The Morning After: Tuesday October 25th 2016
While you were sleeping, we found out where you can still buy a Galaxy Note 7 (don’t), Apple added Portrait mode to its flagship iPhone 7 Plus, and we’re thinking about what Microsoft has planned for later this week.
iOS 10.1 is herePortrait mode brings blurry backgrounds to iPhone 7 Plus photos
While it’s a mostly minor update, the iPhone 7 Plus will pick up another way to utilize its duo of rear-facing cameras. Yes, the once-teased portrait mode is now here to blur your backgrounds and make those portraits of loved ones really pop.
Disable in-app purchasesDoctors say your toddler can use your tablet — as long as you’re around to supervise
The American Academy of Pediatrics has softened its guidelines when it comes to screenwatchin’ for the under-twos, stating that they can watch “high-quality programming” (Sesame Workshop, for example) so long as you’re there to help understanding and monitor use. If your wee ones are younger than that, you should limit them to video chat for now. The AAP reiterates that, regardless of your children’s age, it’s important to both set “consistent limits” and ensure that device time doesn’t affect physical activity, play and sleep.
Tune in, turn on … TrumpSocial media isn’t just for apologies and insults
There’s no “Trump TV” yet, but the campaign has launched a daily show for its Facebook followers. So far, it’s not outdrawing Chewbacca Mom, but you all know those viewing counts are rigged anyway.
Scratching the surfaceHere’s what to expect from Microsoft’s ‘Imagine What You’ll Do’ event
New Surface? Sure, but in what shape — maybe an all-in-one? Perhaps, perhaps. While we probably won’t see a Surface Pro 5, we do expect Microsoft to explain what’ll happen in the next Windows 10 update, likely to launch in early 2017.
GastlyPokémon Go’s first global event is Halloween-themed
To celebrate All Hallows’ Eve, Pokémon Go creators Niantic Labs is increasing the encounter rate for its spookier Pocket Monsters. Gastly, Gengar, Golbat (ugh!) and more will appear far more frequently, while each monster caught will net you double the number of candies. In true trick-or-treat style, you’ll also get more candies from your Buddy Pokémon, and even from Professor Willow when you send him your Pokémon.
Just because you can doesn’t mean you shouldIf you want a Galaxy Note 7, they’re still on sale in Hong Kong
Because people like to risk carrying around something in their pocket that might explode in a burst of smoke. Read how Engadget Chinese editor-in-chief Richard Lai fared while trying to buy one — and why they’re still on sale in the first place.
But wait, there’s more…
- Hackers can gain full access in five seconds with this Linux exploit
- Stare at this beautifully detailed map of the Milky Way
- New White House initiative hopes to ensure microsatellites thrive
- A new stylus-toting Samsung Galaxy device that won’t burst into smoke
Google buys eye-tracking startup to boost its VR hardware
Google’s mission to bring VR to the masses has resulted in the development of the Daydream View and Cardboard, but the company isn’t stopping there. In July, we brought you news that the search giant is secretly working on a new high-end standalone headset, which we now know will incorporate eye tracking and use sensors to help users interact with the virtual spaces in front of them. To help it do just that, Google has confirmed the acquisition of Eyefluence, a three-year-old startup that specializes in turning eye movements into virtual actions.
We previously met Eyefluence CEO and founder Jim Marggraff when he showed off his company’s developments in virtual reality storytelling. Marggraff — the man behind the LeadPad kids tablet — and his team have already developed software to see what you’re looking at and tell whether you’re interested or just plain bored by it. Google hasn’t clarified what the Eyefluence team will specifically work on, but its technology seems a natural fit for a company looking to differentiate its offering from the Oculus Rift and HTC Vive.
Google won’t be the first company to double down on VR optics. Fove, a startup that raised $480,000 on Kickstarter, will open pre-orders for its own eye-tracking headset early next month. “Over the last three and a half years we have built an incredible team, advanced our eye-interaction technology, and created strong partnerships that have lead to the development of a completely new language for eye-interaction,” says Eyefluence in a blog post. “With our forces combined, we will continue to advance eye-interaction technology to expand human potential and empathy on an even larger scale.”
