The Morning After: Thursday October 27th 2016
Microsoft’s big Surface showcase was aimed at creators and those of us interested in getting some new Redmond-made Windows 10 hardware. It was less about Office and more about 3D photography and, well, crazy physical “Dials” you can attach to your PC screen. Read on for a closer look at that and everything else from the past 24 hours. Remember, Apple’s big MacBook event kicks off today as well — check our liveblog here at 1 PM Eastern.
It’s gorgeous.Microsoft made its own all-in-one PC
The crown jewel of today’s Microsoft event was the Surface Studio, an all-in-one with a slender display and a silky-smooth hinge. That’s not to mention Microsoft’s Surface Dial, a puck that you can attach to the screen to dial through functions and shades, depending on which program you’re using. It’s going to take a lot more time and testing to say whether Microsoft’s AIO will fit with how people want to use it, but it’s looking pretty dreamy. Preorders started yesterday, priced at $2,999, with delivery expected in mid-December. Oh and here’s how it stacks up against the competition.
Ugh, that word.Microsoft’s play for Apple’s base of creatives
One clear takeaway from Microsoft’s event yesterday was its new sales pitch to creators and artists — one that the Surface Studio was a very clear part of. Before now: “Microsoft was about work. Apple was about art. Art is cool, work is not.” Microsoft wants to get cool.
Yes, Windows Phone still exists.T-Mobile accidentally leaked a new Windows 10 Phone with a VR headset
It might not be the fanciest phone, but Alcatel’s Idol 4S comes with a companion VR headset ready for viewing a 60-day Hulu trial subscription — and future Paint 3D creations.
Time for a speaker upgradeDolby Atmos audio is coming to the Xbox One S
The Xbox One S is getting next-gen audio support to match its Ultra HD Blu-ray drive. No upgrade release date just yet, but it’s a testament to the thinking that games consoles often make better media players than standalone units. Updates and new features are always good.
Gaming has the power to humanize social issues.Video games are more important than ever
Jess Conditt reports on the many titles at IndieCade 2016 that looked to illustrate or add commentary on social issues. One game, “1979 Revolution,” will be featured as a case study in a UN-commissioned paper on conflict resolution in digital experiences.
But wait, there’s more…
- Microsoft’s Surface event by the numbers
- “Stranger Things” director will helm the “Uncharted” live-action movie
- Audi switches from Le Mans to Formula E
- Trump quashes the idea of a TV channel based around him
Microsoft’s Dial is coming to the Surface Pro and Book
As part of its event yesterday, Microsoft revealed the wireless Surface Dial, a control wheel that attaches directly to the Surface Studio’s screen, letting artists select colors and do other chores. While the $100 device is compatible with the any Windows 10 PC, including Surface Pro 4 and Surface Book, the company originally said the on-screen functions would only work on the Surface Studio. However, VP Terry Myerson told the Verge that you’ll be able to use it directly on the Surface Pro 4 and Surface Book displays early next year thanks to a firmware update.
The Surface Dial lets you flip through documents, change your screen brightness, and “rewind” your work back to an earlier version, to name a few functions. When you place it on the screen, it brings up a contextual radial menu so that you can select colors and do other chores with one hand, and sketch using a Surface Pen with the other. Thanks to haptic feedback, it gives the clicky feeling of a real dial.
The wheel seems better suited to the large 28-inch screen on the $2,999 Surface Studio, as it will take up a big chunk of space when you lay it on a Surface tablet. Some artists may find it handy for sketching on the go, though, particularly with the new high-horsepower Surface Book i7. As mentioned, we don’t have a precise date for the firmware, other than early 2017.
Source: The Verge
Twitter will fire around 350 employees in hunt for profits
Twitter’s not had a great time of it lately, with several would-be suitors deciding that they didn’t want to buy the burgeoning social network anyway. Now, the company has announced its latest financial results and a restructuring plan in the hope of making itself profitable by 2017. The headline initiative will be to hack back nine percent of the company’s workforce — around 350 employees. It mirrors a similar move Dorsey made in October 2015 when he fired 336 people from the company in order to cut costs. Twitter expects that the sackings will cost between $10 and $20 million to cover severance fees.
