Mobile Nations Weekly: Seven squared
A new iPhone 7 and a Galaxy Note 7 walk into a bar and things get a little heated.
It happens every year — Apple announces a new iPhone and the tech world comes to a halt. This year is was for the iPhone 7 — it’s faster, more water resistant, and sporting better cameras than ever before. But it’s also not radically different-looking than the previous iPhone and controversially has dropped the as-old-as-time headphone jack. But… it’s already selling out in pre-orders world-wide and will doubtless sell in the millions and millions.
The Galaxy Note 7 recall keeps looking worse for Samsung, with the company now advising that owners turn their phones off and return them to the store immediately. Non-exploding replacements are starting to filter out, so hopefully Samsung will be able place this ordeal behind them. Needless to say, the timing couldn’t be worse.
But things are burning down everywhere on the Android front — Samsung’s closest competitor (in a very literal sense) rolled out their latest: the LG V20. It’s big, it’s bold, it sports a pair of rear cameras, a second screen, and will be the first new phone running Android 7.0 Nougat.
Android Central — Cool V20, hot Note 7
The big device news of the week, coming hot on the heels of IFA, was LG’s launch of the V20. It’s a big phone with top-end internals, a more broadly appealing design and Android 7.0 Nougat on board. With all of that, it also lines up quite well against the Galaxy Note 7. The V20 goes on sale starting late this month, but will more likely hit U.S. carriers in early October.
As we’re sure you’ve already seen, Apple announced its new phones this week. Here’s how the new iPhone 7 Plus dual camera setup stacks up to Android phones with the feature.
The Galaxy Note 7 global recall is now in full effect. Replacement phones have already made it out to some, at least in the U.S., and if you haven’t yet traded yours in, now’s the time.
- 5 things I learned traveling with the Honor 8
- Wireless Fast Charging explained
- BlackBerry DTEK50 review: The phone with no name
- What you need to know about dark themes and battery savings
- Michael Kors Dylan Access review
- How to choose the righ Chromebook
CrackBerry — Hub+ more
The start of September was all about updates for BlackBerry. Kicking things off was the Android security patch rollout for Priv and DTEK50. Then, not long after that BlackBerry announced they would be expanding their Hub+ subscription service which brings apps such as Hub, BlackBerry Password Keeper, BlackBerry Launcher and more to even wider array of Android devices. Finally, all of BlackBerry’s Android app offerings got significant updates bringing a multitude of improvements, bug fixes and feature additions across the board.
- BlackBerry now rolling out September Android security patch for Priv and DTEK50
- BlackBerry expands Hub+ Suite applications for Android
- BlackBerry Hub, Keyboard, Calendar and more for Android updated!
iMore — Seven
Not sure if you noticed, but there was this little announcement for the iPhone 7. It’s like the old iPhone, but entirely different. Externally it might not look like much has changed, but inside it’s an all-new iPhone. From water resistance to a new dual camera system to the removal of the headphone jack and the arrival of the new wireless AirPods headphones, there’s a whole lot going on with the iPhone 7. Oh, and there’s a whole new Apple Watch Series 2 with GPS and water resistance and a fancy new ceramic case option. Pre-orders for both the new iPhone and Apple Watch are open now with sales beginning on Friday, September 16th.
- Which iPhone should you get: iPhone 7, iPhone 7 Plus, or iPhone SE?
- iPhone Upgrade Program: Explained
- What color iPhone 7 should you get: Silver, gold, rose gold, black, or jet black?
VR Heads — A New PlayStation 4 appears!
PlayStation 4 Pro is here, and aside from sounding was better than the highly rumored PlayStation Neo it’s a fairly small update to the hardware. Visually this console will be different from the rest of the PlayStation 4 family, but the big focus here is 4K gaming and HDR visuals for TVs that support it. With PlayStation VR coming a full month before this update is available, it’s unclear whether upgrading will be worth it for many.
- Which PlayStation 4 is best for PlayStation VR?
- Five shooters you should play on your HTC Vive today!
