Scientists map human brain in more detail than ever before
Scientists are still using a 100 year-old map to identify 83 known regions of the brain, but that’s about to change. A team from Washington University in St. Louis, working with the Human Connectome Project, has plotted 97 new areas of our gray matter, bringing the total to 180. The updated map will help researchers better explore the brain and may lead to breakthroughs in autism, schizophrenia and other neurological disorders. “If you want to find out what the brain can do, you have to understand how it is organized and wired,” says study leader Dr. David Van Essen.
Scientists scanned 1,200 test subjects with customized MRI machines packing three teslas of magnetic field strength. The patients were given simple tasks like listening to stories and doing math to see which regions lit up. They found that certain brain areas are clearly involved with, say, listening to a story, while others map a person’s field of view or control movement. The team not only developed a precise, well-defined map, but also released an “alignment algorithm” so that other researchers can repeat the tests.
The researchers defined 180 regions per hemisphere, but each of those can likely be subdivided further by future researchers. And while different regions of the brain perform specific functions, they also provide assistance and pass signals to other parts of the brain. In fact, the Human Connectome Project previously determined that strong connectivity between regions of the brain was a good marker for intelligence.
Using the algorithm, researchers and doctors can map a new subject’s brain in an hour or so with nearly 97 percent accuracy, even if the regions are irregular. The study should help doctors find areas affected by diseases like dementia to better see how treatments are working. Down the road, it will serve as a blueprint for further development and help us discover more about how our brain’s tick, and therefore, what makes us human.
Via: The New York Times
Source: Nature, WUSTL
Super-fast magnetic motor keeps tiny satellites on track
Satellites often rely on reaction wheels, or constantly spinning flywheels, to tweak their attitudes without using precious fuel. However, they tend to be very delicate — since they use ball bearings, they spin relatively slowly (under 6,000RPM), take up a lot of space, need tightly controlled environments and aren’t very precise. Thankfully, researchers at Celeroton have a better way. They’ve created a magnetically levitated motor that achieves the effect of a regular reaction wheel with virtually none of the drawbacks. Since its rotor floats in a magnetic field, it can spin much faster (up to 150,000RPM) without wearing out, creating vibrations or requiring a special, lubricated environment. And given that it produces the same angular momentum as a much larger reaction wheel, it’s perfect for CubeSats and any other tiny satellite where internal space is at a premium.
The motor is only a prototype at the moment, and it’ll take a while before there’s something commercially viable. However, multiple potential partners (including the European Space Agency) are reportedly interested. You may well see production satellites that can always adjust their positions, which might keep them useful well after conventional orbiters break down and become space junk.
Via: TechCrunch
Source: ETH Zurich
Twitter is livestreaming weekly MLB and NHL games
Twitter’s live sports streaming plans are expanding well beyond college games, the NFL and tennis. It just unveiled plans to livestream weekly Major League Baseball and National Hockey League games for free with occasional ads. This won’t replace a TV or internet video subscription (you can only watch if you’re out-of-market, for one thing), but it’ll be widely available: MLB games will be available in most countries worldwide, while NHL matches will be available across the US. You won’t need to log in to start watching, either. And this is apparently just the start, as Twitter is also promising regular programming regardless of the sports you watch.
The social network is partnering with 120 Sports on a nightly highlights show, The Rally. While details of its format are vague, it’ll be available to anyone in the US. Between this and the growing range of streaming games, Twitter’s strategy is increasingly clear: it wants to be the go-to place to discuss sports online. There’s no guarantee that it’ll work given that Twitter’s existing strategies to get more users haven’t borne much fruit, but we doubt that most sports fans will object.
Via: TechCrunch
Source: Twitter (PR Newswire)
Apple Stock Forecasted to Rise as Lifetime iPhone Sales Reach 1 Billion
Apple will report its fiscal third quarter earnings results tomorrow, and both the company and analysts project a year-over-year decline in iPhone sales and overall revenue for a second consecutive quarter.