It’s not all doom and gloom, however, since the company could post some kinda-sorta positive things on the money side. For instance, revenue from advertising and data licensing both increased, and the number of users that “engage” with Twitter’s adverts increased by 91 percent. The service also managed to keep its monthly active user numbers almost flat, dispelling the narrative that people were ditching the platform in their droves.
Money-wise Twitter pulled in $616 million, which was an eight percent bump over the cash it made in the same quarter last year. Unfortunately, the firm lost $103 million overall, and CFO (and, according to Bloomberg, de-facto leader) Anthony Noto says that the firm is becoming “more disciplined” about how it spends its money. It’s hoped that fewer employees, a simplified business and “de-prioritizing certain initiatives” will help Twitter become profitable. Although Noto didn’t explain which initiatives will be cut, it’s going to be interesting to see what Twitter discards in an attempt to save cash.
Source: Twitter (.PDF)
Qualcomm just announced the biggest chip acquisition ever
The smartphone world is starting to slow, and the companies that make the chips that go inside them are teaming up to stave off dwindling profits. Perhaps that’s why Qualcomm today announced that it’s picking up NXP Semiconductor for $47 billion, in what is set to become the biggest ever semiconductor deal.
While NXP does make smartphone chips — it makes the NFC payment chips and once supplied Apple’s motion co-processors inside the iPhone — the company has a huge presence in the automotive, security and Internet of Things industries. In fact, in its disclosure of the deal, NXP boasts that it powers 14 of the 15 most-popular vehicle infotainment consoles.
Qualcomm has expanded into similar markets but has found things slow going. The acquisition is all about consolidating efforts, ensuring the merged company will dominate semiconductor markets on a number of different fronts.
“By joining Qualcomm’s leading SoC capabilities and technology roadmap with NXP’s leading industry sales channels and positions in automotive, security and IoT, we will be even better positioned to empower customers and consumers to realize all the benefits of the intelligently connected world,” says Steve Mollenkopf, CEO of Qualcomm.
As with any major buyout, the deal will be subject to regulatory approvals across the globe. Qualcomm believes it will get the green light before the end of 2017.
Source: Qualcomm
Amazon Rolls Out ‘Alexa’ Voice Assistant to its Fire Tablets
Amazon began rolling out Alexa voice assistant to its Amazon Fire tablets yesterday, extending the feature beyond its original smart devices, such as the Echo speaker.
The rollout means owners of 7-inch, 8-inch, and 10-inch Fire tablets will be able to issue voice commands for specific requests, like playing music or having the news read to them, but unlike the always-listening smart speakers, the home button must be held down on tablets to activate Alexa.
The feature will take advantage of Fire screens by displaying full-screen cards with additional information in response to requests, such as the day’s forecast in response to a weather inquiry, or playback controls when music is requested.
Unlike Siri and Google Assistant, Alexa was designed with tablets in mind rather than mobile phones, according to Amazon, so its special skills focus on tasks suited to the home, like setting timers or ordering household items from Amazon. As such, requests for tasks usually performed on the go, like finding nearby bars and services, either result in a simple web search or are redirected to the Alexa app.
Like with the smart speakers, Fire tablet owners can also add skills from third parties such as Uber, as long as the associated app is also installed.
Amazon’s addition of Alexa to its tablet range follows Google’s newly debuted Google Assistant on its Pixel smartphones, which are set to compete with Apple’s iPhones that come with Siri.
Amazon says it will grow the abilities of Alexa and has over 1,000 employees working on the assistant with the intention of hiring more. The company also hopes its introduction on tablets with drive more holiday shopping.
Tag: Amazon
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Apple’s Online Store Down Ahead of Today’s ‘Hello Again’ Mac Event
Apple’s online storefront has been taken offline this morning, less than six hours prior to the company’s “Hello Again” media event at its Cupertino, California headquarters, where Tim Cook and other senior executives are expected to announce an all-new MacBook Pro, refreshed MacBook Air, an Apple TV guide, and possibly other new Macs and additional product and service updates.
Apple will provide a live stream (spoiler free) of the keynote on the Apple TV and on iOS and Mac devices through its website, starting at 10:00 a.m. Pacific Time. MacRumors will also have full coverage of the event, with a live blog on our front page at MacRumors.com and updates in 140 characters or less through our @MacRumorsLive account on Twitter. Earlier this week, we outlined what to expect at the event.
