VW and Mercedes open Paris Auto Show with futuristic EVs
The Paris Auto Show is missing Lamborghini, Volvo and other automakers, but it’s still one of the biggest displays of automotive tech in the world. Fittingly, in a city that bans gas-powered cars from its streets once a month, Volkswagen and Mercedes kicked things off with prototypes that represent their future EV ecosystems. That no doubt made everyone feel better about CO2 pollution, but most of the cars here are still burning fossil fuels, and many, like the Jaguar F-type (below), plenty of it.
Volkswagen had the first major press conference of the show and CEO Herbert Deiss certainly took a conciliatory tone, without mentioning the diesel-gate crisis. He threw around words like “fresh start,” “new challenge” and so on, adding that VW sales had picked up over the last few months. Then, he revealed the swoopy Volkswagen ID prototype with 370 miles of potential range. The collective air went out of the room when he said the EV wouldn’t come until 2020, however.
The brand new Jaguar F-Type SVR
Then it was Mercedes’ turn, and it also did a dramatic reveal of its Generation EQ, an entirely new electric vehicle lineup. The launch prototype vehicle will never be built, but represents the technology to come in the lineup. Both Mercedes and Volkswagen specifically mentioned Tesla by name as a primary rival, though they’re now playing big-time catch-up with Musk’s company, which has already pre-sold over 300,000 Tesla 3 EVs.
As for the rest of the show, let’s just take it for what it is — pure vehicular porn. In a quick tour around several pavilions, I saw new vehicles from Jaguar, Lexus (including its wild UX crossover concept), Infiniti, Porsche, Audi, and Range Rover, to name a few. Those vehicles are out of our remit in terms of coverage (and price), but it doesn’t mean we can’t throw them all into an ogle-worthy gallery. Enjoy!
Wireless Emergency Alerts are about to get more detailed
The FCC has voted to strengthen the Wireless Emergency Alerts system, which sends warnings about missing children, natural disasters and other dangerous events directly to citizens’ cell phones. The new rules allow government officials to write up to 360 characters, rather than 90, for 4G LTE and future networks, and it requires participating carriers to support the use of embedded phone numbers and links in all alerts. For example, in an AMBER Alert, the message may now include a link to a photo of the missing child.
FCC votes to strengthen Wireless Emergency Alerts, a system that delivers critical warnings to Americans on wireless devices. #OpenMtgFCC
— The FCC (@FCC) September 29, 2016
The updated rules also expand the range of Wireless Emergency Alerts to “more granular geographic areas,” and require carriers to support Spanish-language messages. Additionally, the FCC has created a new type of alert, Public Safety Messages, which will outline essential and recommended actions that people in affected areas can take to save their lives or property. These include orders to boil water or the locations of emergency shelters. Finally, it will now be easier for state and local officials to test the WEA system and train personnel.
The WEA system went live in 2012. It became the center of attention earlier in September when New York City residents received a message about a suspected bomber that read, “WANTED: Ahmad Khan Rahami, 28-yr-old male. See media for pic. Call 9-1-1 if seen.” This was the first time that the WEA system was used as a wanted poster, as The New York Times characterized it.
Stream performances from the Austin City Limits Festival this weekend
Planning on a weekend at home? Allow us to provide an entertainment suggestion. Like it does with Bonnaroo and Lollapalooza, Red Bull TV is providing music fans who aren’t making the trip a way to watch live performances from this weekend’s Austin City Limits Music Festival. The livestreaming starts tomorrow at 3PM ET and runs through Sunday with LCD System, M83, Major Lazer, Local Natives, Mumford & Sons and many more scheduled to take the stage.
When the time comes, Red Bull TV has apps for Android, iOS, Kindle Fire and Windows 10 or you can watch on the web. What’s more, the livestreams are also available on Apple TV, Android TV, Chromecast, Fire TV, Roku, PlayStation, Xbox, Samsung Blu-ray players and both Samsung and LG smart TVs. There are plenty of viewing options and the live shows are free to watch, so if you didn’t have any plans this weekend, there’s an easy activity that doesn’t require you to leave your favorite chair.
Source: Red Bull TV
AOL’s Alto Dashboard is a daily organizer for your email
In this era of texting and instant messaging you might not be emailing many long, heartfelt letters to your best friend from college. I certainly don’t. But I’m still drowning in a sea of less personal correspondence: Receipts. Bill payments. Flight confirmations. Even with apps like Gmail sorting these assorted messages into tidy little folders, it’s pretty easy to lose track of the things I might need to know. Alto, the email app from AOL (Engadget’s parent company), is attempting to fix inboxes like mine with its new feature, Alto Dashboard. Out today, the dashboard places the most important bits front and center and lets you act on them, without ever leaving the app.
