‘Robot Wars’ is coming back for another season
The Robot Wars reboot, it’s fair to say, went a little better than the new-look Top Gear. While Chris Evans and chums were panned by petrolheads — leading to dismal ratings and the departure of its new anchor — the robotic mayhem on BBC Two climbed to new heights. Larger house robots, some crazy new contestants and a revamped stadium were the perfect recipe for a Sunday night in. Now, the show is coming back. The BBC has confirmed that Robot Wars will return for another six-part series with Dara Ó Briain and Angela Scanlon at the helm. Same stadium, probably the same format — and Team Apollo back to defend their coveted title. We can’t wait.
Source: BBC
LG OLED E6 review: The perfect OLED match
A TV is just a TV, right? Not when it’s as good-looking as the LG OLED E6 (or OLED55E6V). This super-slim panel comes with a dazzling display mounted in a glass border, has a rear that has a carbon fibre appearance about it, and a built-in metallic soundbar that not only looks brilliant but sounds brilliant too. It is, quite simply, stunning.
This step-down model in LG’s OLED TV range also happens to be a lot less cash than the top-end G6 – a model that we loved but couldn’t quite fathom why it was so expensive, given the E6 is almost every bit as good.
If you’re looking for a TV that can deliver the blackest of blacks, 4K and HDR 9high dynamic range) then you’ll be wanting an OLED just like the E6. And from the week we’ve spent with this TV, it sure seems like the best choice you could make from LG’s OLED range.
LG OLED55E6V review: Design and connections
The sight of the LG E6’s screen sitting on a frame that’s less than 3mm deep looks like the eighth wonder of the modern world. Especially given that the majority of the sub-3mm panel has been made of glass rather than boring old metal or plastic, which can be seen towards the outer edge and gives a floating-like sensation to the image.
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However, and here’s the biggest difference between the higher-spec G6 model, the E6 is more standard in its design make-up to the rear: there’s no soundbase to incorporate all the processing gubbins and ports, making for a conventional additional protrusion.
Does this matter? Not really. Ok, so it’s not quite as drop-dead gorgeous as the G6, but unless you plan on having the telly in the middle of a room then it simply won’t be seen. Which is almost a shame, because the carbon fibre-like patterning on the rear looks delightful.
The OLED55E6V’s connections are comprehensive, too, including four HDMI, three USB and the usual Wi-Fi and wired network options. The USB ports support recording from the built-in Freeview Play HD tuner (if you have a separate drive, anyway), or playback of multimedia from USB drives.
LG E6 4K OLED TV review: Apps and OS
We’ve long supported LG’s webOS smart interface – and the sentiment is just the same with the E6 OLED. This pop-up overlay makes it quick and easy to navigate to your favourite apps, sources and channels.
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This includes the good stuff like the subscription streaming services of Amazon and Netflix – both offering native 4K and HDR streaming for some content – as well as Now TV, BBC iPlayer, ITV Hub, All4, My5, plus Freeview Play to scroll back through live TV that you’ve missed to catch-up without needing to dig through individual apps.
If you’re using an external box for your TV, like Sky Q, then you’ll be pleased to know that the HDMI ports of the E6 are HDCP 2.2 compliant, which means they can receive 4K broadcast signals no problems. Hoorah.
LG OLED55E6V review: Incredible OLED panel
As we said of the LG G6, the E6 has an incredible panel. Because of the way OLED works, each pixel produces its own light independently, which means there’s none of the halo-ing or backlight bleed that you’re likely to get from LED edge-lit LCD TVs. The E6 has a wonderful uniformity and can display dark areas that are blacker than black.
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Being able to deliver these deep black pixels right alongside bright white ones without any of that light bleeding gives OLED an upper hand in delivering a cleaner image when it comes to HDR content too. On the other hand, however, an OLED panel is simply not as bright as many top-end LED-LCD models, so won’t ever get the same brightness peaks as some of its rivals.