Apple expects third quarter revenue of between $41 billion and $43 billion, which would be up to 18 percent lower than the $49.6 billion in revenue it posted in the year-ago quarter. The consensus among analysts is around $42.1 billion in revenue, which is essentially the midpoint of Apple’s guidance.
Analysts estimate that Apple sold at least another 40 million iPhones during the June quarter, raising lifetime sales of the smartphone to some 987 million. Applying that sales rate to July — just over 13 million iPhones per month — it is likely that Apple will have sold its billionth iPhone between now and the end of this month.
The milestone comes at a time when iPhone sales are on the decline for the first time since the smartphone launched in 2007, an arguably inevitable lull following the smash-hit success of the larger-screened iPhone 6 series. The decline has affected Apple shares, which are down around 21 percent from a 52-week high of $123.91.
Nevertheless, many Wall Street firms expect iPhone growth to resume in 2017. The good news could extend to Apple’s stock, as The Wall Street Journal yesterday reported that its “shares have been punished more than enough” and are due for a rally. It said the decline in iPhone sales “appears priced in.”
Still, Apple has been punished more than enough. The iPhone slump appears priced in. And while the next iPhone, expected later this year, likely won’t be a significant upgrade, there is optimism that sales growth will soon bounce back. Analysts forecast iPhone unit sales will rise 5% for fiscal 2017, which ends next September.
After briefly touching the $100 mark last week for the first time since early June, Apple shares are currently trading around the $98 mark, a price that some analysts feel undervalues the company.
Apple analyst Brian White of Drexel Hamilton reiterated his “buy” rating for AAPL today, based on a projected price target of $185. UBS analyst Steven Milunovich also issued a “buy” rating today with a 12-month price target of $115.
Apple is expected to introduce a wide range of new products in the second half of 2016 that could further raise its stock price, including the iPhone 7, Apple Watch 2, and long-awaited 2016 MacBook Pro.
Apple’s third quarter earnings results will be released at 1:30 p.m. Pacific Time, followed by a conference call with CEO Tim Cook and CFO Luca Maestri at 2:00 p.m. Pacific Time. MacRumors will be providing live coverage of the news.
Tag: AAPL
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Apple Leases More Than 40,000 Square Feet of Office Space for Bengaluru, India Center
Earlier this year, Apple announced plans to build an iOS App Design and Development Accelerator in Bengaluru, India, for the purpose of supporting engineering talent within the Apple ecosystem and giving developers tools to “create innovative apps for customers around the world,” according to CEO Tim Cook.
A few new details about the development center have emerged today, including news that Apple has leased more than 40,000 square feet of space for the Bengaluru offices.
According to sources speaking with The Economic Times, the new Apple center will cover two floors at Galleria, located in North Bengaluru. The office space Apple is interested in is owned by Standard Brick Tile Company, and includes other companies like Atkins and Comviva as tenants within the building.
Tens of thousands of developers in India make apps for iOS, the mobile operating system that is the foundation for iPhone, iPad and iPod touch.
The company said Apple’s team would work to inspire and instruct developers on best practices, help them hone their skills and transform the design, quality and performance of their apps on the iOS platform
Apple’s current plan is to open the new iOS App Design and Development Accelerator sometime in early 2017. The space in Bengaluru will be the second biggest of Apple’s facilities in India, following the company’s proposed 250,000 square foot campus in Hyderabad. That location will be the focus of developments in Apple Maps, with up to 4,000 employees expected to be hired at the site, which will cost the company $25 million to build.
Tag: India
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Casio Edifice EQB-500: Watch first, connected device second
Smartwatches have taken a few headlines over the past year, with devices like the Apple Watch offering a whole range of features for when you don’t want to be using your phone.
The most important thing about the Casio Edifice is that it’s a good looking watch. That’s a great thing, because as soon as you have the Edifice on your wrist, you’ll appreciate that it’s a watch you want to wear.