Alto Dashboard should look familiar to anyone who’s ever availed themselves of the cards in Google Now: Important bits of information like upcoming flights, hotel reservations and package tracking are given their own slides, arranged in chronological order with all the most important details displayed out front. You can glean the relevant data at a glance, or tap on each card to access the entire message.
Alto’s function as a keeper of info is way to raise it above a sea of similar apps, part of a larger trend of programs like Facebook Messenger branching out past their core functions and adding more and more functionality to varying degrees of usefulness. And, while the Alto Dashboard is distinctive and useful, it’s also strongly reminiscent of how TripIt can trawl your email for flight and hotel reservations and then bundle all that information into a single trip file.
Alto will capture all the same info, like car rentals and theater tickets, and put it all on your timeline. What it doesn’t do yet is group them together, like “trip to Chicago” or “Saturday with mom.” But the team at Alto has plans to add that eventually, which would definitely make filing expense reports easier.
Where Alto Dashboard differs from Google Now or TripIt is not just how everything is contained within the app itself, but how the information can be acted on. The improved dashboard will not only remind you about your Hamilton tickets or pull up directions; you can actually call an Uber to take you there. You aren’t limited to a specific app for each task either: You can choose what maps program to use, or maybe choose Lyft instead. You can even send receipts to Expensify, though each item will have to be sent individually for now.
When you just need your email to just be email, the Alto app still helps you out with its existing “stacks” feature, which functions similar to the tabs in Gmail. Your messages are sorted by subject using the same algorithms that determine what shows up in your dashboard. There are preset stacks for shopping, travel and finance, but most useful are the ones that keep track of all the photos and files you’ve been sent — no need to keep them on your device, and you won’t have to scramble to find a photo attached to an email you got two years past.
I’m a weirdo who still keeps my AOL account around but, even if you kicked your aol.com address to the curb ages ago, you can still use Alto; it also works with Gmail, Yahoo, Outlook, iCloud and Exchange, or any other IMAP email provider. Everything can be viewed in one dashboard, so you have both your business and leisure events organized into one stream to create a fuller picture of your days and weeks. Alto and its new dashboard are available today on iOS, Android and the web.
Download Android Wear apps right from your wrist
Android Wear smartwatches aren’t yet completely independent of your phone, but they just took one giant step in that direction. Google is releasing a third developer preview of Android Wear 2.0 that offers Google Play Store access on your watch, complete with support for paid downloads, beta tests and multiple accounts. Browsing is limited to recommend apps and keyword searches, but you can choose to install apps only on the watch — important when some Android Wear 2.0 apps won’t be available on phones in the first place.
You’ll have to be comfortable with running unfinished software if you’re going to install this on your own watch, of course. Otherwise, you’ll have to be patient. Google isn’t expecting 2.0 to reach wearables until early 2017, so the preview program will be the only way you can try the new Android Wear experience this year.
Source: Android Developers Blog
Watch HBO and Cinemax on PlayStation Vue starting today
PlayStation is beefing up the premium offerings on its PS Vue streaming TV service. As of today, HBO and Cinemax will be available either a la carte or as part of the new Ultra ($64.99 to $74.99 per month based on location) plan. Don’t feel like ponying up that much? Both HBO and Cinemax are $15 per month on their own. A post on the PlayStation Blog says that this is the first internet-based pay-TV service to offer the channels both live and streaming without a bundled package.
What’s more, subscribing will also give live access to the aforementioned channels, not just after-broadcast streaming via HBO Now. And on that note, HBO’s fully standalone streaming app comes out today on PS4 and PS3. Assuming your cable company (looking at you, Comcast) supports it, of course.
Source: PlayStation Blog
FCC Votes to Improve Emergency Smartphone Alerts With Longer Character Limits, Link Support
Emergency alerts delivered to iPhones and other smartphones to warn customers about poor weather conditions, missing children, local crime, and more, may soon feature support for web links, photos, phone numbers, and longer message content.
The United States Federal Communications Commission on Thursday voted to expand emergency alerts from 90 to 360 characters on 4G and LTE networks, and to include support for links so people can follow up to get more information about an unfolding situation. As it stands, emergency alerts are short in length and often offer no resources for people to get in contact with emergency personnel if necessary.
Image via NBC
Wireless providers like Verizon, AT&T, Sprint, and T-Mobile send these alerts and will be required to update their systems with support for the new features that have been mandated by the FCC.
“Vague directives in text about where to find more information about a suspect, just as we saw in New York, are not good enough,” said Jessica Rosenworcel, an FCC commissioner. “As we move into the 5G future, we need to ensure that multimedia is available in all of our alert messages.”
Carriers will also need to start supporting the transmission of Spanish language alerts and introduce a new type of safety alert designed to send “Emergency Governmental Information” like the locations of emergency shelters or an order to boil water before drinking.
