Tesla offers Model X owners shades to block out the haters
Tesla’s Model X has an enormous windshield that arches over the back of your head, offering an expansive view of the world outside. But when it’s particularly hot or sunny, all that glass can be a distraction or uncomfortable for everyone trapped inside. To help, Tesla has opted for the simplest of solutions — removable windshield sunshades. As Teslarati reports, the company is now emailing Model X owners to offer them one of these new sun-blockers. They fit snugly around the back of the rear-view mirror, covering much of the glass that sits above the driver.
Sunshine isn’t the first problem the Model X has run into. Back in April, Tesla had to recall vehicles due to a flaw with the locking hinge that manages the third row of seats. Hopefully production will be a little smoother for the much-anticipated Model 3 — it has a smaller windshield than the Model X, so unwanted heat and glare should be less of an issue.
Via: The Verge, Teslarati
Source: Tesla
People are still buying new consoles weeks ahead of E3
Every month, the NPD Group lays out the top-selling hardware and software in the gaming industry, tracking physical sales of everything from Xbox Ones and PlayStation 4s to Grand Theft Auto and Minecraft. There are slow months and busy months, dips in the console market and peaks in the software cycle, but in May 2016, something strange happened. Sales of current-generation consoles (meaning the PS4 and Xbox One, mostly), were “stable” according to the NPD’s Liam Callahan.
This wouldn’t be notable in many other months, but it just so happens that E3 2016 takes place in the middle of June, and rumors are flying about new consoles from both Sony and Microsoft.
There’s little concrete information about what exactly the companies will reveal at E3, but multiple credible reports suggest that we’re going to see a new Xbox One. Plus, Sony Computer Entertainment CEO Andrew House just this morning confirmed that PlayStation definitely has a new, more powerful console in the works.
The Sony console is codenamed “Neo,” and it will support 4K video and have all-around upgraded guts. Sony doesn’t plan to disenfranchise its 40 million existing PS4 players — developers will be able to patch existing games to work with the Neo’s higher specs, for example.
“It is intended to sit alongside and complement the standard PS4,” House said. “We will be selling both [models] through the life cycle.”
That said, the Neo is set to be a step up from the standard PS4 currently on the market, and it has interesting implications for the future of PlayStation VR, streaming entertainment and AAA games on Sony’s console. The Neo may emerge as Sony’s new standard.
However, House said that the Neo won’t be at E3, despite earlier reports to the contrary.
Keep in mind that House isn’t afraid to set the stage for drama at E3. The weekend before E3 2013, for example, House re-wrote portions of Sony’s script in order to capitalize on the hate flowing toward Microsoft after its announcement of an “always-on” Xbox One. Sony’s E3 MO involves mic drops and surprises. Even with House whispering reassurances in our ears three days before the big show, it’s worthwhile to wait and see what the company actually reveals on Monday.
The same goes for the Xbox One. Microsoft is poised to announce a new, slimmer model with a 2TB hard drive, larger than any of the versions on sale now. This one isn’t confirmed yet, but rumor has it the new console will arrive this year.
Microsoft is also diving into VR in a way that leaves plenty of room for Xbox One hardware upgrades in the near future. Xbox and Oculus have a particularly tight relationship, though a new “slim” console probably wouldn’t support the Rift. Apparently the company is building a second upgraded Xbox One model that will support the Rift, and while we don’t expect to see this at E3, it’ll be beneficial to see what information Microsoft offers at E3.
The PS4 and Xbox One debuted in November 2013. If you’ve waited nearly three years to buy a current-generation console, you might as well give it an extra month to see what new hardware Sony and Microsoft have in store. Sure, the Xbox One and PS4 have recently received widely publicized price cuts to $300 and $350, respectively — but if you’re saving up for a big tech purchase anyway, why not make sure you’re getting the best deal on the greatest gear your budget allows?
The Xbox One, PS4, Neo and any other console at E3 2016 will eventually be outdated and warmly ridiculed in augmented reality chat rooms — much like we now discuss the Atari 2600, Sega Dreamcast, Gameboy and other cutting-edge systems of decades past. Only right now will these consoles be fresh, new and exciting, and all players have the right to get in on the ground floor of nostalgia.
Amid all of the rumors, reports and hints from CEOs, one fact about E3 is clear: We don’t know what will be there. The new consoles, if they’re revealed at E3, may be too expensive for some people’s tastes — and that’s fine. Or the new consoles may not be at the show at all. Waiting until after the press conferences on Monday, June 13th simply ensures everyone will be an informed consumer, rather than someone taking a gamble.
