Manage to get the £150 PS4 from Game? Think again.
You may have noticed Game and some other high street retailers were selling the original PlayStation 4 with a selection of games for £150 last week. It was a crazy offer that sent the participating retailer’s websites into meltdown as they struggled to cope with demand.
Unfortunately, Game had a bit of a nightmare as it couldn’t get the ‘Out of stock’ message up quick enough on its bundle of a PS4, Fifa ’17 and three month Now TV pass, so many customers have found they’ve been refunded their £150 as Game doesn’t have stock to fulfill orders.
But all is not lost, as the company is not only refunding the cost, but is giving the unlucky customers an offer they almost can’t refuse. Game is letting the affected customers keep the Now TV pass and offering a 500GB PlayStation 4 Slim, a copy of Fifa ’17, a second three month Now TV pass and a copy of Uncharted 4: A Thief’s End for £250.
To top it off, Game is also giving out a £20 voucher to use against the bundle, making it £230. Take off the £50 cost of Uncharted 4 and it effectively makes the bundle £170, which is seriously tempting.
Game issued a statement to Eurogamer, saying: “Unfortunately due to unprecedented demand, the PS4 bundle containing Fifa ’17 and a Now TV pass sold out extremely quickly and we were unable to fulfil a number of orders”.
“We’d like to apologise to customers affected and will be refunding orders in full. Any reward points used will be automatically credited back to accounts and customers will also keep the Now TV three month subscription free of charge. The bundle will not be available to purchase in the future”.
It’s a fantastic gesture from Game and a great way of making up for its unfortunate blunder. If you tried ordering the affected bundle, you may want to check your inbox to see if you can benefit from the new one.
Singapore wants a self-driving wheelchair by 2017
Singapore is pushing for businesses to develop an autonomous wheelchair that’ll convey people around without instruction. The announcement came from Mark Lim, the official in charge of the country’s digital services and commercial development division. According to GovInsider, the project is going to run until March 2017 and will harness computer vision, robotics and machine learning to ferry patients around hospitals. The report quotes Lim saying that “we have limited health care workers,” and that “nurses are more precious in doing their work […] than pushing them around in the wheelchair.”
Singapore GDS is building autonomous wheelchairs! #ilw16 pic.twitter.com/WRdCDK3wDy
— Joshua Chambers 🚀 (@chambersjosh) September 27, 2016
But this isn’t simply an issue of a savvy government looking for smart solutions to automation but a symptom of a wider malaise. A recent World Bank report detailed that across East Asia, countries like Singapore, South Korea and Japan are heading towards a serious aging crisis. That’s where an increasing proportion of the population is aged 65-or-over and requires extra medical care and support compared to their younger contemporaries.
People living longer, and having fewer kids, means that there’s an issue around being able to hire enough people to perform essential jobs. Not to mention, of course, that the tax base will inevitably shrink, reducing the money that’s available to pay them to do those jobs. That’s why these nations are casting an eye towards robotics, with Japan leading the way in automated care for the elderly. Of course, if you’ve seen Robot and Frank, you’ll know that using robots to help older people can only end one way: with a jewelry heist.
Source: GovInsider
Watch Blue Origin test its crew escape system on October 4th
Blue Origin is about to take an important step toward its first manned flights. Jeff Bezos and company are planning to test New Shepherd’s mid-flight escape system on October 4th, with a live stream beginning at 10:50AM Eastern. The firm promises that it will be “dramatic,” and that may not just be hyperbole. When the crew capsule fires its rocket to make a getaway, there’s a chance that it could damage the booster and prevent it from landing. That’s not a problem in a real emergency, but unfortunate if you’re hoping that this New Shepherd (which has flown four times before) will live to fly another day. This could be either wonderfully uneventful, full of explosions or a mixture of both — you’ll just have to watch to find out.
Via: The Verge
Source: Blue Origin (Twitter)
Apple SIM Partner AlwaysOnline Expands to U.S. and 28 More Countries, Launches New U.K. Plans
Otono Networks today announced that its global 4G LTE roaming network AlwaysOnline Wireless will be expanding to the United States and 28 additional countries, bringing its total number of countries covered to 74.
The other new countries are: Albania, Antigua & Barbuda, Azerbaijan, Cambodia, Cayman Islands, Chile, Colombia, Costa Rica, Cyprus, Guam, Iceland, Jersey, Kenya, Kuwait, Macau, Malta, Mauritius, Moldova, Montenegro, Oman, Peru, Qatar, Serbia, Slovakia, Sri Lanka, Taiwan, Turkey, and Turks & Caicos Islands.
AlwaysOnline Wireless provides 4G LTE data by the hour, day, or megabyte, enabling owners of cellular iPads with Apple SIM to purchase short-term plans for on-demand access to high-speed data while traveling. Plans range from $0.99 per hour for 50MB to $59.99 for 5GB, valid for 15 days. All prices are in U.S. dollars.
