Google’s new museum tours bring dinosaurs to life
With Google’s help, museums and cultural institutions all over the world have been able to open up their archives to millions of people who wouldn’t otherwise get the opportunity to visit. The Art and Culture app combines the best Street View, VR and Photos collections from 1,000 museums, whether they’re focusing on famous art pieces or creatures that walked the Earth millions of years ago. Today, the search giant has expanded its collection to include thousands of natural history exhibits, letting you walk (and swim) with dinosaurs and learn more about the worlds that time forgot.
Google has teamed up with over 50 of the world’s most notable natural history institutions to add more than 150 interactive stories, 300,000 new photos and videos and over 30 virtual tours. At London’s Natural History Museum, the Rhomaleosaurus — a giant ferocious predator known as the “T-Rex of the ocean” — can be explored in 360 degrees, as can Berlin’s 13-meter tall Giraffatitan.
Also available are virtual tours that explain the history of evolution, starting with the origins of the solar system and taking you through the “rise and the fall of prehistoric worlds.” Berlin’s Museum für Naturkunde is also home to a four meter by twelve meter “Biodiversity Wall,” which hosts 3,000 animals and explains why peacocks have such vibrant feathers, but aren’t really able to fly, and how zebras got their stripes.
All you need is a computer or an iOS or Android smartphone, although Google Cardboard would certainly help you fully immerse yourself in the exhibits.
Via: Google Blog
Source: Google’s Natural History
Health Canada working with Samsung over Note 7 recall; finds 70 reported failures in the U.S.
When Samsung kicked off the global recall for the Note 7, the company said that it found over 35 reported instances of battery malfunctions around the globe. That number has increased to more than 70 in the U.S., according to a new report published by the Canadian government.
Samsung asked customers in the U.S. to voluntarily turn in their Note 7 earlier this month, and the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission is now getting involved in issuing a complete recall of the phone. Over the course of the last week, we’ve seen several cases involving the Note 7, including a 6-year-old boy in Brooklyn that suffered burns when the phone exploded in his hands.
The FAA and other aviation authorities from around the world have chimed in, asking travelers to power down their Note 7s and not use them in-flight.
Meanwhile, the Canadian government’s Health Canada website has detailed information on the recall, including affected SKUs and model codes. The agency is coordinating with Samsung over a mandatory recall of the 21,953 Note 7 units sold in the country, and is advising customers to immediately power off their phones. The agency also found a single instance of the Note 7 overheating in the country, with no injuries reported.
All Note 7 customers in Canada are eligible to receive a new unit once it becomes available, or opt for a Galaxy S7 or S7 edge. There’s a dedicated page for customers looking to get their Note 7 exchanged, as well as a toll-free number for further assistance: 1-800-517-3507.
Samsung Galaxy Note 7
- Galaxy Note 7 recall: Everything you need to know
- Samsung Galaxy Note 7 review
- The latest Galaxy Note 7 news!
- Here are all four Note 7 colors
- Complete Galaxy Note 7 specs
- Join the Note 7 discussion in the forums!
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New Samsung site tells you if your Galaxy Note 7 is safe
Online IMEI checker now available.
As promised a few days back, Samsung has launched a new online tool to let Galaxy Note 7 owners check if their phone is affected by the battery issue causing some units to catch fire or explode. The process is as simple as plugging your IMEI number into Samsung’s form and pressing a button; you’ll then be told if your Note needs to be replaced or not. The IMEI number is unique to your phone, and so provides an easy way to see whether it’s from a batch affected by battery issues.
To find your IMEI, open the dialer and enter *#06#. Alternative you can also find it printed on your Note 7’s box.
As we reported last week, Samsung is also marking the boxes of “safe” Galaxy Note 7s to make these easier to spot. However the IMEI lookup is a foolproof way to tell either way.
To confirm that your Galaxy Note 7 is safe, hit up Samsung’s Galaxy Note 7 Checking site.
Samsung Galaxy Note 7
- Galaxy Note 7 recall: Everything you need to know
- Samsung Galaxy Note 7 review
- The latest Galaxy Note 7 news!
- Here are all four Note 7 colors
- Complete Galaxy Note 7 specs
- Join the Note 7 discussion in the forums!
Verizon
AT&T
T-Mobile
Sprint
Samsung next to ditch 3.5mm headphone jack
It feels like Samsung and Apple have been in a battle as long as time itself, where one goes, the other tends to follow. It’s a classic case of one-upmanship.
With the recent release of the iPhone 7 and iPhone 7 Plus, Apple did something controversial, it removed the 3.5mm headphone jack, leaving us with just the Lightning port to connect a pair of headphones. Or plump for wireless connectivity through Bluetooth.
Not to be outdone, Samsung is also allegedly looking into making its own proprietary headphone jack for its mobile devices. Sources close to Digital Music News haven’t given away any details surrounding the actual jack, but it’s thought it will be different to the USB Type-C that many Android phones are now adopting. It is reported that Samsung’s new jack would be made available for other Android phones and tablets as well, sharing is caring after all.
To keep the number of annoyed people to a minimum, Apple includes a Lightning to 3.5mm adapter, it’s not clear if Samsung or other Android manufacturers would include one with their phones.
Of course, this is assuming Android phone and tablet manufacturers actually adopt the new headphone jack. Three headphone jacks could be one too many.