Via: TechCrunch
Source: Eyefluence
Xiaomi’s curved Note 2 has a striking yet familiar look
It was only last month when Xiaomi launched the Mi 5s and Mi 5s Plus, but the Chinese company is already back with yet another flagship model. What we have here is the Mi Note 2 which, as you can tell by the name, is all about its large 5.7-inch 1080p display and generous 4,070 mAh battery. If it weren’t for the missing stylus, you’d easily confuse the Mi Note 2 with the Samsung S7 Edge or Note 7: It comes in a familiarly gorgeous body design with curved glass on both sides, and yes, much like Samsung’s offerings, the Mi Note 2 features a flexible OLED screen that lightly wraps around the edges, though it’s just for looks for now. Not bad for a phone that starts from 2,799 yuan or about $413.
As a flagship phone, the specs should come as no surprise: Qualcomm’s latest Snapdragon 821 chipset (2.35GHz; same as the Mi 5s Plus), from 4GB of LPDDR4 RAM, from 64GB of UFS 2.0 storage, NFC, Quick Charge 3.0 and HD audio playback (192kHz/24 bit). Xiaomi is pitching the Mi Note 2 as a “business flagship” so roaming support is obviously very important: It does LTE Cat 11 with up to 600Mbps downlink using tri-carrier aggregation, and its top model supports 37 bands (22 of which are LTE) which matches the iPhone 7 Plus and beats the Huawei P9 Plus’ 32 bands.
On the photography side, the Mi Note 2’s main camera has opted for a higher resolution — using the 22.56-megapixel Sony IMX318 sensor — instead of larger pixels like the Mi 5s series has. While it doesn’t have optical stabilization (nor laser auto-focus for that matter), it does offer electronic image stabilization for 4K video capture. As for the front-facing camera, we have an 8-megapixel f/2.0 imager with Sony’s IMX268 plus auto-focus — which is still a missing feature on many selfie cameras. Not only does this come with Xiaomi’s third-gen beautification software, it also has a cool feature which makes sure everyone in the shot isn’t blinking: This is achieved by taking burst shots, and then the software picks the best shot and also replace the faces of whoever blinked with the correct ones from other shots.
Due to the more complicated manufacturing methods for this design, the Mi Note 2 costs a little but more than Xiaomi’s typical price points. The base model with 4GB of RAM and 64GB of internal storage is going for 2,799 yuan or about $413, then the next model up with 6GB of RAM and 128GB of storage costs 3,299 yuan or about $490, and finally we have the ultimate model with the same specs but also with global bands asking for 3,499 yuan or about $516. It comes in Piano Black and Glacier Silver, but the latter won’t be available for another two to three weeks. Unfortunately, you won’t be able to buy this phone in the US, but you’re bound to find one from online importers.
Source: Xiaomi
BlackBerry’s third Android phone packs a fingerprint sensor
BlackBerry has announced the DTEK60, the second in its range of Android smartphones manufactured by a third party. Like the DTEK50, the actual device has been put together by TCL, leaving BlackBerry with the job of making sure that it’s secure enough to be loved by corporations. The biggest new feature, compared to its predecessor, is the new fingerprint scanner that allows you to unlock the device as well as use Android Pay.
The DTEK60 is a little bit bigger than its older sibling, packing a 5.5-inch QHD display and a 3,000mAh battery. If we were guessing, we’d assume it was based on the same design as TCL / Alcatel’s Idol 4S, which packs a similar screen and display, not to mention the same fingerprint scanner. But unlike that handset, this one carries BlackBerry’s security know-how tucked inside, including the hardware “root of trust.” The other big difference between the 60 and the Idol 4S is in the camera, since BlackBerry’s version is packing a 21-megapixel rear camera.
Then there’s the usual raft of BlackBerry additions, including the company’s intelligent keyboard, unified inbox tool and rapid security patches. It’s not clear how much built-in storage the device ships with — we’re guessing 16GB — but it comes with a microSD card slot that’ll push that figure up to 2TB. The BlackBerry DTEK60 is available to buy from the company’s website today, setting you back $499 / $650 CDN / €579 / £475. If you deal direct with BlackBerry and pay before November 8th, you’ll also be handed some form of phone case (depending on your region) and a rapid charger for free.
