Sex toy sends intimate data to its creator
Connected sex toys that track your habits can be helpful, but at least one of them is a little too willing to transmit your personal data. Presenters at Def Con have revealed that at least one toy, the We-Vibe 4 Plus, regularly shares sensitive info with its creators at Standard Innovations Corporation. The couple-oriented vibrator sends its temperature to the manufacturer every minute, and reports whenever you change the vibration level. While it’s not calling you out by name, it wouldn’t take much to piece together details you probably don’t want to share beyond your partner, such as when you climax and what it takes to get there.
As our columnist Violet Blue learned at Def Con, it’s not helped by SIC’s vague policies on how it handles your data. The policy you get in the necessary app covers information from the website, and there aren’t any notices to tell you where that data is going and why.
SIC tells Fusion that it collects the vibration information for “market research” to determine which settings are the most effective, and temperature for “hardware diagnostic purposes.” It’s probably not selling your sex life to the highest bidder, and the company adds that it’s “in the process of reviewing” its data collection policy to improve transparency. Until then, though, it’s hard to know whether or not that data stays entirely within the company, and whether that data is sufficiently anonymized and protected. Whatever is the case, this is a reminder to think carefully about sex toys — if you’re not comfortable with the idea of someone else knowing about your behavior, you might want to stick to offline pleasure gear.
Via: Fusion
Source: DEF CON
Google Fiber to test home wireless internet in up to 24 US areas
According to an FCC filing, Google Fiber’s next experimental stage is nigh. The tech titan is purportedly seeking permission to test high-speed wireless broadband in 24 US locations, including 12 cities, for a period up to 24 months. Their goal: hook a bunch of company men up and try out experimental transmitters over the 3.4 to 3.8 MHz frequency range.
Some of the locations include those where wired Fiber is already operating, like San Francisco, but not all, like Boulder, Colorado, Provo, Utah and Reston, Virginia, as Re/code points out. The company chose said cities for their radio propagation environment, buildings and foliage to test interference, pre-existing Google infrastructure and “existence of partners who may participate in the tests,” according to the filing.
This may be in part referring to Webpass, the ISP Google acquired back in June that already served point-to-point wireless and fiber internet to tens of thousands of customers. Crucially, delivering it over the air bypasses many regulatory requirements for wiring homes up directly to a telecommunications grid. But any further specifics on this round of testing requires more digging: over a hundred items are redacted in the 34-page FCC filing.
But if you happen to be in one of the test cities, don’t get your hopes up yet: The company notes in the filing that these tests won’t involve the average user. Only Google employees, contractors and “trusted testors” under close supervision will get to try out the wireless fiber. Until the testing goes public, we’ll all have to wait. Patiently.
Via: Re/code
Source: Business Insider
Apple’s World Trade Center Store Opens August 16
Apple has announced that its World Trade Center retail store in Lower Manhattan opens on Monday, August 16 at 12:00 p.m. local time. The store will be located in the new Oculus transit and retail hub on the lower level.
Apple’s plans to open a retail store at the new World Trade Center have been rumored since 2013, and construction has been underway since earlier this year. It will be the 10th Apple Store in New York City.
Related Roundup: Apple Stores
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Kenmore 29133 review – CNET
The Good Kenmore’s $1,100 29133 washing machine has the best top-load stain removal score to-date and a large 5.3-cubic-foot capacity.
The Bad The touch panel display is too sensitive and the display is missing basic features like an “extra hot” water temperature setting.
The Bottom Line Test out the Kenmore 29133’s display panel before you buy this otherwise recommendable top-load washer.
Visit manufacturer site for details.
Kenmore’s $1,100 29133 is a 5.3-cubic-foot cleaning powerhouse, able to obliterate stains other top-load washers we’ve tested can only dream about. Its metallic gray finish, curved glossy black display panel and transparent lid are easy on the eyes, too.
But there are some drawbacks.
For starters, the 29133 is a little light in the features department. It has plenty of cleaning cycles, sure, but not as many as the competition. And this washer doesn’t have the “extra-hot” temperature setting that comes standard with so many of today’s models. Its seamless button-free display panel is also extremely sensitive to the touch. So while it looks very modern, it isn’t as satisfying as the tactile feel of traditional buttons.
Even so, I’d highly recommend the Kenmore 29133 for its ability to remove a lot of stains and look good doing it.
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I can comfortably say that Kenmore’s $1,100 29133 washer — modeled after the Whirlpool WTW8500DC — is a beautiful appliance. Available in a metallic finish, its curved glossy black display panel is a major design upgrade over traditional top-loaders.