We’ll also have specific coverage of today’s announcements in separate news stories, and our community forums are a great place for readers to discuss the announcements before, during, and after the event. Be sure to keep tabs on the MacBook Pro and MacBook Air sections in particular for the latest discussions.
Tags: Apple retail, October 2016 event
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Jaybird X3 review – CNET
The Good The Jaybird X3 wireless sports headphone is smaller than the X2, has improved battery life, costs less and sounds excellent for an in-ear Bluetooth headphone. It’s sweat resistant and comes with a compact protective carrying pouch.
The Bad Don’t lose the charging accessory or you’ll have no way to charge the headphone; not as comfortable as the Bose SoundSport Wireless; noise-isolating design may be a safety issue for runners.
The Bottom Line The Jaybird X3 is a significant improvement over the X2 and one of the top Bluetooth sports headphone currently available.
Visit manufacturer site for details.
The Jaybird X3, the third iteration of the company’s popular sweat-resistant wireless sports headphone, is probably the best headphone the company has produced.
What’s new about it? Well, for starters it’s smaller than the X2. Also, its inline remote has been redesigned, and its battery has been upgraded from NiMH (nickel-metal hydride) to lithium ion to deliver up to eight hours battery life playing music at moderate volume levels.
On top of that, Jaybird, now owned by Logitech, says it’s tweaked the 6mm drivers inside the earbuds. I will say these are among the best sounding wireless sports headphones out there right now. And at $130, they cost $50 less than the initial price of the X2. (The headphones will launch in the UK and Australia in “the next few months” for £109 and AU$179, respectively.)
The X3 comes in four colors: Military green (shown here), black, white, and red.
David Carnoy/CNET
As for other improvements, the fins that help secure the buds in your ears have also been redesigned for the better, and Jaybird now includes a clip to attach the headphone to the back of your shirt that’s similar to the one found on the Bose SoundSport Wireless.
I’ve never liked Jaybird’s cord-shortening accessories, but for those who do like them, they’re back. A set of are included along with plenty of eartips — silicone and foam — and chances are one of the tips will allow you to get a tight, comfortable seal to maximize sound quality. The only downside to this design is that this is a noise-isolating earphone, which means it seals out a lot of ambient noise, preventing you from hearing traffic while you’re running. Headphones such as the Plantronics BackBeat Fit and Bose SoundSport Wireless have open designs and allow some ambient noise to filter in.
It’s also worth mentioning that Jaybird includes a little charging accessory that connects to a Micro-USB cable, which you then clip onto the inline remote. It’s one of those items that’s easy to lose (the accessory has a little lanyard built into it), but Jaybird reps told me it went to this charging method because sweat and grime from people’s hands sometimes ended up in USB charging port on the X2 and caused the headphone to fail. The only problem is that if you misplace the accessory, you can’t charge the headphone and you’ll have to call Jaybird customer support to send you another one (Jaybird says that till the end of 2016 you’ll be able to get a replacement for free, but after that you’ll have to order the accessory through the company’s website for a small fee).
What you get in the box.
Sarah Tew/CNET
Jaybird’s more expensive Freedom headphone has a similar charging scheme, but the Freedom’s charging accessory incorporates a built-in battery to extend battery life, and the Freedom’s inline remote is too beefy (there’s a battery inside it). The X3’s earbuds house the batteries and the inline remote is smaller and lighter, making it less noticeable when you’re running.
Audi R8 Spyder (2016) review: Tinnitus, tyre marks and turned heads guaranteed
Audi R8 owners dislike the sentiment, but the German speed machine has always been the sensible supercar.
The controlled but elegant exterior styling, the impressive interior technology and its ability to make terrible drivers feel confident behind the wheel has seen it find a home with those wanting all-out performance but also a vehicle that can handle a trip to Waitrose every once in a while.
For these reasons alone, the flamboyant Lamborghini and Ferrari ownership set often dismisses the machine as a tarted-up TT. But the latest drop-top version, the R8 Spyder, is living proof that the everyday supercar can easily mix it with the big boys.
Yes, it’s strangely comfortable and almost irritatingly adept at eating the motorway miles, but unpeel the beautifully complex fabric hood, hit the sports exhaust buttons and unleash all 533bhp from the naturally aspirated 5.2-litre V10 and it’s difficult not to be blown away – both physically and cognitively.