Talking of HDR, the E6 supports both the common “HDR10” format, and Dolby Vision – the latter which very little is displayed in just yet, except for Marco Polo via Netflix. Amazon has also promised Dolby Vision support, so that’s something to look forward to in the future. It’s good to see LG capable of supporting both the HDR formats, because it means the best possible colour content – and no other maker can offer this dual support. Not yet, anyway.
There is something of an HDR conundrum, however, and that comes down to brightness. For an OLED panel to be awarded an Ultra HD Premium rating it needs only produce an peak brightness level of 540-nits – which is some way short of the 1,000-nits required by an LCD panel to achieve the same badge.
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Now the LG E6 outputs around 650-700-nits maximum, so it’s not dull by any means, but it’s half as bright as the Samsung KS9500, for example. In isolation you might not notice, but if you want the best peaks from HDR then OLED might not be the way to go. Saying that, we watched The Man in High Castle (in 4K HDR via Amazon Video) and it looked astoundingly good.
LG E6 OLED TV review: The deepest blacks
On the flip side to that HDR argument is the black level, which has to be 0.0005-nits for OLED and 0.03-nits for LCD. You needn’t worry about those numbers, really, as just looking at how dark the E6 is will blow you away. Even the default screen saver is mind-boggling in its ability to show ultra-bright coloured squares, exploding firework-style, when it looks as though the TV is otherwise off. It’s like AV magic.
Plus, let’s face it, there’s not that much HDR content out there right now. So the way the E6 handles normal “SDR” everyday content is stunning. Indeed, the E6, likes its G6 brother, delivers the best black reproduction on a flatscreen TV that you can get. It’s so good it’s almost silly.
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Add to that dazzlingly rich colours (sometimes a little too much so, but you can tweak things in the settings), remarkable amounts of shadow detail in dark areas, and the whole experience is leaps and bounds ahead of where the company’s 2015 range say. Just don’t tweak the brightness settings too much, otherwise you’ll ruin the whole OLED effect.
Ultimately you need to make a choice: if you’re an AV nut and want the black level then the E6 is perfect; if you’re an AV nut and want the brightest peaks for HDR then it has to be LCD – and the Sony ZD9 is the way to go, if you can afford it.
LG E6 OLED 4K HDR TV review: Sound quality
One of the other great things about the E6 is that it comes with an integrated soundbar in the design. It might not be as beefy as that of the G6’s integrated base, but it does a darn good job of delivering crystal clear audio straight out of the box. There’s plenty of bass, without overdoing things, while voices, music and movies are well handled throughout.
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So no need for fussy speakers to obscure your view, nor to necessarily fork out yet more cash for any extras. And given the 55-inch E6’s £3,000 asking price, the all-in-one solution makes heaps of sense.
Verdict
Amazed as we were by the top-end LG G6 OLED, we couldn’t shake off its ultra-high price tag. Now the step-down E6 model isn’t exactly cheap – it’s £2,999 for the 55-inch model – but you do get your money’s worth and that notion of “step-down” doesn’t feel like it, because the picture quality, to our eyes, is one and the same.
Once you see OLED in action it’ll make you pine to own one. Your wallet will open, your cards will shed those thousands of pounds. And you’ll get to cry AV-tinted tears of joy as a result. Because, yes, the E6 OLED really is that good.
Ok, so you won’t get to see HDR content in its near-blinding levels of brightness as you would from a Sony ZD9 or Samsung KS9500 LCD telly, but those models aren’t going to deliver the same blacker-than-black levels of the E6. Which is where this LG really shines.
Indeed, as an overall package to grace the living room with its gorgeous looks, the LG E6 is about as close to flawless a TV as you can get for the money. It makes for a premier movie-watching experience, while catering for the future of 4K HDR steaming content too.
So if OLED is for you then the LG E6 is your likely perfect match. Pound for pound it’s the best OLED panel we’ve seen this year.