You’ll find everything you need on the display, too, from the various cleaning cycles on the dial to integrated touch-panel-style buttons for adjusting temperature, spin speed and soil level. The one issue I have here is that Kenmore sacrificed some ease of use for pure aesthetics. The display “buttons” work a lot like a smartphone interface; tap the option you want and you’re on your way.
But the 29133’s touch interface is extremely sensitive, barely hovering your finger over the setting you want could do the trick. While that’s technically a win in terms of responsiveness, I don’t want to have to be so deliberate and delicate when I’m making a simple selection of warm versus hot water. It takes some getting used to, but ultimately isn’t a deal-breaker.
For a high-end washer, the 29133 is also missing the dozen-plus cleaning cycles you find on many premium top-loaders. It also doesn’t have an “extra-hot” option for water temperature — something that comes standard on many top-of-the-line washing machines. Still, I’m okay with this washer’s 11 cycles and water temperature settings, especially because it’s a great performer (but more on that later).
For now, here’s a closer look at the Kenmore 29133 versus three other top-load washers we’ve reviewed:
HP’s low-cost Stream laptops now include a 14-inch model
HP is clearly having some success with its cheap-and-cheerful Stream laptops, as it’s expanding them in a big, big way. It’s refreshing the range with not only some under-the-hood upgrades, but a new model. The Stream 14 (above) effectively replaces the 13-inch version, delivering better performance and a more portable design despite the larger screen. It has faster 2×2 802.11ac WiFi, a 2016-era Celeron processor and a longer 10 hours, 45 minutes of battery life, but weighs less than the old Stream 13 at 3.17 pounds. You won’t be blown away by its 4GB of RAM, 32GB of flash storage or 1,366 x 768 resolution, but the Stream 14 will also start at $219 when it arrives on September 7th. Not bad for a mid-size Windows 10 portable, we’d say.
Other machines are getting a tune-up as well, as you’d expect. The $199 Stream 11 update coming on August 24th will pack the faster WiFi, upgraded processor and slimmer design of its bigger sibling. Meanwhile, the 11-inch Stream x360 (aka HP x360) laptop/tablet hybrid gets similar guts while starting at $249, or $50 less than its ancestor. It arrives in “select regions” sometime in September. And if you’re running a school rather than attending it, there’s a more secure Stream 11 Pro coming in late September with an optional 64GB of storage.
Source: HP
How TSMC Won Back Exclusivity With Apple for the A10 Chip in iPhone 7
Last year, MacRumors covered the potential reasoning for Apple’s rumored return to having a single partner for Apple A-series chip production with the A10 after having both Samsung and TSMC produce versions of the Apple A9.
Since then, TSMC confirmed in conference call comments that its chip packaging changes have led to improvements of 20 percent in both speed and packaging thickness and 10 percent in thermal performance. This has a number of implications for future device performance and future foundry partner selection for Apple.
First, it is helpful to understand why InFO-WLP (Integrated Fan-Out Wafer-Level Packing) is such an important development for Apple’s mobile processors. Typically, chips as large as CPUs or mobile SoCs have been attached via “flip-chip” methods which attach an array of inputs and outputs to a package substrate via solder bumps, ultimately enabling it to be attached to a printed circuit board (PCB) for device integration.
From the start, this is a compromise, as it would be preferable to attach a silicon die directly to the PCB to minimize height and reduce the lengths of interconnects between components. A number of technical limits in areas such as interconnect pitch, board produceability, and damage due to board warpage typically prevent this direct attachment.
The above problem had previously been circumvented for smaller I/O count components with a similar concept called Fan-In Wafer-Level Packing, where smaller die are allowed to route their inputs and outputs in an area roughly the same area as the die. TSMC is just one of many companies beginning to enable this concept for larger I/O count devices in such a way that allows high volume, acceptable yields, and an acceptable cost.
Slide from 2014 TSMC presentation on InFO-WLP advancements
With this method, the traditional substrate becomes unnecessary, as a silicon wafer serves that purpose with one or more logic dies included. The reduced height of this method means that all interconnects are shorter, which directly enables lower power and better thermal performance. The transistors driving the outputs on this device now drive less metal length, meaning they can save power. Saving power also means performing better thermally, but a more direct connection to the PCB means there is simply less thermal resistance to the PCB, which can pull heat away from the device.
The promised performance improvements are certainly significant. A 20 percent improvement in performance is roughly equivalent to the improvement expected between successive foundry nodes (e.g. the change from 14 nm to 10 nm). With both TSMC and Samsung only offering refined versions of their 16 nm and 14 nm FinFET processes, this means that total performance gains could be in line with the same improvement seen from the A8 to the A9 chip, but driven by packaging improvements rather than a new process.