Pocket-lint
The 2016 Spyder has received some major revision under the skin, ensuring it is lighter and stiffer than ever before, while exterior styling has been sharpened, the body widened and the interior now features some of the most dazzling in-car tech on the market.
So if you’ve got a penchant for convertible supercars, a spare £130,000 and a date with your local Lamborghini dealership, you lucky devils might want to make a date in the Moleskin diary to see the new Spyder…
Audi R8 Spyder (2016) review: Raise the roof
Let’s cut to the chase here: the reason you buy an Audi R8 Spyder is to feel the wind in your hair, the sun’s rays on your brow and the soundtrack crackling and popping in your eardrums.
To this end, the new R8 Spyder is faultless, as it’s folding fabric roof grants access to all of the above in a mere 20 seconds. Its intricate, origami-style opening and closing system is able to operate when driving at speeds of up to 31mph. With the help of a 175-bar pump and nine electro-hydraulic actuators, it carefully raises and lowers the convertible top at the press of a button.
Pocket-lint
It has been thoroughly revised to ensure it is lighter, stronger and quieter than ever too. With the main substructure made largely of lightweight materials, such as magnesium and aluminium, the roof tips the scales at just 44kg.
The entire car is just 125kg heavier than the coupe version upon which it is based, which just goes to show how much effort the engineering team has invested to ensure the drop-top is just as potent as its fixed-head sibling.
Audi R8 Spyder (2016) review: Under the skin
With the fabric roof intact and all settings switched to comfort, the R8 Spyder is a relatively quiet, refined and relaxing place to while away the hours, thanks in part to the roof structure now featuring improved wind and road noise insulation.
Pocket-lint
But lower the top, flick the Audi drive select switch to Dynamic, floor the accelerator and be prepared to have eardrums perforated. It’s loud; devilishly loud. And it’s utterly addictive.
The R8 serves up the performance bite to back up its bark, too, as the new multi-material Audi Space Frame – which is made from a complex weave of aluminium and carbon fibre – ensures the new car is 50 per cent stiffer than the outgoing model.
In short, it’s the stiffest open-top sports car on the market. And that translates into a machine that will happily gorge on corners and tear-up switchbacks until the sun sets or the fuel tank runs dry.
The 0-62mph sprint is complete in just 3.6-seconds and a top speed of 197mph is easily attainable for those with a laissez faire attitude towards the law.
But it’s the engine and gearbox that really shine. Pull back the slender levers located behind the wheel and the buttery smooth seven-speed dual-clutch transmission thumps up and down the gears with ease.
Pocket-lint
Dial in some of the more performance-related settings via the gorgeous steering wheel buttons and the driving experience becomes even more visceral, with every gear change physically punching the driver in the gut.
And that V10 engine is simply divine. The perfect antidote to hybrid power, turbocharging and the general downsizing trend currently embraced by the auto industry.
Audi R8 Spyder (2016) review: Performance and posturing
Road handling and performance prowess are nothing short of staggering here, with that naturally aspirated, dry sump V10 doing its best impression of golden-era F1 engines.
But slip the Dynamic Drive button into Comfort, raise the well-insulated roof and it rapidly becomes a comfortable cruiser. Ok, so the high doorsills and cocoon-like cockpit can be a bit tricky to slide in and out of, but once settled in, the ride is beautifully judged.
Pocket-lint
Unfortunately, there’s only really space for a backpack up front and a spare pair of pants in the door bins, so you may want to send luggage ahead, but there’s plenty of room for two adults to embark on some major road trips.
Some purists will mark the Spyder down for its lack of steering feel, but it offers a nice balance, proving to be a doddle to use in inner-city environments, yet providing enough feedback when the high performance modes are selected.
However, it remains a thirsty old beast. Despite the addition of cylinder deactivation -which shuts down a bank of cylinders when cruising to save fuel – and a free-wheeling function, expect to struggle to tickle the 20mpg mark.
Audi R8 Spyder (2016) review: Tech treats
Audi’s awesome Virtual Cockpit feels like old hat to those in the know but it doesn’t fail to impress. The marque’s MMI navigation plus system has been given a mild refresh, meaning the interface is more responsive than in earlier models.
Plus, microphones have been placed in the seatbelts for the best hands-free telephony experience possible, while an optional Audi smartphone interface now sees a phone box with inductive charging thrown into the well appointed dash.