- Call of Duty: Infinite Warfare is super intense in VR
Windows Central — Console Victory
The Xbox One finally sees some success against Sony’s PlayStation. For the second month in a row the gaming console is beating Sony at sales likely due to the push of the new One S model and aggressive pricing.
We reviewed the ecobee3 smart thermostat and called it the best solution for those on Windows 10.
The HP Elite x3 super smartphone went on sale – briefly – for two days at HP.com before selling out due to low supply. Microsoft themselves won’t begin selling it until later in the month after it gets some updates.
The Intel RealSense SR300 is still the best (and only) solution for those who want Windows Hello on their home PC.
- This is HoloLens running your favorite Nintendo video games
- Everything you need to know about Xbox Clubs and Looking for Group
- More Surface all-in-one PC rumors point to official reveal in late October
Nano-sized metal fish deliver targeted drugs to your body
Doctors have long dreamed of delivering drugs to specific parts of your body, and they may soon have a clever way to do it: fish. UC San Diego researchers have developed nanoscale metallic fish (they’re just 800 nanometers long) that could carry medicine into the deeper reaches of your bloodstream. Each critter has a gold head and tailfin, as well as a nickel body joined by silver hinges. You only have to subject them to an oscillating magnetic field to make them swim — there’s no need for propellers or a passive (read: slow) delivery system. That, in turn, could make the drug carriers smaller even as they move quickly.
The technology definitely has its flaws. It’s not currently biodegradable, so you may be stuck with this school of fish unless there’s a way to flush them out. Gold and silver aren’t the cheapest metals, either. Scientists are working on biodegradability, however, and they’re hopeful that it will be useful for more than just guiding drugs. You could use to control individual cells, for example, or conduct certain forms of non-invasive surgery. It may just be a matter of refining the technique before you can get medicine exactly where you need it.
Via: New Scientist
Source: Wiley Online Library
NASA plans to rejoin the ESA’s gravitational waves project
NASA was supposed to be the European Space Agency’s partner in the quest to measure gravitational waves, but it had to drop out in 2011 due to budgetary constraints. According to Science, though, NASA officials changed their minds after a team of scientists confirmed the existence of these distortions in the fabric of space-time. At the 11th symposium to discuss the status of ESA’s Laser Interferometry Space Antenna (LISA) project, NASA said it wants to patch things up with its European counterpart and rejoin the mission as a major partner.
The LISA mission will be comprised of three spacecraft orbiting the Earth in an equilateral triangle, detecting and measuring gravitational waves. In late 2015, the ESA launched an experimental spacecraft called the LISA Pathfinder to test out the technologies it plans to use on the actual mission.
Under the original partnership’s terms, the two agencies were supposed to split the estimated $2 billion worth of expenses needed to run the project. Science says NASA might not be able to commit $1 billion even if it rejoins, but it will be significantly more than the $150 million it planned to contribute when it left the partnership.
Besides the confirmation of gravitational waves’ existence, NASA might have also been compelled to get back into the thick of things when the ESA announced that the LISA Pathfinder has been performing well. In fact, the team will start accepting mission concepts for the Pathfinder next month instead of in 2018. Also, it plans to move up the actual LISA mission’s launch from 2034 to “somewhere in the early 2030s.”
Source: Science
California energy standard could cut PC power use by a third
Computers aren’t the power hogs they used to be, but California’s Energy Commission believes the industry can do better. It just revealed the likely final version of standards that would reduce PC and monitor energy use in the state, and likely the rest of the US by extension. By requiring technology that reduces idle power draw (like more efficient power supplies), the Commission estimates that it could cut about 1,636 gigawatt-hours of electricity use per year in California, or just under a third of the state’s PC energy consumption.
The initial standards for most new computers would kick in January 1st, 2019, while a stricter second phase would come into play on July 1st, 2021. Small servers and workstations would have to fall in line on January 1st, 2018, but many of them already meet comparable Energy Star guidelines. Want to have your say? If you’d like to influence the final vote, you can make comments through October 24th.