Of course, every generation can’t enjoy this same improvement, but increased power efficiency is critical for mobile devices to be allowed to hit higher peak limits for short durations. In the keynote for the iPhone 6 family of devices, Apple went into detail about how it made a significant effort to ensure the A8 processor did not throttle itself as the A7 had. This was and is an industry-wide problem as mobile SoC makers have raced to provide the highest performing chips. By taking advantage of new packaging from TSMC, Apple gets more relief in this metric, and freedom to go to a higher power dissipation mode for short periods.
Bare iPhone 7 logic board with space for A10 chip
A long-term advantage of this technology is to enable much faster main memory interfaces to the logic die, largely by widening the interface. Current mobile SoC packages use PoP (package-on-package) techniques which connect the memory dies to the main processor with tiny wires, which is thermally inefficient and not ideal for performance. By using wafer-level packaging, these drawbacks can be reduced for the main memory, while also increasing the number of connections and data that can be moved in a given time.
In the long run, this move will likely be a cost-saver for Apple as it removes the package substrate. However, the co-design of device die and device package explains why multiple partners are not technically feasible for an effort such as this. Companies like TSMC have also labored for years to make this a reality, with the benefits long being understood.
At this point, there is no denying Apple’s technical acumen and bandwidth in chip design. The company has developed multiple chips for market in extremely aggressive timeframes with fully custom designs that rival those of Intel for performance per watt. Apple beat its competitors to market for a 64-bit ARM design by over a year, and designed two custom A9 dies in the time that its competitors designed one.
Given Apple’s focus on pushing the performance of its silicon, and TSMC’s packaging advancements, it makes sense that TSMC has been able to gain sole possession of Apple’s chip orders for at least this generation. Looking forward, the InFO-WLP packaging technique marks a significant development not only for TSMC and Apple, but the semiconductor industry as a whole.
Related Roundup: iPhone 7
Tags: TSMC, A10 chip
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Don’t miss this awesome deal on Tronsmart’s Wireless Fast Charger
Right now Tronsmart is offering its fast-charging wireless charger with a sweet discount in the U.S., UK and Canada. Depending where you are ordering the charger from, you can save up to $6 on the recently-announced charger. It has a built-in LED that will let you know things are working, and that your phone is charging once you place it on there. It can work as both a standard charger and a fast charger, meaning you can top off that Galaxy Note 7, Galaxy S7 or other phone nice and quick.
As mentioned above, this deal is good for those in the U.S., UK and Canada.
- In the U.S. – $19 with coupon FASTCHAR
- In the UK – £14.36 with coupon PK4ZHV6O
- In Canada – $20 with coupon XEXBMHXT
You will need to be sure to use the correct link and coupon code to order it for your region. The deal is set to end on August 18, or when supplies run out. If you are interested, be sure to act quickly to get your order placed.
Kapture: Part Wearable Microphone, Part Time Machine
What if you could mix wearable tech, spy gear and a dash of audio-only time travel? You’d have Kapture: a wristwatch-sized microphone that’s always listening to the world around it.
Kapture stays constantly connected to your smartphone and activates with a tap, so saving a recording of the past 60 seconds is as simple as flicking your wrist. As one of those weird kids who used to bring a tape recorder to school to document his days, Kapture instantly struck a chord with the young Michael Fisher inside me – but as it turns out, Kapture is a quirky little device.
Is the privilege of acoustic time travel worth the Kapture’s hardware handicaps (and its steep price tag)? Join me for the latest MrMobile video to find out!
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Elon Musk’s SolarCity will sell roofs made of solar panels
Imagine a roof designed to absorb the sun’s rays as a source of energy.
We’re not talking about a roof with solar panels attached to it as an afterthought, but rather a roof entirely made out of solar cells. SolarCity, a clean energy company that Tesla is trying to acquire and that entrepreneur Elon Musk serves as chairman over, is currently developing such a technology, according to Musk, who revealed the project during SolarCity’s latest earnings call.
During the call, Musk announced that SolarCity will unveil a “solar roof” and emphasised that Tesla/SolarCity plan to go after the roof industry with the new products — right after Lyndon Rive, SolarCity CEO, referred to two new products that’ll be unveiled before the end of the year, which is when the Tesla and SolarCity merger is expected to close.
“It’s a solar roof, as opposed to modules on a roof,” said Musk. “I think this is really a fundamental part of achieving differentiated product strategy, where you have a beautiful roof. It’s not a thing on the roof. It is the roof.”
Musk suggested customers will be able to customise their roof design, and that they simply won’t receive a bundle of solar shingles. It’s therefore unclear how this will work, but more details should come out after the merger.