Driving while connected with the Navdy heads up display
Not everyone can afford to replace their current whip just to get the latest automotive smart features. The aftermarket world has got your back if you want to upgrade your stereo, but if you’re looking for an HUD (Heads up Display) there aren’t a lot of great options. In steps Navdy, a third-party way to make your car smarter with the power of projection. It’s full-featured and ready to smartphone features on your dash.
Two years after dropping a slick commercial and Kickstarter campaign, Navdy’s smart HUD is finally shipping. But the portable $800 device does more than display your current speed. Via a companion app for iOS and Android, it has turn-by-turn navigation, music control plus messaging and call notifications. It’s a see-thru version of your smartphone on top of your dash and most of the time, that’s great. On the other hand, there are times when it becomes painfully obvious that it’s not a factory-fitted item. Being able to see an incoming call without taking your eyes off the road is handy, but for some, might not be enough to justify the price.
Before even considering the Navdy you have to make sure it’ll work with your car. It requires the OBD II port from a vehicle from 1996 and later. Also, bad news if you just upgraded to an EV, Navdy it won’t work with any electric vehicles. If your car fits into those parameters (and frankly most will), you’re good to go.
And the Navdy is all about going. The full-color HUD display is impressive once you flip up the display and adjust it to your viewing angle. It handles direct sunlight and the darkest night without being washed out or so bright it burns your retinas. Information is presented plainly which is what you want from something that’s designed to keep your eyes on the road. Even when filled with information you’re never distracted from what’s ahead of you. Out of the box, Navdy has adjusted the focus range of the display so that the images appear to hover over the hood of a car.
The actual information Navdy serves up varies from helpful to user-enabled overload. The navigation and turn-by-turn directions are great though, which, of course, is likely the majority of what you’ll do with Navdy. Confusingly, these features are powered by Google search, but use Here maps. It’s odd, but it works and that’s all that matter. Since Navdy is hooked up to your OBD port for data and power, it also knows how much gas you have and your current speed, meaning this info is available for display also.
But it’s the notifications (Navdy calls them Glances) and how the system handles them that’ll make some very busy people very happy. By default, it’ll show you incoming phone calls and text messages, and alerts can be dismissed via the hardware scroll wheel you attach to your steering wheel. You can set Navdy to just read text aloud, display the text only, or do both. I used both audio and visual cues during my test and it worked brilliantly.
I foolishly thought I’d try activating notifications from Slack, my email client, Facebook, WhatsApp, Twitter and Facebook Messenger. The result was overload and a clear sign that even if you’re looking at the road, too much distraction is incredibly dangerous. At the very least, it’s a literal reminder that I receive far too many emails in a single day.
While the inclusion of hand gestures (swipe right to answer, left to ignore) is nice, most will use the dial that attaches to your steering wheel to navigate the menus and control their music. It’s easier to spin the dial with your thumb and select with your thumb instead of swatting in the air. If you prefer voice commands, you can access Google Assistant or Siri with a long press of the central button. Using those voice-power helpers to find and play music, place calls and reply to messages makes for a very nice technological marriage of car display and smartphone feature.
But that voice integration doesn’t work Google or Apple Maps apps for navigation. Instead, you have to use the mapping software within the Navdy companion application, and that means no voice-powered address search. You can add favorite locations to the app that appear in the display, but if you need to head to a new location while driving you have to fire up your smartphone and enter it in by hand.
The lack of support for other mapping apps is the system’s achilles heel. While it delivers a safer way to interact with navigation, music and ongoing routing, it’s a shame drivers have to unlock a phone to add a new address. In fact the system is so tied to the app that it has to be running when you turn on the Navdy. But like launching much like Spotify for music, launching the app became second nature when I got into the car and placed the portable device onto its base.
I was initially concerned that making Navdy portable and removable would be a pain. Who wants to drag a piece tech out to the car every time they drive? But like launching apps, placing the device on its magnetic dock became second nature.
Plus, if installing something like this isn’t within your comfort range, the company has a partnership that’ll it easy by having someone else do it for you.