That is, unless you bought a new console in May because you did your research and literally couldn’t wait another day to play the new Uncharted or Doom. If that’s the case, carry on, digital warrior. Carry on.
Apple will turn landfill gas into sweet electricity
Apple has been given permission by North Carolina to build a facility that uses the methane emitted from landfill waste to create electricity. The plant, which will be based in Catawba County, will stand for 16 years, with the option of a five-year extension should the parties agree. As 9to5Mac explains, it’s an energy method that both generates power from waste and prevents the release of methane into the atmosphere. The news comes less than a day after the firm was given permission to begin reselling energy to power companies.
A few years ago, the firm realized that it needed to do more with the environment, and hired Lisa Jackson, former head of the EPA, to lead the charge. Since then, the firm has pushed to power all of its facilities with renewable energy, and now generates 93 percent of its total need from green sources. This number will probably creep closer to 100 percent in the next few years, hence the desire to sell any extra capacity it has to the grid.
As people speculate on Apple’s future as a consumer technology company, it’s possible to miss a quiet revolution taking place behind the scenes. After all, the firm has interests in mobile payments, health research and cloud storage. It’s already making serious bank from its media (iTunes, iBooks) and software stores, plus whatever money Apple Music is bringing in. With vast cash reserves and a commitment to green energy, it’s plausible that Apple could become a power company without anyone noticing.
Via: 9to5Mac
Source: Hickory Record
‘Pokémon Go’ Hands-On Details Cooperative Aspects of the Augmented Reality App
While Niantic and The Pokémon Company’s much-anticipated iOS and Android game Pokémon Go is still a few months from launch, TechCrunch recently got to go hands-on with the app to discover how it plays in a real-world scenario. Walking around San Francisco, TechCrunch’s Greg Kumparak particularly liked the game’s endearing ability to encourage hometown exploration, alongside its more intense, cooperative aspects.
Kumparak notes pausing at the base of the Bay Bridge when his phone vibrated to notify him that a virtual cache was hiding nearby. When opened, some historic details about the bridge were shared, alongside a few Poké Balls and one Pokémon Egg. Later, when he and the Niantic team arrived at a major San Francisco landmark — Cupid’s Span — his phone notified him again, this time that a Pokémon was lurking nearby.
After catching a Horsea near the shore of the Bay, Niantic encouraged Kumparak to engage in a battle in the nearby “Gym,” located at Cupids’ Span. Previous news surrounding the game detailed a user’s ability to choose the yellow, blue or red team, who would all be in constant battle over gyms scattered throughout the real world.
As Kumparak battled within the Gym, Niantic divulged information on the cooperative elements required by players who take on Gyms with more than just one or two simple, low-level Pokémon.
To take over a gym, you have to boot out the Pokémon that are already there. You and your friends can work together to take them on; if you win, you get to leave some Pokémon there to defend it. Battles are fairly simple (it seems mostly about tapping the screen quickly vs. the strategy of the original games.) As more players join, gyms get more and more powerful, capable of holding more Pokémon, and thus harder to take over.
“So might it ever reach a point where you’ll need, say, dozens of people to gather together in one place to take over a gym?”, I ask.
“Oh, absolutely”, one of the devs responds. “That’s what’s supposed to happen.”
Overall, Kumparak came away largely pleased with Pokémon Go, saying that the experience made him want to “walk around San Francisco aimlessly” to discover new Pokémon and find a few new items for his character. A release date has yet to be set for the augmented reality game, but Niantic has said it aims to launch the game by the end of 2016.
Check out TechCrunch’s full hands-on report of Pokémon Go for more details on the game and how it plays.
Tag: Pokémon GO
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Apple TV Universal Search Gains Support for Bravo, E!, Syfy, and USA
Apple today added four new channels to its universal search functionality on the fourth-generation Apple TV, including support for Bravo, E!, Syfy, and USA. The feature lets users find specific media content across multiple apps using the Apple TV’s text or Siri voice search.
Users can keep up-to-date with which apps are carrying support for universal search in the company’s dedicated support document. The four new apps today follow a steady stream of additions to universal search over the past few months, including NBC in May and CBS in April.
Apple’s rate of adding new apps to universal search also seems to be increasing, considering that the Apple TV apps for Bravo, E!, and Syfy launched on the fourth-generation device just a few weeks ago. The current U.S. lineup for universal search encompasses the four major networks, services like iTunes, HBO, Hulu, and Netflix, and other channels including Disney, National Geographic, and FX.