Apple SIM, a special SIM card that works across multiple carriers, is included in cellular-enabled iPad Air 2, iPad mini 3, iPad mini 4, and iPad Pro models sold in the U.S., Australia, Canada, France, Germany, Italy, Japan, the Netherlands, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, Turkey, and the United Kingdom.
AlwaysOnline Wireless coverage map
AlwaysOnline launched in late 2015 in, among other places, Australia, Canada, France, Germany, Hong Kong, Italy, Mexico, the Netherlands, New Zealand, Russia, Singapore, Spain, Sweden, and the United Kingdom. In the U.S. and select other countries, plans are available to international travelers only — not residents.
Through a separate partnership with GigSky, Apple SIM is available in over 140 countries. Other Apple SIM partners include carriers AT&T, Sprint, and T-Mobile in the U.S., EE and Three in the United Kingdom, Deutsche Telekom in Germany, Three in Hong Kong, and au by KDDI and SoftBank in Japan.
Meanwhile, AlwaysOnline has introduced new 4G LTE plans in the U.K. offering 2-3 times more LTE data in the country. Prices range between approximately £0.37 per hour for 100MB and 5GB for £22.55, valid for 15 days. These plans will be available directly on cellular iPads through a new partnership with British carrier Three.
AlwaysOnline Wireless data plans can be purchased on compatible iPads by tapping Settings > Cellular Data > Set Up Cellular Data. No Wi-Fi connection is needed to purchase a plan. iOS 9.1 or later is required.
Tags: Apple SIM, AlwaysOnline Wireless
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Your Android phone isn’t safe, it could soon lose the headphone jack too
Android users may have laughed in the face of Apple when Cupertino announced it was removing the 3.5mm headphone jack from the iPhone 7 and iPhone 7 Plus, but those sniggles may be short-lived.
- Apple iPhone 7 review
- Apple iPhone 7 Plus review
The USB Implementers Forum, an organisation set up to promote all things USB, has published a new Audio Device 3.0 specification, which would let manufacturers use the USB Type-C port to output audio.
The Forum even says the intentions of the new specification is to do such a thing, saying “device manufacturers can eliminate the need for multiple ports and efficiently deliver data, power and video over a single connector with USB Type-C”,
“USB Audio over USB Type-C allows OEMs to remove the 3.5mm analog audio jack, shaving up to a millimeter off product designs and reducing the number of connectors on a device”.
Audio could potentially sound better if it’s sent through the USB port as it could be passed through dedicated DACs built into headphones, such as the Audeze Sine and iSine. It would also improve water resistance on smartphones and open a “door to innovation” for other features.
- Samsung next to ditch 3.5mm headphone jack
- Audeze Sine review: When Lightning strikes
But just because the USB Implementers Forum has published this new specification, it doesn’t mean Android smartphone manufacturers have to abide by it. Some could stick with the much-loved 3.5mm output, while others, such as Samsung, could introduce their own port instead.
New littleBits kit finally adds Bluetooth module
Like everything else in our world, toys are getting more sophisticated and connected. Makers of Lego-like robotics kits littleBits has a whole bunch of DIY sets and has just launched an updated version of its Gizmos & Gadgets kit that includes a wireless Bluetooth Low Energy module. This lets you communicate with or control the robots you create from your phone or tablet, via the company’s new Invent app. The Gizmos & Gadgets Kit 2nd edition is now available for $200.
Like its predecessor, the new edition of the kit includes the parts and instructions for a bubble blowing bot, a wireless rover and arcade games. The pre-production box I received came with 13 modules — what littleBits calls “bits.” There are two DC motors, two Bluetooth bits, a buzzer, a fan, a light sensor, a wire bit, a power module and a slide dimmer that you can mix and match to build your own gadget. You’ll also get wheels, mounting boards, adhesive shoes and screw drivers, along with an invention guide and seven project templates to help get you going.
The new Bluetooth capabilities adds a whole new realm of interactivity to the projects, since you can use not only your phone’s touch screen for controls, but also the camera and gyroscope as well. So you can tilt your phone around to maneuver your crawling inchworm or DIY arcade game. One of the included projects, called Photobooth Controller, lets you remotely snap pictures from your device’s camera. The bits are all reusable, so you can remake them into an invention that suits your fancy whenever you tire of your old project.
3D print your own ‘Skylanders’ hero with the Creator app
With Disney Infinity on its way out, it’s down to Skylanders and Lego Dimensions to maintain the toys-to-life dream. Skylanders is the oldest of the two and this year, its new gimmick is the ability to create custom “Imaginator” heroes. Which sounds great, except there’s an obvious problem — the point of the franchise is to collect physical figurines too. How is that possible with player-created characters? Well, today Activision Blizzard has the answer: Creators, a mobile app which lets you order 3D-printed versions. They’ll be available in “limited quantities,” however, so you’ll need act fast if you want to immortalise your handiwork.
Each figure will cost $49.99 and come with both a base and a clear, protective dome. It’s fully compatible with the Imaginators game, meaning you can place it on the podium to summon your character digitally. If 50 bucks sounds like a bit much, you can always order a “high-quality, custom made” trading card instead. These will cost $14.99 and, like the figures, can be placed on a “Portal of Power” to unlock the character mid-game. Lastly, there’s the option of having your Imaginator on a t-shirt for $24.99.
