the team at Psyonix teased that we’d have even more details about Rocket League’s huge upcoming June patch and now those are here. On June 20th, fans will be able to knock oversized soccer balls into equally oversized nets against the new, neon-drenched and cyberpunky “Neo Tokyo” arena. It’s a free download for everyone, but if you want to add the map’s pair of anime-inspired cars to your collection you’ll have to pony up $1.99 for each in July. Conversely, you could pick up the game’s physical edition starting June 24th (that’s soon!) which includes early access to those and two others.
The patch also marks the beginning of the game’s third season for competitive multiplayer, a slew of additions to item drops, an item trade-in feature and a few other superficial bits and bobs. There are a few more details at the source link, and to help pass the time until the June 20th release, you should probably check out the new trailer embedded below.
Source: Rocket League
Google clarifies how search autocomplete works
In yet another odd development of the 2016 campaign season, Google’s autocomplete feature — not the actual search results, just autocomplete — has come under scrutiny of potential bias. A YouTube video posted by SourceFed (with a followup, posted here) picked up attention after claiming that Google failed to link “Hillary Clinton” with “indictment” in its autocomplete, unlike competitors Bing and Yahoo (that Yahoo is powered by both Bing and Google seems to have gone unmentioned), even if you spot it the i-n-d. So, clearly Google is in the tank for Clinton, right? As it turns out, an alternate and more accurate explanation becomes clear with some knowledge of how Google’s algorithms work.
Contrary to the way SourceFed describes the inner workings of a search engine, Google mentions that its autocomplete does filter for terms, particularly ones that could link someone’s name with things that are potentially hurtful or disparaging. This isn’t especially new information, as Google has previously manually adjusted its results for copyright reasons, and has even been fined for defamatory results.
Searching ‘Donald Trump law’ suggests lawn, but not his numerous lawsuits.
If you’re still not sure it works that way, one could try a similar test with Clinton’s presumptive competitor in the presidential race. While Donald Trump has had stories written about him that include the word “rape” or “lawsuits,” searching his name plus ra- or la- shows neither word as a suggestion. A blog post by marketer and SEO expert Rhea Drysdale goes into more detail about how this works and why, for those interested. Finally, simply typing in Hillary shows a top autocomplete suggestion with “Clinton email” for reasons that should be obvious by now. That single result can’t conclusively prove Google isn’t hiding something, but if it is, then it’s doing a terrible job of warning people off of the ongoing investigation.
Source: Inside Search Blog
Facebook pushes users to download its Moments app
Facebook is urging people to download yet another one of its apps after shoving users towards Messenger. This time, the social network has begun sending out warnings that their synced photos will be deleted by July 7th if they don’t install the Moments app. Facebook gave users the capability to auto-sync their photos on mobile with a private album within its app back in 2012. Three years later, it introduced the standalone Moments app for iOS and Android to house those photos, but it clearly decided to wait a while before phasing the old feature out completely.
According to TechCrunch, users can see more info within the private album that will be affected by the move if they haven’t received an email and a notification yet. If they switched Synced photos on by accident and would like to get rid of the feature, though, then they can take it easy. Just let the deadline pass, and Facebook will do the heavy lifting.
dang i didnt even know facebook privately synced TWELVE THOUSAND of my photos now they tryna delete them wow pic.twitter.com/Ii1fupbHQ7
— a.m. ☆.。.:* (@aurevoiralexis) June 9, 2016
Source: TechCrunch
AIVAnet 