Netflix and iTunes remain the sole apps supported by universal search in Australia, Canada, France, Germany, and the United Kingdom, while in most other territories only iTunes content is supported.
Related Roundup: Apple TV
Buyer’s Guide: Apple TV (Neutral)
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Apple to Use Intel Modems in AT&T iPhone 7, Qualcomm Modems for Verizon and China
Multiple rumors have claimed that Intel will supply at least a portion of LTE and Wi-Fi modems for the iPhone 7 series, alongside existing supplier Qualcomm, and a new report offers a closer look at how the orders will be divided between the companies.
Bloomberg reports that Intel modems will be reserved for AT&T iPhone 7 models, and some other versions of the smartphone sold in other countries, while Qualcomm is said to remain a supplier of modems for Verizon and all Chinese models. The wording suggests that Qualcomm may retain orders in some other regions as well.
Choosing Intel’s part for an important role in the product that generates about two-thirds of Apple’s annual revenue may represent a calculated gamble by the company. Bringing in second-source suppliers is a long-established practice by device makers looking to make sure they’re in a better position to negotiate on price. However, analysts such as Stacy Rasgon at Sanford C. Bernstein have said that Qualcomm’s modems remain ahead of Intel’s offerings in performance when measured by how much data they can get from the network into the phone.
Qualcomm CEO Steve Mollenkopf previously hinted that the chipmaker would be losing modem orders from one of its major customers to one of its leading competitors, although it is reportedly still “retaining a major chunk” of Apple’s business rather than being dropped as a supplier entirely.
Taiwanese website DigiTimes recently reported that Intel would supply “up to 50 percent” of modems for the iPhone 7 series, while CLSA Securities analyst Srini Pajjuri told investors in March that Intel’s share of orders would be a “significant portion,” likely falling in range of 30 to 40 percent of production.
Apple is rumored to use Intel’s XMM 7360 LTE modem [PDF] with faster theoretical download speeds up to 450 Mbps and upload speeds up to 100 Mbps. Meanwhile, Qualcomm’s X12 modem is a likely candidate for the iPhone 7, with theoretical download speeds up to 600 Mbps and upload speeds up to 150 Mbps.
Both rumored Intel and Qualcomm modems would be capable of faster speeds than the MDM9635 chipset in the iPhone 6s and iPhone 6s Plus, which provides theoretical download speeds up to 300 Mbps and upload speeds up to 50 Mbps. However, real-world speeds are often slower due to network limitations.
Related Roundup: iPhone 7
Tags: Intel, AT&T, Verizon, Qualcomm, LTE
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WWDC 2016: MacRumors Readers’ tvOS and watchOS Wishlists
Apple is planning to introduce new versions of tvOS and watchOS at the Worldwide Developers Conference, but unlike iOS 10 and OS X 10.12, we haven’t heard any details on new features that could be bundled into the releases.
A lack of rumors hasn’t stopped our forum members from dreaming up a list of most-wanted features in the two operating systems, so we took a look at some tvOS and watchOS wishlists to get an idea of the kinds of improvements people are hoping to see in the updates.
watchOS
One of the most desired features for the Apple Watch, unsurprisingly, is a better variety of watch faces to choose from. New digital faces and square watch faces like the Hermès Apple Watch face are high on the wishlist.
MacRumors reader mavis wants to see faces that include an optional second count, and moxxham outlined a feature for dynamic complications on watch faces that sounds useful.
It would be great to set up time dependant complications and notifications. In the morning once your alarm is turned off, that complication disappears and is replaced by the activity complication. If your watch is charged over night, when you put the Apple Watch on, the battery complication will disappear and be replaced by weather. Just simple things like this would be great. It would really stop you from changing different faces all the time to suit your needs. The watch would predict based on your usage which complications would suit you and at what time.
Sleep tracking is a feature some readers would like to see, but it’s unlikely to be introduced in the current Apple Watch due to battery life concerns. The ability to reassign the side button to access something other than a contact list is another interesting feature request from anthonymoody.
Other watchOS 3 wants:
- More workout options and controls
- Reminders app
- Ability to scroll through Glances with Digital Crown
- Speed/efficiency improvements
- Ability to control Apple TV with Apple Watch Digital Crown and Siri
- Option to disable Time Travel
- Watch Face activated at all times
- Glance for checking iPhone/Watch battery
Read more about the features people are hoping for in watchOS in the dedicated watchOS 3.0 wishlist thread on the forums.
tvOS
There are two threads our forum members have created covering tvOS features they’d like to see, one that was started shortly after the Apple TV launched and another that started up in April.