This is where many of the existing smartwatches go wrong: although there’s talk of premium luxury design, many fail to fulfil those aspirations. There are exceptions: we think the Apple Watch is interesting and refined in its design, and we think the Tag Heuer Connected hits the mark too.
But the Casio Edifice EQB-500 (which shares a design with many of the models in the Edifice range) hits that design mark well. It’s a big watch, with a depth of around 13mm, a face that’s around 43mm in diameter and a weight of approx. 175g. We love the blue colouration too: it’s unique and distinctive. There definitely aren’t enough blue watches around.
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We like that, because it has substance. The weighty feel imparts a sense of quality: where some watches are very light, the Edifice isn’t. The size of the face means you can fit plenty of information on it and the stainless steel case is liberally adorned with buttons that control the various functions on offer.
The face of the Edifice EQB-500 is a solar panel, harvesting energy from light to power its functions, so there’s no need to change the battery or wind it up. The face offers a mock-chronograph look, fused with the chunkiness of a typical diver’s watch design. There are big hour markers, a ticking second hand and illumination on the hour and minute hands.
The main crown screws down for protection against water ingress, with a 100m water resistance offered.
The metal link strap offers a folding clasp and fairly simple adjustment from the push pin links. If you are going to remove the links yourself (which is easy), make sure you don’t lose the small locking sleeves that sit inside the links to stop the pins falling out. The links have arrows on the underside to indicate the direction you should push the pins out, so it’s an easy DIY job.
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Casio Edifice Watch app
Casio has long been associated with watches that do a lot, from the G Shock family through to Edifice. In the case of this model, it offers Bluetooth, which means it offers a range of connected features in conjunction with the smartphone app.
A long press of the Bluetooth button will see the second hand spin around to the Bluetooth logo on the watch, as it seeks the app to connect to. This generally describes how you identify all the functions on watch, because hands move to point to fairly subtle indicators on the face, so you know what you’re looking at and others won’t.
Connection to the app is fairly easy: it takes a little time to pair, but generally once it’s done, it’s easy to connect again.
Generally speaking, the app is there to manage all the watch’s functions and so that you can see what’s going on. It lets the watch sync to the time on the phone, although you can also manually power the hands back and forth directly on the watch if you need to.
One the aims here is to make it simple for those who travel. When you arrive in a new location and your phone changes timezone, the app will notify you to connect your watch so it can be automatically set to the local time.
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There are world time functions, so you can allocate a zone for a second dial. If you have family or business contacts in a different location, or are away from home and want at-a-glance confirmation of what time it is, than that dial is for you.
The watch app will also let you set alarms, manage notifications from emails – although there’s no display to see what they might be, and you have to register your email account in Casio’s app, so it’s not great. There is also a stopwatch and timer functions, with a range of race tracks included in the app. As Edifice is aligning itself with motor racing, this fits the theme.
The app, however, is possibly the worst aspect of the Casio Edifice. The user experience is poor, the app is badly laid out and when the watch isn’t connected, the app permanently asks to be reconnected – on Android at least. That sees the app always in the notifications area of your phone, and you have to force stop to get rid of it.
In reality, it either needs to connect in the background on its own, or it needs to close until you open it again, rather than wait, as if tapping its foot, suggesting that your watch is the most important thing you phone is connected to.
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Overall, the Casio Edifice EQB-500 is a nice watch. It looks good, it’s clear in telling you the time and it feels great on the wrist. It’s a cut above your average smartwatch in build and design, although it doesn’t attempt to give you the functionality that an Android Wear or Apple Watch watch might through its Bluetooth connection.
The Casio Edifice EQB-500 is available now for around £300, if you want something that’s watch first, connected device second.
Motorola Moto E3 (2016) vs Moto E (2015): What’s the difference?
Lenovo-owned Motorola has launched several phones this year, hitting a range of price points. The Moto Z aims for the higher end of the market, the Moto G falls towards to lower end of the mid-range, while the latest Moto E continues to fulfill the budget sector.
How does the Moto E3 compare to last year’s model though and do you get more for your £100 this time around?