Skylanders Imaginators is set to come out on October 16th. The new Creators app is out now, however, and includes the same customisation tools found in the console game. So if you want a head start prepping your own zany hero, you can grab your smartphone or tablet and get cracking right away. Over time, you’ll also gain access to “Sensei Chests” and “Timed Imaginite Chests,” which give you new limbs, heads and pieces of clothing to tinker with. Personally, I would rather play as cameo characters Crash Bandicoot and Dr. Neo Cortex — but maybe I’m just old-fashioned.
Source: Skylanders Creator
Matterport makes over 250,000 of its digital tours VR ready
Thanks to companies like Oculus, HTC and Google, 360-degree experiences are becoming a lot more mainstream. Having been on the 3D bandwagon for a number of years, Matterport is now taking the time to open up its vast collection of tours to all. To coincide with the launch of CoreVR, a platform that makes it easy to turn its Street View-like shots into virtual reality experiences, Matterport has made its new technology available in 250,000 Spaces, potentially letting you tour a Star Trek movie set, traditional Maori village or the first ever Boeing 737 with only your smartphone and a VR headset.
Matterport says that at launch, its VR app will come with gallery of “150 real world places” and will be supported by Google Cardboard and Samsung’s Gear VR. The remaining 250,000 spaces can be accessed via its 3D Showcase app, with more being converted to VR over time as publishers enable the option on their existing tours.
In a bid to further expand its digital catalog, the company is letting companies add their own VR experiences for free for the rest of the year, letting you take tours of places that haven’t yet or won’t make it into Google’s Street View collection.
Source: Gear VR, Play Store
Facebook opens Marketplace to take on eBay and Craigslist
If you visit Facebook today, the chances are that you’ll come across someone trying to sell something. It could be a friend looking to make some money from an old smartphone or a thousand-strong parenting group looking to trade items for their little ones. Facebook has slowly introduced features to make it easier for people to list their items, but today the company has launched Marketplace, a new way for users to “discover, buy and sell items” with other people in their area.
In the coming days, users in the US, UK, Australia and New Zealand who are over 18-years-old will see a new shop icon in the bottom menu of the Facebook app. This will load a selection of photos of items that people in your general location are looking to sell. It also includes a search function, if you’re looking for something, specific and results can be filtered by location, category or price. If something catches your eye, Facebook will list the name and details of that product, a profile photo of the person selling it and a loose overview of where they live.
Although Facebook already lets Messenger users send payments, the company categorically states that it is not performing the role of a retailer or auction site: “You and the seller can work out the details in any way you choose. Facebook does not facilitate the payment or delivery of items in Marketplace.” That also means it won’t charge users for listings, giving it a distinct advantage over eBay and other app-based buy and sell apps.
With Facebook now counting over 1.5 billion users, sites like eBay and Craigslist will be watching Marketplace with keen interest. Sure, it’s currently only available in four countries, but with little to no oversight over sales and payments, the company is free to take it to new markets at will. Facebook says it will “continue expanding [Marketplace] to additional countries” via its iOS and Android apps, and will make the service available on the desktop “in the coming months.”
Source: Facebook Newsroom
Toyota’s Prius Prime plug-in hybrid starts at $27,100
Toyota’s latest take on a plug-in hybrid, the 2017 Prius Prime, may be more of a bargain than its name would suggest. The automaker has revealed that US pricing for the Prime will start at $27,100. That’s more than the regular Prius (which begins at $24,685), but it also qualifies for up to $4,500 in federal tax credit — play your cards right and you could pay less for a vehicle that could also cost you less to run. And did we mention that Toyota has boosted the mileage estimates? You now get 25 miles of pure electric driving instead of the originally promised 22, and the equivalent fuel economy has gone up from 120MPGe to 124.
Of course, there are incentives to splurge on higher-end models. The $28,800 Premium trim comes with the Prime’s signature 11.6-inch touchscreen (you get “just” a 7-inch screen on the base Plus), Qi-based wireless charging for compatible phones, remote illuminated entry and upgraded seats. Go all-out with the $33,100 Advanced and you get perks like a heads-up display, remote control mobile apps, a heated steering wheel, blind spot warnings and rear cross traffic alerts. All Prius Prime models come with a handful of smart safety features like pre-collision, lane departure and fatigue warnings.
Our Autoblog colleagues have already driven the Prius Prime, and they generally like what they see. The Prime is much improved over the earlier Prius plug-in hybrid, with more range (both electric and on gas), safety upgrades and all that added in-cabin tech. With that said, it’s not perfect: the gas motor is “whiny” when it kicks in, and the touchscreen isn’t as responsive as on the far more expensive Tesla Model S. And while it’s likely the best-looking Prius to date, that’s not saying a whole lot — “dowdy” is an apt description. Still, this might be your ideal commuter car if the Chevy Volt’s longer all-electric range isn’t worth the price premium to you.
Source: Autoblog (1), (2)
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