The FCC’s decision follows criticism of the emergency alert system after alerts were sent out in New York and New Jersey asking citizens to help track down a man suspected of setting off bombs in the area. The alert included a message advising people to “See media for pic,” highlighting its shortcomings. It is not clear when the new rules will go into effect.
Tag: FCC
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iPhone 7 and BMW Owners Experiencing Bluetooth Audio Issues
Over the past two weeks, an increasing number of iPhone 7 and iPhone 7 Plus users have experienced Bluetooth audio issues in vehicles. The majority of users experiencing problems appear to be BMW owners, regardless of model, but other vehicle brands such as Hyundai and Kia appear to be involved in limited cases.
The issues range from audio cutting out to connectivity issues with infotainment systems. BMW users in particular report being able to stream music for about 5-10 seconds, at which point the ConnectedDrive system freezes. Fixing the system requires restarting the iPhone, but the issue reemerges once the connection is reestablished.
MacRumors reader YachtMac posted in our discussion forums:
My iPhone 7 Plus with iOS 10.0.2 will not stream audio for more than a few seconds in a BMW 4 series with the latest multimedia software. I have researched the issue and others with BMWs and other makes seem to be experiencing the same or similar streaming issues. Moreover, once the fault occurs the mobile telephone connection then becomes flakey as well. The only thing I can do is to disable the audio streaming option in order to have a phone that works in the car as a phone.
Apple Support Communities member Chandy911 echoed the same problem:
I just upgraded to an iPhone 7 Plus running iOS 10.0.1 and I am having issues playing music through Bluetooth on BMW ConnectedDrive. I’ve upgraded the BMW software on my car to the latest version from BMW’s website, but I still get disconnected on Bluetooth after about 5-10 seconds after playing music. I’ve tried to restore the phone and set it up as a new phone. I’ve deleted the connection both on the device and car, but the issue persists.
MacRumors reader PorscheRain:
iPhone 7 in 2015 BMW 235i disconnects from Bluetooth after steaming audio for 10 seconds. Once disconnected, iOS no longer sees the vehicle’s Bluetooth source. The only recourse is to forget the device in Settings and repair with the vehicle. I’ve isolated iOS as not the key issue (iPhone SE works fine on the same iOS 10.0.1, so did my prior iPhone 6s). Apple had me swap out the device at the store; the same thing is occurring on the new iPhone 7.
BMW itself has acknowledged the issues and said it is working with Apple to ensure iPhone 7 compatibility in its vehicles:
We are aware of the concerns you speak of and we are currently working directly with Apple to ensure iPhone 7 compatibility in our vehicles. At this time, the Apple iPhone 7 is not an approved device for our vehicles until testing has completed. We do not currently have an estimated time frame regarding the completion of iPhone 7 testing. Please continue to look for an update from Apple for a new iOS and our update website to help resolve your concerns: http://www.bmw.com/update. We apologize for any inconvenience this has caused.
Apple has seemingly told some customers the fix will be included in an upcoming software update. The issue is still present on iOS 10.1 beta. BMW owners are recommended to update to the latest version of ConnectedDrive as a preparative measure. BMWs equipped with CarPlay do not appear to be affected.
These types of issues have been seen before. In 2014, some users experienced trouble pairing their devices to their vehicles via Bluetooth after upgrading to iOS 8 or purchasing a new iPhone 6 or 6 Plus. Apple fixed the issues in iOS 8.1. Similar issues affecting some iPhone SE users were addressed in iOS 9.3.2.
Related Roundup: iPhone 7
Tags: BMW, Bluetooth
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Use this hack to ‘vacuum seal’ any freezer bag – CNET
When freezing foods for long-term storage, you want to remove as much of the surrounding air as possible. Contact with air is what can lead to freezer burn, which is why vacuum sealing your frozen foods is recommended when possible.
But what if you don’t have an expensive vacuum sealer? Fear not. There’s a trick that works in a pinch, and all you need is a large container, water, zip-top bags and some food to freeze.
How to seal foods airtight without a vacuum sealer
We’ve all tried the age-old squeeze every last bit of air out of a zip-top bag before sealing it lightning fast by hand method. But that method is flawed. Without crushing your food or releasing the bag, it’s nearly impossible to get all the air out.
This trick, which comes from the SeriousEats YouTube channel, but has been used for years in the sous vide community, replaces your writhing and squeezing with a bucket of water. Here’s how it works:
SeriousEats/YouTube
- Place your food in the zip-top bag and zip the seal, leaving about 1 inch (2.5 centimeters) open.
- Find a large container, such as a storage bin, large pot or even a 1 gallon (3.8 liter) pitcher and fill it with water.
- Slowly lower the bag of food into the water, until only the corner you left open is above the water.
- Seal the remaining corner of the zip-top and remove the food from the water.