We have put 2016’s Moto E3 up against 2015’s second generation of Moto E to see what the differences are and how much has changed.
Motorola Moto E3 vs Moto E (2015): Design
The Motorola Moto E3 takes its design cues from the Moto G4. It has a slim body that measures 8.6mm, a front-facing speaker at the bottom and the rear has a camera lens and LED flash housed in the same raised element.
The signature indented “M” is also present beneath the camera and flash array. The Moto E3 has a footprint of 143.8 x 71.6mm and hits the scales at 141g.
The Motorola Moto E second generation is a little bulkier than the latest model, measuring 12.3mm at its thickest point, but it is smaller at 129.9 x 66.8mm. It weighs 145g so it is slightly heavier than the new Moto E.
The rear features a larger camera lens, still centralised like the new Moto E, but there is no LED flash. The signature indented “M” sits in the same place, while the front has one speaker at the top, but not the bottom.
Motorola Moto E3 vs Moto E (2015): Display
The Motorola Moto E3 has a 5-inch display that is protected by Corning Gorilla Glass 3. It is an IPS LCD display and it has a resolution of 1280 x 720 pixels, which results in a pixel density of 294ppi.
The 2015 Moto E has a slightly smaller 4.5-inch display, which is the same size as the Moto G when it originally launched. It too is an IPS LCD screen and it is also protected by Gorilla Glass 3.
The resolution on the second generation of Moto E is 960 x 540 pixels, which results in a pixel density of 245ppi. That means the new Moto E does theoretically have a sharper display than its predecessor, but the difference is pretty minor because of the size increase and won’t be noticeable to the human eye.
Motorola Moto E3 vs Moto E (2015): Cameras
The Moto E3 features an 8-megapixel rear camera, with an LED flash as we mentioned, coupled with a 5-megapixel front-facing camera. The rear will be capable of 720p video recording and it will offer features including burst mode, HDR and panorama.
The second generation of Moto E has a 5-megapixel rear camera with an aperture of f/2.2. It doesn’t offer a flash of any kind but the LTE model is also capable of 720p video recording. The front-facing camera on 2015’s model of Moto E is VGA, which means the new model should offer significant improvements when it comes to selfies and video calling.
Motorola Moto E3 vs Moto E (2015): Hardware
The Motorola Moto E3 features a quad-core 1GHz MediaTek processor, along with 1GB of RAM, 8GB of internal storage, microSD expansion up to 32GB and a battery capacity of 2800mAh.
Last year’s Moto E features a quad-core 1.2GHz Qualcomm Snapdragon 410 processor and 1GB within the LTE model. It also comes with 8GB of internal storage and microSD support for storage expansion up to 32GB.
The 2015 Moto E has a battery capacity of 2390mAh so the new Moto E should last a little longer, although it does have a larger screen to power.
Motorola Moto E3 vs Moto E (2015): Software
The Moto E3 launches on Android 6.0 Marshmallow and features very little bloatware over the top, delivering an almost pure Android experience. It will no doubt see an update to Android Nougat shortly after the software launches officially towards the end of September.
The previous Moto E originally launched on Android Lollipop, but it has since been updated to Marshmallow. It too has very little bloatware meaning quick software updates. It isn’t yet clear if it will be updated to Nougat though.
Motorola Moto E3 vs Moto E (2015): Conclusion
The Motorola Moto E3 sees some quite significant developments over the second generation. The design has improved, the display is larger and offers a higher resolution and the battery capacity has also increased.
The Moto E3 also sees some good developments in the camera department including the addition of a rear flash and an increase in resolution, the latter of which should be especially noticeable in the front-facing snapper.
You get quite a bit for your £100 with the Moto E3. For those choosing between the two devices being compared here, the new model is definitely the one to opt for. For those considering moving from last year’s model to the Moto E3, there certainly appears to be plenty to warrant the upgrade.