Both have some interesting feature requests like a dark mode for the user interface, an Apple Music-style “For You” iTunes section for movie and TV suggestions, and unsurprisingly, support for games that only use a controller. Right now, tvOS apps with controller support are also required to support for the Apple TV remote, limiting controller functionality.
Other feature requests:
- Picture-in-picture and/or Split View
- Cloud backup and storage
- iCloud syncing for multiple Apple TVs
- VPN support
- Better parental controls
- Easier switching between accounts
- Remote installation of tvOS apps from iOS devices
- Always-on Hey Siri
- Slow motion playback
- Continuity and Notifications
The new versions of watchOS and tvOS will be unveiled alongside iOS 10 and OS X 10.12 on Monday, June 13 at Apple’s Worldwide Developers Conference keynote. The event is set to kick off at 10:00 a.m. Pacific Time.
Related Roundup: WWDC 2016
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How I increased my MacBook’s battery life by 39 percent – CNET
If you are like me, then you are more concerned with the battery life of your laptop than the battery life of your cell phone. My aging MacBook Pro barely makes it to lunch on a single charge, while my iPhone lasts all day.
I have tweaked a few settings to extend the life of my laptop’s battery, but I still can’t stray too far from an outlet for too long. I spend most of my day inside Chrome, a browser notorious for its power consumption, and while Google continues to turn a blind eye toward my MacBook’s meager battery life, there is one browser that is paying attention. Opera recently introduced Power Saver, which it claims can help your laptop’s battery run 50-percent longer.
To get the new Power Saver feature, you must use the experimental version of Opera in the developer channel. With this version, a battery button appears to the right of the URL bar when you unplug your laptop and are using battery power. Click the button and then click the toggle switch to turn on Power Saver.
Screenshot by Matt Elliott/CNET
Power Saver also kicks in automatically when your battery has less than 20 percent of its charge remaining.
More laptop tips
- Five tips to speed up your Mac
- 6 easy ways to speed up Windows 10
- How to make your laptop boot faster
According to Opera, Power Saver helps extend battery life by reducing activity in background tabs, waking CPU less often, pausing unused plug-ins, capping video playback at 30 frames per second, tweaking some video codecs and pausing browser-theme animations.
Opera’s developer channel version is available for laptops running OS X, Windows and Linux.
Should you switch?
That is, does Opera and its Power Saver feature provide enough of a boost to battery life that it’s worth switching browsers?
To answer this question, I’ve been using the developer version of Opera for the past couple of weeks to put Opera’s claims of 50 percent longer battery life to the test.
With only Chrome running, my old MacBook Pro provides roughly 2 hours and 20 minutes of battery life on average. When I use Opera instead with Power Saver turned on, I get about 3 hours and 15 minutes of runtime on a single charge. In both tests, I had two windows open with multiple tabs open in each window.
While these figures do not measure up to Opera’s claims of 50 percent longer battery life, they do represent a not insignificant 39 percent increase in battery life on my admittedly unscientific tests. No matter how you slice it, Opera is giving me nearly an extra hour of battery life.
In addition, I have found the developer version of Opera to be stable and have not witnessed any negative side effects to using Power Saver. Capping video playback at 30 frames per second, for example, produced no ill effects in my experience; Netflix and YouTube videos appear no different with Power Saver enabled as they do without it.
Given that Opera’s Power Saver gives me nearly an extra hour of battery life, I have begun to use Opera as my secondary browser when I know I’m going to be away from an outlet for a good portion of the day. Since I’m a creature of habit, however, I continue to use Chrome when seated at my desk or otherwise running on AC power.
Tiny1 Release Date, Price and Specs – CNET
The Milky Way captured with the Tiny1 camera.
TinyMOS
Like most people, I’m pretty jaded when it comes to crowdfunded projects. So when TinyMOS got in touch about its Tiny1 astronomy camera, currently seeking funding on Indiegogo, I was a bit dubious. After all, so many similar hardware projects never get past the funding stage. They promise the world and deliver, well, nothing.
Singapore startup TinyMOS says it can take great pictures of the night sky with a 4-megapixel camera that costs just $379 (converting to about £265 or AU$515). That’s a big claim, so I took a trip down to the TinyMOS office to find out more.
Amusingly, the first thing the team showed me was a thread on the shittykickstarters subreddit, which laid out rebuttals to the company’s claims. The team seemed unfazed by the criticism, confident of the tech they were showing me.