Yes, the price of your next PC could go up as a result. However, the CEC bets that you’ll more than recoup that cost if you keep your system for long enough. A desktop would typically cost $14 more, but you’d save $40 on your energy bill over the course of five years. And the differences for laptops (which are already more efficient) would be modest — you’d spend about $1 more, but save $2. The biggest savings may come for work PCs, which could cost $13 more, but offer $20 to $30.
It’s hard to say if California will save as much electricity as promised, but it’s unlikely to face significant opposition given an emphasis on cooperation and realistic goals. The Commission worked with industry giants like AMD and NVIDIA, for instance. Either way, it won’t be shocking if your future hardware is considerably more eco-friendly.
Via: Reuters
Source: California Energy Commission
Tim Cook Shares First Photos Taken With iPhone 7 Plus
Following the announcement of the iPhone 7 and iPhone 7 Plus last Wednesday, Apple CEO Tim Cook today tweeted out a link to some of the first official photos that have been taken using the advanced photography capabilities of the larger, 5.5-inch iPhone 7 Plus.
Taken by Sports Illustrated photographer David E. Klutho, the pictures come from the Titans-Vikings game that took place earlier today. Using the iPhone 7 Plus, Klutho was able to take advantage of Apple’s new dual-lens 12-megapixel camera, and the 2x optical zoom feature exclusive to the larger model iPhone.
Klutho’s shots provide evidence of the crisp and bright photos that can be taken with the iPhone 7 Plus and its second 12-megapixel telephoto lens, but the collection lacks an example of improved low-light photography that Apple touted in the debut ad for the iPhone 7.
Later in the year, the camera app on the iPhone 7 Plus will also be getting a new feature called “Portrait,” letting users create photos where the two cameras intelligently detect faces in the foreground, while adding an artful blur effect to elements in the background.
The smaller 4.7-inch iPhone 7 packs in similar high-quality photo-taking abilities, without the second telephoto lens and 2x optical zoom. Both new iPhones were announced alongside the Apple Watch Series 2 and AirPods last week in San Francsico. The iPhone 7 and iPhone 7 Plus are expected to arrive this Friday, September 16, with the lucky first batch of pre-order customers already receiving shipment notifications.
Check out the rest of the photos taken using the iPhone 7 Plus here.
Related Roundup: iPhone 7
Discuss this article in our forums
Galaxy Note 7 explodes in New York, injuring 6-year old boy
A 6-year old Brooklyn boy was watching videos on a Samsung Galaxy Note 7 Saturday evening when it burst into flames as he was holding it. The young boy’s grandmother, Linda Lewis, told the New York Post that the resulting fire was enough to set off alarms in her house, and her grandson was taken to Downstate Medical Center to treat burns on his body but was later released.
Lewis told the Post, “he doesn’t want to see or go near any phones. He’s been crying to his mother.”
Lewis says the family has been in contact with Samsung but declined further comment.
Late last week the phone maker advised all Note 7 owners to return their handsets under the official recall program, working with the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission.
If you are holding on to your Note 7 after Samsung advised you to power it off and return it, this is the risk you’re taking. The folks saying “it probably won’t happen to me” — including popular media personalities, are right. It probably won’t. I’m sure Ms. Lewis didn’t think it would happen to her grandchild, either.
Return your Note 7 under the recall. Nobody wants to see this type of story.
We wish the young man and his family the best and hope for a speedy recovery and resolution.
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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T-Mobile
Sprint
Drones can defend themselves with an anti-laser jammer
There are plenty of efforts to make drone-destroying lasers. But what about protecting those drones? Adsys Controls thinks it can help. It’s making Helios, a passive jammer that confuses laser weapons. If it detects an incoming laser beam, it detects the traits of that beam (such as its pulse and wavelength) and interferes with them to prevent the laser from locking on and toasting the drone. The company won’t say exactly how this interference works, although it may be a counter laser. The one certainty is that it’s reliable — this is “permanent protection” against subsequent lock-on attempts, not just a momentary break.