While Navdy says that people will be able to install it in about 15 minutes, the company has teamed up with Enjoy for same day delivery and installation in a number of major cities (Los Angeles, Chicago, Manhattan, Dallas, Houston, Atlanta, Miami and the San Francisco Bay area). The kit itself includes an adhesive pad with a docking station that plugs into your car’s OBD port. The actual Navdy device attaches to the base with magnets which seems like it would be a bad idea, but during my drives (which included multiple trips through a kidney-jarring construction zone) the device was never came loose.
If you do frequent rough roads though, or have a vehicle with harder than usual suspension (for example a sports car), Navdy’s HUD display is probably not an ideal solution. No matter how well it’s mounted to the dash, the adjustable display is prone to vibrations in less than ideal road conditions.
I tested the system in an Audi TT on San Francisco’s perpetually under construction avenues. On a road near my house that’s been under construction for what seems like years, trying to read the display while it vibrated resulted in a headache. Even in “comfort” mode the TT has stiff suspension. Throw in potholes, ruts and ignored infrastructure and the Navdy becomes useless. This happened on only about 10 percent of my drives and only on a single rough patch of the freeway. If your car’s suspension isn’t tuned for cornering you should be fine, but you might want to take note of the condition of your usual driving routes before dropping $800 on a HUD.
Despite its minor flaws, the Navdy is a solid product that adds functionality I didn’t even realize I wanted. On a few occasions I jumped into the car and started driving without placing it on the dash and instantly missed it.
On one trip, I drove down an unfamiliar street at night and realized it would be easier and safer if I pulled over and dropped Navdy on the dash instead continuing to glance down at my phone for directions. With the HUD in place, I have great, visible navigation and can leave the phone in the glove compartment. The allure of constantly being connected means I haven’t done that in years. For the record I don’t text, tweet or Facebook and drive but just having the phone nearby just in case has been my excuse for keeping it handy. Navdy erased that need and made my driving just that much safer.
Source: Navdy
Xiaomi Seeks to Impress in Premium Space With 5.7-inch ‘Mi Note 2’ Phone
Xiaomi unveiled its latest phablet phone, the Mi Note 2, at an event in Beijing today, with the clear intention of filling the void left by the ill-fated Samsung Galaxy Note 7.
The Note 2 is the newest model in Xiaomi’s premium Mi line and features a 5.7-inch flexible OLED display that sits under a panel of wraparound glass and curves around the sides of the handset.
On the rear is a 22.56-megapixel camera with support for 4K video, backed up by a dedicated 3-axis gyroscope to enhance image stabilization. An 8-megapixel camera with f/2.0 aperture features on the front.
The Note 2 is powered by a 2.35GHz Snapdragon 821 processor and comes with up to 6GB RAM and 128GB storage capacity. There’s also a 4,070mAh battery with Quick Charge 3.0 support, plus cellular support for 37 bands worldwide.
The Mi Note 2 starts at 2799 yuan ($413) for 64GB storage/4GB RAM, going up to 3499 yuan ($516) with 128GB storage/6GB RAM, and will be available in China first before hitting other Asian markets and presumably other parts of the world.
#MiNote2 – front & back 3D curved glass, 5.7” flexible OLED display, SD821 2.35GHz, 37 global bands, 22.56MP camera, RMB3499 pic.twitter.com/4kfCR6ELjx
— Hugo Barra (@hbarra) October 25, 2016
Xiaomi’s focus on its premium range of phones comes on the back of a shift in consumer interest away from discount devices in the Chinese smartphone market, with buyers seeking out high end phones that can go toe to toe with models from the likes of Apple and Samsung instead.
Huawei, Oppo, and Vivo are three Chinese brands that all offer premium phones now costing over $300, leaving Xiaomi’s inexpensive Redmi handsets looking less attractive to savvy buyers with more disposable income.
Tags: China, Xiaomi
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Xiaomi Unveils ‘World’s First’ 6.4-inch Phone With Edgeless Display
Xiaomi surprised at its Beijing event today by announcing the Mi Mix, the “world’s first edgeless display” phone, alongside the company’s new Mi Note 2.