The Tiny1 camera.
TinyMOS
Although there wasn’t a full prototype of the Tiny1 ready just yet, the experts at TinyMOS showed off a circuit board of its upcoming build and outlined plans to combine the camera sensor and the main processing board when it ships in November. In addition to the Indiegogo campaign, TinyMOS currently has funding from angel investors and a government grant.
Key specs
- Sensor size: 1/3 inch, 2-micron pixels
- Formats: DNG and raw
- Timelapse video capability
- USB 2.0 support
- 1,700mAh battery
I got to see the unfinished camera at work. It seems to use a smaller sensor for a longer zoom and also lets you use adapters for telescopes or DSLR lenses. The image quality seems very sharp, thanks to its patent-pending software that helps reduce noise. TinyMOS also showed me impressive-looking demo clips of footage.
I’m still inclined to be wary about this and can’t give any kind of verdict until there’s an actual product in my hands. But I really hope it holds up. If TinyMOS can get its Tiny1 out at the end of the year and deliver on its promise, it could make astrophotography easy and exciting again.
Samsung Gear Fit 2 review – CNET
The Good The Gear Fit 2 has a slim design with a beautiful curved AMOLED display that can show smartphone notifications and weekly charts. It also has GPS, heart-rate monitoring, onboard music storage for up to 1,000 songs, all-day fitness and sleep tracking, and automatic exercise detection.
The Bad Short battery life. The accuracy of the heart-rate sensor fluctuates during workouts. You can’t wear in the shower or while swimming. No iPhone support. Samsung’s S Health app can be confusing.
The Bottom Line The Gear Fit 2 is a great-looking feature-packed fitness band, but its design isn’t always perfect for hardcore workout warriors.
Samsung got my attention with the Gear Fit 2. It had everything I looked for in a fitness tracker: all-day fitness tracking, heart rate, GPS for tracking pace and distance when running, smartphone notifications, inactivity alerts and automatic exercise detection. It even had some features I never even thought I would use, such as onboard music storage, and water and caffeine tacking.
The Fit 2 is more than just a fitness tracker. It’s a sort of like a mini fitness smartwatch. There are a variety of appealing watch faces to choose from, you can view and respond to notifications from your Android phone right on your wrist, and there’s a built-in Spotify app.
Hands-on with the Samsung Gear Fit 2
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I also can’t forget about the design. The curved screen and beautiful AMOLED display is appealing to look at and feels comfortable on the wrist. And I really like the price. The Fit 2 is available now for $179 (about £125, AU$250), significantly less than the comparable Microsoft Band 2, Garmin Vivosmart HR+ and Fitbit Surge. Unfortunately, it’s only available for Android devices.
When it’s all said and done, however, I’m not in love with the band. I actually look forward to taking it off and going back my Fitbit and Garmin watches. Here’s why:
A mini fitness smartwatch, but with limited apps
The Fit 2 is like a slimmed-down version of Samsung’s Gear S2 smartwatch. It has the same fitness features and notifications (and those features are both very good), but it’s missing app support. There are some basic apps, like a stopwatch and a timer. The one to care about is the Spotify app, which lets you control and access your playlists right from your wrist. Unfortunately, you still need a phone connected to use it.
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Sarah Tew/CNET
There is 4GB of space so you can load up to 1,000 of your favorite songs right to the device, but who buys music anymore? It would have been a game changer if you were able to load Spotify playlists right on the device for offline use. Hopefully this is something that will come sometime down the road, but it isn’t guaranteed.
Running is frustrating
I was excited when Samsung told me the Fit 2 has GPS. As an avid runner and cyclist, it’s an essential feature to measure my pace, speed and distance. Working out with the Fit 2, however, has been nothing but frustrating. Novice runners may not have the same problems I did, but it’s clear this isn’t designed for serious athletes.
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Sarah Tew/CNET
Most devices with GPS require you to wait until a signal is acquired. When you start a running exercise with the Fit 2, it immediately begins to countdown from three seconds and starts the timer. Each time I had to pause the band and wait for the signal to be acquired, which was never a fast ordeal. The Garmin and Polar watches I used for comparison acquired GPS within a few seconds. Meanwhile, the Fit 2 took a few minutes each time.
The other problem is that beautiful screen. There’s a special outdoor mode that increases brightness and makes it easy to see, but the screen isn’t always on. Instead, it wakes up when you move your arm to your face, which isn’t easy to pull off mid-run. And it isn’t even very responsive.
AIVAnet 