Oculus disables Gear VR app on Samsung’s Galaxy Note 7
Oculus has pushed an update to the Galaxy Note 7 that disables the Gear VR app on the device, according to several sources. Instead of loading the app, it shows a message (above) stating that “until further notice, Note 7 devices will not be compatible with the Gear VR.” The move is a prudent one, given the device’s tendency to catch fire or even explode, and the fact that the Gear VR puts the smartphone in close proximity to your face and eyes.
Samsung has explicitly stated that Galaxy Note 7 owners should “power down and take advantage of the remedies available, including a refund at their place of purchase.” The Oculus update disabling the headset was first reported by Reddit user Bahaman23 and confirmed by Android Central. Despite the danger, some Redditors are complaining that they can no longer use not only their Galaxy Note 7s, but their Gear VR headsets, too. (We’ve reached out to Oculus and Samsung for more details.)
You do have options with a new Gear VR, however, provided you’re willing to stay in the Samsung camp (and it would be hard to blame you if you didn’t). The headset supports older Samsung headsets that don’t explode, including the Galaxy S7, S7 Edge, S6, S6 Edge and Note 5, according to Samsung’s site. All of those devices (including the Galaxy S6 Edge, I can confirm) still work with the Gear VR. If you still want smartphone-based VR but have had it with Samsung, your best bet might be Google’s new Pixel phones and the Daydream VR headset.
Via: Android Central
Source: Reddit
Skype’s live translations are now available in Russian
Since launching last year, Microsoft has steadily been building out Skype’s automatic live-translating ability, and making it even easier to speak with more people around the world. The feature, which translates the voice of the person on the other end of your skype call into instant subtitles, can now handle voice-to-text for Russian, in addition to the eight other languages it already supports.
As the eighth most popular spoken language in the world, it makes sense that Russian would join English, Spanish, French, German, Mandarin, Italian, Portuguese and Arabic. If you’re only texting via Skype chat, rather than video calling, Skype also supports text-to-text translations in over 50 different languages.
With so many Russian dialects, Skype Translator is bound to be a little clunky with the language at first, but the company claims its built-in machine learning layer will continue to improve the translations as more and more people use it. While the feature will technically translate between any of two of the supported languages, it works best between English and a second language — but it will also get smarter about that as it gets more use over time.
For now, Skype Translator only works for the Windows Desktop version of Skype.
IMAX VR is coming to Manchester this year
IMAX is teaming up with Odeon to launch a pilot “VR centre” in the UK. The new facility, based at the Printworks multiplex in Manchester, will house modular “pods” that can be adapted for different experiences. So whatever you want to do — a solo film viewing, or a group session in a game like Star Trek Bridge Crew — the centre should be able to facilitate it. For the hardware, IMAX is teaming up with Acer and Starbreeze AB, which make the StarVR headset. The content portion is a mystery, although IMAX has hinted it’s working with “Hollywood studios” and game publishers.
Virtual reality is in high demand right now. The HTC Vive and Oculus Rift are now widely available, and Sony’s PlayStation VR is launching this week. Google has unwrapped its own Daydream View headset and Oculus has revealed plans for a new, self-contained unit of its own. That’s led to some interest from the entertainment industry — theme parks, for instance, are now using VR headsets to modify and enhance their existing rollercoasters. In the UK, mentalist and illusionist Derren Brown has even created a new type of ride, mixing VR and live action, inside Thorpe Park.
High-end VR is expensive, for now. IMAX’s centres could, therefore, appeal to people who only have a mild or passing interest in VR. A sensible strategy — not everyone has the funds, or space, to invest in a gaming PC and Rift-level headset right now. IMAX also seems to be skewing toward original, exclusive content. That could appeal to both new and longtime VR enthusiasts who have grown tired of the games available elsewhere. IMAX says each experience will last between 5 and 15 minutes — not too long, then — and will eventually include films shot with its JUMP camera.
The new VR centre will open “by the end of 2016.” IMAX is also “in the process” of launching a facility in Los Angeles, and hopes to open additional locations in China, Japan, the US, the Middle East and Western Europe “in the coming months.” These will be pilots too, so that the company can figure out which experiences and pricing models work best. With this information in hand, IMAX then hopes to push the concept globally, spanning multiplexes, shopping malls and tourist destinations.