What is SolarCity and why is Tesla buying it?
If Tesla Motors has its way, when you go shopping for your next electric vehicle, you might walk out of the store with a home battery and a new roof for your house made up entirely of solar cells.
Earlier this month, entrepreneur Elon Musk announced that one of his companies, Tesla, plans to buy another one of his companies, SolarCity, because their customer bases already overlap and combining their resources is a “blinding obvious” step in the right direction. Wall Street, on the other hand, is a little skeptical of the merger. Here’s everything you need to know, including what it means for your future.
What is SolarCity?
SolarCity is a San Mateo, CA-based company. It provides energy services, such as the designing, financing, and installing of solar power systems. Elon Musk, who is mostly known for SpaceX (an aerospace manufacturer) and Tesla Motors (an electric vehicle manufacturer), which are two companies he founded and currently serves as CEO over, co-founded and is the chairman of SolarCity.
The New York Times said Musk is the largest SolarCity shareholder, owning 22 percent of the company run by his cousin, Lyndon Rive. SolarCity’s shares have dropped 60 percent so far this year, as it missed the consensus earnings forecast for three out of four quarters. It’s begun focusing less on installation growth and has instead ramped up loan programs to homeowners buying solar panels.
What is Tesla Motors?
Tesla Motors is a 13-year-old company co-founded by Musk and named after inventor Nikola Tesla. It designs, makes, and sells electric cars and battery products, including the Powerwall home battery designed to be paired with rooftop solar systems. The Powerwall stores excess energy produced from your own solar generation (so that energy not used at the time will be available later).
The Powerwall can also store power when electricity from the power grid is at its cheapest rate (off-peak), and with all this stored energy, it can juice up your house. From a 0.2kWh fridge to a 2.3kWh washer, the 7kWh or 10kWh Powerwall will keep stuff running.
Why is Tesla buying SolarCity?
Tesla announced in early August that it plans to buy solar energy firm SolarCity for $2.6 billion in an all-stock deal. The two companies want to scale their battery and solar energy operations. Tesla first offered to acquire SolarCity in June. The deal is not complete but should close in the fourth quarter of 2016. Reuters reported that Musk and Rive have recused themselves from voting on the outcome of the deal.
In a conference call with investors in June, Musk explained that when Tesla tries to sell someone the Powerwall it almost always has to answer questions about solar: “So then not being able to sell them solar directly at Tesla stores is quite inefficient. As you look ahead to [selling] the Model 3, a $35,000 car, well that same person at the same moment we could sell them roughly an equivalent value of solar panels and a Powerwall, effectively doubling the sale at that time, and then putting it all in at the same time,” he explained.
“This may seem counterintuitive to a lot of people, but I think it is so obvious that something should be done,” Musk added. “Blindingly obvious.” In other words, he sees Tesla buying SolarCity as common sense because the two companies’ customer bases overlap.
Is Wall Street against the merger?
Although SolarCity’s installations have gone up (the company now has 275,000 customers, up from 168,000 a year before), its debt is still among the highest in the industry. It has more than $6 billion in liabilities – and half of that is debt. Goldman Sachs called SolarCity “the worst positioned name” in the residential solar industry, and as Bloomberg noted, Tesla could be trying to bail it out.
Also, Tesla is currently ramping up production for the release of the Model 3 electric vehicle in 2017, so it’s basically burning through cash as you read this. In fact, The Wall Street Journal said Tesla burns 50 cents for every dollar in sales. SolarCity is even worse; it burns nearly $6 for every dollar in sales. The report therefore dubbed the merger of the two businesses a “hairbrained scheme”.
What does the future look like?
If and when the merger closes, Tesla will be able to capitalise on the clean energy industry, as it can then hawk us solar panel systems, home batteries, and electric vehicles all from the same storefront. To demonstrate the possibilities that could open up if the two companies came together, Musk revealed a project that SolarCity is currently working on during its latest earnings call.
Musk said SolarCity will unveil a “solar roof” and emphasised that Tesla/SolarCity plan to go after the roof industry with the new products – right after Rive, SolarCity CEO, referred to new products that’ll be unveiled before the end of the year, which is when the Tesla and SolarCity merger should close: “It’s a solar roof, as opposed to modules on a roof,” said Musk.
“I think this is really a fundamental part of achieving differentiated product strategy, where you have a beautiful roof. It’s not a thing on the roof. It is the roof,” he added, while noting customers will be able to customise their roof design, and that they simply won’t receive a bundle of solar shingles. It’s therefore unclear how this will work, but more details should come out soon.
AIVAnet 