Scientists create glasses-free 3D for the movie theater
Watching glasses-free 3D on a TV is no longer an outlandish concept, but that hasn’t been true for movie theaters. How are you supposed to create the same parallax effect for everyone, whether they’re up front or way in the back? Researchers at MIT CSAIL and Israel’s Weizmann Institute for Science finally have a practical answer. Their Cinema 3D tech creates multiple parallax barriers in a single display, using lenses and mirrors to deliver a range of angles across the whole theater. And unlike previous attempts at large-scale glasses-free 3D, you don’t have to take a hit to resolution.
You won’t get to forego the unwieldy eyewear for a while. The prototype is only slightly larger than a pad of paper, and uses 50 lens/mirror combos to achieve its 3D effect. You’d need a far bigger and more intricate system to make it work at the local movie house, which might make it prohibitively expensive. However, it’s imaginable that a future, optimized version might find its way into theaters and spare you from one of the biggest hassles in modern moviegoing.
Source: Weizmann Institute of Science, MIT CSAIL (YouTube)
Windows 10’s Anniversary Update makes a great OS better
“It’s nice, for once, to be able to recommend a new version of Windows without any hesitation.” That’s how I summarized my review of Windows 10 last year, and for the most part, it’s lived up to my expectations. Other than Microsoft’s bafflingly forceful automatic upgrade policy (which has led to lawsuits and plenty of ticked off users), the operating system’s first year on the market has been relatively smooth.
Microsoft says the software is now running on over 350 million devices worldwide, and it’s seeing the highest customer satisfaction ratings ever for a Windows release. So expectations are running pretty high for the Windows 10 Anniversary Update, which arrives August 2nd. But while it definitely delivers some useful upgrades to key features like Cortana and Windows Ink, don’t expect any massive changes to Windows 10 as a whole.
Cortana
Expect to see Microsoft’s virtual assistant just about everywhere in the Anniversary Update. Cortana is accessible through the lock screen, allowing you to ask simple questions or do things like play music, without even having to log in. She’ll also control some apps like iHeartRadio and Pandora, with voice commands. (Unfortunately, there’s no Spotify support yet.)
Perhaps most intriguingly, Cortana will also work across different platforms, with the ability to talk to Windows Phone and Android devices. You’ll be able to see notifications from your phone right on the Windows desktop, as well as alerts like when your phone is running low on battery. While there’s a Cortana app on iOS, this extensive integration won’t be available to iPhone users just yet. Microsoft reps say one reason for that is that it’s simply harder to implement it on Apple’s platform.
Cortana is also getting the smarts to act like a real assistant. Just like before, you can send her reminders and have her recall them at any point. Now, you’ll also be able to add photos to those reminders, as well as create them from Windows apps directly. And yes, those reminders carry over to Cortana’s mobile apps too. They’re particularly useful for things like frequent flyer numbers or complex parking spot locations, where asking your phone to look it up is easier than searching through your notes manually. She can also search within your documents for specific bits of text.
While I still find Google Now to be more accurate at listening to voice commands, Cortana stands out as the only voice-powered digital assistant on a desktop OS. Apple’s Siri will be the highlight of MacOS Sierra this fall when it’s officially released (though you can try it in beta form now), but Cortana still has that beat feature-wise.
Windows Ink
With the Windows 10 Anniversary Update, Ink finally steps out from behind the scenes for stylus users with an interface all its own. Clicking the eraser button on the Surface Pen, for example, brings up a new menu on the right side of the screen. From there, you can create a Sticky Note (basically a digital Post-It), access a blank sketch pad or jot notes down on a screenshot of whatever you’re looking at. Other active stylus models will have access to the feature too, and you’ll even be able to use it with a keyboard and mouse (right-click on the taskbar and choose “Show Windows Ink Workspace” button).
While it’s still fairly rudimentary, the current Ink interface is a lot more useful than what Microsoft offered in the past. Previously, hitting the Surface Pen’s eraser button would simply open up a blank OneNote document. It was great for people who liked to sketch or jot down handwritten notes, but that was about it. I’ve found myself using the stylus even more now with the Surface Pro 4 to create Sticky reminders, or simply caption an image to share with friends.