Designed by French designer Philippe Starck, the Mi Mix is a 6.4-inch device that features a 2040×1080 pixel, 17:9 aspect ratio borderless display that takes up 91.3 percent of the front of the handset. The only significant bezel sits at the bottom of the screen, but it doesn’t have a physical button, with all the controls existing onscreen.
The all-ceramic phone uses a piezoelectric ceramic driver for the earpiece which uses the metal frame to generate sound, while the proximity sensor has been replaced by ultrasound. Both innovations are hidden under the display. The design also uses a mortise and tenon joint for attaching the display to the body, rather than glue or other adhesives.
Powering the phone is a Qualcomm Snapdragon 821 processor, with 4GB RAM for the 128GB capacity model and 6GB RAM for the 256GB model, which also features gold trim, with 18K gold accents on the camera lens and fingerprint sensor on the back.
The rear camera boasts a 16-megapixel resolution and 4K video, while the front camera is 5 megapixels. The phone is also said to have dual SIM connectivity and a 4,400mAh battery with Qualcomm Quick Charge 3.0 support.
#MiMIX Edgeless display (world’s 1st), 93% screen-body ratio, piezoelectric ceramic earpiece speaker, behind-display ultrasonic proc sensor pic.twitter.com/33dywzDxKG
— Hugo Barra (@hbarra) October 25, 2016
Depicting the Mi Mix in promotional videos reminiscent of the Monolith from 2001: A Space Odyssey, Xiaomi called the device a “concept phone”, and yet offered both a price and a release date. The 4GB/128GB model costs RMB 3,499 ($515) and the 6GB/256GB model is RMB 3,999 ($590), with both handsets set to launch on November 4th in China.
The phone may give us some idea of what Apple’s next phone could look like. Apple has a major iPhone redesign planned for 2017, with a glass body and edge-to-edge OLED display that includes an integrated Touch ID fingerprint sensor and front-facing camera. The handset is expected to lack bezels, meaning there will be no Home button. Jony Ive is said to have wanted to introduce an iPhone that looks like a single sheet of glass for several years, and 2017 may be the year that becomes possible.
Related Roundup: iPhone 8 (2017)
Tags: China, Xiaomi
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Civilization VI review – CNET
The Good New diplomacy, research and city building systems make this the most in-depth Civ yet. It looks gorgeous, and it’s the best of a 25-year-old series.
The Bad The learning curve can be brutal, especially for newcomers and the playtime required to get through even one round could send some screaming for the hills.
The Bottom Line If you’re a fan of the franchise, or you’re curious enough to dip your toe in the water, Civ VI is the best that 4X strategy gaming has to offer.
Sid Meier’s Civilization series has been, for my money, the be-all end-all in strategy games for as long as they’ve been coming out. And they’ve been coming out for a while, with 2016 marking the 25th anniversary of the franchise. Now Civilization VI is here on PC, and the 4X strategy game has never played better.
If you’ve never stayed up till 3 in the morning mashing the “next turn” button, the Civ games all have one thing in common. They’re all turn-based, 4X (“explore, expand, exploit and exterminate”) strategy games where you, playing as a great historical leader, lead your people from prehistory to global domination. Or just keep starting new games over and over.
The devil, of course, is in the details. Every leader and civilization comes with different unique bonuses, there’s a handful of different paths to victory and the maps are randomly generated with each new game. Civ VI is the product of 25 years of refinement of this formula, and it absolutely shows.
New Civ games have an adoption rate worse than new versions of Windows. The common wisdom is that a newly released version of Civ won’t be as good as the previous version with all its expansions. Civ VI bucks this trend by hanging onto all of the best features from V (and its expansions), while introducing a host of new ones.
Cities now cover multiple spaces on the map.
Screenshot by Luke Lancaster/CNET
The home front
The most obvious change is that your cities, previously confined to one tile on the hex-based map, are now spread out over multiple spaces. That not only leads to a balancing act over things like choosing whether to harvest natural resources or use the space for developments like economic districts, it means your cities just look more impressive as they expand.