Casual ‘Pokemon Go’ trainers now have a fighting chance
Pokémon Go players know if their pocket monster is a catch and even have one of them scurry behind your avatar. The latest update is aimed at balancing the in-game battles, giving the Pidgeottos and Mr. Mimes of the world a (slightly) better chance against the constant armies of Dragonites and Snorlaxes resident in most Pokémon gyms. Not only will trainers be be able to bring six Pokémon to the fight, the CP (Combat Points) of rival Pokémon will be nerfed to match your own team’s battle level. However, Niantic Labs says that the CP ranking “may” be lowered, suggesting it may not always be the case.
A catch bonus will also come into effect: the more of a certain type you catch, the easier it’ll be to snag more of them. (This is key to getting the more advanced, evolved versions — you need to capture a lot of Pikachus to evolve one into Raichu.) The developer has also decreased the evolution animation time — which often took longer than catching the Pokémon in the first place.
Now, if the game could kindly direct me towards the nearest Charizard, I’d be very grateful.
Source: Pokemon Go
Apple Shares Hit New High for 2016 as Samsung Considers Scrapping Note 7 Brand
Samsung is likely to permanently stop selling its Galaxy Note 7 smartphones following the latest halt of sales and production, according to reports on Tuesday.
Samsung halted sales and paused production of the Note 7 smartphones in the last 24 hours and told owners to power down the devices while it investigates reports of fires, fueling expectations the tech giant will scrap the flagship device.
The BBC this morning referred to “unnamed sources” cited by South Korean Hankyoreh newspaper claiming that Samsung would can the device and seek to make up for lost Note 7 sales through its Galaxy S7 models as well as the Note 5, which was the predecessor for the Note 7.
Separately, Reuters reported Samsung is now considering permanently halting sales of its flagship smartphones as an option, “according to a source familiar with the matter”. The person declined to be identified because they were not authorized to speak publicly.
Samsung did not immediately comment on the BBC report, but told Reuters no final decision had been made. Meanwhile, the South Korean finance minister said it would hurt the country’s exports if the device is scrapped altogether.
“Right now we can’t tell what the impact will be in the long term. It’s up to the company and the government cannot interfere,” Yoo Il-ho said. “But if they do scrap the model, it will have a negative impact on exports.”
According to analysts, the Note 7 recall could cost Samsung as many as 19 million lost unit sales, or as much as $17 billion, if it permanently stops selling the smartphone for a second time, following multiple reports of replacement handsets setting on fire.
“This has probably killed the Note 7 brand name,” said Edward Snyder, managing director of Charter Equity Research. “By the time they fix the problem they have to go through recertification and re-qualification and by the time that happens, they’re going up against the [Galaxy] S8 launch.”
Investors wiped $18.8 billion off Samsung’s market value on Tuesday as its shares closed down 8 percent, their biggest daily percentage decline since 2008. Meanwhile, Apple stock closed on Monday up 1.9 percent at $116.05 per share, its highest value this year. Apple is now trading at levels not seen since December 2015 and has jumped 20 percent over the past three months, partly on renewed optimism over iPhone 7 sales, but also in response to its arch rival’s woes.
“The Apple share price was doing nothing for over a year – it was considered ex-growth – now it’s possibly the only game in town when it comes to buying a mobile phone,” said Michelle McGrade, chief investment officer at TD Direct Investing.
However, with last week’s launch of its own-branded Pixel smartphones, Google is also expected to benefit.
“From Google’s perspective the timing couldn’t have worked out better for them in that they’re essentially trying to compete now in the premium sector against the likes of Apple and Samsung,” said Creative Strategies analyst Ben Bajarin, speaking to the BBC.
“Now with this issue around Samsung and some questions and stigma around the brand, the product itself, could certainly help Google out. But I think Apple’s definitely the biggest beneficiary from here. If there were people on the fence about whether or not to get an iPhone 7 Plus, for example, which is kind of in the same size range as the Note 7, that was one of the things that we think is benefitting Apple the most, just because that’s a competitive product and it’s an established brand,” Mr Bajarin added.