You may have to wait a while to see Helios in action, since there’s no mention of contracts at the moment. Also, it’s not certain how well this works. Can a laser target a part of the drone without the jammer catching it? And is the system quick enough to stop higher-power lasers that can burn a drone within a few seconds at most? Still, drones don’t really have anti-laser defenses right now. Any protection is bound to be helpful, and Adsys’ solution could be highly effective if it lives up to the hype.
Via: New Scientist
Source: Adsys Controls
GekoGrip Modular magnetic air vent car mount (review)
One of the most dangerous things you can do is drive a car. According to the Association for Safe International Road Travel, globally almost 1.3m people die each year from automobile accidents. In the US, there are roughly 37,000 fatalities each year, which totals about 10 deaths per 100,000 people.
If you’ve paid attention to the tech sites lately, you’d know there are Samsung Galaxy Note 7s that catch fire due to faulty batteries. So far there have been roughly 35 incidents out of 2.5m devices, which means driving a car is much more dangerous yet we ignore the statistics when we drive distracted.
Distracted driving, or texting, and not using your smartphone or other mobile devices hands-free, is one of the most dangerous things you probably do every single time you get in a car. Using your smartphone while driving is illegal in almost all states in the US as well as many countries around the globe.
I live in San Diego where the fine for using a phone in the car is $161. In other cities the fines are as low as $20 which is asinine. These fines are not enough to distract many drivers from using their phones which not only endangers themselves and their passengers, but also the innocent drivers who are doing their best to make it home to their loved ones.
The government may not be enough of a deterrent for you to prevent you from using your cell phone, but it’s your responsibility to drive as safely as possible. All it takes is one accident and you could ruin someone else’s life forever.
It’s time you got a cell phone mount for your automobile. If you already have one, then kudos to you. Parents, if you’re reading this and have a young driver in the family, a cell phone mount is an absolute must-have for your loved one.
I’ve recently been using Mobei’s GekoGrip xM3 series Magnetic Air Vent Car Mount for smartphones and tablets, and it’s one of the easiest and most reliable mounts I’ve used in a long time.
Let’s check it out.
Design & Usage
The GekoGrip mount is designed to attach onto the air vent in your automobile. There is a magnet housed in the front end triangular shaped top piece, with a ball joint connected the four prongs that push onto the vent. The ball joint has a threaded exterior, so you can screw down the nut over it to keep your cell phone mounted in a position that makes your phone visible in a position that is comfortable for you to see.
In order to attach your phone to the magnetic mount, you will need to stick on one of two included metal pieces either on your phone directly, or in between your case and smartphone.
The round metal piece is has an sticky surface on one side and it’s designed for those who go case free. The other rectangular piece, has a felt side to protect your smartphone from scratching when it sits in between your case and smartphone (metal phones like the iPhone are not drawn to magnets since they are made from aluminum so you will need to use one of the metal pieces).
Once installed, which takes a matter of seconds, the magnet has plenty of power to hold the smartphone in place even when it’s upside down. In the picture above, I’m using a relatively large Note 7 and a somewhat rugged Caseology case.
Once in your vehicle, all you have to do is push the four pronged end into the cross section of your vent and then screw down the ball joint.
Once installed in the air vent, which does take a decent amount of force, it stays firmly in place.
Simply hold your phone up to the magnetic portion and the phone sticks very easily. There’s nothing to tighten down, and it’s one of the easiest ways to mount your phone in your automobile. The only downside is your phone will block the air vent. In San Diego, that’s never an issue for me since the weather is pretty consistent and I almost never use heat or A/C. Most other regions though, do experience a wide range in temperatures, so you can leave the phone off the mount until your car has come to the temperature you’re comfortable with before attaching the phone.
If you’re concerned about the phone falling off on its own, don’t worry. I have an off-road suspension on my truck, which is not a smooth ride, especially in California where our roads are riddled with deep pot holes. Not one time did the mount move, or shown signs of letting go of my Note 7.
From opening the box, installation to putting in use, it took no longer than a matter of minutes to add in a safety feature all cars should come standard with these days.