Pocket-lint
Perhaps the biggest news on the infotainment front is the addition of a new Bang & Olufsen sound system, which is offered as an optional extra. This heavyweight, 550-watt amplifier and 13 loudspeaker system packs some seriously meaty sounds, especially when blasted out of the new head restraint-mounted speakers.
According to engineers, Audi teamed up with the Fraunhofer Institute, one of the most famous R&D institutes in Germany, to create what it calls the Symphoria algorithm in order to deliver greater depth to the sound. Technical guff aside, it sounds really great.
Verdict
There aren’t many cars that make you want to sell the entire contents of your home in order to scrape together a deposit, but the R8 Spyder is one such vehicle.
Easy enough to live with everyday but powerful enough to blow away even the most stubborn cobwebs, it’s a beautiful piece of engineering that’s difficult to fault.
Plus, with a price tag of around £130,000, it represents good value for money if you squint hard enough. Especially when you consider the comparatively barebones Lamborghini Huracan Spyder costs in excess of £200,000.
PlayStation 4 has a pair of controllers made for pro gamers
The Xbox One has the Elite gamepad to satisfy the platform’s pro gamers or people who just want a really nice gamepad. But Sony fans are stuck with a controller that’s barely changed since the Playstation 4 launched in 2013. Rather than crafting one itself, Sony has announced it’s working with the folks at Razer and Nacon to develop a pair of tournament-ready sticks.
Like the Elite pad, these sport features like extra triggers and customization, but each handles the new bits differently. The Raiju (“thunder beast”) offers trigger stops for quicker firing; extra bumper buttons; two extra, detachable triggers; custom button mapping with two onboard custom profiles, removable analog stick caps and wired connectivity via a detachable USB cable. Oh, there’s a control panel built into the controller too. Honestly, in terms of design it looks quite a bit like an Xbox One controller with the headset adapter attached.
Then there’s the Revolution from Nacon. Perhaps the biggest difference here aside from customizable weight; four button profiles and a quartet of shortcut buttons is the stick placement. The left analog stick and d-pad swap positions, so instead of the two sticks being next to each other they’re offset — like an Xbox controller. Another difference is that the sticks have 46 degrees of amplitude and are “enhanced with innovative firmware for advanced eSports accuracy and reach.” Like the Raiju, this one is wired as well.
Why? Because too many wireless signals in a given room — like at a tournament — can play havoc in the heat of the moment. Plus, running wireless adds a tiny bit of lag between your fingers and the console. With how much both of these resemble Xbox One controller, it’s kind of telling that the eSports community doesn’t particularly care for the DualShock 4’s design. The downside is that despite how good these look, they’re probably won’t fix the DualShock 4’s biggest weakness: battery life.
Price wasn’t given, but considering how much other custom controllers cost, don’t expect these to be cheap when they come out later this year in Europe.
Source: PlayStation Blog (Europe)
LG would make more money if it wasn’t for smartphones
You know it’s bad when your mobile business gets trounced by the rival that sold a smartphone that actually blew up in its customers pockets. That’s the situation over at LG, whose mobile communications division contrived to lose $389.4 million across the last three months. In the company’s latest financials, it’s revealed that LG shipped 13.5 million devices and saw US sales increase by 14 percent quarter-on-quarter. But that’s pretty much the same thing the company achieved in every quarter since the start of 2014, and that plan stopped making a profit partway through 2015.
The cause of this mobile malaise isn’t exactly a surprise with problems inside and outside LG contributing to the problems. First up, the LG G5 was a flop and the V20, which previewed very well, is going to cost $120 more than the comparable Google Pixel. Then there’s the fact that the smartphone market ain’t what it used to be, and upstart Chinese brands that don’t need to worry about profit are undercutting everyone across the board. Earlier this year, we asked when LG’s smartphone patience would run out, and on this evidence, it won’t be long until some accountant asks what the value is in losing $300 – $400 million a quarter.
Ironically, while its mobile division flounders, the rest of LG’s actually doing pretty well, selling $11.8 billion worth of gear and coining a healthy $252.7 million profit. But that cash comes from areas where LG’s arguably much stronger, including home appliances, air conditioners and TVs. In fact, that latter division recorded a record profit, raking in $340.4 million to help offset those other losses. The firm’s nascent vehicle components arm is also growing, although it’s yet to turn a profit, but that’s been attributed to R&D spending and investing for the future.
AIVAnet 