Apple’s AirPods get a $10 tether (so maybe you won’t lose them)
Apple’s incoming AirPods are a technical marvel, cramming a load of tech into the same teeny tiny earbud cases that have been packaged with iPhones for years. While we wait to test a pair out for ourselves, accessory makers have wasted no time in correcting possible design faults in Apple’s new headphones. Spigen has taken it upon itself to announce a ten-dollar tangle-free strap to keep the ‘phones together — and, well, un-wireless them.
The AirPods Strap is already listed on Amazon and — patent pending — is set to ship October 17th, when you’ll maybe already fear misplacing one half of the $150 pair. It is very much simply a glorified tether: there’s no electronics or wiring inside, but it really does defeat the purpose of the darn things. Almost like a headphone converter.
Via: CNET
Source: Amazon
‘Final Fantasy XV’ claims the first limited-edition slimline PS4
In a never-ending tale of limited editions, spin-off movies, anime and more, the makers of Final Fantasy XV have also laid claim to the first limited-edition thinner, lighter PS4. The “Luna” edition (did the giant moon decal give it away?) will land alongside the game (finally) on 29th November in Japan, priced at 40,000 yen — the same as the higher-capacity version of the slimline console. Sony also announced two new VIta colors, launching (in Japan for now) on December 1st. Take a peek at those after the break.
Microsoft launches Actiongram on HoloLens with a tiny George Takei
Ever wanted to hang out with a tiny, goofball celebrity? If you happen to have a HoloLens augmented reality headset, now you can. Today Microsoft made Actiongram, its mixed-reality filmmaking app, available to all HoloLens owners — and celebrated the launch by giving users access to a hologram of George Takei.
The tiny Takei character is pretty adorable, and allows users to superimpose a laughing, tickling and sword wielding hologram of the actor on any video filmed with the augmented reality headset. The public beta also comes with themed packs with Nyan Cat, Grumpy Cat, dinosaurs, unicorns, historical figures and more. The idea is to allow users to add “hollywood” effects to socially sharable videos without any special skills or expertise — but so far, it’s only been available to a select group of “social storytellers.” Today, that elite group narrows: now all you need is $3,000 to buy a Hololens developer headeset.
Source: Twitter
Spigen Offers Twinning Cord to Keep Apple AirPods Together
When Apple announced its wireless AirPods last week to compensate for the lack of a headphone jack on the iPhone 7, some observers commented on the “inevitability” of misplacing or flat-out losing one of the earbuds, which cost $159 a pair.
California-based accessory company Spigen thinks it has a solution to that dilemma in the form of the AirPods Strap (patent pending), currently available for pre-order on Amazon for $10.
The “tangle-free” cord attachment snaps onto the bottom of the arm of each earbud without impeding the microphones, and Spigen promises they “keep your AirPods in place around your neck, in your pocket, or anywhere you can hang a strap”.
While there’s reason to question the logic of attaching a cable to a technology whose sole aim is to be cable-free, the accessory would seem to answer to the worry some undoubtedly have about keeping the AirPods safely together, although Apple’s earbuds do come with a carry case for when they’re not in use.
The AirPods Strap is listed as having a release date of October 17, which is around the time Apple is expected to make the AirPods available to buy.
Apple’s wireless headphones offer users 5 hours of music playback, and the carry case doubles as a battery pack, holding an extra 24 hours of charge in a small, 2-inch tall frame. The AirPods feature Apple’s new proprietary W1 chip, allowing them to pair seamlessly with the host device, activate Siri with a touch, and automatically pause playback on removal.
Related Roundup: iPhone 7
Tags: Spigen, AirPods
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Professor uses facial recognition to spot bored students
If you’ve been to college or university, you’ll know the feeling: when your professor drones on for hours on end, but you’re hesitant to bring it up out of politeness (or fear of said professor’s wrath). You won’t have to be quite so shy in Wei Xiaoyong’s science classes, though. The Sichuan University educator is using a custom-built facial recognition system to scan students’ faces and determine whether or not they’re bored. The approach gauges the emotion in your face over time, helping Wei refine his lectures so that he doesn’t lose your interest.
It’s not guaranteed to be completely effective, of course (what if you’re particularly stoic?), and it’s easy to see students being nervous about the privacy ramifications of scanning faces. Wei is sharing his approach with other Chinese universities, however, which suggests that it’s successful enough. And the underlying tech isn’t limited to the classroom — Wei sees it applying to psychology, social sciences and anywhere else where measuring emotional changes could be useful.
Source: The Telegraph
Amazon accidentally outs new, cheaper Echo Dot on Twitter
Amazon Echo’s official Twitter account made a blunder that may have given hope to followers waiting for new Echo Dot stocks with bated breath. It sent out a tweet introducing an all-new and cheaper Echo Dot, according to Recode, but it deleted the post as quickly as it went out. If the company’s social media team didn’t tweet on purpose to drum up interest — post-then-delete is a common tactic used by celebs — then someone may have fired it out a bit too early. If you’ll recall, the tech titan also accidentally posted an iPhone 7 accessories landing page before Apple announced the product on stage.
Either way, the post caught by @Indypodcaster says the new Echo Dot will set you back $50 — $40 less than the original one’s price. Clicking the link on what he quoted just takes you to the first Echo Dot’s listing, though, which has been sold out since July. You’ll just have to wait for the e-retailer to officially announce its new Alexa-powered speaker if you want to buy one.
Apparently not? @amazonecho: Introducing the all-new Echo Dot. Add Alexa to any room – now for just $49.99. https://t.co/AQkwY5xbHh/s/Z-sj
— Darrin (@Indypodcaster) September 12, 2016
Source: Recode
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