Summary
The GekoGrip Modular Magnetic Air Vent Car Mount is available for purchase at Amazon for $19.95 with free Prime Shipping. The mount is rated to hold up to 300g, which means it won’t hold your full sized tablet, but it will more than easily keep your smartphone mounted in a safe position while you drive.
The statistics prove driving can be a dangerous activity, but distracted driving is simply asking for trouble. It’s almost inevitable for some to use their smartphones while driving, especially those who stream music to their car or need GPS to get around town, so you might as well make it safer by installing a mount. The GekoGrip air vent mount is a smart choice, especially when you factor in the ease-of-use and quality for $19.95.
Watch the Milky Way’s birth in this Caltech simulation
A team of Caltech astronomers created what could be the most accurate computer simulation of our galaxy’s birth. See, according to computations for older simulations, our galaxy should be surrounded by thousands of dwarf galaxies. In reality, though, there are only around 30 dwarf galaxies nearby. Astronomers thought their computations were incorrect, because we still don’t understand the true nature of dark matter that permeates every corner of the universe. However, the Caltech team found out that it’s not dark matter that’s the problem. Their computations were able to achieve the current state of our galaxy simply by incorporating the effects of supernovae.
“We had thought before that perhaps our understanding of dark matter was incorrect in these simulations, but these new results show we don’t have to tinker with dark matter,” says team leader Andrew Wetzel. “When we more precisely model supernovae, we get the right answer.”
A star’s explosion can be massive and powerful enough to blow away other stars and even small galaxies. And by taking its effects into account, the team was able to conjure up a simulation that shows the actual state of our galaxy’s environment.
In order to create the simulation, which you can watch below, the team used 2,000 computers to crunch data. It took a whopping 700,000 CPU hours for all those computers to complete the task, though it could’ve been worse. According to Popular Mechanics, it would have taken a single computer 80 years to do the same thing.
Via: Popular Mechanics
Source: Caltech
Tesla’s next Autopilot update will rely more on radar
Today Tesla announced that its upcoming Autopilot 8.0 update will rely more on radar than previous versions of the semi-autonomous feature. To boot, it will penalize inattentive drivers.
Tesla said that it would combine the radar sensors (added to vehicles starting in October 2014) along with advanced signal processing to see the world. Initially, those sensors were supplementary with the onboard cameras handing most of the input.
The automaker is now putting that radar front and center in order to help the cars travel through bad weather conditions like, snow, fog, dust and rain. Traditional cameras become less reliable as the visual field becomes more dense. That’s where the radar will come in. “Even if you’re driving down the road and the visibility is very low and there’s a multi-car pile up, the camera can’t see it, but the radar would and apply the brakes,” Elon Musk says.
Tesla does note that reflective surfaces create issues with radar. It gives the example of a concave soda can amplifying its return signal. These sorts of false positives are why the automaker was only using radar as a supplement to other sensors early on.
Tesla is confident it’s been able to reduce those sort of false positives with the upcoming software update, which creates 3D snapshots of the world with all the vehicle’s radar sensors to determine the actual size of an object. It will also use fleet learning to reduce unintended braking from large stationary objects (like street signs) appearing over ridges by assigning geolocation data to those items.
Musk believes that the update would probably cut accidents by more than half. However, he cautions that it isn’t flawless. “Perfect safety is really an impossible goal. It’s really about improving the probably of safety,” he explains. He adds that Autopilot is called beta is to reduce the driver’s comfort level while it’s on. “It’s really not beta,” he says.
The update will also penalize inattentive drivers. If the car determines that the driver doesn’t have their hands on the wheel and throws its audible warning three times in an hour, it will lock the driver out of the feature. In order to re-enable Autopilot, the car will have to be pulled over and put in park.
Musk also notes that the drivers that end up with the most warnings to pay attention to the road are veterans of the system. They become too reliant on its benefits.
When pressed about whether the upcoming update would have saved the life of Joshua Brown, whose Model S slammed into a semi truck while in Autopilot, Musk says Tesla “believe[s] it would have.”
The exec notes that the update could potentially roll out in the next week or two, and that the company believes it “will improve not just the safety, but the comfort and feel of Autopilot.”
Source: Tesla
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