- Allow the bag to dry off completely before placing it in the freezer.
This hack uses the natural pressure of a body of water to squeeze out a lot more air than you are normally capable of by hand. It contours the zip-top bag around the food almost like a glove, leaving very little air in the bag.
Of course, this isn’t quite as effective as a vacuum sealer, which sucks the air out of the bag. Some air will ultimately remain in the bag, especially if you’re freezing a more solid food, such as cooked chicken or steak. Air pockets will form between the chunks of food, so you might want to jostle the food a bit while it’s under water to try and squeeze out even more air.
Still, this can prolong the shelf life of frozen foods in your freezer better than the manual squeeze under your arm method can. And it doesn’t crush your food to boot. And since you’re filling a large container with water, it makes quite a bit of sense to seal and freeze your foods in one large batch, rather than wasting several gallons of water each time.
4 little-known streaming music services you should try right now – CNET
Limiting yourself to a handful of major music services is like eating only at chain restaurants: You’ll get a good meal, sure, but you’ll be missing out on all the little cafes that might be serving up amazing alternatives.
Indeed, it’s easy to stick with the likes of Pandora and Spotify, both of which are great at what they do. But consider expanding your streaming-music horizons a bit. There are lots of lesser-known services — nearly all of them free — that cater to different tastes.
8tracks
Price: Free
Mobile app: Android, BlackBerry, iOS, Windows Phone
Works in mobile browsers: Yes
Remember Songza? The beloved streaming service Google bought and then shuttered? 8tracks might be the next best thing, but with a decidedly indie bent. You choose your preferred music genre and then a particular artist or mood; the site produces any number of DJ- and user-created playlists that match.
8tracks offers a huge variety of indie music, all of it curated into mood- and artist-specific playlists.
Screenshot by Rick Broida/CNET
It’s a little confusing in spots, because a playlist might have tags indicating a particular artist without actually having any songs from that artist. But the idea is to deliver the kind of music you’re likely to like, if not the specific tracks or bands.
You also don’t get to see a track list, so you’ll have to just sit back and (hopefully) enjoy the playlist ride. You don’t have to sign up for an account, but doing so lets you build collections for future listening.
8tracks service supports every platform known to man, and even offers plug-ins for Joomla and WordPress.
Focusmusic.fm
Price: Free
Mobile app: No
Works in mobile browsers: Yes
An interface that’s simple and relaxing, much like Focusmusic.fm itself.
Focusmusic.fm/Screenshot by Nick Hide/CNET
True to its name, Focusmusic.fm does one thing and one thing only: play music designed to help you focus. Call it “music to work by,” the default being a steady stream of mostly non-vocal, mostly electronic (think trance) background audio. It’s free, and I find myself using it more and more.
The service operates on the simplest possible interface: one large play/pause button and two skip-track arrows. If you want to know the name of the track you’re hearing, click the musical note icon.
If you find the music selection a little too up-tempo, there’s a white-noise alternative: Click the little headphone icon and choose Rain. Other musical genres recently added are Downtempo and Classical.
Hype Machine
Price: Free
Mobile App: Android, iOS
Works in mobile browsers: Yes
If you like to discover new music by reading blogs and reviews, but realize you’re barely scratching the surface of what’s out there, head to Hype Machine. It’s an aggregator, plain and simple, one that catalogs the most popular songs from blogs around the world.
Each entry includes the number of blogs that mentioned the track and links to various download sources, if available. But you can stream any of the songs just by clicking play, and if you register for an account, you can mark favorites and build your own playlists.
Hype Machine works in mobile browsers, but also has standalone apps for both Android and iOS.
Noon Pacific
Price: Free
Mobile app: Android, iOS
Works in mobile browsers: Yes
Remember mixtapes? Not the hassles of producing your own, but the joy of receiving one from someone else. You can experience that same joy at Noon Pacific, which delivers a new 10-song “mixtape” via email every week. Think of it as a curated version of Hype Machine, with songs handpicked from “the best music blogs,” according to curator Clark Dinnison.
Noon Pacific
Screenshot by Rick Broida/CNET
Now years into its existence, Noon Pacific has over 200 playlists you can stream. While listening to any track, you can click to share it on Facebook or Twitter or buy it from Amazon.
Curiously, however, the web and app interfaces don’t directly connect you to 8tracks.com, which is where the playlists are hosted. But that’s where you have to go if you want to “like” or bookmark a playlist. Thus, you might be better off simply heading to the 8tracks Noon Pacific page and working from there. Or, subscribe to the Noon Pacific mailing list: Each new playlist — delivered Monday at, you guessed it, noon PT — sends you to 8tracks.com.
Have you found other music services outside the mainstream? Tell us about them in the comments! In the meantime, be sure to check out CNET’s Music Download and Streaming Directory.
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