Civ VI feels more dynamic. It’s moved away from a static progression style for your civics, government and research where once you picked an option, it was there to build on for the rest of the game. VI lets you do things like gear your social policies toward producing a more effective military, and after the completely justified war, shift focus to rebuilding your cities and keeping your post-war populace happy.
Speaking of war, you can now also use casus belli — justified reasons for conflict with enemy Civs — to massively reduce the diplomatic penalty for warmongering usually tacked on to declarations of war.
Progression on the huge scientific research tree is now no longer entirely determined by an abstract “science” production value, and you can get contextual bonuses based on how you play. Kill an enemy with slings, get a bonus to discovering Archery.
The breadth of the new civic system, the expanded cities, deeper diplomacy and research tree make your choices feel more personal, important and specialised. You feel like your Civ is your own, not like you’re racing to the end of the tech tree for the umpteenth time.
Xiaomi Mi Note 2 Release Date, Price and Specs – CNET
Xiaomi
Xiaomi has a new phone for those who are looking for a replacement for the Samsung Galaxy Note 7.
Sporting a design that, like the Note 7, is curved on both front and back, the new 5.7-inch Mi Note 2 also offers a 23-megapixel camera, 6GB of RAM and 128GB of onboard storage.
It’s set to launch on November 1 China for 3,299 yuan (approximately $485, £400 and AU$640). A cheaper model, with 4GB RAM and 64GB onboard storage, will retail for 2,799 yuan (roughly $410, £340 and AU$540). There’s also a special model with support for 37 LTE bands that retails at 3,499 yuan ($515, £420 and AU$675).
The phablet is similar to the Mi 5S Plus, which launched last month. Both phones have a similar 5.7-inch display and are powered by the Qualcomm Snapdragon 821 processor, though the Mi Note 2’s display uses OLED technology to curve the screen on the front while still retaining the curved back of the first Mi Note.
Instead of designing a glass display with a hole for the fingerprint sensor, the Mi Note 2, like the Mi 5s Plus, uses Qualcomm’s ultrasonic fingerprint scanner technology that reads the fingerprint through the glass. Xiaomi has been pushing its Mi Pay mobile payment system lately, so the Mi Note 2 will come with NFC.
Powered by Android, the Mi Note 2 runs Xiaomi’s custom MIUI 8 skin. It, like most skins out of China, lacks an app drawer, but has some nifty features. You can turn on the flash light by holding the home button without unlocking the phone, for instance, and can use a second finger to swipe through home-screens while holding down on an app to move it.
Check back soon for my first impressions soon.
Key specs
- Qualcomm Snapdragon 821 2.35Ghz
- 6GB RAM, 128GB onboard storage
- 4,070mAh battery with Quick Charge
- 23-megapixel rear camera
- Comes in black an silver
Xiaomi Mi Mix Release Date, Price and Specs – CNET
Aloysius Low/CNET
Xiaomi has a new concept phone — but it’s not actually a concept, because it’s real. And it’s crazy.
Designed by French designer Philippe Starck and announced at Xiaomi’s Beijing event today, the 6.4-inch device features a striking bezel-less display. Where other phones usually keep a top and bottom area available for the front camera and home button, the Mix does away with both, leaving only a small space in the bottom right corner for the front camera.
The phone will be available in China on November 4 and will come in two models. One, housing 6GB of RAM and 128GB of onboard storage, will retail for 3499 yuan ($510, AU$680, £420) while a premium model with 18k gold embossing and 256GB onboard storage will cost 3,999 yuan ($590, AU$770, £480).
The Mix is quite the game changer. In order to accommodate the lack of a top and bottom bezel, where the speaker for making calls usually is, Xiaomi is using piezoelectric ceramic actuator to deliver voice calls to your ears. It’s not the first phone to operate with a tiny bezel though, with
The whole phone is encased in beautifully glossy black ceramic, though this may end up being a fingerprint magnet. Located at the back is the 16-megapixel rear camera and a fingerprint sensor.
Check back soon for our hands-on impressions.
Key specs
- Snapdragon 821 processor
- 4,400mAh battery featuring Qualcomm Quick Charge 3.0
- NFC
- 16-megapixel rear camera
AIVAnet 