Just like Cortana, you can also access all of the new Ink features from the lock screen. So if you have to take some emergency notes for class, or simply want to jot down a burst of inspiration, you won’t have to wait to log into Windows to do so.
Windows Hello
Microsoft’s biometric authentication feature is branching out from the lock screen to let you sign into apps like DropBox and iHeartradio. It’ll even log you into some websites when you’re using the Edge browser. Hello was one of the best additions to Windows 10, so it was only a matter of time until its zippy login capabilities spread throughout the OS.
Still, the problem with Windows Hello is actually being able to use it. Fingerprint sensors and depth-sensing cameras (like Intel’s RealSense) still aren’t all that common. You’ll find them on the Surface machines and some high-end notebooks and tablets, but you can forget about them if you’re on a budget. And if you’re using a desktop, you’re even worse off. You can buy a third-party fingerprint sensor, but it won’t be as fast or accurate as the hardware used inside phones. And, for some reason, external depth-sensing cameras are still practically non-existent (unless you pay through the nose for a RealSense developer device).
At this point, Microsoft doesn’t have an answer to the lack of Windows Hello-compatible hardware out there. But company reps say they hope that once Microsoft adds more features to Windows Hello, manufacturers will feel more compelled to add the necessary hardware.
Microsoft Edge
Remember all the promises of browser extension support on Edge? Well, they’re finally here with the Anniversary Update. You’ll be able to choose from a handful of popular options like LastPass, AdBlock, Pocket and Evernote’s Clipper. The selection was pretty limited during my testing, but hopefully developers will adopt Edge’s extensions quickly. Microsoft claims that Edge is more power efficient now (something it already touted over its competitors), and it has even more support for newer web standards.
Start Menu
Rather than just highlighting a few apps in the Start Menu, the Anniversary Update brings all of your installed apps into a single (and very long) drop-down list. It might seem a bit overwhelming to new users, but it saves power users an extra click when they need to peruse their apps. Live Tiles are smarter now as well: If you click on a news app displaying a specific story, you’ll be directed to that story once the app launches. Sure, neither change is as drastic as the return of the Start Menu, but they’re still helpful tweaks.
Wrap-up
If you were expecting a huge change with the Windows 10 Anniversary Update, then you’ll probably be disappointed here. But, in a way, its lack of any major additions says a lot about how much Microsoft got right when it first launched Windows 10. It’s a stable, secure and fast OS. The Anniversary Update simply makes it better, and that’s something I think every PC user will appreciate.
See how VFX puts the realism and fire into ‘Game of Thrones’
Warning: mild spoilers ahead. The last two shows on Game of Thrones season six were particularly spectacle-laden, so the show’s VFX houses were busier than ever. Mackevision and Rising Sun Pictures have released new demo reels showing exactly how they turned extras into a huge crowd or just (digitally) murdered them. Rising Sun (below) was charged with the King’s Landing scenes in the final episode, which featured fiery green explosions, a huge bell crushing a hapless citizen and the incineration of a certain not-well-liked character.
Mackevision mostly showed off the grand flotilla headed by Daenerys Targaryen (the dragons in that scene, below, were created by Pixomodo). Both videos show the layers upon layers of green-screened actors, digital imagery and particle (explosion, smoke and water) effects needed just to construct a five second shot. At the end, the whole thing is color corrected to match elements, create the right atmosphere and hide less-than-realistic work, like a tumbling digital actor.
Particularly amusing in the Rising Sun Pictures video is the amount of work it took to make a large, rowdy mob. A motion capture actor emotes in a “What is going on? I can’t see!” fashion while wearing an Oculus Rift headset, presumably so he have something to react to. His actions are then transferred to multiple members of the vast digital crowd to make their movements more natural. In the end, you can’t even see them, showing the lengths VFX houses go to for a tiny bit more extra realism.
Source: Rising Sun Pictures (YouTube), Mackevision (Vimeo)
AIVAnet 