The news comes on the same day the two companies are set to face off in the Supreme Court over a long-running smartphone design patent case.
Tags: Samsung, Galaxy Note 7
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Facebook Launches New Team Collaboration Tool Called ‘Workplace’
Facebook yesterday officially launched its ‘Workplace’ platform, an organization and business collaboration tool to rival the likes of Slack.
Previously known as Facebook Work, Workplace combines social network, chat messenger, and productivity features to help teams work together online. The app includes groups, custom profiles and ad-free news feeds, including tools for team members to make audio and video calls as well as host live broadcasts.
There’s also something called Multi-Company Groups, which allows employees from different organizations to work together.
Workplace is free for non-profits and schools, but Facebook will charge commercial users of the platform $3 per month for organizations of up to 1,000 people, and as low as $1 per month for organizations comprising over 10,000 employees.
That contrasts with Slack’s Standard plan of $6.67 per user and its Free tier, which has some search and archive limitations.
Workplace exists as a web interface and an iOS app similar in style to Facebook’s other mobile offerings. The app is a free download for iPhone and iPad available on the App Store. [Direct Link]
Tag: Facebook
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Oculus disables Gear VR functionality on Galaxy Note 7 due to fire concerns
Oculus, the Facebook-owned company that powers the software inside Samsung’s virtual reality ambitions (as well as the Oculus Rift headset, sold separately), has disabled its app from working with the Galaxy Note 7 after a number of replacement phones reportedly caught fire over the weekend.
Image from Reddit user Panda_Turtle
As first reported on Reddit, and confirmed by Android Central, Oculus has issued a forced update to its mobile app that, when paired with a Galaxy Note 7 inside a new Gear VR headset, shows the following message:
Customer safety is Oculus’ top priority. Oculus is removing support for all Note7 devices on the Oculus platform. Until further notice, Note7 devices will not be compatible with the Gear VR. For more information regarding the Note7, please contact Samsung directly.
While the move has annoyed current Note 7 owners, many of whom don’t see the immediate danger of owning a device that Samsung explicitly says should no longer be turned on, we applaud the company’s move, even though it probably should have happened the moment the phone was first recalled in early September. Facial burns probably wouldn’t be a good PR association for the up-and-coming VR giant.
The software update doesn’t appear to affect any other compatible Galaxy devices, like the Galaxy S7 and S7 edge, which have not been affected by the battery debacle.
Samsung Galaxy Note 7
- Galaxy Note 7 fires and recall: Everything you need to know
- Do not buy a Galaxy Note 7 right now
- Samsung Galaxy Note 7 review
- The latest Galaxy Note 7 news
- Join the Note 7 discussion in the forums!
Duke hopes HoloLens will assist with tricky brain surgeries
When Microsoft envisioned the medical world embracing HoloLens in the future, it wasn’t kidding around. Duke University is testing the augmented reality headset as an assistive tool for difficult brain surgeries like extraventricular drain placement, which relieves potentially fatal pressure. Instead of relying on CT scans and markers to insert a catheter into the skull during the draining procedure, Duke’s doctors would use HoloLens to overlay a reconstructed CT scan on the patient’s head. The virtual approach should not only be more accurate than conventional markers (the target is frequently too small or shifts around), but faster and simpler.
The newer hardware is particularly important, too. Augmented reality surgery is nothing new, but HoloLens eliminates a large amount of the jittering and lag that simply wouldn’t be acceptable during delicate operations.
Duke has only tested HoloLens on a model so far, and only with that one procedure. It won’t shock you to hear that the school wants to prove the wearable can work in real situations and different procedures before there’s widespread adoption. However, it’s not hard to see HoloLens and other augmented reality gear becoming a mainstay in operating theaters. Surgeons could spend more time completing procedures and less time fretting that one slip might endanger a patient.
Via: TechCrunch
Source: Duke University
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